Hi Friends,
For almost two decades, I’ve had the incredible privilege of showing up in your inbox each week.
Together we’ve cooked, laughed, learned, interviewed remarkable guests, and shared countless conversations about health.
You’ve been with me through cookbooks, recipes, summits, hundreds of interviews, thousands of YouTube videos… and even cancer.
Thank you.
Lately, though, I’ve found myself at a crossroads.
Many of you know that this past year has changed me in ways I never expected. My priorities have shifted, my perspective has changed, and the things that excite me today aren’t necessarily the same things that excited me when I first started this journey.
Maybe that’s what life’s supposed to do.
After all, if we’re lucky enough to keep living, we should probably keep growing too.
One thing I know for sure is this:
I don’t want to create content simply because it’s what people expect from me.
I want to create content because I genuinely enjoy creating it.
I believe the best work comes from joy, curiosity, authenticity… and maybe the occasional bad pun.
Many of you first found me because of my SOS-free recipes, weight loss interviews, food addiction discussions, or conversations with doctors who specialize in those topics.
I’ll always be grateful for everything I learned during those years, and for the extraordinary people who shared their wisdom with all of us.
Those conversations mattered.
They still do.
But if I’m being honest, my curiosity has taken me in a different direction.
The funny thing is, I don’t love food any less than I used to.
I just don’t think it’s the only thing worth talking about anymore.
These days, I’m much more interested in creating delicious recipes, teaching live cooking classes, exploring mindset and resilience, having conversations that inspire, talking about healthy aging, sharing what I’m learning about living well with cancer, finding more joy, laughing more often, and making the very most of whatever time we have.
I know that’s where my heart is.
What I don’t know is which parts of that journey excite you the most.
So I’d love your help.
I’ve put together a few questions about the topics you’d most like to see from me, the types of content you enjoy, and where you prefer to find it, whether that’s YouTube, social media, this newsletter, the Chef AJ & Friends Membership Community, or somewhere else entirely.
This isn’t a test, and there are no wrong answers. Your answers are completely anonymous, so please be honest. I promise I can take it. After all, I’ve survived YouTube comments 😅
You don’t have to spend much time on it. Just click the button below and answer the questions that resonate with you.
Your answers will genuinely help shape what comes next.
I’m not making any big announcements today.
Before I write the next chapter of Chef AJ, I’d like to hear from the people who have been reading this one.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Whether you’ve been here since my very first newsletter or you subscribed yesterday, I’m grateful you’re here.
I can’t wait to read what you share.
Love & Listening,
Chef AJ ❤️
🐾🦴🐶From The Puppy Files🐾🦴🐶
I’ve concluded there are only two official sleeping styles in our house: Blanket Burrito and Tiny Cinnamon Roll. Both seem highly effective.
Shiloh disappears under the blankets. Trixie curls into the smallest little ball she can. Different personalities, same wisdom: when life gets overwhelming, find a place where you feel safe… and rest.
Dogs don’t ask if they’ve earned a nap. They just take one.
There may be a lesson in that.
What I Did For Fun This Week
I recently taught my third sold-out class at Kitchen Kitchen. The class, called “Eating Without Heating,” required no oven, and I demonstrated and served 10 delicious vegan and gluten-free recipes, including my new Ultimate No-Bake Carrot Cake!
On Thursday, I met my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Matt Lederman, in LA to take an in-person improvisation comedy workshop with Patrick Bristow. Then on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I participated in an improv intensive, which culminated with a performance on Sunday.