I'm Just Here for the Cake

In the midst of all this craziness, there still must be cake, and with me to share a carrot cake is Sam Strasfeld! Sam is an actor, dancer, singer, and fitness professional from Winnipeg. We get into performing, cycles and cooking.  This is Rabbit's Carrot Cake from Fannie Farmer's Cookbook.

Today Chris and I pick up right where we left off with visiting London and move on to more about life in the theatre and fitness worlds. Enjoy!!

Chris Crowthers, MFF trainer extraordinaire, performer and Celine Dion super fan, joins me for this episode where he introduces me to Banana Cake! His favorite hails from Billy's Bakery, my recipe comes from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook. We tackle so many subjects that this is just part 1! Fitness, performing, trusting the process, enjoying the journey and remembering there are healthy and an unhealthy reasons to cry at work. I hope you enjoy listening and stay tuned next week also where we delve even further.

We're really doing it! This episode features Ninja Unicorn and Animal Flow Trainer Mallory Hewell. We delve into imposter syndrome and life outside theatre, The US Space Center and, of course, Mark Fisher Fitness while munching on Mallory's favorite; Confetti Cake with rainbow sprinkles.  This recipe is White Layer Cake by Stella Parks' BraveTart and Boiled White Icing from Joy of Cooking.

We're back! I'm Just Here for the Cake Season 2! I'm kicking off season 2 a bit unconventionally, and it's definitely a good time. Illustrator, musical improvisor and neighbor of mine Annie Moor joins me for her childhood favorite Luby's Cafeteria Chocolate Icebox Pie.  We go down a childhood rabbit hole of all memories food, it's super fun and a wonderful way to get things going for my brand new season. Hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording!

On the season one finale I am joined by my dear friend and actor Dylon King with his favorite, pineapple upside down cake! We get nostalgic and we get into methodology and what that can mean for artistic work.  It has been such a joy to figure this medium out and thank you to all my listeners! I will be back in January for Season 2 of I'm Just Here for the Cake!  

This is a wacky one, but no one who knows Andrew David Swackhamer would be surprised to hear that. This cake is an inside joke that takes us through college, ukuleles and being better people. Such a pleasure to call this man my friend.  Jelly roll cake recipe courtesy of Baking Illustrated. 

Magical unicorn trainer, surprise musical theatre nerd and overall delicious human being, Britta Whittenberg joins me for some tropical realness that is Hummingbird cake. We get deep into our fitness, nutrition and musical theatre journeys, essentially, it's a Mark Fisher Fitness love letter with a high five to musicals. We've only just met, but I feel like this is the start of a beautiful friendship. Recipe courtesy of The Cake Doctor.

Admittedly this is a bit of a love fest because Bre Short is my one of my favorite people on the planet. She does it all and we talk about it all. Dancer, singer, songwriter, dog walker and all around fabulous human, there is really nothing she can't do. We dig deep into our creative loves and how important technique is to developing anything.  Recipe courtesy of Baking Illustrated.  

Creative Director of Halleloo Creative Corey Sheppard joins me this time on I'm Just Here for the Cake for some super classic cheesecake. We chat about creativity, productivity, food and obvs cheesecake!

Singer, actor, synesthete and all around glorious human, Lindsay Spangenthal joins me for some Funfetti realness. We talk funfetti, show biz, self-worth and the benefits of saying no. Follow her on IG @lindsay_spangenthal for her #singingwithspangs series.  Recipe courtesy of Pilsbury, The Cake Doctor and Martha Stewart.

Wine director, sommelier and former actor Scott Woltz joins me for some Strawberry Shortcake. We talk wine, restaurants and the perfect biscuit. Recipe courtesy of Baking Illustrated.

From Sandy Run Middle School, through Upper Dublin High School to the Great White Way, soprano/actress/pizza bagel Rachel Zatcoff and I have managed to maintain one of the most special connections I have ever had. We don't see each other much, rather infrequently actually, however, we pick up right where we left off every time we do.  I have looked up to her since I was 12, we've shared the stage, we've shared many a cup of coffee and now we are sharing a slice of her favorite cake. This carrot cake is from The Joy of Cooking with a cream cheese frosting from Baking Illustrated. 

One of my oldest and dearest friends Briana Rae Bower joins me this week for an experiment and some conversation, and this one gets deep kids. We talk about her grandmother's frosting recipe and it's legitimacy, and then delve head first into middle schoolers, and childhood. You might want to grab some tissues. I'm really grateful for this conversation. Ermine frosting recipe courtesy of Grandmother Margaret Bower via Debbie "Mommy" Bower.  Sour Cream Fudge Cake recipe from Baking Illustrated.

Actor, singer and former Parisian Jen Fellman joins me for some strawberry shortcake and passionate conversation. We talk family ties to strawberry shortcake, her life in Paris and how it led her to create her one woman show and her brand new solo album that debuts in September.   Recipes from Baking Illustrated and BraveTart

Fellow actor, improviser and film maker, Mark Stetson joins me for this week's episode and it was a true lesson in finding a kindred spirit. Neither of us were prepared for how much fun we had or how much we have in common despite knowing each other for almost two years.  We dive into the strong connection between the food industry and the theatre industry and the significant relationship between food and bringing people together. If you have ever wondered what this podcast is about, this is it. Food is love, food is connection and cake is the best way to discover that.  Recipe courtesy of Serious Eats.  Check out Awkward Family Dinner at The PIT.

Another long one, but such a fun one. Comedian and actor Daniel Tepper joins me for a blast from the middle school past! We reminisce middle school to high school theatre and all of the shenanigans he’s up to now in the New York Improv scene. There’s lots of laughter and several pieces of devil’s food cake. There’s also a good chance that if you know both of us, you got a shout out.   Recipe courtesy of Baking Illustrated.

This episode gets deep, not only in chocolatey richness, but in subject matter. Katie Bland, boss babe, blogger, fellow podcaster and former performer, joins me over chocolate cake with fudge frosting and Late Bottle Vintage Port.  We talk majoring in musical theatre, cake science, what it takes to be in a successful relationship. 

Photographer, head bartender, drummer and ex-boyfriend Robert Barcelo III joins me for the most controversial episode yet. We debate the validity of calling flan a cake, working on being better people, the best burgers in New York and, of course, some of our drama.  After a tumultuous start to our relationship, Rob has become one of my closest friends and supporters. Despite being a terrible boyfriend, he has helped me sift through my journey in New York and I like to think I helped do the same for him. He's insightful, hardworking and a very talented photographer. Follow him on IG @magthree and @rbarcelothree and go see him at Simon and the Whale! This recipe comes from The Joy of Cooking.

Fellow actor, friend and founder of the Wander Women Sisterhood, Tara Tagliaferro joins me on this week's episode of I'm Just Here for the Cake. Here's the thing, the audio is terrible because my equipment wasn't cooperating, but I couldn't bring myself to rerecord this episode, it was such a beautiful conversation that needed to be shared in its imperfection. So that's what we are celebrating in this episode, the perfectly imperfect. Gluten free Brown Butter Carrot Cake by Stella Parks   Follow Tara on IG @taratagthecoach