Dinner Last Night (with Emma & Dimity)

Cookbook author and former competitive powerlifter Julia Turshen sits down for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about healing a lifelong eating disorder, the daily labor of home cooking, and how food can heal yourself and the people you love. From her grandparents' Brooklyn bread bakery to her 81-year-old mom's illustrated cooking class notes, it's a thoughtful and moving episode.
Episode Highlights:
The concept of "the everlasting meal"
Growing up in a workaholic household — and the Brooklyn bread bakery her Jewish grandparents ran that looms so large in her identity
Her mother's illustrated cooking class notes, and their evolving relationship
Navigating disordered eating and finding healing through powerlifting
How food works in her home with spouse Grace, a therapist with Type 1 diabetes
Why investing in neighbors and community is the most important thing any of us can do
🎁 Giveaway + Listener Discount:
Win the chance to pick from and attend one of Julia’s online cooking classes (or watch the recording)!
Episode Links:
Julia's website and books: www.juliaturshen.com
Julia's Substack newsletter Keep Calm and Cook On
Follow Julia on Instagram
Reem Kassis, Palestinian cookbook author mentioned by Julia
An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler
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Giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway for any episode!
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YouTube: @DinnerLastNightPod
Instagram: @dinnerlastnightpod
Website: dinnerlastnightpod.com
Credits
Produced: Wombmate Productions, Inc., REP Studio, and Stuart Hetzler
Editing: REP Studio and Stuart Hetzler
Music by: ⁣Emerson ‘Longstory’ Bartlett (feat. Drew Martin on Saxophone)

In this riveting conversation with novelist, screenwriter, and father Jonathan Lee, we discuss the dynamics of family dinners and how “branding” matters to kids, storytelling, and the surprising lessons from Taco Night. From the “perils of precedent” (why kids love Tuesday Tacos, not Monday) to writing about real-life tragedy in High Dive and The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Jonathan shares insights on parenting, trauma, and the role of food in stories. Plus, a hilarious dinner table game you’ll want to try at home.
Episode Highlights:
Why “branding” dinner matters for kids
Jonathan Lee’s journey to becoming a full-time writer
The realities of writing about trauma and self-care
How food shapes storytelling in moments of crisis and connection
Talking to children about difficult topics
Behind the scenes of The Bombing of Pan Am 103
A playful dinner table storytelling game
🎁 Giveaway + Listener Discount:
Jonathan is giving away a signed hardcover copy of his best-selling novels, The Great Mistake and High Dive. Eligible entrants must be over 18 and based in the U.S. To enter to win, click here. 
Episode Links:
Jonathan’s website and books: www.jonathanleewriter.com
We mention Episode 09 with his wife, Amy Lee
Television Show: The Bombing of Pan Am 103
Send us a message!
Support the show
Subscribe
Never miss an episode: Follow Dinner Last Night and subscribe to our newsletter. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review, tap “like”, and share it with a friend! It helps more people discover the show. 💛
Giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway for any episode!
Follow Us
Substack: subscribe to our newsletter
YouTube: @DinnerLastNightPod
Instagram: @dinnerlastnightpod
Website: dinnerlastnightpod.com
Credits
Produced: Wombmate Productions, Inc., REP Studio, and Stuart Hetzler
Editing: REP Studio and Stuart Hetzler
Music by: ⁣Emerson ‘Longstory’ Bartlett (feat. Drew Martin on Saxophone)

In this episode of Dinner Last Night, we sit down with Jana Blankenship—mother, entrepreneur, herbalist, educator, and founder of the pioneering green beauty brand Captain Blankenship.
Jana’s work is rooted in the powerful connection between plants, scent, memory, and family traditions. We start where every episode does, with dinner last night, and hear about the first meal Jana’s family shared around the table after a long stretch of home renovation.
From there, we explore the Serbian food traditions passed down by her beloved grandmother, Baka Milka, how childhood perfume “potions” led Jana to develop a sensitivity to synthetic fragrances, and how that journey ultimately inspired her path into natural perfume, herbalism, and clean beauty.
We also talk about foraging, DIY herbal care, and honoring the plants and places where we live, along with practical ways to cook for a busy family schedule.
Jana is the author of Wild Beauty and the co-author (with Emma) of Seasonal Family Almanac. This conversation is full of warmth, wisdom, and inspiration for anyone who loves food, nature, and learning by doing.
Episode Highlights:
The influence of Jana’s grandmother and aunt in passing down Serbian traditions around food and herbalism
Jana’s personal experience developing a childhood sensitivity to synthetic fragrances and how this inspired her journey with natural scents 
The power of scent (the first sense to develop in the womb) to anchor us in memories
How Jana founded and developed Captain Blankenship, an early clean beauty brand
DIY herbal beauty and why making things yourself is such a powerful experience
Raising tweens with a healthy relationship to beauty and self-care
Practical meal strategies for busy families juggling sports, school, and chaotic evenings
How working with your hands and connecting to plants can reduce stress
Foraging and harvesting plants responsibly, and how to work with evergreens 
Giveaway + Listener Discount:
One lucky listener will win an incredible giveaway, including a copy of Jana’s books Seasonal Family Almanac and
Send us a message!
Support the show
Subscribe
Never miss an episode: Follow Dinner Last Night and subscribe to our newsletter. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review, tap “like”, and share it with a friend! It helps more people discover the show. 💛
Giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway for any episode!
Follow Us
Substack: subscribe to our newsletter
YouTube: @DinnerLastNightPod
Instagram: @dinnerlastnightpod
Website: dinnerlastnightpod.com
Credits
Produced: Wombmate Productions, Inc., REP Studio, and Stuart Hetzler
Editing: REP Studio and Stuart Hetzler
Music by: ⁣Emerson ‘Longstory’ Bartlett (feat. Drew Martin on Saxophone)

In this episode of Dinner Last Night, we talk to Ayurvedic wellness coach Nandini Austin, whose fresh perspective on ancient practices helps modern families feel healthier, more energized, and more connected at the table. Raised in London with Mauritian roots and a lifelong exposure to Ayurveda, Nandini explains why digestion is the foundation of well-being, how to understand your unique dosha, and simple daily rituals that support balance for both parents and children. Best of all, she makes Ayurvedic living feel accessible and joyful. 
We also explore her path from global hospitality to launching The Cocktail Architect and leading retreats that blend Ayurvedic cooking, traditional Indian dance, and community.
Episode Highlights
Growing up in a Mauritian household in London and learning about food as medicine
Wisdom from Nandini’s grandmother, who practiced Ayurveda for 96 years
“You are what you digest” — why digestion is central to health
Understanding basic concepts of Ayurveda, including doshas and personal daily rituals (dinacharya)
Demystifying curry and the value of spices
Raising adventurous eaters and shaping lifelong food habits in children
Food as a pathway to connection, energy, and emotional balance
Blending Ayurvedic cooking and traditional Indian dance in Nandini’s Temple Goddess retreats
Spice-infused syrups and soda alternatives from The Cocktail Architect, founded by Nandini Austin and her husband
Giveaway
One lucky DLN listener will win a 30-minute introductory, one-on-one session with Nandini, designed for those new to Ayurveda! You’ll discover your unique mind–body (dosha) blueprint and walk away with rituals to support it.
Learn More About Nandini:
For Ayurveda offerings: NandiniAustin.com
For delicious, handcrafted syrups: The Cocktail Architect
Follow Nandini on Instagram, Facebook, an
Send us a message!
Support the show
Subscribe
Never miss an episode: Follow Dinner Last Night and subscribe to our newsletter. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review, tap “like”, and share it with a friend! It helps more people discover the show. 💛
Giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway for any episode!
Follow Us
Substack: subscribe to our newsletter
YouTube: @DinnerLastNightPod
Instagram: @dinnerlastnightpod
Website: dinnerlastnightpod.com
Credits
Produced: Wombmate Productions, Inc., REP Studio, and Stuart Hetzler
Editing: REP Studio and Stuart Hetzler
Music by: ⁣Emerson ‘Longstory’ Bartlett (feat. Drew Martin on Saxophone)

On this episode, we’re talking with Eliza Blank—mom, entrepreneur, founder of The Sill, and CEO of Farmlink—about feeding families thoughtfully in a world where nearly 40% of food is wasted. Eliza shares how growing up in a Filipino and Jewish household shaped her approach to food, why her husband oversees the kitchen, and how parenthood changed the way she thinks about meals.
We also dive into Eliza’s current work, rescuing millions of pounds of surplus farm produce for communities in need, and chat about practical ways families can reduce waste, talk to kids about food access and inequality, and honor the time, labor, and natural resources that go into every meal. This episode is honest, funny, and full of ideas you can actually use at home.
Episode Highlights:
What happens when dinner doesn’t go as planned (and why that’s okay)
Why Eliza’s husband oversees the kitchen and cooking at home
How Filipino and Jewish food traditions shape meals at home
Behind-the-scenes insight into building The Sill—one of the first direct-to-consumer houseplant brands—launched by Eliza in her 20s
Eliza’s current work as CEO of FarmLink to bridge the gap between excess food waste and food inequality in the U.S.
How to help children understand food access issues and inequality
Practical tools for introducing food waste reduction at home 
Appreciating the earth’s gifts, and the time and labor behind every meal
Giveaway + Listener Discount:
One lucky listener will get to choose a Farmlink hoodie and proudly represent the organization’s message! CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway.
Send us a message!
Support the show
Subscribe
Never miss an episode: Follow Dinner Last Night and subscribe to our newsletter. If you loved this episode, please leave us a review, tap “like”, and share it with a friend! It helps more people discover the show. 💛
Giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway for any episode!
Follow Us
Substack: subscribe to our newsletter
YouTube: @DinnerLastNightPod
Instagram: @dinnerlastnightpod
Website: dinnerlastnightpod.com
Credits
Produced: Wombmate Productions, Inc., REP Studio, and Stuart Hetzler
Editing: REP Studio and Stuart Hetzler
Music by: ⁣Emerson ‘Longstory’ Bartlett (feat. Drew Martin on Saxophone)