New York food writer, editor and podcaster Laurie Woolever spent the early years of her career assisting two very famous chefs: first Mario Batali, then Anthony Bourdain, for whom she worked for nine years. Woolever was also, for much of this time, an addict – using alcohol, marijuana and sex to get through the ups and downs of work, marriage and motherhood. She writes about all of this in her candid 2025 memoir, Care & Feeding, which suggests that while she did a lot of care and feeding for others, it took some time to learn how to do it for herself.
Hosting today’s episode is Good Weekend senior writer Katrina Strickland.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.

New York food writer, editor and podcaster Laurie Woolever spent the early years of her career assisting two very famous chefs: first Mario Batali, then Anthony Bourdain, for whom she worked for nine years. Woolever was also, for much of this time, an addict &ndash; using alcohol, marijuana and sex to get through the ups and downs of work, marriage and motherhood. She writes about all of this in her candid 2025 memoir, Care &amp; Feeding, which suggests that while she did a lot of care and feeding for others, it took some time to learn how to do it for herself. Hosting today&rsquo;s episode is Good Weekend senior writer Katrina Strickland. Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks

Bourdain and Batali's 'right-hand' woman Laurie Woolever on her tell-all book

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/c15c2eac-43f8-43bc-b334-b4200046717e/transcript