In January 2022, Kelly Rizzo’s life changed forever when she suddenly lost her husband, Bob Saget. What followed were a lot of tears, a lot of conversations, and a new way of moving forward. Comfort Food is a podcast about honest storytelling and real conversations that offer comfort, clarity, and perspective. Through conversations with friends, notable guests, and solo episodes, Kelly explores important topics with warmth, humor, and thoughtful takeaways. It’s real, relatable, and designed to help listeners feel a little less alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some conversations you plan for a long time because you know they're going to matter. This is one of them. Kelly sits down with one of her closest and dearest friends, Melissa Mickelson, for a raw, honest, and deeply moving conversation about widowhood. Kelly lost her husband Bob four and a half years ago. Melissa lost her husband Dean nine months ago. And as Melissa puts it, she watched Kelly go through it first and had no idea she'd one day be living the same unimaginable reality. Together they talk through what it actually feels like to navigate grief from the inside, including the "10 seconds at a time" advice Kelly gave Melissa on that very first night that has stuck with her ever since. They get into what helps and what doesn't when someone you love is grieving (hint: you don't need to fix it, you just need to witness it), why you should always bring up the person who died, how to text a grieving friend without making it worse, what it's like to go back to work when your whole world has changed, how grief literally rewires your brain, and why both of them refuse to let this break them. Melissa also shares how her TikTok account has become a space for sharing grief insights, and the beautiful mantra from her wedding vows that now guides her every single day: choose your heart. This one is for anyone who has loved and lost, and for anyone who wants to show up better for someone who has. This episode is sponsored by Lifeway Foods. For more info go to lifewaykefir.com. Thank you Lifeway for being such an incredible partner! Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyRizzo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kelly has been wanting to have this conversation for a long time, and she's so glad she finally did. Her guest is Lindzi Scharf, a writer, entrepreneur, and mother who lost her daughter Evan at just three and a half years old to an incredibly rare mitochondrial disease. Evan was only the 27th child in the world known to have her specific condition. What makes this conversation so special is the way Lindzi talks about Evan. It is not dark or heavy. It is full of joy, full of love, and full of the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from living through something this profound. Kelly admits she was nervous to have a child loss parent on the podcast, scared of saying the wrong thing. But Lindzi has a way of making you feel like you can ask anything, and that saying the wrong thing is always better than saying nothing at all. They talk about what it was like to know from early on that time with Evan was limited, how that shaped the way Lindzi chose to live every single day, and what it means to actively choose joy in the face of the unimaginable. They also get into what people can do to support a grieving parent, how to talk about someone who is gone, and the complicated question of past versus present tense. Plus, there is a beautiful connection involving Evan's favorite song that will give you chills. This episode comes out right around what would have been Evan's birthday. Happy birthday, Evan. Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyRizzo and keep the conversation going there. You can find Linzi on instagram at @lindzischarf Thank you to Lifeway Foods for sponsoring this episode. For more info about Lifeway please visit www.lifewaykefir.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kelly is going there. She has hinted at this story before, but this is the first time she has ever shared the full, unfiltered details of her worst breakup ever. And yes, it is as shocking as it sounds. It was 2015. Kelly was 36, living with her boyfriend, had just bought a house with him, and was basically planning a future together. Then the day before the movers arrived, he sat her down and ended it. Out of nowhere. No fighting, no warning signs, just a rug pull that left her suddenly homeless, heartbroken, and starting completely from scratch. Kelly walks through every detail: what he said, what she thought, the moment months later when he showed up crying telling her she was the love of his life, and then the phone call where he took it all back. And then, four months after blocking him forever, she met Bob. But this episode isn't just the story. It is also a genuine, practical guide for getting through a brutal breakup. Kelly shares what actually helped her: finding her own space, letting her people in, leaning into spirituality and self-help, not letting herself spiral into self-blame, and yes, getting back out there. She also gets honest about the anxiety that kind of heartbreak leaves behind, and how she still works through it today. Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyRizzo and keep the conversation going there. Thank you to Marconi Foods for sponsoring this episode. Use code KELLY for 15% off at marconi-foods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Content warning: This episode contains a candid discussion of suicidal thoughts. Please listen with care. Kelly and Alison Victoria have been friends for years, both Chicago girls with more in common than they ever got to explore until now. This is the conversation they've been wanting to have, and Alison chose Comfort Food as the only place she'd tell this story for the first time. For the first time ever, Alison opens up about a four-year legal nightmare that nearly destroyed everything she had built. It started with a business partnership that seemed promising and spiraled into eight lawsuits, forensic audits, unpaid contractors, permits that were never pulled, and headlines calling her a fraud. She lost her house. She lost her car. Her bank account was drained. And at her lowest point, she called a friend and said she didn't want to live anymore. This conversation goes there. All of it. How Alison kept showing up anyway, how HGTV had her back when she was terrified they would fire her, and how she rebuilt from zero into the thriving, Emmy-nominated career and life she has today. She also talks about what she learned: that the truth always prevails, that patience is a real virtue, and that grief comes in more forms than most people realize, including the grief of losing yourself. This one is a must-listen for anyone who has ever felt buried alive by someone else's mess. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyRizzo and keep the conversation going there. You can follow Alison Victoria at @thealisonvictoria This episode is sponsored by Marconi Foods. For 15% off use code KELLY at Marconi-foods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This one is so special, and Kelly is so glad to be bringing it back. When Kelly first dreamed up this show, John Stamos was one of the very first people she thought of. He's a beloved actor, musician, and New York Times bestselling author of "If You Would Have Told Me." But more than any of that, he is one of her dearest friends and one of the greatest sources of comfort she's had since losing Bob. In this conversation, Kelly and John go deep. They talk about the Full House legacy and what it really meant to him to finally come to terms with a show that changed millions of lives. They share stories about Bob, including the night they found out he was gone, and what those first impossible days looked like for both of them. They talk about grief in the most honest way: prayer, therapy, the moment you stop fighting the pain and just let it move through you, and why keeping someone's name alive is one of the most loving things we can do. And then there's a very special moment near the end: the world premiere of a song Bob wrote and performed on his last tour, "I'm Not in Love with My Wife's Father." Kelly had been waiting so long to share that with the world, and getting to do it with John made it all the more meaningful. If you've ever loved someone and lost them, this one is for you. Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyRizzo and keep the conversation going there. Follow John at @johnstamos on Instagram And thank you to Marconi Foods for sponsoring this episode. Find more info at marconi-foods.com and use code KELLY for 15% off! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Egg freezing has become almost a cultural mandate for women in their 30s. And if you haven't done it, people want to know why. Today I'm talking about why I chose not to, and what that decision taught me about knowing yourself, trusting your gut, and pushing back on the idea that there's one right answer for every woman. This isn't an anti-egg-freezing episode. It's an honest look at the pressure we face, the way love and timing and circumstance can shape a decision that feels impossibly big, and why peace with your choice matters more than what anyone else thinks you should do. Whether you're in the thick of this decision, already made it, or just want to understand it better, I hope this one hits home. Follow me on Instagram @KellyRizzo and let's keep the conversation going there. And thank you to Marconi Foods for sponsoring this episode. For 15% off use code KELLY at check out and visit marconi-foods.com for more info and to try the new Platinum Giardinera today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Okay, this one is a little different from our usual Comfort Food conversations, and honestly? I'm so glad we went there. My guest is the gorgeous and refreshingly honest Catt Sadler, and we get into two topics that I think so many of you are going to relate to. First: plastic surgery. Catt was truly one of the first women in the public eye to openly document her facelift (plus neck lift and upper blepharoplasty) at 48 years old, at a time when people were shocked anyone under 60 would even consider it. Three years later, she has zero regrets and zero filters about the whole experience. We talk about the real recovery (hint: it was harder than she expected), the issues she dealt with post-surgery, how she found her Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Kim, what she actually paid versus the insane prices you see floating around now, and where the line is between wanting to look your best and chasing something that can never be fixed with a scalpel. Such a good, honest conversation. Then we shift to something that genuinely surprised me when I first heard about it: Catt is really, really close friends with her ex-husband's now wife. I'm someone who is close with my partners' exes, but this is the flip side of that story. Catt shares how it started at her son's 7th birthday party and turned into an almost 20-year friendship, and why she thinks the kids being able to witness it has been one of the greatest gifts she could give them. So much warmth and truth in this one. Follow me on Instagram at @KellyRizzo and let's keep the conversation going! And follow Catt at https://www.instagram.com/iamcattsadler/?hl=en And thank you to Marconi Foods for sponsoring this episode! Learn more about Marconi at https://marconi-foods.com/ and use code KELLY for 15% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week I'm over in Europe, so I'm taking a little time off from recording. But I could never leave you with nothing, so I'm bringing back the episode that means the most to me, and that also happens to be the biggest "audience favorite" episode from Comfort Food Season 1: my conversation with John Mayer. John and I went through an incredibly difficult time together in the wake of losing my husband Bob, and what came out of that friendship is one of the most beautiful, existential conversations I've ever had on this show. We get into grief in a way I'd never heard anyone talk about it before: the "club" you don't even know exists until you're suddenly in it, the strange in-between where someone has left your life but hasn't yet taken up residence in your heart, and John's theory that you can only really cry about something once. We talk about his singular bond with Bob, the private shorthand they built, the jokes only Bob could land, and what it means to keep someone with us just by saying "my friend Bob used to say." And we get into John's own take on life, love, and the idea that kindness is something you can learn and pass on. It's tender, it's funny, and yes, there's eggplant parm at the end. If you've never heard this one, settle in. If you have, you already know. Follow Kelly on Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/kellyrizzo/?hl=en Visit Kelly’s Kitchen- https://kelly-rizzo.com/ Join Comfort Club: https://www.comfortclubonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do you believe in signs from loved ones who've passed? Kelly never really did. It felt a little woo woo, not really her thing. But after losing Bob, she had a few experiences she genuinely cannot explain, and she's sharing all of them in this episode. Three stories. The doves that appeared over Bob's funeral with no explanation (Lori Loughlin was there and assumed they were hired), the wooden figurine she found on the mantel of the very first house she toured after Bob passed (the same obscure, handcrafted figurine Bob kept on his nightstand for years), and the one that still gives her chills: the night Kelly thought she was having a stroke and was crying out to Bob's photo in tears, begging him to help her. What her two-year-old niece said to her sister in Chicago the very next morning, completely unprompted, with no one having told her a thing... you explain it, because Kelly can't. She's not here to convince anyone. She knows some people reach hard for signs and see them everywhere. But these are the ones that came and smacked her in the face, and she couldn't call them coincidences if she tried. After listening, Kelly wants to hear from YOU. Have you had a sign from someone you lost? Or do you think it's all just a coincidence? Also please please follow, rate, and review Comfort Food! It will be so appreciated! Find her on Instagram @kellyrizzo and keep the conversation going. This episode is sponsored by Marconi Foods- The world's greatest Giardiniera. A TRUE Chicago staple! Use code KELLY for 15% off at marconi-foods.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What actually keeps a long distance friendship alive for over two decades? Kelly is joined by her absolute ride-or-die, her best friend Aggie, who flew in from Chicago for this one, and they are getting into all of it. These two met in the early 2000s on the Chicago club scene and have now survived a coast-to-coast move, heartbreaks, a loss, cancer scares, and somewhere along the way, a whole lot of matching tattoos. In this episode, they share the real, practical things that have kept their friendship not just intact but genuinely thriving for 23 years, including nine of them with 2,000 miles in between. You'll hear about the importance of stating your intention out loud, why it doesn't have to be 50/50 (just mutual), the power of a FaceTime hit over morning coffee, always having something on the calendar, showing up for the big moments whether they're happy or devastating, and creating your own little rituals that make the friendship feel like home no matter the distance. This one is warm, funny, and honestly a little emotional. Aggie flew out here and she delivered. Follow Kelly on Instagram: @KellyRizzo A special thank you to Home Run Inn Pizza for sponsoring this episode. You can learn more about Home Run Inn (the greatest frozen pizza on Earth) here: https://www.homeruninnpizza.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Four years ago, on the night Bob passed away, two women Kelly barely knew showed up at her front door and said, "Where's the kitchen?" They spent the rest of the night doing Kelly's dishes, taking out the trash, and passing out waters to everyone in her house. Kelly has been telling that story ever since, and today she finally gets to tell it WITH them. Elisha Krauss and Heather Cooney join Kelly for a conversation that is going to genuinely change the way you show up for people. They get into what made them decide to come over that night, why the most powerful thing you can do for someone who is grieving has nothing to do with finding the right words, and how even near-strangers can make one of the biggest impacts of someone's entire grief journey. They also get practical: meal trains, what to send, what absolutely NOT to do (please stop asking "how are you?"), the dish return situation nobody talks about, and how to use your own specific skills to show up for someone going through any kind of hard season, whether that's loss, divorce, illness, or something else entirely. If you have someone in your life who is hurting, or if you've ever frozen up and done nothing because you didn't know what to do, this one is for you. This episode was kindly sponsored by Lifeway Foods. Learn more about Lifeway here! https://lifewaykefir.com/ Follow Elisha here: https://www.instagram.com/elishakrauss/?hl=en Follow Kelly on Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/kellyrizzo/?hl=en Listen on Apple Podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comfort-food-with-kelly-rizzo/id1716987177 Listen on Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/5PW46ZYYpLlUCRPWn0Vfm7?si=100c49d2f5f64975 Visit Kelly’s Kitchen- https://kelly-rizzo.com/ Join Comfort Club: https://www.comfortclubonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This one is really special. And really personal. Kelly recently found a grief journal tucked in her nightstand that she wrote in less than a month after losing Bob. The problem? She had completely forgotten she'd written in it. She opened it expecting blank pages... and found something that stopped her in her tracks. In this episode, Kelly reads from that journal for the first time in over four and a half years, going through the prompts she answered just weeks after Bob passed: the happy memories, the hardest time of day (nights, always nights), what she was holding onto (keeping the silverware in the right drawers because that's how he liked it), and the last memory they shared together before he left for his final trip. She also shares the lessons she wrote down that Bob taught her, things like always say I love you, order everything on the menu, and more. And she closes with something really practical: what you should NOT say to someone who is grieving, and what actually helps. This episode is coming out the week of what would have been Bob's 70th birthday. It feels like the right time to share it. If you're in grief right now, or supporting someone who is, or just missing someone you love, Kelly hopes this helps. Come find her on Instagram @KellyRizzo and keep the conversation going. Subscribe, rate, and review. It really does help more than you know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bestselling author Gabrielle Stone joins Kelly for one of the most kindred-spirit conversations Comfort Food has had yet. Gabrielle wrote the cult-favorite memoir Eat Pray FML, its sequel The Ridiculous Misadventures of a Single Girl, and her newest release with husband Tay, Finding You Through Finding Me. Her CliffsNotes story: married almost two years, blindsided by her husband's six-month affair with a 19-year-old. She filed for divorce, fell madly in love with a "well-known Hollywood actor" (Javier in the book), got invited on a month-long trip to Italy, and 48 hours before the flight, he broke up with her. So she went anyway. Six countries, one month, solo. And wrote a book about it. Kelly and Gabrielle dig into the love bombing red flags they would have missed at 28, Gabrielle's subconscious "when I love someone, they leave" wound (she lost her dad at 6 and her high school sweetheart at 18), why the relationship after the divorce often hurts worse than the divorce itself, and what it actually takes to reset your nervous system from toxic love to safe love. Plus where Javier is now (still, apparently, doing the same thing at 50). Honest, raw, funny. The kind of conversation you wish you could have over a bottle of wine. Grab Gabrielle's books, follow her on Instagram and TikTok, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. GABRIELLE'S BOOKS ON AMAZON: Eat Pray FML: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eat+Pray+FML+Gabrielle+Stone The Ridiculous Misadventures of a Single Girl: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ridiculous+Misadventures+of+a+Single+Girl+Gabrielle+Stone Finding You Through Finding Me: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Finding+You+Through+Finding+Me+Gabrielle+Stone FOLLOW GABRIELLE: Instagram: @gabriellestone TikTok: @gabriellestone FOLLOW KELLY: Instagram: @kellyrizzo TikTok: @kellyrizzo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Julie Smolyansky, CEO of LifeWay Foods — the largest kefir brand in the country — has one of the most extraordinary stories you'll ever hear. Born in Soviet Ukraine, her family defected behind the Iron Curtain when she was just one year old, arriving in America with $116 and no English. Her mother went on to open Chicago's first Slavic deli — and even brought the very first cases of Nutella to the United States. Her father, longing for the kefir he grew up with back home, eventually built LifeWay Foods from scratch. When Julie was just 27, her father passed away suddenly, and she stepped in as CEO — becoming the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company in US history. What followed was a decade of immense challenge, personal rock bottoms, and an unshakeable refusal to fail. Kelly and Julie talk about the immigrant work ethic that shaped them both, navigating grief while running a company, the gut-brain connection and why kefir is having its major cultural moment, and what it really means to turn pain into purpose. Plus they make a ridiculously good smoked fish farmer cheese dip live in the kitchen — and yes, it's as good as it sounds. This episode was kindly sponsored by Lifeway Foods. Learn more about Lifeway here! https://lifewaykefir.com/ Follow Kelly on Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/kellyrizzo/?hl=en Follow Julie on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/juliesmolyansky/?hl=en Listen on Apple Podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comfort-food-with-kelly-rizzo/id1716987177 Listen on Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/5PW46ZYYpLlUCRPWn0Vfm7?si=100c49d2f5f64975 Visit Kelly’s Kitchen- https://kelly-rizzo.com/ Join Comfort Club: https://www.comfortclubonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode is about the kind of pain no one talks about enough. Lala Kent opens up about hitting rock bottom, navigating public heartbreak, a horrific breakup, child custody, and the kind of emotional spiral that can make you feel like you’re not going to make it out. We talk about what it’s like when your life blows up publicly… and how you find your way back when everything feels lost. We get into: What rock bottom really looked like for Lala Dealing with public judgment while privately struggling (while the cameras were rolling) The moment she realized she had to rebuild her life How she pulled herself out of one of the darkest times What resilience actually looks like in real life Learning to trust yourself again If you’ve ever felt like your life fell apart and you had to start over… this one will hit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The night before my husband Bob passed away, I was lying in bed watching Sex and the City (...And Just Like That) Specifically… the episode where Mr. Big dies. I remember feeling completely gutted watching Carrie lose her husband so suddenly. I was thinking, that would be the worst thing imaginable. Trying to put myself in her shoes… trying to understand that kind of loss. And then, just hours later… it became my reality. In this episode of Comfort Food , I share one of the most surreal and emotional experiences I’ve ever had—watching a fictional version of sudden loss, and then living it myself almost immediately after. From standing in my closet surrounded by Bob’s clothes… to realizing I was experiencing the exact moments I had just watched on screen… this is a story about grief, shock, and the strange ways life can mirror art. We talk about: The emotional weight of everyday moments after loss Why nothing can prepare you for sudden grief The surreal experience of “recognizing” your own grief in something you’ve seen before And how deeply certain memories and objects can hold meaning If you’ve ever experienced something that felt too strange to be real… or had a moment where life felt like it was echoing something you’ve seen or felt before… this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if bullying didn’t end in high school? In this episode of Comfort Food , I sit down with my wonderful sister Kristin to talk about something we almost never hear about… what it’s like to be bullied as an adult. In my early 30s, I went through an experience that was confusing, isolating, and honestly, hard to even talk about at the time. It didn’t look like the bullying we’re used to hearing about… which made it even harder to recognize and deal with. We get into: what adult bullying actually looks like why it’s often minimized or overlooked the emotional and professional toll it can take and what helped me move through it This conversation is personal, honest, and something I know so many people quietly experience but don’t always have the words for. If you’ve ever felt targeted, excluded, or questioned your own reality in a situation like this… you’re not alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is it really like to build a career as a content creator? In this episode, I’m joined by my very dear friend Erica Eckman, founder of Ecko Digital Media. Erica and I actually started our journeys at the same time over a decade ago… with just a few thousand followers and no roadmap. Since then, our paths have taken very different directions. Erica built a powerhouse agency with over 40 employees that reps over 80 influencers- plus she's the co-founder of the massive wellness brand, FlavCity, while I leaned into hosting, media, and storytelling. In this conversation, we get honest about what it actually takes to grow and sustain a career in this space. We talk about: what people don’t see behind the scenes the pressure, burnout, and constant evolution how the industry has changed over the years and what it really means to “make it” online And then we’re joined by Erica’s wonderful sister, Melissa Metrano, a successful creator in her own right, and by successful, I mean well over 10 million followers across many platforms. She's a behemoth in the industry. We all have a candid conversation about navigating social media, identity, and growth from another perspective. We also get deeply personal about how our lives have evolved, how success can look very different than expected… and even how this industry has challenged our friendship at times. This is a real, unfiltered look at the highs, the pressure, and the reality behind being a content creator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dating after loss is something no one can fully prepare you for. In this episode of Comfort Food , I sit down with my dear friend, Amanda Kloots, to talk about what it’s really like to date as a widow — the emotional complexity, the challenges, and the unexpected growth that comes with opening your heart again. Amanda shares her journey of navigating grief while learning how to love again, the fears and judgments that can come with moving forward, and how she ultimately found a deeper understanding of herself through the process. This is a conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the reality that life after loss can still hold joy, connection, and even new love. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to rebuild your life after everything changes — or how to trust yourself again in relationships — this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Adult female friendships can be some of the most meaningful relationships in our lives… but also some of the hardest, especially as we get older. In this episode of Comfort Food , I sit down with one of my best friends, Tiffany Louise, therapist and life coach, for a very honest and relatable conversation about why friendships in your 40s can feel more complicated, more layered, and sometimes more painful than they used to. We talk about people pleasing, boundaries, friendship breakups, ghosting, nervous system triggers, and how inner child wounds can shape the way we show up in our relationships today. We also get into what makes a friendship nourishing versus draining, why so many women struggle with reciprocity, and how to build deeper, more meaningful connections. If you’ve ever outgrown a friendship, struggled to set boundaries, felt lonely even while surrounded by people, or wondered why friendship feels harder in adulthood, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
