Cake Therapy

What I'm Baking Through: Season Four, Fresh Batter

• Altreisha Foster • Season 4 • Episode 3

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Season four starts with a warm whisk of honesty, relief, and purpose. Dr. Altreisha Foster shares a heartfelt update on her mom’s recovery and how the kitchen became a steady anchor during Hurricane Melissa, setting the tone for a year that favors truth over polish. We revisit how Cake Therapy Foundation grew from two students to serving 75 girls across Minnesota, and why simple tools, reliable recipes, and a safe space can transform confidence, voice, and community.

We map the road ahead—deeper conversations with multidimensional guests from mental health, business, education, and food—people who use the kitchen to make meaning and build resilience. You’ll hear the story behind an historic 8-tier centerpiece for Betty Crocker’s 104th birthday and what that Red Spoon means for access and legacy. From archival details to many helping hands, the cake became a symbol of how one idea can connect millions through care. That same spirit shows up in our programs, where accessible mixes lower barriers and amplify what matters: presence, practice, and pride.

Grounded in mindfulness, Dr. Foster guides a short breathing moment and a focus exercise you can bring to any countertop or commute. Crack, measure, mix—one step at a time—because peace is possible even on loud days. Along the way we thank partners, announce our spring Dessert Experience fundraiser, and recommit to giving listeners something to think about, something to try, and a reminder that growth is possible, even when it’s slow.

Pull up a chair in our bake space and join the conversation. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find their way to healing, creativity, and community—one bowl at a time.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the Cake Therapy Podcast, a slice of joy and healing with your host, Dr. Foster. This is a heartwarming and uplifting space that celebrates the transformative hour of baking therapy. The conversations will be a delightful blend of inspirational stories, expert insights, and practical baking tips. Each episode will take listeners on a journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, and connection to the therapeutic art of baking. There's something here for everyone. So lock in and let's get into it.

SPEAKER_01:

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Cake Therapy Podcast. Your slice of joy and healing. I'm excited to have you back into our bake space. I'm super excited about season four. Like, we're can you imagine we're in our fourth season? And um, this is season four's What Are You Baking Through? I'm baking through a lot of good things. I'm super excited. I have a what they call it a praise report about mommy. My mom's doing well. Oh my god, my mom is doing well. I would say that my mom's markably improved. She's recognizing me. I'm not, you remember like initially when mom was moved into the adult care facility. I was so heartbroken because there were moments when my mom wasn't recognizing me. And right now, when I go visit mommy, she knows it's me. She's happy that it's me. Um she tells me, you know, that she knows I'm coming back, you know. I I'm so excited that I can continue to pour into my mom and that I still actually have my mommy here. My goodness, you guys. Um, you would not imagine what it's been like for me to not have my mom around. Um, I've been baking through um Hurricane Melissa. Um, as you know, I'm Jamaican at heart. Like, you see me, you see Jamaica. You know, I wouldn't want to be anything else but a Jamaican. And um, my home country was hit by a category five hurricane uh a couple weeks ago, and I I've been stressed, okay? So I've been in the kitchen a lot because that is my heartbeat. My island home is my heartbeat. I pledged the love and loyalty of my heart um to that country. So I've been a little bit stressed about that, but a lot of good things have been happening. You know, I'm not baking through a lot of things right now, but I'm still baking. I'm super excited about this cake therapy journey that I've been on since 2019. The formation of the foundation and leading into or, you know, seating of our new board, where I call them my kitchen cabinet now. Um, we've been on an exciting journey. Um, in the spring, we'll have our first official fundraising Gala type event. It's gonna be called the Dessert Experience, the Cake Therapy Foundation dessert experience. So I want everyone to listen out for that. A lot of you or listeners, I'll be reaching out to a lot of you for support. Um, I must say that this season feels a little different. Um, maybe it's the season of my my person in my personal life is different, but this season in our podcast life is different. I'll be filming right here sometimes from the cake therapy studios or my office. And I'm thinking that I'll also be in my kitchen, you know, the same kitchen where cake therapy was born. I want to tell, I want to hold space um right now to tell stories when our guests come on. I want to dive deeper into how the kitchen is actually supporting them and not just their entrepreneurial journey. I want to take like a deeper dive into our guests' background because there's so many facets to people, right? Myself here, I'm a vaccine scientist by profession, um, but I'm also a baker. And I want to hold space for people to talk about those two or three sides to who they are. So whether you're listening while you bake or just catching a quiet moment in your day, I want to say thank you for joining us and actually welcome back. Just welcome back from our little ayat just there. I don't have to tell you how important this big space um means to me. It really does mean a lot to me, and you mean a lot to me. But overall, it's weird. I've I've seen girls come in like nervous and quiet in our space and actually leave laughing. They're confident and they're proud of themselves. And I think that's what the kitchen has has held for me, right? I've I've left the kitchen healed. I've left the kitchen feeling confident. And this, and at this point in my life, I'm super proud of who I am. I'm a mom, I'm an author, I'm a keynote speaker, I'm I'm Altricia, right? And I'm able to lean into that and say, yes, I'm Altricia, and I'm happy. When cake therapy first um began, it was just two students during the pandemic. Uh, I didn't have a big plan or any fancy equipment, to be honest. It was just an idea that maybe baking could help people feel a little less alone. Right? Because I've used the kitchen as a tool for me to feel heard, seen, and feel less alone. And now I'm just super excited to report to you that our foundation has served over 75 girls across Minnesota. We partnered with schools like the American Indian Magnet School, Ascension Catholic School, and we are working assidiously with incredible community partners. Um, we've gotten support from organizations across Minnesota, um, Youth Prize, be thechange.org, Carson Family Foundation, and I'm super excited for that, and I really am grateful for them sewing into us. That is what this space represents: growth, healing, and community coming together to supporting us. It's proof that even in something small like mixing cake batter can lead to something as powerful as this, um, especially when it's done with purpose. And I've always said that this is my purpose and this is my calling, and I'm excited to be here to share it with you and to lead the Cake Therapy Foundation in the next couple of years to come. I'm super, super excited. Um, like I mentioned briefly that the podcast itself, we're diving deeper into conversations that matter. Yeah, the conversations have to make sense. And um, I'm leaning, I'm called to do that. I want girls to just to use the kitchen as a metaphor for their own success, but I want girls to hear people who've used the kitchen to help support them in their successes. So we're talking about healing and what it really looks like. Not the pretty version that ends with sprinkles and buttercream, but the real one, the part that takes time, that requires reflection and requires and requires grace. This season, you'll be hearing from returning guests, people who've been a part of our journey from the start. And I would love for you to hear about their life changes, their pivots, how the kitchen has helped them to pivot. I'll also be inviting new voices who are leading powerful work in mental health, business, education, and the food world to have conversations with us. My goal this season overall, though, is simple. I want every episode to give you something to think about, something to try, and something that reminds you that growth is possible, even when it's slow. I um before we go any further though, I want to thank the people who've helped make all of this cake therapy work possible. When I started it, like I mentioned, I had, I didn't have a plan. I just wanted people to feel good. And I just wanted people to use the kitchen as a space for them to feel good. So I invested sugar spoon desserts, gives a percentage of every dollar that company makes to fund the Cake Therapy Foundation. Want to thank Challenger Butter. Yes, Challenger has definitely supported Cake Therapy Foundation. And later we're gonna talk about how Betty Crocker stepped up for us um at the Cake Therapy Foundation. I mentioned about foundations such as Carlson Family Foundation, Youth Prize, be thechange.org, and other um partners across Minnesota who've supported us. These partners have believed in cake therapy since the beginning. We have some new ones. They've helped us to bring programs into schools, post events, and reach young women who deserve to see themselves in this work. So I want to pause to just simply say thank you. Thank you for your partnership, thank you for your support and for standing with us as we go through um this mission. Now I have to share with you some highlights of my year. Or a recent highlight, right? Um the highlight of my year is being it is to be able to continue the work of Cake Therapy Foundation, but a recent highlight from an organization who supported us. I baked a cake for Betty Crocker, guys. I baked Betty Crocker's 104th birthday cake. Um, this was more than just a cake project. I would consider it to be historical. It was simply history. Sugarspoon desserts, which is my cake, my premier cake brand. Um, we built an A-tiered cake that celebrated Betty Crocker's overall legacy. I crafted that thing layer by layer. I post pictures for you to see because what was interesting about that, I used archival photos from the Betty Crocker archive, of course, to add small details to give you like a 360 degree off the cake. And um, I was pretty excited um to be called, and um yeah, that that was fun. But what struck me most in um in Betty Cracker, even though Betty Cracker wasn't a real person, right? Uh, is that she was actually created by a team of women at General Mills in 1921. So it's for 104 years of Betty Cracker of the Betty Cracker band. And these individuals actually wanted to connect with home bakers across America, and somehow that voice became a friend to generations of women from every class, creed, race, every demographic has used the Betty Cracker, has tapped in to the Betty Cracker brand. And I'm I'm really happy to have been a part of that. You know, for a long time her recipes have been here and they've actually stood the test of some of time. And what I've found is that they're they're reliable, they're flavorful, and they're just simple, you know. Think about it that Red Spoon has been in kitchens for over a century. She's taught people how to bake confidently, to make something out of what they had, and to bring people together around food. And when I baked that cake for her 104th birthday, surrounded by community and media, it reminded me of why I do this work. I was not just surrounded by media. My friend Blanche flew in from Louisiana to come and help me pull this together. So, no minds an island. This was an eight-tiered cake that required eight hands, lots of hands to help pull it together. And that was particularly important to me because Betty Crocker's story is really about legacy, right? It's about how one idea, one recipe can actually connect millions of people through food and care. One idea, one recipe, one brand can connect people through food and care. And at the Cape Therapy Foundation, we carry that same spirit forward. We use Betty Crocker mixes in our youth programs because it's a reminder that healing doesn't need to be complicated. It can start with a bowl, a spoon, and a safe space to create. It really does not need to be complicated. And we are grateful because we were able to share over 12 Betty Crocker mixes with our girls this fall because they generously donated some of the mixes to us. So we're blessed through Betty Crocker's generosity. So thank you. If you want to actually learn more about that story, we actually did a full feature on Betty Crocker's Legacy on our foundation blog this month. Um, so you could actually head over to Kicktherapy Foundation.org slash blog. You'll find the full write-up and some behind-the-scenes photos from that incredible day. The cake picnic, actually. And as a little thank you to our community, we've actually added a fall recipe gift there. Um one of my personal favorites from for a cozy fall day is a spiced apple caramel cake recipe that our team tested right here in our bake space. It's using the Betty Crocker spiced cake mix. Um, I found it to be simply delicious. It's full of warmth, it gives you comforting energy, and it just brings that element of all in the space. So I'm excited for you to check that out. Try it. Tag us if you make it or when you make it. I'd love to see your work. So you tag Sugarspoon Desserts or tag the Cake Therapy Foundation. So go check that out. You know, there's so much heart behind this season for me. Because I really want to focus on connection. Cake therapy has grown so much over the past few years, but the heart of it has always been the same: helping people heal and grow through creativity. We're not just baking. We are not just baking. We're building skills, confidence, and relationships. We're teaching girls that their voices matter, that their ideas matter, and that they have the power to shape their own futures. And that, my friend, the much deeper story that I want this season to tell. And for anyone listening, whether you are an educator, a parent, or someone just looking for inspiration, I hope these episodes remind you that you create and what you create doesn't have to be perfect. When you create what you create, it doesn't have to be perfect. I want us to share something I like to do in my kitchen before I start baking. I want to invite you to simply just take a breath with me. And then just exhale. Now think about one thing that brought you joy this week. It could be something small. Maybe it was a laugh with a friend, a good meal, or just a moment of quiet. That's what mindfulness in the kitchen is about. I want you to pay attention to the good that's already here. Because when I bake, I focus on one thing at a time: cracking an egg, measuring the sugar, mixing. It slows me down. And what it does, it reminds me that even in the middle of a busy day, peace is possible. And your takeaway right now is to remember that in spite of how chaotic your day has been, peace is actually possible. So as you move through your week, I want you to give yourself permission to pause, to breathe, to reset, and to find gratitude in the small things. Because sometimes that's all we need to keep going. Find gratitude in the small things. I just want to thank you for spending this time with me. I'm grateful. I'm grateful to you. I'm grateful to our supporters or listeners for helping us grow. Thank you for spending the time with me always. And I hope that you've enjoyed this episode of the Cake Therapy Podcast, and it has been a slice of joy and healing for you. I'm Dr. Altrisha Foster. And this has been the Cake Therapy Podcast. Welcome to season four, guys. Welcome to season four. Thank you. If today's conversation resonated with you, follow the Cake Therapy Foundation on social media. Check for the links in the episode description. Also, please grab a copy of my books, Cake Therapy, How Baking Changed My Life, and Lessons I Never Learned from My Father. They both share parts of my story and the lessons I've learned along the way. You can find them on Amazon and other major booked retailers. Just click the links in the episode description. Until next time, be gentle with yourself and keep stirring love into everything that you do. Thank you for joining us.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Cake Therapy Podcast. Thank you for tuning in to the Cake Therapy Podcast. Your support means the world to us. Let us know what you thought about today's episode in the comment section. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. And if you found the conversation helpful, please share it with our friend. Also follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms. We invite you to support Cake Therapy and the work we do with our foundation by clicking on the Buy Me a Coffee link in the description or by visiting the Cake Therapy website and making a donation. All your support will go towards the Cake Therapy Foundation and the work we are doing to help women and girls. Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll catch you on the next episode.