Episodes
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September journal: building food resilience
Each month I create these Journal episodes and posts exclusively for paying members of The Kettle Community. They’re like little care packages full of seasonal observations, reflections, and resources. Enjoy, and thank you for supporting my work! Between recalls, droughts, a fertilizer shortage…
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Is time really as scarce as we think?
From ‘you only have 18 summers with your kids, enjoy every moment!’ to a sunk-cost mentality about how we used our time in our younger years, midlife can be full of hangups about time: how we save it, how we spend it, how we value it. I was thrilled to have a chance to chat with my longtime…
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We don't have to do so much.
There’s nothing like being taken out with a bad cold in the first week of December to humble and hobble one’s best-laid holiday plans, is there? And even before I started getting the sniffles on December 1, I had the nagging feeling I was already behind. But…behind on what? What if the problem...
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December Journal: Making
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com It's finally December, and my hands are itchy to make things. How about you? Today, I’m settling in with a cozy journal episode all about making (which includes, of course, baking)—the creative, connected…
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November journal: readying for retreat
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com This time of year brings with it a certain tension: we want to soak up every last moment of the waning warmer weather, while also preparing to turn inward for the colder, shorter days, and longer, cozy nights...
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Diving more deeply into the world of tea
The history and tradition of tea is so much richer than indicated by that little row of boxes on the supermarket shelf. In this episode I’m taking you behind the scenes of the process I’m undergoing to become a Certified Tea Sommelier: what the program is like, what I’m learning, and how I hope…
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October journal: change
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com After spending nearly three weeks living in our RV in the Upper Peninsula, I’m back home and settling in, and in this month’s Journal - exclusively for paying members of The Kettle - I’m reflecting on my...
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20th century tea rooms and citizen history with Jan Whitaker
Have you ever wondered about the different paths available to becoming a historian - and how historians choose the topic areas that fuel their passions? In this episode I chat with author and consumer historian Jan Whitaker to explore a fascinating corner of American history: the rise of rural…
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September journal: preparing
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com The idea of “prepping” often elicits eye-rolls. But you don’t have to be awaiting the apocalypse to find value in stocking your shelves. The truth is, a little pantry planning and preserving can help us ride...
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August journal: overwhelm
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com After a sad and stressful start to the month, I came home to a full house, stuffed fridge, bursting container garden, and some seriously disrupted routines. And while I once wouldn’t have recognized my...
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What is ours to do?
Hi friends. I usually publish my monthly Journal episode on the first of the month, but in the wake of a devastating loss in our family, I’m instead putting up a short (and, warning, hastily edited!) episode in the public feed. My sister-in-law, Jen, died on Tuesday, leaving behind her husband…
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The joys of eating at home with CJ of A Well-Read Tart
Ever cringe at how much of your monthly budget goes to restaurants? Yeah, been there - and so has CJ, creator of the food and book blog, A Well-Read Tart and a self-described former “restaurant rover and takeout queen.” While CJ and I both know how easy it is for eating out to become the default...
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July journal: small
The July journal episode of The Kettle is all about the idea of “smallness” and what that means to me right now. In the episode I share some specific ways I’m leaning into smaller-scale efforts in my real life and the results. From working on my new book (a fiction project!) a little at a time…
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The magic of good tea with Henrietta Lovell, the Rare Tea lady
Can you remember the first time you had a really good cup of tea, or maybe a tea experience that left you feeling inspired intrigued, and wanting more? Today’s guest Henrietta Lovell, the founder of the Rare Tea Company and author of the laugh-out-loud funny, informative, and inspiring memoir,...
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June Journal: Alive
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com Monthly Journal episodes and the accompanying post, which includes links to our upcoming community events, are a benefit for paying members of The Kettle. As a reminder, annual memberships to The Kettle are…
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May journal: generosity
Hello friend, Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve given eleven livestreamed interviews and three or four (or was it five?) podcast interviews. I’ve been on TV twice, done two in-person signing events and have two more coming this weekend. And my book has only been out for nine days. A launch is…
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Experiencing family life in community, with Rebecca N. Thompson, MD
How might the experience of forming and raising a family change if we felt more able to share honestly and openly about our struggles, joys, and everything in between? Today I’m talking with Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, a family physician and public health physician who specializes in women’s and...
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Gretchen Rubin on her "open door" approach to parenting young adults
When you think of your children growing up, do you view their leaving as the end of an era - or the beginning of something new? In this episode, renowned happiness expert, author, and podcaster Gretchen Rubin joins me to discuss her “open-door” approach to parenting young adults, her brand-new,...
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April journal: planting seeds
This spring a lot of figurative “seeds” that I planted long ago, like my upcoming book launch and an expansion of my brick-and-mortar business, are starting to bear fruit - just at the time I am also hoping to literally put seeds in the ground. Sometimes, a bounty of good (but energy-consuming)...
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Is it possible to ditch the grocery store?
For most of us, getting groceries automatically equals “going to the supermarket.” But does that brightly-lit jumble of logos, packaging, and confusing nutrition labels have to be the only - or even the primary - way we fill our fridges and pantries? For the past few years, as I’ve been committed...
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March Journal: finding abundance during "the hungry month"
Have you ever heard the phrase “March is the hungry month”? In this month’s Journal episode, I discuss how scarcity can actually help us more deeply appreciate abundance, thoughts about how 24/7 supermarket shopping skews our perception of food’s value, and why there’s nothing as satisfying as a...
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The healing power of herbs with Christine Koh
Are you even a midlife lady if you don’t suddenly drop everything and start a garden? In today’s episode, I talk with Christine Koh about our shared adult-onset passion for herbal medicine and our attempts - with varying degrees of success - at growing things. Christine shares how her adventures…
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Exiting Instagram and investing in the real world with Sarah Powers
More and more, people are talking about leaving social media for good. But how? It’s easy to feel trapped by these networks that have become so intertwined in every aspect of our lives, from shopping to socializing. In this episode of The Kettle, I catch up with my good friend and business…
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January Journal: Easing into the New Year
Deep breath, friend: you don’t have to come into the New Year raring to go on January 1. In the first episode of the newly-named and slightly-refocused podcast, The Kettle (formerly The Tea’s Made) I take a different, slower approach. I reflect on my holiday celebrations, offer an alternative to...
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Letting literature inspire you in the kitchen, with C.J. from A Well-Read Tart
What could be cozier than a holiday baking session based on your favorite book? In this episode I talk with CJ of A Well-Read Tart, a blog for book and food lovers, where CJ shares book reviews, food inspiration and recipes based on her favorite literature. Listen on to hear us share what we're...
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December Journal: Holiday Magic-Making For Moms Of Big Kids
In our monthly Journal, I share a special message for moms of older kids who aren't feeling quite so magical about the holidays these days, plus Christmas-inspired teas, my plans for decorating and baking, and some hopes for the Advent season. Listen for a cozy chat! Episode Links: November…
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What is the liturgical calendar and how is it relevant today? with Kristen Haakenson of Hearthstone Fables
Rooted in locality, seasonality, and agrarian living, the liturgical calendar - the feasts, celebrations, and other observations that made up the early church year - can help root us in the natural rhythms of life. But while most of us are familiar with a few holidays from the early church year,...
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November Journal
In this month's Journal, I share what's inspiring me going into November: my favorite cinnamon-spiced teas, embroidery projects as holiday gifts, making herbal tinctures, and an epic novel trilogy from medieval Norway. Episode Links: *most links are affiliates. If you make a purchase via my link…
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We're all dealing with content overwhelm (and what I'm doing about mine.)
Between social media platforms, email, blogs, podcasts, streaming video and all the rest, there are so many ways these days to consume (or create!) content. In this episode I share what taking social media breaks has done for my brain, how pressure to create and consume has impacted the way I…
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5 simple kitchen routines that help my life work
When it comes to staying on top of meal planning and cooking, my solution to overwhelm and disorganization is simple: a series of weekly and daily routines that work for my home, family, and schedule. In this episode I share five kitchen routines that help me feel more connected and confident in…
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What does it mean to have wealth? More conversation with Shannon Hayes, author of "Redefining Rich"
In our culture we put a lot of emphasis on building wealth - but what, exactly, does that mean, and how does our view of wealth contribute to (or detract from) our flourishing as humans? In this continuation of Episode 39's conversation with author and farmer Shannon Hayes, we delve more into the...
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The hidden cost (and value!) of food, with farmer and author Shannon Hayes
Everyone is talking about rising food prices these days, but we spend very little time talking about the value of food. In this episode I speak with Shannon Hayes, farmer and author, about her journey from academia back to the farm she grew up on. She tells us about her unconventional upbringing...
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Eating locally, preserving, and establishing your own "flow" in the kitchen
Does shopping, cooking and eating locally and seasonally have to be time-consuming and difficult? As I've slowly added new kitchen skills to my repertoire, I've come to realize that the key to meal planning and preparation without burnout is developing the rhythms and routines that allow us to…
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Why connecting with our food matters, with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen
"But who actually has the time to cook this way?" Our guest Alison Kay hears that a lot when she shares about her passion for ancestral eating. But for Alison, sourcing ingredients locally and preparing it in a way inspired by our great-great-grandmothers isn't a chore or a time-suck, and it's...
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What is eating "ancestrally"? with Alison Kay of the Ancestral Kitchen Podcast
With all the diets and nutrition trends that focus on exclusion and restriction, it can feel like food is being reduced to its components - not something I personally think is a very satisfying way to eat. But what if there was another way to view food - a way that leans on the wisdom of our...
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More book questions & my writing process
Why did I go the traditional publishing route vs. self-publishing? What did the writing process look like, beginning to end? And how do I feel about the idea of sh*tty first drafts? In this episode of The Tea's Made I answer all of these questions and more. Episode Links: Taking a book idea from...
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Taking a book idea from proposal to contract
I'm back from my book-writing break and ready to talk shop! In this episode I answer listener questions about the process of pitching your book idea to an agent or publisher, including: -How long should I expect it to take to hear back from an agent after I query them? -What questions should I…
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It's my birthday! A quick bonus episode to say hello and let you know what's next
Hi all! Hopping in from my podcasting break with a birthday message, some tips on staying connected and calm in a divided and noisy world, and a little preview of what you can expect when The Tea's Made returns on August 15. Support this podcast at —...
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I opened a tea shop! And other summer updates
From starting a brick-and-mortar retail shop, to putting the finishing touches on my book manuscript, to caring for my new chicks, to getting another son ready for college, this summer has already been jam-packed with activity. In the last episode of The Tea's Made before my midsummer break, I'm...
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How - and why - to get started foraging for wild plants
When I was a young girl, I was completely fascinated with the idea of being able to find food and medicine in nature. But in our modern world, eating anything that grows wildly can seem strange...undesirable...even dangerous. While it took me until my mid-40s, I've begun to embrace foraging and...
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Living authentically in midlife with Rachel Macy Stafford
From navigating relationships with our teenagers to how we engage with social media, the post-40 years offer many opportunities to rethink old patterns of people-pleasing and live more authentically. In this conversation with author Rachel Macy Stafford, learn how to create a "Soul Shift" that…
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Loss, change, and the importance of feeling it all
Sometimes life is hard, sometimes life is exciting...and often, it's both at the same time. When that happens, it's not always easy to know how to feel from one moment to the next. In this episode I'm sharing some news from my life over the past week, and how I've been coping with some sad events...
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Thriving when your plate is (really) full
With a graduation, a move, an anniversary, and travel all happening within a couple of weeks of each other during what was already a jam-packed spring, I've been giving a lot of thought to what helps particularly chaotic periods feel more manageable. In this episode, I'm reflecting on some of the...
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Why (and how!) to take yourself on a solo adventure
Have you ever dreamed about getting away from it all...all by yourself? Five years ago, a year or so after getting divorced when I desperately needed to do something just for myself, I went on a life-changing six-day solo hiking and camping adventure. In this episode I share why the trip was so...
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How I more than doubled my steps-per-day + 5 ways to make natural movement a bigger part of your life
A few months ago I looked back over the last few years' worth of my smart watch data and was shocked to see my step average had plummeted by over half in the last year or so - coinciding with some other health issues that I believe were related. We're told to get in at least 10,000 steps per day,...
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Herbal how-to: my favorite herbal teas & how I prepare them
Herbal teas (or to be more accurate, tisanes) are a delicious and approachable way to explore the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of herbs-- and I drink them literally every day! In this episode I share the herbal infusions I'm drinking most often right now, along with product…
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Creating community & a connected life, close to home
With an abundance of technological tools at our disposal and endless options to "go out and do stuff", it would seem we'd feel more connected than ever. But we're in the midst of what's been called an "epidemic of loneliness" - and all those options seem only to have created more disconnection....
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Why I'm embracing a home-centered life
Moving, shaking, and constantly on the go? Been there, done that, and had the burnout to prove it. In midlife, I'm looking for a calmer, less-expensive and less consumption-oriented experience. In this episode I share why I'm happy to let my current lifestyle center around pursuits at home, what…
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New thoughts on productivity & "getting things done"
When I was a younger mom, I put a lot of stock in "getting things done." I'll admit, I felt a little thrill of pride when people would ask "How do you do it all?" The reality, of course, is that I wasn't doing it all then...and I'm definitely not doing it all now! But the way I show up for my…
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My skincare products, rituals, & philosophy
Which skincare products, rituals and routines really work (and how do we know they're "working"?) In this episode I share my skincare routine, including specific products I love and how they work together, plus my thoughts about how creating a "skincare philosophy" can make it easier to decide...