Cooking Your Way Through Life

I have not done a solo episode in a while but this topic came back around for me recently and I felt like it needed its own conversation.

Eating alone carries so much stigma that people will genuinely stay in relationships with people they do not even like just to avoid sitting at a table by themselves. I have seen it. I have lived parts of it. And today I want to talk about why we need to stop treating eating alone like it is some...

Transitions are unavoidable but most of us never actually talk about what they do to us until we are already deep in one.

This week I am sitting down with Mr. Asher, someone I have known for years, and I have to be honest with you, he still surprised me in this episode. He shared things I did not know about him and it reminded me of exactly why I love doing this show. Real conversations with real people always find a way to go deep...

Starting over sounds like a big physical move but if you have ever tried it you know the hardest part is what happens in your mind before anything else changes.

This week I am joined by Ayla, a CT and Nuclear Medicine Technologist, mom of two, and one of the most real people I know. Anytime we get together the laughs are non-stop but we also stay dropping gems and this episode is no different. We get into starting over in every are...

Are you the person who plans everything or the one who just goes along with whatever everyone else decides?

In this episode I sit down with Warren, a tattoo artist based in London, and we get real about planning ahead. What does it actually feel like to be the planner in your life? What about the person who just follows along? And are any of us actually making real plans or just reacting as life comes at us?

On the food side I skip...

Be honest: do you actually have a budget or are you just hoping it works out?

In this episode I sit down with Alyssa Garrett and we go all the way in on budgeting and finances, covering everything from the discipline it takes to the habits that actually help and what it really looks like when you are just winging it with your money.

On the culinary side I talk about using the same protein multiple ways to stretch your grocery budge...

Routines keep us grounded. But do they also keep us from growing?

In this episode I sit down with Jamal and Lexi, an Atlanta based married couple who bring a soccer coach's discipline and a graphic designer's creative eye to one of the most honest conversations we have had on this show. We dig into how routines support your mental health and structure your life, but also ask the harder question: are they quietly limiting who you co...

No guest today. Just me and a conversation I think a lot of us need to have.

Stress is something we all carry but the Black community in particular has a long history of pushing through without ever really addressing it. In this solo episode I get honest about what causes me stress, what I actually do to manage it, and why I think understanding your stress is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself.

And then there i...

Control is something we all wrestle with, and in this episode I sit back down with my longtime friend Spencer Jason to really dig into it.

Spencer is a Bosun for Uncruise Adventures out of Alaska and this is his first time joining me since the podcast went visual on YouTube. We talk about the difference between giving up control and recognizing when you actually have it, and why understanding that difference changes everything.

On ...

Your tastes are supposed to change, and that includes more than just food.

In this episode, Chef Hollywood explores how our preferences evolve over time: the careers we outgrow, the hobbies that no longer fit, the people we find ourselves drawn to now versus years ago. Change is not a crisis, it is a signal. And on the culinary side? There is actual science behind it. Your taste buds physically change over time, which means the foo...

Some conversations need to be had in the kitchen — and this is one of them.

Chef Hollywood sits down with Chef Patrick (@dahangrychef) to tackle one of the most nuanced topics in the culinary world: the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, and everything that lives in between. As two chefs of color, they bring a perspective that is rarely heard at the table — honest, personal, and rooted ...

What does it mean to be THE host — and who takes care of you while you're taking care of everyone else?

In this episode, Chef Hollywood sits down with longtime friend Warren Mullins to dig into the real world of hosting: the pressure, the joy, the grind, and the moments nobody talks about. Whether you're hosting a party, a show, or just holding it together for the room — this conversation is going to hit home.

Chef Holl...

In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life: 'Traveling,' I'm diving into something I'm genuinely passionate about—the joy of travel. But here's the thing: I also want to talk about something we don't discuss enough.

The Pressure to Travel: For way too long, we've condemned people for not traveling. We've made it seem like if you're not constantly exploring the world, you're missing out on life. But what if you don't tr...

Welcome to a special birthday week episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life!   This week, I'm reflecting on another year, celebrating with all of you, and sharing some exciting news about the podcast.   A Big Announcement: Starting last week, we launched a brand new format for Cooking Your Way Through Life—all episodes are now fully visual on YouTube! You can watch the podcast with video on YouTube, or continue enjo...

Have you ever felt the weight of expectations—from your family, your community, or yourself? In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life: 'Pressure,' I'm sitting down with my Uncle, Command Sergeant Major Donald Robertson, to have a real, honest conversation about one of life's most challenging experiences.

We're talking about what it means to be successful while carrying the silent expectations of those around you. We'...

In this special episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life with Chef Hollywood, we’re stepping into a new era.

The podcast is officially going visual.

Starting next week, every episode will be available on YouTube in full video—while still streaming on all your favorite platforms.

Chef Hollywood breaks down the new weekly schedule, what’s coming next, and how you can stay connected as the brand continues to grow.

Th...

This week, we’re bringing back a familiar vibe - with a new question.

In this bonus episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life with Chef Hollywood, we check in with this quarter’s co-hosts and ask one simple question:

What does peace or happiness look like to you… and how do you protect it?

No scripts. No overthinking. Just real answers from real people.

Featuring: Warren, Brittany, Grant, Spencer, Jamal & Lexi...

In this solo episode, we’re talking about something real, priorities.

If someone doesn’t prioritize you, it’s not just about them… it’s about what you’re allowing. At some point, you have to stop accepting “just enough” and recognize when you’re being treated like an option instead of a priority.

I break down how this shows up in relati...

In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I'm joined by my sister Shaconna Branch to explore one of life's most essential skills, how to truly communicate, not just talk.   We dive deep into some eye-opening topics:

• Why listening is the foundation of real communication (and why most people are great at talking but terrible at actually listening)
• The critical difference between transparency and honesty in personal ...

In this solo episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life with Chef Hollywood, we’re diving into the mindset of “Enough Is Never Enough.”

Why does it feel like no matter what we achieve, earn, or experience, it’s still not enough? 

From chasing more in money and relationships to constantly raising the bar on ourselves, this episode explores how the pursuit of “more” can quietly take away our abi...