For Shola Walker, cooking and baking are about community. 

On this week's "Eat It, Virginia!" podcast, Walker shared her story with Scott and Robey.

Learn why she left a career in theater for the kitchen and how this Richmond native rose through the ranks to eventually open her own health-conscious bakery, Mahogany Sweets.

Walker now works at Shalom Farms where she teaches others about living off the land and how that connects to her culture.

"I spend a lot of time and energy being dedicated to the history, particularly of Black women, Black chefs, Black pastry chef, Black cooks who have come up in the South. And so the work that I do, the recipes that I get to look up, the history that I get to study is relevant to the struggle, particularly because African Americans have always used food as a form of protest," Walker said. "If you don't have to depend on someone else for your livelihood and your sustenance, that is a form of protest. It's not necessarily an aggressive form of protest, but it is still a form of protest."

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Walker's mission to educate others, improve the community, and the belief system her parents instilled within her that has kept her on the path to success. 

Oh yeah, she throws in some great baking tips as well. Enjoy!