Deep into a successful career in the exhilarating world of auditing, Italian American serial-achiever Michele Di Pietro decided she needed more out of life.  And so, at nearly double the age of most entrants, this life-long lover of the art of “feeding others” decided to head off to culinary school.

Today, Michele is an entrepreneur, classically-trained chef, culinary consultant, food writer, cookbook author, blogger, and creator of Mangia With Michele, expressing her lifelong passion for Italian ingredients, foods, recipes, culture, and traditions.

Throughout her busy professional culinary life, Michele has also always been an avid home cook with strong ties to her Italian roots, and this week she joins us to share her first cookbook, called SOUPified: Soups Inspired by Your Favorite Dishes, a whimsical and fun collection of soup recipes that were inspired by her favorite Italian American soul food dishes like Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala, Lasagne, Shrimp Scampi, Philly Cheesesteak, Clams Casino, and more.

We’ll discuss her brave leap into a new professional life, what brought her to that courageous decision and how her old-fashioned Italian American family took the news.  We explore the beauty of a good soup, why home cooking is experiencing a boom across the nation, and exactly what kinds of kitchen supplies will give you the best (and most old-school) results.

It’s an episode that will warm your should like a piping hot bowl of your favorite soup, so tuck in and join us for a conversation that will surely leave you looking for seconds!