Best Lydia Kumar Podcasts (2025)

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3: Redefining Education with AI: Vera Cubero on Project-Based Learning and Human Connection 40:15

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18h ago40:15

40:15

In this episode from the archives, we’re joined by Vera Cubero, the Emerging Technologies Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and a co-author of one of the nation's first K-12 AI guidelines. Vera shares her frontline experience transitioning from a classroom teacher piloting 1-to-1 Chromebooks to leading a sta…

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Harry Hamlin and the Pickled Tongue 52:43

2d ago52:43

52:43

Harry Hamlin shares how his Sunday Bolognese went from a Real Housewives lunch to an open-source food company, the reason his psychology degree informs his hosting (at parties that serve as exposure therapy for his wife, Lissa Rinna), and why it's so important to him to support hunger relief groups. Did you know he's owned an energy company for alm…

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22. The Steam Engine of Software: Kris Younger on Transforming Education in the Age of AI 47:10

8d ago47:10

47:10

In this episode, we’re joined by Kris Younger, a longtime technologist and the Director of Education at Zip Code Wilmington, a nonprofit coding bootcamp. Zip Code is on the absolute frontier of technology, helping adults from diverse backgrounds, who often earn between $30,000 and $35,000 per year, rapidly transition into tech careers with salaries…

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Encore: Madhur Jaffrey and the Trap of Perfection 39:37

9d ago39:37

39:37

When Madhur Jaffrey published "An Invitation to Indian Cooking" in 1973, she had no idea that half a century later, the book would not only still be in print, but also get an anniversary reissue that would welcome future generations in the vast and varied cuisine of her homeland. In this encore of one of our favorite first-season epsiodes of Tinfoi…

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21. AI Engineer Vihaan Nama on Privacy, Practice, and Empowered Learning 48:49

15d ago48:49

48:49

In this episode, we’re visiting Duke University to meet Vihaan Nama, an AI engineer, researcher, and teaching assistant helping shape how AI is taught and built for the real world. From roles at PS&S and JPMorgan to graduate courses on explainable AI and product management, Vihaan brings a rare combination of technical depth and educator insight. I…

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Bryan Caswell and the Possum Cops 59:17

16d ago59:17

59:17

2009 F&W Best New Chef and Houston icon Bryan Caswell opens up about single fatherhood, second chances, and his comeback with Latuli — plus the "redemption lies tomorrow" mindset reshaping his kitchen, and the time he sneaked into Jean-George Vongerichten's kitchen and came out with a job. For more info visit: foodandwine.com/tinfoilswans Learn mor…

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20. How to Teach Intentionally with AI featuring Brian Jefferson 46:52

23d ago46:52

46:52

In this episode, we're joined by Brian Jefferson, a professor at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. Brian shares his incredible journey from a 20-year career as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers to becoming a recognized innovator in higher education. Listen in as we discuss how to move beyond AI anxiety by fostering …

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Paola Velez and the Guy Fieri FaceTime 55:45

23d ago55:45

55:45

From fixing radios and writing slam poetry as a kid in the Bronx, to becoming one of the most celebrated pastry chefs and community builders of her generation, 2021 Food & Wine Best New Chef Paola Velez has never followed the expected path. Along the way, she’s embraced subcultures that gave her belonging, built spaces where strangers connect over …

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19. The Frontier Classroom: McKenna Akane on Rural Innovation and Emerging Tech 46:30

30d ago46:30

46:30

In this episode, we're joined by McKenna Akane, an award-winning STEM teacher and the Frontier Learning Lab Ambassador at the Montana Digital Academy. McKenna shares her incredible journey from being a first-year teacher in a rural Montana school to becoming a nationally recognized leader in educational technology, winning accolades like Discovery …

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Tavel Bristol-Joseph and the Backyard Coal Pot 53:25

1M ago53:25

53:25

From three-mile walks to school in Guyana and “punishment baking” with his aunt to becoming the first pastry chef named a Food & Wine Best New Chef, Tavel Bristol-Joseph has never followed the expected path. In this episode, he shares the chaos and music of landing in Brooklyn, the quiet ritual he keeps each birthday to honor his late father, and w…

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18. Shaping the Future Classroom with Mike McGuckin 44:33

1M ago44:33

44:33

Mike McGuckin, a Computer Science Teacher at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, joins us to share his on-the-ground perspective on navigating AI in education. Mike's passion for technology led him to become the only North Carolina educator in the inaugural AIEDU Trailblazer Fellowship. This experience "skyrocketed" him into a leadership role whe…

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Dana Cowin, Hunter Lewis, the Rose, and the Thorn 54:18

1M ago54:18

54:18

Food & Wine’s longest-serving editors in chief, Dana Cowin and Hunter Lewis, invite you into a revealing conversation about the history and impact of the Best New Chefs accolade since it started in 1988. From the early days of scouting talent with notebooks and stringers to today’s rigorous process shaped by mentorship, community, and culture, they…

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17. AI at Scale: Susan McLeod on Pilots, People, and Knowing the Problem 37:59

1M ago37:59

37:59

Susan C. McLeod, VP of Data Center Market Development at Hitachi Energy, joins us to explore how large organizations can successfully navigate AI adoption. Drawing from over 20 years in enterprise tech, Susan offers practical insights for turning complex technology into a wins for people on the ground. With a background leading global support and s…

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Hunter Lewis and the Road to the 2025 Best New Chefs 54:55

1M ago54:55

54:55

Food & Wine editor in chief Hunter Lewis shares the untold story behind the magazine’s iconic Best New Chefs list and reveals the 2025 class. From the intense debates that shape each year’s BNC decisions to the lessons he’s carried from his days as a three-sport "prep jock," line cook, and local journalist, Lewis reflects on the long, strange trip …

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16. Unmasking AI: Angeline Corvaglia on Bias, Emotional Design, and Protecting Your Unique Voice 45:20

2M ago45:20

45:20

Angeline Corvaglia, founder of Data Girl and Friends and the soon-to-be-announced SHIELD, joins us to explore how AI education can equip the next generation to stay thoughtful, self-aware, and socially grounded in an age of algorithmic influence. With a background in global finance and digital transformation, Angeline now works at the intersection …

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Edward Lee and the Worst Lunch Service Ever 51:31

2M ago51:31

51:31

From poring over cast-off food magazines in a Brooklyn laundry room to opening a New York restaurant at 25 and being nearly undone by a single New York Times mention, Edward Lee has lived through the exhilarating highs and bruising lows of the kitchen. On this episode, he goes deep about the worst lunch service of his life, how moving to Kentucky a…

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15. From Mainframes to AI Agents: William Brown on Transforming Tech and Self 49:26

2M ago49:26

49:26

William A “Bill” Brown, former Chief Architect at IBM and founder of Application Engineering Services, joins us to explore how AI can drive access, equity, and innovation when guided by human intention. From wiring office networks in 1980s New York to building AI agents today, Bill’s career is rooted in curiosity and continual learning. In this exp…

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Samin Nosrat and the Very Nerdy Socks 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Samin Nosrat has changed the way so many of us think about food, cooking, and connection. You may know her as the bestselling author of Salt Fat Acid Heat, her joyful Netflix series of the same name, or her wildly popular podcast Home Cooking. But in this conversation, she goes far beyond recipes. Samin opens up about growing up as a book-loving ou…

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14. Throw Away the Coffee: Cary Wright on AI, Teacher Well-Being, and Better Lesson Plans 37:49

2M ago37:49

37:49

Cary Wright, a 30-year veteran educator and co-founder of T.E.A.C.H., joins us to share how he’s helping teachers go from overwhelmed to empowered through practical, responsible AI use. From streamlining lesson planning to unlocking data insights, Cary explains how he and his co-founder, Tyler Hunt, are building a future where AI supports educators…

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Regina King and the Wine That Stops Time 47:39

2M ago47:39

47:39

You know Regina King from her decades of extraordinary performances — from her teenage roles on the sitcom 227 and the movie Friday to Watchmen, The Leftovers, The Boondocks, If Beale Street Could Talk, and so many more. But a conversation at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen showed a different side of the Oscar-winning actress: the daughter, the si…

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13. Beyond the Bot: John Sharon on Protecting Human Connection in Schools 32:18

2M ago32:18

32:18

What happens when a centuries-old set of values meets one of the most disruptive technologies of our time? In this episode, we slow down the AI conversation with John Sharon, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning at Carolina Friends School. With over 34 years in education, John has seen fads come and go and knows the importance of discernment. G…

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Ayesha Curry and the 5 Night a Week Pineapple Fried Rice 49:52

2M ago49:52

49:52

2025 Food & Wine Game Changer Ayesha Curry is such a surprise of a human being. On paper, it's natural to wonder how someone can be an actress, cookbook author, restaurateur, founder of a skincare line and lifestyle brand, winemaker, and co-creator of a foundation that helps kids get fed in a million different ways. But as soon as she starts talkin…

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12. Trailblazing AI Literacy: Connor Mulvaney’s Rural Classroom Revolution 39:53

3M ago39:53

39:53

Montana science teacher and district AI lead Connor Mulvaney joins host Lydia Kumar to share how he turned fishing photos, traffic-light rubrics, and a healthy dose of curiosity into AI leadership in Montana and across the nation. Fresh off announcing aiEDU’s largest Trailblazers Fellowship expansion, Connor shares stories about leading students an…

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Antoni Porowski and the Right Time to Leave a Party 47:10

3M ago47:10

47:10

"Queer Eye" and "No Taste Like Home" star Antoni Porowski joins Tinfoil Swans live at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen for a heartfelt and humorous conversation about identity, vulnerability, and finding meaning through food. He opens up about his path from actor and caterer to TV host and storyteller, the emotional layers of cooking, navigating fa…

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11. More AI, More Humanity: Ben Gordon Sniffen on the Alpha School Model 43:04

3M ago43:04

43:04

In this episode, Guide and curriculum designer Ben Gordon Sniffen pulls back the curtain on Alpha School’s two-hour learning model, where an AI tutor condenses core academics into a focused morning block and frees guides for passion-driven life-skills workshops in the afternoon. Listen in as Ben explains: How 120 minutes of adaptive learning hits e…

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Tristen Epps and the Scrambled Egg Revelation 56:19

3M ago56:19

56:19

Growing up in a military family, Tristen Epps moved around a lot. But no matter where he was living, Friday nights were sacred. He got to dress up, go to a restaurant, not order from a kids menu, and feel like he was getting to know the place he was living — for now. At home, when his mom taught him to scramble an egg, he was mesmerized by the alch…

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Season 2 Trailer – Kinwise Conversations: AI for Educators 1:36

3M ago1:36

1:36

Kinwise Conversations is your weekly AI learning lab for teachers, principals, and district leaders. In Season 2 we dive into real classroom pilots, district-wide roll-outs, and cross-sector insights that show exactly how AI can boost student learning without losing the human heart of education. 🎙 What to expect • Classroom and district innovators …

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10. Priceless Branding: Neuroscience, Emotion & AI with Jim Cobb 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

Brand strategist Jim Cobb, founder of The Bloodhound Group and a creative force behind MasterCard’s legendary “Priceless” campaign, joins host Lydia Kumar to unpack how neuroscience, emotion, and generative AI can support branding. Drawing on four decades of advertising experience, Jim explains why 90 percent of purchase decisions start in the unco…

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Chris Shepherd and the Hot Dog Pizza 57:08

3M ago57:08

57:08

Growing up in Oklahoma, school was not Chris Shepherd's thing. Traditional classrooms just aren't the right fit for some brains — but it turned out that restaurants were. In junior college, he picked up a job as a dishwasher at a sushi restaurant and on the day the tempura guy didn't show up, his culinary journey began. The 2013 Food & Wine Best Ne…

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9. AI & Human Potential: A Conversation with Dr. Alison Harris Welcher 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

Welcome to Kinwise Conversations! In this episode, I’m honored to chat with Dr. Alison Harris Welcher, strategic leader, educator, and executive life coach, about nurturing human potential, leading with authenticity, and integrating AI thoughtfully into our work and lives. Dive into this inspiring conversation as Alison reveals: The thread of human…

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Run the Jewels and the Tuna Salad Battle 51:43

3M ago51:43

51:43

When Killer Mike and El-P were 10 years old, they both knew they wanted to be emcees, but it took a few decades for them to meet, form Run The Jewels, and go to war against one another over salad. The legendary rap duo joined Tinfoil Swans for a laugh-out-loud (and also cry a little) conversation about childhood meals, musical awakenings, midlife r…

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8. The 80/20 Rule for AI: A Conversation with John ”JK” Kornegay 46:26

4M ago46:26

46:26

Is AI simply a productivity hack or can it supercharge genuine creativity? John “JK” Kornegay, a digital-marketing strategist by day and a sought-after event photographer by night, joins host Lydia Kumar to reveal how he lets AI handle the first 80 % of the work so his human expertise can perfect the last 20 %. From building a mini “team” of custom…

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Wylie Dufresne and the Platonic Pizza Ideal 46:22

4M ago46:22

46:22

2001 Food & Wine Best New Chef and Stretch Pizza impresario Wylie Dufresne joins Tinfoil Swans to talk about his job lording over the ice truck at the New York Renaissance Festival, how team sports inform his work ethic, what the heck molecular gastronomy actually is, and why the pursuit of the perfect pizza dough has him so fired up. Learn more ab…

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7: Closing the Gap: Tanzania Brown on AI, Equity, and Student Affirmation 45:52

4M ago45:52

45:52

Is AI a tool that can finally close the educational equity gap, or will it only widen the divide? Tanzania "Taz" Brown, an educator and curriculum designer whose work is deeply rooted in social justice, joins host Lydia Kumar for a crucial conversation about the reality of AI in our schools. Drawing from her experiences in both under-resourced publ…

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Ana and Lydia Castro and the Tortilla Full of Beauty 58:37

4M ago58:37

58:37

2022 Food & Wine Best New Chef Ana Castro and her sister and business partner Lydia Castro are powerhouse duo behind New Orleans' beloved Acamaya. They're not just redefining contemporary Mexican cuisine — they’re reshaping what it means to lead with vulnerability, resilience, and fierce sibling love. In this conversation they dive deep into their …

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6: Drafting the Future: Mariah Street on Using AI in Law and Legacy Planning 30:35

4M ago30:35

30:35

In this Kinwise Conversation, join host Lydia Kumar as she chats with Mariah Street, an inspiring estate planning attorney blending profound personal empathy with practical AI efficiency. Mariah's powerful journey from personal loss to entrepreneurship reveals how she uses tools like ChatGPT and Zoom AI to streamline her law practice, allowing her …

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Encore: Guy Fieri and the Flying Mustard Jar 43:36

4M ago43:36

43:36

In our debut episode, Food & Wine's executive features editor Kat Kinsman spoke with the one and only chef Guy Fieri. He's become a household name as a restaurateur, cookbook author, host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Guy's Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions and more smash-hit shows — and in recent years, as a mega-philanthropist who has rai…

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5: The Unstuck Entrepreneur: How Jen Murphy Uses AI to Reclaim Time and Creativity 36:58

4M ago36:58

36:58

Welcome to Kinwise Conversations! In this episode, I'm thrilled to chat with Jen Murphy, the entrepreneurial force behind a successful Raleigh, NC wedding planning company. Jen shares her fascinating journey from a decade in social work, grappling with systematic challenges in mental health services, to finding a new path that beautifully blends he…

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Karen Akunowicz and the Compliment That Changed Her Life 51:22

4M ago51:22

51:22

25 years ago, James Beard Award-winning chef and Top Chef alum Karen Akunowicz received a compliment from a Food & Wine Best New Chef that changed her entire career path. On this episode, she opened up about her journey from musical theater kid and hardworking diner waitress to acclaimed restaurateur, the power of embracing her queer identity, the …

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4: Beyond Analysis: Dox Brown on AI and Co-Creating Our Human Future 31:09

4M ago31:09

31:09

Dox Brown, a strategist, systems designer, and self-described 'epistemic architect,' challenges us to look beyond AI's practical uses to its fundamental impact on language, knowledge, and what it means to be human. Introducing his concept of 'hollisis,' the dynamic, embodied thinking that AI can't replicate, Dox reframes neurodiversity as an evolut…

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Dr. Jessica B. Harris and the Hardcore Virginia Ham 50:27

5M ago50:27

50:27

Dr. Jessica B. Harris is a scholar of the African food diaspora, an award-winning and prolific writer, a gifted storyteller and speaker, a teacher, and an icon to many. But what gets lost sometimes is that she's a person, first and foremost — one whose bookishness as a kid made it hard for her to connect with other kids. One raised by two artists w…

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3: Redefining Education with AI: Vera Cubero on Project-Based Learning and Human Connection 40:06

5M ago40:06

40:06

Vera Cubero, Emerging Technologies Consultant for NC Public Instruction, shares how AI guidelines, project-based learning, and durable-skill portfolios can make classrooms more human, especially in rural and underserved schools. A roadmap for teachers who want safe, student-centered AI adoption.By Lydia Kumar

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2: What’s Ours to Hold? Travis Packer on AI, Systems, and the Future of Human Work 31:52

5M ago31:52

31:52

Systems-thinking consultant Travis Packer joins host Lydia Kumar to ask a defining question: What should AI handle, and what must remain fundamentally human? From change rituals to ethical guardrails, learn how to build organizations that thrive beside intelligent tools.By Lydia Kumar

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1: AI with Heart: Celia Jones on Values, Discernment, and Human-Centered Communication 39:43

5M ago39:43

39:43

Host Lydia Kumar talks with nonprofit comms lead Celia Jones about wielding ChatGPT as a research sidekick, confidence boost, and ethics checkpoint, proving AI can deepen, not replace, human connection.By Lydia Kumar

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Trailer: Welcome to Kinwise Conversations 1:51

5M ago1:51

1:51

AI is evolving fast, but how do we use it with intention? In this trailer, host Lydia Kumar introduces Kinwise Conversations, a podcast about integrating AI into our lives and work with care, ethics, and creativity. Hear from real leaders navigating this space weekly starting in June. Subscribe and join us at kinwise.org.…

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Matthew Lillard and the Glorious Dorito Salad 42:18

5M ago42:18

42:18

You have a favorite Matthew Lillard film or TV performance. It might be SLC Punk, the Scream franchise, Scooby Doo, Hackers, She's All That, Twin Peaks: The Return, or the new Stephen King and Mike Flanagan movie The Life of Chuck. He's been working in Hollywood for over 30 years, and has a reputation for being kind to fans. But connecting with peo…

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Encore: Will Poulter, Dave Beran, and The Bear 51:22

5M ago51:22

51:22

Season 3 of the smash hit FX/Hulu show “The Bear” roared to life just days ago, but Will Poulter (the actor who plays fan-favorite Luca) and 2014 F&W Best New Chef Dave Beran had been prepping for weeks. Poulter — like his co-star Jeremy Allen White — staged with Beran at his Santa Monica restaurant Pasjoli to learn how to accurately portray a prof…

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Curtis Stone and the Clandestine Charcuterie Closet 48:54

5M ago48:54

48:54

The first food memory Curtis Stone has is getting in trouble for eating too much butter. Then again, the Australian chef and TV host has never been one for restraint. Once he realized he wasn't going to be a professional athlete, he went to work for Marco Pierre White — notoriously one of the most hard-driving chefs of all time, then hosted 140 epi…

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Hawa Hassan and the Hot Dog Habit 47:16

5M ago47:16

47:16

When Hawa Hassan was five years old, she was living in a refugee camp in Kenya. By seven, she was resettled in Seattle with a few other refugees from Somalia, and waiting for her family to join her. Then the political climate changed, and she came to realize that they were never coming; she was on her own. The thing to know about Hawa Hassan is tha…

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Romy Gill and the Slow Burn Book 45:51

6M ago45:51

45:51

Romy Gill puts in the work — always. Growing up in India, the chef, TV host, and author dreamed of being a cricket player and directed all her effort into that — and into lightly fibbing her way into her neighbors' homes to try different dishes than the ones she ate in her Punjabi household. It's this hunger and curiosity about other people and the…