Ava is joined by recipe developer Megan Sheley for a conversation about food and cooking as a lens for self-exploration. Megan takes us through her journey from working a 9-5 to taking the leap into recipe development, including the TikTok moment that changed everything when her Lasagna Soup went wildly viral, and what she has learned about herself along the way.

Megan Sheley is a foodie-turned full-time recipe developer known for clean food and a dirty mouth. Food is at the center of Megan’s world, and she believes it is one of the best ways to bring people together. From viral recipes on TikTok to competing on Next Level Chef, and from van life to eat-pray-loving her way around the world, Megan uses food as a vehicle for self-exploration and personal growth. Through her work as a recipe developer, Megan inspires and empowers others to reconnect with food and create a life where eating is fun, tasty, and makes you feel good.

In this episode Megan shares behind-the-scenes stories from competing on Season 4 of Next Level Chef under the mentorship of Gordon Ramsay, including the hard decision to step away for health reasons, and what it taught her about boundaries, identity, and making aligned decisions.

Ava and Megan conclude their conversation with a deep dive into Megan’s travels and how they influence Megan’s day-to-day life as a recipe developer. From an Eat Pray Love-style chapter abroad to the expansion in the kitchen that comes from experiencing global flavors, Megan shares what cooking can teach you about creativity, nourishment, and making eating fun.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Megan Sheley

03:00 Becoming a full-time recipe developer

05:50 What it’s like to take the leap

07:47 Day to day as a recipe developer

10:44 Life changing Lasagna Soup

17:14 Competing on Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay

26:08 Megan’s choice to leave the tv show

29:02 Managing stress with an autoimmune disease

31:42 The benefits of setting boundaries

34:51 Eat pray love in Spain

42:00 Culinary travel: Eating and drinking around the world

46:08 The key to food, cooking, and nourishment

50:15 Cooking tips for home chefs

53:05 Living that gluten-free life

55:25 Following the call to move across the country

1:00:22 Living in alignment to be more you

Resources

Connect with Megan Sheley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megansheley/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megansheley

Website: https://megansheley.com/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avabeilke/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avabeilke

Website: https://theavaverse.com/

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