{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Lokelani Alabanza Episode","description":"Lokelani Alabanza has invented over 300 ice cream flavors, spent five years writing the cookbook she was born to write, and will absolutely change the way you think about what's in your freezer.  &amp;nbsp; Loke is a classically trained pastry chef with 20+ years of experience, founder of Saturated Ice Cream (a non-dairy, plant-based brand based in Nashville), and the author of Ice Cream Queen: Flavors from Black America's Past, Present, Future \u2014 out June 16, 2026, the week of Juneteenth. The book covers 200 years of Black American ice cream history and includes 100 recipes.  &amp;nbsp; In this conversation, they get into: \u2192 What it actually took to finish this book \u2014 surrendering control, surviving the silence, and betting on herself when no one could guarantee the outcome \u2192 Why you have to be a little delusional to see a creative dream through (and why that's not a bad thing) \u2192 The mission behind Ice Cream Queen \u2014 and what Loke hopes you feel the next time you walk down the ice cream aisle \u2192 What the publishing process really looks like from the inside, including the things nobody tells first-time cookbook authors  &amp;nbsp; This episode is for the creatives, the dreamers, the people in the messy middle of something they can't quit. If you've ever had a big idea and wondered if you had what it takes to actually finish it \u2014 this one's for you.  &amp;nbsp; Pre-order Ice Cream Queen: lokelanialabanaza.com&amp;nbsp; Connect with Loke: @yokiyanifanza  Amanda Polick is a cookbook coach, writer, and the host of Babe Cave. She helps creative people get their books into the world through one-on-one coaching, editorial services, and her blog about cookbook proposals and book marketing. Shownotes:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.amandapolick.com\/blog\/lokelani-alabanza-episode&amp;nbsp;  Newsletter:&amp;nbsp;Weekly insights on writing and creativity Connect:&amp;nbsp;Instagram&amp;nbsp;@amandapolick&amp;nbsp;|&amp;nbsp;amandapolick.com&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Work with Amanda:&amp;nbsp;Apply here &amp;nbsp;  ","author_name":"Babe Cave","author_url":"http:\/\/www.amandapolick.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40136390\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40136390"}