Cake For Dinner

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Dani Beckerman, founder of Jars by Dani, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand from the ground up — and what happens when it's time to walk away from something you've spent more than a decade creating.

Dani started Jars by Dani almost by accident at just 22 years old. What began with baking in her New York City apartment and sharing her creations on Instagram quickly grew into a recognizable dessert brand shipping thousands of jars to customers.

But behind the success was an enormous amount of hustle. Dani shares stories of sleepless nights, baking out of her fifth-floor walk-up, hand-delivering orders throughout New York City, putting nearly everything she had back into the business, and figuring out how to scale as she went.

After nearly 12 years, changing economics and shrinking margins ultimately forced Dani to make the incredibly difficult decision to close Jars by Dani.

Now she's entering an entirely new chapter.

Dani opens up about starting over as a more experienced entrepreneur, building a new company in the kids and pediatric space, rediscovering her love of creating, and navigating entrepreneurship while raising two young children.

We also talk about motherhood, ambition, guilt, social media, comparison, gratitude, maintaining your identity outside of being a parent, and why Dani wants her children to see her building something meaningful.

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/

Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1
Follow Dani Beckerman : https://www.instagram.com/danibeckerman

We sat down with Dr. Stephanie Rogers, a board-certified geriatric and internal medicine physician, associate chief of geriatrics clinical programs at UCSF, and the voice behind Age Well with Dr. Steph.

Dr. Rogers shares practical, evidence-based insights on aging, dementia prevention, brain health, muscle loss, strength training, GLP-1s, social connection, chronic stress, caregiving, and what women can actually do to stay strong, independent, and mentally sharp as they age.

This conversation challenges the fear-based narrative around aging. Dr. Rogers explains why life satisfaction can actually improve as we get older, why memory decline is not inevitable, and why two of the biggest dementia prevention factors may surprise you: hearing loss and LDL cholesterol.

We also discuss why muscle is one of the most important parts of aging well, especially for women, and why strength training becomes even more important for anyone using GLP-1 medications. Dr. Rogers also breaks down the overlooked power of social connection, why she prefers the term health span over longevity, and how chronic stress impacts the brain and body over time.

If you are a woman in midlife, caring for aging parents, thinking about your long-term health, or simply overwhelmed by all the wellness information online, this episode gives you simple, grounded takeaways you can actually use.

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/

Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1
Follow Dr Stephanie Rogers : https://www.instagram.com/agewellwithdrsteph/

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Sydney Sadick, media entrepreneur, author, fashion expert, and founder of Spotlight magazine.

Sydney started a fashion blog as a teenager and turned that early passion into a career that has included interviewing some of the biggest names in the world, appearing on major television shows, writing a bestselling book, and building her own luxury lifestyle publication.

In this conversation, Sydney shares how she got her start at just 16 years old, why she has always been motivated by a challenge, and what it really takes to create your own opportunity in a competitive industry. She opens up about growing up in a family with a strong work ethic, learning to hustle early, and building a business in a media world where people often say print is dying.

Sydney also talks about interviewing celebrities, working red carpets, launching Spotlight magazine, mentoring younger women, and why success is never as overnight as it may look from the outside.

This episode is for anyone with a big idea, a dream career, or the desire to build something of their own. Sydney’s story is a reminder that ambition, grit, and consistency still matter — and that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you create yourself.

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/

Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1
Follow Sidney Sadick : https://www.instagram.com/sydneysadick/

In this episode of Cake for Dinner, we sit down with Dr. Doris Day, one of the country’s leading dermatologists, scientist, author, and pro-aging advocate, for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what really happens to women’s skin during perimenopause and menopause.

Dr. Day breaks down why so many women feel like their face changes overnight, what collagen loss actually means, and why aging gracefully should never be confused with aging helplessly. From dry skin, breakouts, facial volume loss, and wrinkles to posture, facial expression, inflammation, and hormone changes, this conversation goes far beyond surface-level skincare.

We also get into Sculptra, fillers, lasers, Botox, retinol, sunscreen, collagen supplements, red light therapy, cellulite treatments, and what women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond should actually spend their money on — and what they can skip.

This episode is empowering, educational, and deeply reassuring for any woman who has looked in the mirror during midlife and thought, “What is happening to my face?”

Dr. Day reminds us that it is not too late, 45 or 50 is still young, and there is so much we can do to support our skin, our health, and our confidence as we age.

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/

Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1
Follow Doris Day: https://www.instagram.com/drdorisday/

What can death teach us about truly living?

Bestselling author and spiritual leader Rabbi Steve Leder joins the conversation to share what he has learned from standing beside hundreds of dying people, officiating more than a thousand funerals and eventually experiencing the devastating loss of his own father.

Rabbi Leder explains why professional experience with grief could not prepare him for the moment he placed his hand on his father’s chest and confronted his own mortality. That experience changed the way he understood death, memory, compassion and the preciousness of time.

Together, they explore why grief is not a linear process, but an ocean of waves that can return without warning. Rabbi Leder shares why we should stop trying to overpower those waves and instead allow them to wash over us until we are ready to stand again.

The conversation also examines parenting through crisis, addiction and recovery, imposter syndrome, mental health, gratitude and the people who leave permanent fingerprints on our lives. Rabbi Leder offers a powerful reminder that suffering is never worth it—but we should not allow it to become worthless.

Most importantly, he reveals what he has learned from holding the hands of dying people: they are often not afraid of death. Their greatest concern is usually whether the people they love will be okay after they are gone.

This is an honest, comforting and unforgettable conversation about grief, purpose and learning to live before our time runs out.

 

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/

Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 

Follow Rabi Steve: https://www.instagram.com/steve_leder/

 

00:00 Meet Rabbi Steve Leder
00:32 When Grief Became Personal
05:05 Confronting His Own Mortality
08:05 Why Pain Changes Us
10:36 How Loss Changed His Work
13:15 Grief Comes in Waves
16:40 Carrying the People We Lose
20:46 Finding Meaning After Suffering
24:41 From Troubled Teen to Rabbi
31:12 The Power of Gratitude
34:02 What Makes Someone Unforgettable
38:35 Parenting and Imposter Syndrome
43:10 You Only Have 1,000 Sundays
47:17 Why the Dying Aren’t Afraid