Cake For Dinner

The Internet Safety Talk Every Parent Needs to Hear

In this powerful episode of Cake for Dinner, Greg Schiller joins the podcast for an urgent and eye-opening conversation every parent needs to hear.
Greg is a former assistant U.S. attorney who spent 20 years prosecuting online predators, internet crimes, and crimes against children. He has testified before Congress on online exploitation and now serves as the CEO of Child Rescue Coalition, an organization helping law enforcement identify and stop predators around the world.
This conversation dives into what parents are getting wrong when it comes to kids and technology, why smartphones are not just “phones,” how predators target children online, and why communication at home is the most important safety tool parents have.
Greg breaks down the realities of online exploitation, the dangers hidden inside apps, games, and social platforms, and the simple non-negotiables parents can put in place to better protect their children. From Snapchat and Instagram to hidden apps, screen monitoring, privacy myths, and the importance of starting conversations early, this episode is a must-listen for moms, dads, and anyone raising kids in the digital age.
This is not about fear. It is about awareness, communication, and giving parents the tools to protect their children before something happens.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/Read More About Gregs Work: https://childrescuecoalition.org/  
00:00 — Introduction00:48 — What parents are getting wrong about kids and technology02:27 — Why online predators are everywhere children are04:49 — If your child has a device, they can access everything06:02 — Why parents need to talk about sex and online safety earlier08:38 — The best parental control is communication10:29 — Why devices should not charge in kids’ bedrooms13:36 — When should parents give their child a phone?14:52 — “Pause before you post” and teaching kids digital awareness16:17 — How predators pretend to be someone they are not17:52 — The reality of online offenders and how they target kids21:44 — Why parents need better language to explain online danger23:50 — The shocking number of online child exploitation reports26:50 — How Child Rescue Coalition helps law enforcement catch predators28:58 — How Greg’s work affects him as a father33:29 — Three non-negotiables for kids and devices34:56 — Why kids should never communicate with strangers online35:28 — The truth about Snapchat and disappearing messages38:54 — Why kids feel safe online when they are not39:11 — Rapid fire: Snapchat, Instagram, privacy, apps, and monitoring43:55 — The one sentence every kid should hear before getting a phone44:49 — Greg’s biggest takeaway for parents46:46 — Where to learn more about Child Rescue Coalition

Finding Joy After Loss | Inside Jam With Jamie

Jamie Kolnick, founder of Jam With Jamie, shares the powerful story behind the music, the business, and the joy she brings to families across the country.
What started as a small children’s music party business has grown into a multi-city brand with dozens of performers, classes, events, school programs, and the annual Little Jam Fest. But behind Jamie’s success is a much deeper story of resilience. After losing her brother, father, and mother, Jamie found herself building something joyful during one of the hardest seasons of her life.
Jamie opens up about grief, imposter syndrome, motherhood, music, entrepreneurship, vocal challenges, and what it really means to create joy intentionally — even when life doesn’t go as planned.
This conversation is about more than music. It’s about turning pain into purpose, finding light after loss, and choosing joy again and again.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Follow Jamie: https://www.instagram.com/jamwithjamie/  
00:00 — Introduction00:30 — How Jam With Jamie Began05:35 — Jamie’s Mom Names the Business07:27 — From First Party to Word of Mouth08:12 — Loss, Grief, and Perspective09:47 — Growing Jam With Jamie Into 9 Cities10:34 — The Creation of Little Jam Fest12:02 — Music, Family, and Jamie’s Father20:32 — How Music Connects With Kids23:05 — Showing Up With Joy During Hard Seasons25:57 — Work, Grief, Burnout, and Healing30:06 — Life Pivots and Vocal Challenges32:28 — Is Joy Found or Created?35:33 — Finding Joy in a Hard Season37:50 — Where to Find Jam With Jamie and Little Jam Fest

How to Build a Business From Home Without Losing Yourself

Today we sit down with Alexia Ferrari, known online as The Millionaire Homemaker, to talk about motherhood, ambition, money, identity, and what it really means to build success on your own terms.
Alexia shares how she went from climbing the corporate ladder in the aerospace and systems engineering world to building a thriving online brand and business from home. After becoming a mother, she found herself questioning how she could keep up the pace of corporate life while also being present for her family. That tension eventually opened the door to a new vision: helping women create wealth from home without having to choose between motherhood and their dreams.
Throughout the conversation, Alexia opens up about the messy middle of entrepreneurship, building a brand with authenticity, learning how to create viral content, using AI and automation, and why women today are craving something deeper than financial freedom alone.
This conversation is for the woman who feels pulled between who she is, who she wants to become, and the life she is trying to build.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/Follow Alexia: https://www.instagram.com/themillionairehomemaker/ 
00:00 — Introduction00:41 — Becoming The Millionaire Homemaker01:52 — Leaving Corporate Life Behind04:51 — Discovering the Power of Working From Home06:22 — Helping Women Build Wealth From Home08:29 — Motherhood, Guilt, and Giving Back to Yourself10:37 — The Messy Middle of Building a Business13:19 — Turning Your Gifts Into a Brand16:32 — When a Brand Becomes a Movement20:10 — Why Authenticity Wins Online21:57 — Building a Business While Raising a Family24:33 — Funnels, Automation, and Passive Income29:10 — Why You Have to Fully Commit32:48 — Why You Don’t Need a Huge Following to Succeed34:46 — Handling Negative Comments Online36:35 — Redefining Success on Your Own Terms39:53 — The Truth About Overnight Success43:16 — Creating Content That Feels Real45:50 — Where to Find Alexia Ferrari

Feeling STUCK? This tool will help you, today.

In this episode, I sat down with Laura Rubin, writer, speaker, founder of AllSwell Creative, and author of The Big Unlock, for a powerful conversation about journaling, anxiety, fear, gratitude, and how writing can help us get unstuck.Laura breaks down why journaling is so much more than simply writing down your feelings. Through her approach to mindful writing, she explains how intentional prompts can help us recognize patterns, quiet our critical voice, shift our mood, and reconnect with what actually matters.Together, we explore why anxiety is often future-focused imagination, how positive memories can help calm the body, why gratitude works best when connected to the five senses, and how small practices like the “4x4” journaling method and “dopamine push-ups” can create real change in everyday life.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or curious about how writing can become a simple but powerful tool for mental and emotional well-being.
Learn more about Laura: https://allswellcreative.com/ Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Grab a copy of Laura's book: https://allswellcreative.com/pages/the-big-unlock 
00:00 — Introduction00:58 — Welcome Laura Rubin to Cake for Dinner01:40 — Why so many people feel stuck02:48 — What being “stuck” looks like in real life04:26 — The fear underneath most blocks05:30 — Mindful writing vs. traditional journaling06:28 — Journaling as a tool for embodiment and mood shifts07:17 — The serotonin bath: using positive memories to calm anxiety09:04 — Why nature is so powerful for the mind10:21 — Awe, water, and reconnecting with something bigger13:10 — Why journaling has a PR problem14:31 — The stories and patterns that shape our lives17:04 — Gratitude as a daily practice19:19 — Using the five senses to make gratitude more powerful20:13 — Recognizing your “big rocks” and priorities22:15 — Writing things down to see your patterns clearly23:20 — Why longhand journaling is so effective24:52 — Rock stars need roadies: asking for support27:01 — Externalizing thoughts instead of letting them loop30:44 — The 4x4 journaling method33:20 — Perfectionism and the critical voice35:05 — Giving anxiety a seat, but not control37:06 — Self-compassion and evolutionary fear38:43 — Dopamine push-ups and healthy mood shifts40:56 — Where to find Laura Rubin and The Big Unlock42:16 — Closing thoughts and Cake for Dinner outro

Why Most “Healthy” Products Are Toxic...

Today I sit down with Ivey Leidy—integrative health coach and founder of Living With Ivey—to break down the truth behind modern wellness.
From building a multi-location wellness brand to navigating motherhood, eating disorder recovery, and the pressure of social media perfection, Ivey shares what actually matters when it comes to health.
We dive deep into:The connection between gut health and hormonesWhy most “healthy” products aren’t what they claimThe hidden dangers of fragrance, plastics, and protein powdersHealing your relationship with food without extremesBuilding a business rooted in authenticity, not trends
This episode is packed with actionable takeaways for women looking to feel better, live cleaner, and think differently about health.
Learn More About Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/Learn More About Ivey: https://livingwithivey.com/
00:00 – Introduction00:45 – Meet Ivey Leidy (Living With Ivey Founder)01:23 – Why Authenticity Builds a Loyal Audience02:03 – Imposter Syndrome & Starting on Social Media03:00 – Making Wellness Simple & Relatable03:25 – How Motherhood Sparked Her Health Journey04:08 – Starting During COVID & Building Momentum05:02 – Turning Content Into a Physical Retail Brand06:03 – Why She Refused to “Pick a Niche”07:07 – Gut Health & Hormones Explained08:14 – Healing Through Food (Without Extremes)08:36 – Balancing Healthy Eating & Real Life10:02 – Eating Disorders & Social Media Pressure11:20 – Why Women Need to Talk About Food Struggles13:18 – Body Image, Generational Shifts & Identity14:41 – Beyond Beauty: Purpose, Legacy & Impact16:20 – Creating Her Own Product Line18:12 – Rapid Fire Wellness Tips18:12 – Best Skincare Ingredient (Vitamin C)19:14 – Hair Health & Shower Filters20:02 – Toxic Products to Avoid Immediately21:05 – Why Fragrance Is a Hidden Danger21:58 – Daily Non-Negotiable Wellness Habit22:42 – Minerals, Detox & Energy Explained23:50 – Easy Healthy Swap (Plastic → Glass)24:40 – “Healthy” Products That Are Misleading25:22 – Protein Powders & Food Myths26:16 – Real Food vs Diet Trends27:31 – Motherhood, Business & Time Management28:32 – The Truth About “Balance”29:45 – Life Pivots & Letting Go of Failure31:08 – Confidence, Aging & Clarity33:30 – Where to Find Ivey

Tyler Baltierra From Teen Mom to Fatherhood: The Reality MTV Didn’t Show

This episode marks the FIRST installment of our Cake for Dinner: Dad Edition — a brand new series we are incredibly excited to roll out this summer, featuring powerful conversations with fathers about parenting, identity, and growth.
 
Tyler Baltierra, best known from MTV’s Teen Mom, joins Cake for Dinner for a raw and powerful conversation about trauma, adoption, and what it really means to break generational cycles.
In this episode, Tyler opens up about growing up in a chaotic environment shaped by addiction, navigating becoming a teen father, and the life-altering decision to place his daughter for adoption. He shares the emotional reality behind that choice, the long-term impact it carries, and how it continues to shape his identity as a husband and father today.
 
This conversation goes far beyond what was shown on MTV—diving into the psychology of trauma, the truth about adoption, and the intentional work required to raise children differently than how you were raised.
Tyler also speaks on healing, boundaries, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth.
 
Follow Tyler: https://www.instagram.com/tylerbaltierramtv/
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
 
00:00 – Childhood Trauma & Growing Up Alone
02:20 – Life Before Teen Mom (MTV)
04:10 – Parenting Differently & Breaking the Cycle
07:30 – Trauma, Maturity & Identity
10:20 – Raising Kids in a Different Environment
13:59 – The Adoption Decision (Survival vs Love)
16:20 – Acceptance vs Peace
20:50 – Advice for Kids in Tough Homes
24:20 – Looking Back: Growth & Perspective
26:45 – How MTV Changed Everything
30:30 – The Truth About Adoption
36:30 – Relationship With Carly Today
39:30 – Explaining Adoption to His Kids
45:20 – Growing Up on TV (The Reality)
47:50 – Talking to Kids About Sex
53:10 – Intentional Parenting

This System Explains Your Life, Relationships & Timing…

What if your life isn’t random… but actually follows a pattern?
In this episode, we sit down with Ipek Gray—economist turned life coach and founder of The Born Method—to break down how numbers, patterns, and timing can reveal your true strengths, decision-making style, and life path.
We dive into why so many high-achieving women feel unfulfilled, how to identify your “zone of genius,” and why success on paper doesn’t always translate to alignment in real life.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or like something is “off” despite doing everything right—this conversation will change how you see yourself and your future.
This isn’t about motivation.It’s about understanding the system behind your life.
 
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Learn more about Ipek Gray and the Born Method: https://www.ipekgray.com/
 
00:00 – Meet Ipek Gray & The Born Method01:12 – Understanding Yourself Through Patterns03:17 – What The Born Method Actually Is05:13 – Your “Zone of Genius” Explained06:18 – How Childhood Shapes Your Patterns08:34 – Why Life Isn’t Fragmented10:30 – Using Numbers in Business & Decisions12:17 – Timing vs Prediction (Big Difference)21:41 – Why Successful Women Feel Misaligned25:03 – The Life Cycle That Changes Everything29:32 – Final Takeaway: Stop Comparing Yourself

Dr Mary Claire Haver | The “Zone of Chaos” Every Woman Needs to Understand

If you’ve ever felt like something is “off” in your body—but no one can explain why—this episode is for you.
Dr. Mary Claire Haver breaks down the truth about perimenopause, a phase of life that millions of women experience but few fully understand. From mood swings and anxiety to weight gain, sleep disruption, and loss of libido, many of the symptoms women face in their 40s are often misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely.
We dive into the science behind hormonal changes, why the medical system has lagged in treating women properly, and what you can actually do to take control of your health.
If you’ve ever been told “it’s just stress” or “it’s all in your head,” this episode will completely change the way you see your body.
👉 You’re not crazy. There’s a reason—and a solution.
 
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Follow Dr. Mary Claire Haver: https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/
 
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Mary Claire Haver
01:35 Why Perimenopause Needed Its Own Conversation
02:40 The Moment Everything Started to Shift
05:15 The “Zone of Chaos” Explained
06:10 Misdiagnosed: Prescribed Prozac Instead of Hormone Support
08:12 Hormones vs Mental Health
09:17 Why This Phase Hits So Hard in Midlife
10:54 The Failure of the Medical System for Women
14:20 Sleep Disruption & Hormones
16:36 Sex, Libido & Hormonal Changes
18:32 Weight Gain, Metabolism & GLP-1
21:20 Skin Aging & Collagen Loss
22:41 Acceptance vs Optimization in Aging
23:12 “You’re Not Crazy” — The Power of Validation
24:08 Why Women Are Finally Speaking Out
27:46 Legacy, Impact & Helping Future Generations
28:09 The Deeper Meaning of Success & Motherhood

Midlife Isn’t a Crisis—It’s Freedom | Live with Angela Burke

What if midlife isn’t a crisis… but the most freeing chapter of your life?
In this episode of Cake for Dinner Live, we sit down with Angela Burke, author of The Real Life: A Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife, to unpack the honest, unfiltered truth about what really happens in your 40s, 50s, and beyond.
From identity shifts and hormone changes to self-acceptance, boundaries, and rediscovering desire—this conversation breaks the silence around topics many women experience but rarely talk about.
Angela shares her personal journey through motherhood, divorce, and reinvention, along with powerful insights from other women navigating midlife. The biggest takeaway? You’re not broken—and you’re definitely not alone.
If you’ve ever felt lost, disconnected, or unsure of who you are becoming… this episode is your permission slip to reclaim yourself.
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Grab a copy of Angelas book: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Girls-Guide-Midlife-Fearless-ebook/dp/B0G6XN86R9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2VTKBOWDNNPG2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xJqDxVbzZA8-eLh3bk_vK55MrUiI1PPoPgHIgeVUUog.L-z293hCR_RxmzfaLwPCv1m1j1sQjjGNHvBPJcLqyKc&dib_tag=se&keywords=author+angela+burk&qid=1775559979&sprefix=author+anggela+burk+%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1
 
00:00 – Intro: The Truth About Midlife01:12 – Why Angela Wrote the Book04:05 – The “Hot Takes” That Challenge Midlife Norms07:10 – Desire, Libido & Wanting More at Any Age10:05 – Comparison, Exhaustion & Letting Go13:20 – Settling Into Yourself in Your 50s16:05 – Body Acceptance vs Body Appreciation19:10 – Why Midlife Is Actually Liberating22:15 – The Myth of “Having It All Together”25:00 – Small Shifts That Change Everything (Saying No)28:10 – Choosing Yourself: Yes vs No Seasons31:20 – Common Threads All Women Share34:15 – The “Cheat Code” for Younger Women37:30 – Why These Conversations Were Never Happening40:20 – Breaking Shame Around Menopause & Aging43:10 – Is Midlife About Loss… or Transformation?47:00 – How to Handle Feeling Lost or Unrecognizable50:10 – Practical First Steps to Reconnect With Yourself53:00 – You’re Not Alone: The Core Message55:10 – Angela’s Favorite Parts of the Book58:00 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find Angela

You Don’t FIND Joy… But she’ll tell you how to mine it.

What happens when life doesn’t go as planned?
Today we sit down with Sarrah Strimel Bentley — founder of Damn Good Yoga, former Broadway performer, and a voice for resilience — to unpack a story filled with unimaginable challenges and incredible strength.
From losing her husband during pregnancy, to battling breast cancer, navigating IVF, and ultimately building her family through surrogacy… Sarah’s journey is a testament to what it means to keep going when everything falls apart.
But this episode isn’t just about survival — it’s about learning how to choose joy, even in the hardest seasons of life.
We dive into:
Fertility struggles and the emotional reality of IVF
What cancer taught her about living fully
The power of support systems and love
Why “mining for joy” is a daily practice
How pain can transform into purpose
Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Follow Sarrah: https://www.instagram.com/sarrahstrimelbentley/
00:00 Introduction01:26 Who Is Sarah Bentley?03:00 The Moment That Changed Her Life03:10 How Cancer Changed Her Perspective06:06 What It Really Means to Choose Joy08:53 Mining for Joy in Hard Seasons09:20 Losing Her Husband While Pregnant10:35 Fertility, Family, and Uncertainty15:13 Cancer Diagnosis and Motherhood Questions16:04 IVF and the Emotional Toll17:19 IVF During a Double Mastectomy20:00 Fear, Love, and Relationship Strength22:33 Finding Hope Later in Life23:51 The Surrogacy Journey26:17 Social Media Judgment and Misunderstanding27:26 Motherhood Is a Series of Letting Go29:11 Turning Personal Pain Into Purpose30:28 When She Was Ready to Share Publicly32:04 How Her Honesty Helped Other Women33:50 What She Wants Women in Hard Seasons to Hear35:19 Daily Habits That Help Her Choose Joy36:34 Alcohol, Numbing, and Missing the Good38:20 Sobriety and Choosing a Better Life39:07 Final Reflections and Where to Find Sarah