In this episode, Nina Gallant pulls back the curtain on the world of food photography: what actually goes into building a shot, how creative careers evolve, and what it takes to turn artistic work into a sustainable business.

balancing creativity with the demands of running a business, building community, and making work that people actually want to pay you for.

We also talk about:

• What a food photographer actually does (beyond taking beautiful pictures)
• How lighting shapes emotion—and why “photography is light”
• The art of building a visual world around food
• How trends (Instagram, digital media) have changed food photography
• The reality of creative careers—and how Nina made hers financially sustainable
• Practical advice for creatives trying to make the leap

Plus, Nina shares how she sparks creativity (in and out of the kitchen) and the small rituals that help her calm the chaos.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the images in cookbooks and magazines—or how to build a creative life that actually works—this one’s for you.

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Connect with Nina Gallant:

Nina Gallant’s website

Nina’s Instagram

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

In this week’s episode, Catherine chats with Ashley Moore, food stylist and senior editor at America’s Test Kitchen, about building a creative career with ADHD—and why the way your brain works might actually be your biggest advantage.

Ashley takes us behind the scenes of life at ATK, from fast-paced photo shoots to the precision and organization required to make every recipe (and image) just right. She shares how she found her way into food media, including early experiences working alongside chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay, and what it really takes to stay in the industry long-term.

They also get into the realities of home cooking—what dinner actually looks like with kids, why weeknight meals can feel so hard (even for professionals), and the small, practical tricks that make it easier.

Plus, Ashley opens up about living and working with ADHD: the challenges, the unexpected strengths, and the moments when it becomes a true superpower.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it’s really like working at America’s Test Kitchen
• Food styling tips you can use at home
• Career paths in food media (and how to find your lane)
• ADHD in creative work and the kitchen
• The reality of feeding a family during the week

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Connect with Ashley Moore

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleypwmoore/
America’s Test Kitchen: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/

Not From Concentrate team

Catherine Smart — Host / Executive Producer
Kevin O’Connell — Audio & Video Production
Allie Miller — Associate Producer

Growing up in the Midwest, baker and cookbook author Martin Sorge learned how to find the best sweet corn at farm stands from his mom: by peeling back the husk and taking a bite from the ear. Despite Martin’s food-rich upbringing, it didn’t lead him straight to a culinary career — it led him to an English degree, and then to studies of public policy and economic development.

But even while working community-based jobs, Martin always found himself indulging in his passion by baking in the background. With time, he auditioned for the “Great American Baking Show.” Martin didn’t expect for one of his favorite TV shows to take interest in him. But then, he won.

In this week’s episode, Catherine Smarts sits down to chat with cookbook author, bread connoisseur, and winner of the “Great American Baking Show,” Martin Sorge.

Sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter. Follow the Not From Concentrate podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with Martin Sorge:

Martin’s Instagram

Great Bakes on Substack

Martin Bakes

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

Who comes to mind when you think of the start of your career? For Catherine Smart, that’s her longtime mentor Sheryl Julian. Sheryl was Catherine’s professor during her time in Boston University’s Gastronomy Program, as well as her editor at the Boston Globe.

And like any good editor, Sheryl isn’t shy with a red pen. She discusses what it takes to give valuable feedback, as well as the poetic journey to becoming a remarkable writer (which, to no one’s surprise, requires tons of writing). Like everyone else who cooks at home, Sheryl knows cooking is a grind that can leave you feeling uninspired. So, she shares some of her own tips to help fellow busy brains get their creative juices flowing in the kitchen.

Sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter. Follow the Not From Concentrate podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with Sheryl Julian:

Sheryl’s Instagram

Sheryl’s latest at the Boston Globe

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

On this episode of Not From Concentrate, Tenaya Darlington (aka Madame Fromage) shares her cheese journey — from working at a community newspaper in Wisconsin, teaching university English in Philadelphia, to becoming a cheese educator, blogger, and cookbook author. From Belgium to France to Switzerland, Tenaya discusses her cheese-centered travel and how they’ve formed her love and passion for cheese. As an expert, she imparts advice for the cheese curious to curd nerds for approaching cheese counters, expertly curating cheese boards, and how to chat it up with cheese mongers. They cover cheese and wine pairings, how different milks make different cheese, the art of cheese aging, and how cheese can bring people together.

Click Here to sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter

Sign up for the NFC newsletter here: https://catherinesmart.substack.com/

Check out Catherine's website: https://www.catherinesmart.com/podcast

Follow NFC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notfromconcentratepod/

Follow NFC on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notfromconcentratepod?_r=1&_t=ZP-91UDdutZOXf

Follow Catherine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesmart_

Listen to the NFC podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-from-concentrate/id1849667703?l=es-MX

Listen to the NFC podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZkwq43lAyBt5MFBY5TLy?si=8704410057314570&nd=1&dlsi=506cacaea3e94be0

Connect with Catherine:

Podcast website

Watch the episodes on YouTube

Follow Catherine on Instagram

The Not From Concentrate Podcast Instagram

Catherine's Tiktok

The Not from Concentrate Tiktok

Connect with Tenaya Darlington:

Madam Fromage’s website

Madame Fromage’s Instagram

Book a Cheese Journey

Buy Tenaya’s most recent book “Madame Fromage’s Adventures in Cheese”

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

Today we talk with Rebecca Eisenberg, content creator author of the Practical Kitchen blog, and the forthcoming “Small-Batch Breads” cookbook. In addition being a baker, Rebecca is an ADHDer and she shares strategies for thriving in the kitchen and managing her busy brain.

Click Here to sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter

Sign up for the NFC newsletter here: https://catherinesmart.substack.com/

Check out Catherine's website: https://www.catherinesmart.com/podcast

Follow NFC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notfromconcentratepod/

Follow NFC on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notfromconcentratepod?_r=1&_t=ZP-91UDdutZOXf

Follow Catherine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesmart_

Listen to the NFC podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-from-concentrate/id1849667703?l=es-MX

Listen to the NFC podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZkwq43lAyBt5MFBY5TLy?si=8704410057314570&nd=1&dlsi=506cacaea3e94be0

Connect with Catherine:

Podcast website

Watch the episodes on YouTube

Follow Catherine on Instagram

The Not From Concentrate Podcast Instagram

Catherine's Tiktok

The Not from Concentrate Tiktok

Connect with Rebecca Eisenberg:

Preorder Rebecca’s upcoming cookbook “Small-Batch Breads”

The Practical Kitchen blog

Rebecca’s Instagram

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

On this episode of Not From Concentrate, Sally Ekus shares her journey from growing up in a culinary publicity household to becoming a successful literary agent herself, despite studying social work during college. Sally talks about how getting into improv comedy has helped to shape her professional life as a publisher, particularly in redefining her relationship with fear and failure. As a true pro, she offers helpful insights into finding an agent for those wanting to pitch a cookbook. Their honest discussion emphasizes the importance of community support, self-care, and staying true to one's creative vision amidst the chaos ensuing around us, and in our own kitchens and brains.

Click Here to sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter

Sign up for the NFC newsletter here: https://catherinesmart.substack.com/

Check out Catherine's website: https://www.catherinesmart.com/podcast

Follow NFC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notfromconcentratepod/

Follow NFC on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notfromconcentratepod?_r=1&_t=ZP-91UDdutZOXf

Follow Catherine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesmart_

Listen to the NFC podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-from-concentrate/id1849667703?l=es-MX

Listen to the NFC podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZkwq43lAyBt5MFBY5TLy?si=8704410057314570&nd=1&dlsi=506cacaea3e94be0

Connect with Catherine:

Podcast website

Watch the episodes on YouTube

Follow Catherine on Instagram

The Not From Concentrate Podcast Instagram

Catherine's Tiktok

The Not from Concentrate Tiktok

Connect with Sally Ekus:

Sally’s Substack, where you can find Not So Secret Agent

Sally’s publisher profile

Sally’s Instagram

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer

Mallory Oniki of @thepalatablelife joins us to talk cookies, recipe testing, the ups and downs of creator life, and her first cook book, Cookie Club!

Not From Concentrate team:

Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer

Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production

Allie Miller, Associate Producer