My Cooking Show

Season 1: The Hannah Coulter Series

Episode 3: Rooted or Just Restless? What We Lose When We Rush

Host: Rosie King

Producer: Piper King (age 11)

Episode Theme

In a world that praises speed, mobility, and constant upgrades, this episode asks: What are we losing when we move too fast? Inspired by Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry, we explore what it means to stay, to tend, and to root ourselves in a place—even when it’s easier to walk away. Whether it’s your neighborhood, your school, your church, or your own sense of identity, this reflection invites us to consider what might grow if we stayed.

Reflection Questions

1. ​Where in your life are you feeling restless? Could that restlessness be pointing you toward a deeper calling—or are you simply reacting to discomfort?
2. ​What places, people, or communities have shaped you the most? Have you ever drifted from them without meaning to?
3. ​Is there a part of your past—school, church, town, even family—that feels “less than” now? What would it look like to reclaim it with grace rather than shame?
4. ​Have you ever chosen “new” because it was easier, shinier, or faster? What did you leave behind—and did you ever go back to thank it?
5. ​What might grow in your life if you slowed down and tended to the place you’re already in?

Scripture

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

— Jeremiah 29:5,7 (NIV)

This ancient word to exiles still speaks today: even when we’re not where we planned to be, presence can be holy.

A Thought to Take With You

Maybe the life you’re chasing isn’t somewhere else.

Maybe it’s right here—waiting to be noticed, nurtured, and tended.

“Fast isn’t always faithful. And some of the things that shape us the most? They can’t be rushed.”

— Rosie King, My Cooking Show

In this episode of My Cooking Show—which, let’s be honest, still isn’t a cooking show—we’re diving into Barbara Pym’s 1952 novel Excellent Women and all the subtle brilliance it holds.

Mildred Lathbury is one of those “excellent women”—always dependable, never centered. And what stood out to me is how Pym explores the quiet cost of being useful without being valued. She doesn’t mock Mildred. She doesn’t rescue her. She just lets her be—and invites us to think about how we view women in our own communities.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever been placed in a role instead of seen as a full person.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether “being dependable” is enough—it might speak to you too.

No recipes required. Just Rosie—for real.

Episode 2: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

Theme: Usefulness vs. Being Valued

Key Question

What does it mean to be truly seen—not just for what you do, but for who you are?

Discussion Questions

These questions are designed for conversation—with a friend, in a journal, over coffee, or even in your own mind. You don’t need to have read the book (or even heard this episode) to join in.

Have you ever played an essential role in someone’s life or community—yet still felt invisible?

How do you want to be seen? Are you willing to offer that same kind of seeing to someone else who’s quietly holding things together?

What kinds of people or contributions tend to go unnoticed in your world? What might it look like to notice them more deeply?

Is there a difference between being appreciated and being truly valued? How do you know when it’s one or the other?

Have you ever confused being useful with being worthy? What would it mean to unhook your value from your performance?

Scripture Connections

These verses might resonate with today’s reflection: (Remember to read them in context.)

Luke 10:40–42 – Mary & Martha: Who gets seen? What matters most?

Galatians 1:10 – On living for approval vs. purpose.

1 Peter 3:4 – On the quiet strength of the inner self

A Thought to Take With You

This isn’t about self-pity.

It’s about noticing—ourselves, and each other.

Because people deserve to be seen,

And maybe that kind of seeing starts with us.

In this debut episode, Rosie takes you back to the kitchen that raised her—where laughter and lessons simmered together. It’s not so much about the food, but rather memory, meaning, and making something out of what you have. Grab a cup of something warm and settle in.