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Start with wonder, end with action. That’s the throughline of our conversation with travel and environmental writer Amy Brecount White, whose stories for National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, Sierra and more connect awe-filled journeys with the people and practices that keep wild places alive. We explore how she moved from early Washington Post essays to a career focused on regenerative travel, indigenous-led astro tourism and science-informed reporting that empowers readers to make change at home and on the road.

Amy opens up about the moment a small garden patch transformed her block into a buzzing wildlife corridor, and why native plants, oaks and even humble leaf piles can revive birds, bees and butterflies in weeks. She breaks down rain gardens, permeable design and the surprising truth about native bees versus honey bees. We dig into the telltale signs of responsible travel—B Corps, local guides conservation partnerships, and reduced tourism leakage—and highlight cruises and lodges that invest in coral restoration, community economies and cultural knowledge. Along the way, Amy shares reporting insights from Master Naturalist training to field interviews with scientists, park stewards and restoration crews.

If you’re curious about dark sky travel, wellness and longevity trips with real environmental benefits, or simply how to choose operators who leave destinations better than they found them, this episode brings clarity and momentum. We also talk PR pitching that actually helps journalists, Amy’s upcoming features from Yellowstone to Baja, and the environmental heartbeat of her new novel.

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves nature, and leave a review to help more listeners find conversations that turn curiosity into care.

Conntect with Amy at:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

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What happens when a line cook falls in love with magazines—and refuses to choose between the stove and the story? We sit down with Chandra Ram, celebrated food writer, cookbook author and former editorial leader at Plate and Food & Wine, to chart a career built on craft, curiosity and a relentless commitment to serving readers as well as diners.

We dig into the early days that shaped her taste for pace and hospitality, the consulting and PR pivots that revealed how media really works and the unexpected phone call that led to years steering a chef-focused magazine. From there, Chandra explains how she helped a legacy brand honor icons like Julia Child while welcoming weeknight cooks who just want perfect pancakes and fewer half-used cans. You’ll hear how real-time traffic, search behavior and reader pain points inform recipe development, and why small choices—like using a full can of coconut milk—build trust.

We also confront the forces remaking food media: social platforms with shifting rails and AI that answers before a click. Chandra makes the case for direct relationships through newsletters, the enduring power of cookbooks you can smudge and dog-ear, and a smarter approach to inclusivity that goes far beyond token dishes. Expect candid insights on developing a strong writer’s voice, creating entry points that invite readers into a story, and trends worth keeping—hello, crunchy sauces packed with seeds and nuts.

If you care about where recipes come from, whose stories get told, and how to cook better tonight, this conversation is for you. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share with a friend who loves food media, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Chandra’s Substack newsletter: Another Bite
• Chandra’s Instagram (@chandrasplate)
• Chandra’s LinkedIn
  
  
• Cookbooks by Chandra Ram
  – The Complete Indian Instant Pot Cookbook
  – Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces (with Bill Kim)
  – The Eiffel Tower Restaurant Cookbook (with Jean Joho)
  – Women in Food (contributor)
  – The Chicago Food Encyclopedia (contributor)
  
  
• Zuni Café Cookbook by Judy Rodgers
  
  
• Dianne Jacob's Will Write for Food

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Step past the velvet ropes and into the rooms where power becomes personal. Angela sits with bestselling author and journalist Kate Andersen Brower to trace a path from midnight shifts at CBS to Bloomberg’s White House beat and the books that reveal the people who keep the presidency moving. From riding on Air Force One to riding a helicopter that touched down on the Buckingham Palace lawn, Kate shares electric moments that shaped her view of leadership, access and the stakes of getting the story right.

We dig into the origin of The Residence and the staff whose names rarely make headlines but whose work steadies every administration—ushers who know first families as people, butlers who carry institutional memory and housekeepers who witness history at arm’s length. Kate unpacks the power and pressure of first ladies, the private grief that often underlies public composure and the ethical knots reporters face when truth, privacy and politics collide. She explains why some stories humanize rather than sensationalize, and how multiple credible sources guide what makes it to the page.

Kate also opens up about her work being featured on screen as The Residence inspired a Netflix series, why she chose to stay focused on writing over producing and what she misses—and doesn’t—about daily journalism. Looking ahead, she previews a forthcoming book with Norah O’Donnell spotlighting overlooked women who built America, and a deep dive into the presidential secretaries who sit just outside the Oval Office, balancing loyalty with duty. If you care about media, history and the people who keep institutions running when no one’s watching, this conversation will stay with you.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• The Residence – Inside the Private World of the White House
  Kate Anderson Brower’s bestselling book offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the White House residence staff and the non-political professionals who serve presidents and their families.
• First Women – The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies
  An intimate portrait of modern first ladies, revealing the unseen pressures, influence, and complexity of a role with no formal job description.
• Team of Five – Former Presidents and Their Relationships
  A revealing look at how living former presidents interact, support, and sometimes clash behind the scenes.
• First in Line – The Lives and Power of U.S. Vice Presidents
  A deep dive into the often-overlooked role of the vice presidency and the individuals who have held it.
• Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon
  The first authorized biography of Elizabeth Taylor, tracing her extraordinary life, legacy, and activism.
• The Residence (Netflix)
  A murder-mystery series inspired by Kate’s book, produced by Shonda Rhimes and starring Uzo Aduba, using the White House residence as its dramatic backdrop.
• Kate Anderson Brower’s Website
  Learn more about Kate’s books, reporting, and current projects at katebrower.com.

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