From Burnout To Blueprint: Octavia McIntosh on Designing A Life of Freedom

From Systems Change To Sweet Relief: Joy Marsh On Liberation, Baking, And Belonging

Healing doesn’t have to shout to be powerful. Sometimes it looks like a steady whisk, a kitchen scale, and the quiet joy of a macaron rising just right. We sit down with Joy Marsh—social scientist, strategist, and the heart behind Minneapolis’s Blissful Cakery—to talk about the craft of staying whole while doing hard things. Joy has led transformational change inside city government, healthcare, and nonprofits, and she opens up about what liberation means in practice: precise language, shared accountability, and centering Black and Indigenous women, trans and non-binary people so everyone can experience safety, peace, and joy. We trace the arc from burnout and news fatigue to boundaries and ritual. Joy explains how baking became her counterbalance to systems work—not as escape, but as a mindful practice where inputs and outcomes finally align. Measure, fold, rest, pipe. That embodied focus calms her ADHD brain and creates room for pattern-finding and creative strategy. You’ll hear candid reflections on entrepreneurship as an introvert, the courage to narrow your lane, and the humility it takes to learn from younger generations who refuse to make peace with harm. Along the way, we celebrate macarons as both art and metaphor: playful color, surprising flavors, and the discipline to try again when the shells crack. Joy shares what’s next for Blissful Cakery, from monthly pop-ups to holiday gifting and a vision to teach baking as a regulation tool for organizers and caregivers carrying heavy stories. We close with a mindful moment that grounds the conversation in something simple and true—cooking connects us to ourselves, and the care we practice in the kitchen is the care we can carry back into community. If this story stirred something in you, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your words help more people find a slice of joy and the tools to keep going. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments. Support the Cake Therapy Foundation: 1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org) [https://thecaketherapyfoundation.org/]  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com) [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/caketherapyfdn] 3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0  4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc  Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

From Burnout To Blueprint: Octavia McIntosh on Designing A Life of Freedom

What happens when your spark fades but your calling won’t stay quiet? We sit with author and strategist Octavia McIntosh to trace the honest arc from high-output corporate life to designing a freedom-aligned business that doesn’t demand constant presence. Octavia opens up about the subtle signs of burnout, the two-year inner conversation that led to her “I’m out” moment, and the practical blueprint she wished she had—now captured in her book and a growing I’m Out ecosystem. Together we unpack four anchors that changed her leadership and her life: knowing herself, deepening self-awareness, understanding people, and regulating how she shows up. Octavia shares how she reframed the fear of failure with a better question—what if it works—and why freedom, for her, means income that continues even when she steps back. We explore small rituals that restore calm and clarity: faith as a steady center, quiet time under a tree, the medicine of wind and water, play with her dogs, and even coloring to release the need to chase. These practices aren’t escapism; they’re strategy, making space for better decisions and better results. If your nine-to-five feels like a slow leak of energy, you’ll find clear first steps here: detach mentally, step outside the noise, watch your life like a film, and notice what needs to stop and what wants to start. Octavia’s roadmap isn’t a reckless leap; it’s a thoughtful plan to replace your salary, test your offers while employed, and transition with evidence and ease. Along the way, we return to our own mission—baking as therapy, memory, and community—because healing works best when our hands and hearts move together. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs courage to change, and leave a review so others can find the show. When you’re ready to explore Octavia’s work, search “I’m Out” by Octavia McIntosh on Amazon and connect with her on Instagram at @iamoctaviamcintosh. Let’s bake clarity, one brave choice at a time. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments. Support the Cake Therapy Foundation: 1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org) [https://thecaketherapyfoundation.org/]  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com) [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/caketherapyfdn] 3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0  4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc  Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

Cake Circle Community with Jasmine Rae: Co-Caking, Cake Play & Business Support

Cake is invited to life’s biggest moments, yet the artists who make it are often asked to accept bargain pricing, rushed timelines, and invisible labor. Dr. Altreisha Foster sits down with returning guest Jasmine Rae, fine art cake designer and instructor, to name that disconnect out loud and map a path forward through Cake Circle, a new community she is building with Azara of Milkmoon Kitchen. We get real about what drives burnout in the cake industry: a low barrier to entry, the pressure to perform before you feel fully trained, and the constant demand to be creative while also running a business. Jasmine shares why developing a creative voice is not a switch you flip but a long process of practice, copying, and growth, and how underpay and overwork can crush that process fast. We also talk about why community is not a luxury for creative entrepreneurs, it is a nervous-system need, especially for bakers working long hours in isolation. Jasmine breaks down what Cake Circle is building, from co-caking hours that make Friday prep less lonely to Cake Play design practice and small-group consulting circles for targeted business support. Then we zoom out to the bigger vision: culture change. Think guild-like frameworks, clearer experience levels, and public education that helps clients understand what cake artistry is worth, so cake makers can earn a livable wage and build sustainable careers. If you care about baking therapy, creative entrepreneurship, cake artistry, and mental wellness for small business owners, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe, share with a cake friend, and leave a review with one change you want to see in the industry. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments. Support the Cake Therapy Foundation: 1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org) [https://thecaketherapyfoundation.org/]  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com) [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/caketherapyfdn] 3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0  4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc  Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

Eight16 Culinary Therapy: Mercedes Tiggs Shares The Recipe for Confidence, Community and Care

Ever wondered what happens when therapy moves from the couch to the kitchen? We sit down with licensed clinical social worker and culinary therapist Mercedes Tiggs, founder of Eight16 Culinary Therapy, to explore how mindful cooking can transform anxiety, build confidence, and knit communities back together. Rooted in the legacy of her grandmother’s Sunday dinners and a foster care upbringing, Mercedes walks us through a sensory-forward approach that blends breathwork, essential oils, food safety, and teamwork into a healing ritual—then closes each class with a shared table and reflection. Mercedes opens up about her shift from criminal justice to social work, the moment faith sparked the idea of “culinary therapy,” and how the pandemic turned a vision into action through virtual kitchen circles. She explains why food carries hidden stories—finish-your-plate rules, waste anxiety, cultural expectations—and how naming those scripts can free us to eat with intention. You’ll hear a powerful breakthrough from a student who moved from an apple peeler to confidently using chef’s knives, proof that safety, skill-building, and community can rewrite fear. We also look ahead. Mercedes and her team secured a farm-to-school grant to bring culinary therapy into elementary, middle, and high schools as an alternative to detention—turning behavior challenges into opportunities for regulation and pride. She shares a bold vision for a community kitchen and, long term, a therapeutic farm that supports re-entry with housing, certifications, and farm-to-table training. Along the way, we swap comfort foods (shrimp and grits fans, unite), talk travel and technique, and celebrate the mantra at the heart of her work: meals that heal. If you’re curious about trauma-informed care, school mental health, or creative wellness, this story offers tools you can use tonight—light a candle, breathe with your chop, taste slowly, and eat together. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find our healing community. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments. Support the Cake Therapy Foundation: 1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org) [https://thecaketherapyfoundation.org/]  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com) [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/caketherapyfdn] 3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0  4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc  Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

Jasmine Rae on Creative Expression and Entrepreneurship

Jasmine Rae, the genius behind Jasmine Rae Cakes, joins us on the Cake Therapy Podcast to share her extraordinary journey from an art-loving child to the Most Unique Luxury Wedding Cake Designer in the United States. Immerse yourself in her world as Jasmine reflects on her early days, where her quiet nature and inquisitive mind wove together a love for architecture, art, and the stars. Her first foray into baking, armed with old Crisco and a dream, set her on a path of creativity and self-discovery, shaping her into the artist she is today. In this episode, we uncover the fascinating link between baking, art, and mental well-being through Jasmine's unique perspective. With a background in cognitive science and psychology, she opens up about how her life experiences, including being raised by a single mother, shaped her interest in mental health and creativity. The Cake Therapy Foundation emerges as a beacon of hope, empowering young girls to find healing and expression through the transformative power of baking. Jasmine's story is a testament to how intentional activities can be both therapeutic and profoundly rewarding. As we explore the art of cake design, Jasmine offers invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of finding one's voice and building confidence. Through her lens, cake design becomes not just a profession but a form of therapy and self-expression. Jasmine encourages us all to embrace the unexpected, find joy in the creative process, and foster a supportive community. Tune in to learn how the adventure of entrepreneurship and the beauty of artistic expression can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments. Support the Cake Therapy Foundation: 1.   Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org) [https://thecaketherapyfoundation.org/]  2.  Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com) [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/caketherapyfdn] 3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life   https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0  4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc  Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts