From Tech to Table - Maxine Sharf (Food Blogger of Maxi's Kitchen)
Release Date: 05/20/2025
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The Integrated Artist In Flow: Art, Movement, and Meaning with Joan Chromei (Artist)
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The Inner Dojo: Awakening the Power That’s Always Been Within You - Jennifer Cassetta (Author and Motivational Speaker)
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Rewriting Your Darkest Chapter Into Inspiration with Lara Love Hardin (NYT Bestselling Author)
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Lara's Website In this powerful conversation, Lara Love Hardin joins Courtney “Coco” Plank to explore how connection—through stories, relationships, and community—can become a lifeline. Lara shares her journey from incarceration to authorship, reflecting on health struggles, personal reckoning, and the profound transformation that comes from being truly seen. Together, they discuss the power of memoir to build empathy, the difference between punishment and healing, and how authentic connection can interrupt cycles of harm. Lara also introduces The Gemma Project, her...
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How to Help your Tween Thrive in the Digital Age -Connected, Not Consumed with Juliette Blake (Founder of Moxies)
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In this Project Connection episode, Coco speaks with Juliette Blake, founder of Moxies, about how to help young girls build healthy, meaningful connection in a digital world. Juliette shares why ethical tech matters, how the attention economy impacts girls’ development, and what it looks like to design online spaces that prioritize safety, autonomy, and well-being over engagement. Together, they explore digital literacy as a relational life skill, the role of parents and community in shaping girls’ online experiences, and how open conversations about technology can foster trust,...
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Want Better Sex? Start Here - Connection and Intimacy Coach, Dan Purcell (Get Your Marriage On)
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In this episode, Courtney sits down with Dan, founder of Get Your Marriage On, for an honest, energizing conversation about intimacy, desire, and what it really takes to keep passion alive in long-term relationships. Together, they unpack the complexities of sexual connection—from the ways our cultural and family histories shape intimacy, to how couples can navigate the very normal experience of desire discrepancy without shame or blame. Dan shares the personal journey that led him to develop his intimacy app, offering practical and playful tools that help couples communicate better,...
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How Friendships Make Us Better Parents (and Humans!) with Olivia Reighley (Master Mom)
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How Healing Your Body Can Change Your Life — with Sally Plank, LCSW (Therapist)
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The Cost of Not Creating with Isabel Cowles Murphy (Writer)
Project Connection
Check out Isabel's amazing work In this episode of Project Connection, Coco Plank sits down with writer and former lawyer Isabel Cowles Murphy to explore the rich, often messy intersection of creativity, motherhood, and self-expression. Together, they unpack what it means to hold space for personal ambition while raising a family, and how the act of creating itself becomes a vital measure of well-being. Isabel shares candid reflections on redefining success, letting go of societal expectations, and the courage it takes to nurture one’s creative voice amidst the noise of responsibility...
info_outlineIn this deeply nourishing episode, Coco sits down with food blogger and culinarty creator Maxine Sharf, the creater of Maxi's Kitchen, to explore her journey of transformation—from a career in tech 💻 to finding purpose in the kitchen 🍽️. After an unexpected moment, Maxine followed the quiet whispers of intuition 🌬️ and embraced an opportunity to turn cooking into a form of healing, meditation 🧘♀️, and joy for so many others.
Maxine unravels the beautiful, complex threads of connection that led her home—to herself, her purpose, and her kitchen. She opens up about:
💫 Divine timing and trusting the unknown
👩👧👦 The unshakeable bonds with her mother and her supportive husband
🕯️ The grounding rituals that carry her through the tough world of social media
📖 The creative process behind recipes that comfort and connect
🧡 The importance of vulnerability, community, and everyday moments
Now a beloved recipe developer and content creator, Maxine shares how every sweet, sour, and sacred experience infused her life—and her dishes—with deep meaning. This episode is a celebration of nourishment—for the body, soul, and calling. 🌿🍋
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Maxine Scharf
03:01 Maxine's Journey into Food Blogging
05:54 The Impact of Layoff on Career Choices
08:59 Cooking as a Meditative Experience
11:48 The Creative Process in Recipe Development
15:04 Finding Balance in a Creative Career
17:59 Childhood Memories and Cooking
21:00 The Importance of Connection and Community
24:05 Staying Grounded in a Busy Life
27:03 Navigating Loneliness in a Creative Career
29:56 Collaborations and Community in Cooking
32:29 The Power of Collaboration
34:26 Lessons from Relationships
35:14 Creating a Space of Comfort and Joy
36:27 Embracing Vulnerability
39:21 The Journey of Self-Discovery
44:06 Impacting Lives Through Passion
49:22 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
52:13 Navigating Uncertainty and Control
Sound Bites
"I always wanted her to take a picture."
"Maybe this is my chance to chase my dream."
"I feel like I was meant to do this."
"Cooking is a meditative experience for me."
"Cooking has always been a safe space for me."
"I try not to be online a lot."
"I need to remind myself to branch out."
"I find joy in collaborations."
"I told Doug that I loved him first."
"The universe shows up through people."