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

Hi Donna, thanks for joining us today. Is there a historical figure you look up to? Who are they and what lessons or values have you learned from them?

I look up to many historical figures but its a few of those born on my same birthdate, April 13th, that I connect with the most now. Catherine de Medici is who I value the most as an archetypal figure.

Thomas Jefferson always tops the list of notable figures born April 13th but when I came across the famous book, The Secret Language of Birthdays: Your Complete Personology Guide for Each Day of the Year, published in 1994 is when I learned my birthdate is the day of the ICONOCLAST! I absolutely LOVE this. Also it was on this same page I learned that CATHERINE de’ MEDICI was born April 13th, she’s become the top historical figure I look up to and see very similar values and character traits with and her inherent connection to the arts and the finer things in life, primarily food and drink.

It’s also said that she brought the fork to France where she became Queen and subsequent regent for many years and three of her sons became Kings. With a passion for architecture and construction she designed two chateaux. I too have always been very interested in restoration and preservation of historical sites since my early teens. Catherine de’ Medici was also considered a to have been a mystic.

Donna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The acorn sprouted when I had an ‘A ha moment’, way before that word became a part of our every day vernacular. I was having a simple breakfast of toast & tea at a friend’s home in the Oakland, CA hills after being on a short but grueling tour with Peter Gabriel’s first WOMAD Festival presented in N.America when I heard that whisper from deep inside, you know, I heard my intuition say something along these lines, “After decades in the Rock ‘n’ Roll touring industry where our every whim is catered to, and I’m not just talking about access to food, twenty four seven, but anything and everything we needed was at the ready with as simply as a call into your walkie- talkie yet I never felt satiated by any of the food or pretty much anything that was presented before us for the taking.” I wanted to share my passion for the empowering skill that cooking is because of the transfer of ones energy and intention to benefit themselves or others they care about.

I’d love to share the roots and various growth stages with you that Recipes 4 Survival, Herein after noted as R4S has gone through.

Within a few months of my return home after this tour I developed and hosted, Recipe$ 4 Survival, Utilitarian Cooking & Much More… which premiered on Manhattan’s Neighborhood Network in April of 1998. It didn’t take long before dozens of viewers were calling in to comment on the shows. I was often recognized at music events, art galleries, downtown restaurants, and once by a cab driver—due in part to my distinctive voice. The show earned it’s cult-classic status because it maintained an unprecedented prime time slot for over two years. Fans from all over love my message:
COOK MORE, SPEND LESS, FEEL BETTER

I authored and voiced an abridged version of my memoire, Recipes 4 Survival, Make It On Your Own. The preface is the story, Toast & Tea Away from Home – when I first got the idea for R4S, Utilitarian Cooking & Much More… previously noted as my ‘Ah ha moment’ earlier in this interview.

A similar comment or testimonial that my clients share is that they have a whole new mindset about cooking and other life lessons they pick up on from the way I naturally share cooking techniques and tips on how to enjoy and mindfully grocery shop.

My services as a Health Supportive Private Chef are highly regarded of course for my tasteful food but my personality is one that people find very endearing.

I’m working on an anthology [book]/documentary] with each contributor answering the prompt question in one of two ways. I completed, and submitted my my first screenplay to a script writing contest.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’d have to say, Cathy Heller’s podcast, her book, Don’t Keep Your Day Job and her online course Made To Do This, has had the most significant or profound impact on my business and entrepreneurial thinking.

I chalk it up to Divine timing when I (sc)rolled on to Ms. Heller’s podcast and I took her 10 week online course at the beginning of the pandemic. I learned so much about socially conscious marketing, sharing your ‘story’, how to use Canva, which I knew nothing about, how to developed a podcast. I have two. I honed in on my niche market and I have a mighty tribe that are very supportive of my various projects whether it’s my cooking, photography and or my artwork. Learning the impact one story or thought we’ve shared whole heartedly and authentically can have on another human being is so empowering and really helps me to feel like I’m in alignment with my calling.

After listening to Cathy Heller’s interview with Sheri Salata, Author of, The Beautiful No, and Director of The Course, Write Your Story, Transform Your Life and once the Executive Producer for Oprah and the OWN Network for over 10 years I was so impressed with her I signed up to be in the first cohort of The Course. A twelve week intensive writing program. I was so inspired I completed and submitted a script to a contest and I have the concept, a strong outline and various chapters titles written for two other book ventures.

These examples coupled with the courses I mentioned a few of the books that have had a significant impact on me are: The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles. I also love Eckhart Tolle’s – The New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose and Elizabeth Gilbert’s, Big Magic made a profound and lasting imprint on how I make choices and stay in action through curiosity. This definitely makes me feel each day that I’m getting closer to living my purpose.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I definitely have a mission driving the development of Recipes 4 Survival and that is TO LIVE WITH A CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.

I always point out and share why the dish I chose to make has or uses, if any, only a minimal amount of food packaging. I also encourage people to shop at an animal protein counter versus stooping to the depths of living with a grab and go mentality. For instance grabbing a piece of salmon in a plastic container which happens to be on a shelving unit just in front of said counter. This way your purchase is wrapped in paper and you might even have a lovely and informative conversation with the employee there to help you EAT FOOD TO HELP ELIMINATE FOOD PACKAGING WASTE.
I also always make mentioned and constantly remind my tribe to bring empty liquid bottles to the big box stores and ask why they haven’t yet figured out how to have a REFILLING STATIONS.

I also always make mentioned and constantly remind my tribe to bring empty liquid bottles to the big box stores and ask why they haven’t (yet) figured out how to have a REFILLING STATIONS.

A graduate of The Natural Gourmet, The Institute for Food & Healing I work as a Private Health Supportive Chef.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.recipes4survival.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_4_donna/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodD4recipes4survival/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-goldman-a50366
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/D4DonnaGoldman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipes4survival

Image Credits
Sebastian Piras for pictures 1 – 3 in my kitchen Isabelle Kostic – NorthFork pic holding rhubarb Michael Anderson, Artist (1970 – 07/2020) for White Hot Magazine Murr LeBey – Shelter Isl photos Greg Shephard – Front St. Nantucket