Imagine a classroom where every question is welcome, the instructor looks like you, and code feels less like a wall and more like a door. That’s the world Victoria Kyereme is building with Girls Dream Code, and it started with her own winding path from pre-pharmacy to computer science—and the stubborn belief that belonging should not be a lottery.

We talk about the moments that shaped her: arriving in Minnesota from Ghana, navigating majors without a roadmap, and finding that first programming class that balanced logic with creativity. Victoria explains how a lack of mentors and representation became her fuel to found a nonprofit that serves girls of color and low-income communities ages 10 to 24. Her blueprint is simple and powerful: small, safe cohorts; culturally responsive teaching; and real projects that translate into internships at major tech companies. Along the way, we unpack why representation matters, how culturally aware curricula beat imposter syndrome, and what it takes to move students from curiosity to career.

This conversation also gets practical about scale. Victoria shares a five-year vision to strengthen Minnesota’s tech pipeline—from first interest to education, from bootcamps and college to employer partnerships—and why consistent funding unlocks more cohorts, instructors, and outcomes. If you care about equity in STEM, women in tech, and creating real access for girls of color, you’ll find tangible steps to help: share the mission, connect hiring partners, and donate to sustain quality instruction that changes lives.

Join us for a story that blends resilience, technical grit, and community care. Then help us widen the doorway so more girls can step into rooms filled with code, confidence, and creativity. Subscribe, leave a review to boost visibility, and share this episode with someone who believes every girl deserves a seat at the table.

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3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

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Ever wondered what happens when therapy moves from the couch to the kitchen? We sit down with licensed clinical social worker and culinary therapist Mercedes Tiggs, founder of Eight16 Culinary Therapy, to explore how mindful cooking can transform anxiety, build confidence, and knit communities back together. Rooted in the legacy of her grandmother’s Sunday dinners and a foster care upbringing, Mercedes walks us through a sensory-forward approach that blends breathwork, essential oils, food safety, and teamwork into a healing ritual—then closes each class with a shared table and reflection.

Mercedes opens up about her shift from criminal justice to social work, the moment faith sparked the idea of “culinary therapy,” and how the pandemic turned a vision into action through virtual kitchen circles. She explains why food carries hidden stories—finish-your-plate rules, waste anxiety, cultural expectations—and how naming those scripts can free us to eat with intention. You’ll hear a powerful breakthrough from a student who moved from an apple peeler to confidently using chef’s knives, proof that safety, skill-building, and community can rewrite fear.

We also look ahead. Mercedes and her team secured a farm-to-school grant to bring culinary therapy into elementary, middle, and high schools as an alternative to detention—turning behavior challenges into opportunities for regulation and pride. She shares a bold vision for a community kitchen and, long term, a therapeutic farm that supports re-entry with housing, certifications, and farm-to-table training. Along the way, we swap comfort foods (shrimp and grits fans, unite), talk travel and technique, and celebrate the mantra at the heart of her work: meals that heal.

If you’re curious about trauma-informed care, school mental health, or creative wellness, this story offers tools you can use tonight—light a candle, breathe with your chop, taste slowly, and eat together. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find our healing community.

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Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

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What happens when architecture, grief, and grit collide in a cake studio? We sit down with Titilayo of Yummy Tecture to unpack a rare, unfiltered blueprint for building a creative business that actually works. From arriving in the U.S. after losing her sister to honoring that legacy through architecture school, then shifting toward culinary arts, Titi shows how a clear eye for structure and speed can turn design into dessert without romanticizing the grind.

We trace her evolution from Maryland fruit displays to Dallas custom cakes, revealing the market forces that shape offerings and the time math behind smart pricing. She explains why a dozen intricate treats can drain more resources than a wedding cake, how baking ahead creates last-minute capacity, and why ganache and self-raising flour power her fast, clean style. Then we go deep on storefront reality: triple net leases, grease traps, code-mandated sinks, deposits, and the hidden costs that explode tidy startup budgets. Titi’s forthcoming book, Open to Open, lays out a practical, field-tested checklist for anyone considering a bakery—covering commercial leasing, health inspections, equipment lists, staffing, and operations.

Motherhood, allergies, and community are woven through it all. With three young sons and severe food allergies at home, she manages late nights, early handoffs, and the village that keeps creators afloat: borrowed chocolate at 9 p.m., emergency toppers from peers, and edible images at impossible hours. She’s honest about passion turning into chore under overhead, and about the planned pivots toward teaching, mentoring, and writing that keep purpose alive. If you’re eyeing a cake business—or any creative venture—expect hard numbers, design-minded systems, and a call to collaborate rather than compete.

Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building something brave, and leave a review with your biggest storefront question so we can tackle it next.

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Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

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A dream of psychology turned into a love affair with sculpted sugar. We sit with Barbadian cake artist Gayrielle Harper to unpack how a gap-year culinary course sparked a 3D cake career that thrives on trust, humor, and the courage to price what craft really costs. From handbags and cars to interactive elements that surprise guests, Gayrielle shares why challenge fuels her creativity and how simpler buttercream orders act as strategic breathers between high-stakes builds.

We talk about the unglamorous but crucial parts of the job: importing supplies to a small island, swallowing customs fees, and doing the math so your business doesn’t. Her approach is disarmingly practical—charge for reality, communicate clearly, and let reliability earn you loyalty. She tells stories of white-knuckle deliveries, the relief when a cake lands safely, and the pure joy when a client lights up. That feedback loop keeps the work meaningful, even when the pressure spikes.

Social media plays a starring role. Gayrielle’s reels mix humor and behind-the-scenes shots to make buyers feel at home. Many clients book her because they enjoy her personality as much as her portfolio. The message to young bakers is sharp and kind: beware of borrowed fear. Start small, expect mistakes, keep improving, and protect your vision with honest systems. Whether you’re a cake artist, a creative entrepreneur, or someone craving a spark of courage, this story offers clear takeaways on pricing, resilience, and finding balance without losing your edge.

If this conversation inspires you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more makers find the skills and confidence to build the careers they imagine.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

What if a cake could give you back your sense of control? We sit down with Dr. Nneka Anuma—Nigerian American cake artist, educator, and PhD in multidisciplinary human services—to explore how baking became her refuge, her business, and her bridge from heavy frontline work to moments of joy. From a childhood filled with art supplies and oven hunts in Nigeria to a bold ask at Dairy Queen that launched her cake design journey, Nneka shows how speaking up turns curiosity into opportunity.

We get candid about the realities of a demanding nine-to-five in human services, raising three kids, and building Sweet Heaven in the margins of late nights and early mornings. Nneka shares practical ways baking functions as therapy: a repeatable, tactile process that restores agency, reduces stress, and proves you can bring beauty to life with your own hands. She opens up about learning her craft through classes and practice, finding inspiration in fashion and client stories, and embracing the idea that your style can evolve without apology.

Teaching lights her up. Hear how community workshops help kids and families discover creativity together, why representation matters for girls navigating systems, and how small wins at the workbench ripple into self-belief elsewhere. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can juggle a career, a passion, and a family without losing yourself, this conversation offers grounded encouragement and real-world strategies: make time for what matters, honor your season, and keep moving toward progress over perfection.

If this story resonated, follow and subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners and fuel the Cake Therapy Foundation’s work for women and girls.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

What if your kitchen could quiet anxiety and spark connection at the same time? We sit down with Chef Melanie Underwood—culinary educator, mindfulness teacher, and founder of Nourish and Gather—to explore how cooking, gardening, and simple rituals transform everyday meals into meaningful self-care. From farm roots and family dinners to high‑pressure hotel kitchens and meditation, Melanie shares the practices that helped her turn attention into ease and ingredients into anchors.

We dig into the power of seasonal, local food and why flavor is the best teacher for mindful eating. You’ll hear how phones‑off classes, garden harvests, and sensory prompts build confidence in teens and adults alike, and how a single request from a shy student can become a lifelong lesson in self‑advocacy. Melanie also opens up about navigating a rare cancer diagnosis and creating space for healing outdoors and at the stove, reminding us that solace lives in soil, steam, and shared tables.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make dinner feel less rushed and more restorative, this conversation offers practical steps: slow your pace, use all five senses, start a weekly family meal, and try thoughtful prompts—like Melanie’s Mindful Table napkins—to turn silence into stories. We also examine the culture of professional kitchens and why centering well‑being, mindfulness, and community is not just humane, it’s smart. Ready to cook with intention and gather with purpose? Listen now, then subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a calmer way to eat and connect.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

A salty first batch of cookies, a cross-continental childhood, and a decision to walk away from nursing—Salome’s path to Afua's Sweets is equal parts grit and grace. We sit down with the Ghanaian cake artist to unpack how culture, constraint, and courage shaped a business that blends bold flavor with delicate technique.

Salome traces the roots of her palate from Ghana’s tropical brightness to Ethiopia’s Italian-leaning pastry traditions, revealing how coffee, mango, and passion fruit found their way into her modern designs. When lactose intolerance made traditional tasting impossible, she pivoted into vegan methods, testing butter and cream alternatives until she could whip, bake, and serve desserts that fooled even devoted dairy fans. Along the way, she rediscovered why baking calms the mind: small, intentional steps that transform stress into focus and joy.

The leap from hobby to business brought its own lessons. We break down the turning points: cost analysis that ended the “dirt cheap” label, coaching from Porsha Kimble that encouraged her to show up on camera and set prices with confidence, and boundaries that eliminated late-night DMs and last-minute chaos. Salome shares practical tactics for home bakers—how to price, how to practice, how to build systems—and casts a vision for the future with petite French-style desserts that let complex pairings shine in elegant bites. It’s a conversation about valuing your craft, honoring your limits, and letting your story be part of the brand.

If you felt seen by any part of this journey, hit follow, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more bakers find us. Your support keeps Cake Therapy growing and brings more voices, more flavors, and more healing to the kitchen.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

Beauty lives in the smallest details, and sometimes those details become a life. We welcome Gabby from Rosa’s Cakes in New Orleans—a self-described non-cook who transformed a love of clay miniatures into intricate fondant toppers, sought-after treat sets, and a thriving home-based bakery with her mom, Rosa. While preparing for an approaching hurricane, Gabby opens up about resilience, family legacy from Nicaragua, and the practical choices that keep their creative business strong through real-world storms.

You’ll hear how clay beads turned into cake toppers, and how event-planning experience evolved into stellar customer service and efficient production systems. Gabby breaks down her design workflow for cupcakes and sets, where three variations per dozen keep creativity structured and timelines sane. We dive into how she sources molds and materials, why she favors treats over towering cakes in sweltering summers, and how Instagram became their storefront—proof that consistent, thoughtful posting can elevate a neighborhood favorite into a regional go-to.

What stands out most is her definition of success: showing up for her kids, protecting quality, and shipping work she loves regardless of likes. She offers grounded advice for emerging cake artists—be patient with yourself, invest in presentation, and let motivation carry you through slow seasons. This is a warm, candid look at building a legacy of work ethic and craft, turning detail into identity, and finding freedom in a business shaped by care, culture, and grit.

If the story moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can discover the show. Your support helps us spotlight more makers and fuel the Cake Therapy Foundation’s work with women and girls.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts