Episode 21 | Finding Your Tribe: The Food Writer’s Retreat Weekend That Changed Everything

What happens when a group of strangers—connected only through writing, food, and creativity—come together in one place?

In this deeply personal episode of The Artful Gourmet Podcast, Kristen shares the story of a magical weekend retreat in the Pocono Mountains, where food writers, chefs, photographers, and storytellers gathered… and left as something much more than strangers.

Through shared meals, late-night conversations, and collaborative cooking, this experience became a powerful reminder of what it truly means to find your tribe—and how connection fuels creativity in ways nothing else can.

From an unforgettable Indian street food feast to spontaneous moments of laughter, music, and creative breakthroughs, this episode explores how food creates space for deeper connection—and why building a creative life you love starts with the people you surround yourself with.

If you've ever felt disconnected, creatively stuck, or like something was missing… this one will hit home.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:

• What “finding your tribe” really means
• How to connect with like-minded creatives
• Why alignment creates momentum in life and business
• The power of collaboration over competition
• How one weekend can shift your entire perspective

Plus: a behind-the-scenes story of the Indian feast she co-created—including her Mini Curried Spinach & Queso Pot Pies.

Listen now and get inspired to find your people—and your path.

Key Takeaways

• Why food is one of the fastest ways to build connection and trust
• How shared creative spaces dissolve isolation and spark inspiration
• The difference between networking vs. true creative community
• Why finding your “tribe” is essential for building a creative life
• How stepping outside your comfort zone leads to unexpected breakthroughs
• The power of in-person connection in a digital world
• Why the right people don't just support your work—they transform i

Timestamps

00:00 – A moment that changes everything: the magic of connection

00:00:29 – Welcome to The Artful Gourmet Podcast

00:00:39 – Today's theme: finding your tribe

00:01:00 – The Pocono Mountains retreat experience begins

00:01:28 – How food turns strangers into friends

00:02:05 – Meeting online friends in real life

00:02:36 – Skipping the awkward phase: instant connection

00:02:41 – The kitchen becomes the heart of the house

00:03:08 – The magic of unplanned kitchen moments

00:03:39 – Why shared meals are about more than food

00:03:48 – Cooking in teams: the retreat structure

00:04:22 – What cooking reveals about people

00:05:05 – Communal dining + sharing dishes

00:05:28 – The Indian street food feast (highlight moment)

00:06:18 – Kristen's mini curried spinach & queso pot pies

00:07:03 – Forming real friendships + creative bonds

00:07:16 – The inspiration behind the featured recipe

00:08:21 – Reflection: why this experience worked

00:09:01 – Why food creates deeper conversations

00:09:23 – The unexpected professional impact

00:10:03 – Creative validation and shared purpose

00:10:14 – Why you can't build a creative life alone

00:10:39 – Moments that shifted Kristen's perspective

00:11:10 – Rediscovering a lost part of herself

00:12:00 – The pull back to New York + creative energy

00:12:20 – The core message: find your people

00:13:07 – Shoutouts + gratitude to the group

00:13:35 – Where to find the blog, recipe & Substack

00:14:21 – Final thoughts + listener reflection question

00:14:47 – Outro

Key Topics

Fusion cuisine and street food theme

Building bonds through shared cooking experiences

Recipe development: mini curried spinach and queso pot pies

Sound Bites

"We skipped straight to the good part."

"Built bonds for life, friends, new friends."

"The unexpected hug of queso cheese."

Closing Q+A

I'd love to know in the comments below: Have you found your tribe yet? What does it look like for you?

Want the full story and photos and recipe from this episode?

⁠Read the companion Substack essay⁠

⁠Download the Mini Curried Spinach & Queso Pot Pies recipe⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, give us a rating, and subscribe - that just helps the show grow!

And A Shoutout to my new 'Tribe' and amazing Host of this event - Jenn Sharp, make sure to follow them on Substack and get inspired by this talented group of food writer, chefs, photographers and storytellers!

Debbie Dale Blackwell, Mindy Crosato, Anne-Marie Pietersma, Betty Williams, Kerry Faber, CulinUrsa — Elizabeth Baer, Annada D. Rathi (& her husband Dinesh), Lori Olson White, Janet Mary Cobb, Elizabeth Pizzinato, Rebecca Blackwell, Kristen Hess, Marjory Pilley, Sarah Pilley, Emily Pilley, Anne Blackwell, Alex_Sharp, Dianne Jacob, Colton Sharp

Keywords

#FindingYourTribe #CreativeCommunity #FoodStorytelling #ArtfulGourmet #CreativeLife #FoodPodcast #WomenInBusiness #ContentCreatorLife #SubstackWriters #FoodPhotography #CreativeEntrepreneur #PodcastLife #FoodCulture #ConnectionMatters

Tags

finding your tribe, creative community, food writers retreat, food blogging, food photography, women in food, creative entrepreneurship, personal growth podcast, storytelling podcast, how to find your tribe, collaboration over competition, creative lifestyle