Ever wondered what makes you truly shine?

In this episode we go on an exciting journey to discover our unique character strengths using the VIA Character Strengths framework. Developed by positive psychologists Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, this framework identifies 24 universal strengths that help individuals not just get by, but truly flourish.

We Talk About:

😀How knowing and applying these strengths can boost happiness, enhance resilience, and enrich our connections through food and travel.

💫Actionable tips, stories, and the magic of using your personal 'seasoning blend' to navigate life's adventures with joy and intention.

⚡How to Discover your Character Strengths

🛑Managing “Hot Buttons” and Strengths

HELPFUL LINKS

✍️Take the VIA Character Strength Survey

🧳 Sign Up For our Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

What if the best way to experience the world was to live in it—one month at a time?

In this episode, we meet Michael Motamedi: former MasterChef Canada contestant, marketer-turned-full-time traveler, and passionate culinary explorer. For the past three years, Michael has been traveling the globe with his wife and young daughter—living in one city at a time, uncovering local food gems, and sharing stories through his podcast No Fixed Address and viral food videos.

From pig nipples in Spain to baby eel breakfasts in Barcelona, Michael’s adventures are anything but ordinary. But beneath the fun is a deeper message: that food is a universal language, and community, not convenience, is what really nourishes us.
We talk about:

🌎 How selling everything led to a nomadic, food-filled life with a toddler
🍽️ Why tinned baby eels, fish juice, and Anthony Bourdain changed his view of food
💬 What it means to truly live in a place—beyond tourism, with real locals

Whether you're craving off-the-grid food stories or dreaming of a lifestyle less ordinary, this episode is a reminder to pause, savour, and rethink what truly fills you up.

HELPFUL LINKS

📸 Follow Michael on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
🎧 Tune into Michael's podcast No Fixed Address
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

What does it mean to fight a war—with food?

In this episode, we meet Anna Voloshyna: chef, cookbook author, and passionate culinary activist. Born and raised in Ukraine and now based in California, Anna shares how her deep love of Ukrainian cuisine has become a powerful tool for cultural preservation and resistance amid war.

From feeding soldiers on the frontlines in bulletproof vests to writing cookbooks that celebrate regional Ukrainian dishes, Anna’s story is a moving example of how food can connect, heal, and inspire action. Her journey is equal parts resilience, community, and unwavering pride.

We talk about:
🇺🇦 Ukraine’s food renaissance—and how chefs are modernizing traditional dishes
🪖 What it’s like to cook for 50 soldiers near the frontline, explosions in the distance
📚 How Anna’s first cookbook BUDMO! became a fundraising tool before it even launched

Whether you're a food lover, cultural explorer, or just looking to understand the world through a more human lens, this episode will move you. Anna’s story reminds us that even in war, food can nourish both body and soul.

FEATURED RECIPE: UKRAINIAN RED BORSCHT
Click here for Anna's original recipe!

HELPFUL LINKS

📘 Check out Anna's first cookbook BUDMO!
✨ Visit Anna's website to learn more about her projects
📸 Follow Anna on Instagram
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!