Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Podcast

What does it really mean to nourish yourself?In this episode, I sit down with chef, food stylist, and author Melina Hammer (A Year at Catbird Cottage) for a thoughtful conversation on food, self-care, and living with more intention.Together, we explore how to create simple, nourishing meals using seasonal ingredients, find inspiration in spring cooking and foraging (including garlic mustard and field garlic), and elevate everyday dishes with ease.We also reflect on the deeper side of nourishment—how food connects to mindfulness, gentleness, and self-care—and what it looks like to move away from extremes and toward a more balanced, intuitive way of eating and living. A grounding and inspiring conversation on cooking, creativity, and what it means to truly nourish yourself.Links:* Episode Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/melina-hammer* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Melina’s book, A Year at Catbird Cottage: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781984859709* Melina’s newsletter: https://catbirdcottage.substack.com/* Melina’s website: https://www.melinahammer.com/* Find Melina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinahammer/* My Substack Live with Melina: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/edible-holiday-gifts* Nicki’s podcast episode with Ashley Neese, Permission to Rest: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/ashley-neese* Nicki’s podcast episode about moving one step at a time: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/intention-11-one-step-at-a-time This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I’m joined by Marije Vogelzang, a pioneering Dutch food designer who uses food as a medium to explore human connection, emotion, and experience.While we often think of food as flavor or nutrition, Marije invites us to see it as something much deeper—a way to access memory, create meaning, and reconnect with ourselves and each other. This conversation explores food as ritual, as play, and as a powerful tool for presence.We also dive into the parts of food we often avoid—the connection to death, transformation, and the unseen processes that make nourishment possible—and how embracing these realities can deepen our gratitude and sense of aliveness.Toward the end, Marije shares a simple, playful way to make your meals more meaningful—something you can try at your own table tonight.Links and Resources* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Marije’s website: www.marijevogelzang.nl* Food Design Playground: www.fooddesignplayground.nl* Find Marije on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marije_vogelzang/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

What if cooking felt less like following rules—and more like freedom?In this episode, I’m joined by intuitive cooking coach Katerina Pavlakis to explore how we can move beyond rigid recipes and reconnect with our senses in the kitchen. We talk about building confidence, cooking with creativity, and finding joy in everyday meals.Katerina shares how to think in patterns instead of recipes, layer flavor with ease, and trust your instincts so cooking becomes simple, nourishing, and even fun.In this episode:* What intuitive cooking really means* How to trust your senses in the kitchen* Why recipes can feel limiting—and how to use them as inspiration* Simple ways to build flavor and add contrast* A more flexible, non-restrictive approach to healthy eatingLINKS & RESOURCES* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Katerina's website: https://www.theintuitivecook.co.uk/* Find Katerina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitive.cook/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Nicki sits down with Tamar Adler, the James Beard and IACP Award–winning author of An Everlasting Meal, Something Old, Something New, and the bestselling The Everlasting Meal Cookbook. Her newest book, Feast on Your Life, explores how everyday cooking can become a practice of attention, care, and delight.Together they discuss why cooking still matters, how noticing with our senses can transform the kitchen experience, and why letting go of perfectionism can bring more freedom and joy to home cooking. Tamar also shares her thoughts on cooking for children, simple rituals around the table, and a powerful reframe: focusing less on making the perfect meal and more on the experience of gathering and being fed.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, cook with presence, and rediscover the meaning and pleasure in everyday meals.LINKS & RESOURCES* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Tamar’s newsletter, The Kitchen Shrink: https://tamaradler.substack.com/* Find Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamar.e.adler/* Tamar’s new book, Feast on Your Life: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781668078020 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to season 7! In this episode, I'm joined by cookbook author, photographer, and gluten-free baking pioneer Aran Goyoaga to talk about her book The Art of Gluten-Free Bread.We dive into what it really takes to make beautiful, structured gluten-free bread — from sourdough starters (flour + water + time + wild yeast) to fermentation, ingredients, and why using a scale matters. Aran breaks down the science in an approachable way, making this episode empowering whether you’re gluten-free or not.But this conversation goes beyond technique.We talk about bread making as a meditative, grounding practice — a way to bring busy, anxious energy back into the body through the hands. In a digital, AI-driven world, there’s something profoundly human about creating bread from scratch.We also explore the intersection of creativity and commerce, and we dive into rest, inspiration, and the need to occasionally step away.Whether you’re new to bread making or ready to deepen your craft, this episode is a gentle invitation to begin.Links and resources:* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Listen to my first episode with Aran: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/aran-goyoaga* Order Aran’s latest book, The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781648292026* Find Aran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannellevanille/* Aran’s website: https://www.arangoyoaga.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s conversation felt like a deep exhale. Nicki sits down with breathwork teacher and writer Ashley Neese, author of How to Breathe and Permission to Rest, and publisher of The Deeper Call newsletter. Together they explore what it really means to rest—beyond sleep—and how to work with your nervous system, not against it.Ashley shares the neurobiological and emotional benefits of rest, why slowing down can feel uncomfortable at first, and how to cultivate micro-practices that soften urgency in daily life—at the stove, with our kids, and especially through the holidays. They also talk about boundaries, the power of the pause, and how lowering our standards (on purpose) can bring more ease and connection into the season.Listen in for:• Rest vs. sleep—and why “down-regulating” isn’t the same as crashing• The urgency trap and how to unwind it• Small, real-life practices for nervous system regulation• Parenting, food, and letting the kitchen be restful• How to bring more calm and intention to the holidaysLinks and resources mentioned in the show:* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Ashley’s website: https://www.ashleyneese.com/* Ashley’s newsletter: https://thedeepercall.substack.com/* Ashley’s book, Permission to Rest: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781984860743* Nicki's podcast episode about the nervous system with Samantha Fulton: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/our-nervous-systems-and-food This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

In this cozy, holiday-ready episode, Nicki sits down with cookbook author and entertaining pro Dan Pelosi to talk about what it really takes to host with joy—without burning out. Dan shares how his Italian American upbringing shaped his love of feeding people, how he protects the joy in his work as a food creator, and the simple mindset shifts and rituals that make gatherings feel more spacious, present, and fun.Links:* Get Dan's Pignoli Cookie Recipe (and win a copy of his book!): https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/dan-pelosi* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Dan’s website: https://danpelosi.com/* Find Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grossypelosi/* Order Dan’s new book, Let’s Party: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781454956785* Nicki's Date Caramel Turtle Cookies: https://fromscratchfast.com/the-best-vegan-chocolate-turtles/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode weaves together two different threads: how we can eat meat more sustainably (and joyfully) and how we can live in a way that feels more sustainable to our nervous systems.Nicki is joined by butcher-turned-writer Steve Sabicer, creator of the newsletter Enlightened Omnivore. Steve shares his winding path from PBS-obsessed latchkey kid to running an artisanal whole-animal butcher shop, and what he’s learned about sourcing and cooking meat in ways that support both flavor and the planet.They explore what “better meat” actually means in practice, the truth about grass-finished and pasture-raised systems, how regenerative agriculture can help rebuild soil, and simple, budget-friendly ways to reduce food waste at home.The conversation then shifts to sustainability in life as well as in food. Steve explains how he uses the Indigenous Medicine Wheel as a compass for balance—mind, body, spirit, and heart—and shares the small, seasonal rituals his family practices throughout the year.LINKS AND RESOURCES * Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Steve’s newsletter, Enlightened Omnivore: https://enlightenedomnivore.substack.com/* One Bowl French Green Salad: https://fromscratchfast.com/quick-green-salad/* My podcast conversation with Liz Carlisle: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/regenerative-farming-climate-change* Marbled Meat Shop: https://marbledmeatshop.com/* Georgia regenerative farmer Will Harris: https://whiteoakpastures.com/pages/our-team* Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry, by Austin Frerick: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781642834444* Steve’s Medicine Wheel Newsletter* The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781878424310* The Medicine Bag: Shamanic Rituals & Ceremonies for Personal Transformation, by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781938289873 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Writer and curanderismo practitioner Robyn Moreno joins me to talk about healing, the kitchen, and what it means to get rooted when life feels “slippery slick.” Robyn shares her journey from being a high-level executive to embracing curanderismo—a traditional Mexican practice of caring for oneself and others.We explore how perfectionism and ambition can sneak into healing, the meaning of susto (those old shocks that live in the body) and ser (the inner knowing that guides us home). Robyn also opens up about her relationship with the kitchen, grief, and reconnection to lineage—and she shares practical ways to find steadiness and rootedness in our daily lives.I left this conversation feeling deeply nourished. I hope it feeds you too. 🌿LINKS* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Robyn’s book, Get Rooted: Reclaim Your Soul, Serenity & Sisterhood Through the Healing Medicine of the Grandmothers: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9780306926273* Robyn’s website: https://www.robynmoreno.com/* Find Robyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynnmoreno/* Woman Who Glows in the Dark, by Elena Avila (mentioned by Robyn): https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781585420223* My podcast conversation with Meggan Watterson: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/meggan-watterson This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Feeling uninspired in the kitchen? You’re not alone.In this episode, I talk with Maggie Hoffman—host of The Dinner Plan podcast and newsletter—about cooking burnout and how to rekindle joy in the kitchen. We explore simple structures that support creativity, ways to tune into what you actually want to eat, and how to plan meals that feel nourishing rather than stressful. Maggie shares practical tips and mindset shifts to help you bring more ease, flexibility, and pleasure back to your cooking routine. I loved this conversation and hope you will too!LINKS:* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore* Maggie’s Newsletter & Podcast: https://thedinnerplan.substack.com/* Find Maggie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiejhoffman/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s podcast might be the most powerful one yet. ✨ I sit down with feminist theologian + bestselling author Meggan Watterson to talk about embodiment, rage, and the radical nourishment of the early Christ movement.What struck me most is how Meggan reframes personal power—not as dominance, but as the courage to embody our truth. We also talk about rage, not as something to suppress, but as critical information guiding us toward love.And then there’s nourishment. The early Christ followers gathered in small supper clubs—not to proselytize dogma, but to break bread, feed one another, and create spaces of safety and belonging. Their focus was on sustenance, both physical and spiritual.This kind of communion, Meggan reminds us, creates an alchemy that fuels imagination and creativity, helping us step into the world as our truest selves—and as agents of change. This episode is truly soul food—fuel for imagination, creativity, and stepping into your own power. Related conversations:* The History of the Patriarchy with Elise Loehnen: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/the-sin-of-gluttony-with-elise-loehnen*Finding Grounding within Our Bodies with Abigail Rose Clarke: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/abigail-rose-clarke-2Episode Links* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Meggan’s Newsletter: https://megganwatterson.substack.com/* Meggan’s website: https://www.megganwatterson.com/* Find Meggan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megganwatterson/* Order Meggan’s new book: https://amzn.to/4mwpGRZ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve been struggling with figuring out what to cook for yourself, weeknight family dinners, or even just packing school lunches, this episode is for you. I’m joined by cookbook author and journalist Georgia Freedman, whose writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Afar, Martha Stewart Living, and more. Her latest book, Snacking Dinners (Hardie Grant, 2025), came out earlier this year.In our conversation, Georgia and I cover a lot of ground—from the practical (getting dinner on the table in under 20 minutes) to the soulful (how to bring more intention into the way we feed ourselves). She shares her favorite pantry staples, her go-to tricks for cooking just for yourself (spoiler: you don’t even need pots or pans to make it feel special), and her wisdom on feeding kids, with all the little victories and struggles along the way.We even venture into school lunch territory, trading ideas and inspiration that might just make the daily packing routine feel lighter.✨ Don’t miss the extras: Georgia shares her delicious (and easy) Tuna Hand Roll Recipe below in this week's newsletter - linked below!LINKS* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/* Georgia's Tuna Hand Roll Recipe: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/georgia-freedman* Pre-Order Nicki's new book: https://fromscratchfast.com/nicki-sizemore/* Georgia’s Book, Snacking Dinners: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781958417706* Georgia’s newsletter: https://www.snackingdinners.com/* Find Georgia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgiafreedman/* Nicki’s book, Build-a-Bowl: https://bookshop.org/a/114665/9781612129907* Spicy Salmon Rolls/Wraps: https://fromscratchfast.com/spicy-salmon-sushi-burritos/* Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls: https://fromscratchfast.com/spicy-salmon-rice-bowls-with-tamari-sesame-sauce/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/subscribe