The Lunchbucket Podcast

In this episode of The Lunchbucket Podcast, we converse with Saba, a specialized IT professional who bridges the gap between business problems and technical solutions in the healthcare field. Saba explains exactly what she does in everyday language (thank goodness!) and also talks about why she does what she does.We get insight into her childhood, how she was inspired by her father, the engineer, and her takeaways from living in countries around the world. And, how she keeps herself creative and ready for the challenges she craves. Of course we take a lunch break and Saba definitely knows her way around a kitchen. From turmeric lattes to healthy lunch bowls, we get a glimpse into her daily life, what she eats and why she eats it. We also find out what she had for school lunch on her first day of school in the U.S. many years ago. We also hope you enjoy the shared photos/art and other links below. Love, Gail & Donna Saba has this photo of herself and her father on her work desk; it brings back fond memories of helping her dad, the engineer, fix things. Fixing things is now what she does for a living. Saba is a great host! She made these turmeric lattes for Donna and herself to enjoy during the podcast interview. Scroll on down for an easy turmeric latte recipe! To make a turmeric latte at home:For each latte, heat 1 cup of milk of your choice in a saucepan, bringing to a gentle simmer. Do not boil. In the bottom of each mug, place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom and a tiny pinch of black pepper. Stir the hot milk into each mug and add 1-2 teaspoons Manuka honey (to taste). If you have a milk frother (or want to froth milk using a Mason jar), spoon frothed milk on top of the latte before serving. Mason Jar Frother: Fill a clean Mason jar no more than halfway with milk. Microwave for 30-35 seconds (140-150 degrees F). Secure the lid tightly and shake the jar vigorously for about a minute. Remove the lid and let the foam settle before pouring it into your latte. Saba’s Lunchbucket contains a fiber-rich Mediterranean salad, chock-full of greens, such as chard or arugula, lots of colorful veggies, legumes, and a bit of cheese. Along with the creative demands of her day job, Saba unwinds by creating beautiful artwork. She has loved drawing and painting her entire life. These gorgeous butterflies are a small sample of her handiwork. Other interesting reading:Check out this NY Times opinion piece about A.I. tech workers work to have a “say”. You might also find this article about the UK Institute that’s becoming a model for countries grappling with A.I.’s emerging risks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelunchbucket.substack.com

In this episode of The Lunchbucket Podcast, we meet salon owner and esthetician Lisa, who loves what she does for a living! Lisa talks about her daily routine and how much she enjoys providing services for her clients, who she considers her friends. We hear Lisa’s story of building her own business while raising her son and how she has felt lucky all along the way. We also learn all about spray tans and get some solid skincare tips. Of course we take a lunch break and get a peak into Lisa’s snack, er, lunchbucket 😂 And as always, we hope you enjoy the links/info this episode inspired (see below).Love, Gail & Donna Inspired to try a facial or one of the other services available at Lisa’s salon? Check out Bellezza Face and Body HERE. Are you a woman business owner like Lisa? (Or aspiring to be one?) Here are a couple of links to current grant opportunities:Business Grants for Women More small business grants for women Gail here – making a plug for a beautiful little business whose products I discovered on a trip to New Mexico last year - EastsideRemedios. My uber-minimal skincare routine involves washing face and body with one of their soaps. This one for my face: Skin Tonic No. 4 Rose To soften up crazy dry Central Oregon skin, I like one of their salves like this Prairie Salve.Everything they make is simple, clean, and made in small batches with wild foraged and local ingredients. Love you, Eastside!If you want to hear more vintage radio commercials like the one we played at the beginning of this podcast episode, check out the Old Radio World site - it’s cool! Oh and here’s a link to a 1950’s TV ad for Camay Beauty Soap! Lisa admitted that lunch is not really on her radar, although she does have a basket of snacks at the salon (above) for quick bites in between clients. She promises that she makes up for it with a wonderful dinner each evening. And finally, Lisa has very fond memories of Hostess Fruit Pies from her teenage years (and who doesn’t)! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelunchbucket.substack.com