Cake For Dinner

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Ryan Soave, trauma expert, therapist, speaker, and friend, for a powerful conversation about trauma, addiction, parenting, relationships, emotional discomfort, and the nervous system.
Ryan opens up about how his own years of pain, alcoholism, drug addiction, treatment, and recovery led him into trauma work. He explains that trauma is not always about one major life event. Sometimes it is about the way we were shaped, the environments we grew up in, and the survival patterns we carried into adulthood.
This conversation explores the difference between big T and little T trauma, why labeling everything as trauma can sometimes move people into a victim state, and how healing begins when we understand the ways our past still drives our present. Ryan also breaks down how unresolved trauma can keep the body in a heightened stress response, why so many people hold stress in their shoulders, jaw, neck, sleep, and nervous system, and why living in survival mode over time can take a toll on the body.
Ryan also shares one of the core ideas behind his work: as human beings, we often confuse discomfort with threat, and we react to emotional discomfort as if we are in actual danger. From there, the conversation moves into addiction, relief-seeking, parenting from fear, social media anxiety, marriage, rupture and repair, men’s emotional vulnerability, purpose, and his upcoming book concept around learning how to feel bad.
This episode is honest, deep, funny, emotional, and incredibly useful for anyone interested in trauma healing, recovery, parenting, relationships, nervous system regulation, or understanding why we react the way we do.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Ryan Soave: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.soave

What if the reason you can’t stop overthinking isn’t because something is wrong with you — but because you’re trying to control everything?
In this episode of Cake for Dinner, Daniel Chidiac, bestselling author of Stop Letting Everything Affect You, joins the conversation for an honest look at overthinking, emotional reactivity, comparison, self-sabotage, relationships, gratitude, and what it actually takes to let go.
Daniel explains why overthinkers can often be highly driven and passionate people — but why that same intensity can become destructive when we convince ourselves that thinking about a problem long enough will somehow solve it. Sometimes, the solution only appears when we create enough space to step away.
They also unpack our obsession with control and external validation, how social media comparison can quietly pull us further away from our own dreams, and why constantly measuring our timeline against someone else’s can leave us frozen instead of motivated. Daniel offers a simple approach: protect your attention, stay in your lane, and remember that someone else’s success doesn’t take anything away from yours.
The conversation goes deeper into relationships and emotional awareness, including why growth sometimes requires admitting that you may not be completely right, how ego can disguise itself as certainty, and why healthy relationships should occasionally challenge us rather than constantly validate us.
They also talk about grief, personal responsibility, gratitude, manifestation, finding peace in the present, and learning that moving forward doesn’t require forgetting what happened to you.
And for anyone currently trapped in anxiety or obsessive thinking, Daniel shares one incredibly simple question:
“How is what I’m choosing to think about benefiting my life?”
Sometimes you don’t need another answer. You need enough distance from the problem to see your life again.
Most importantly, Daniel leaves anyone going through a difficult season with one reminder:
You’re going to smile again.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Daniel Chidiac: https://www.instagram.com/danielchidiac

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Dani Beckerman, founder of Jars by Dani, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand from the ground up — and what happens when it's time to walk away from something you've spent more than a decade creating.
Dani started Jars by Dani almost by accident at just 22 years old. What began with baking in her New York City apartment and sharing her creations on Instagram quickly grew into a recognizable dessert brand shipping thousands of jars to customers.
But behind the success was an enormous amount of hustle. Dani shares stories of sleepless nights, baking out of her fifth-floor walk-up, hand-delivering orders throughout New York City, putting nearly everything she had back into the business, and figuring out how to scale as she went.
After nearly 12 years, changing economics and shrinking margins ultimately forced Dani to make the incredibly difficult decision to close Jars by Dani.
Now she's entering an entirely new chapter.
Dani opens up about starting over as a more experienced entrepreneur, building a new company in the kids and pediatric space, rediscovering her love of creating, and navigating entrepreneurship while raising two young children.
We also talk about motherhood, ambition, guilt, social media, comparison, gratitude, maintaining your identity outside of being a parent, and why Dani wants her children to see her building something meaningful.Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Dani Beckerman : https://www.instagram.com/danibeckerman

We sat down with Dr. Stephanie Rogers, a board-certified geriatric and internal medicine physician, associate chief of geriatrics clinical programs at UCSF, and the voice behind Age Well with Dr. Steph.
Dr. Rogers shares practical, evidence-based insights on aging, dementia prevention, brain health, muscle loss, strength training, GLP-1s, social connection, chronic stress, caregiving, and what women can actually do to stay strong, independent, and mentally sharp as they age.
This conversation challenges the fear-based narrative around aging. Dr. Rogers explains why life satisfaction can actually improve as we get older, why memory decline is not inevitable, and why two of the biggest dementia prevention factors may surprise you: hearing loss and LDL cholesterol.
We also discuss why muscle is one of the most important parts of aging well, especially for women, and why strength training becomes even more important for anyone using GLP-1 medications. Dr. Rogers also breaks down the overlooked power of social connection, why she prefers the term health span over longevity, and how chronic stress impacts the brain and body over time.
If you are a woman in midlife, caring for aging parents, thinking about your long-term health, or simply overwhelmed by all the wellness information online, this episode gives you simple, grounded takeaways you can actually use.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Dr Stephanie Rogers : https://www.instagram.com/agewellwithdrsteph/

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Sydney Sadick, media entrepreneur, author, fashion expert, and founder of Spotlight magazine.
Sydney started a fashion blog as a teenager and turned that early passion into a career that has included interviewing some of the biggest names in the world, appearing on major television shows, writing a bestselling book, and building her own luxury lifestyle publication.
In this conversation, Sydney shares how she got her start at just 16 years old, why she has always been motivated by a challenge, and what it really takes to create your own opportunity in a competitive industry. She opens up about growing up in a family with a strong work ethic, learning to hustle early, and building a business in a media world where people often say print is dying.
Sydney also talks about interviewing celebrities, working red carpets, launching Spotlight magazine, mentoring younger women, and why success is never as overnight as it may look from the outside.
This episode is for anyone with a big idea, a dream career, or the desire to build something of their own. Sydney’s story is a reminder that ambition, grit, and consistency still matter — and that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you create yourself.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Sidney Sadick : https://www.instagram.com/sydneysadick/
 

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Dr. Doris Day, one of the country’s leading dermatologists, scientist, author, and pro-aging advocate, for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what really happens to women’s skin during perimenopause and menopause.
Dr. Day breaks down why so many women feel like their face changes overnight, what collagen loss actually means, and why aging gracefully should never be confused with aging helplessly. From dry skin, breakouts, facial volume loss, and wrinkles to posture, facial expression, inflammation, and hormone changes, this conversation goes far beyond surface-level skincare.
We also get into Sculptra, fillers, lasers, Botox, retinol, sunscreen, collagen supplements, red light therapy, cellulite treatments, and what women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond should actually spend their money on — and what they can skip.
This episode is empowering, educational, and deeply reassuring for any woman who has looked in the mirror during midlife and thought, “What is happening to my face?”
Dr. Day reminds us that it is not too late, 45 or 50 is still young, and there is so much we can do to support our skin, our health, and our confidence as we age.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Doris Day: https://www.instagram.com/drdorisday/

What can death teach us about truly living?
Bestselling author and spiritual leader Rabbi Steve Leder joins the conversation to share what he has learned from standing beside hundreds of dying people, officiating more than a thousand funerals and eventually experiencing the devastating loss of his own father.
Rabbi Leder explains why professional experience with grief could not prepare him for the moment he placed his hand on his father’s chest and confronted his own mortality. That experience changed the way he understood death, memory, compassion and the preciousness of time.
Together, they explore why grief is not a linear process, but an ocean of waves that can return without warning. Rabbi Leder shares why we should stop trying to overpower those waves and instead allow them to wash over us until we are ready to stand again.
The conversation also examines parenting through crisis, addiction and recovery, imposter syndrome, mental health, gratitude and the people who leave permanent fingerprints on our lives. Rabbi Leder offers a powerful reminder that suffering is never worth it—but we should not allow it to become worthless.
Most importantly, he reveals what he has learned from holding the hands of dying people: they are often not afraid of death. Their greatest concern is usually whether the people they love will be okay after they are gone.
This is an honest, comforting and unforgettable conversation about grief, purpose and learning to live before our time runs out.
 
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 
Follow Rabi Steve: https://www.instagram.com/steve_leder/
 
00:00 Meet Rabbi Steve Leder00:32 When Grief Became Personal05:05 Confronting His Own Mortality08:05 Why Pain Changes Us10:36 How Loss Changed His Work13:15 Grief Comes in Waves16:40 Carrying the People We Lose20:46 Finding Meaning After Suffering24:41 From Troubled Teen to Rabbi31:12 The Power of Gratitude34:02 What Makes Someone Unforgettable38:35 Parenting and Imposter Syndrome43:10 You Only Have 1,000 Sundays47:17 Why the Dying Aren’t Afraid

OCD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions in the world—and it's far more than being organized or liking things a certain way.
In this episode, OCD specialist Kristina Orlova shares her own journey of living with undiagnosed OCD for years, believing she was simply "losing her mind" before finally receiving answers. Together, we unpack what OCD actually looks like, why intrusive thoughts become so terrifying, the hidden subtypes most people have never heard of, and why reassurance often makes OCD worse instead of better.
Whether you're living with OCD yourself, supporting a loved one, or trying to understand what someone is experiencing, this conversation offers practical education, hope, and a roadmap toward recovery.
We also dive deep into Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD, and explain how it helps people reclaim their lives one step at a time.
00:00 Introduction
02:05 Meet OCD Specialist Kristina Orlova
02:50 Kristina's Personal OCD Journey
05:20 What Intrusive Thoughts Actually Feel Like
08:03 Why OCD Is So Different From Everyday Thoughts
10:48 Why OCD Is So Misunderstood
11:39 What OCD Really Looks Like
16:03 How Parents Should Respond to OCD
20:40 Why People Get OCD Wrong
23:13 Lesser-Known Types of OCD
25:12 Signs Parents Should Watch For
30:24 Why Traditional Talk Therapy Can Make OCD Worse
32:17 How Exposure Therapy (ERP) Works
38:48 A Real Success Story With ERP
42:00 When Should You See an OCD Specialist?
44:30 Final Thoughts & Resources
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 
Follow Kristina: https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/

For 20 years, Erin struggled with eating disorders and tied her worth to soccer, her body, relationships, and being chosen. In this episode, she opens up about the shame she carried, the story she almost never shared, and how telling the truth became the beginning of her freedom.
 
Erin also shares how healing changed the way she parents, how she thinks about alcohol and restriction, what divorce taught her about choosing herself, and why women need safe spaces to talk about the things they usually hide.
 
This is a conversation about self-worth, motherhood, starting over, and the power of saying the thing out loud.
 
00:00 — Intro
00:47 — Eating Disorders, Identity, and Self-Worth
03:29 — Choosing Herself Through Divorce and Motherhood
07:00 — Alcohol, Restriction, and Redefining Sobriety
13:35 — From Fitness Content to Mental Health and Therapy
17:16 — Feeling Pain Instead of Escaping It
19:39 — Parenting, Body Image, and What Kids Really See
25:26 — Sharing the Story She Almost Hid
27:40 — Turning Pain Into the Blue Butterfly Foundation
33:20 — Moving From Comfortable to Purpose-Driven
42:16 — Dating, Divorce, and Becoming Her Authentic Self
46:13 — How Vulnerability Became Her Purpose
50:06 — Erin’s Podcast, Books, Foundation, and Where to Find Her
 
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1
Follow Erin: https://www.instagram.com/iamerinwashington/

Gina Zapanta joins Cake for Dinner to talk about empowerment, motherhood, survival, and the moment women stop waiting for permission to become who they were always meant to be.
Gina is an attorney, entrepreneur, founder of Empowered With Gina, and a woman who has built a community around helping women reclaim their agency, trust their intuition, and break free from cultural and societal programming. What began as small virtual meetups during COVID eventually grew into a platform where women could find community, resources, and the reminder that permission was never something they had to earn — it was already within them.
Gina also opens up about one of the most terrifying chapters of her life: being diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer while seven months pregnant. She shares the fear, the survival instinct, the fight to protect her daughter, and how that experience shaped the way she now views resilience, motherhood, and purpose.
This episode is about breaking the mold, rewriting the language we use about ourselves, choosing a powerful mindset, and realizing that life does not end at 40 or 50 — for many women, that’s when launch day begins.
00:00 Introduction00:04 What Empowered With Gina Really Means04:08 Growing Up Feeling “Othered”06:10 Diagnosed With Cancer While Pregnant07:27 “Who’s Gonna Raise My Daughters?”08:21 PTSD, Anxiety & Finding Opportunity in Pain10:13 Why Gina Helps Women Rise12:13 The Power of Language14:37 Powerful Mindset vs. Powerless Mindset16:20 Intuition, Jealousy & Breaking Free21:21 Letting Go of Ego & People-Pleasing22:00 Motherhood Without Martyrdom27:50 Where to Find Gina
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginazapanta_/