The history and tradition of tea is so much richer than indicated by that little row of boxes on the supermarket shelf. In this episode I’m taking you behind the scenes of the process I’m undergoing to become a Certified Tea Sommelier: what the program is

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.comAfter spending nearly three weeks living in our RV in the Upper Peninsula, Im back home and settling in, and in this months Journal - exclusively for paying members

Have you ever wondered about the different paths available to becoming a historian - and how historians choose the topic areas that fuel their passions? In this episode I chat with author and consumer historian Jan Whitaker to explore a fascinating corner

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.comThe idea of prepping often elicits eye-rolls. But you dont have to be awaiting the apocalypse to find value in stocking your shelves. The truth is, a little pantry

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.comAfter a sad and stressful start to the month, I came home to a full house, stuffed fridge, bursting container garden, and some seriously disrupted routines. And while

Hi friends. I usually publish my monthly Journal episode on the first of the month, but in the wake of a devastating loss in our family, Im instead putting up a short (and, warning, hastily edited!) episode in the public feed. My sister-in-law, Jen, died

Ever cringe at how much of your monthly budget goes to restaurants? Yeah, been there - and so has CJ, creator of the food and book blog, A Well-Read Tart and a self-described former restaurant rover and takeout queen. While CJ and I both know how easy i

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.comThe July journal episode of The Kettle is all about the idea of smallness and what that means to me right now. In the episode I share some specific ways Im leaning

Can you remember the first time you had a really good cup of tea, or maybe a tea experience that left you feeling inspired intrigued, and wanting more? Todays guest Henrietta Lovell, the founder of the Rare Tea Company and author of the laugh-out-loud fu

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meaganfrancis.substack.comMonthly Journal episodes and the accompanying post, which includes links to our upcoming community events, are a benefit for paying members of The Kettle. As a reminde