The Kettle with Meagan Francis (Meagan Francis)

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 back next week for the follow-up episode: what it's like to actually write the book once contract is in hand!

Episode Links:

How a book proposal is made - This is a video I made a little over a year ago when my proposal was still out to editors! In it I detailed the process of writing the proposal and pitching agents.

Brand Partners:

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Feeling pressure to "reinvent" yourself this year? In this episode of The Tea's Made, I encourage a gentler approach to reimagining your life, plus share what I call the three C's - conviction, confidence, and consistency - that are vital to making lasting changes. Grab a cup of tea and your favorite journal - it's time for a cozy session of gentle reinvention!

Featured Links:

Check out my Substack article featuring my favorite teas of 2023 plus some thoughts about creating a "tea lifestyle".

Featured Partners:

Looking for a sponsor promo or product I’ve recommended? Check out my favorite brands.

A few months ago I looked back over the last few years' worth of my smart watch data and was shocked to see my step average had plummeted by over half in the last year or so - coinciding with some other health issues that I believe were related. We're told to get in at least 10,000 steps per day, and while there's some debate over that number, I definitely feel my best when I'm consistently getting in lots of natural movement - but sometimes tight schedules and modern conveniences conspire to keep us sedentary! In this episode you'll hear five ways I've gotten those daily steps back up - way up - and how you can create a more movement-oriented mindset, without ever going to the gym.

Episode Links:

My Garmin Vivoactive 4s - I've used this watch for daily movement and sleep tracking (as well as keeping time!) for over 3 years and it's still going strong.

I love these 2-lb Velcro wrist weights with thumb loop. I wear them for the first part of my walk, while I do the stairs, and I incorporate lots of arm movements (both planned and more random) to maximize the "strength training" portion of the day. Then I ditch them in my car and enjoy the rest of my walk like normal. I also have a 20-lb kettlebell in my car and will often tack on a quick leg workout + kettlebell swings at the end of my walk.

I LOVE wearing my Happy Feet toe aligner socks to show my feet a little love at the end of the day!

Vionic insoles - I put these in all my non-Vionic shoes, including my regular sneakers and hiking boots. Vionic is a sponsor; use code TEASMADE at checkout for 15% off.

A good magnesium supplement also helps a lot with foot and other muscle/joint pain.

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

It's obvious: I love tea! But how do I incorporate it into my life, and what are my favorite ways to choose, brew, and enjoy it? In the tenth episode of this podcast, I dig a little deeper into my #tealife and share my rituals, practices, and preferences around tea – plus, I answer a bunch of great listener questions about how to brew tea, my favorite strainers and accessories, and more! Warm up that kettle and get out your favorite cup – it’s time for a #TeaLife primer on this episode of The Tea’s Made.

Featured Links:

• Here’s an inexpensive example of the kind of simple tea strainer insert I use. David’s Tea mugs often come with similar strainers and also feature a lid that doubles as a saucer.
• Help me choose a tea kettle – I’ve got three great contenders up on Substack!
• Check out my article featuring my favorite teas of 2023 plus some thoughts about creating a “tea lifestyle”, both on Substack!

Featured Partners:

Looking for a sponsor promo or product I’ve recommended? Check out my favorite brands.

What could be cozier than a holiday crafting session? In this episode I share four simple projects that you can still squeeze into this holiday season. Each project should only take a couple of hours at most and the ingredients can easily be found online or at your local grocery store or craft store. So fill your cup and settle in for a holiday crafting sesh with me in this episode of The Tea’s Made podcast. 

Featured Tea:

Celebration from Harney & Sons is a black tea blend with hazelnut, apricot, and cinnamon flavoring. It’s a warming, mellow, festive tea that’s perfect for this time of year – and all winter long.

Featured Links:

Find the supplies and tutorials for today’s episode in this post!

Featured Partners

Looking for a sponsor promo or product I’ve recommended? Check out my favorite brands.

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 Mama
• Soul Shift
• Only Love Today
• Live Love Now

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

The winter is finally here in earnest, and right now I’m all about staying warm and cozy. Listen to learn a DIY idea to keep you snug, how I keep my hands and legs warm on long walks, my improvised, bean-forward soup recipe, and more!

Episode Links:

• Join me on Substack for exclusive episodes on the last Thursday of each month!
• The ridiculously soft and cozy Pottery Barn blanket Sarah Powers gifted me
• The WoolX Leggings I live in
• My Substack post about eating more beans in 2024
• The rechargeable hand warmers I’m eyeballing
• Leaning into a “tea lifestyle”

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

Spring is officially here, but after a winter that often felt like spring and with spring weather that still feels a little wintry, we may need to be a little more intentional to connect with the season this year. This episode contains seven simple ideas to help you make the most of the early spring, including:

• Switch up your skincare
• Plan a new daily routine to maximize outdoor time
• Watch wildlife in your backyard and beyond
• Ease into spring fashion from the feet up

Listen on for tips and ideas that will help you welcome the season, here on The Tea's Made podcast!

Featured Tea:

• Peppermint from Smith Tea

Featured Links:

*links below may be brand partners

• My skin care routine - use the code TEASMADE for 10% off your first order at OSEA!
• Uptown Loafer from Vionic Shoes - Use the code TEASMADE for 15% off plus free shipping when you create an account, valid for one time use.
• The platform bird feeder I have and love
• The Merlin Bird ID app
• The Seek app
• Midwest Foraging, by Lisa M. Rose
• Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn't Know You Could Eat, by Ellen Zachos

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 TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

When I was a younger mom, I put a lot of stock in "getting things done." I'll admit, I felt a little thrill of pride when people would ask "How do you do it all?" The reality, of course, is that I wasn't doing it all then...and I'm definitely not doing it all now! But the way I show up for my to-do list, and my relationship with ambition, are both changing in midlife, which has led my crazy-busy 30s to give way to much-more-meandering 40s.

In this episode I share a handful of ways the idea of "productivity" is changing for me as a midlife mom of older kids, and how sometimes the unsung things that nobody sees you doing are actually the things that add up to a rich, full, and manageable life.

Featured Tea:

Aphrodite from Good Medicine Tea - use TEASMADE for 15% off your order.

Check Out Deals From Our Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Tea is a beverage, a trade, a historical phenomenon - and so much more. In this episode I revisit my 2022 conversation with Laura Cepeda, certified tea sommelier and owner of the wellness lifestyle brand Modestine. Laura was introduced to tea by her grandmother Modestine at a young age, and we talk about her early tea experiences while growing up in the Caribbean, how her grandmother's approach to community and wellness influenced her, her experience of becoming a tea sommelier, and just why tea and rituals around tea are so powerful. 

Episode Links

Shop Modestine's line of teas, and follow on Instagram!

Featured Tea:

Queendom Reign by Modestine - a delicious and calming blend of herbs that support women's hormone health.

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

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 are often hidden from consumers at the supermarket, and the true value you're getting from nutrient-dense, farm-fresh, locally-grown food.

For me this conversation raised the question: what if we all stopped talking about food in terms of its cost, and shifted the conversation to its value?

Episode Links:

Read Shannon's blog and check out her family's farm

(I also noticed that Shannon is offering a free seminar called "Freedom in the Kitchen" as part of the School of Traditional Skills. Definitely worth signing up!)

The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow (Shannon's podcast)

Find all of Shannon's books (I recently read and adored Redefining Rich!)

Check out my recent blog post about developing a relationship with your kitchen

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

What does it take to be a good host? If Instagram has you convinced hospitality requires lots of money to spend on decor and the guest accommodation level of a four-star hotel, it's time for a reframe. What if true hospitality – the kind that makes people feel welcome and comfortable – didn’t have to cost a lot of money or require a ton of space or skill? In this episode of The Tea’s Made, we’re going to be talking about real hospitality – the art of welcoming people in and making them feel loved, accepted, and at home, whether it’s for a few hours, a few days, or even for several weeks. I share some of my tips for showing up just as you are as a host and how to make your guest’s stay more comfortable, plus a few crowd-pleasing recipes. I also share some ideas for taking care of yourself as a host – so important, and often overlooked! It’s all in this episode of The Tea’s Made.

In This Episode:

Featured Tea: Tazo Turmeric Bliss

Join my private community for women, The Tea Circle!

Featured Partner:

Vionic shoes keep my feet snug, stable, and supported, no matter the season. Get 15% off your first order at Vionic.com after you log into your account, with code TEASMADE!

Some of my favorite festive non-alcoholic beverages:

TOST Sparkling – a tea-based (yay!), fizzy, refreshing and dry bevvy reminiscent of a sparkling wine. Completely alcohol-free and delicious, would be great for a NYE toast! Comes in both a white ginger and rose flavor – I love the convenient mini-bottles as well!

FRE Sparkling Brut – a great base for a non-alcoholic mimosa: dry and crisp.

Fever Tree Grapefruit Soda – I have these in my pantry at all times! Make a great mixer for a n/a mimosa and are yummy on their own – light, refreshing, a bit tart and not overly sweet.

Apple Cider Punch Recipe

• 2 parts apple cider to 1 part cranberry juice or orange juice
• 1 part soda water (or prosecco for an alcoholic version) 
• 1 part ginger beer or ginger ale (can leave soda water out if using ginger ale) 
• Rum or bourbon mix well too 
• Can add star anise or cinnamon sticks

Creamy, Garlicky Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe

Note: I found this recipe online on a blog, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, over a decade ago and have been making it ever since.

Ingredients: 

• 3 lbs. red potatoes washed and sliced super thin (can use a mandolin or a really sharp knife)
• Block of gouda cheese (7-8 oz.) shredded and divided in half, I have also used gruyere
• ½ stick of butter
• 8-10 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups of heavy cream
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions:

• Butter or grease a 9 x 13 baking dish
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Melt butter over medium-low heat and and saute the garlic in it until fragrant (be sure to remove garlic from heat before it gets too brown)
• Layer half of the potatoes in the bottom of the dish, sprinkle half the gouda cheese on top, top with the other half of the potatoes, pour the butter and garlic mixture on top,
• Sprinkle the rest of the gouda or gruyere on top

Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and brown.

When you think about exercise, what moves you? Maybe you want to drop a pants size or tone up your arms. But movement isn't just about looking better - it's about staying active and vital for our entire lives. And it all beings with mobility: where flexibility, stability and strength, and the mind-body connection meet.

In this episode we revisit a 2023 interview with Angela Metrou of Modern Mind and Body Care to find out just why this under-looked aspect of our overall health is so important, and how to work with your body to move more efficiently and functionally, no matter your age or fitness goals.

Episode Links

Find Angela Metrou at her website or on Instagram. Also, check out her Ankle Mobility program!

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

How do you feel about the winter? Do you embrace the frosty air and darker mornings and earlier sunsets…or do you find yourself gritting your teeth through it all and waiting for spring? A few years ago I realized I could use an attitude adjustment about this time of the year and I thought, who better to look to for inspiration than the people who live in Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland? 

In this episode of The Tea’s Made, we explore a handful of Nordic principles for good living. From cozy hygge to stalwart sisu, these words tell us a lot about the balance that allows northern cultures to thrive in harsh winter climates. So get your hot beverage and snuggle down under a cozy blanket, or, put on your boots and walk out into the fresh cold air - we’re going to explore both of these approaches to happy winter living and more.

Featured Tea:

• Paris blend from Apothica Teas 
• A similar Paris Decaf black tea blend is available from Harney & Sons

Featured Links:

• Current favorite N/A beer: Partake Blonde
• Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit soda – another great mocktail maker! I drink mine straight over ice.
• Article about fika on SwedishFood.com
• Article about friluftsliv on VisitNorway.com
• My article about hygge in Michigan Blue magazine.
• A blog post I wrote about sisu in 2021
• Wim Hof method I mentioned in the episode
• Join my year-long book club!

Featured Partners

Looking for a sponsor promo or product I’ve recommended? Check out my favorite brands.

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 terms.

Episode Links:

Read Shannon's blog and check out her family's farm

The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow (Shannon's podcast)

Find all of Shannon's books, including Redefining Rich

Episode 38, The Tea's Made: Eating locally, preserving, and establishing your own “flow” in the kitchen

Episode 39, The Tea's Made: The hidden cost (and value!) of food, with farmer and author Shannon Hayes

Check out my recent blog post about developing a relationship with your kitchen

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Beans: It was my (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) WOTY for 2024, and eating more of them is my only New Year's Resolution. How am I doing with this very lofty legume goal?

Listen here for a free sneak peek of this exclusive subscriber-only episode, and if you'd like to hear the whole thing, you can find the full episode here. Or, just feel free to catch up on the archives while you wait. I'll be back next week with another free episode of The Tea's Made!

Which skincare products, rituals and routines really work (and how do we know they're "working"?) In this episode I share my skincare routine, including specific products I love and how they work together, plus my thoughts about how creating a "skincare philosophy" can make it easier to decide which products, procedures, and processes make sense for YOU.

Episode Links:

Embracing skincare monogamy

My midlife skincare routine

How to make gua sha part of your skincare routine

DIY facial oil blog post

My favorite OSEA products

Check Out Deals From Our Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. I wind down AND wake up every single day with customizable colorscapes, sounds, and lighting. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

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.

Moving, shaking, and constantly on the go? Been there, done that, and had the burnout to prove it. In midlife, I'm looking for a calmer, less-expensive and less consumption-oriented experience. In this episode I share why I'm happy to let my current lifestyle center around pursuits at home, what a "home-centered" life means to me, and the benefits of looking "in here" instead of "out there" for entertainment, socializing, and creativity.

Featured Tea:

Decaf Paris from Harney & Sons: fruity, sweet and full-bodied.

Featured Links:

Episode 17: What's happening in my kitchen right now

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

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 kitchen goals. Listen for inspiration and ideas!

Episode Links:

Check out BevyBox, my new curated tea + craft gift boxes for the holiday!

Here's the Bokashi system I use and love! You can also start with a one-bucket system and add another bucket later. (I have it in the ecru/cream color.)

Previous episodes about food:

Episode 17: What’s happening in my kitchen right now

Episode 36 What is eating "ancestrally" with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen

Episode 37: Why connecting with our food matters, with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen

Episode 38: Eating locally, preserving, and establishing your own “flow” in the kitchen

Episode 39: The hidden cost (and value!) of food, with farmer and author Shannon Hayes

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Hatch is having a big sale starting October 8 - don't miss it!

From fermenting oatmeal, to making yogurt, to tending my own tea plant--I've been up to some fun experiments in my kitchen lately. In this episode I'll share some of the ways I've been focused on exploration in the kitchen, why kitchen creativity is one path to becoming more comfortable with the everyday jobs of meal-planning and dinner-making, which of my kitchen projects have worked out and which are still "in progress", why I'm not eating at restaurants very much right now, and how all this kitchen activity ties into self-care and my personal health journey.

Featured Tea

Gorge Sunrise from Good Medicine Tea - use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order.

Episode Links

• Deconstructing myself - the Substack post I referenced in the episode
• Ancestral Kitchen Podcast - in particular the episode about fermenting oats
• My blog post about making oatmeal in the rice cooker
• Finnish viili cultures from Yemoos
• Camellia Sinensis (tea) plant
• My subscriber-only podcast episode about soaking, simmering and preparing beans

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

From big life changes like divorce, remarriage, career transition or moving, to more everyday changes like kids getting older, holiday celebrations are always evolving. In this episode I share how my family's holiday traditions have evolved in the seven years since I divorced and I talk with author Kelle Hampton about she and her kids' first holiday season in a brand-new home with a whole new life. Kelle and I also share what lights us up during the holidays, our favorite traditions, and how allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and ask for help has changed everything.

In This Episode:

Special Guest:

Kelle Hampton is the author of the NYTimes best-selling book Bloom: Finding Beauty In the Unexpected. You can find her on Instagram at @ETST.

Featured Tea:

Gorge Sunrise by Good Medicine Tea – get 15% off your first order with code TEASMADE.

Join The Tea Circle:

Join my private community of women for in-depth conversation and real connection in a safe, social-media-free space. Check it out!

Featured Partner:

The Hazal is my go-to fall boot – the slight wedge dresses up jeans or leggings while Vio-Motion technology keeps my feet snug, stable, and supported. Get 15% off your first order at Vionic.com after you log into your account, with code TEASMADE!

Featured Tea:

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.

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 and share what a typical day in my "food life" looks like, as well as a mindset shift that can help you stay in flow and keep from getting discouraged as you're learning new skills.

Episode Links:

Episode 17: What's happening in my kitchen right now

Episode 36: What is eating “ancestrally”? with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen

Episode 37: Why connecting with our food matters, with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen

My steel-cut overnight oatmeal, made in the rice cooker

The Sunday Steep #4: Eighty pounds of goat meat

Check out my weekly newsletter about creativity and connection - and, of course, tea! - The Deep Steep

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Do you think of yourself as “the creative type”? Maybe you think creativity is something that’s only for artists with a capital “A” – people like painters, dancers, and writers. In our current production-oriented culture, we often overlook the creativity inherent in our daily lives, but the truth is: we are all creative people, and we all have the capacity to live more creative lives. In today’s episode of The Tea’s Made podcast I speak with writer and creativity coach Amy Suardi about how “normal” people doing everyday activities are more creative than you might think. Amy also shares some advice for infusing more creativity into. your life. Let this episode inspire you to approach the New Year with more creativity!

Featured Guest:

Amy Suardi is a writer, author, and creativity coach. Amy leads writing retreats and workshops, and facilitates a Co-Create Circle on Wednesday mornings at The Tea Circle community. Follow Amy on Instagram or sign up for her newsletter.

Featured Partners

Looking for a sponsor promo or product I’ve recommended? Check out my favorite brands.

What books are on my bedside table right now? In this episode I share four titles - all of them featuring topics I love like nature, herbal medicine, winter appreciation, and gardening - plus a sneak peek at my ever-evolving reading life and habits.

Episode Links:

Listen to my episode about rediscovering reading in midlife and my daily reading practices

Learn more about the books in this episode in this episode's companion post!

Featured Tea:

Breakfast in ROC - A mild Earl Grey, blended in Rochester, NY!

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

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 MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

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 ancestralkitchen.com and The Ancestral Kitchen Podcast found a path to health via ancestral eating and developing a true connection with her food. In this episode, Alison shares her backstory - including losing half her body weight as a young woman and later, struggling to conceive - and how ancestral eating helped her heal and thrive. Alison also explains what ancestral eating is - and isn't, how this way of eating works for her, and why the prices we see in the supermarket don't reflect the true cost of food.

Episode Links:

Ancestral Kitchen, Alison's site

The Ancestral Kitchen podcast

What ancestral eating isn't - the article we discuss in today's episode

Check out my weekly newsletter about creativity and connection - and, of course, tea! - The Deep Steep

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Welcome to my brand-new podcast, The Tea's Made - a place for women to step out of the busy-ness of day-to-day life with cozy conversations about wellness, creativity, nurturing routines and more. Pour yourself a cup and pull up a comfy chair...the tea's made and I'm glad you're here.

With an abundance of technological tools at our disposal and endless options to "go out and do stuff", it would seem we'd feel more connected than ever. But we're in the midst of what's been called an "epidemic of loneliness" - and all those options seem only to have created more disconnection. What if the solution for loneliness is actually to do less, stay closer to home, and really make those connections count? In this episode I delve into some ways to create stronger ties with the friends, family, neighbors and people in our local area, while still living a home-centered life.

Featured Tea

Cardamom Noir from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**

Links Mentioned In Episode

The Seek app by iNaturalist

Episode 24: Why I'm embracing a home-centered life

Episode 2: How to be a great host

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Raise your hand if you always intend to keep walking outside throughout the winter…but year after year, you find those walks dwindling away to “never” or “rarely.” There’s something about the mix of the weather getting colder, the days getting shorter, and the holidays crowding your time that can make it really hard to keep getting outdoors this time of year, but winter walking has amazing benefits – and it’s worth creating an intentional practice that keeps you moving! In today’s episode I share my strategies for getting outside on the regular all year long, including some recommendations of gear and clothing. So pull on your wool leggings and a warm hat, and take this episode of The Tea’s Made out on a walk with you! 

Featured Links:

• My favorite gear for walking outside all winter long

Featured Tea: Heartwarming Cinnamon from Light of Day Organics

A warming, cozy, naturally sweet rooibos tea – hearty and full-bodied, but caffeine free. Made here in Michigan!

Join A Super-Slow Book Club @ The Tea Circle!

My private community, The Tea Circle, will be hosting a year-long book club starting the first week of winter. We’ll be reading The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl, a week-by-week essay collection with themes of nature and the seasons. Join now to access the book club plus weekly co-create circles, monthly chats, goal-setting workshops and much more.

Featured Sponsor: Vionic

With unbelievable support and stability, to-the-minute style, and an unbeatable 30-day wear test, Vionic footwear is wearable well-being for your feet. The Regan Ankle Bootie is my new date-night fave. Use code TEASMADE at checkout for 15% off your first order when you log into your account!

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While I love sharing pieces of my life in this podcast, there's one big part that I haven't talked much about online--and that's my story of a midlife return to the Christian faith.

In this episode, I explain a little more about that reticence and also share a talk I gave at my local church last week, which features a funny story from my childhood and some of my thoughts and feelings about this stage of parenting, plus sheds a little light on my conflicted feelings about the Bible -- and how I came around to seeing the beauty in its stories of real people doing real things, while finding belonging and hope in its pages.

I hope you enjoy it - and if you feel moved by this episode or have questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you: email meaganfrancis@gmail.com.

Episode Links

Want to see me over-gesturing with my hands? You can watch the entirety of my talk on Vimeo, including the music: Gloria Gaynor, Killers, The Head & The Heart, and The Civil Wars. I come on around the 9:40 mark.

Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

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.

If you’ve ever made a statement that starts with “I’m not the kind of person who can…” – this episode is for you. Opting out of things that stress us out can be great, but learning new skills is good for us – and it can be especially freeing to re-try things we don’t think we’re “good at”, just for the fun of it. In this episode you’ll hear some of my thoughts about why new stages of life are a great time to try things you thought you “couldn’t” do, and how to set yourself up for success…whatever that looks like. You’ll also learn the secret to making a light, flaky pie crust – something I have been saying for years that I “can’t” do.

In This Episode:

Featured Tea: Smith Tea No. 25

Morning Light

Available in loose leaf or in sachets (tea bags)

Did you love hearing Kirsetin explain how to make a light, flaky pie crust?

Paid subscribers of my Substack can get access to a 23-minute long video showing Kirsetin making the pie (double-crust apple), plus her recipe and supply list, while members of The Tea Circle community get the recipe and supply list plus access to the entire 45-minute video, including a Q&A with community members, and an additional tutorial on how to make a yummy dessert from the pie-crust scraps. You’ll also be able to attend regular live events like this one in the future, and connect deeply with a group of creative, thoughtful, smart women in a social-media-free space.

Join my private community for women, The Tea Circle!

Featured Partner:

Vionic shoes keep my feet snug, stable, and supported, no matter the season. Get 15% off your first order at Vionic.com after you log into your account, with code TEASMADE!

How do memoirists manage to tell the truth about painful circumstances in their past, while still keeping a grip on compassion and levity? In today's episode I talk with memoirist T. Marie Bertineau about how she processed difficult childhood memories to write about her family of origin with both love and honesty. We also discuss her upbringing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and what she's learned about life and legacy as a writer, midlife woman, and memoirist.

Episode Links:

• The Mason House by T. Marie Bertineau
• Follow T. Marie' on instagram
• The Great Lakes Review featuring T. Marie's short story

Featured Partners:

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

What do we owe our elders - and the younger generation who'll one day be in the position of caring for us? After spending a week helping an aging family member who is going through a lot of life changes, I'm reflecting on the misguided cultural idea that we can somehow plan, declutter, or outsource our way out of "burdening" our families with our care, needs, or even our stuff - and what we lose when we rob one another of the opportunity to connect by helping and being helped.

Featured Tea:

Scottish Afternoon Tea from Apothica Tea, or Harney & Sons

Featured Links:

Check out my blog!

Featured Partners:

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

Do you think of yourself as a lapsed reader? Maybe you look back longingly to the days when you were always tied up in a book (or three) and wonder where all your former reading time goes. Here are some words that may reassure you: if you love books, you’re still a reader! It may just take some time to get back to thinking of yourself that way. In the thick of early motherhood I lost touch with my readerly self, but as my kids have gotten older I’ve found new ways to re-incorporate time with books into my life.

In this episode I share three habits, rituals, and mindsets that have helped me re-establish a strong reading practice. I also share a conversation with Amy Clark of the Mom Advice Book Club about why it’s never too late to get back to reading, how to motivate yourself and keep going, and the power of reading communities.

About The Guest:

Amy Clark is the host of the Mom Advice Book Club and the Book Gang Podcast. Follow @MomAdvice on Instagram for the latest!

Featured Tea: Harney & Sons White Christmas Tea

This delicate, yet flavorful white blend features strong cardamom plus hints of almond and vanilla for a festive holiday favorite. I let water come to a boil then cool for about a minute; steep for 2-3 minutes, and serve it straight up.

Join A Super-Slow Book Club @ The Tea Circle!

My private community, The Tea Circle, will be hosting a year-long book club starting the first week of winter. We’ll be reading The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl, a week-by-week essay collection with themes of nature and the seasons. Join now to access the book club plus weekly co-create circles, monthly chats, goal-setting workshops and much more.

Featured Sponsor: Vionic

With unbelievable support and stability, to-the-minute style, and an unbeatable 30-day wear test, Vionic footwear is like self-care for your feet. The Regan Ankle Bootie is my new date-night fave. Use code TEASMADE at checkout for 15% off your first order when you log into your account!

I started my first podcast in 2012, and have been at it ever since - which means I've been podcasting continuously for twelve years! In today's behind-the-scenes episode I'm sharing my insights on creating a sustainable podcasting lifestyle based on what I've learned over the past twelve years. I'll share my thoughts on everything from choosing a format to working with a cohost, creating a strategy that works with your overall goals, how much time and money to invest in your sound quality, and more. Listen whether you're an aspiring podcaster - or you're just curious how your favorite podcasts get made.

Featured Links:

• The Mom Hour turned 9 years old last week!
• Read the blog post that complements this episode, with specific tech recommendations and information about early access to my podcast mentoring program.

Featured Partners:

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

Have you ever dreamed about getting away from it all...all by yourself? Five years ago, a year or so after getting divorced when I desperately needed to do something just for myself, I went on a life-changing six-day solo hiking and camping adventure. In this episode I share why the trip was so meaningful, how I packed and prepared, how you can safely plan your own solo getaway - and why you should consider it.

Episode Links:

Beginner hiking and camping gear guide for women

A woman's guide to solo hiking and camping

Episode 26: Herbal how-to: my favorite herbal teas & how I prepare them

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

"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, a continuation of our conversation from Episode 36, Alison explains why this way of cooking and eating has been so life-changing for her, and offers a close-up look at how she actually incorporates ancestral philosophies into her modern kitchen.

Episode Links:

Ancestral Kitchen, Alison's site

The Ancestral Kitchen podcast

What ancestral eating isn't - the article we discuss in today's episode

Episode 36 of The Tea's Made: What is eating "ancestrally" with Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen. This is the first half of this conversation.

A couple episodes of the Ancestral Kitchen Podcast that I love:

#70 Fermenting Oats - this is the episode that convinced me to start souring my morning oatmeal!

#66 50 Ways To Save Money On An Ancestral Diet - a great starting point if you're just learning about ancestral eating; especially if you're concerned about your budget.

Check out my weekly newsletter about creativity and connection - and, of course, tea! - The Deep Steep

Brand Partners:

Find all of my brand partners and the latest deals on my Shop page!

OSEA – Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Do certain areas in your home inspire you creatively? What's the link between comfort and creativity? In this episode I'm joined by Sarah Powers, my cohost at The Mom Hour, to talk about our favorite cozy spaces and why they help us feel more ready to create.

Episode Links

• Order Sarah's and my new guided journal, The Mother's Gratitude Journal: An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys and Milestone Moments, launching March 5!
• Milk Oolong Meagan was drinking
• Yogi herbal tisane that Sarah was drinking
• The Pottery Barn blanket that Sarah gifted Meagan
• Quince blanket that Sarah referenced



Featured Partners

Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.

With a graduation, a move, an anniversary, and travel all happening within a couple of weeks of each other during what was already a jam-packed spring, I've been giving a lot of thought to what helps particularly chaotic periods feel more manageable. In this episode, I'm reflecting on some of the practices, habits and mindsets, from sticking to healthy routines to leaving room for spontaneity, that I've learned can help me thrive - not just survive! - during really, really busy seasons of life.

Featured Tea:

Gorge Sunrise from Good Medicine Tea - use code TEASMADE for 15% off!

Episode Links:

Episode 27: Five ways to add more steps to your day

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

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 getting started, staying safe, and using what you find.

Featured Tea:

Yooper Yellow from S•TEA•P

Featured Links:

Learn more about my new tea shop on Instagram!

Follow Bevy Tea on Instagram

The Seek app from iNaturalist

Midwestern Medicinal Plants by Lisa M. Rose

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Forêt

Here's a good basic blog post on starting foraging. I agree with the author that getting a book or two is a really good idea, as is getting mentored in real life from an experienced forager!

Cotton mesh drawstring bags like these are great for collecting and drying herbs

Brand Partners:

OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.

Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.

Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.

Herbal teas (or to be more accurate, tisanes) are a delicious and approachable way to explore the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of herbs-- and I drink them literally every day! In this episode I share the herbal infusions I'm drinking most often right now, along with product recommendations and details about how I prepare them. I also unpack why herbal "tea" technically isn't actually tea, and offer some words you can use instead.

Episode Links:

Lots of links in this episode! I've organized them by products + resources.

Products:

• Wholesome Cleanse from Flying Bird Botanicals
• Queendom Reign by Modestine Tea
• Tulsi Citrus Soother from Light of Day Organics
• Warm Hugs from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
• Breathe Deep from Yogi Tea
• Mint Medley from Bigelow
• Chocolate Trufflemint from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
• Peppermint from Smith Tea
• Let Go by Modestine Tea
• Aphrodite from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
• Smooth Move from Traditional Medicinals
• Nordic Mug from David's Tea

Resources:

• Blog post: 3 Herbal Tea Blends To Help You Sleep
• Blog post: Three Black Teas I'm Loving Lately
• Blog post: 3 system-supporting herbs that are always in my tea cabinet
• Episode 13: Tea as self-care with Laura Cepeda of Modestine Tea

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 Day Organics Heartwarming Cinnamon Tea

Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice

Hot Cinnamon Spice decaf option

Mountain Rose Herbs

My Vitamin D supplement

Stick N Stitch printable embroidery paper, or pre-printed designs: love these snowflakes, these fun designs for lovers of books (and cats!), and vintage-inspired holiday designs.

Only Murders in the Building 

the Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy by Sigrid Undset

This episode is brought to you by Bevy, my tea and craft company! Order your holiday 2024 BevyBox - a gift box hand-curated by me and featuring tea, craft supplies and other special goodies - at BevyBox.co, and use code TEA15 for 15% off.