March 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Struggling with food and health? In this episode of Media Rebel Unplugged, Chef Dannika Stevenson opens up about her personal battles with unhealthy eating and how faith, purpose, and a deep passion for food led her to help others make healthier choices. From overcoming self-doubt to teaching communities the power of mindful eating, this is a story of transformation you don’t want to miss!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi guys, welcome back to Media Rebel Unplugged.
I'm your host, Janice Becker, and joining me today is a very special guest, DanicaStevenson, chef.
She is the owner of Sip Saversoul in Akron, Ohio.
Welcome.
Thank you for having me today.
I'm so happy you're here.
Thank you so much.
And I just, I'm just loving these chairs.
(00:21):
I would like to take one home.
This is so comfortable, but you have a beautiful setting here, so thank you for theinvitation.
Thank you and thank you for coming in.
just so the audience knows, I have been stalking Chef Danny here for quite a few months.
I want to say probably six months.
Yes, I am such a fan of everything you're doing in the community.
(00:41):
So if you could first tell people what is Sip Safer Soul?
Well, first of all, I want to say thank you for stalking me.
Sip Safer Soul actually started in 2014.
next month, 18 years in the business.
Awesome.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
mean, time really does fly, but actually it started on the SIP part.
(01:01):
People are like, well, what does the SIP mean?
Actually, I was deep into wine and I was deep into the wine business.
So that was the SIP part of SIPs, were so, um, and this was my time living down south.
In 2015, I moved back here to Africa.
I kind of did what LeBron James did.
was time for me to come back home.
family dynamics changed.
And I was in healthcare.
I was a community health worker.
(01:23):
And so I go to different homes and do health assessments.
And I noticed that the common denominator in all my visits was people complaining aboutthey don't have access to healthy food.
So I was in these low income neighborhoods where there's the corner store, there's the gasstation, there's McDonald's, but no farmers markets, no grocery stores.
So a lot of the clients that was on this heavy medication.
(01:46):
You know, they just can't eat crackers.
They're going to need something more wholesome, more sustainable, more filling.
So with that in mind, what I would do was I would go to different stores and bringgroceries to them or would look in their cabinet, look at their fridge to see what they
had and try to come up with some meals like that.
So then it morphed into...
(02:09):
teaching people how to eat healthy.
That's the soul part of it.
Yeah, it's food for your soul, It's food for your soul.
Yeah, that's kind of like how it turned to.
And then me connecting with the community, working with some nonprofits.
were interested in learning how to cook.
So people are conscious about the way they cook.
I'm sorry, they're conscious about the way they eat, but I will show them how to beconscious about the way they cook.
(02:31):
Yeah.
Because it really goes hand hand.
Yeah.
So basically, you know, with every, I would say with every sip, with every savor, I put mysoul into it.
I love that.
So that was sort of like the mission of it, just helping people be more conscious aboutthe way they eat and cook and just making healthier choices for themselves, for their
children, for their family.
(02:52):
So what inspired you to become a chef in the first place?
Well, my great grandmother showed me how to cook when I was four years old.
My great grandmother, her name was Pearl, double amputee, lower extremity.
So I would sit on her lap.
and cook greens with soap.
She would have you climb on the counter and I would grab ingredients for her famouscoconut cake.
I actually shaving coconuts, homemade coconut cake.
(03:15):
I was the girl that always wanted to be in the kitchen.
Now I have a younger brother, love being outside all day, all night.
My mother had to like scream to get him back in the house.
I was always in the.
I wouldn't go outside.
So I just always had a passion for cooking.
I always say now, and people laugh at me, I say it's where the real magic happens.
(03:39):
And people are like, okay.
And I'm like, no, for real, I'm always in the kitchen.
I'm like, you got these cool ingredients, got pots and pans, you're making magical stuff.
That's why I feel like it's magical.
And so, yeah, I've been working in the kitchen pretty much my whole life, even justgrowing up.
I'm in college making food for people.
wanted to make friends.
(03:59):
And I'm like, hey, I baked some cookies.
Hey, I made this.
And I remember working in a cardiology office and the cardiologist was like, you're goingto get people heart attack.
You can't keep bringing food in.
You got to stop.
So I've always had a passion for cooking because I felt like I could do anything else.
can't sing.
It's hard for me to dance.
know, I can't draw, but I could cook.
(04:20):
Yeah.
It's funny how that
that just comes so natural to some people and others really struggle with learning how tocook.
So I know that you're really good at doing your community classes and what's that like foryou?
Would you have somebody that's really struggling to learn how to cook and they'refrustrated and about to give up?
How do you help them get through it?
(04:41):
Well, first of all, cooking is a fundamental skill.
I feel like it's a skill that everyone should learn and actually start really young.
Okay.
And the reason why I do that is because a lot of them parents have already developed anunhealthy eating behavior.
So guess what?
If the parents don't like vegetables, they're gonna pass that to their kids.
(05:01):
They're not gonna like it either.
So what I do in my classes, I take things that people like and we put a healthy mix withthem.
So for example, for my kids classes, if we're making pizza, we'll do cauliflower crust,broccoli crust.
We put our favorite toppings on it.
And I got kids to eat.
(05:21):
Wow.
If it's french fries, yes, french fries with potatoes, but let's try carrots.
Let's try curse them.
We're gonna make our own ketchup.
Let's try zucchini.
And these kids are gobbling it up.
And now I get parents coming to me and saying, hey, we just came from the grocery storeand got eggplant.
Like my daughter, and she's six.
She wants eggplant.
(05:42):
I said, that's great.
That's great.
So I'm making an impact with these kids.
And also too with the parents too, not just the kids.
I've had some parents call me and say, look, I don't know how to cook.
I grew up in a fast food generation.
This is a microwave era.
(06:03):
I just know how to put it in the microwave or get it from a fast food.
I don't know what to do here.
And so we just start with the basics.
We have to take it back to the basics.
And so I'm not really teaching people how to grow the food.
I'm gonna show you how to cook it.
So I'll do an assessment.
Hey, what do have in your cabinet?
What do you have in your fridge?
Do you have pots and pans?
(06:24):
Because I remember, like going back to the health assessments, I remember one family thathad all these cans.
Wow, how does that work?
That's what I said, you know, and I said, do you not have a can of beer?
And this particular family was from a different country, so maybe they weren't used tohaving the can of
(06:47):
Yeah, and that happens to different cultures use different types of styles of techniqueswhen it comes to cooking So that's what my assessment was and then I've had folks that
don't have a working oven The refrigerator is not cold enough.
So there's a lot of spoilage.
So yeah, you know, I always encourage Everybody I just hope folks look I want you to try Iwant you to try it out.
(07:10):
Whatever this food is like if you never had a plan in your life
I always, especially my kids, I tell them to close your eyes and take a bite.
You know, I tell my parents, hey, close your eyes, take a bite.
And you know, it's been really successful, really.
You know, it's really not about the food, really.
It's bringing people together.
(07:31):
And I've noticed you, I have tons of stories with people, relationships are healed.
Their health has improved.
I have a parent that, you know, their child's eating fruits and vegetables because of myclass.
I have a parent that's eating fruits and vegetables because of my class.
So I think...
It really isn't about the food.
It's just, it's a tool, but we're bringing community together.
We're bringing families together one recipe at a time.
(07:53):
I love that.
think a lot of parents struggle, especially single parents struggle with juggling work andthen having to cook meals when they come home and the kids are already in there.
They're just snacking on whatever they can before they get home.
And then you get home, you're tired and you're like, what am I going to throw together?
So I think what you're doing, there's definitely a huge need for that.
everywhere.
(08:13):
I never thought about the broccoli crust or the cauliflower crust pizza.
So I love that different spin.
Yeah.
And in my class, they're really simple, basic techniques.
I always do these base recipes because I want people to be creative with it.
what would you do?
What would you add or what would you take away?
Because I want people to have their own spin or their own creativity when it comes tomaking it.
(08:35):
So my classes is about three, I call it the three C's, being curious to try something new.
being creative, your own technique, your own style, and confidence.
want you to able to do that recipe again when you get home or share it with your family,share it with your friends.
Those are my three C's in my class.
I love that.
So being that, you you got started basically because you were already in the health field.
(08:58):
What was the personal side though for you, like personally speaking, that made you reallycare about food and how people consume it in a healthy way?
Well, first of all, I really didn't care about
I would say my health.
I had some food struggles and even though I felt like this was a gift that God gave me, Ifelt like a complete hypocrite because I was struggling with, I had some unhealthy eating
(09:23):
behaviors like, yeah, I got the junk food, yeah, I got the fast food, yes, I ate too muchand there were times I ate too little.
So like I was battling my own health demons in a way and trying to teach people at thesame time to eat healthy.
And I remember just crying at night about this.
I was like, I feel bad because we made this kale apple salad and I just ate a half a pizzawhen I got home.
(09:46):
know, like I feel horrible.
And it wasn't even all veggies.
Like I had a meat lover's pizza, know?
So I felt completely horrible about it.
And so I was grossly overweight.
I was like over 300 pounds, like trying to teach, you know, healthy classes.
And I thought I need to give this to somebody else.
feel like it was this perception they need to be skinny, they need to be this, they needto look like this.
(10:08):
Because I've been in newspapers, magazines, I've been on TV and I've always feltself-conscious about the way I look.
I remember someone told me this, I will never forget it.
She said, it's not even about your size, it's about your service.
You are making a service, you're doing a service, this is not about you.
And I learned not to be so self-focused and have that self-pity and be so self-absorbed.
(10:32):
because you have a child out here that you helped them eat carrots.
This mom that she's eating healthy or her blood pressure is normal because she's beengoing to your class every week.
So I think once they started to heal and I saw that, then I began to help.
So it was just a reflection on them.
And I realized, you know what?
I am making a difference, but I'm doing a disservice if I'm not taking care of myself.
(10:56):
Well, I think you have more trust too with people when you can say, look, I've experiencedthis myself.
Yeah.
You know, because if you've never really experienced it firsthand, how is anybody going tobelieve you?
you going to have the credibility to say, look, I've had my own struggles and think ithelps when you're so authentic and people can really identify with that.
Yeah.
And I've shared the story with people and then people will come up to me sometimesprivately or publicly.
(11:23):
You know, we're on this healing journey together.
I'm still on the healing journey.
Oh yeah.
We spend our whole life healing.
We spend our whole life healing, most definitely.
That's how we develop.
That's how we evolve and grow.
But I think what you're doing is absolutely amazing.
mean, did you ever think that you would be a business owner?
You know what?
(11:44):
I always wanted to be a business owner because I wanted to break the generational cursesin my family.
I come from a history, especially the limit of just working all the time.
My great grandmother worked for someone.
My grandmother and my mother worked for...
worked and I rarely saw my mother.
My mother worked, she had a day job, evening job, weekend job.
(12:05):
So that's why I spend a lot of time with my great grandmother and my grandmother always inthe kitchen, so like just learning new recipes and stuff like that because my mother was
gone.
I wasn't angry because some kids could be angry because you feel abandoned.
But I felt like since I had an absentee father that it was necessary.
It was a requirement.
(12:25):
It's because of survival.
Like if she doesn't work, we don't eat.
I've just learned that too, because a lot of the health elements to obesity is because Iknow for us, we grew up, it's like, you better eat what's on the table.
This is it.
And I don't care if it's fattening, greasy, fight, it doesn't matter.
We eat what's on the table and if we don't eat it, it's a disrespect to our elders.
(12:48):
we learned that's culture, that's tradition.
I realized I always wanted to work for myself because I saw the pain.
I saw the grueling pain.
My mother with her tired feet and, you know, baby, I can't see your homework right now.
Like, I'm tired.
I need to take a bath and you go to bed.
I got to get up at 5 a.m.
(13:09):
So I understood her assignment at a young age.
Now, some kids would get really angry about that or no, but I understood.
I saw her pain.
I love that.
It's such an inspiration.
What has been one of the most challenging things for you as an entrepreneur?
Wow.
There's several.
think in my business, I've worked in the business and I'm outside the business, like theoperation part of it.
(13:34):
I say this all the time.
Yeah.
I put that passion and purpose and purpose before profit.
Cause I feel like it's weird.
feel like, you know, I'm not making that six figure income.
I don't have a board.
I don't have a business partner.
I don't even have a pool.
And I remember just like, Lord, I need help.
need help.
And you know what?
God comes in and brings in the help.
(13:56):
in the most intimate, intricate ways.
As in, I remember one time just going to the grocery store and I'm like, I am so tired,like really tired.
I had back to back classes and even just a gentleman coming up to me and taking my cart.
He's like, I got the cart for you.
Or, you know, I'm in a class and there's more volunteers and like, Dana, you don't have toclean up.
(14:18):
We'll get that for you.
So I, and then I have kids helping me set up.
Now they don't want to clean up, but they'll set up.
They'll set up.
for me.
And then recently I got a bunch of letters from some kids saying, know, Chef Danny, thankyou for cooking with me.
Chef Danny, we love you.
Chef Danny, thank you.
You know, I just got that last week and I was just all in because as a business owner, youhave one of those moments.
(14:40):
You feel like you're not doing enough or you're not good enough.
Yeah.
I struggle with that a lot.
Yeah.
It's crazy.
Like you have all these athletes, you've connected with so many people, you've done somany things.
But at the end of the day, sometimes I'm like, I still feel alone.
Yes.
Yeah.
I'm wearing many hats.
I'm a foster mom now.
have a tentacle.
I take care of baby in business, know, and I'm responsible for his heart, but I'mresponsible for the heart of the business.
(15:10):
I'm responsible for that.
I got to take care of that too.
And take care of me as a business owner.
Yeah.
That's not easy.
Self-care is really hard as a business owner.
Sub-boundaries with yourself.
It's so important.
try.
I'm getting better at it.
I try to say, okay, nine o'clock is my time.
I tell the kids, you cannot come into the room.
(15:31):
This is my space.
This is my time to do what I need.
I recently created a prayer board.
I don't know if you've ever heard of this, but it was nice that I spent time with mydaughter and creating it.
But then it also gives me time for myself now to be more dedicated and thoughtful in how Ipray and just stay really organized with it.
And then I'm holding myself accountable too.
(15:54):
to not only God, but then myself.
highly recommend.
All thank you for sharing that.
I would definitely like to do something like that.
Yeah, your faith, your faith is challenged.
Oh, yes.
Big time.
I want to share this quick story.
I was given an opportunity to work with SUMA Health, had this big contract.
(16:14):
It was sponsored through SUMA Foundation and First Energy.
And they found me through watching me on Fox 8.
So they reached out.
said we need to talk to you, we want to do some cooking classes, see you doing somebra-bra chains and all this other stuff.
And so they said, look, we have this funny, we need a number.
Can you do classes for the whole family for a year?
(16:36):
The whole family.
said, okay.
So I gave them a number and I said 36,000.
I don't care about the number, really.
So the next day, the grant writer never met this lady.
She said, that number's too low.
Wow.
They could have subbed it.
Yeah.
She said the number's too low.
(16:58):
I need another number of bite and doom.
This is 1030.
And I thought, okay, I don't know.
They called my mother and she just said, just pray about it.
so I wrote 60.
I mean, I wrote 60, but it was a fucking 60.
Okay.
Five weeks later, I get the E contract.
(17:18):
It said a hundred thousand.
Wow.
And I pulled my glasses up.
And I said, that can't be right.
can't be right.
And so they called her.
I just want to make sure the numbers are correct.
Just.
She said, yeah, I just need you to e-sign it.
(17:40):
Wow.
And it's crazy.
She knew my worth and I didn't.
I didn't, you know, and that was so powerful.
That was just an ah moment because.
you're worth it.
You're worth it.
You're worth that anymore.
But I didn't think I was worth that at all because I may have been in the business notthat long, but you know, I'm still struggling.
(18:04):
I'm looking at the status.
I don't have this, I don't have that.
How they gonna give me $100,000?
I don't think I deserve that.
So that was my mindset.
I love that somebody was so honest with you to help you get to.
see that you are worth it because so many times we don't see that.
I think we forget how valuable our knowledge is.
(18:27):
There's times I'll have conversations with people about their marketing plans or digitalmarketing or how to do things in a different way than they've ever thought of that I don't
even, I don't even really think about it just comes natural to me just as what you docomes natural to you and there's so much value in that for other people and how we help
others but then I myself struggle with am I helping enough people?
Am I helping them in the right way?
(18:49):
And as you've mentioned, juggling all and wearing all the hats that we wear.
And then I still will beat myself up and go, I'm not doing enough.
Right.
Well, I want to add to that too.
You will never see yourself valuable if you're always seeking validation.
True.
That's me.
True.
You know, like I remember complaining to myself.
(19:12):
like, I don't even have a lot of followers on Facebook.
I'm not even on Instagram.
I'm not tech savvy, I'm not this and I'm not that.
And you know, I posted something and I didn't get a lot of comments or you know, I justhad an event, like I was a keynote speaker and we sold out but only half the people came,
(19:34):
you know?
And so I was a little salty about that.
I'll say, there were some people I knew and couldn't come, you know, for whatever reason,you you might have a child that's sick or traffic or whatever.
But I was seeking that validation and when you do that you're questioning yourself.
Now you're questioning your value, questioning your worth, you're questioning theintegrity of your worth.
(19:54):
You're like, well, is it, do they not like me?
Do they not like my business?
Do they not like what I do?
Then you go into this deep spiral and it gets out of control.
But I remember the whole comments thing and the followers and I just remember at nightjust thinking about that and I just remember, just follow Jesus.
Just follow Jesus.
That's you need to follow.
(20:14):
And I'm telling you because of that, that I had an opportunity to do this with you.
I've had some other folks I've never met that reached out and said, hey, we want you tocome speak or we want to partner with you with kids cooking class and we want to partner.
Like people just coming on the boardwalk.
That's a prayer I say all the time.
I ask God to put people into my life that are meant to be there for me and remove othersthat do not serve me and hold me back.
(20:38):
He has answered every single Everyone, he will.
Yeah.
Craziest ways that you wouldn't even think possible.
So I love that you share that and that you can testify to that as well Yeah, I mean it'sbeen a true blessing even like financially with everything that's going on with it with
you know Our country and stuff like that.
He is still taking care of us.
(20:59):
And as a matter fact yesterday I did a cooking class and I have a set amount for my classand they gave me extra And I was gonna I was gonna say wait a minute.
Maybe that's an error, but
Watch.
didn't expect that.
It's just those little jewels like those intimate kisses from God like I told you I'mtaking care of you I got you you know.
(21:25):
I know it's crazy how much we still worry he tells us in the Bible not to worry you knowhe's like the birds they don't worry and you know the animals don't worry they know
they're gonna get fed why do we always worry but I think that sometimes we have to takecomfort in knowing that it all ends up working out and if you reevaluate your life and
like
everything that got you to where you are, you'll start to see a pattern where it allworked out somehow some way.
(21:50):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, regarding like opportunities and slips, you know, sometimes God will block stuff andyou're like, but wait a minute, I wanted to work with that person.
Like, hey, I reached out to this person five times and they're not responding back or, youknow, I had this contract and then they decided to re-dick.
They're like, well, we can't, we can't do it right now.
Like, I wanted this money, but we don't have it.
(22:12):
You're like, okay, what happened?
I've been there.
it's either it's three things.
It's either it's not the right person.
It's not the right opportunity or it's not the right timing.
It's either those three things.
Yeah.
And I've realized that a lot of it has to do with timing.
Oh, yeah.
Just not not your season.
(22:33):
It's I didn't say no.
I said not yet.
We always want it right now.
We want it right now.
We're so impatient.
But sometimes the thing that we want
by our waiting ends up being bigger than we could have ever dreamed or hoped for.
but you have to learn how to wait on the waiting, which is hard.
Oh yeah, patience is virtuous, they say.
So what advice do you have for other women trying to think about, should I go intobusiness for myself?
(22:58):
What would you advise them to do?
If you have an idea or something that's burning inside your spirit, something that's like,I can't sleep at night.
I think about this idea.
I this really great thing.
I believe it wasn't your idea.
God birthed that idea into you.
(23:19):
And he wants you to manifest that name.
He wouldn't have given it to you if he didn't think he could do it.
Yes.
Yeah.
That's how I believe it.
I believe in that wholeheartedly.
Like he gave you an idea.
He gave you a
Whether it's, it could be a food business, could be a podcast, whatever that thing is.
It's like, I'm giving you permission.
(23:39):
Just giving you permission to do that thing.
Because it's not for everybody.
Like, I'm not a podcaster.
That's not my, all this, not my gift.
Not my gift.
But that kitchen, that's my podcast.
Like that's my sanctuary.
Like that's my playpen.
You know, I'm good at that.
You know, not for everybody to do that.
(23:59):
Not everybody can do what we do.
That's true.
I just tell people if it's in your heart, if your heart's beating fast, you like go aheadand get it.
Write it down.
And another thing too, I tell people just like in relationships you gotta guard yourheart.
That business is a relationship too.
gotta guard that thing.
(24:20):
Because you have people out there, unfortunately, there's a lot of haters.
And look at the people, that's what I love about it.
There are some people that don't see your best.
There's people that mean well, but you know, you're going to have to, once you get deepinto business, that are close to you, you're going to feel a separation.
(24:43):
There's going to be a separation.
There's going to be a divorce.
There's going be a separation.
And that's okay because where your business is going, they can't come with you.
Or that partnership, you're like, oh, I want to partner with this person here.
There's some partnership.
That's not the partnership I want for you.
(25:04):
And you're wondering why it's not working.
And you can't press it.
You can't press the relationship.
You can't do that.
This is organic.
Like your Publish podcast came, organic.
My food business came, organic.
You gotta let that thing come naturally.
And know, prayer, like you said, I need the right people.
I need like that 2016 Caps Championship team.
(25:28):
I need some players.
I want to win a championship.
I need some people on my team.
And those people on your team may not look like you.
It's okay.
Because I know for me as a minority, black woman, I'm like, yeah, I want to support mypeople.
But at the same time, maybe that's not the people.
(25:48):
Maybe it's not that person or that word or whatever.
There's some other people I want you to connect with that don't look like you.
You've got to be okay with that.
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, you want to you want to protect that and Yeah, before you startblasting it out and put it on social media like wait, but you don't even have a license
(26:09):
Like here's the name people still people take stuff unfortunately Yeah, but like I saidthat bird like this your business is a relationship You got to spend time with it too.
Like you got to get to know it My business your business relationship
And it evolves too.
What you hope that it will be, sometimes it changes.
(26:32):
When I started a digital marketing agency, I didn't think I would own an interactive photobooth.
I didn't think that I would have a podcast.
I didn't think that I would be joining my chamber and doing all the things that I'm doingtoday.
it's really funny how, like you said, you just kind of hear it and I think God just putsthings in our path.
You can't get away from it sometimes.
(26:54):
He just keeps throwing it back at you and you're like, okay.
I get it.
I'm listening now.
give you all the control.
Right.
And I love that you do.
And sometimes in your business, I'm in it 10 years now and it's changed from food andwine.
Now it's in adult cooking classes and it's morphing into something else now.
Like I feel a shift coming because I am not going to be cooking forever.
(27:17):
You know, I feel led to do more consulting, like Ted talk, more keynote speaking, sharingmy
my health journey and my battles with unhealthy eating behaviors.
And also too, didn't share this earlier, but my kids classes, we're dealing with hunger,that's a pandemic.
I have kids in my class that might take a bite of food, like they made this beautifuldish, or they won't eat it.
(27:44):
And they say, it's for my mom.
This is for my mother.
This is for my brother, can't eat it.
Or I have kids that just can't put down.
because for some kids it's the last hope of the day.
So they'll eat seconds of oats and fill their belly until the next day.
I have one, his mother has some mental health challenges.
(28:05):
And I remember we did this meal and I saw him just close his eyes as he was eating.
And I went over to him and he said, Chef Danny, I haven't had a real meal in a long time.
This is good.
It's survival for these kids, a lot of them.
Yeah.
So, you know, I would love to save all of them.
(28:26):
I want to help as many kids and the parents too.
Yeah.
Definitely sounds like there's a lot of opportunity for growth for you and what you'redoing.
And it sounds like you're going in the right direction.
I'm trying.
Yeah.
I'm working on a book on a nonprofit right now.
So the book, it's a cookbook, but it's a storybook too.
Hopefully we bring food together, bringing them back into the kitchen.
(28:49):
We're eating at the kitchen table.
We're not eating in the living room.
We're actually cooking, sharing stories, laughing and bonding.
So we're taking it back to the table.
So it's sort of like that type of book.
And then a nonprofit I'm working on is providing a kitchen pantry, not just a food pantry,but for those that need a new stove or need a microwave or that can opener or a rice
(29:12):
cooker, a prop pot.
We provide those things for those that need it.
I love that.
That's such a great idea.
I know that you're going to be very successful in doing that.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
So what gets you through your day to day when you're just at your wit's end or you'relooking for some energy, motivation?
What is it that you go to?
Coffee.
(29:33):
I knew she was going to say that.
She walked in with some Dunkin and I was like, yep, we're friends.
I'm on the run.
I will say everybody needs an escapism.
It could be that dunking coffee, watching Law & Order, or Real Housewives, reading a book,a nice bath, just sitting on your back porch.
(30:00):
You gotta have ice cream.
If not, you will go nuts.
For those that are spiritual or whatever, getting into your work, meditating, that'ssomething I still really need to work on because you feel like you're so busy throughout
the day.
You gotta give yourself, even when times are tough,
or when things are not working out, you still have to give yourself praise.
(30:22):
learn to forgive yourself, to give others.
It goes deeper than just having a cup of coffee.
Sometimes you have to go deep within.
Oh yeah, self-reflection is very eye-opening.
That's good.
I love that.
So for people that are looking to learn more about you, where can they find you?
(30:43):
Yeah.
Well, if anyone has any inquiries, whether they want to do a class, want me to come out totalk, do a podcast, or talk to some kids, motivate them, they can contact me at info at
sip sabersoul.com.
So that's info at sip sabersoulalabour.com.
My business number is 330-524-0096.
(31:08):
The best way is to email me.
I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Facebook.
All right, well, I hope that and I have a feeling that you will have already touched somany people with your story and what you're continuing to do.
And I have a feeling that you'll be hearing from a few others that are interested inlearning more about you.
Thank you so much for being here today.
(31:31):
Blesses to you and your podcast and you are a rebel.
Yes, I am.
You know, you're survivor, we're survivors.
All we can do is just go forward.
I'm excited to hear more about what you're doing as well.
Thank you.
Thank you guys for tuning in to Media Rebel Unplugged.
If you haven't already, like and subscribe.
(31:51):
You can find us on YouTube, all podcast platforms, and all social media as well.
If you're interested in being a guest, we have links for that.
Please fill it out because we would love to hear from you and hear your story on how youcan help others as well.
Thanks for tuning in to Media Rebel Unplugged.
If you love today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, share.
(32:12):
and join the rebellion.
So stay bold, stay caffeinated, and we'll catch you next time.
Hi guys, welcome back to Media Rebel Unplugged.
I'm your host, Janice Becker, and joining me today is a very special guest, DanicaStevenson, chef.
She is the owner of Sip Saversoul in Akron, Ohio.
Welcome.
Thank you for having me today.
I'm so happy you're here.
Thank you so much.
And I just, I'm just loving these chairs.
(00:21):
I would like to take one home.
This is so comfortable, but you have a beautiful setting here, so thank you for theinvitation.
Thank you and thank you for coming in.
just so the audience knows, I have been stalking Chef Danny here for quite a few months.
I want to say probably six months.
Yes, I am such a fan of everything you're doing in the community.
(00:41):
So if you could first tell people what is Sip Safer Soul?
Well, first of all, I want to say thank you for stalking me.
Sip Safer Soul actually started in 2014.
next month, 18 years in the business.
Awesome.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
mean, time really does fly, but actually it started on the SIP part.
(01:01):
People are like, well, what does the SIP mean?
Actually, I was deep into wine and I was deep into the wine business.
So that was the SIP part of SIPs, were so, um, and this was my time living down south.
In 2015, I moved back here to Africa.
I kind of did what LeBron James did.
was time for me to come back home.
family dynamics changed.
And I was in healthcare.
I was a community health worker.
(01:23):
And so I go to different homes and do health assessments.
And I noticed that the common denominator in all my visits was people complaining aboutthey don't have access to healthy food.
So I was in these low income neighborhoods where there's the corner store, there's the gasstation, there's McDonald's, but no farmers markets, no grocery stores.
So a lot of the clients that was on this heavy medication.
(01:46):
You know, they just can't eat crackers.
They're going to need something more wholesome, more sustainable, more filling.
So with that in mind, what I would do was I would go to different stores and bringgroceries to them or would look in their cabinet, look at their fridge to see what they
had and try to come up with some meals like that.
So then it morphed into...
(02:09):
teaching people how to eat healthy.
That's the soul part of it.
Yeah, it's food for your soul, It's food for your soul.
Yeah, that's kind of like how it turned to.
And then me connecting with the community, working with some nonprofits.
were interested in learning how to cook.
So people are conscious about the way they cook.
I'm sorry, they're conscious about the way they eat, but I will show them how to beconscious about the way they cook.
(02:31):
Yeah.
Because it really goes hand hand.
Yeah.
So basically, you know, with every, I would say with every sip, with every savor, I put mysoul into it.
I love that.
So that was sort of like the mission of it, just helping people be more conscious aboutthe way they eat and cook and just making healthier choices for themselves, for their
children, for their family.
(02:52):
So what inspired you to become a chef in the first place?
Well, my great grandmother showed me how to cook when I was four years old.
My great grandmother, her name was Pearl, double amputee, lower extremity.
So I would sit on her lap.
and cook greens with soap.
She would have you climb on the counter and I would grab ingredients for her famouscoconut cake.
I actually shaving coconuts, homemade coconut cake.
(03:15):
I was the girl that always wanted to be in the kitchen.
Now I have a younger brother, love being outside all day, all night.
My mother had to like scream to get him back in the house.
I was always in the.
I wouldn't go outside.
So I just always had a passion for cooking.
I always say now, and people laugh at me, I say it's where the real magic happens.
(03:39):
And people are like, okay.
And I'm like, no, for real, I'm always in the kitchen.
I'm like, you got these cool ingredients, got pots and pans, you're making magical stuff.
That's why I feel like it's magical.
And so, yeah, I've been working in the kitchen pretty much my whole life, even justgrowing up.
I'm in college making food for people.
wanted to make friends.
(03:59):
And I'm like, hey, I baked some cookies.
Hey, I made this.
And I remember working in a cardiology office and the cardiologist was like, you're goingto get people heart attack.
You can't keep bringing food in.
You got to stop.
So I've always had a passion for cooking because I felt like I could do anything else.
can't sing.
It's hard for me to dance.
know, I can't draw, but I could cook.
(04:20):
Yeah.
It's funny how that
that just comes so natural to some people and others really struggle with learning how tocook.
So I know that you're really good at doing your community classes and what's that like foryou?
Would you have somebody that's really struggling to learn how to cook and they'refrustrated and about to give up?
How do you help them get through it?
(04:41):
Well, first of all, cooking is a fundamental skill.
I feel like it's a skill that everyone should learn and actually start really young.
Okay.
And the reason why I do that is because a lot of them parents have already developed anunhealthy eating behavior.
So guess what?
If the parents don't like vegetables, they're gonna pass that to their kids.
(05:01):
They're not gonna like it either.
So what I do in my classes, I take things that people like and we put a healthy mix withthem.
So for example, for my kids classes, if we're making pizza, we'll do cauliflower crust,broccoli crust.
We put our favorite toppings on it.
And I got kids to eat.
(05:21):
Wow.
If it's french fries, yes, french fries with potatoes, but let's try carrots.
Let's try curse them.
We're gonna make our own ketchup.
Let's try zucchini.
And these kids are gobbling it up.
And now I get parents coming to me and saying, hey, we just came from the grocery storeand got eggplant.
Like my daughter, and she's six.
She wants eggplant.
(05:42):
I said, that's great.
That's great.
So I'm making an impact with these kids.
And also too with the parents too, not just the kids.
I've had some parents call me and say, look, I don't know how to cook.
I grew up in a fast food generation.
This is a microwave era.
(06:03):
I just know how to put it in the microwave or get it from a fast food.
I don't know what to do here.
And so we just start with the basics.
We have to take it back to the basics.
And so I'm not really teaching people how to grow the food.
I'm gonna show you how to cook it.
So I'll do an assessment.
Hey, what do have in your cabinet?
What do you have in your fridge?
Do you have pots and pans?
(06:24):
Because I remember, like going back to the health assessments, I remember one family thathad all these cans.
Wow, how does that work?
That's what I said, you know, and I said, do you not have a can of beer?
And this particular family was from a different country, so maybe they weren't used tohaving the can of
(06:47):
Yeah, and that happens to different cultures use different types of styles of techniqueswhen it comes to cooking So that's what my assessment was and then I've had folks that
don't have a working oven The refrigerator is not cold enough.
So there's a lot of spoilage.
So yeah, you know, I always encourage Everybody I just hope folks look I want you to try Iwant you to try it out.
(07:10):
Whatever this food is like if you never had a plan in your life
I always, especially my kids, I tell them to close your eyes and take a bite.
You know, I tell my parents, hey, close your eyes, take a bite.
And you know, it's been really successful, really.
You know, it's really not about the food, really.
It's bringing people together.
(07:31):
And I've noticed you, I have tons of stories with people, relationships are healed.
Their health has improved.
I have a parent that, you know, their child's eating fruits and vegetables because of myclass.
I have a parent that's eating fruits and vegetables because of my class.
So I think...
It really isn't about the food.
It's just, it's a tool, but we're bringing community together.
We're bringing families together one recipe at a time.
(07:53):
I love that.
think a lot of parents struggle, especially single parents struggle with juggling work andthen having to cook meals when they come home and the kids are already in there.
They're just snacking on whatever they can before they get home.
And then you get home, you're tired and you're like, what am I going to throw together?
So I think what you're doing, there's definitely a huge need for that.
everywhere.
(08:13):
I never thought about the broccoli crust or the cauliflower crust pizza.
So I love that different spin.
Yeah.
And in my class, they're really simple, basic techniques.
I always do these base recipes because I want people to be creative with it.
what would you do?
What would you add or what would you take away?
Because I want people to have their own spin or their own creativity when it comes tomaking it.
(08:35):
So my classes is about three, I call it the three C's, being curious to try something new.
being creative, your own technique, your own style, and confidence.
want you to able to do that recipe again when you get home or share it with your family,share it with your friends.
Those are my three C's in my class.
I love that.
So being that, you you got started basically because you were already in the health field.
(08:58):
What was the personal side though for you, like personally speaking, that made you reallycare about food and how people consume it in a healthy way?
Well, first of all, I really didn't care about
I would say my health.
I had some food struggles and even though I felt like this was a gift that God gave me, Ifelt like a complete hypocrite because I was struggling with, I had some unhealthy eating
(09:23):
behaviors like, yeah, I got the junk food, yeah, I got the fast food, yes, I ate too muchand there were times I ate too little.
So like I was battling my own health demons in a way and trying to teach people at thesame time to eat healthy.
And I remember just crying at night about this.
I was like, I feel bad because we made this kale apple salad and I just ate a half a pizzawhen I got home.
(09:46):
know, like I feel horrible.
And it wasn't even all veggies.
Like I had a meat lover's pizza, know?
So I felt completely horrible about it.
And so I was grossly overweight.
I was like over 300 pounds, like trying to teach, you know, healthy classes.
And I thought I need to give this to somebody else.
feel like it was this perception they need to be skinny, they need to be this, they needto look like this.
(10:08):
Because I've been in newspapers, magazines, I've been on TV and I've always feltself-conscious about the way I look.
I remember someone told me this, I will never forget it.
She said, it's not even about your size, it's about your service.
You are making a service, you're doing a service, this is not about you.
And I learned not to be so self-focused and have that self-pity and be so self-absorbed.
(10:32):
because you have a child out here that you helped them eat carrots.
This mom that she's eating healthy or her blood pressure is normal because she's beengoing to your class every week.
So I think once they started to heal and I saw that, then I began to help.
So it was just a reflection on them.
And I realized, you know what?
I am making a difference, but I'm doing a disservice if I'm not taking care of myself.
(10:56):
Well, I think you have more trust too with people when you can say, look, I've experiencedthis myself.
Yeah.
You know, because if you've never really experienced it firsthand, how is anybody going tobelieve you?
you going to have the credibility to say, look, I've had my own struggles and think ithelps when you're so authentic and people can really identify with that.
Yeah.
And I've shared the story with people and then people will come up to me sometimesprivately or publicly.
(11:23):
You know, we're on this healing journey together.
I'm still on the healing journey.
Oh yeah.
We spend our whole life healing.
We spend our whole life healing, most definitely.
That's how we develop.
That's how we evolve and grow.
But I think what you're doing is absolutely amazing.
mean, did you ever think that you would be a business owner?
You know what?
(11:44):
I always wanted to be a business owner because I wanted to break the generational cursesin my family.
I come from a history, especially the limit of just working all the time.
My great grandmother worked for someone.
My grandmother and my mother worked for...
worked and I rarely saw my mother.
My mother worked, she had a day job, evening job, weekend job.
(12:05):
So that's why I spend a lot of time with my great grandmother and my grandmother always inthe kitchen, so like just learning new recipes and stuff like that because my mother was
gone.
I wasn't angry because some kids could be angry because you feel abandoned.
But I felt like since I had an absentee father that it was necessary.
It was a requirement.
(12:25):
It's because of survival.
Like if she doesn't work, we don't eat.
I've just learned that too, because a lot of the health elements to obesity is because Iknow for us, we grew up, it's like, you better eat what's on the table.
This is it.
And I don't care if it's fattening, greasy, fight, it doesn't matter.
We eat what's on the table and if we don't eat it, it's a disrespect to our elders.
(12:48):
we learned that's culture, that's tradition.
I realized I always wanted to work for myself because I saw the pain.
I saw the grueling pain.
My mother with her tired feet and, you know, baby, I can't see your homework right now.
Like, I'm tired.
I need to take a bath and you go to bed.
I got to get up at 5 a.m.
(13:09):
So I understood her assignment at a young age.
Now, some kids would get really angry about that or no, but I understood.
I saw her pain.
I love that.
It's such an inspiration.
What has been one of the most challenging things for you as an entrepreneur?
Wow.
There's several.
think in my business, I've worked in the business and I'm outside the business, like theoperation part of it.
(13:34):
I say this all the time.
Yeah.
I put that passion and purpose and purpose before profit.
Cause I feel like it's weird.
feel like, you know, I'm not making that six figure income.
I don't have a board.
I don't have a business partner.
I don't even have a pool.
And I remember just like, Lord, I need help.
need help.
And you know what?
God comes in and brings in the help.
(13:56):
in the most intimate, intricate ways.
As in, I remember one time just going to the grocery store and I'm like, I am so tired,like really tired.
I had back to back classes and even just a gentleman coming up to me and taking my cart.
He's like, I got the cart for you.
Or, you know, I'm in a class and there's more volunteers and like, Dana, you don't have toclean up.
(14:18):
We'll get that for you.
So I, and then I have kids helping me set up.
Now they don't want to clean up, but they'll set up.
They'll set up.
for me.
And then recently I got a bunch of letters from some kids saying, know, Chef Danny, thankyou for cooking with me.
Chef Danny, we love you.
Chef Danny, thank you.
You know, I just got that last week and I was just all in because as a business owner, youhave one of those moments.
(14:40):
You feel like you're not doing enough or you're not good enough.
Yeah.
I struggle with that a lot.
Yeah.
It's crazy.
Like you have all these athletes, you've connected with so many people, you've done somany things.
But at the end of the day, sometimes I'm like, I still feel alone.
Yes.
Yeah.
I'm wearing many hats.
I'm a foster mom now.
have a tentacle.
I take care of baby in business, know, and I'm responsible for his heart, but I'mresponsible for the heart of the business.
(15:10):
I'm responsible for that.
I got to take care of that too.
And take care of me as a business owner.
Yeah.
That's not easy.
Self-care is really hard as a business owner.
Sub-boundaries with yourself.
It's so important.
try.
I'm getting better at it.
I try to say, okay, nine o'clock is my time.
I tell the kids, you cannot come into the room.
(15:31):
This is my space.
This is my time to do what I need.
I recently created a prayer board.
I don't know if you've ever heard of this, but it was nice that I spent time with mydaughter and creating it.
But then it also gives me time for myself now to be more dedicated and thoughtful in how Ipray and just stay really organized with it.
And then I'm holding myself accountable too.
(15:54):
to not only God, but then myself.
highly recommend.
All thank you for sharing that.
I would definitely like to do something like that.
Yeah, your faith, your faith is challenged.
Oh, yes.
Big time.
I want to share this quick story.
I was given an opportunity to work with SUMA Health, had this big contract.
(16:14):
It was sponsored through SUMA Foundation and First Energy.
And they found me through watching me on Fox 8.
So they reached out.
said we need to talk to you, we want to do some cooking classes, see you doing somebra-bra chains and all this other stuff.
And so they said, look, we have this funny, we need a number.
Can you do classes for the whole family for a year?
(16:36):
The whole family.
said, okay.
So I gave them a number and I said 36,000.
I don't care about the number, really.
So the next day, the grant writer never met this lady.
She said, that number's too low.
Wow.
They could have subbed it.
Yeah.
She said the number's too low.
(16:58):
I need another number of bite and doom.
This is 1030.
And I thought, okay, I don't know.
They called my mother and she just said, just pray about it.
so I wrote 60.
I mean, I wrote 60, but it was a fucking 60.
Okay.
Five weeks later, I get the E contract.
(17:18):
It said a hundred thousand.
Wow.
And I pulled my glasses up.
And I said, that can't be right.
can't be right.
And so they called her.
I just want to make sure the numbers are correct.
Just.
She said, yeah, I just need you to e-sign it.
(17:40):
Wow.
And it's crazy.
She knew my worth and I didn't.
I didn't, you know, and that was so powerful.
That was just an ah moment because.
you're worth it.
You're worth it.
You're worth that anymore.
But I didn't think I was worth that at all because I may have been in the business notthat long, but you know, I'm still struggling.
(18:04):
I'm looking at the status.
I don't have this, I don't have that.
How they gonna give me $100,000?
I don't think I deserve that.
So that was my mindset.
I love that somebody was so honest with you to help you get to.
see that you are worth it because so many times we don't see that.
I think we forget how valuable our knowledge is.
(18:27):
There's times I'll have conversations with people about their marketing plans or digitalmarketing or how to do things in a different way than they've ever thought of that I don't
even, I don't even really think about it just comes natural to me just as what you docomes natural to you and there's so much value in that for other people and how we help
others but then I myself struggle with am I helping enough people?
Am I helping them in the right way?
(18:49):
And as you've mentioned, juggling all and wearing all the hats that we wear.
And then I still will beat myself up and go, I'm not doing enough.
Right.
Well, I want to add to that too.
You will never see yourself valuable if you're always seeking validation.
True.
That's me.
True.
You know, like I remember complaining to myself.
(19:12):
like, I don't even have a lot of followers on Facebook.
I'm not even on Instagram.
I'm not tech savvy, I'm not this and I'm not that.
And you know, I posted something and I didn't get a lot of comments or you know, I justhad an event, like I was a keynote speaker and we sold out but only half the people came,
(19:34):
you know?
And so I was a little salty about that.
I'll say, there were some people I knew and couldn't come, you know, for whatever reason,you you might have a child that's sick or traffic or whatever.
But I was seeking that validation and when you do that you're questioning yourself.
Now you're questioning your value, questioning your worth, you're questioning theintegrity of your worth.
(19:54):
You're like, well, is it, do they not like me?
Do they not like my business?
Do they not like what I do?
Then you go into this deep spiral and it gets out of control.
But I remember the whole comments thing and the followers and I just remember at nightjust thinking about that and I just remember, just follow Jesus.
Just follow Jesus.
That's you need to follow.
(20:14):
And I'm telling you because of that, that I had an opportunity to do this with you.
I've had some other folks I've never met that reached out and said, hey, we want you tocome speak or we want to partner with you with kids cooking class and we want to partner.
Like people just coming on the boardwalk.
That's a prayer I say all the time.
I ask God to put people into my life that are meant to be there for me and remove othersthat do not serve me and hold me back.
(20:38):
He has answered every single Everyone, he will.
Yeah.
Craziest ways that you wouldn't even think possible.
So I love that you share that and that you can testify to that as well Yeah, I mean it'sbeen a true blessing even like financially with everything that's going on with it with
you know Our country and stuff like that.
He is still taking care of us.
(20:59):
And as a matter fact yesterday I did a cooking class and I have a set amount for my classand they gave me extra And I was gonna I was gonna say wait a minute.
Maybe that's an error, but
Watch.
didn't expect that.
It's just those little jewels like those intimate kisses from God like I told you I'mtaking care of you I got you you know.
(21:25):
I know it's crazy how much we still worry he tells us in the Bible not to worry you knowhe's like the birds they don't worry and you know the animals don't worry they know
they're gonna get fed why do we always worry but I think that sometimes we have to takecomfort in knowing that it all ends up working out and if you reevaluate your life and
like
everything that got you to where you are, you'll start to see a pattern where it allworked out somehow some way.
(21:50):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, regarding like opportunities and slips, you know, sometimes God will block stuff andyou're like, but wait a minute, I wanted to work with that person.
Like, hey, I reached out to this person five times and they're not responding back or, youknow, I had this contract and then they decided to re-dick.
They're like, well, we can't, we can't do it right now.
Like, I wanted this money, but we don't have it.
(22:12):
You're like, okay, what happened?
I've been there.
it's either it's three things.
It's either it's not the right person.
It's not the right opportunity or it's not the right timing.
It's either those three things.
Yeah.
And I've realized that a lot of it has to do with timing.
Oh, yeah.
Just not not your season.
(22:33):
It's I didn't say no.
I said not yet.
We always want it right now.
We want it right now.
We're so impatient.
But sometimes the thing that we want
by our waiting ends up being bigger than we could have ever dreamed or hoped for.
but you have to learn how to wait on the waiting, which is hard.
Oh yeah, patience is virtuous, they say.
So what advice do you have for other women trying to think about, should I go intobusiness for myself?
(22:58):
What would you advise them to do?
If you have an idea or something that's burning inside your spirit, something that's like,I can't sleep at night.
I think about this idea.
I this really great thing.
I believe it wasn't your idea.
God birthed that idea into you.
(23:19):
And he wants you to manifest that name.
He wouldn't have given it to you if he didn't think he could do it.
Yes.
Yeah.
That's how I believe it.
I believe in that wholeheartedly.
Like he gave you an idea.
He gave you a
Whether it's, it could be a food business, could be a podcast, whatever that thing is.
It's like, I'm giving you permission.
(23:39):
Just giving you permission to do that thing.
Because it's not for everybody.
Like, I'm not a podcaster.
That's not my, all this, not my gift.
Not my gift.
But that kitchen, that's my podcast.
Like that's my sanctuary.
Like that's my playpen.
You know, I'm good at that.
You know, not for everybody to do that.
(23:59):
Not everybody can do what we do.
That's true.
I just tell people if it's in your heart, if your heart's beating fast, you like go aheadand get it.
Write it down.
And another thing too, I tell people just like in relationships you gotta guard yourheart.
That business is a relationship too.
gotta guard that thing.
(24:20):
Because you have people out there, unfortunately, there's a lot of haters.
And look at the people, that's what I love about it.
There are some people that don't see your best.
There's people that mean well, but you know, you're going to have to, once you get deepinto business, that are close to you, you're going to feel a separation.
(24:43):
There's going to be a separation.
There's going to be a divorce.
There's going be a separation.
And that's okay because where your business is going, they can't come with you.
Or that partnership, you're like, oh, I want to partner with this person here.
There's some partnership.
That's not the partnership I want for you.
(25:04):
And you're wondering why it's not working.
And you can't press it.
You can't press the relationship.
You can't do that.
This is organic.
Like your Publish podcast came, organic.
My food business came, organic.
You gotta let that thing come naturally.
And know, prayer, like you said, I need the right people.
I need like that 2016 Caps Championship team.
(25:28):
I need some players.
I want to win a championship.
I need some people on my team.
And those people on your team may not look like you.
It's okay.
Because I know for me as a minority, black woman, I'm like, yeah, I want to support mypeople.
But at the same time, maybe that's not the people.
(25:48):
Maybe it's not that person or that word or whatever.
There's some other people I want you to connect with that don't look like you.
You've got to be okay with that.
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, you want to you want to protect that and Yeah, before you startblasting it out and put it on social media like wait, but you don't even have a license
(26:09):
Like here's the name people still people take stuff unfortunately Yeah, but like I saidthat bird like this your business is a relationship You got to spend time with it too.
Like you got to get to know it My business your business relationship
And it evolves too.
What you hope that it will be, sometimes it changes.
(26:32):
When I started a digital marketing agency, I didn't think I would own an interactive photobooth.
I didn't think that I would have a podcast.
I didn't think that I would be joining my chamber and doing all the things that I'm doingtoday.
it's really funny how, like you said, you just kind of hear it and I think God just putsthings in our path.
You can't get away from it sometimes.
(26:54):
He just keeps throwing it back at you and you're like, okay.
I get it.
I'm listening now.
give you all the control.
Right.
And I love that you do.
And sometimes in your business, I'm in it 10 years now and it's changed from food andwine.
Now it's in adult cooking classes and it's morphing into something else now.
Like I feel a shift coming because I am not going to be cooking forever.
(27:17):
You know, I feel led to do more consulting, like Ted talk, more keynote speaking, sharingmy
my health journey and my battles with unhealthy eating behaviors.
And also too, didn't share this earlier, but my kids classes, we're dealing with hunger,that's a pandemic.
I have kids in my class that might take a bite of food, like they made this beautifuldish, or they won't eat it.
(27:44):
And they say, it's for my mom.
This is for my mother.
This is for my brother, can't eat it.
Or I have kids that just can't put down.
because for some kids it's the last hope of the day.
So they'll eat seconds of oats and fill their belly until the next day.
I have one, his mother has some mental health challenges.
(28:05):
And I remember we did this meal and I saw him just close his eyes as he was eating.
And I went over to him and he said, Chef Danny, I haven't had a real meal in a long time.
This is good.
It's survival for these kids, a lot of them.
Yeah.
So, you know, I would love to save all of them.
(28:26):
I want to help as many kids and the parents too.
Yeah.
Definitely sounds like there's a lot of opportunity for growth for you and what you'redoing.
And it sounds like you're going in the right direction.
I'm trying.
Yeah.
I'm working on a book on a nonprofit right now.
So the book, it's a cookbook, but it's a storybook too.
Hopefully we bring food together, bringing them back into the kitchen.
(28:49):
We're eating at the kitchen table.
We're not eating in the living room.
We're actually cooking, sharing stories, laughing and bonding.
So we're taking it back to the table.
So it's sort of like that type of book.
And then a nonprofit I'm working on is providing a kitchen pantry, not just a food pantry,but for those that need a new stove or need a microwave or that can opener or a rice
(29:12):
cooker, a prop pot.
We provide those things for those that need it.
I love that.
That's such a great idea.
I know that you're going to be very successful in doing that.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
So what gets you through your day to day when you're just at your wit's end or you'relooking for some energy, motivation?
What is it that you go to?
Coffee.
(29:33):
I knew she was going to say that.
She walked in with some Dunkin and I was like, yep, we're friends.
I'm on the run.
I will say everybody needs an escapism.
It could be that dunking coffee, watching Law & Order, or Real Housewives, reading a book,a nice bath, just sitting on your back porch.
(30:00):
You gotta have ice cream.
If not, you will go nuts.
For those that are spiritual or whatever, getting into your work, meditating, that'ssomething I still really need to work on because you feel like you're so busy throughout
the day.
You gotta give yourself, even when times are tough,
or when things are not working out, you still have to give yourself praise.
(30:22):
learn to forgive yourself, to give others.
It goes deeper than just having a cup of coffee.
Sometimes you have to go deep within.
Oh yeah, self-reflection is very eye-opening.
That's good.
I love that.
So for people that are looking to learn more about you, where can they find you?
(30:43):
Yeah.
Well, if anyone has any inquiries, whether they want to do a class, want me to come out totalk, do a podcast, or talk to some kids, motivate them, they can contact me at info at
sip sabersoul.com.
So that's info at sip sabersoulalabour.com.
My business number is 330-524-0096.
(31:08):
The best way is to email me.
I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Facebook.
All right, well, I hope that and I have a feeling that you will have already touched somany people with your story and what you're continuing to do.
And I have a feeling that you'll be hearing from a few others that are interested inlearning more about you.
Thank you so much for being here today.
(31:31):
Blesses to you and your podcast and you are a rebel.
Yes, I am.
You know, you're survivor, we're survivors.
All we can do is just go forward.
I'm excited to hear more about what you're doing as well.
Thank you.
Thank you guys for tuning in to Media Rebel Unplugged.
If you haven't already, like and subscribe.
(31:51):
You can find us on YouTube, all podcast platforms, and all social media as well.
If you're interested in being a guest, we have links for that.
Please fill it out because we would love to hear from you and hear your story on how youcan help others as well.
Thanks for tuning in to Media Rebel Unplugged.
If you love today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, share.
(32:12):
and join the rebellion.
So stay bold, stay caffeinated, and we'll catch you next time.
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