Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know

Amanda O'Donnell is a personal chef and entrepreneur. She also happens to be married to some guy named Matt O'Donnell. Matt and Amanda initially found each other through a shared love of food, having both lived in Boston, and hating what else was out there in the dating scene. She has owned her own business since 2020 and has been serving the fine community of Nashville with meals for home as well as event and occasion cooking. Amanda was recently named one of Nashville's 25 Most Beautiful People by Nashville Lifestyles for their annual list. In this talk, Matt and Amanda discuss going to culinary school when you don't want to open a restaurant, the pandemic opening doors instead of closing them, the power of making people's lives easier with food, and much more!

Amanda's website.

Amanda's Instagram.

Amanda profiled for Nashville Lifestyles.

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Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

Hello! Just dropping in today to keep you posted on a one-cycle pause. Don't worry, we'll be right back to the conversations in 2 weeks (10/22). Listen and I'll tell you all about it! Take the time to dig through the archives and listen to one of the first 20 episodes that you haven't heard yet. See you right back here next time!

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Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

For the twentieth episode of the show, Matt speaks with James Beard award-winning author, chef, and thinker, Michael Ruhlman. Michael is the author of a couple dozen incredible culinary books including; The French Laundry Cookbook, Ruhlman's Twenty, Ratio, The Making of a Chef, From Scratch, and many more. The conversation goes into Michael's beginnings as a food writer, continuing to inspire people to cook their own food, the development of civilization as humans learned to cook, being esteemed, being curious, and much more.

Ruhlman's Substack.

Michael Ruhlman's Author Page on Amazon.

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Matt on Instagram.

Risa Binder and Matt have known each other since the summer of 2013. Ever since then, Matt has played bass with Risa all across the land to crowds of all shapes, sizes, and enthusiasms. In this friendly discussion, they talk musical theatre, New York, the signs that led Risa to Nashville, a new reality of albums vs singles, community, and so very much more!

Risa's newest release, "Good Advice", on EVEN.

Risa on Instagram.

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Matt on Instagram.

www.mattodonnell.com

This time on the show, Matt is joined by photographer and creative, Nathan Rocky. Nathan specializes in portrait photography, video work, art direction, and fine musicianship. In the conversation, they discuss Nathan's background in social work, finding the bare humanity in portraits, the Mona Lisa as the ultimate portrait, authenticity, Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, and Marilyn Monroe. Sit down, grab a cup of tea, and enjoy this wildly deep plunging talk!

Nathan Rocky.

Nathan on Instagram.

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Matt on Instagram.

www.mattodonnell.com

On this episode of Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know, Matt is talking with Ricquel Archer, the founder and CEO of Create + Collaborate, a nonprofit based in Fort Worth, TX. Create + Co.'s mission is to help young adults develop the skills to complete college, emphasizing first-generation students. In the discussion, Ricquel and Matt talk about the organization, her history working with students who need support, the state of modern education, partnerships with companies like IKEA, and hopefully being able to close the organization one day.

Visit Create + Co. and find out how you can help!

Create + Co. on Instagram.

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Kristen Rogers is one of the most prolific and sought-after background singers in the game today. Honestly, you've probably heard her voice somewhere tucked underneath the lead voice of the person whose name is on the track. She has shared the stage or the studio with countless modern music artists, including; Post Malone, Reba McEntire, Hozier, The Killers, Eric Church, Zach Bryan, Marcus King, The Revivalists, Anderson East, Jake Wesley Rogers, and Lori McKenna. In this discussion, you'll hear Matt and Kristen talk about professionalism in music, neurodivergence, tour life, how to keep spirits high in the industry, adventures in giving voice lessons, invasive fandom, and so many other things. Dry sparkling wine and pastries were consumed (but not harmed) in the recording of this episode.

Kristen on Instagram.

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www.mattodonnell.com

This time on the podcast, Matt talks with author and scientist, Brad Balukjian. Brad's most recent book, "The Six Pack: On the Open Road in Search of WrestleMania" was released earlier this year and made a huge splash in the professional wrestling media ecosystem. His previous volume, "The Wax Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Baseball's Afterlife", was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2020 (damn right it was) and reached #7 on the LA Times bestseller list. He recently launched a Patreon to continue exploring these topics for people who loved the books. In this talk, Matt and Brad talk about modern book publishing, intellectual curiosity, the way to get the most out of an interview with someone, OCD, and much more.

The Brad Pack (Brad's Website).

Support Brad on Patreon!

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Matt on Instagram.

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Welcome to a very special episode of Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know! This is the pilot taping of the podcast, with guest Donna Peterson, who happens to be Matt's mother-in-law. However, lest ye be concerned that this will be some schmaltzy family chat, Donna is the Director Liaison for Ready Start Tangipahoa, a coalition of the Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana's equivalent of a county) public schools, Head Starts, and childcare/daycare centers. She previously spent approximately 30 years as the founder and director of Kids World, a childcare center in Ponchatoula, LA. This is a very interesting chat that touches on Donna's history in childcare, parenting, protecting the arts in education, and more.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

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Matt on Instagram.

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Welcome to episode 012 of Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know! After making the expected into the unexpected, Matt finally broke the trend and brought another top notch bass player to the show, Mike Rinne. Mike and Matt have known each other since 2007, quite a while before either made waves in the Nashville music business. Mike has toured with Miranda Lambert, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris and, most recently, Sarah Jarosz. He's also recorded extensively around the city, including credits with Jack White, Alicia Keys, Ronnie Milsap, and Dan + Shay. In a talk that takes some time before bass playing is specifically mentioned, the two discuss the importance of listening, mental health for musicians, the curious life of Fort Smith, Arkansas, playing in the pit for Hamilton, going the final 5%, and all kinds of other stuff!

www.michaelrinne.com

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Matt on Instagram.

www.mattodonnell.com