The Secret Life Of Cookies

Jessica Secrest of applesauceandadhd and author of the bestselling Of Course It's Good cookbook, is my guest today. We discuss her brilliant recipes, chocolate chip cookies and why it's okay to be afraid of cottage cheese, among 100 other things. It's a very special episode.

Marissa talks with Norman Eisen about the pro-democracy independent media outlet he recently launched with former Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, how to manage the Trump years with “litigation, laughter and liquor,” and why only dogs (and not broligarchs) should be skilled in anticipatory obedience. Plus: Why cookies and bourbon may be the answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

On today’s special holiday episode, Marissa explores the epicurean delights of Buddy the Elf, with the author of the Unofficial “Elf” Cookbook. Yes, there will be spaghetti with candy and maple syrup, plus recipes for cotton balls, VHS sugar cookies and other delights from the Christmas classic. We’ll also explore the crazy-creative process of writing a cookbook based on a well-known TK, as guest...

Marissa’s guest today is the Baroness of Baking, the Doyenne of Dough, the Queen of the Reverse Creaming Method, Rose Levy Beranbaum. Author of 12 classic cookbooks, Rose's latest is the 35th anniversary edition of her classic award-winning cookbook, The Cake Bible, with completely revised and updated recipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marissa’s guest is Marc Polymeropoulos, the highly decorated former intelligence service operative and host of the podcast “Above Average Intelligence.” Marc offers some frightening (and some reassuring) insights into what a Trump versus a Harris win could mean for the world, and the real dangers of Elon Musk and Republicans pandering to Putin. In an attempt to chill out, they also discuss the mer...

Marissa talks with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, founder of Politifact and author of Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy, about the serious implications misinformation and lies spread by politicians can have on our democracy. Marissa and Bill then take a somewhat soothing digression into the subject of IPAs....

Marissa talks to none other than Joyce Vance, former federal prosecutor, professor of law, co-host of Sisters in Law podcast and legal analyst of NBC and MSNBC and friend to chickens and knitters alike. And, we suspect, if chickens could knit, she’d be friends with them too.  Joyce and Marissa discuss a topic that has them both concerned about the election: How to make sure everyone knows their vo...

Mollie Katzen, of Moosewood fame, is this week’s guest. Marissa and Mollie discuss the political situation and future of democracy in the U.S., but, as you might expect, the conversation turns to the power of food, more specifically how to make ourselves feel better these days. If you’ve found yourself struggling with the news, this episode is a must-listen. Bread and butter, anyone? Learn more ab...

WWWWD? What would Wonder Woman do? Susan Eisenberg, the woman who has voiced and, heck, embodied, DC Comic’s Wonder Woman joins Marissa. Together they ponder what Wonder Woman would do if she arrived in the United States today. Hint: She’s a believer in justice. Also, if you play Wonder Woman, what happens when you see injustice being done in your regular life? What if we all had golden lassos? Wh...

Jess McHugh joins Marissa to share the compelling true life story of two people who fell in love--one Jewish and one German-- and made it their life’s work to bring Nazis to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Cotnoir, host of the holistic fitness and wellness podcast HIIT’n 50, is Marissa’s guest. His challenge to her: Create a healthy pre-workout snack that packs protein and carbs and yet doesn’t taste like disappointment. Chris and Marissa discuss how to get motivated, set wellness goals and, even better, achieve them. Also, just how dang delicious is Marissa’s recipe for healthy cake? Plus: Is...

Marissa’s guest is award-winning cookbook author and editor of TasteCooking.com, Matt Rodbard. Matt and co-author Deuki Hong have a truly special new cookbook out, Koreaworld, which looks at how Korean food has developed in Korea and across the globe. Marissa makes herself a Seoul specialty, the espresso tonic, and the darker side of Trader Joe’s is also discussed. You’ll want to hear this. Purcha...

Feeling overwhelmed by the Trump legal week that was -- and the weeks and months that are before us? State Attorney for Palm Beach County Dave Aronberg gives us a master class in what the next few months will look like with Trump’s criminal trials, and what another Trump presidency could mean for Justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Vindman joins Marissa to make sense of the past few weeks of news. Together, they get to the heart of why the New York Times makes Biden-bashing front page news, the real suburban women problem and ask themselves whether or not things are better today than four years ago. Hint: They are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal expert and co-host of the #SistersinLaw podcast, Kimberly Atkins, is Marissa’s guest. Kimberly’s brings clarity into the DC Circuit opinion on Trump being a real, actual citizen, the Crumbley involuntary manslaughter conviction in Michigan and Allen Weisselberg’s alleged perjury plea. The impact of these decisions will impact all of us, so we’re glad we have Kimberly’s  important legal insig...

Marissa’s guest is noted writer David Kamp, who (along with Marissa) is an alumnus of Spy Magazine, which famously coined the term “short-fingered vulgarian” to describe New York real estate celebrity Trump. David discusses his recent editorial for the New York Times where he argues the stakes for our democracy are too high and it’s time to stop laughing at Trump. Which isn’t to say Marissa and Da...

Marissa talks with comedian and host of her favorite podcast, Stand Up! With Pete Dominick in honor of the third anniversary of The Secret Life of Cookies. Together they try to make sense of the week’s news, Tucker Carlson’s face and whether Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuiliani are secretly bats. All why making a very nice apple-raspberry fruit crisp. It's a very special, and thanks to Pete, a very fun...

Bestselling author Laura Belgray is Marissa’s guest. Laura’s book, Tough Titties: Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst” is the self-help book you’ve been looking for if you don’t really want the help, and really just want to commiserate with someone who gets you completely. Learn more about the book described as ““Sex and the City” for losers” on the podcast, while Marissa bakes up a...

In a special Thanksgiving episode, Marissa’s guest is the Parisian-American chef and author Amanda Bankert. Amanda is owner of the popular Boneshaker donuts in Paris, France and expert vegan baker, with recipes good enough to get rave reviews from the butter-worshiping French. Her new cookbook, Voilà Vegan, is a joy for vegans and non-vegans alike, with some of my favorite new recipes coming from...

Marissa’s guests today are the founders of Comedy Gives Back, Jodi Lieberman, Amber J. Lawson and Zoe Friedman, a non-profit that supports the health and well-being of comics. It’s a funny and poignant conversation about what it takes to be a comedian these days, all while baking cookies that look like golf balls to support the Comedy Gives Back celebrity golf tour. Learn more about your ad choice...

Marissa’s guest this week American restaurateur, chef, and entrepreneur renowned for revolutionizing the Los Angeles culinary scene Jeremy Fall, who is now author of a new book, Falling Upwards. They discuss the need to destigmatize mental health issues in men, and the power and curse of being a creative mind with anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed author Laurie Lico Albanese is Marissa’s guest. Laurie’s latest novel, Hester, takes us back to 17th century Salem Massachusetts where we learn the origin story of Hester Prynne and about her relationship with a local man named Nathaniel Hawthorne. Marissa and Laurie also discuss the alarming growth rate of book bans, the Scholastic Book Fair scandal and which books are getting groups li...

If Beauty is Truth, What’s the truth about beauty Guest Valerie Monroe, the beauty director of O Magazine for 16 years and veteran journalist and Marissa ponder if beauty is truth…what’s the truth about beauty? Marissa also bombards her with beauty questions from the practical to the profound, including a discussion of the biggest frauds perpetrated against women (and men) by the beauty industry....

Noted climate scientist and author Dr. Michael Mann has a gift for making the most complex ideas clear enough for us all to understand. As Marissa’s guest, he explains the gravity of our current situation on Earth but also offers the impetus and tools we need to act and change our climate trajectory. And Dr. Mann does it all with clarity and even some humor. If you haven’t been brave enough to hea...

On this special edition, recorded shortly after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ indictments against Trump and 18 of his favorite co-conspirators were released, Dave Aronberg, the District Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida shares his unique perspectives with Marissa. She bakes RICO cookies in honor of the indictment, and District Attorney Aronberg even quotes Shakespeare, which i...