Celebrity Librarian (yes - that's a thing), and regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition Nancy Pearl is one of Rachel's favorite people. And she isn't your average librarian: She's been made into an action figure, had a bluegrass band named after her, and her best-selling Book Lust series has helped millions of people discover their new favorite stories.

Nancy's choice for last meal is as classic as a dusty old tome: good ol' macaroni and cheese. We'll learn the history of one of America's most beloved dishes. 

Follow along on Instagram!

Please subscribe to the *new* Your Last Meal newsletter so you can be the first to know about events, giveaways & content only available to subscribers!

Celebrity Librarian (yes - that's a thing), and regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition Nancy Pearl is one of Rachel's favorite people. And she isn't your average librarian: She's been made into an action figure, had a bluegrass band named after her, and her best-selling Book Lust series has helped millions of people discover their new favorite stories.
Nancy's choice for last meal is as classic as a dusty old tome: good ol' macaroni and cheese. We'll learn the history of one of America's most beloved dishes. 
Follow along on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellorachelbelle/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>!
Please subscribe to the *new* <a href="https://rachelbelle.substack.com">Your Last Meal newsletter</a> so you can be the first to know about events, giveaways &amp; content only available to subscribers!

YOUR LAST MEAL is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Podcast hosted by National Edward R. Murrow award-winning reporter Rachel Belle. Each episode Rachel asks a celebrity (Jewel, Isaac Mizrahi, John Waters, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Danny Trejo, etc) what they would choose to eat for their last meal. Then she consults with chefs and culinary anthropologists, ice cream scientists and hungry astronauts to uncover the history, science and culture of these dishes.

YOUR LAST MEAL is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Podcast hosted by National Edward R. Murrow award-winning reporter Rachel Belle. Each episode Rachel asks a celebrity (Jewel, Isaac Mizrahi, John Waters, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Danny Trejo, etc) what they would choose to eat for their last meal. Then she consults with chefs and culinary anthropologists, ice cream scientists and hungry astronauts to uncover the history, science and culture of these dishes.

Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle

YOUR LAST MEAL is a James Beard Award finalist for best podcast hosted by National Edward R. Murrow award-winning reporter Rachel Belle. Each episode Rachel asks a celebrity (Jewel, Isaac Mizrahi, John Waters, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Danny Trejo, etc) what they would choose to eat for their last meal. Then she consults with chefs and culinary anthropologists, ice cream scientists and hungry astronauts to uncover the history, science and culture of these dishes. 

YOUR LAST MEAL is a James Beard Award finalist for best podcast hosted by National Edward R. Murrow award-winning reporter Rachel Belle. Each episode Rachel asks a celebrity (Jewel, Isaac Mizrahi, John Waters, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Danny Trejo, etc) what they would choose to eat for their last meal. Then she consults with chefs and culinary anthropologists, ice cream scientists and hungry astronauts to uncover the history, science and culture of these dishes.

Nancy Pearl: Mac & Cheese

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If waiting two whole weeks for a new episode of Your Last Meal is way too long, we’ve got something to tide you over.  

On the weeks we’re not releasing a full-length episode of Your Last Meal, we’re airing The Leftovers: audio left on the cutting-room floor, interviews that host Rachel Belle really wants to do that don’t fit into the show’s usual format and, as you’ll hear today, a speed round with last week’s guest.     

Which means you will now be getting a little taste of Your Last Meal every single Thursday!   

Today’s episode features a never-before-heard interview with Tom Papa; comedian, writer, and sourdough-obsessed bread baker.  

If you missed last week’s full interview with Tom, you can listen here. 

Thanks to Visit Kitsap Peninsula for sponsoring this episode!

Watch Rachel's new TV show, The Nosh with Rachel Belle on Cascade PBS!

If waiting two whole weeks for a new episode of Your Last Meal is way too long, we’ve got something to tide you over.  
On the weeks we’re not releasing a full-length episode of Your Last Meal, we’re airing The Leftovers: audio left on the cutting-room floor, interviews that host Rachel Belle really wants to do that don’t fit into the show’s usual format and, as you’ll hear today, a speed round with last week’s guest.     
Which means you will now be getting a little taste of Your Last Meal every single Thursday!   
Today’s episode features a never-before-heard interview with Tom Papa; comedian, writer, and sourdough-obsessed bread baker.  
If you missed last week’s full interview with Tom, <a href="https://crosscut.com/podcast/your-last-meal/1/182/your-last-meal-tom-papa-baked-sourdough-bread-you-did">you can listen here. </a>
Thanks to<a href="https://www.visitkitsap.com/"> Visit Kitsap Peninsula</a> for sponsoring this episode!
Watch Rachel's new TV show, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/the-nosh-with-rachel-belle/">The Nosh with Rachel Belle</a> on Cascade PBS!

The Leftovers with Tom Papa

Tom Papa is a bread nerd. The comedian, author and podcast host is quick to point out that he got obsessed with baking sourdough bread long before the pandemic sourdough craze. He loves to talk about sourdough, read about sourdough and, of course, bake and eat sourdough. So host Rachel Belle chats with the owner of a Seattle bakery that uses a sourdough starter that’s more than 150 years old.

Pasta with butter and Parmesan may be the meal of choice for picky American children, but in Italy the simple, comforting dish has an entirely different context. Rachel calls Katie Parla, a Rome-based food and beverage writer and cookbook author, to learn more, and in the process learns the history of fettuccine Alfredo.

Follow along on Instagram!

Watch Rachel's new Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

<a href="https://tompapa.com/">Tom Papa </a>is a bread nerd. The comedian, author and podcast host is quick to point out that he got obsessed with baking sourdough bread long before the pandemic sourdough craze. He loves to talk about sourdough, read about sourdough and, of course, bake and eat sourdough. So <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellorachelbelle/?hl=en">host Rachel Belle</a> chats with the owner of a <a href="https://essentialbaking.com/">Seattle bakery</a> that uses a sourdough starter that’s more than 150 years old.
Pasta with butter and Parmesan may be the meal of choice for picky American children, but in Italy the simple, comforting dish has an entirely different context. Rachel calls <a href="https://katieparla.com/">Katie Parla</a>, a Rome-based food and beverage writer and cookbook author, to learn more, and in the process learns the history of fettuccine Alfredo.
Follow along on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellorachelbelle/?hl=en">Instagram</a>!
Watch Rachel's new Cascade PBS TV show <a href="https://www.kcts9.org/show/the-nosh-with-rachel-belle/episodes">The Nosh with Rachel Belle!</a>

Tom Papa: A Steak Dinner

By the end of this episode, you'll feel like the charming, hilarious and down-to-earth Julia Sweeney is your best friend! Julia and host Rachel Belle discuss everything from her true love of eating alone (and how that makes her husband feel) to the 60th birthday gift she gave herself: never dieting again.

Julia wants to cap her last meal with Canada’s favorite no-bake, layered dessert: the Nanaimo bar! Rachel chats with Joyce Hardcastle, the contest winner who created the city’s official recipe back in 1986, and with the current mayor of Nanaimo, about the history of the bar and how ubiquitous it is in the Vancouver Island city it was named after.

*This is a replay of an episode from 2022. Rachel lost her voice & hopes to be back with a brand-new episode next week!*

Subscribe to Your Last Meal on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Follow along on Instagram!

Watch Rachel's new Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

By the end of this episode, you'll feel like the charming, hilarious and down-to-earth <a href="https://juliasweeney.com/">Julia Sweeney</a> is your best friend! Julia and host <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellorachelbelle/?hl=en">Rachel Belle</a> discuss everything from her true love of eating alone (and how that makes her husband feel) to the 60th birthday gift she gave herself: never dieting again.
Julia wants to cap her last meal with Canada’s favorite no-bake, layered dessert: the Nanaimo bar! Rachel chats with Joyce Hardcastle, the contest winner who created the <a href="https://www.nanaimo.ca/about-nanaimo/nanaimo-bars">city’s official recipe</a> back in 1986, and with the current mayor of Nanaimo, about the history of the bar and how ubiquitous it is in the Vancouver Island city it was named after.
*This is a replay of an episode from 2022. <a href="https://rachelbelle.substack.com/p/missing-my-voice">Rachel lost her voice</a> &amp; hopes to be back with a brand-new episode next week!*
Subscribe to Your Last Meal on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-last-meal-with-rachel-belle/id1140304624">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3jevC0KEJWUDcrrbVoTheh?si=14bdcde7b81b4318">Spotify</a>.
Follow along on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellorachelbelle/?hl=en">Instagram</a>!
Watch Rachel's new Cascade PBS TV show <a href="https://www.kcts9.org/show/the-nosh-with-rachel-belle/episodes">The Nosh with Rachel Belle!</a>

Nancy Pearl: Mac & Cheese

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