Podcast · Arts & Books

Your Mama’s Kitchen

by Michele Norris · English · Arts & Books

“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 Acast Productions. Every week, hear guests like Michelle Obama, Conan O'Bri

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 47 minNew

How Heritage Becomes Flavor with Marcus Samuelsson

Chef Marcus Samuelsson joins Your Mama’s Kitchen to reflect on how his Ethiopian roots and Swedish upbringing shaped his relationship with food, culture, and home. He shares how his personal experiences inform his approach to hospitality at Red Rooster, where he’s made it his mission to ensure everyone feels welcome, represented, and like they belong at the table. Marcus also discusses his upcoming book, Back to Green: Rediscovering a World of Delicious, Healthy Eating, arriving October 20, 2026. The book explores plant-forward cooking traditions from around the world, celebrating the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S3 · E2 · 6 Oct 2026 · 59 min
Peacefully Bringing 65 People to the Table with Tony Shalhoub and Josie Adams
How do you share a house, a kitchen, and a week with 60+ relatives and still want to do it again next year? Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub and his daughter Josie Adams, co-authors of the upcoming memoir "We Thought They'd Never Leave", share their family's rules for curating the perfect family week under one roof. It's a primer for anyone with a beach house, a holiday crowd, or a family that wants to stay close. Tony also takes us back to his childhood kitchen in Green Bay, with his nine siblings, and a basement stove where his aunties baked Syrian bread for the whole neighborhood. Plus,…
S3 · E1 · 29 Sep 2026 · 43 min
From Korea to Queens: Min Jin Lee on the American Dream
Your Mama’s Kitchen is back! We’re kicking off our new season with best-selling author Min Jin Lee (“Pachinko”), whose latest book, “American Hagwon,” hits shelves on Sept 29. In today’s episode, Min Jin takes us inside the kitchen in Elmhurst, Queens where her family built a new life after immigrating from Korea. Around the table, food became a language for everything they were carrying: pride, sacrifice, exhaustion, and the weight of starting over in America. It’s an intimate story of immigration, and how the kitchen table shaped her writing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
S3 · 22 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Coming Soon: Your Mama's Kitchen Season 3
Your Mama's Kitchen is cooking up a whole new season of stories - and it all starts with one simple question that opens the door to so much more: "Tell me about your mama's kitchen." Every week, acclaimed journalist Michele Norris (NPR's All Things Considered, MSNOW) invites guests to explore the complexities of family, and how their earliest culinary experiences shaped their personal and professional lives. Your Mama’s Kitchen is a podcast about cuisine and culture, ingredients and identities, and the meals and memories that make us who we are. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe to…
E90 · 9 Dec 2025 · 55 min
How Carla Hall Went from Theater Kid to Top Chef
Top Chef star and renowned cooking show judge Carla Hall takes us back to the Sunday Suppers she grew up going to at her grandmother's house outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Carla details the unconventional road she took to becoming a chef, including being a theater kid and modeling in Paris. She also opens up about learning of her grandmother's dementia through the way she made her mac & cheese. Plus, we learn how to make her family's extra special pound cake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E89 · 25 Nov 2025 · 35 min
Happy Thanksgiving From Your Mama's Kitchen
On this special Thanksgiving episode of Your Mama's Kitchen, we take a walk down memory lane to reminisce on some of the greatest holiday hosting tips we've gotten from our guests. Gayle King shares her secret to a tender turkey, Stephen and Evie Colbert talk about their cheesy holiday tradition, Ina Garten shares her personal hosting musts and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E88 · 18 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Padma Lakshmi’s Take on American Cuisine
Former Top Chef host and best-selling author Padma Lakshmi takes us back to her early childhood in Chennai, India where she was raised by her grandparents and then to New York City where she would skate to meet her mom at a falafel cart for lunch as a teen. She opens up about why it's so important now more than ever to appreciate and redefine what it means to be an 'American' dish. Plus, she teaches us how to make her mama's Yogurt Rice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E87 · 11 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Phil Rosenthal is Anthony Bourdain “If He Was Afraid of Everything”
Food adventurer Phil Rosenthal joins the show to talk about his childhood, his love of fluffy eggs, and how his breakout hit, Everybody Loves Raymond, came to be. He reminisces about the trip to Paris that changed his life and what he thinks money should really be spent on. Plus, he previews what’s on the menu at his new Los Angeles diner with Nancy Silverton—including an ode to his parents’ nightly Egg Cream, recipe included. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E86 · 4 Nov 2025 · 55 min
Life Is a Party and They Are The Hosts: A Conversation with Brie Larson & Courtney McBroom
Oscar-winning actress, Brie Larson, and her best friend, chef and dinner party guru Courtney McBroom, drop by to talk about their new cookbook Party People — a love letter to low-stakes, high-fun get togethers. The duo swap stories about their shared obsession with hosting (and, unexpectedly, Taco Bell!), and how Brie's mom, an over-the-top party planner, sparked her lifelong love of bringing people together. They also reminisce about working side by side on Lessons in Chemistry, where Courtney was head food consultant and Brie learned to see cooking in a whole new light. Plus, they share…
E85 · 28 Oct 2025 · 56 min
How a Crush on a Cute Guy Kickstarted Nancy Silverton’s Culinary Empire
In this special episode, we join James Beard Award-winning chef, baker and author Nancy Silverton in her new beautiful restaurant, Osteria Mozza, in Washington DC. Nancy takes us back to her childhood kitchen in Southern California where her mama refused to take shortcuts -- swearing off "convenience cooking" and microwave meals. She reveals that her cooking journey started after a crush she had in college and talks about how she re-learns to love cooking every year in her kitchen in Italy. Plus, we learn how to make her mama's Brisket al Fomo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
E84 · 21 Oct 2025 · 58 min
Reggie Watts Has Made a Career Out of Being a Weirdo
Comic, musician, and actor Reggie Watts comes on the show to talk about his multi-faceted life. From being born in Germany to growing up in Montana with his French mother and Air Force Sergeant father, Reggie learned the power of being the oddball. Reggie showcases his accents and the works that inspire him. And him and Michele talk about why he tries not to consume sugar, and how to use a sugar alternative for his mother's Crepes Suzette recipe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E83 · 20 Oct 2025 · 33 min
The Second Opinion: It’s Not Hysteria! ft. Dr. Karen Tang
Did you know the word hysteria comes from the Greek word hystera , meaning uterus? On this episode, Dr. Karen Tang and Dr. Sharon chat about the history and evolution of Obstetrics Gynecology, unpack different subspecialties, and discuss the myth of the "wandering womb". Plus, Dr. Tang shares experiences patients may have on the operating table, surgical options for reproductive health, and why you may want to choose a minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic conditions. Board Certified OBGYN and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon, Dr. Karen Tang, reaches millions of people every month…
E82 · 14 Oct 2025 · 58 min
How Tig Notaro Learned to be Funny Through it All
Comedian, actress and writer Tig Notaro joins us to share some of the most valuable lessons she learned from the darkest times in her life and how she uses comedy to get through it all. She dives into the nature of Southern eccentricities and how her mother's headstrong personality shaped her own sense of humor. Plus, she shares how to make her mama's vegan gumbo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E81 · 7 Oct 2025 · 50 min
Scott Evans' Mama: We Are Not The Kool Aid House
Access Hollywood and House Guest host Scott Evans, brings us into the Indiana houses he lived in during his early years. From a young age, Scott felt that he was destined to be in showbiz. He also shared all the different ways his mother taught him tough love — by teaching him how to make better eggs and what he should NOT gift women on Christmas. Plus, we learn how to make his mama’s Lasagna. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E80 · 30 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Erika Alexander's Journey From Starlight Inn to Stardom
Actress, producer and Living Single star, Erika Alexander opens up about her childhood home, which was at one point room in the Starlight Motel off Route 66. She shares how the foundation of poverty shaped her creative journey and resilience as an adult and how she found comfort in the flavors of a TV dinner. Plus, we learn how to make her mama's Crispy Tuna Salmon Croquettes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E79 · 23 Sep 2025 · 58 min
How Coach Craig Robinson Almost Burned His House Down
Basketball coach and podcast host Craig Robinson shares his side of the story on what went on in the childhood kitchen he shared with his sister, Michelle Obama in the South Side of Chicago. He talks about the lessons he learned at the kitchen table when his family wasn’t very well off and how his mother was always a big supporter — Even when he and his sister started a kitchen fire as kids. Plus, he tells us how to make his mama’s Fried Chicken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E78 · 16 Sep 2025 · 45 min
Kardea Brown's Shrimp and Grits Starts with Bacon
American chef and T.V. host Kardea Brown tells her family’s stories of Edisto Island and the Gullah Lowcountry in South Carolina. Kardea talks to Michele about the unique culture of the Lowcountry and how Gullah cuisine and farming has historical ties to West Africa. Plus, Kardea shares how her ancestral history continues to drive her purpose and her cooking show, as she works hard to preserve old traditions from being erased. On top of mentioning her delicious cheesecake recipe, Kardea officially shares with us her recipe for Shrimp and Grits, done Gullah style! Hosted on Acast. See…
E76 · 9 Sep 2025 · 1 hr
How America Revealed Itself to Ocean Vuong
Novelist and poet, Ocean Vuong, traces his family’s path from Vietnam to a refugee camp in the Philippines to a new life in Connecticut. He reflects on the beauty and the brutality of American fast food, and how long days on a tobacco farm shaped both his writing and his sense of self. Plus, he shares his family’s recipe for canh chua —a delicious Vietnamese soup that’s less time-intensive than pho ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E75 · 29 Jul 2025 · 50 min
Jurnee Smollett Clocks in as the Flavor Flav of the Family
Actress Jurnee Smollett talks lessons in activism and creativity from her family. Being one of six children, Jurnee recounts how her mother was able to juggle care for all the kids while prioritizing their creative spark. From the Smollett's Swiss-Family-Robinson-style upbringing, to her mother befriending craft services for custom meals, Jurnee paints the picture of her childhood as a young actress to now. And she share's her mother's recipe for 7th Ward Gumbo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E74 · 22 Jul 2025 · 52 min
Sam Sanders on the Healing Powers of Smothered Chicken
Journalist, podcast host and radio star Sam Sanders takes us back to his roots in Texas, where everyone one in his house was a cook and there was a local "rabbit" man who sold all kinds of meat from his truck; including possum. Sam opens up about a special moment he shared with his mom as she was recovering from stroke, while cooking her special Smothered Chicken Recipe. Check out Sam's podcast The Sam Sanders Show and Vibe Check. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E73 · 15 Jul 2025 · 49 min
Molly Jong-Fast on Alcoholism, Dementia and a Mom Addicted to Fame
Michele chats with author, journalist, and political commentator Molly Jong-Fast. Molly's new book, How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir depicts the emotionally complex relationship she had with her mother, feminist icon Erica Jong. Through sobriety at 19, to stepping out of her mother's overbearing shadow, and finally parenting her mother through dementia, Molly bares it all. Plus she shares her recipe for a decadently sweet Baked Alaska! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E72 · 8 Jul 2025 · 57 min
How Pyet DeSpain Won Next Level Chef By Embracing Her Roots
Chef, cookbook author, and winner of Next Level Chef, Pyet DeSpain, shares how her Mexican and Native American roots shaped her extraordinary culinary career. Pyet talks about growing up on the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma, debunks misconceptions about Native culture and cuisine, and pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like behind the scenes of a cooking competition show. Plus, she shares her recipe for Blue Corn Strawberry Tamales with Coconut Horchata Sauce! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E71 · 1 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich History
Bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians , Kevin Kwan, reflects on his “Huck Finn-style” childhood in Singapore. He shares the real-life inspirations behind Crazy Rich Asians (including a memory from director Jon Chu’s own life that made it into the film) and regales Michele with some truly extraordinary family stories. Plus, he shares a delicious cross-cultural recipe for curry puffs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E70 · 24 Jun 2025 · 55 min
The Borinquen Family that Keeps Lala Anthony Grounded
Actress, producer, best selling author, and previous MTV VJ, Lala Anthony talks about her Brooklyn upbringing. She shares how boricua food was a constant in her household, the power of her lively Puerto Rican family, and how a cross country leap landed her right into the world of tv and radio. Plus, she shares her family’s Arroz con Pollo recipe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E69 · 17 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Priya Krishna: Food Writer in Disguise
Journalist, author and New York Times critic Priya Krishna joins to dive deeper into the kitchen that inspired her cookbook Indian-ish . She talks through her mom's weeknight dinner routine (all done in a pristine white linen shirt), traveling to new cities and countries for free, and the lengths she goes to avoid being recognized at restaurants. Plus she shares her mom's quick and simple Dal recipe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E68 · 10 Jun 2025 · 43 min
Karen Pittman on Acting Against the Odds
In this special, live-taped episode actress Karen Pittman join Michele on stage to talk about her journey from Nashville to her career in Hollywood. She revisits the childhood kitchen where she watched her parents' fraught dynamics play out and where she learned to build worlds of her own imagination. Plus, we learn how to make her mama's buttery cinnamon rolls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E67 · 3 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Malika Andrews Found her Sportscasting Voice in the Kitchen
ESPN Sports journalist Malika Andrews takes us back to her childhood kitchen in Oakland, California where she learned to speak up and raise her eyebrow (when the situation called for it). She opens up about what it was like to grow up in a multicultural household and how she dealt with not looking like her personal superhero -- her mom. We hear about how Malika strives to be an inspiration for the next generation of young women hoping to break into sports. Plus, we learn how to not skimp on the butter when making her mama's special Carrot Cake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
E66 · 27 May 2025 · 58 min
The Restaurant That Made Antoni Porowski Proud to Be Polish
Antoni Porowski, food expert on Netflix's Queer Eye and host of the new show No Taste Like Home , joins Michele to talk about being Polish-Canadian and why he was never allowed in his kitchen growing up. He opens up about why he hasn't spoken to his mother in several years, and how cooking and a shared passion for food connects them to each other. We also learn about the iconic restaurant that helped him settle into his Polish identity and the secret behind a classic Polish recipe: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E65 · 23 May 2025 · 47 min
Tom Colicchio on Hunger, Food Deserts, and a Broken System, from Assembly Required
Introducing Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. Each week, Stacey breaks down the biggest issues we face into digestible, actionable items, introduces us to the warriors for good already working towards solutions, strategizes, and shares tangible ways to get involved. In this episode, Stacey talks to renowned chef, activist, and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio about why the United States has a food insecurity crisis despite being the richest country in the world — and why this issue is especially pressing with an incoming Trump administration. They discuss what can be done to address the…
E64 · 20 May 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Why You Don’t Stand Next to Brad Meltzer in a Lighting Storm
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 recipe from the famous Miami restaurant and Civil Rights landmark, Jumbo’s! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Your Mama’s Kitchen

Your Mama’s Kitchen is a English arts & books podcast from Michele Norris. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Michele Norris
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1675546694
Rights: Michele Norris

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