This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com The July journal episode of The Kettle is all about the idea of “smallness” and what that means to me right now. In the episode I share some specific ways I’m leaning into smaller-scale efforts in my real life and the results. From working on my new book (a fiction project!) a little at a time, to the small-but-oh-so-satisfying yield from my modest-sized container garden, to the small space I’m inhabiting ri...
Jul 01, 2025•6 min
Can you remember the first time you had a really good cup of tea, or maybe a tea experience that left you feeling inspired intrigued, and wanting more? Today’s guest Henrietta Lovell, the founder of the Rare Tea Company and author of the laugh-out-loud funny, informative, and inspiring memoir, Infused: Adventures in Tea , has made an entire career (and life!) from drinking good tea, journeying to the places that grow it, and meeting the people who harvest and make it. In this episode of The Kett...
Jun 15, 2025•43 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.com Monthly Journal episodes and the accompanying post, which includes links to our upcoming community events, are a benefit for paying members of The Kettle. As a reminder, annual memberships to The Kettle are on sale through June 5 - just $30/year. Happy June, friends. I don’t know about you, but over the last week, I feel like the world around me has just come… alive . Everywhere I look, leaves are leafing, b...
Jun 01, 2025•4 min
Hello friend, Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve given eleven livestreamed interviews and three or four (or was it five?) podcast interviews. I’ve been on TV twice, done two in-person signing events and have two more coming this weekend. And my book has only been out for nine days. A launch is an exercise in stamina, and this one is hitting me pretty differently at 47 than it did when I wrote my last book as a wee lass of 34. Other things have changed since then, too; namely, how much I find my...
May 15, 2025•20 min
How might the experience of forming and raising a family change if we felt more able to share honestly and openly about our struggles, joys, and everything in between? Today I’m talking with Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, a family physician and public health physician who specializes in women’s and children’s health—and the author of the new book Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love. In this episode, Rebecca shares the process of writing her book, in which she tel...
May 01, 2025•38 min
When you think of your children growing up, do you view their leaving as the end of an era - or the beginning of something new? In this episode, renowned happiness expert, author, and podcaster Gretchen Rubin joins me to discuss her “open-door” approach to parenting young adults, her brand-new, instant-NYTimes-bestselling book Secrets of Adulthood, our midlife lady hobbies, the way we remember (and don’t remember) our kids’ childhoods, and even the possibility of new puppies. Episode links: Gret...
Apr 15, 2025•37 min
This spring a lot of figurative “seeds” that I planted long ago, like my upcoming book launch and an expansion of my brick-and-mortar business, are starting to bear fruit - just at the time I am also hoping to literally put seeds in the ground. Sometimes, a bounty of good (but energy-consuming) things comes at the same time we’re also trying to invest in the next thing, and we can’t always plan on a steady rhythm of planting and harvesting. In this episode of The Kettle podcast I share more of m...
Apr 01, 2025•17 min
For most of us, getting groceries automatically equals “going to the supermarket.” But does that brightly-lit jumble of logos, packaging, and confusing nutrition labels have to be the only - or even the primary - way we fill our fridges and pantries? For the past few years, as I’ve been committed to sourcing more and more of my food locally and seasonally, it’s automatically led to me relying less and less on the supermarket - and I’ve learned a lot along the way. In this episode of The Kettle, ...
Mar 15, 2025•40 min
Are you even a midlife lady if you don’t suddenly drop everything and start a garden? In today’s episode, I talk with Christine Koh about our shared adult-onset passion for herbal medicine and our attempts - with varying degrees of success - at growing things. Christine shares how her adventures in gardening and herbalism - part of what she jokingly calls her #gloriouswitch transformation - were a force for healing as she came out of a stressful stage of life, and now provide her with a grounded...
Feb 15, 2025•48 min
It’s February, and that means…we made it through January! In this episode I share my thoughts on the grounding joys of giving care. I also explore two beekeeping saints, teas with rose petals, new adventures in sourdough, some cozy reads and PBS shows to watch, and what it means to feel spring in your bones - even before you see it reflected in the temperatures, and read one of my latest essays aloud. Listen on for my February journal episode, and scroll down for links to the books, shows, teas ...
Feb 01, 2025•24 min
More and more, people are talking about leaving social media for good. But how? It’s easy to feel trapped by these networks that have become so intertwined in every aspect of our lives, from shopping to socializing. In this episode of The Kettle, I catch up with my good friend and business partner Sarah Powers to discuss her decision to walk away from Instagram over a year ago, and how the exit impacted her: both the positive effects (a return to writing without self-consciousness; more engageme...
Jan 15, 2025•56 min
Deep breath, friend: you don’t have to come into the New Year raring to go on January 1. In the first episode of the newly-named and slightly-refocused podcast, The Kettle (formerly The Tea’s Made) I take a different, slower approach. I reflect on my holiday celebrations, offer an alternative to the idea of ambitious (or restrictive) New Year’s resolutions and goals, reflect on the impact of small, embodied rituals and rhythms for keeping us grounded and rooted in what’s real, and also read one ...
Jan 01, 2025•27 min
What could be cozier than a holiday baking session based on your favorite book? In this episode I talk with CJ of A Well-Read Tart , a blog for book and food lovers, where CJ shares book reviews, food inspiration and recipes based on her favorite literature. Listen on to hear us share what we're each reading right now and some favorite cozy holiday food scenes from books, as well as CJ's ideas for letting literature inspire you in the kitchen. I also share some updates on what's happening in my ...
Dec 15, 2024•47 min
In our monthly Journal, I share a special message for moms of older kids who aren't feeling quite so magical about the holidays these days, plus Christmas-inspired teas, my plans for decorating and baking, and some hopes for the Advent season. Listen for a cozy chat and be sure to check out the companion journal post at TheTeasMade.com for links, photos, updates and more! Episode Links: November Journal episode Episode 37: Why connecting with our food matters, with Alison Kay Smith Tea - Morning...
Dec 01, 2024•28 min
Rooted in locality, seasonality, and agrarian living, the liturgical calendar - the feasts, celebrations, and other observations that made up the early church year - can help root us in the natural rhythms of life. But while most of us are familiar with a few holidays from the early church year, modern living doesn't make a lot of space for recognizing the depth of the calendar that once dictated the rhythm of daily lives. In today's episode I speak to Kristen Haakenson of HearthStoneFables.com ...
Nov 15, 2024•48 min
In this month's Journal, I share what's inspiring me going into November: my favorite cinnamon-spiced teas, embroidery projects as holiday gifts, making herbal tinctures, and an epic novel trilogy from medieval Norway. Episode Links: *most links are affiliates. If you make a purchase via my link, I will earn a small commission - a great way to support this podcast! Read my accompanying November Journal post at TheTeasMade.com Episode 32 - How and Why To Start Foraging For Wild Plants Light of Da...
Nov 01, 2024•32 min
Between social media platforms, email, blogs, podcasts, streaming video and all the rest, there are so many ways these days to consume (or create!) content. In this episode I share what taking social media breaks has done for my brain, how pressure to create and consume has impacted the way I feel about my work, and what I'm planning to do going forward - including a change to the format of this podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/do...
Oct 24, 2024•15 min
When it comes to staying on top of meal planning and cooking, my solution to overwhelm and disorganization is simple: a series of weekly and daily routines that work for my home, family, and schedule. In this episode I share five kitchen routines that help me feel more connected and confident in my kitchen, from menu planning and grocery shopping to soaking beans and feeding sourdough starter. The idea isn’t to copy my routines exactly but to create your own based on your lifestyle and unique ki...
Oct 03, 2024•28 min
In our culture we put a lot of emphasis on building wealth - but what, exactly, does that mean, and how does our view of wealth contribute to (or detract from) our flourishing as humans? In this continuation of Episode 39's conversation with author and farmer Shannon Hayes, we delve more into the economics of home and family life, the difference between an extractive and what Shannon calls a "life-giving" economy, and what wealth can really look like if we are willing to define it on our own ter...
Sep 26, 2024•28 min
Everyone is talking about rising food prices these days, but we spend very little time talking about the value of food. In this episode I speak with Shannon Hayes, farmer and author, about her journey from academia back to the farm she grew up on. She tells us about her unconventional upbringing and how it led her to value a life connected to land and community - and the power of a home-cooked meal. Shannon also explains the real costs that impact the prices at her family farm, how those costs a...
Sep 19, 2024•35 min
Does shopping, cooking and eating locally and seasonally have to be time-consuming and difficult? As I've slowly added new kitchen skills to my repertoire, I've come to realize that the key to meal planning and preparation without burnout is developing the rhythms and routines that allow us to find "flow" in our kitchens. From preserving produce to dreaming about a root cellar to experimenting with sourdough bread, I'll let you in on some of the projects I'm working on in my kitchen right now an...
Sep 12, 2024•34 min
"But who actually has the time to cook this way?" Our guest Alison Kay hears that a lot when she shares about her passion for ancestral eating. But for Alison, sourcing ingredients locally and preparing it in a way inspired by our great-great-grandmothers isn't a chore or a time-suck, and it's definitely not romanticizing the past. Instead, it's a crucial way she expresses her creativity, connects with her community and the land around her, and cares for herself and her family. In this episode, ...
Sep 05, 2024•42 min
With all the diets and nutrition trends that focus on exclusion and restriction, it can feel like food is being reduced to its components - not something I personally think is a very satisfying way to eat. But what if there was another way to view food - a way that leans on the wisdom of our great-great grandmothers, yet is adaptable to a modern kitchen? After a fraught relationship with eating impacted her mental, emotional and physical health for decades, our guest Alison Kay of ancestralkitch...
Aug 29, 2024•41 min
Why did I go the traditional publishing route vs. self-publishing? What did the writing process look like, beginning to end? And how do I feel about the idea of sh*tty first drafts? In this episode of The Tea's Made I answer all of these questions and more. Episode Links: Taking a book idea from proposal to contract . In this episode I answer listener questions about working with an agent, platform and more. Head to TheTeasMade.com to read more of my writing! Brand Partners: OSEA – Use the code ...
Aug 22, 2024•34 min
I'm back from my book-writing break and ready to talk shop! In this episode I answer listener questions about the process of pitching your book idea to an agent or publisher, including: -How long should I expect it to take to hear back from an agent after I query them? -What questions should I ask a potential agent before I sign? -How hands-on should I expect my agent to be in the proposal process? -What size audience/readership will an agent or editor be looking for in an author? And more! Look...
Aug 15, 2024•28 min
Hi all! Hopping in from my podcasting break with a birthday message, some tips on staying connected and calm in a divided and noisy world, and a little preview of what you can expect when The Tea's Made returns on August 15. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meaga...
Jul 27, 2024•8 min
From starting a brick-and-mortar retail shop, to putting the finishing touches on my book manuscript, to caring for my new chicks, to getting another son ready for college, this summer has already been jam-packed with activity. In the last episode of The Tea's Made before my midsummer break, I'm sharing more details about what's happening in my world and what you can expect when I return in the early fall. Featured Tea: Harrod's English Breakfast Brand Partners: OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or M...
Jun 27, 2024•34 min
When I was a young girl, I was completely fascinated with the idea of being able to find food and medicine in nature. But in our modern world, eating anything that grows wildly can seem strange...undesirable...even dangerous. While it took me until my mid-40s, I've begun to embrace foraging and wildcrafting as not only a fun and mostly-free hobby, but also a way of looking at the world differently. In this episode I'll talk about what this journey has looked like for me and share basic tips for ...
Jun 20, 2024•25 min
From navigating relationships with our teenagers to how we engage with social media, the post-40 years offer many opportunities to rethink old patterns of people-pleasing and live more authentically. In this conversation with author Rachel Macy Stafford, learn how to create a "Soul Shift" that will help you slow down, connect, and live more in line with your deepest values. Episode Links: Find Rachel Macy Stafford Online: Instagram Substack Facebook Rachel's website Rachel's Books: Hands-Free Ma...
Jun 13, 2024•42 min
Sometimes life is hard, sometimes life is exciting...and often, it's both at the same time. When that happens, it's not always easy to know how to feel from one moment to the next. In this episode I'm sharing some news from my life over the past week, and how I've been coping with some sad events and hard moments in the midst of the exciting things happening alongside them. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations Advertising Inquiries: ...
Jun 06, 2024•11 min
