Katie Chin on Reinvention, Family Secrets & Finding Her Purpose

Award-winning chef, cookbook author and television personality Katie Chin joins us for a heartfelt conversation about food, family, resilience and second acts.Katie shares how cooking alongside her mother helped heal generations of trauma and transformed their relationship into a deep friendship. She opens up about growing up in a Chinese-American household, leaving a successful Hollywood executive career to follow her passion, surviving an emotionally abusive marriage, and why telling the truth about our stories can set us free.We also discuss parenting, forgiveness, cultural identity, grief, and the powerful connection between food and love.Plus, Katie brings homemade dumplings to the studio and shares simple cooking tips anyone can use.Why food was her mother's love languageGrowing up in a Chinese-American familyLeaving Hollywood to become a chefHealing family trauma through cookingHer mother's remarkable journey from seamstress to restaurateurBreaking generational patterns with her own childrenHer one-woman show, Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is BornWhy sharing our stories removes shameThe healing power of traditions and recipesKatie's favorite pantry staples and easy cooking tipsHomemade dumplings and the stories they tell00:00 Introducing Katie Chin1:20 Food as her family's love language4:40 Leaving Hollywood and rediscovering cooking6:20 How cooking brought Katie and her mother together9:50 Her mother's incredible rise from seamstress to restaurant mogul12:10 Why it's never too late to reinvent yourself12:37 Creating her one-woman show, Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is Born14:30 Growing up Asian in Minnesota and experiencing racism15:20 Family tragedy and losing her sister to suicide16:10 Divorce, grief and generational differences17:30 Forgiveness and breaking family cycles19:00 Parenting differently than she was raised20:25 Becoming her mother on stage23:40 Turning her story into a television series25:20 Why vulnerability removes shame27:50 How openness has helped others heal29:15 Writing cookbooks and finding inspiration30:10 Simple Chinese cooking tips32:25 Traditional Chinese foods as medicine34:10 Feeling connected to ancestors through cooking35:00 Pantry essentials every home cook should have36:15 Quick meals for busy nights37:00 Katie's easy homemade dumpling recipe40:45 Why dumplings make people happy42:20 Favorite sauces and female-founded brands44:20 Dumpling tasting in the studio45:45 Honoring family through foodContact Info Katie Chin:Instagram: @chefkatiechinWebsite: www.chefkatiechin.comWok Star Catering: www.wokstarcatering.comOne Woman Show:Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star Is BornLeaf & Flower: Plant-based scalp and hair careUse code: WHATSHES15 for 15% offBodyBio: Science-backed supplements for brain, gut and cellular health.Use code: WHATSHESHAVING for 20% offWebsite: www.bodybio.comFirefly: Portable recovery device that increases blood flow and reduces soreness.Use code: WHATSHES15 for 15% offWebsite: www.fireflyrecovery.comJessica Cortez: Personal styling services.Mention the podcast and receive: Your first hour complimentaryNajeau: Luxury scalp oil cleanser and hair care.Use code: WHATSHESHAVING20 for 20% off your order------------------------------------------------------------------Hosted by Jennifer Cataldo and Britney Semler, What She's Having explores reinvention, wellness, relationships and the stories that shape us in the second half of life.New episodes every Wednesday.