The Secret Life Of Cookies

Democratic strategist and host of the She Pivots podcast, Emily Tisch Sussman joins Marissa this week. The She Pivots podcast celebrates women who have made bold career moves, and Emily and Marissa discuss the power of a non-linear career path. Also, Emily shares the best way to convince everyone you know to vote, and what, no, WHO, is going to make a difference in the election. Plus: Overcoming k...

Marissa’s guest this week on podcast is Miles Taylor, the man formerly known as “Anonymous,” who was one of the first people from inside the Trump administration to speak out honestly about what life in the White House was really like (hint: just as you imagined during your worst nightmares). Marissa and Miles spoke just hours after the January 6 Committee gave its last public hearing and you won’...

Marissa’s special guest is none other than Joe Cirincione, national security analyst and the only person you ever want to hear the truth about nuclear war from, thanks to his blend of candor and kindliness. If you’ve been concerned about the recent threats by Putin of nuclear attack, this is a must-listen episode. Together, Marissa and Joe self-soothe with baked oatmeal. Learn more about your ad c...

Marissa’s guests this week are Major Garrett, CBS News Chief and White House Correspondent and David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. Together they’ve written a must-read book called The Big Truth: Upholding Democracy in the Age of the Big Lie, an eye-opening read full of warnings about the future of democracy, but with hope at its heart. They’ll discuss how the midterms...

In this very special episode, Marissa travels to the kitchen of legal expert, author and pundit extraordinaire, Jennifer Taub, to make sense of the swirling chaos of legal decisions that marked this week. Plus, Jen was in the courtroom as Judge Dearie told Trump’s lawyers a thing or two, and brings us the inside scoop. Also: We made Ravneet Gill’s “world’s best chocolate chip cookie.” Is it?   Lea...

On this week’s episode, Marissa’s guest is Emmy-nominated director and the person who makes Twitter a funnier, more enjoyable place to be, Jeremy Newberger. They discuss it all: From how the whole world seems like a Mort Downey, Jr talk show to who would be the winner in a Jell-O wrestling match: Lindsey Graham or Mitch McConnell? Plus: Mr. Newberger shares his recipe for diabetic-friendly chocola...

On this week’s episode, Marissa’s special guest is David Wolstencroft, writer and showrunner for TV shows such as MI-5, The Escape Artist (with David Tennant) and the bodice-ripping, blockbuster historical drama, Versailles, which makes David an expert on the making of kings. They discuss how the passing of Queen Elizabeth has rendered the unemotional British emotional, and how HRH Charles III, Ki...

Are you a woman or know one? Listening to this podcast could save a life. Marissa’s guest this week is Anushay Hossain, author of the “The Pain Gap,” which exposes the dangers of being a woman, especially a woman of color, in need of healthcare in America today. Anushay shares stories of women cruelly mistreated by the healthcare system, but also explains how to ensure your voice is heard when you...

On this week’s episode, David Hogg, gun control activist and co-founder of March for our Lives, took a break from championing for the PACT Act, to make crêpes and, among other insights, shares the difference a good meal can make in the life of survivors of gun violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week features University of Michigan law professor, co-host of the #SistersinLaw podcast and MSNBC legal analysis royalty, Barbara McQuade. Marissa and Barbara go deep on the January 6 commission’s prime-time hearing, from Josh Hawley’s gazelle-like leaps to the stunning revelation that the vice-president’s Secret Service detail was afraid they would be killed protecting him. Barbara also sha...

This week, Marissa’s guest is Congressman Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts). They discuss the new, nationwide 988 number for the National Suicide Hotline, and he speaks frankly about what in his own past compelled him to make this a reality. Representative Moulton also talks about this week’s January 6 Commission meeting, how to defeat the cancer of white nationalism, and how to get disaffected teens...

The wonderful Simon Majumdar helps Marissa celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a history of tea and dainty sandwiches. Majumdar, author, critic, host of the “Eat My Globe” podcast, Food Network judge (“Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Cutthroat Kitchen,” and “Iron Chef America,” among others) oversees the making of proper, crustless tea sandwiches, while discussing the mysterious way tea spread from...

This week’s guest is Dr. John Frater, a Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Oxford. John and Marissa talk about monkeypox, why it has us, um, going bananas and whether we really should worry about it, all while making a savory monkey bread. They also discuss the future of Covid and how to keep people from freaking out about vaccines. It’s a lot funnier conversation than it should...

Today’s guest is the author of the cookbook, "Will Run for Doughnuts" and owner of Rabble Rise Doughnuts, Rachel Wyman. Marissa and Rachel go deep on baking, and talk about the challenges of keeping a small business afloat during Covid. What Rachel did for the community during that time (and continues to do) should inspire all of us. Doughnuts are discussed in-depth and Rachel and Marissa make cow...

The theme of this week’s episode is ‘“How Can They????” Marissa is joined by Jennifer Taub, professor of law, frequent MSNBC contributor and author of Big Money. Marissa and Jennifer talk privacy and how to protect it in the face of Roe v Wade falling apart. And, they baked dog biscuits for the beloved fur children in their lives. Marissa’s cats are angry about this, but what did we expect? See ac...

This week’s feature guests, Chris Cotnoir and Grant Havers are Deep State Radioians. We discuss the future of foreign policy, fitness for, um, older people and why podcasting is not going away anytime soon. Delicious oatmeal, peanut butter power cookies are made. Yes, just the cookie to fuel a workout. Or a dog walk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your...

Jennifer’s the woman who couldn’t stand the cruel and hypocritical anti-immigration stance of people like Stephen Miller, so she did something about it. She dug into the family history of these people intent on building a wall and discovered their immigrant histories, and along the way became an expert in genealogy.  Along with the news and helpful tips on how to research your ancestors, we bake a...

This week, Marissa’s guest is Harry Litman, host of The Talking Feds podcast, lawyer, pundit, former United States Attorney and Department of Justice official, and together, they made raspberry and orange soufflés step-by-step and discussed everything from Ketanji Brown to Ginni Thomas, and all the stuff in between. Harry helped Marissa understand the law of the land and Marissa taught him the law...

In a sentence we never thought we’d write: Marissa and her guest, nuclear warfare expert Joe Cirincione,  have one of the most delightful conversations you’ll ever hear on the topic of nuclear annihilation and they bake blueberry muffins. Joe also sheds light on Putin’s nuclear threats and makes clear what we should and shouldn’t worry about.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informa...

This week, Marissa is joined by Dr. Allison Gill, she of The Daily Beans and Clean Up on Aisle 45 podcasts. It’s been a rough and disturbing week of news, both in the Ukraine and at home, and, thankfully, Allison offers clarity and some hopeful thoughts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marissa’s guest this week is Ayelet Waldman, the NYTimes best-selling author, and creator and writer behind the Netflix Emmy-award winning series “Unbelievable.” Unbelievable is also the range of topics Marissa and Ayelet cover as they chewy oatmeal cookies: psychedelics, how to use MDMA to keep your marriage on sure footing (Ayelet is  married to author Michael Chabon), real gratitude vs smug-gra...

Marissa’s guest this week is the one and only Rachel Vindman. In the episode, Rachel and Marissa have one of those typical kitchen-table convos. You know, where you make raspberry sauce for molten chocolate cakes, figure out how to protect the country from tyranny and hold our government officials accountable. Yes “accountable” … remember that word? Also, you’ll learn how to become a good kind of...

Wajahat Ali talks about his brilliant, funny, insightful and bestselling book, Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become an American, we take on racism, Republicans, racist Republicans, what it’s like to grow up in America as a Muslim, and: what it’s like to shop for pants in the ‘husky’ section. Plus, the important truth about pistachios that up until this...

This week Elie and Marissa turn into forensic experts in an attempt to figure out why good cookies go wrong. They also discuss the bad eggs and rotten apples in the news this week: Ivanka! Rudy! Oath Keepers! Spine-free Republicans! And forget Malibu Ken, Elie offers us Mar-a-Lago Kevin, aka Senator McCarthy to us. Be warned: there is a triggering discussion in which they imagine McCarthy kissing...

The first guest of the year is CNN legal analyst Elliott Williams and principal at The Raben Group, who also brings a background at the Department of Justice to bear on the big news stories of the week. Among Elliott’s other skills? Baking. So to the tune of “Sedition!” (think "Fiddler on the Roof”) Marissa and Elliott bake peach-pecan rugelach in honor of Georgia. It’s a bit of a story, they’ll e...