Food Network Obsessed

Sarah Mountain joins the pod to talk about bringing her pastry expertise to the new season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking. She shares how her grandfather inspired her culinary career, the lessons she's learned working in some of London's most prestigious kitchens, and why great desserts should taste just as magical as they look. Plus, she puts a pastry chef's spin on iconic Harry Potter treats in a game inspired by the Hogwarts Express candy cart!

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Maxine Sharf joins the pod to talk about turning an unexpected layoff into a full-time career in food and the family recipes that inspired Maxi's Kitchen. She shares how cooking connects her to her heritage, what it was like creating her New York Times bestselling cookbook, and why finding joy in the kitchen matters more than perfection. Plus, she shares her favorite dishes for every occasion in a game of "What's Your Go-To?

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Danielle Sepsy joins the pod to talk about turning a childhood love of baking into The Hungry Gnome and bringing her most trusted recipes to Best Bake Ever. She shares how her grandmother inspired her, why she started selling scones at just 13 years old and how The Big Brunch helped her embrace her title as the “Scone Queen.”

Danielle also opens up about baking as therapy, filming her new series while eight-and-a-half months pregnant and teaching viewers that great baking doesn’t have to be intimidating. Plus, she sends The Hungry Gnome on a culinary tour of New York City in a game of “Gnome Alone 2: Lost in New York.”

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Did you know that Kelly Ripa has a podcast called Let's Talk Off Camera? On the show, Kelly dives deep into her life, candidly discussing her marriage, family, career, and how she manages to juggle it all in the public eye. Give it a listen, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Aarti Sequeira returns to the pod to talk about joining Halloween Baking Championship and finding the courage to take up space at the judges’ table. She shares why handwritten family recipes matter to her, and how food and faith come together at the ultimate “Aarti Party.”

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• Learn More about Halloween Baking Championship : HERE

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Andrew Fuller joins the pod to talk about becoming a judge on Halloween Wars and bringing hyperrealistic cakes into everyday settings on Sweet Deceit. He shares how Beetlejuice helped spark his love of the macabre, and what he hopes viewers see in cake artistry. Plus, he turns innocent objects into terrifying cakes in a game of “Andrew - Make This Scary!”

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Chef Claudette Zepeda returns to the show to talk about where she is in her journey to earn a “PhD in Humanity” and what’s changed since the last time she was on. Claudette talks about what it meant to author her first cookbook and just how personal the pages get. She goes on to create an incredible imaginary dinner of dream guests before jumping into all the details on the new Food Network show Bobby Flay’s The Line. Claudette talks about what sets this show apart from other competitions, how true it is to the actual restaurant world, and what it was like to work alongside Bobby Flay. She talks about the challenges of serving real patrons and the crazy pressure the competitors are under before sharing her hospitality philosophy.

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Andrew Zimmern returns to the pod to talk about Pitmasters, Food Network's bold new barbecue competition series. Andrew shares why he waited years before saying yes to a competition show, and what makes Pitmasters different from traditional cooking competitions.

Later, Andrew reflects on how food media has evolved, why great storytelling will always outlast technology, and the inspiration behind The Blue Food Cookbook. He explains why cooking more seafood can benefit both our health and the planet, and he reveals the barbecue side-dishes on his own personal Mount Rushmore.

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Terry Crews joins the pod to talk about his latest role as host of 100 Cooks, Food Network's biggest cooking competition ever. Terry shares what it was like stepping into a kitchen with 100 home cooks competing at once, why the energy on set was unlike anything he's experienced before, and how the series balances high-stakes competition with genuine encouragement and heart.

Later, Terry reflects on his remarkable career, from the NFL to Hollywood, and why he's always been drawn to new challenges. He opens up about creativity, fitness, his love of painting, the game-day foods he can't live without, and what surprised him most about the passion, resilience, and camaraderie of the home cooks competing on 100 Cooks.

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Pastry chef and content creator Allison Chen joins the pod to share her unconventional journey from studying neuroscience … to attending pastry school in France. Allison reflects on learning French pastry techniques, running a tasting-menu out of her college apartment, and how documenting the experience online unexpectedly launched her career as a creator.

Later, Allison talks about bringing one of her favorite childhood desserts, tangyuan, to Food Network’s digital series Dig In With, why food stories resonate more than recipes alone, and how she approaches making baking feel approachable for millions of followers.

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Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt join the pod to talk about their latest project, the all-new HGTV Smart Home 2026.

The winningest duo on HGTV shares what it was like designing the $1.3 million Orlando dream home, the challenge of balancing luxury with smart technology, and the features they’re most excited for fans to see… including hidden rooms, a shoe carousel, a four-screen TV wall, and a backyard built for year-round vacation living. They also discuss why involving their daughter Jade in the design process made this Smart Home experience especially meaningful.

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Maneet Chauhan joins the pod to talk about one of Food Network’s most ambitious competitions yet: Chopped Castaways. Maneet shares what it was like judging a group of chefs dropped onto a remote island. She reveals why the experience felt unlike anything she’s ever done on television and why some of the food served on the island ranks among the best she’s ever tasted on Chopped.

Maneet also reflects on her latest season of BBQ Brawl, including welcoming Brooke Williamson into the captain’s chair, the emotional responsibility that comes with mentoring a team, and why helping chefs recognize their own potential is her favorite part of the job. Plus, she shares stories from her life in Nashville, her philosophy on following culinary instincts, her quest to saber 50 bottles of champagne before turning 50, and her ultimate Nashville food day.

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Chef Gabe Bertaccini joins the pod to talk about his latest Food Network adventure, Chopped Castaways, a wild new spin on Chopped that drops elite chefs onto a remote island where strategy, survival, and cooking skills all collide. Gabe breaks down what made the experience so intense, what surprised him most about judging in that environment, and why the show pushes chefs in completely different ways than a traditional kitchen competition.

Gabe also dives into his digital series Cook Like an Italian, sharing how the show became a way to make Italian cooking feel approachable, relaxed, and rooted in joy rather than perfection. He talks about teaching techniques in a more specific, practical way for home cooks, why simplicity matters so much in Italian food, and how creating digital content allows him to connect with audiences differently than competition television.

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• Learn More about Chopped Castaways: HERE

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Cassie Yeung joins the pod to share her excitement on being named to the 2026 Food Network Hot List. She talks about the viral “hangover ramen” video that changed her life, growing up in a food-obsessed household, and why she believes cooking should always be guided by “no measurements, just vibes.”

Later, Cassie dives into her New York Times bestselling cookbook Bad Bitch in the Kitch, explains why she fought to keep the title, and breaks down the philosophy behind making approachable, craveable Asian-inspired recipes for a social-first audience. Plus: emotional support pickles, dumpling hacks, and Cassie’s perfect food day around the world.

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• Learn More about Food Network’s Hot List: HERE

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Chef, restaurateur, and Food Network fan-favorite Jet Tila returns to the pod for a catch-up on everything from family life to building a career that spans restaurants, television, cookbooks, and teaching.

Jet dives into the new season of Ready Jet Cook, breaking down the philosophy behind fast, flavor-packed cooking and why teaching the “why” behind techniques is just as important as the recipes themselves. He shares what keeps him coming back to competition shows, and how he approaches pressure in the kitchen after years of competing. Plus, later on, Jet turns the tables on Jaymee to ask her about her perfect food day.

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Pitmaster and restaurateur Rashad Jones joins the pod to talk about his journey from backyard barbecue obsession to building Big Lee's Barbecue into a barbecue destination. Rashad shares the Thanksgiving meal that sparked it all, the legacy of Uncle Leon, and how hospitality became the foundation of everything he does.

He also opens up about his “renegade barbecue” style, the Food Network recipes that mean the most to him, and his return to BBQ Brawl - this time as a judge. Plus, Rashad breaks down what makes great barbecue, the pressure of competition, and his ultimate barbecue side dish Mount Rushmore.

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Chef, restaurateur, and Food Network favorite Esther Choi returns to the pod to catch up on a massive new chapter of life: Motherhood. Esther opens up about her debut cookbook, and her new Food Network YouTube series, Cooking with Choi.

Esther dives into her upcoming cookbook, Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother, why kimchi was non-negotiable for the book, and what readers can expect from the recipes. Plus, she talks about finally getting to live out a lifelong dream: teaching people how to cook on screen with her new series Cooking with Choi.

And later, Esther breaks down the chaos of co-hosting 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, what it’s like surviving 36 straight hours on set, why chefs are lining up to compete in one of Food Network’s toughest competitions, and what really separates the last chef standing from everyone else

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Chef Kenny Gilbert joins the pod to talk about his impressive run on this season of Tournament of Champions, from the pressure of the randomizer to cooking in one of the most intense competition formats on TV. He shares how he prepares for the unpredictable nature of TOC, why blind judging raises the stakes, and how he approaches each round with a “swim your race” mentality.

Kenny also takes us back to his early days in the kitchen, from cooking out of a Betty Crocker cookbook as a kid to preparing his first full Thanksgiving dinner at just 11 years old.

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Zoha Malik, the creator behind Bake With Zoha, joins the pod to talk about being named to Food Network’s Hot List and how a weekend baking hobby turned into one of the most popular dessert accounts on the internet. She shares how teaching herself baking from scratch shaped her approach to recipes, why understanding the “why” behind baking matters, and how a single viral brownie video helped kickstart her community.

Zoha also dives into the cultural influences behind her desserts, from growing up in Pakistan surrounded by family meals and cardamom-infused sweets to blending nostalgic flavors with classic American baking.

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Bryan Ford joins the pod to talk about judging Food Network’s new competition series Ultimate Baking Championship and what it was like watching some of the most skilled pastry chefs in the country go head-to-head. He shares why blind judging raises the stakes, what separates technically perfect baking from something truly special, and how storytelling plays a role even in the most precise desserts.

Plus, Bryan opens up about opening Diljan Bakery in Brooklyn, exploring Afghan baking traditions, and how his self-taught path helped shape the way he approaches both baking and business today.

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