Babe Cave
Welcome to Babe Cave, where creative conversations are honest, funny, and anything but boring. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, host Amanda Polick—cookbook and food memoir coach, storyteller, and recovering improv actor—takes you behind the scenes of writing and publishing without the elitist BS. With over 20 years of storytelling experience, Amanda has helped writers land Big 5 book deals, see their work in outlets like Food52 and Edible Communities, and craft stories only they can tell. She’s worked with Michelin-Starred chefs, produced 300+ live segments at Time Inc., and knows the food and publishing worlds inside and out. Now, she’s bringing that expertise and her trademark truth-telling to the mic. Each week, expect solo deep dives into the messy realities of creative life, unfiltered interviews with authors who actually say what they think, and real-world advice for writers ready to stop playing small. Think of it as the writing club you always wanted, minus the pretentious conference vibes. Whether you’re writing your first cookbook, wrestling with imposter syndrome, or dreaming of a food memoir that’s uniquely yours, Babe Cave is your curated playlist of what actually matters. Come for the writing insights, stay for the laughs, stories, and a little rock-and-roll spirit. Perfect for: writers, authors, cookbook and food memoir creators, and creative entrepreneurs. Mature language and topics included—listen at your own discretion. Questions? Visit amandapolick.com
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The Gatekeeping Episode
05/13/2026
The Gatekeeping Episode
No gatekeeping allowed — and that includes yourself. After leaving Jubilee feeling like the real conversations were happening somewhere else, Amanda found them at Copper Books' Book Fair in Nashville. One day, one room, and editors, agents, marketers, and publicists actually telling the truth about what's happening in publishing right now. She's bringing it back to you here, along with a moment of self-reckoning she didn't see coming. In this episode: The honest state of nonfiction publishing right now: who's buying, who isn't, and where cookbooks actually land in that conversation Why a Simon & Schuster editor said one Substack subscriber is worth five to ten Instagram followers to a publisher, and what Amanda actually thinks about that What three publicity powerhouses said about in-house pub teams, and why authors who were promised the moon are learning the hard way to be their own best advocate Allison Trowbridge's reminder that if you have a book idea, you really have a business idea The moment she realized she'd been gatekeeping her own process, and why she's done with that Why the mysterious writer who disappears and reappears with a bestseller is almost never the rule The finger, she admits, was pointing right back at her. Perfect for: writers who want the inside conversation without having to buy the conference ticket, and anyone who's been holding their process a little too close to share. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Writer's Block Episode
05/06/2026
The Writer's Block Episode
Writer's block is real. Amanda Polick believes in it, and she's in it right now. She's deep in revisions on her novel: the one she's been writing for years, the one she wrote 30,000 words of in the wrong direction in 2024, the one she finished a rough draft of last year that she's now going back through with brain fatigue and a spring that got away from her. Instead of hiding from it, she brought it here. In this episode: The one-page flash fiction exercise that gets her out of her own head when she's too stuck to touch the actual manuscript Why she thinks she's lost the habit of romanticizing her writing process — and why she wants it back Olafur Arnalds, instrumental music, and the case for being bored more often What she's noticing in the novel she's currently reading about backstory dumps, exposition monologues, and the things she's actively trying not to do in her own book Why consuming the same content over and over is part of what creates the block in the first place The honest truth about writer's block: sometimes it's real, sometimes it's procrastination, and sometimes you just have to sit down and do the work anyway Perfect for: writers in the thick of a long project who need someone to say out loud that it's hard, and anyone who's been calling it writer's block when they might just need to sit back down. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Jubilee Episode
04/29/2026
The Jubilee Episode
Cherry Bombe's Jubilee is the conference in THE food world. Amanda Polick has been before, took a few years off, and went back this year with an actual game plan and a lot of thoughts she's whispering to her friends later. This episode is her honest debrief: what worked, what left her wanting more, and what she walked away with that had nothing to do with any of the panels. In this episode: Why going in with a loose schedule and a short list of people she wanted to meet changed everything Her real talk on conference programming that stays too surface when the room is full of people who came for the inside baseball The Levain Bakery founders, copycat recipes, and the conversations she wished had gone deeper Why she cried meeting Grace Young and has zero regrets about it The follow-up moves that actually matter after a conference ends The best thing she got out of Jubilee wasn't from the talks. It was the face-to-face time, texting new connections already, and the moment she shared her novel idea and watched people get chills. Perfect for: food writers and creatives weighing whether a conference is worth it, and anyone who's left a big event feeling like they missed something and wanted someone to just say it. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Business of Being a Writer Episode
04/22/2026
The Business of Being a Writer Episode
If you have a book idea, you really have a business idea. That line — from publisher Allison Trowbridge at a Parnassus Books panel — is the jumping-off point for this episode. Amanda Polick gets into what it actually means to treat your writing life like a business: not in a hustle-culture, monetize-everything way, but in a packaging-yourself-correctly, knowing-what-you-bring-to-the-room way. She's been doing her own reckoning with this lately — restarting after a year heads-down on her novel, going back to conferences, cold-emailing people, and asking herself how to pull together all the scattered pieces of a writing career into something coherent. In this episode: Jane Friedman's The Business of Being a Writer and why Amanda tells every single client to get it Why writers being financially sustained by writing alone has always been the exception, not the rule — and what that actually frees you up to do The cold email formula that works almost every time, and why showing up in someone's inbox is more underrated than people think Why literary agents are now paying close attention to Substack — and why putting everything behind a paywall might be costing you more than it earns The Elizabeth Gilbert argument for not being afraid of people stealing your ideas (and Amanda's own version of it) How being a generous champion of other people's work is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for your career Lisa Kron, story consultants, and the reminder that you can just make up a job title and then do it The through line: the best opportunities — the ones that actually move the needle — tend to happen in rooms, not on social media. And you have to be in the rooms first. Perfect for: writers who are great at the craft and resistant to the business side of it, anyone trying to figure out how to package what they already do into something people will pay for, and creatives who know they need to be more visible but aren't quite sure where to start. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com Here's your Apple Podcasts description: If you have a book idea, you really have a business idea. That line, from publisher Allison Trowbridge at a Paths to Publishing panel, is the jumping-off point for this episode. Amanda Polick gets into what it actually means to treat your writing life like a business: not in a hustle-culture, monetize-everything way, but in a packaging-yourself-correctly, knowing-what-you-bring-to-the-room way. She's been doing her own reckoning with this lately — restarting after a year heads-down on her novel, going back to conferences, cold-emailing people, and asking herself how to pull together all the scattered pieces of a writing career into something coherent. In this episode: Jane Friedman's The Business of Being a Writer and why Amanda tells every single client to get it Why writers being financially sustained by writing alone has always been the exception, not the rule...and what that actually frees you up to do The cold email formula that works almost every time, and why showing up in someone's inbox is more underrated than people think Why publishers are now paying close attention to Substack — and why putting everything behind a paywall might be costing you more than it earns The Elizabeth Gilbert argument for not being afraid of people stealing your ideas (and Amanda's own version of it) How being a generous champion of other people's work is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for your career Lisa Kron, story consultants, and the reminder that you can just make up a job title and then do it The through line: the best opportunities — the ones that actually move the needle — tend to happen in rooms, not on social media. And you have to be in the rooms first. Perfect for: writers who are great at the craft and resistant to the business side of it, anyone trying to figure out how to package what they already do into something people will pay for, and creatives who know they need to be more visible but aren't quite sure where to start. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Writing Workshop Episode
04/15/2026
The Writing Workshop Episode
Writing workshops: a combination of ritual scarring and group therapy — or the thing that actually made you a better writer? Amanda Polick is not sure it isn't both. In this episode, Amanda digs into the history and honest reality of the writing workshop, whether creative writing can even be taught, and why she still has PTSD from the ones she's been in. She also revisits the Girls Iowa arc, which she maintains is the most accurate depiction of workshop culture ever put on television. In this episode: The history of creative writing programs in America, from a Harvard drama workshop in 1906 to the GI Bill-fueled MFA explosion — and Iowa's official position that they had nothing to do with producing Flannery O'Connor, Kurt Vonnegut, and Ann Patchett Why Hannah Horvath's Iowa episodes still hold up: the rotted-teeth prodigy, the party meltdown, the non-apology letter, and the relief of almost getting kicked out Stephen King's argument that workshops force you to write with the door open when you need it closed The weekly writing exercise her professor assigned that genuinely changed how she wrote Why "a friend who loves reading" is not the same as a professional developmental editor The bottom line on whether writing can be taught: good writers can be made better. But you still have to be obsessed with it first. Perfect for: writers who've survived a workshop and want someone to commiserate with, anyone curious about MFA culture without wanting to take out the loans, and writers who have ever sat silently while strangers dismantled something they wrote. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Friction Episode
04/08/2026
The Friction Episode
Here's the full description: What if the thing standing between you and your best work isn't a better template — it's not enough resistance? Amanda Polick has been thinking about friction. Not the kind you eliminate, but the kind you seek out: the static electricity of doing hard things anyway, showing up when it's inconvenient, sitting with a sentence until it finally lands. This episode is a case for why writers who are obsessed with removing every obstacle from their process might be accidentally removing the thing that makes the work worth doing. It starts with her handwriting, which has, by her own admission, become garbage. And it ends somewhere much bigger. In this episode: A Dan Koe post on writing without AI, without templates, and without knowing what you're writing yet — and why it stopped her cold Why a template is only valuable after you've sent hundreds of terrible versions first, and what we lose when we skip that part What C.S. Lewis, dense reading, and the lost art of wrestling with a text have to do with becoming a better writer Why she deliberately packed her calendar to the point of hair-on-fire panic, and what she learned from it Poetry as a friction practice: sitting for hours with three sentences, waiting for the fourth to arrive The difference between doing something and doing it done well, and why writers who care about their work feel that gap viscerally The question she's sitting with, and leaving with you, is this: what would it look like to let yourself be a little more uncomfortable? Not in a punishing way. In a this is where the real thing lives way. Perfect for: writers at any stage who are reaching for a template when they should be reaching for a pen, creators who feel the pull toward easy and are suspicious of it, and anyone who's been wondering why the work feels hollow when it comes too fast. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Magazine Revival Episode
04/01/2026
The Magazine Revival Episode
Print never died. The people running it just stopped believing in it first. Amanda Polick — former Cooking Light fellow, Time Inc. segment producer, and longtime magazine obsessive — makes the case for why the magazine revival isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a signal. And if you want to write a book, it might be the most important thing happening in media right now. Amanda unpacks what the resurgence of publications like Saveur, the new Gourmet newsletter, and indie food zines like Tomato Tomato actually means for writers and why she's always believed that every book idea lives inside a magazine pitch. In this episode: What Charles Dickens, Joan Didion, Maya Angelou, and Hunter S. Thompson all have in common (before the books came) What a 2025 Huck magazine piece gets exactly right about why print is culturally ascendant again — and why digital content has trained readers to distrust almost everything they skim The inside story of working at Cooking Light and Time Inc. during the era of rolling layoffs, sold buildings, and a podcast idea nobody wanted to greenlight Why magazine feature writing makes you a better book writer and why writing shorter is actually harder The Central Valley water story that taught her what deep reporting can do for fiction Three books worth tracking down if you want to get serious about long-form writing, plus a resource for finding editors who are actively looking for pitches right now If you've been waiting for permission to fall back in love with writing long, or you've been circling a story idea you haven't known what to do with, this one is for you. Resources mentioned: Tomato Tomato, the new Gourmet newsletter, Saveur, QWOTED, Will Write for Food by Dianne Jacob, Story by Jack Hart, The Essential Feature by Vicki Hay Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com
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The Spring Awakening Episode
03/25/2026
The Spring Awakening Episode
Spring didn't just show up on the calendar — it showed up in the work. Amanda Polick recorded this one on the first official day of spring, and it's exactly what it sounds like: a real-time reckoning with hibernation, self-imposed smallness, and what it finally feels like to wake back up. This isn't a productivity episode. It's a permission slip. Amanda gets honest about a winter spent rethinking major parts of her novel, sitting with creative fatigue instead of pushing through it, and quietly realizing she'd stopped betting on herself in ways she used to do without thinking twice. Cold emails. Conference sign-ups. Relentless connection. Somewhere along the way, that version of herself got comfortable — and comfortable got small. In this episode: Why she's been shifting the language she uses with herself — and what phrases writers reach for that quietly keep them stuck What happened when she stopped treating her network like a to-do list and started letting the dots connect The meme about the world being on fire that actually made her feel better about going after her dreams Why art is the thing people reach for when everything else is crumbling — and what that means for your book The cycle of seasons in every creative project (and why the messy middle really does feel like the dog days of August) If you've been in a winter season and you're not quite sure you're ready to come out of it, this one's for you. And honestly? Amanda's listening back to it too.
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The Hot Garbage Episode
03/18/2026
The Hot Garbage Episode
Hot garbage isn't an insult — it's a practice. Cookbook coach Amanda Polick makes the case for why submitting imperfect, unpolished, still-in-progress work is not just acceptable — it's the whole point. Drawing on her background as an actor and Second City Hollywood graduate, Amanda unpacks why perfectionism stalls more writing projects than any lack of talent ever could, and what it actually takes to break through the wall. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Amanda holds the line on deadlines with every client — and what that teaches writers about their own resistance The Anne Lamott quote on perfectionism that she returns to again and again What the Tadashi Suzuki acting method reveals about creative fatigue (and why friction might be exactly what you need) How writing 30,000 words in the wrong direction on her own novel changed how she coaches The free-writing technique that unlocks the section you've been avoiding Oh — and this episode is itself a live demonstration of the concept. Amanda recorded it after realizing she'd forgotten it was due, with dinner to make and somewhere to be. Consider it proof of her own point. Perfect for: writers at any stage who are overthinking the page, stalling on a submission, or waiting until it's "good enough" to share.
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The 10 Things No One Tells You About Writing & Publishing a Cookbook Episode
03/11/2026
The 10 Things No One Tells You About Writing & Publishing a Cookbook Episode
If you're trying to write a cookbook — or any nonfiction book — and you feel like you don't know what you don't know, this episode is the one. Cookbook and food memoir coach Amanda Polick breaks down the ten things almost nobody tells aspiring cookbook authors before they start: why a book proposal can take six months or longer, what agents are actually looking for, how to think about an advance (and why bigger isn't always better), what happens to your manuscript after you sign a deal, and why fighting for your work is the most important skill you can develop. In this episode, you'll learn: • What a book proposal actually is — and why it's so much more than a summary • How platform really works, and what to do if yours feels too small • How to approach agent meetings without losing yourself in the process • Why your publisher's publicity team is not your whole plan • How to defend your creative choices at every stage Perfect for: aspiring cookbook authors, food writers, nonfiction authors building a platform, and anyone in the proposal or querying stage. Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach, writing mentor, and podcast host based in Nashville. She helps clients land publishing deals.
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The Room of One's Own Episode
03/04/2026
The Room of One's Own Episode
Virginia Woolf published A Room of One's Own in 1929. Nearly 100 years later, the questions she raised — about money, creative freedom, and a woman's right to write — are still the questions women writers are asking. In this solo Women's History Month episode, Amanda Polick takes a deep dive into the essay that inspired the name Babe Cave itself, and unpacks why its central argument is just as urgent in 2026 as it was when Woolf delivered it as a lecture at Cambridge in 1928. In this episode, you'll discover: The story of Shakespeare's hypothetical sister — and why Woolf believed she lives on in every woman who hasn't written her story yet The history of women writing anonymously, and what it means to put your name on your work today Why Aphra Behn — the first English woman to earn her living by writing — deserves your attention (and probably a few flowers) How financial independence and creative freedom have always been the same conversation Why the restrictions facing women writers in 2026 are just as real as 100 years ago, even if they look completely different Perfect for: Women writers, aspiring authors, anyone who has a story they've been afraid to claim, readers of Virginia Woolf, and anyone who needs someone to tell them to keep going. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Having People Over Episode
02/25/2026
The Having People Over Episode
What does hosting a dinner party have to do with writing a book? Everything, it turns out. In this episode, Amanda Polick dives into Chelsea Fagan's Having People Over and draws surprising parallels between the art of entertaining and the writing process — from reclaiming formality in your creative work to why going deeper (not wider) is the move that changes everything. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why we've gotten too casual with our writing — and how to fix it • The "back-pocket recipe" method for finding your creative focus • How to combat the loneliness of writing by inviting people into your process • What the Golden Hour coaching call is and how it can help you take your next book step Perfect for: Aspiring authors, writers stuck in the idea phase, creatives craving community and a clear next step. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Lokelani Alabanza Episode
02/18/2026
The Lokelani Alabanza Episode
Lokelani Alabanza has invented over 300 ice cream flavors, spent five years writing the cookbook she was born to write, and will absolutely change the way you think about what's in your freezer. Loke is a classically trained pastry chef with 20+ years of experience, founder of Saturated Ice Cream (a non-dairy, plant-based brand based in Nashville), and the author of Ice Cream Queen: Flavors from Black America's Past, Present, Future — out June 16, 2026, the week of Juneteenth. The book covers 200 years of Black American ice cream history and includes 100 recipes. In this conversation, they get into: → What it actually took to finish this book — surrendering control, surviving the silence, and betting on herself when no one could guarantee the outcome → Why you have to be a little delusional to see a creative dream through (and why that's not a bad thing) → The mission behind Ice Cream Queen — and what Loke hopes you feel the next time you walk down the ice cream aisle → What the publishing process really looks like from the inside, including the things nobody tells first-time cookbook authors This episode is for the creatives, the dreamers, the people in the messy middle of something they can't quit. If you've ever had a big idea and wondered if you had what it takes to actually finish it — this one's for you. Pre-order Ice Cream Queen: Connect with Loke: Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach, writer, and the host of Babe Cave. She helps creative people get their books into the world through one-on-one coaching, editorial services, and her blog about cookbook proposals and book marketing. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Cookbook Proposal Episode
02/11/2026
The Cookbook Proposal Episode
Your cookbook proposal isn't a rough draft—it's a business plan that will make or break your book deal. After years of coaching aspiring cookbook authors, Amanda Polick has seen the same mistake over and over: brilliant writers with incredible concepts who sabotage themselves by treating their proposal like an afterthought. They think agents will clean it up, or figure it out. But if your proposal doesn't immediately prove you have a clear concept, know your audience, and can market your book, it's dead in the water. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why your proposal is your best opportunity to land a book deal (not your book itself) • What goes into each section of a winning proposal and how to make it sparkle • The marketing and promotional plan mistakes that immediately signal amateur hour • How to get expert guidance without going it alone (including three new coaching options) Perfect for: Aspiring cookbook authors, food bloggers ready to write a book, recipe developers seeking traditional publishing, anyone writing a nonfiction book proposal Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach, writer, and the host of Babe Cave. She helps creative people get their books into the world through one-on-one coaching, editorial services, and her blog about cookbook proposals and book marketing. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Edna Lewis Episode
02/04/2026
The Edna Lewis Episode
In this episode, celebrating Black History Month, Amanda Polick dives into the life of Edna Lewis. A woman who became the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking not by following culinary trends, but by staying true to her roots. Edna's path was anything but linear. She worked as a seamstress making dresses for Marilyn Monroe, threw legendary dinner parties in NYC's bohemian art scene, and eventually became head chef and co-owner of Cafe Nicholson, where literary giants like Tennessee Williams and Eleanor Roosevelt came to eat her roast chicken and chocolate soufflé. But the real turning point came when her editor told her she was telling two different stories—and forced her to choose the one only she could tell. In this episode, discover: → How growing up in Freetown, Virginia (a community founded by formerly enslaved people) shaped everything about Edna's approach to food and community → The epic dinner parties that led to her running one of NYC's most celebrated restaurants with zero professional training → The moment her editor Judith Jones said "you're telling two different stories"—and how that critique led to The Taste of Country Cooking → Why critics insisted her food must be French because they couldn't imagine a Black Southern woman creating something so sophisticated → How to recognize when you're avoiding the work only you can do Perfect for: Writers, creators, food lovers, anyone interested in Southern cuisine and African American culinary heritage, and anyone who needs permission to lean into what feels true Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach who helps food creators develop book proposals and navigate the traditional publishing process. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The You Shouldn't Write a Book Episode
01/28/2026
The You Shouldn't Write a Book Episode
Not everyone who wants to write a cookbook should—and as a cookbook coach, Amanda Polick knows when to say so. In this episode, Amanda shares the red flags she watches for when aspiring authors apply to work with her: the family friend who insisted his wild game cookbook was "all in his head," the woman who tried to negotiate rates while planning to spend $8,000 she didn't have on self-publishing, and the applicant who sent her a Canva movie in French. Listeners will discover: Why "it's all in my head" is the most dangerous phrase in cookbook publishing The platform-building work aspiring authors must complete before writing a book proposal How to know if you need a coach, ghostwriter, or just more time Red flags that indicate someone isn't ready for the publishing process Perfect for: Aspiring cookbook authors, food creators considering traditional publishing, home cooks wondering if they should turn their passion into a book Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach who helps food creators develop book proposals and navigate the traditional publishing process. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Reading Resistance Episode
01/21/2026
The Reading Resistance Episode
Hot take: That novel you're "too busy" to read? It might be the most radical act of resistance you can do right now. Amanda Polick is tired of fiction getting a bad rap. You know the types—"I only read TRUE stories" people who act like novels are somehow less valuable than self-help books. But here's the thing: while 40% of Americans didn't crack open a single book in 2025, our leaders are literally telling us not to believe what we see with our own eyes. Coincidence? Amanda doesn't think so. In this episode, you'll learn: Why reading rom-coms and fantasy actually makes you better at spotting BS in real life (hint: unreliable narrators aren't just in books) The surprisingly low bar for literacy in America—and why it matters when propaganda is everywhere How your brain on fiction is like your brain at the gym (30 minutes = stress relief equivalent to yoga, plus you get smarter) Real talk about why that 900-page book is exactly what your shrinking attention span needs Perfect for: Writers, avid readers, anyone concerned about media literacy and critical thinking, people experiencing reading resistance, educators, and anyone feeling guilty about reading for pleasure during hard times. Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach and writer. She believes in the power of fiction, librarians, and that red vs. white wine debates are elitist nonsense. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Influencing Is Dead Episode
01/14/2026
The Influencing Is Dead Episode
If you've ever felt like you're "too small" to get a cookbook deal or that everyone with a million followers is getting all the opportunities, this episode is for you. Amanda breaks down what's really happening in the influencer world right now. Spoiler: follower count doesn't matter the way it used to. Instagram's algorithm shift means small creators with shareable content are getting discovered regardless of how many followers they have. And that changes everything. This is a warm, honest conversation about building something real in a landscape that's constantly shifting. Whether you're dreaming about a cookbook deal, tired of chasing viral trends, or just trying to figure out how to show up authentically online, this episode will give you permission to do things differently. You'll hear about: Why the algorithm shift to prioritize shares over followers is actually good news for micro-influencers The real story behind follower counts and book sales (and why 5,000 engaged followers can matter more than 500,000 passive ones) Why starting an email list is less scary than you think—and why one client went from zero to 6,000 subscribers in six months What makes your content uniquely yours in a world where everyone's copying everyone else How to think about building a platform that outlasts every algorithm change Perfect for: Food bloggers, aspiring cookbook authors, content creators who want to build something sustainable, and anyone who's ready to stop copying trends and start creating something that's actually theirs. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Un-Launch Episode
01/07/2026
The Un-Launch Episode
What do you do when you've announced a launch... but it feels completely wrong? In this episode of Babe Cave, host Amanda Polick shares why she's "unlaunching" her newly announced group coaching program—and why that might be the bravest move she's made all year. In this conversation, you'll discover: → How to tell the difference between fear-based resistance and genuine misalignment → The wild story of Hillary Rushford: how a business coach with 200K followers lost a six-figure book deal that went to auction (and what it teaches us about creative disappointment) → Why stopping your business to write a book is a critical mistake → The John C. Maxwell framework that separates failed plans from failed vision → Permission to fail publicly—and why it's more powerful than silent suffering Perfect for: Writers, creative entrepreneurs, food creators, anyone navigating the messy reality of book publishing, coaches and service providers launching programs Amanda Polick is a book coach specializing in food writers and cookbook development. She helps creative professionals navigate the disappointments, pivots, and unexpected turns of bringing big projects to life. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Vision Casting Episode
12/31/2025
The Vision Casting Episode
What if the meals you ate this year could reveal exactly where you're stuck—and where you're headed? In this reflective episode of Babe Cave, Amanda Polick shares her signature year-end practice: using the way you set your table as a mirror for how you show up in your creative work and life. Through three powerful questions about the meals that defined your year, you'll uncover patterns you didn't realize were there—and design the table you actually want to sit at in the new year. In this conversation, you'll discover: How a single meal can reveal the comparison patterns and insecurities holding you back in your creative work Why the simplest meals often teach us the most about contentment—and what that means for your writing practice The connection between overcomplicating your plate and overcomplicating your manuscript (and why both fail for the same reason) A vision casting practice that writers and creatives return to year after year Three reflection questions you can journal through tonight to map your fullest year ahead Perfect for: Writers navigating comparison and imposter syndrome, creatives designing their next year's vision, anyone who journals through transitions, food memoir writers and cookbook authors who understand that how we eat reflects how we live. Amanda Polick is a writing coach specializing in cookbooks, food memoirs, and fiction. She helps writers stop shrinking their voices and create work they're proud of. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The IRL Episode
12/24/2025
The IRL Episode
Your content calendar won't save you. Your algorithm hacks won't either. Sometimes the entire trajectory of your business changes because you showed up in a room. In this episode of Babe Cave, Amanda Polick gets honest about hiding behind digital connection—and why face-to-face networking for introverts isn't optional if you want to actually grow your business and community. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why six months of perfect pitch emails lost to one 20-minute in-person conversation The five-mile rule for building authentic community How one woman at a children's bookstore became Amanda's best marketing campaign without any "marketing strategy" The 30-minute rule that makes showing up less overwhelming for introverts Why being in the rooms you're already in matters more than finding new ones Perfect for: Writers, creators, introverts building businesses, anyone tired of chasing algorithms and ready to invest in real human connection Amanda Polick is a writing coach specializing in cookbooks, food memoirs, and fiction. She helps writers stop shrinking their voices and create work they're proud of. Shownotes: Newsletter: Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Great American Novel Episode
12/17/2025
The Great American Novel Episode
What does the "Great American Novel" really mean—and why should writers care? In this episode of Babe Cave, host Amanda Polick explores the surprising history of this literary term and why it matters for anyone with a story to tell. You'll discover how the concept was coined in 1868, why its first example was a book that challenged (not celebrated) America, and how thinking of literature as a mosaic changes everything about whose voices matter. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the Great American Novel hasn't been written yet (and why that's actually good news for writers) How to think of your work as an essential piece of a larger mosaic, not a standalone masterpiece Why taking up space and being specific makes your writing more powerful, not less The connection between examining mistakes and creating truly great art Perfect for: Writers working on memoirs, cookbooks, fiction, or any creative project who struggle with feeling like their story isn't "important enough" or who are afraid to take up space with their specific perspective. Amanda Polick is a writing coach specializing in cookbooks, food memoirs, and fiction. She helps writers stop shrinking their voices and create work they're proud of. Shownotes: Newsletter: Weekly insights on writing and creativity Connect: Instagram | Work with Amanda:
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The Half Baked Harvest Episode
12/10/2025
The Half Baked Harvest Episode
When medical professionals—dietitians trained to identify malnutrition and disordered eating—start flooding social media with concerns about a food influencer with millions of followers who's about to release a "healthy eating" cookbook, we have to talk about it. Tieghan Gerard built Half Baked Harvest into a multimillion-dollar empire with multiple NYT bestselling cookbooks and massive brand deals. But this episode isn't about her success—it's about the responsibility that comes with influence, and what happens when that responsibility gets ignored. In this solo episode, Amanda examines years of accumulated concerns: readers who consistently report recipe failures (high-altitude baking issues that never get addressed), cultural appropriation accusations, a New York Times profile where Tieghan refused to cook for the reporter, and now medical professionals raising red flags about potential health issues while she promotes wellness content. This isn't cancel culture. This is about asking: when do we stop staying silent to be nice? When does our silence become complicity? In this conversation, you'll discover: Why successful food bloggers owe their audiences more than just pretty recipes The Netflix show Apple Cider Vinegar that changed perspectives on food influencer responsibility The difference between trolling and legitimate professional concern How to build a sustainable cookbook career without losing your integrity What responsibility actually means when you have influence Why staying silent isn't always the kind choice Perfect for: Cookbook authors, food bloggers, content creators, anyone building a platform in food media who wants to do it responsibly Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food-memoir coach with 20+ years of storytelling experience, guiding food writers as they shape the stories only they can tell. A former culinary producer whose work appeared across Cooking Light, Time, Southern Living, and Food & Wine, she's been an IACP Awards judge and frequent speaker at industry events like the inaugural M.F.K. Fisher Symposium for Les Dames d'Escoffier. Amanda lives in Nashville, Tennessee now, but a piece of her will be in California forever. Show Notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/half-baked-harvest-episode Newsletter: Weekly insights on cookbook writing and food media at Connect: on Instagram
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The Consistency Episode
12/02/2025
The Consistency Episode
Struggling with writing consistency? You're not alone. In this raw, unfiltered episode, Amanda Polick shares what happened when she almost skipped recording altogether — and why that moment became the perfect catalyst for a conversation about what consistency really means for writers and creatives. After eight years of wrestling with the same novel, Amanda reveals the simple daily word count strategy that's finally helping her reach the finish line. Spoiler: it's not about waking up at 2am or having perfect conditions. In this conversation, you'll discover: → Why tracking 500 words five days a week beats waiting for ideal writing conditions → The myth of needing "full days" to be creative (and what actually works when you're busy) → How to build consistency that gives you freedom instead of adding more pressure → Why 30,000 words in the wrong direction taught more than any writing retreat → The boring routine principle that captures creative lightning better than inspiration ever could Perfect for: Writers, authors, and creatives who are tired of beating themselves up for not being "consistent enough" and ready to build sustainable routines that actually work. Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach, developmental editor, and host of Babe Cave podcast. She helps writers finish their books and build sustainable author platforms without burnout. Resources: Show notes: amandapolick.com/blog/consistency-episode Newsletter signup: The Done Club (6-week group coaching): Connect: on Instagram
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The Community Episode
11/26/2025
The Community Episode
What if the reason your author platform isn't growing has nothing to do with the quality of your content—and everything to do with your willingness to show up imperfectly? Book marketing strategist Stephanie Moon (15 years at Chronicle Books, Harper Collins, Scholastic) joins Amanda to unpack the uncomfortable truths about building author communities. From spending hours on Canva graphics that got zero engagement to understanding why "B-level work" is actually the secret to consistency, this conversation flips traditional platform advice on its head. In this episode, you'll discover: → Why perfectionism is killing your author platform (and the "straight-A student" reframe that changes everything) → The cold email strategy that got one creator invited to Fashion Week—and how authors can adapt it without feeling spammy → What "everyone wants a village but no one wants to be a villager" really means for your book marketing → Why agents and editors ARE watching your content (even when they never engage) → How to build your consistency muscle without burning out or spending hours on every post → The surprising truth about community: it's never convenient, but always worth it Perfect for: Authors struggling with platform building, writers who feel stuck in perfectionism, anyone wondering if their content marketing is working, cookbook authors and memoirists looking to build authentic reader connections About Stephanie Moon: Experienced Book Marketing Strategist with 15 years in publishing, including roles at Chronicle Books, Harper Collins, Scholastic, and Hardie Grant. Two-time IACP judge who has led bestselling campaigns across children's books, cookbooks, and lifestyle titles. She helps authors translate their creative vision into thriving platforms and communities. Special Offer: Stephanie's available for $75 with code BABECAVE through end of 2025! Resources: Show notes: Newsletter signup: Connect: on Instagram Find Stephanie: on Instagram |
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The War of Art Episode
11/19/2025
The War of Art Episode
If you keep asking yourself "Am I really a writer?"—that's your answer. You already are. In this episode inspired by Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, writing coach Amanda Polick tackles the creative resistance that keeps writers stuck in planning mode and afraid to put words on the page. From her own experience resisting personal material in her novel to coaching clients who avoid their most powerful stories, Amanda reveals why fear is actually your creative compass. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the question "Am I really a writer?" proves you are one—and why confident people aren't always the real artists How creative resistance points directly to your most important work (and why the things that scare you most are exactly what you need to write) The difference between amateur and professional mindsets: why waiting to overcome fear keeps you stuck forever Why your "easy" lived experiences are actually your strongest material—and how avoiding them makes your work lifeless Practical strategies for moving past perfectionism and finally finishing that book you've been dreaming about Perfect for: Writers struggling with imposter syndrome, creative professionals facing resistance, aspiring authors who keep starting and stopping projects, anyone tired of treating their writing like a hobby Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach guide influencers and creators through the book writing process. Her clients have landed literary representation and Big 5 publishing deals. Resources: Show notes and full blog post: Newsletter signup: The Done Club 6-week writing workshop: Connect: @amandapolick on Instagram | amandapolick.com
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The Best Of Episode
11/12/2025
The Best Of Episode
Are Michelin stars and James Beard Awards actually worth pursuing? Amanda Polick reveals the uncomfortable politics behind best-of and awards lists—and what they really mean for your career. In this episode, you'll discover: → Why restaurant awards are often more about PR relationships than food quality—and what happened when Amanda's Oakland restaurant picks got killed for "not fitting our demographic" → The truth about the Michelin Guide's Southern expansion and why Top Chef's Gail Simmons says she "hates that cities judge themselves by awards" → How awards impact cookbook deals and platform building (critical intel if you're pursuing a book deal) → How to build your food career and define "best" on your own terms, with or without institutional validation Perfect for: Chefs, food writers, cookbook authors, restaurant owners, and anyone building a career in the food industry Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach who helps food professionals land book deals. She brings insider knowledge from years in food editorial and publishing. Resources: Show notes & full blog post: amandapolick.com/blog-best-of-episode Newsletter: Connect: Instagram: Website:
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The Cookbook Coach Episode
11/05/2025
The Cookbook Coach Episode
Ever wondered what a cookbook coach actually does? (Most people don't even know it's a thing!) In this solo episode, Amanda pulls back the curtain on my work helping food creators and influencers turn their ideas into traditionally published cookbooks. From the detailed intake form that reveals everything about working together, to the 4-month breakthrough moment that every author experiences, this is your insider look at the cookbook publishing process. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ What makes a cookbook proposal so critical (and why you can't skip sections) ✨ Why platform size matters less than you think—and what publishers actually care about ✨ The counterintuitive truth: Being uber-specific about your story makes it MORE universal ✨ Real stories from the coaching process (including the French translation incident) ✨ Why cookbooks are incredible marketing tools even if they don't make you millions Perfect for: Food bloggers, content creators, recipe developers, and anyone dreaming of writing a cookbook who wants to understand the real timeline, investment, and vulnerability required. About Amanda Polick: Amanda is a cookbook coach who has spent 5+ years helping food creators develop proposals that agents and publishers can't ignore. Her blog post on cookbook proposals ranks #2 on Google, and her clients consistently hear from editors that their proposals are "so tight" they can just run with them. Resources: Show notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/cookbook-coach-episode Newsletter signup for weekly writing insights: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/writinggold Instagram:
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The Day Job Episode
10/29/2025
The Day Job Episode
Let's talk about the thing nobody wants to admit: most writers have day jobs. In this episode, Amanda shares the story of how she tried to go full-time with her cookbook coaching business, the months of panic that followed, and how a friend's honesty about her retail job changed everything. You'll discover: → What Jane Friedman reveals about writer income throughout history → Why having a day job doesn't make you less of a "real" writer → How Amanda writes 500 words daily in just 30 minutes while working full-time → Why multitasking is physically impossible and destroying your productivity → Strategic ways to use your job's benefits for your creative career Perfect for: Writers balancing creative work with full-time jobs, anyone struggling with shame about their day job, creatives looking for sustainable career strategies About Amanda Polick: Amanda is a cookbook coach and host of Babe Cave - a podcast inspired by Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own." She believes in permission slips for doing what you need to do to build your creative life. Show Notes: Newsletter: Connect:
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The Audacity Episode
10/22/2025
The Audacity Episode
What if making the WRONG creative choice is better than making the safe one? In this episode, Amanda looks at creative audacity—the willingness to take bold risks even when you don't know if they'll work. From LA acting auditions to Elizabeth Gilbert's rejection story to why "easy to read" is actually a superpower, this episode is about leading creative conversations instead of following them. Discover: Why bold choices (even wrong ones) beat playing it safe every time The Elizabeth Gilbert story that proves timing matters more than "fixing" your work How your personality becomes your unique selling point (stop hiding it) Marie Forleo's "everything is figureoutable" framework for handling rejection Perfect for: Writers and creatives ready to trust themselves, anyone tired of playing it safe, people who want to lead conversations instead of following trends Flodesk: (ends November 28th) Show Notes: Newsletter: Connect: |
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