Babe Cave

If you keep asking yourself "Am I really a writer?"—that's your answer. You already are. In this episode inspired by Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, writing coach Amanda Polick tackles the creative resistance that keeps writers stuck in planning mode and afraid to put words on the page. From her own experience resisting personal material in her novel to coaching clients who avoid their most powerful stories, Amanda reveals why fear is actually your creative compass. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the question "Am I really a writer?" proves you are one—and why confident people aren't always the real artists How creative resistance points directly to your most important work (and why the things that scare you most are exactly what you need to write) The difference between amateur and professional mindsets: why waiting to overcome fear keeps you stuck forever Why your "easy" lived experiences are actually your strongest material—and how avoiding them makes your work lifeless Practical strateg

Are Michelin stars and James Beard Awards actually worth pursuing? Amanda Polick reveals the uncomfortable politics behind best-of and awards lists—and what they really mean for your career. In this episode, you'll discover: → Why restaurant awards are often more about PR relationships than food quality—and what happened when Amanda's Oakland restaurant picks got killed for "not fitting our demographic" → The truth about the Michelin Guide's Southern expansion and why Top Chef's Gail Simmons says she "hates that cities judge themselves by awards" → How awards impact cookbook deals and platform building (critical intel if you're pursuing a book deal) → How to build your food career and define "best" on your own terms, with or without institutional validation Perfect for: Chefs, food writers, cookbook authors, restaurant owners, and anyone building a career in the food industry Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach who helps food professionals land book deals. She brings insider knowledge from years

Ever wondered what a cookbook coach actually does? (Most people don't even know it's a thing!) In this solo episode, Amanda pulls back the curtain on my work helping food creators and influencers turn their ideas into traditionally published cookbooks. From the detailed intake form that reveals everything about working together, to the 4-month breakthrough moment that every author experiences, this is your insider look at the cookbook publishing process. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ What makes a cookbook proposal so critical (and why you can't skip sections) ✨ Why platform size matters less than you think—and what publishers actually care about ✨ The counterintuitive truth: Being uber-specific about your story makes it MORE universal ✨ Real stories from the coaching process (including the French translation incident) ✨ Why cookbooks are incredible marketing tools even if they don't make you millions Perfect for: Food bloggers, content creators, recipe developers, and anyone dreaming of writing a cookbo

Let's talk about the thing nobody wants to admit: most writers have day jobs. In this episode, Amanda shares the story of how she tried to go full-time with her cookbook coaching business, the months of panic that followed, and how a friend's honesty about her retail job changed everything. You'll discover: → What Jane Friedman reveals about writer income throughout history → Why having a day job doesn't make you less of a "real" writer → How Amanda writes 500 words daily in just 30 minutes while working full-time → Why multitasking is physically impossible and destroying your productivity → Strategic ways to use your job's benefits for your creative career Perfect for: Writers balancing creative work with full-time jobs, anyone struggling with shame about their day job, creatives looking for sustainable career strategies About Amanda Polick: Amanda is a cookbook coach and host of Babe Cave - a podcast inspired by Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own." She believes in permission slips for doing what you need

What if making the WRONG creative choice is better than making the safe one? In this episode, Amanda looks at creative audacity—the willingness to take bold risks even when you don't know if they'll work. From LA acting auditions to Elizabeth Gilbert's rejection story to why "easy to read" is actually a superpower, this episode is about leading creative conversations instead of following them. Discover: Why bold choices (even wrong ones) beat playing it safe every time The Elizabeth Gilbert story that proves timing matters more than "fixing" your work How your personality becomes your unique selling point (stop hiding it) Marie Forleo's "everything is figureoutable" framework for handling rejection Perfect for: Writers and creatives ready to trust themselves, anyone tired of playing it safe, people who want to lead conversations instead of following trends Flodesk: Get 50% off your first year + unlimited subscribers (ends November 28th) Show Notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/audacity-episode Newslett

What happens when nobody signs up for your class, but you leave it posted anyway? Sometimes, two months later, the exact right person finds it—and four years later, you're celebrating their debut cookbook launch. Jannell Lo is a food creator and writer whose journey to publication defied every traditional publishing rule. She got her cookbook deal without an agent, through a cold email that led to a call with Penguin Random House Canada six weeks later. But between that email and her book launch this week, she raised $500K fighting anti-Asian hate through Dump the Hate, learned to write "hot garbage" instead of perfect prose, and discovered that creative processes don't have to be linear. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why platform building happens organically when you focus on work that matters to your community rather than trying to "build platform" The book proposal elements that actually matter and how a solid proposal makes writing your manuscript exponentially easier How to break free from rigid

Book banning isn't new—it's a 2,000-year-old playbook designed to control what people know and think. From Emperor Qin Shi Huang burning books in ancient China to 16,000 documented book bans in American schools since 2020, the pattern is always the same: those in power fear ideas that challenge their narrative. In this deep-dive episode, Amanda Polick traces the history of censorship from ancient Rome to the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden from the Library of Congress, revealing how book banning has always been about control, never protection. In this conversation, you'll discover: How the Catholic Church banned books for 400+ years Why Robin Hood was considered communist propaganda in the 1950s How 11 people filed 100 book challenges across different school districts targeting specific communities Why libraries and librarians are being criminalized for doing their jobs Concrete actions you can take to protect democracy through literacy and library support Perfect for: Educators, parents, library advocates, demo

After 1955 days, Babe Cave is back with bold conversations about writing, publishing, and creative authenticity. Host Amanda Polick returns from her journey as a cookbook and food memoir coach with a powerful message: nothing you create is ever really gone, and sometimes stepping away is exactly what you need to come back stronger. This comeback episode explores the messy truth about creative pivots, the danger of playing small, and why authentic boldness matters more than ever in the writing world. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why "failed" creative projects might just be waiting for the right moment How to stop being "plain yogurt boring" and show up authentically The real reason most conversations about writing and publishing feel stuffy and elitist Perfect for: Writers, creatives, podcasters, and anyone who's ever stepped away from a project and wondered if they should come back to it. Show notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/welcome-back-episode Instagram: @amandapolick 

After 3 Seasons of conversations about the in-between things of life, Babe Cave is riding off into the sunset. In this final episode, Amanda Polick reflects on the journey that brought her and you here and shares her own next steps. Welcome to The Pivot Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

We spend a lot of time thinking about goals and end products and very little time on small wins — like acknowledging that a tiny shift might make the process work better. This week, Amanda shares words of encouragement for the ones who need to linger in the moment a little longer. Welcome to The Recognition Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

What do a train car full of strangers, a murder in a locked room and a tragic kidnapping all have in common? They're the central players of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Join me and my friend Jennifer as we share our unpopular opinions about this classic murder mystery. Don't kill the messenger, and welcome to The Babe Cave Book Club May 2020 Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

Sometimes, something sounds really good, but it's just not the right time for you to do it. Or an opportunity could present itself that's just not your vibe. We'll all been there. But what do you do when the person on the other side of the opportunity is CONVINCED that this thing is for you? How do you handle the guilt of saying no, while not violating your own desires? Some of it's easy, and some of it, not so much. Welcome to The Not For Me Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

In world of followers, likes and the ever-growing "need" to show everyone what you're doing and who you're with, it can leave you wondering if you're living your life or someone else's. This week, Amanda breaks down her decision to go dark on social media for the last 8 months, why she wanted to get back to her younger internet-free self, and how less consuming has led to more creating. Welcome to The Off Line Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

Ever told yourself that something would be easier if you did it yourself? SAME. But when we try and do all the things, we risk burnout and end up isolating ourselves from those around us. It can be hard to step away and let someone else do something for us, but sometimes, that's exactly what we need so we can do more of what we're meant to do. Welcome to The Delegation Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

This month's book club meeting kicks off with fellow writer and friend of the show, Crystal Marie McDaniels. We're digging into Toni Morrison's Sula and how we were intimidated by re-reading this legend, the unrelenting power of friendship between the two protagonists and the ending I completely missed. Welcome to The Babe Cave Book Club April 2020 Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

The words we say to ourselves are powerful. And sometimes, those words are in direct opposition to what we really want in our lives. This week, Amanda walks through how readjusting a few words can shift your entire perspective, why the people around you magnify your best and worst thoughts and how to implement a new mindset practice. Welcome to The Limiting Beliefs Episode. https://www.amandapolick.com

As the global pandemic of COVID-19 continues, the lines have been drawn between those who are staying at home and those who choose not to. In this bonus episode, Amanda dives into the reasons she's staying at home, why this is about so much more than your freedom and how to shift your focus on what's most important. Welcome to The Stay At Home Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

It can be frustrating enough trying to explain to someone WHY you're an artist or creator without having to map out how you pay the bills. Diving into one of her least favorite conversations with people, Amanda shares the response that has kept her a little more sane, why she's drawn to cities of artists and how to manage your own expectations when it comes to making money with your work. Welcome to The But How Do You Make Money Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

Running to-do lists. Constant over-do notifications. Weeks old emails that are plaguing you in the middle of the night. Invitations that you're too afraid to RSVP no to. We're consistently in a state of choosing what tasks are more important than others, but you can feel guilty just telling someone or something, "Not right now." But if you're not keeping the main the main thing, everyone and everything else will ground you down. This week, Amanda digs into the true meaning of a most important goal, the one tool that's changed how she balances an ever-growing schedule and the expectations that come with it. Welcome to The Priorities Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com

Continuing the March Book Club discussion of Jane Austen's final and unfinished manuscript, Sanditon, and PBS' series based on the book. Sasha A. Ali returns to the show to break down Season 1 with Amanda, how the ending had them both SHOOK, and the case for more male nudity. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com