We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dayna Altman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dayna below.

Dayna , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I have always been a community builder as in someone who brings people together. What began as an interest in creating relationships and connecting people as an elementary schooler has since evolved into my life’s work as a mental health entrepreneur, artist and creator. Since 2019, I have been the sole founder and operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, a community based organization that uses food and baking to speak about mental health in a way that is authentic, non-threatening and even fun! Bake it Till You Make it also works to promote mental health recovery in a way that is vulnerable and honest; and achieves these goals through the creation of mental health cookbooks, the facilitation of live cooking/ mental health presentations as well through community events that are both held local to the Boston area where I am from and also virtually. Bake it Till You Make it it is a lot of things, but community is THE thing that always guides my work. I think this is because in many ways I never really felt like I had one. I would see my peers in big friend groups or on sports teams and feel envious of having “people”, of having a way to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way. Sure, I had friends, I had interests, but I never felt like I had anything to fall back on, a place where I could take off my bubbly and positive “mask” and just be me in all ways that felt real–so through Bake it Till You Make it LLC and as a leader I would say, I have created that. I have made a space where people with all levels of interest and lived experience can come together and share on a topic that we are so often told we must be quiet about. I have opened the pages of my books and the depths of my soul to hold space and create a net of “I got you” to those who have felt and still feel exactly like me.

I spent a lot of my life creating where I didn’t feel I fit. For example, in fourth grade I auditioned for a theater troupe and upon being rejected I made my own. I didn’t see myself in books or documentaries, so I made both. It has not been easy, it has been lonely AND Bake it Till You Make it as a whole is by far my favorite extension of this part of me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Dayna Altman (she/her/hers) and I am an energetic and dynamic, entrepreneur, author, and creator. I am the full force and sole operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, where I harvest my passion for mental health advocacy by using food and baking to create an authentic recipe for vulnerable storytelling. I am an author, speaker, documentary film maker and storyteller, both in telling my own story, and by also offering opportunity and space for others to share theirs’ through the published and Gourmand Cookbook award winning Bake it Till You Make it cookbook series. Additionally, I facilitate live cooking demonstrations called “Bake it Till You Make it:Live” where I tell my mental health story while also making chocolate chip cookies or graham cracker brownies. These presentations have been experienced in several communities, schools and states. I also host community events such as an annual Mental Health Nailed it! baking and decorating competition as well as “inside the book” fairs to disseminate mental health resources.

My most recent extension of the Bake it Till You Make it LLC brand is: Watch Me Rise. Watch Me Rise is a bread baking and mental health poetry cookbook that chronicles the hope, heartbreak and healing that accompanies mental health recovery. It is also a pop up traveling exhibit space for those to reflect on their own relationships with mental health through poetry book inspired art and activities.

My passion for mental health advocacy and my interest in deconstructing stigma comes directly from my own lived experience and personal story as I live with OCD and major depression as well as am in active eating disorder and sexual assault recovery. My advocacy has led me to the White House as well as featured on MTV, Aerie and NBC as well as into the schools, colleges, corporations, senior centers, communities (and hearts–I hope) of many over the years. I speak openly about my ongoing and endless recovery in a way that is inspiring and empowering.

I feel people are connected to my work and often come through the interest in food. While not everyone is a cook or baker, we all need to eat and I feel have most likely have had at least on experience where they feel they have been connected to community through food. I think this became really apparent for people during the beginning of the pandemic. When the world shut down in March 2020, flour could not be kept on the shelves of grocery stores because so many people had turned to baking. Whether it was sourdough, banana bread or chocolate chip cookies, so many found comfort in the mindful process of baking and the way they got to share a part of themselves to those they love.

While I feel I have so much to be proud of, including my recent trip to the White House, where I had the opportunity to speak directly to the First Lady and Surgeon General about my work in the East Wing, so much of my inspiration and pride comes from the small steps I take each day. Although I know that sounds very cliche, working toward being the person I needed when I was younger and I know so many people continue to need. Normalizing mental health recovery in all ways and at all steps. Knowing I have helped people feel comfortable going to therapy and getting help really lights my soul on fire.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For a long time I thought being a perfectionist was just in my DNA. I grew up in a community with a lot of resources and a very high achieving family, so in a way I felt that perfection was the expectation. And although it may have never been outwardly said, it was felt for me at every turn. I always felt like I needed to be “doing” whether that was homework or research or whatever way I felt I needed to be productive; I only felt like I had worth if I was doing anything and everything “perfectly.”

As I even type this paragraph, I feel sad, because this was my experience for so many years of my life and I know I am certainly not alone in that. I think the biggest thing that has helped me unlearn this lesson at least recently has been really connecting with my values. What do I care about and why? Do I actually care about being perfect? Or do I care about helping people and working hard? Do I actually want to be flawless? Is that worth what I am putting myself through…

For a long time I didn’t know the answer to the above questions because I think my self-image, value and worth were tied to this idea of perfection. However through years of therapy and hard work, I have learned how to untangle the two–but I am still working on it.

I feel this lesson has not only been so important in my mental health recovery story as well as my story as a human being but also my story in being an entrepreneur as I have truly embraced imperfection as a business owner. I have come to realize that not only is perfect not attainable, it is not relatable, it is not fun, it is not what people care about nor is it what my true core self cares about. This has been extra interesting to explore with baking. When I ask people if they like to bake. I am so often met with: “oh no, you need to be perfect and exact…there is no room for creativity.” And while I understand the sentiment, I could not disagree more. I feel baking is the perfect area to test the boundaries of perfection and embrace mistakes. It is okay if you make a mess and you add some extra chocolate chips, you are still a person worthy of life and love.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

For so long as a creative person, I felt I had to figure it out on my own. In some ways that felt exciting and unique, in other ways it felt terrifying. One of the greatest resources I wish I knew earlier in my journey were informational interviews. I was always afraid to learn from other business owners or entrepreneurs. Not only because I assumed they were busy but there was also a part of me that felt embarrassed: I was so new in my journey and my concept was different. And while I was met with a few uncomfortable coffee conversations, I can’t thank those enough who have stood by and contributed their wisdom, time and/or expertise to me and Bake it Till You Make it. As I become more sure of myself, I always make time to do the same. Even if I can’t necessarily find a direct link or don’t believe the meeting will be “mutually beneficial”, I think about all of the people I have learned from and have been supported by and I make the time. Do not be afraid to ask! Everyone started somewhere and I genuinely think people want to help other entrepreneurs. If all else fails, reach out to me!

Contact Info:

• Website: wwww.bakeittillyoumakeit.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bakeittillyoumakeitllc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakeittillyoumakeitllc
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/dayna-altman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNftBpXh0__LcCjXSTYySQ
• Other: Tik Tok: Bake it Till You Make it LLC Spotify: Dayna Altman (speaking on podcasts about Bake it Till You Make it LLC) Amazon: www.amazon.com/dayna-altman

Image Credits
White House Photography Brenna Stewart Photography