64.Anna Francese Gass: Culinary School, Motherhood, and Building a Career in Food

**Join me online LIVE with the new Secrets of Powerful Women online community from anywhere in the world. Doors Open July 1st.Here:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.skool.com/secrets-of-powerful-women/about⁠Born in Italy and raised in the U.S., Anna Francese Gass turned her love of Italian cuisine into a bestselling, media-ready career—while raising a family. In this episode of Secrets of Powerful Women, host Jill Conway talks with Anna about pursuing a culinary education at the French Culinary Institute, breaking into professional kitchens and media (Martha Stewart Living, Food52), and balancing motherhood with an intense schedule through planning, support, and purpose.Anna shares how she transformed heritage recipes into two hit cookbooks—Heirloom Kitchen (2019) and Italian Snacking (2024, national bestseller)—and how consistent craft led to appearances on Good Morning America and Today, regular contributions to NYT Cooking, millions of views on Instagram @annafgass, and her TV series Instant Italian (Season 1 streaming on Hulu and FYI).You’ll learn:Practical strategies for balancing career and family in demanding fieldsHow formal training + mentorship accelerate growth in food and mediaTurning heritage and family stories into compelling, marketable contentWhat it really takes to pitch, publish, and promote a bestselling cookbookMindset shifts for a midlife career pivot that actually sticksIf you’re a working mom, a career changer, or a creative ready to level up, this conversation delivers inspiration and concrete steps.Follow the show for more weekly interviews with women redefining success, purpose, and wellbeing.Share this podcast with a friend who needs encouragement.Secrets of Powerful Women is the award-winning podcast for women 45+ hosted by Jill Conway — media personality, 20 yr veteran TV News Reporter, public speaking coach, and empowerment advocate. New episodes every Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.JOIN OUR ONLINE SECRETS CLUB. SIGN UP HERE FOR MORE INFO. https://powerfulwomenusa.com/online-clubVisit www.powerfulwomenusa.com Follow secrets of powerful women on TikTok, and @jillconwaymcdowell, @powerfulwomenusa @secretsofpowerfulwomen on InstagramAnna Francese Gass, women in food, culinary school, French Culinary Institute, Martha Stewart Living, Food52, NYT Cooking, Good Morning America, Today Show, Heirloom Kitchen, Italian Snacking, Instant Italian, Hulu, FYI Network, Italian cooking, heritage recipes, immigrant stories, working mothers, career change, midlife pivot, cookbook author, recipe developer, women entrepreneurs, Secrets of Powerful Women, Jill Conway