Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle

KIRO Seattle

"What would your last meal be?" On this James Beard Award nominee for best podcast, National Edward R. Murrow award-winning reporter Rachel Belle asks every guest this question - but that’s just the beginning! Each dish’s origins, preparation, and cultural influence are among the many stones upturned as Rachel consults chefs and culinary anthropologists, fishmongers and fry cooks on her quest to explore every facet of Your Last Meal. Episodes every two weeks. Original music by Prom Queen.

  • 8 minutes 17 seconds
    The Leftovers with Kevin Morby

    This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from singer/songwriter Kevin Morby.  

    Kevin grew up in Kansas, and after 15 years of building a successful music career living in the coast’s largest cities, he has returned to his hometown. He tells host Rachel Belle why living in the Midwest can spark creativity, what Kansas City meal should be as famous as its legendary BBQ, and what he and his girlfriend (the musician, Waxahatchee) always eat when they return home from a long tour.  

    Listen to Kevin on Your Last Meal.

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Order Rachel’s new cookbook Open Sesame.

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 February 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 18 seconds
    Kevin Morby: PB&J + Phở

    Singer/songwriter Kevin Morby is a peanut butter and jelly man. Like most kids who grew up in the U.S. before peanut-allergy-mania, he loves the classic lunchbox version. But as an adult he’s taken to adding some very unorthodox ingredients like ... scrambled or fried eggs! In this economy?! 

    You know who else eats a TON of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? NFL players! Actually, they eat a ton of Uncrustables, and there is data to prove it. Host Rachel Belle interviews the co-creator of Uncrustables to unpack why the world needed a premade PB&J. 

    And we’ll learn a bit about the history of the PB&J from an expat American journalist who is heartbroken that her England-born children have no interest in her favorite nostalgic sandwich, just like everyone else in the U.K. 

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Follow host Rachel Belle on Instagram!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Order Rachel’s new cookbook Open Sesame.

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 February 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 36 seconds
    The Leftovers with Alton Brown

    This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from TV host, chef and author Alton Brown. 

    Alton famously loathes single-use gadgets, but the one he despises most still has a home in his kitchen drawer. He tells us why. And he shares how he developed a deep love for Jewish deli food as a kid growing up in 1970s Georgia.

    Seattle chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas joins the show to talk about his special relationship with his late mother's 70 year old stove. And Allen Salkin, author of The Uncensored History of the Food Network tells a juicy behind-the-scenes story about Ina Garten and Martha Stewart. 

    Listen to last week's episode of Alton on Your Last Meal. 

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Order Rachel’s new cookbook Open Sesame.

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    13 February 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 11 seconds
    Alton Brown: His Wife's Witchy Soup

    Alton Brown hosted Good Eats on the Food Network for 16 seasons, and says Julia Child, Mr. Wizard and Monty Python were his inspirations for the wacky, science-driven TV show he created. He just released his 10th book, Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations.  

    Alton famously despises single-use gadgets, but he tells host Rachel Belle about the one item that must be present in every kitchen. He talks about why he is not worried about ChatGPT taking his job as a recipe developer, and admits that his wife Elizabeth, an interior designer, is a far more talented cook than he is.

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Order Rachel’s new cookbook Open Sesame.

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 February 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 12 minutes 7 seconds
    The Leftovers with Paula Poundstone

    This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from comedian Paula Poundstone!

    If you listened to last week's episode of Your Last Meal, you know Paula has a serious sweet tooth, from the Ring Dings she wants for her last meal to the sugar packets she used to eat for dessert. 

    Same holds true in this episode where Paula shares her perfect birthday cake, the same one she's adored since childhood, and her very unexpected favorite holiday meal. Hint: it comes in "fun size."

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Order Rachel’s brand-new cookbook Open Sesame & get tickets to an upcoming book event!

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 January 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 32 minutes 19 seconds
    Paula Poundstone: Ring Dings

    Veteran comedian Paula Poundstone loves Ring Dings, her favorite little chocolate snack cakes only sold in a handful of East Coast states. She once told a very skeptical Michael Pollan, on NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, that they are her reason for living. 

    So host Rachel Belle interviews the pastry chef/owner of The Ring Ding Bar in New York City, a bakery that’s recreated the confection with “real ingredients” in 25 flavors.  

    Paula talks about how she lived on a Greyhound bus in the 80s, when she didn’t have enough money for motels, why you should read the recipe on the marshmallow fluff jar very carefully, and why Dick Van Dyke will most likely never have dinner at Paula’s house again.  

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Order Rachel’s new cookbook Open Sesame!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Sign up for Rachel's newsletter!

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 January 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 9 minutes 32 seconds
    The Leftovers with Ani DiFranco

    This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Ani DiFranco, singer/songwriter, activist and feminist icon.

    Ani started her own record company in 1989, put out her first record in 1990 and just released her 23rd album. But what do her two school-aged children think about her music? She will discuss!

    Plus she shares her family’s boozy holiday traditions, and reveals what is no longer on her rider.

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Order Rachel’s brand-new cookbook Open Sesame & get tickets to an upcoming book event!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 January 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 36 minutes 18 seconds
    Ani DiFranco: Watermelon Feta Salad

    If you listened to the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter in the ’90s, she wants you to know she’s still making music: Ani DiFranco just released her 23rd album!

    Ani is known for lyrics that explore politics, social justice and feminism, but in real life she is smiley, friendly and down-to-earth – not the “angry feminist” she was often mislabeled as.

    Ani grew up in Buffalo, New York, where she was tasked with cooking dinner for her family starting at age 9. Today she enjoys cooking for her own family in New Orleans – a soothing ritual that balances the craziness of touring.

    Ani says she’ll eat anything, so I pulled out a list of America’s most hated foods & quizzed her – listen in to hear what they are! And a social psychologist joins the show to talk about how a country’s culture influences our likes and dislikes.

    Plus, Ani’s opinion of school lunch and a story about a school district that refuses to dumb down dishes for its young eaters.

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Order Rachel’s brand-new cookbook Open Sesame!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    9 January 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 49 minutes 28 seconds
    LIVE Q&A with Rachel Belle on her debut cookbook

    Host Rachel Belle celebrated the launch of Open Sesame at Book Larder, Seattle's only dedicated cookbook store. The event sold out, but you can listen in!

    Rachel is usually the one asking the questions, but on November 13 the tables were turned! She was in conversation with Becky Selengut, a beloved Seattle cookbook author, cooking instructor, podcast host and chef. 

    Rachel tells the magical story of how she was offered a book deal (despite having a small social media presence!), a reminder of the importance of building in-person, real-life professional relationships. She tells Becky what it was like to write a cookbook in only six months, describes how the testing process works, shares her biggest recipe fails & talks about how the word “fart” ended up in Open Sesame. Plus, an audience Q&A!  

    Order Rachel’s brand new cookbook Open Sesame!

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

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    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 January 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 9 minutes 40 seconds
    The Leftovers with Jonathon Van Ness & Tan France

    This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France, two of the stars of the popular Netflix show Queer Eye. 

    Last week on Your Last Meal, Tan said his love language is cooking for the people he loves. So just imagine the fight that breaks out in this episode when Tan tells JVN he’ll bring him take-out instead of a homecooked meal! 

    Tan and JVN reveal their favorite city to eat in and Jonathan, an avid home farmer, gives us a report on what’s growing in his garden.  

    Listen to last week's episode!

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Order Rachel’s brand new cookbook Open Sesame!

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 December 2024, 1:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 33 seconds
    Jonathan Van Ness & Tan France: Fast Food Feast & a British Roast

    Queer Eye Season 9 just dropped on Netflix, and Jonathan Van Ness (beauty expert), Tan France (fashion expert) and the rest of The Fab Five are back to make over folks who have big hearts but need lots of help in the self-care department. 

    This episode is chock full of big energy and big personalities – so much so that host Rachel Belle hardly had to lift a finger as the buddies interviewed, complimented and lovingly roasted each other!  

    British-born-and-raised Tan talks about his first-ever magical visit to Olive Garden and what he thinks of the food in Utah, where he now lives with his husband and children. 

    Rachel asks, “Have you ever eaten pet food?” and JVN and Tan talk about what it’s like going to a restaurant with Antoni Porowski, Queer Eye’s food and wine expert.

    Get tickets to their Fab Five Live show!

    Listen to YLM with Ken Jennings.

    Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube.

    Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

    Follow along on Instagram!

    Order Rachel’s brand new cookbook Open Sesame!

     

     

    Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 December 2024, 1:00 pm
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