Higher Ground

Your Mama’s Kitchen

Society EN ↓ 90 episodes

“Tell me about your mama's kitchen.” That’s the simple request which begins each episode of this Audible Original podcast from acclaimed journalist Michele Norris (NPR’s All Things Considered , The Washington Post ) and Higher Ground, Barack and Michelle Obama's media company.  Every week, hear guests like Michelle Obama, Conan O'Brien, Ina Garten, José Andrés, John Legend, and more explore the complexities of family life and how their earliest culinary experiences helped shape their personal and professional lives—and of course, each guest brings a recipe for a favorite dish from their youth...

Author

Higher Ground

Category

Society

Podcast website

art19.com

Latest episode

Dec 9, 2025

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Episodes

Why You Don’t Stand Next to Brad Meltzer in a Lighting Storm 20.05.2025

New York Times Bestselling author Brad Meltzer joins the show to talk about his Sesame Street home in Brooklyn and the several influential kitchens that followed. He tells Michele about his mom’s gift for interior design, visits to his future father-in-law’s restaurant as a teenager and a propensity for the men in his family to get struck by lightning - literally. Plus he shares the Fried Conch re...

The Caribbean Kitchen That Nourished Michelle Buteau 13.05.2025

Actress, comedian and writer Michelle Buteau joins the show to talk about growing up in a lively Caribbean household in New Jersey. She shares how music, dance and food shaped her upbringing and the smells and flavors that took over her childhood kitchen. We also learn about the healing power of humor and how she found the confidence to become a comedian. Plus, she tells us how to make her family’...

Roy Choi on The Comforts of Underwear Rice 06.05.2025

Chef and gourmet food truck creator Roy Choi takes us back to his childhood in Los Angeles, where different cultures and cuisines came together for public park barbecues. He opens up about being a hot-headed teenager and shares how he learned to rebuild the bridges in his life that he previously burned down. Plus we learn how to make his Bimbim Noodle Salad. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

Why Binging with Babish Had to Detox from Craving Online Fame 29.04.2025

Michele chats with Andrew Rea, the creator behind the massively popular Binging with Babish , to talk about how a Reddit side project turned into a culinary empire. Andrew opens up about losing his mom at a young age, why making cooking videos connects him to both his parents, and how he handles the highs and lows of social media fame. Plus, he shares his spin on his mom’s Cookie recipe. The trick...

Should You Wash a Cast Iron Skillet? From A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich 25.04.2025

Sharing an episode of A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich. On the show, Mythical Chefs Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati discuss, debate, and dissect the web’s most hilariously controversial culinary quandaries. In this episode, Josh and Nicole debate whether a cast iron skillet needs to be washed every time you use it. Listen to more “A Hot Dog is a Sandwich” episodes at https://link.chtbl.com/AHDIASYMKFD See...

Food that Connected Susan Orlean to the Land her Parents Fled 22.04.2025

Author Susan Orlean joins to talk about her upbringing in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She describes the life skills her mom failed to teach and the Hungarian food that reminded her parents of the home they could never return to. Plus we learn about her mother’s cocktail party treat, Cheese Balls. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

The Secret Behind Tanya Holland’s Famous Cornmeal Waffles 15.04.2025

Michele chats with with chef, cookbook author, and TV personality Tanya Holland—best known for her beloved Oakland restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen. Tanya reflects on the gourmet supper club her parents hosted, her unexpected role as a U.S. Culinary Diplomat (yes, that’s a real job!), and why hospitality—not just food—is her true passion. Plus, she takes us behind the scenes of her world-famous Cor...

Randall Park on Following Dreams without Parental Permission 08.04.2025

Actor, comedian and director Randall Park takes us back to his upbringing in Los Angeles, where he learned important lessons about community in his father's small 1-hour photo shop. He gets into how he managed to jumpstart his career in entertainment without telling his parents -- while living under their roof. Plus, we learn how to make his mama's Korean soup, Tteokguk. See Privacy Policy at http...

How Sarah Ahn Built a TikTok Empire From Her Mom’s Korean Kitchen 01.04.2025

Cookbook author and content creator Sarah Ahn—best known for “Ahnest Kitchen” on Instagram and TikTok—takes us inside her mama’s kitchen, a place you’ve likely seen on your feed! She shares her family’s incredible story of surviving the Korean War, the secret to perfect Korean fried chicken, and how her 66-year-old mother feels about her unexpected rise to social media stardom. See Privacy Policy...

From Jazz to Cooking: Freedom within Form with Wendell Pierce 25.03.2025

Actor and author Wendell Pierce takes us back into his home in Pontchartrain Park, Louisiana. He shares how he got his mother's love of learning and his father's sense of adventure. Plus, we learn his mom's secret for cooking Okra to avoid all that slime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Why Dan Pashman Keeps His Pork Pan in the Garage 18.03.2025

Food podcast pioneer, Dan Pashman, takes us back to the "great Pashman family fajita craze of the late '80s," when his mom became determined to crack the code on a legendary fajita marinade. Dan and Michele reminisce about the copper tin fish mold that seemed to adorn every mother’s kitchen, Dan discusses the kosher negotiations in his marriage, and, of course, the epic journey to invent his...

Introducing IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson 12.03.2025

Sharing something special from one of Michele’s closest friends… the incomparable Michelle Obama. On her new podcast IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring their candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you, offering practical advice...

Lashana Lynch on Leading with Jamaican Pride 11.03.2025

British actor Lashana Lynch takes us back to the tight-knit West London community where she grew up and to her grandparents' record shop, which was the soundtrack to her childhood. She talks about the importance of bringing her Jamaican heritage to the red carpet and how she channels her mother's strength and discipline to prepare for certain roles. She also share her love for her mama's Saltfish...

Big Freedia’s Journey to Queen Diva 04.03.2025

The Queen Diva herself, Big Freedia, joins to talk about all things New Orleans. From making his aunt’s Mardi Gras popcorn balls to coming out on his 13th birthday, Big Freedia shares what it was like to grow up on Josephine Street and Music Street. He’ll also share what it was like to get that call from Beyoncé and how he brought bounce back to New Orleans after Katrina. Plus he shares how to mak...

The Award-Winning Flavors of Oaxaca with Bricia Lopez 25.02.2025

Restauranteur and cookbook author Bricia Lopez takes us back to where her career in food really began -- the kitchen of the renowned, LA-based Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza, which her father opened in the 90's. Bricia and her siblings grew up washing dishes, bussing tables and helping their parents foster a sense of community for the Oaxacan diaspora in Los Angeles; something Bricia continues to...

Roy Wood Jr’s Childhood: Country as a Sugar Sandwich 18.02.2025

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. dishes on his Birmingham roots and how his radio personality dad and law school student mom navigated meal times with their opposing schedules. He shares the simple but delicious meals that limited his palette before he ultimately became the foodie we know and love today. Plus, we learn about the biscuits that had his cousins fighting over who gets the last one. Your Mama’s K...

The European Summer that Changed Ina Garten's Life 11.02.2025

America's favorite kitchen icon Ina Garten opens up about the tumultuous relationship she had with her mama's kitchen when she was a child. She walks us through how her relationship with food evolved in later years, thanks to her husband Jeffrey and a summer spent camping across Europe on a shoestring budget. Plus, we learn how to make the one dish Ina enjoyed from childhood: Chicken Parmesan. You...

How John Legend Learned to Forgive His Mother 04.02.2025

Multiple Grammy and Platinum Record winning artist John Legend takes us back to his roots in Springfield, Ohio, where he was an academic overachiever and a musical prodigy. John opens up about his early rocky relationship with his mother and how, over time, they came together to nurture one beautiful family. Plus, we learn how to make his mama's special mac & cheese. Your Mama’s Kitchen is a p...

The Colberts Find Love in the Lowcountry 28.01.2025

Late Show host Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie reminisce on their romcom-worthy meet cute, which somehow happened years after they left their shared hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. We learn about what kind of food they ate while growing up in the coastal Lowcountry (hint: lots of seafood) and some of the cooking hiccups they faced as a new couple in their first shared kitchen. Plus, Step...

Welcome Back To Your Mama's Kitchen 28.01.2025

Welcome back to Your Mama's Kitchen, where we bring you life changing stories from the childhood kitchens of chefs, musicians, TV personalities and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A Taste of the Holidays 18.12.2024

Your Mama's Kitchen will officially be back next year starting January 28th! In the meantime, join Michele for a walk down memory lane in a very special episode of  Your Mama's Kitchen . We'll revisit cherished holiday memories and beloved family recipes from some of our favorite past guests. You'll also get an exclusive sneak peek at some very special new voices to be featured...

Celebrating 60 24.10.2024

In this very special solo episode, Hoda opens up about life at 60. She celebrates the decade ahead in this love letter to her personal journey. Hoda reflects on her life’s path, overcoming hardship and the lessons she’s learned along the way. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Music of My Mind, from The Wonder of Stevie 03.10.2024

Hey Higher Ground listeners! We're sharing a preview of a new podcast called The Wonder of Stevie, from Higher Ground. You might think you know Stevie Wonder. You might think you know his music. But you’ve never heard it like this. Host Wesley Morris is taking you on a deep-dive through Stevie's Classic Period: five legendary albums back-to-back in just four years. Hear about the record deal that...

Jennifer Hudson 03.07.2024

Dreamgirl, American Idol finalist and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson joins us for the last episode of the season. She takes us back to her early years in the Southside of Chicago where she and her siblings grew up in a kitchen filled with song and where she spent precious late nights with her grandma in front of the TV. Plus, we hear about the poundcake recipe of her childhood. Jennifer Hudson is a r...

Pete Holmes 26.06.2024

Comedian Pete Holmes shares the small ways his mom infused her Lithuanian heritage through food, even if she wouldn’t talk much about the home she knew before having to flee the country and become a refugee. He’ll open up about his journey confronting some dark parts of his past that helped him make better comedy. Plus, we’ll get the recipe for his mom’s apple pie that might look more like a cobbl...

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