Interview with Lisa Parda

How does someone pivot from aspiring air traffic controller and real estate investor to cookbook author and radio show host?

In this inspiring episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down withLisa Parda, author of the new cookbook My Love Language is Food. This is a story about reinvention, the unexpected paths life takes us on, and the power of food to connect us all.

Lisa shares her fascinating journey, starting with a childhood dream of guiding planes that led to a stint at the FAA, followed by a successful career in real estate. But it was meeting her husband that unlocked a latent passion for cooking—a creative outlet that balanced the demands of her professional life. Discover how a self-taught cook, who grew up on takeout and diet culture, transformed her relationship with food into a mission to help others answer the daily question: "What's for dinner?"

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty reality of self-publishing. Lisa is candid about the challenges she faced, from scrapping her first manuscript to navigating the high costs and logistical nightmares of professional food photography. She shares the invaluable lessons learned from hiring the wrong—and then the right—creative partners, and the discipline required to turn a passion project into a marketable product.

Lisa also dives into her strategies for building a brand without a traditional culinary background. Learn how she leverages her local radio show, "Lisa and Robyn on the Mic," and community partnerships to market her book, and why she believes in the power of "guerrilla marketing" tactics like collaborating with local artisans for holiday gift bundles.

Tune in for a conversation that celebrates the joy of cooking, the importance of family meals, and the courage it takes to pursue a dream, no matter where you are in life. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful success comes from simply sharing what you love with the world.

Key Takeaways

The Pivot: How skills from unrelated careers like real estate and aviation can apply to food entrepreneurship.

The Reality of Self-Publishing: The financial and creative hurdles of producing a high-quality cookbook, including the critical role of photography.

Simplifying for the Home Cook: Why Lisa focuses on making recipes accessible and less intimidating for busy families.

Community Marketing: Using local platforms like radio and community magazines to build a grassroots following.

Food as Connection: The philosophy that cooking is not just a chore, but a vital tool for health, connection, and family legacy.

Address: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-love-language-is-food-lisa-parda/1149285733

Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast

Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )

Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.

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