🎀 The Joy of Creating a Podcast Niche
My Journey from Cookery by the Book & Decorating by the Book to Dinner Party
When I started my podcast, Cookery by the Book, back in 2015, I never imagined that I was stepping into a new frontier. At the time, podcasting was still a new and exciting medium—people were just figuring out what it could be. For me, it was a chance to combine two of my greatest loves: cookbooks and conversation. I had spent so many afternoons thumbing through cookbooks, fascinated by the stories behind the recipes, and I knew there was a space for deeper conversations with the authors themselves. But I didn’t realize I’d be creating something entirely new.
Creating a New Niche
From the beginning, Cookery by the Book was more than just a podcast about recipes It was a space for me to sit down with the authors to bring their cookbooks to life and talk about their stories— influences, journeys, and creative processes. I wanted to go beyond the pages and explore the inspiration behind their work, the cultural touchstones, the family traditions, and the personal anecdotes that make each recipe special.
At the time, no one else was really doing that, at least not in the podcast world. I didn’t set out to create a niche; I was simply following my passion. But as it turns out, I was the first podcaster to create the cookbook space, which is something I look back on with immense pride. Since creating the cookbook podcast and I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some incredible authors over the years, and the joy of connecting with them and sharing their stories has never faded.
There’s something magical about the intimacy of a podcast—the way you can have these personal, rich conversations, and then share them with listeners all over the world who feel like they’re right there with you, flipping through those pages.
The Evolution of Dinner Party Podcast
As time went on, it became clear that my love for curating beautiful things wasn’t limited to the kitchen. I’ve always been inspired by the way food and design intersect—the idea of creating not just meals, but moments. That’s when Dinner Party Podcast was born, a natural evolution of Cookery by the Book & Decorating by the Book. With Dinner Party, I wanted to expand the conversation to include decorating books, bringing my love for homemaking and creating beautiful spaces into the mix.
Dinner Party Podcast feels like the perfect blend of my passions—talking to cookbook authors who share their love for food and decorating book authors who help us shape the spaces we live in. Whether it’s designing the perfect table setting or cooking a meal that makes people feel at home, I’ve found that these two worlds are deeply connected, and I’m excited to explore them with my listeners.
I’ve been fortunate to interview authors who are not only experts in their field but who also have this incredible ability to inspire. Every guest brings something new to the table, and I’ve walked away from so many conversations feeling inspired to cook a new recipe or redesign a corner of my apartment.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, I’m more excited than ever about what’s to come for Dinner Party Podcast. As the podcasting world continues to grow and evolve, I feel so lucky to still be a part of it. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating this little corner of the audio world where I can connect with people over things I love—cookbooks, decorating, storytelling—and I’m endlessly grateful for the community that has grown around it.
At the end of the day, Cookery by the Book, Decorating by the Book and Dinner Party Podcast are about more than food or design. They’re about joy—the joy of discovery, of sharing something you’re passionate about, of connecting with people who feel the same way. Podcasting has given me a platform to share that joy, and for that, I’ll always be thankful.
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