What's the Tea with Sarah E

S3 Episode 2 - Marisa Mariella

To continue Season 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with the vibrant and deeply soulful Marisa Mariella - culinary creator, educator, storyteller, and the heart behind Marisa’s Easy Kitchen. More than a cook, Marisa is a passionate believer in the power of food to connect people, preserve culture, support mental wellness, and create community. Raised in an Italian-Canadian household by immigrant parents from Calabria, Italy, Marisa grew up understanding that food was never just food - it was love, identity, resilience, and deep care. In this warm, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation, Marisa spills the tea on: * Growing up in a home where food, faith, family, and friends were everything * The lessons she learned from her mother about creating abundance from very little * Why respecting food (and not wasting it) became a lifelong value * Her 30-year career as a teacher and guidance counsellor and how that work shaped her purpose * Creating the iMatter teen mental health and suicide prevention program * Overcoming self-doubt to launch a television show and step into entrepreneurship later in life * Building a business rooted in authenticity, culture, and connection * Why she refuses to dim her light to make others comfortable Marisa also reflects on the deeper meaning behind gathering around a table - and why she wants every person who experiences her food to feel loved, accepted, and at home. (I can now say that I've experienced this thanks to the homemade biscotti delivery!) At the heart of this episode is a beautiful reminder: Food feeds more than hunger - it feeds connection, healing, memory, and community. This episode feels like sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, a plate of pasta, and someone who reminds you what really matters. Season 3 – Episode 2 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Marisa Mariella online at https://marisamariella.com [https://marisamariella.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] and on Instagram @marisamariella for Marisa’s Easy Kitchen for recipes, events, culture, and community storytelling. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S3 Episode 1 - Jacqui Childs

To kick off Season 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with the vibrant, fearless, and wildly authentic Jacqui Childs - entrepreneur, best-selling author, influencer, ghostwriter, and mental health advocate who has spent over a decade building a platform rooted in truth, vulnerability, and unapologetic self-expression. With more than 2.5 million followers across social media, Jacqui has seen the highs and lows of influence - but behind the curated feeds is a story of survival, reinvention, and radical honesty. From living on her own at 15, to navigating early motherhood, to stripping on 8-Mile in Detroit and Naked News, to becoming a media personality, advocate and creator - Jacqui’s journey is anything but conventional. This Hells Angel in Heels wouldn't have it any other way! In this raw, bold, and deeply human conversation, Jacqui spills the tea on: * Growing up in survival mode and how her first son changed the trajectory of her life * Her bipolar diagnosis and why she sees it as her superpower, not a limitation * The decision to stop medication and fully experience life - the highs and the lows * Why women struggle to take up space and the data-backed reality of how differently men and women are received online * Turning 40 and stepping into a new level of confidence, power, and self-acceptance * Navigating judgment, hate, and criticism - especially from other women * Why she continues to show up boldly, even when she knows she won’t be for everyone Jacqui also shares deeply personal reflections on relationships, motherhood, identity, and what it means to be truly seen - not just online, but in real life. At the heart of this episode is a powerful truth: You don’t have to be palatable to be powerful. This conversation is messy, honest, funny, and at times confronting - a reminder that the most powerful thing you can be is fully yourself.🎙 Season 3 – Episode 1 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Jacqui on Instagram at @jacquichilds or @childs.jacqui or search Jacqui Childs on Facebook or LinkedIn. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S2 Bonus Episode - What’s The Tea with Sarah E (And Mummy!)

TO WRAP UP SEASON 2 OF WHAT’S THE TEA WITH SARAH E, I ONCE AGAIN BRING ON THE ONE WOMAN WHO KNOWS ME BEST - MY MOTHER, CINDY (AKA MUMMY). This bonus episode is the official Season 2 Stir The Pot Special, where we revisit every bold, thought-provoking question asked throughout the season by guests. This time, Mummy and I answer them together - honest, reflective, silly as always, and always unfiltered. And for the record, no... I am not planning murdering my mom. Recorded from two provinces - me in Ontario and Mummy in Nova Scotia - this conversation turns into a deep dive into life, growth, success, and the lessons that shape who we become. Of course, there are stories, laughs, a few glasses of wine and a bourbon along the way. We recorded on a Friday and needed something a little stronger than tea. In this heartfelt Season 2 finale, Sarah and Cindy spill the tea on: * How the definition of success changes as we grow older * Why happiness and peace eventually matter more than material things * My time living abroad and how it unlocked my ability to show up fully and unapologetically * Big questions about life, spirituality, energy, and the divine * The wisdom Cindy learned from her father (Grampy Gene!) and why credit and financial literacy matters * The importance of living life boldly and not being afraid to try things * The hard truth that sometimes… you simply cannot fix everybody * And so much more. It’s thoughtful, funny, deeply human, and the perfect way to close a powerful second season. SEASON 2 “STIR THE POT” QUESTIONS & GUEST CREDITS These are the questions that fueled the season - each one answered by the guest below, and now answered by Sarah and Cindy together. Try them as journal prompts or chats with friends! 1. Tanis Crosby - “How do you define success and how has this changed for you as you’ve gotten older?” 2. Joseph Apps - “Looking back on your personal growth, what was the turning point that shifted how you lead yourself - and how did that experience shape the way you show up in life today?” 3. Adam Ivy - “If you could define success over the next 10 years, what does it look like?” 4. Malaysia Harrell - “If nothing was stopping you from packing everything up, relocating and starting fresh - where would that be and why?” 5. Kat Dobson - “If you had to ask a question to God or the Divine, what would it be and why?” 6. Michael Valchuk - “Who was the hardest person on you when you were a child and how has that shaped you?” 7. Mical Ndelela - “When everything is stripped away - titles, money, success - what do you want people to feel because they crossed paths with you?” 8. Layne The Auctionista -“What is one thing that you wished more women understood?” 9. Anuja Varghese - “What dream are you committed to protecting, even if the world is telling you to be more realistic?” 10. Daniel Guest - “What’s one thing that took you too long to learn or that you had to learn the hard way?” All answered with heart, humour, wisdom, and a few spicy opinions. Bonus Episode - What’s The Tea with Sarah E (And Mummy!): The Season 2 Stir The Pot Special is streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Season 3 launches April 7, 2026. ☕🔥 That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S2 Episode 10 - Daniel Guest

To close out this episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Daniel Guest, Visionary and President of Guest Plumbing & HVAC - one of Hamilton’s fastest-growing companies and a powerful example of what it means to build success from the ground up. Daniel’s journey didn’t start with a polished business plan or a clear path to entrepreneurship. In fact, when he first chose the trades over university, he was considered the “black sheep” of the family. But what began as labor work and an apprenticeship quickly turned into a career that would shape not only his life - but the future of an entire industry. Daniel built Guest Plumbing & HVAC into a thriving company with 40 staff across Hamilton and Toronto, proving that the trades are not just jobs... they are pathways to leadership, entrepreneurship, and long-term impact. In this honest and insightful conversation, Daniel spills the tea on: * Why choosing the trades changed the trajectory of his life * The mentors who shaped him and why mentorship is everything * The hardest moments of growth - from lawsuits to navigating COVID * What he had to unlearn to become a better leader * The realities facing the trades industry and the misconceptions that still exist * Why women can and should thrive in the trades * The origin story behind Tradesmart College, his mission to bridge the gap between students and real careers in the trades, and more! Daniel also shares a powerful truth he learned the hard way: “Nobody cares what people think of you as much as you think they do.” Instead of shrinking to fit expectations, Daniel chose to build his life and his business - unapologetically. This episode is a conversation about grit, mentorship, leadership, and redefining what success looks like in industries that quite literally build our world. Season 2 – Episode 10 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E is streaming now. Learn more about Dan Guest and his podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/guestlifepodcast/] and online at guestplumbing.com [https://guestplumbing.com]. Explore the good work of Trade Smart College and pathways into the trades at tradesmartcollege.com [https://tradesmartcollege.com/] That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S2 Episode 9 - Anuja Varghese

To kick off this powerful episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with award-winning Hamilton-based author Anuja Varghese - a literary force whose work centers women of color, queer characters, and stories that challenge who gets to be the hero! Anuja is the author of the Governor General’s Literary Award-winning short story collection Chrysalis, and her highly anticipated romantasy novel A Kiss of Crimson Ash releases May 26, 2026. But beyond the awards and accolades, Anuja is a storyteller committed to making sure people like her - and people like so many of us - see ourselves reflected back with power, desire, and complexity. In this bold, layered conversation, Anuja spills the tea on: * Growing up without seeing herself in the books she loved - and choosing to change that * What it cost (and liberated) her to write openly as a queer feminist woman of color * Why romance and erotica are not “fluff”... but resistance * Building a medieval India-inspired fantasy world after being told her character “didn’t fit” * Balancing midnight writing sessions with motherhood and a full-time role in the social profit sector * How grant writing is storytelling and why funders need to trust the people on the ground (hello trust-based philanthropy!) * Protecting the dream of being a writer in a world obsessed with security Anuja speaks candidly about choosing authenticity over palatability - and the overwhelming response from readers who finally felt seen. When asked what she hopes her work gives people, her answer was simple and profound, “I hope they feel seen. And maybe a little turned on.” This episode is a love letter to representation, creative courage, and the audacity to build worlds where you belong. 🎙 Season 2 – Episode 9 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Anuja on Instagram @anuja_v [https://www.instagram.com/anuja_v/?hl=en] and learn more about her books, upcoming novel release, and events at anujavarghese.com [http://www.anujavarghese.com]. Pre-order A Kiss of Crimson Ash wherever books are sold. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.