Embrace Every Moment with Sandra Lee

*This transcript was auto-generated*

Kim:

Hey, everybody, Kim Gravel here. It's The Kim Gravel Show. And Zac, I gotta tell you, I'm excited about today's show because this guest, a lot of people know her, especially our female audience. A lot of them know her. I know you weren't familiar with her, but your wife was.

Zac:

But my wife was. Yeah.

Kim:

And the great thing about our guest is that she is so much more than what meets the eye. Meaning there is such a fierceness behind the cooking and the baking and the tv and all of that. She's a force of nature. And there's something about this woman that I want in my own life. It's her outlook and how she looks at things is different. I don't think I've ever met anybody that is so free in their own skin. And there's reasons for that. I mean, she battled breast cancer, she has had major, heartbreaking breakups.

Kim:

She comes from, like, nothing. I mean, no parents, no. No money, no real formal education. I mean, everything she has built herself. So you're going to be surprised, Zac, how much you learn and grow and just. I don't know how to say it. Just inspired in the realest kind of way. You know, people, a lot of people say, kim, you're so inspiring, you're such a builder.

Kim:

And I am, I am. But there's like, times I get stuck. Right, Zac? Like, I get stuck.

Zac:

Yeah.

Kim:

And so if you're stuck, we all get stuck. So if you're stuck right now and you're needing a little bit of a, like, slap across the face to kind of get you in line to where you need to be, this is probably the show you need to watch, right, Zac?

Zac:

Slap across the face. Hit me with it, Kim.

Kim:

Okay, well, we're gonna start slapping you across the face, y'all, when we get right. Come right back after this. Just wait til you hear who's coming. It's good. It's gonna be a surprise. And you're gonna get slapped across the face and you're gonna love it.

Sandra Lee:

This is The Kim Gravel Show. I'm a podcast virgin. Oh, my God. Now I know what it's gonna sound like when I get to go to heaven. I know it's naughty. And then I go to church and I pray about it. I'm sorry, but it's like my weakness.

Kim:

Lena, it's almost as big as my butt.

Sandra Lee:

It's about your family, it's about your girlfriends, and it's about your career.

Kim:

You gotta tell us some more of your beauty secrets.

Sandra Lee:

I baked a pie last night for.

Kim:

Myself, I would be buck wild, naked, swinging from a chandelier's.

Sandra Lee:

We're gonna be dead soon. Why are we pissed?

Kim:

Sandra, you have just solved all the world's problems. I am happier than a pig and slop today, y'all, because my guest is the multi Emmy and a Gracie award winner. She is an internationally acclaimed home and lifestyle expert. She's a philanthropist who won the President's volunteer service award. I mean, she is a New York Times bestselling author of listen, y'all, 27 books, and she's created and hosted shows on Netflix, ABC, NBC, Fox Food Network, HGTV, Discovery, and her new show that is called Blue Ribbon Baking Championship, y'all. It is so good. And it premiered on Netflix a few days ago. Let's welcome Sandra Lee.

Sandra Lee:

Oh, my gosh. NowI know what it's gonna sound like when I get to go to heaven.

Kim:

That's it, right? Play it one more time. I can see you at the pearly gates right now. Play it one more time.

Sandra Lee:

Please, God, no.

Zac:

Just look angelic while we play it, okay?

Kim:

Yeah. Sandra, give us the face.

Zac:

Kim. I think our show is, like, going to heaven. What do you think?

Kim:

And now we're done. Thank you and good night.

Sandra Lee:

Not yet. No, not yet.

Kim:

Sandra.

Sandra Lee:

I got breast cancer. I want to stay a while.

Kim:

Well, there's so much to talk about. I've got to just. Can I just brag on you for a few minutes? Because, like, I get to fangirl today. Like, none before. Because when I told Zac, I said, Zac, are you going to get Sandra Lee on? He's like, I am. I am. I am. Let me just tell you, I used to watch semi homemade, like, this was before we had Tivo.

Kim:

Remember we had Tivo and all that kind of stuff. I would actually physically record it on a VHS tape, Sandra, and I would watch it. I cannot tell you how many of your recipes I've made, how many books I have of yours.

Sandra Lee:

Oh, wow.

Kim:

I'm such a fan, girl. Let me tell y'all something. I'm sorry, Sandra. I'm gonna let you talk this episode. I promise. I'm gonna tell you, like, the way you would do, like, the holidays. Like a Halloween tablescape or a fall tablescape, or I would copy every little thing. Now, of course, I'd go spend $5,672 because I would never do it right.

Kim:

But, girl, your semi homemade empire. Is that how it all started for you, Sandra?

Sandra Lee:

It actually didn't. Oh, by the way, thank you for having me on the show. I've never done a podcast before. This is my first podcast.

Zac:

What?

Sandra Lee:

No, I like. I'm a podcast virgin.

Kim:

Zac, this is huge. Do you understand? I'm not. Yeah, I bet we won't be.

Zac:

Alas, I just. We have to do that. We have to do this.

Sandra Lee:

I've never done it before, so I'm so happy, and I'm so glad it's you, because I have to say, it is true. When you get. When you're in the room with the great Kim, and that's what we call you behind your back, we have a mutual friend named Tracy. And Tracy's like, you have to meet Kim. I'm like, who's Kim? She's like, you have to meet Kim. I'm like, my sister Kim. I know Kim. I'm really good with Kim.

Sandra Lee:

She's like, no, no, no. Kim Gravel. And I go, really? She goes, yeah, I'm super good friends with her. And I went, okay, hook us up. And this is before we had the QVC connection.

Kim:

I know, I know.

Sandra Lee:

But anyway, she just thinks, and as do I, now that I know you, you get in the room with you, and it's just like. It is the best energy. It's so much fun. It's such a girl time. It's such a real time. There's no baloney. You're so good because you never cuss. And I'm, like, the worst.

Kim:

Oh, I can cuss. I've cussed lately. Cause my kids are at home, and they're not. It's like, the middle of school. You know, school starts next Monday, and so I've cussed more than I would care to comment on this summer.

Sandra Lee:

For me, it's like meditation. It's like. Anyway, so it's impactful.

Kim:

It's impactful.

Sandra Lee:

Impactful. Sandra, you feel good when you do it, but I know it's naughty. I know it's naughty. And then I go to church and I pray about it. I'm sorry, but it's, like, my weakness. It's my one thing. So, anyway, so, yes, being with Kim is like being literally cocktail time. When you wake up in the morning, I can't even imagine what it's like to be married to you.

Sandra Lee:

Hi, honey.

Sandra Lee:

How you doing?

Kim:

My husband, bless his heart, believe it or not, like, I'm a nice person, but I'm really not. I don't lead with nice, but I always appreciate.

Sandra Lee:

Well, didn't you come to me at the Q 50 and go. I know what your deal is.

Kim:

I do. The one that's. Is that nice? Is that really nice? Or is it boss?

Sandra Lee:

No, it was a little like, oh, interesting. I never thought about it like that before. Yeah, but anyway, because I just. Over the map. That's the other thing you're always about.

Kim:

Sandra, we need more of you in our life. See, we miss you off of tv. I'm so glad you're coming out with this new show. No, I'm not kidding. I'm like, I'm not. I'm not shucking jiving you here. I'm serious.

Sandra Lee:

Thank you. And you're going to get it soon. So it did announce on Netflix. And I'll tell you where I started my career. You're not going to believe this. State fairs and home shows across the country.

Kim:

Oh, no, I get it.

Sandra Lee:

So when food competitions first started going out, there's two foodies. There's the people who like the stand and stir, which. Semi homemade with stand and stir, Rachel's stand and stir, giada. Like they're all standing there teaching you something. Then there was the competition, like, next Food Network star. But you don't learn as much on those as you do the standard stars. So people really, there was a backlash. It was huge.

Sandra Lee:

But there was also a backlash with competitions. And so I looked at this landscape and I went, wait, I come from state fairs. Like county and state fairs. I won the blue ribbon in the La county fair in 1992. I saw.

Kim:

And that ain't easy.

Sandra Lee:

That is the Indiana. No, at the Indiana State Fair in 1992. So I went, wait a minute, there's ribbons all over Michael's craft store, Joanne's craft store. You get a ribbon if you poop. It's amazing. So seriously, if you go potty, here's a ribbon. You're one years old. Here's a ribbon.

Sandra Lee:

Like, it's ribbons. So I thought, wait a minute. The first fair in the United States happened eleven years before we were a nation. In 1750. No, 1765. And then we became a nation in 1776. Right? That was in Pennsylvania, in York. And then, I think, I want to say it was then New York State Fair, Erie County, I want to say.

Sandra Lee:

And then it went down from there. So the original food competitions were at State fairs, blue ribbons. So I wanted to create a blue ribbon baking championship.

Kim:

That's brilliant.

Sandra Lee:

And best in fair ribbon. So Netflix says, yes, we'll do it. And we decided in August we were doing it, and we were filming in October with ten contestants from around the country. In all these, what kind of food?

Kim:

Just fair food. What is. What kind of food?

Sandra Lee:

All about baking. But this show could be barbecue. Like, if there was another show that came out of this format or kids, it will. Cause remember, people who are five or 95 all want to do this. And half our country goes to the state fair. Half of our country goes to a state or a county fair. It's a funnel kick.

Kim:

I do. Yeah. Well, you go. And why do you go? It's fun for the food. I go for the food.

Sandra Lee:

Of course.

Kim:

I go for the food.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah, you go for the food. I go for the exhibits and the shopping. I like the.

Kim:

I go for the food. The fried Twinkies. State fair food is everything. And, I mean, I don't mean to brag, but we do it well in the south. Tell me you have some southern contestants on this show.

Sandra Lee:

Of course. And my grandma, by the way, was from Louisiana.

Kim:

Okay.

Sandra Lee:

So I know how to make a mean fried chicken in my potato salad. Just saying.

Kim:

Okay. Okay, Sandra.

Sandra Lee:

All right, so banana. Just saying.

Kim:

Oh, God. Anything you make. And I love how, like, this is sweet tea. I know. You're every woman, my love. You're in.

Zac:

Did you drink that already, or is that something you did because of Kim?

Sandra Lee:

No, I was drinking it already. I have another pot on the stove.

Kim:

Yeah, she's a sweet tea.

Sandra Lee:

I can't drink too much coffee. I can drink only two cups of coffee. And then I switch.

Kim:

Oh, wow.

Sandra Lee:

So that's the. That's why I'm bionic this morning. Anyway, so how did.

Kim:

Okay, so we gotta go back. So you did that. How. So you started state fairs. How did you get semi homemade? Because, girl, that was an empire. That was not just, like, a little cute showing that that was. Didn't that kick off the brand? Everything was birthed from that. Correct.

Sandra Lee:

The state fairs were kind of, like the beginning of my career, really. And that's how I got to know what everybody really wants to see and how they live their lives and listening and talking and absorbing and being all over the United States. And everything that I've done was kind of birthed from that. By the way, the blue ribbon baking championship launches August 9.

Kim:

9th.

Sandra Lee:

August 9. That's when it launches or launched.

Kim:

And everybody's gonna binge it. They're going to binge it.

Sandra Lee:

They should, because wait till you see what happens. Stuff goes down, and, you know, I mean, shi. Like, you know, apostrophe, like, stuff goes down. Okay, so first of all, Jason Biggs is the host. I'm the co host.

Kim:

You're the co. You're. But you're a judge, too. Where is it filmed? I'm sorry?

Sandra Lee:

We built a fair. We didn't go to a state fair. We built the fair. We brought in the rides, we have the tent. We had the whole thing. But I created the show twelve years ago, Food Network. I took it to them first. I mean, semi homemade was semi homemade.

Sandra Lee:

And they're like, no, we don't wanna do it. We have carnival eats. I go. Carnival eats, I go. That has nothing to do with state fair. Blue ribbon winners. So it's former ribbon winners. Highly competitive people in all genres of baking coming together for the master, basically, of the best baker.

Sandra Lee:

$100,000 and the best in fair. Blue ribbon. Hold on a second, Lena, we have to do something like that. Lena, I need the blue ribbon.

Kim:

Get the blue ribbon.

Sandra Lee:

I need the blue ribbon. We need the blue bedroom, semi flavored bedroom.

Kim:

That's a whole nother podcast right there, Sandra. You know, we could go down that street, too, but we won't today. You have to come back.

Sandra Lee:

We won't. We'll have fun. I know. You know, I need to do the stand up, so that would be funny if we could really do it. Honey, have some. Two shots of vodka in your sweet tea. Let's do this.

Kim:

Why not? We can't. There's nothing stopping us. We're over 50 and fabulous.

Sandra Lee:

I know.

Kim:

Oh, what, are you kidding me right now, Sandra?

Sandra Lee:

And it just goes on for. It's bigger than my head.

Kim:

It's almost as big as my butt.

Sandra Lee:

I'm working on it.

Kim:

I love it.

Zac:

You could wear that.

Sandra Lee:

Look at this thing. I know. You could snatch here, like, it should.

Kim:

Be like, oh, that's gorgeous.

Sandra Lee:

Okay, so where are we? Okay, judges, so here's the deal, judges. I created the show twelve years ago, sold it to Netflix after Food Network said no. Netflix actually said no originally. And then I came back and they said yes. So from August to October, we started filming the show. We have ten competitors. One woman has 700 blue ribbons. She's from Des Moines, Iowa.

Kim:

Iowa. People can cook now. They can bake.

Sandra Lee:

And then, I mean, we have a New Yorker, we have someone from Minnesota. I'm from Wisconsin, and I won the La county. Like, we're all over the United States. So it's Jason Biggs from american pie. And you know what he did to his pie?

Kim:

Well, I was gonna say, is there any pies in it? That was my next. You know.

Sandra Lee:

And I don't have a flute, so there was no band camp. Just saying we have to have fun. Are you rated PG?

Kim:

No.

Zac:

You can say whatever you want, Sandra.

Kim:

People love Sandra. They know Sandra. She was a staple.

Sandra Lee:

They know I'm naughty.

Kim:

But now you're back. But you're back. You're back, back, back. How was it working with Jason?

Sandra Lee:

Fun. He's a comedian. I mean, how's it working with Jason? Right, right.

Kim:

I mean, it's.

Sandra Lee:

He's either laser focused on what he has to do or he's, like, out there.

Kim:

Yeah. And, you know, he's comedian. Sounds familiar. Sounds familiar.

Sandra Lee:

And he's got a great sense. It's a very dry sense of humor. And then all of a sudden he does that, and you're like, save it for your wife.

Kim:

But Sandra, can we do this? Can we talk about this, though? Because this is where people don't know about you. Okay? Like, I love to find. I love to. I love to tell people about my guests things they don't know about them. Like, they know you. They know you're a cook. They know you have semi homemade. This is a great new show.

Kim:

Everything is great. People do not know what a fierce businesswoman you are and a fierce networker. I don't think I have ever been around. Like, that's why I want to be, like, your best friend. That's why I want to really, like, get around you and just. Just, like, stay in your, like, atmosphere. Because I stink at networking. I just.

Kim:

Well, I just suck at it. I'm just not good at it. I'm not good at it.

Sandra Lee:

I like connecting people. I know, but people are really friends. Some people are really selfish with their friends. That's not me. I'm like, oh, my God, it's like, Tracy, you have to meet so and so. Oh, my gosh, you should be with so and so. It's like a constellation.

Kim:

But how did you do that? Like, tell us how you did that.

Sandra Lee:

Because there is not going to ever be. Kim, listen to me, ok? There's never going to be enough time to meet these wonderful women who are in the world because we're not going to be here enough days like you and I could have never met, which would have been a sin. Think about how many you and I's are out there, and we'll never get to meet them, which is terrible. So when I meet someone, I'm like, oh, my God, you have to meet everybody. I know. I've had great mentors in my life, as you probably have, too.

Kim:

I have too. I have to.

Sandra Lee:

And many of them have been women, but many of them have been men.

Kim:

Same.

Sandra Lee:

And, you know, I do have to say, you're right. I work like a lot of people think. I'm just sitting around baking cookies. And you know what? I love to bake cookies. And I dream about that too.

Kim:

Me too. I dream about eating them.

Sandra Lee:

I have to show you, so. I feel so bad. Lena.

Kim:

Lena, don't leave us.

Sandra Lee:

It's like a cow call. You know, when you do something at the state fair, like a husband call or a cow call or a pay call or whatever it is, like, I'm like. I'm like the thing, Lena. Poor thing.

Kim:

I love it.

Sandra Lee:

Lena, baby, are you out there anywhere?

Kim:

I need Zac. I need a Lena. Can somebody get me a Lena?

Sandra Lee:

I know, right?

Zac:

I need a Lena it too.

Sandra Lee:

I'm gonna show you something. It's gonna.

Kim:

Okay, show.

Sandra Lee:

Here's what I did between six and nine. Oh, yeah, just hand me all of them.

Kim:

See Zac.

Zac:

What time do you wake up?

Sandra Lee:

Okay, so this is a spreadsheet with my notes. This is what I did for the first two days. These are state fairs that I want to do. And I called all of them and talked to most of them. And then I break it down by what are they doing and how many attendants? And then I break it down to, what is this? Who's in my timeline? And then I break it down to where am I going next year? And then I build something super pretty like this. And then I can look at it and be happy because I'm like, ooh, pretty place. But it's a lot of work to do what I do. So when you're thinking about marketing estate fair, it's not just like going on Good Morning America, which I, the 6th is my good Morning America.

Sandra Lee:

Or going on Fox or doing people magazine or Us magazine or any of those. It's also about who's. What's going on in Indiana. Really? What's going on Wisconsin. Really? What's going on in Minnesota. Really? What's going on in Washington state? Have I talked to my Pomoda connections yet? Because I won their blue ribbon. I just talked to them like, where's Jason from? New Jersey? I have to text that woman. So for me, I actually sit here and do it myself.

Kim:

Yeah, yeah.

Sandra Lee:

And a lot of people do that.

Kim:

No, they don't.

Sandra Lee:

So get out of bed, drink your coffee, get your sweet tea, and go to work.

Kim:

Sandra, is that what it really takes to.

Sandra Lee:

Yes.

Kim:

You know, because I just know, like, boots on the ground. Yeah, girl, me too. That's what. That's how we've got our business where it is. It's just grind. It's a grind, grind. We got it. Boots on the ground.

Kim:

Just. It's not a hustle either. It truly is a grind, wouldn't you say?

Sandra Lee:

But it's. You know what, I meet the most delightful people. Like, I met a woman named Annaliese today, and she and I just were on the phone. I go, we have to have dinner like you and I. And before that was, Marla introduced me to Annaliese, and before that was renee from Puyall fair that introduced me to Marla. It's like everybody, if you have good intention, and you share your intention, because so many people are afraid to share their dream, or I help people understand who they are, they want to be someone they're really not. I don't care if I was raised on welfare and food stamp. Who cares? I'm here, like, I did a great job, and I'm going to continue to do a great job.

Sandra Lee:

And even if I didn't make semi homemade and even if I didn't do that whole thing with my life, I would still feel like I did a great job.

Kim:

After semi homemade. Cause, I mean, you went on a journey in politics after semi homemade and all that. Do you regret any of that? Sandra, is there anything that you look back? Cause there's probably a lot of people our age. Cause I'm 53. I just turned 53 a few days ago. I know you. I'm not even gonna tell your age. Cause ain't nobody gonna believe it if I told em, no, I'm 58.

Kim:

Yeah. I mean, bull. I wanna say the receipts on that.

Sandra Lee:

No, I'm 58. I agree. Dermalogica. The problem is they keep. They keep changing the lines. They keep changing all the products in the line. So I'm literally creating in my kitchen, fricking the face scrub.

Kim:

Yeah, you just slather and lather. But let me ask you something. Do you look back in regret, though? Because there's so many people that are saying, I'm in my fifties, I'm in my sixties, it's too late for me. It's passed.

Sandra Lee:

There's one thing I'm going to regret if I don't get it done. But when I was diagnosed in 2015, I literally said, what do I have breast cancer?

Kim:

With breast cancer?

Sandra Lee:

Yes. Yes, breast cancer. And then I kept getting infection after infection, and I have problems and all this stuff, and I couldn't take hormones, I couldn't do anything, and I was like, okay, everything else out. Everybody out. Everything out. If I don't need it, it needs to go from me because I need everything I need. And that includes hormone replacement. That includes all these things.

Sandra Lee:

And doctors here are like, no fricking way. And then you go to Germany and they're, like, decades ahead of us when it comes to medical stuff. So I saw doctors over there, and finally I found the right doctors here. Bye. Going flip in there. It's ridiculous. So.

Kim:

So you grind it out. Even with your health. Even with your health, you were grinding.

Sandra Lee:

I grinded out. I'm already making reservations for my two nephews and their girlfriends for New Year's Eve, literally, because they want to go to New York, so they're going to stay in my place and they're going to go have fun. But, you know, it's about your family, it's about your girlfriends, and it's about your career and how do you slice those up and something gives. I don't. I don't get to work out every day, and I don't get to work out most days.

Kim:

Oh, I hate that for you. I absolutely hate that for you. I would be. Working out is torture.

Sandra Lee:

I know, but I like to eat like Johnsonville brats, and that's it.

Kim:

Like, I could eat. I can out eat an NFL lineman. Seriously.

Sandra Lee:

I baked a pie last night for myself.

Kim:

What kind? What kind, Sandra, what kind?

Sandra Lee:

Moysenberry, BlackBerry and raspberry.

Kim:

Oh, God bless Jesus. Ice cream. Whipped cream. No cream.

Sandra Lee:

Vanilla ice cream on it. And literally watched it melt. And then when it melted, I jumped in bed and I watched Vikings. And then I go to sleep and I'm like, I'm afraid I'm going wonder why I can't sleep. I don't know. I'm watching Vikings eating. Goodbye.

Kim:

So let me ask you, this. Is vikings not the hottest show? Are those men? Not like, what is it about? Okay, talk. Speak it out. Uh huh.

Sandra Lee:

I'm a warm. Seriously, I'm like, a little warm. So hot.

Kim:

They are hot.

Sandra Lee:

I mean, I'm straight, but the women are even.

Kim:

Everybody is hot on that show. But can you imagine being back then at that time? It probably like, thank God there's no smell o vision. Cause, you know them people were rank back then, but they were hot.

Sandra Lee:

Oh, my God. One of the scenes, the guy's walking through the alley, and then all of a sudden it's like, plop. And the guy looks up and he's like. And you know that it's b. And you just go, oh, God. And it brings you right back to, I love our life. I love our planet. I love everything.

Kim:

I love my toilet. I love to sit and be able to wipe with toilet paper. That's never on the roll, by the way. Cause I live with all men, so I have to put it on there myself. But I'm grateful. Now, this is all your. You gotta tell us some more of your beauty secrets, because the audience wants to know.

Sandra Lee:

So, beauty. I don't know. I used putty for base. It's Joe Blasco. They just discontinued it. But how great is that stuff? That coverage is fast.

Kim:

That's your sign. You gotta make it. You have to make it yourself. You're gonna have to make it yourself. I said it. When we scout on this, I said, you need to have a beauty line. You need to really be full lifestyle 360. Okay?

Sandra Lee:

I do want to have a beauty line and a skincare line. And have a fashion line, because I have a very specific aesthetic. Normally, I wear clothes. But we were talking about the men in vikings, so we were saying, hot flash.

Kim:

We're hoping everyone at home listening is relating.

Sandra Lee:

So, wait, what about you? How did you start in fashion? Like, you have, like, cute stuff?

Kim:

Well, I just had a reality tv show called Kim of Queens. And so after doing that, I knew that, you know, I've always been entrepreneurial and didn't know it. Like, I'm an accidental entrepreneur. Entrepreneur person. And. Is that even a word? Entrepreneurial person? Yeah, that's a word.

Sandra Lee:

Yes.

Kim:

And so I just, you know, like, you, I just didn't know any boundaries. I thought, well, you know what? If Martha can do it, I can do it. If. If, you know, I was going to say Gloria Vanderbilt. Does that tell our age? If Gloria Vanderbilt could do it, I could do it. If Michael Kors could do it, you know, and. And I knew my audience. I knew.

Kim:

I knew our girl Sandra. Like, how you know your people, how you've. You've traveled the streets, you've gone to those fairs, you've. You've.

Sandra Lee:

You've spoken to those people, and you've been their lives. Right?

Kim:

And can I just say, Sandra, we're all pretty much alike, just in different ways.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah.

Kim:

Like, I know for women, we all. Like, even if you don't have children, you. You know the woman's plight. Even if you do have a family, you know what I'm saying? We're all caretakers at heart. We're all nurturers, and we're tired and we need each other.

Sandra Lee:

Not after two cups of coffee and a potey. Or not.

Kim:

Well, I need to get one.

Sandra Lee:

Just don't tell your husband, because he'll be like, hey, baby, time's out.

Kim:

No, no, thank you.

Sandra Lee:

Time's out. Time out.

Kim:

Time out.

Sandra Lee:

I love. I love what you just said. And I'm going to tell you a little secret.

Kim:

Tell me.

Sandra Lee:

When I got up this morning, I walked in the kitchen to make that first cup of coffee, and I literally walked myself to the pot. I go, you can do it, Sandy. Pull it out. Today's gotta matter. Every day's gotta matter. You gotta do it, Sandy. And I walked myself to the kitchen, and I turned on the pot, and I pulled my flowers out of the vase, and I cut the stems and I replaced the water in my sleep, stuck them back in, poured my coffee, walked over to my chair, plopped down, drank my coffee, listened to my classical music, motivating myself with the words, you can do it, Sandy. It's another day.

Sandra Lee:

It'll be fine, Sandy. Just do it, Sandy. And I learned that from Taylor Swift. How crazy is that? And here's what I learned from her. To talk to yourself. Because she was in the car talking about someone who was hating on her, and she. And it was hurting her feelings. And she told the story of how she had to say to herself, wait a minute.

Sandra Lee:

We've gone through this before. We've been through this before. We decided we're not going to do this anymore. So why are we doing this again? This does not work for us. It's not good for us, so knock it the hell off. And she said, when she said that, I'm like, yeah, you just have to change your mindset. And that's all it is. You have to walk yourself through your day.

Sandra Lee:

If your husband's having a bad day, you'll have. I mean, you want to just let it out on him, but you can't. I do sometimes, but you can't.

Kim:

I do, too. I'm bad about it.

Sandra Lee:

Lose my mind. If he gets upset, I'm like, are you kidding? We're alive. Knock it off. Yeah, it's true.

Kim:

It's true.

Sandra Lee:

We're gonna be dead soon. Why are we pissed? Like, what is there to be unhappy?

Kim:

There's your quote, Zac. There's your quote.

Sandra Lee:

Yep.

Kim:

That is your quote. That is pissed. Sandra, you have just solved all the world's problems, y'all. No, no, no, no. Everybody shut up and listen. That is huge. We're gonna be dead soon. Why are we so pissed? What'd you say again?

Sandra Lee:

Yeah, we're gonna be dead soon. Why are we pissed?

Kim:

Why are we pissed?

Sandra Lee:

Because not living our best lives every second of every day.

Kim:

Yes.

Sandra Lee:

Like, we're gonna see enough. Like, it's enough. Like, knock it off. Be happy.

Kim:

Well, that's. That's. I mean, I wanna say that about what's going on in our, you know, the environment out there and what people are. How mean each other people are on social media and how, you know, in our government, in our relationships, in our. You're so right.

Sandra Lee:

People treat animals sometimes.

Kim:

Yes, girl. We're here for a blip. We are here for a blip. My dad said this. He's 79 years old. And he said to me the other day, he's like, look, in about 50 years, after I'm gone, nobody will even know I was ever here.

Sandra Lee:

I know. Isn't that scary?

Kim:

So, like, be here. Now I'm gonna get emotional because.

Sandra Lee:

Don't. Cause he's 79, my uncle.

Kim:

And then my 26 year old nephew is living like, you know, the devil. I mean, he's just, like. He's, like, wasting his life. And he's so talented and so amazing, and it's just like yours. What are we. Yeah. What are we all doing here? We're here for such a short time.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah, but some people, it takes them a little longer than it takes other people.

Kim:

Sure, sure. But what you just said was so true.

Sandra Lee:

It is true.

Kim:

Oh, no, honey. I have complete faith. I have complete faith. I mean, you know, I was a slow learner, too. I'm just saying, like, you're so right. Life is so short.

Sandra Lee:

Life. So don't be pissed. So knock it off and let's go. Get up every morning and say, you can do it. Let's go. Life's too short. Not enough time. Can't be pissed.

Kim:

Okay, let me ask you this. Let me ask you this, Sandra. So, like, somebody's listening to you right now, and they're. And they're saying, oh, my gosh, I'm such a fan. I love Sandra, because, I mean, when you hit, you did that live stream. And we're on. We're on QVC that day. You blew it out the water.

Kim:

Like, people adore you and have been dying to see you. So you've got to watch the show, the blue ribbon baking. You've got to watch that champion show on Netflix August 9. Got to watch that out now, because.

Zac:

This will air after, obviously, yes. Out now.

Kim:

It's out now. So somebody's out there watching, and you are like, they're such a fan, and they're a huge inspiration. What kind of encouragement would you give them, wherever they are in their life, with whatever they want to do? Maybe they want to get. Maybe they want to have a better marriage. Maybe they want to find a husband. Maybe they want. Because. Aren't you engaged? Aren't you engaged now?

Sandra Lee:

I have commitment rings. Yes, I do.

Kim:

Oh, oh, okay. Okay. And is he. How old is he?

Sandra Lee:

He has a commitment ring. He's ten years younger than I am, which is the first younger man, really, I've ever had. That sounded bad. The first younger man I've ever had. I normally go for older men, is what I meant. I love that song and never gets from this.

Zac:

We're just gonna take all these out of context, and we're just gonna post them all over the Internet. I hope that's okay.

Kim:

That's where the most profound thing that was said. Get on with it. Shut up and get on with it. We're only here for short time. Yes.

Sandra Lee:

We're gonna die.

Kim:

Knock it off. That is, like, the best words of wisdom that I have ever heard.

Sandra Lee:

Like, plain spoken. No. Here's what I would say. Listen, girls, if you don't like your life, change it. I mean, I changed mine. You can imagine the position I was sitting in and what I did to change that was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done and one of the most painful things I've ever done.

Kim:

Which one?

Sandra Lee:

Ever to get over it. When I had the big breakup, when I had that big breakup, that was very painful, and, you know, the repercussions are still being seen today by everyone. I won't get into that. Bigger story.

Kim:

That's a bigger story. But the story is that you overcame in. Okay, I overcame.

Sandra Lee:

If you can come from welfare and food stamps with parents that were not really available or involved, build a life out of nothing and create something that everybody can benefit from and could make their life better. If you're always looking to serve the greater good, come on. Come to you. And it's really easy to say that, I know from my perspective, but it's what I did, and it's what I live. If you get up every day and you work hard and you are nice and you connect and you stay connected, and that's hard to do sometimes because you get in your own head. I do, too. You get in your own head. You get in your own house.

Sandra Lee:

You want to stay home. You don't want to deal with the world, because sometimes there's real mean people out there, aggressive people. And I'm not saying I'm perfect every single day, but I'm not cruel and I'm not mean, and I mostly happy. I mean, my blood type is. Be positive. But if you can just go.

Kim:

Oh, my God. That's your fifth sound bite. I hope you're getting all of this down, Zac. Okay, go ahead.

Sandra Lee:

We're doing it right. And if you have an a, by the way, you won the lottery, because an a is like, you won.

Kim:

Okay.

Sandra Lee:

You get it.

Kim:

Oh, my God. I'm a negative blood type, and I have the rh factor. What's my. What's my outcome here? What's my outcome? Oh, that's right. I'm an alien. That's what they're telling me on tick tock. If you've got my blood type, which is. I think it's, like, a b negative.

Kim:

It's, like, the rarest one. My dad and I think we're aliens.

Sandra Lee:

Take me with you.

Kim:

Okay. Be me up. Scotty, you're going with me.

Sandra Lee:

Take me with me.

Kim:

You're going with me.

Sandra Lee:

We'll have so much fun. Oh, my God. I can't even imagine. I haven't even had a cocktail with you yet. Oh, gosh.

Kim:

I don't drink. If I drank, I would be a naked drink drunk. No. If I drank, Sandra, I would be buck wild, naked, swinging from a chandelier seat. God knows my limitations.

Sandra Lee:

You have to meet my sister.

Kim:

She's a Kim, too.

Sandra Lee:

She's Kimmy. Yeah. Kimberly. To Oktoberfest. And literally, like, we have fun. Like, when we go, we have fun. It was Oktoberfest. So Kimmy, who's perfect in every way, literally, my sister is perfect.

Kim:

But didn't you, like, raise her? Didn't you raise her? Didn't you raise your siblings and your family?

Sandra Lee:

Basically, Sandra, we all raised each other. And, you know, I probably. I'm the eldest, so, yeah, I'm sure I was a bigger mentor. And. And I look at them as my kids. I do. I always feel like I'm raising other people's kids, but my siblings are my heart. My one brother, who's a postman up in Washington state, he's in Hawaii with his family right now.

Sandra Lee:

And Kimmy's in real estate, and Johnny drives truck, and I do what I do. So we're all kind of just like, out there doing, you know, making the world hopefully a better place as you are.

Kim:

Well, that's all. Can I just say? Business is fun, but I know my calling in life is to, like you said, leave the world a little bit better, you know, when it's over, when we're done, when our little bit of this time on earth is done. So I'm not going to be pissed about it. I'm going to get busy because that is the advice of the century. Seriously. It's that simple.

Sandra Lee:

Thanks.

Kim:

It is that simple.

Sandra Lee:

It's pretty plain spoken, and I think everybody can relate.

Kim:

Yeah.

Sandra Lee:

What are you doing?

Kim:

And I love how you say, if I can do it, anybody can do it. If I can change my life, you know? Okay, Sandra, for you, I have to let you go because I know you, like, got probably a million things. I'm so glad we're the first podcast you've ever been on.

Sandra Lee:

I have my spreadsheet to get back.

Kim:

To, but before you leave, before you leave, I want you to do this thing called rapid fire. So the first. And this. You're gonna be the best at this. I know it. I can already tell Zac, she says that to everybody. No, I don't. I have high hopes for a lot of people, but believe it or not, most people aren't good at it.

Zac:

Here's the thing, Sandra, she does say it to everyone. She means it when she says it to you.

Kim:

Well, no, that's not true. I don't. I mean it. I'm hopeful because, you know, when you talk to people, you think, oh, they're so quick witted, whatever. But they get in these situations and they're not. So I have full confidence in you. So whatever comes up, comes out. First thing comes to your mind.

Kim:

Out your mouth. Here we go. Rapid fire. Questions. If you were a pet, what would you name? What would your name be if I was a pet?

Sandra Lee:

Aspen. That was my dog's name. I love that name.

Kim:

That's a great name. That's a great name for it.

Sandra Lee:

That's my bird's name.

Kim:

Ah, Phoenix is fantastic. And that is really your life, Phoenix.

Sandra Lee:

Oh, thank you.

Kim:

Okay, here we go. What is your favorite kitchen gadget?

Sandra Lee:

A grater.

Kim:

Yeah.

Sandra Lee:

Grater.

Kim:

Yeah. What kind of. Okay, great. All graters are not graded.

Sandra Lee:

Wine opener. Well, my champagne saver. My champagne saver.

Kim:

Why didn't we invent that? Okay, here we go. What three things does everyone need in their pantry?

Sandra Lee:

Okay, you gotta have ground beef. Well, pantry or fridge or both.

Kim:

Whatever in your staples in the kitchen.

Sandra Lee:

Duncan hounds. Brownie mix. The one with the pouch syrup. Just saying. I am only saying this because I am assuming you have the basis of milk, eggs, bananas, blah, blah, blah. What else do I have in my pantry that I have to have? I mean, do you want naughty stuff?

Kim:

Anything. Whatever you're feeling.

Sandra Lee:

French onion dip and ruffles.

Kim:

And that dip. Hell of a dip. Is a good diphthere.

Sandra Lee:

So is Dean's.

Kim:

Dean's is great. It's my go to, but I tried. Hell of a dip, because Dean's was out. It ain't that bad.

Sandra Lee:

Okay, this is awful. Like, what do you have to have? Well, okay, so naughty. Yeah, you have to have pieces naughty. Like when I. When I really feel like I deserve something special, I bake a pie.

Kim:

which was last night.

Sandra Lee:

You know? Which was last night. But, yeah, you have to have the basics. Like, you have to have a good ground beef, and with a ground beef, you should have a mustard or ketchup. With kids, like, that's like a go to and to eat. Easy breezy. What's in my fridge right now? Guacamole. You have to have avocados. And red onion.

Kim:

Red onion.

Sandra Lee:

And red onion. And sour cream, please. My lip is quivering. And then I always have graham crackers on the side. Like, that's a good side. Sweet hustle.

Kim:

What is the scariest thing on your bucket list?

Sandra Lee:

Not completing my goals.

Kim:

Mmm. Yeah. What's one rule that you wish you could make everyone in the world follow?

Sandra Lee:

Don't worry, be happy.

Kim:

Don't worry. Be. Uh huh. Just get busy about it. Don't be pissed. That's it. Period. End of story.

Sandra Lee:

Don't be gonna die.

Kim:

We're gonna die, so don't be pissed. That is the. I swear to y'all, that is the best honking thing I've heard in a long time. And we could break that down if we had time because there's a lot in there to unpack. Okay. What movie sequel would you write? Would you want to star in? What movie sequel?

Sandra Lee:

Well, my favorite movie in the whole wide world is called Family man with Nicolas Cage. And, yeah, at Christmas. Like, that's my favorite, favorite movie. So probably the sequel to that.

Kim:

Yeah. Or you could do, like, grease three and be Sandy.

Sandra Lee:

I could. That would be fun. I have the outfit underneath my bed, literally right now.

Kim:

No, I'm serious. Can you see that? Like, you're coming?

Sandra Lee:

No, I'm serious, too.

Kim:

Look, at that. I have the finger. Sandra D. Uh huh. You're done.

Sandra Lee:

Sandra Lee.

Kim:

What's one thing cancer taught you?

Sandra Lee:

We're gonna die. Don't be pissed.

Kim:

Thank you. I'm so glad you said that. Thank you for following that lead. Okay. If you could travel to one historical time, what would it be?

Sandra Lee:

00000 I know this one.

Kim:

I know you know. You know everything.

Sandra Lee:

I'm a huge fan of France. And I would like to go back to Versailles when it was being built and architect. And there was an architect. I'd love to see the gardens, which Kate Winslet did an incredible movie about. Yeah. That would be where I would like to go.

Kim:

Who's your celebrity crush?

Sandra Lee:

You.

Kim:

Oh, I'll take it. I'm not even gonna. I'm not. I'm just gonna say thank you very much. You have great taste.

Zac:

Wait just 1 second? Kim? I just want to share something because Sandra was saying that and I just want to share my screen for a second because.

Kim:

What are you doing? What are you doing?

Zac:

I mean, because, like, your instagram, you've already done it. You've been to France.

Sandra Lee:

You've. Oh, yeah. I made that dress.

Zac:

You made this dress?

Sandra Lee:

I made.

Zac:

It's crazy. Yeah.

Sandra Lee:

Look at this.

Kim:

Yeah.

Sandra Lee:

I literally made that dressed.

Kim:

Sandra, when was this?

Sandra Lee:

This was in May 1 of my friends is one of the heads of events for Versailles, and they were having their big fancy ball and he said, you should come. It's full, but you have to wear a full. And he sent it to me five times. You have to dress like. You have to dress in the period. That's two wigs. That's probably five different hair pieces. And the second half of the hair piece I made the bag out of and wrapped that in the same sand everywhere.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah.

Zac:

It's amazing here.

Sandra Lee:

Wait, honey. I have emmys for my Halloween.

Kim:

Well, your Halloween. Any. Your fall decorations, if you need any of that.

Zac:

Yeah, I can see that.

Sandra Lee:

You'll see the peasant, the peasant base. If you keep clicking through. Keep clicking through the other one. The one with me walking down the hall.

Zac:

Okay.

Kim:

Keep going. Keep clicking.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah. The one. That one can click through that.

Kim:

Dang.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah, that's like. There's the dress. That's the peasant dress that is going to Cinderella. That is like the Cinderella dress.

Kim:

Okay. I'm telling you. Right. Zac, did I did that?

Zac:

I know.

Kim:

Did I exaggerate about it? This woman? Okay.

Zac:

No, not at all.

Sandra Lee:

What was your dream? What did you do with a hot glue gun?

Kim:

Well, hot glue and sandra Lee by your side. Who is your dream?

Zac:

Nothing you can't do with a hot glue gun.

Kim:

Who is your dream dinner party guest?

Sandra Lee:

Cher.

Kim:

Yeah. Yeah.

Sandra Lee:

I know her. I know her.

Kim:

You know everybody.

Sandra Lee:

She's so sweet. Oh, my God.

Kim:

Does she look better? By the way?

Sandra Lee:

The only one that does Cher better than Cher is me.

Kim:

Do it.

Sandra Lee:

Do it. I look great as Cher. I do. I look better as Cher than myself.

Zac:

You've never seen me in drag. No, I'm sorry.

Sandra Lee:

And I was dying to meet Meryl Streep. And I met her once at a passing at the, when she played Julia Child. And she's. There's three women I wanted to meet my whole life. Ashley, four. Cher. Meryl, Margaret Thatcher and Diana. Margaret and Diana.

Sandra Lee:

When I get to heaven. I've met Cher a couple times, and I had just met Meryl. But here's the weird thing that happened. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a Friday at five. And I was just coming off of People magazine. Most beautiful shoot. Literally, I was in the car. I was looking at Freedom Tower.

Sandra Lee:

I got the call from the doctor. I said to the cab driver, turn left. He turns left. We pulled up to a restaurant. I got out, I walked up to the bar, and I did my college. My college comfort food drink. I'm like, I'll have a kamikaze and then I'll have another. Literally.

Sandra Lee:

I met a friend. I called my sister. I called my then partner. I went in the. In there. They took me in my seat, sat me down with a friend who was sitting next to me, Meryl Streep. Meryl Streep. She had no idea what had just happened to me.

Sandra Lee:

And I'm sure I looked a wreck because I'd been crying. But I walked up and talked to her about the problem with. There was a bird that was living in the building on her deck, and she was sitting with her husband. And we just had a nice chat. And I went back to my table and, you know, continued to go through my evening. But it was just. It's weird how God gives you those interesting moments during those really interesting moments.

Kim:

But you have manifested them. Yes. You manifested that, and your girlfriend will manifest a husband.

Sandra Lee:

I manifested Meryl Streep. I mean, there's, you know, we have.

Kim:

To have priorities, and I'm gonna manifest, you know, this chili slaw dog I'm gonna have for lunch. It's gonna happen. Here we go. Your favorite junk food, salty and sweet. And let me just say, I want it to be as junky as it can be. Like, don't give me, like, kale chips with swiss cheese. None of that.

Sandra Lee:

I can give you both in one thing.

Kim:

Okay.

Sandra Lee:

You do. It's called a payday, right?

Kim:

Payday is underrated. The nougat, the salty girl. Payday is sometimes, like, when I go into, like, a convenient. I start to get gas work. I just go in and get a payday. And they still make those bad boys.

Sandra Lee:

Mm hmm. White package, red lettering, blue outline. All american. Heyday, baby.

Kim:

What is it about? Is it the. Is it the nuts?

Sandra Lee:

It's the nuts that are so salty that go down into the softest nougat that melts in your mouth. So you got the crunch, and you have this thing that just melts on your tongue, and all the flavors come together. And then the problem is, is your mouth automatically wants to swallow it because it's so good. Like, a good taco. Right? But, like, I have, like, I'm a mexican food junkie.

Kim:

That's me too. Our family is, too.

Sandra Lee:

That's all I want is either mexican food or french food. Mexican food or french food. To me, that's all well fried chicken and my sister's lasagna. But other than that, a good Johnsonville brat with some kraut mustard.

Kim:

Just whatever is there. But, like, yeah, mexican food. Payday is so freaking good.

Sandra Lee:

Thank you. I'm glad I'm good at your game. Any more questions?

Kim:

I knew you were gonna be. Yes. I got a couple more. Just hold on.

Sandra Lee:

Okay.

Kim:

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Sandra Lee:

I have one better than this, but I can't think of it. So I'm gonna say an unfrosted strawberry pop tart.

Kim:

Oh, so we're unfrosted. Girl, you don't do the frosted.

Sandra Lee:

My grandma raised me on the unfrosted. I don't like the frosted tradition. It's too sweet. It's too sweet. It's like a man. You want a sweet man, but if he's too sweet, you're just like.

Kim:

You can't argue with that. I'm gonna leave you with this last one. I mean, that's so deep and so true. It's so true. That's what I'm like. Sandra is full of, like, nuggets. Okay, one last question. Sandra, what do you hope for with your brand, your person, your being? What do you.

Kim:

What do you hope to add before, you know, life is so short, so why be pissed?

Sandra Lee:

I.

Kim:

What are you trying to do with your short time that you're here?

Sandra Lee:

I want to change daytime television, and I have the show. I think that will do it. And I can't. That's why I can't talk about my third bucket list.

Kim:

OMG. Okay, y'all heard it here first. We're breaking news here. We are so much. You've got to come back and talk about other aspects. Like, you have done so much and been around so much and seen so much that I see a book in your future.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah, it's called now they can watch. I'm not talking about the girls.

Kim:

I understand. I know exactly what you're saying. All right, y'all, you can connect with Sandra on Instagram at Sandraleeonline. And Sandra's website is Sandra Lee. That's Sandralee.com And you've got to watch Sandra's new Netflix show. And Facebook everywhere.

Kim:

Just type in Sandra Lee. And you can watch Sandra's new Netflix cooking competition show, blue ribbon baking championship. It is brand new and is out now. Sandra, will you come back on Netflix now? Can you tell us who wins? No.

Sandra Lee:

No.

Kim:

Can you tell me?

Sandra Lee:

No. No, I can, but then, you know, I'd have to.

Kim:

Shoot me.

Sandra Lee:

No.

Kim:

Take me out. No, you can't tell me exactly. Cause I can't hold.

Sandra Lee:

You're gonna know. All you have to do is watch the show. Everybody knows, but you have to watch the show, right?

Kim:

Everybody knows, but you have to watch the show. That's all we're gonna say. And one last time, your words of wisdom. This is. This is the title of your next.

Sandra Lee:

Book is don't be pissed. Life's too short. No, it's don't be pissed. We're all gonna die.

Kim:

Yeah, we're all gonna die.

Sandra Lee:

Why are we pissed? We're all gonna die.

Kim:

We're all gonna die.

Sandra Lee:

We're all gonna die. Don't be pissed.

Kim:

That's it.

Sandra Lee:

That's right. I love you.

Kim:

I love you.

Sandra Lee:

Yeah.

Kim:

I did. I hit it. Yeah, I did.

Zac:

All right, well, good job. This is gonna make the bloopers did. We just did a blooper. Yay.

Sandra Lee:

I see you.

Zac:

I love it.

Kim:

I see you. I got you bigger. I got you big right here, too. Boom. I'm a voiceover. I'm a voiceover artist. Just kidding. The Kim Gravel Show is produced and edited by Zac Miller at Uncommon audio.

Kim:

Our associate producer is Kathleen Grant from the Brunette Exec. Production help from Emily Bredin and Sara Noto. Our cover art is designed by Sanaz Huber at Memarian Creative. Our show is edited by Mike Kligerman. Our guest intros are performed by Roxy Reese. Our guest booking is done by Central Talent booking, and I want to give a special thank you to the entire team at QVC, and thanks to you for making this community so strong. Listen, tell somebody about the show and leave us a five star review. And make sure you're following the Kim Gravel show on your podcast app so we can keep growing this love who you are message together. I can't do this without you.

Kim:

So thank you so much for listening. And y'all, I love you with everything I got.