"We found David Chilton's phone number on the back of The Wealthy Barber, picked up the phone, and just called. He answered. That one call changed everything."
They had cushy jobs and no culinary credentials—just a shared dream between two sisters to write a cookbook that combined truly healthy recipes with laugh-out-loud humour. It was bold. It was different. And it was rejected by publishers. Seven times.
But Greta and Janet Podleski didn't give up. They poured themselves into the work—testing every recipe, writing every pun, designing every page. And then they took one last shot. On the back of The Wealthy Barber, they found David Chilton's phone number. They called. He answered. His Mom loved the recipes, so he went all in.
Together, they formed their own publishing company and launched Looneyspoons, a cookbook that would go on to become a national sensation. It wasn't just a one-hit wonder. They followed it up with Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink & Be Merry, creating a Canadian cookbook empire defined by heart, humour, and health. Millions of copies sold. A Food Network show. A movement.
The sisters went their way, but Greta wasn't done. What came next was a stunning solo debut, Yum & Yummer—a runaway bestseller, and now, a triumphant follow-up: Every Salad Ever. Sold exclusively at Indigo, it has topped the charts since its debut, proving Greta's recipes—and her voice—resonate as strongly as ever.
You will be hooked from the first few seconds as Greta shares the full journey: the hustle, the heartbreak, the humour, and the healing. It's a masterclass in perseverance, creativity, and chasing and realizing a dream—even when the world says no.
And my biggest takeaway - Sometimes the difference between a dream that fades and one that flies is one phone call—and someone who believes in you.
To buy Greta's book: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/every-salad-ever-from-grains-to-greens-and-pasta-to-beans-plus-every-salad-in-betweens-indigo-exclusive/9781775047018.html
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Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com