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Trading Secrets

264. Jake Cohen: From the Culinary Institute of America to best-selling cookbook author, the true BTS of the culinary industry, his unconventional career path, & the shocking $$$ behind it all

Trading Secrets

Audioboom Studios

News, Business News, Business, Entrepreneurship, Education, Self-improvement

5 • 5.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2025

⏱️ 90 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Jason is joined by bestselling author, chef, and digital creator, Jake Cohen!
Jake has become one of the most recognizable culinary voices of his generation, building an empire at the intersection of food, culture and social media. Jake has used his creativity to turn recipes into a thriving brand. His cookbooks Jew-ish, I Could Nosh, and his recent release Dinner Party Animal became instant bestsellers - earning praise for blending nostalgia with modern flavor, and for celebrating heritage beyond food. Jake is a master of brand strategy. Through his Wake and Jake platform, he has launched partnerships with major brands, developed original media content, and positioned himself as a culinary entrepreneur, redefining what it means to build a kitchen brand in a digital age. 
Jake Cohen dives into his unconventional career path—jumping from the Culinary Institute of America into a 3-star Michelin kitchen, navigating low-paying editorial roles, test kitchens, and even a year as a Time Out New York food critic—all while staying true to himself and chasing an end goal he couldn’t yet fully see. He breaks down the realities of making ends meet, the differences between editorial and commercial shoots, how labor impacts the way he approaches dining out, and why maintaining a healthy relationship with social media matters. Jake opens up about his first cookbook pitch getting rejected, the surprising cost of cookbook photography, taking creative control of his team after book one, nearly joining a culinary hype house, and his “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” philosophy. He also shares how his Hulu show Jake Makes It Easy came together, when he knew he had the makings of a reality star, the power of word-of-mouth momentum, and closes with rapid fire questions.
Jake reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!
Host: Jason Tartick
Co-Host: David Arduin
Audio: John Gurney
Guest: Jake Cohen

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome back to another episode of Trading Secrets. This is the free market trading segment. And I got the one and only the curious Canadian with me.

0:22.4

So do a little banter here before we ringing the bell with the one and only,

0:26.8

Jake Cohen, one of the best chefs out there with some of the best recipes that does

0:31.4

collaborations with some of the biggest celebrities.

0:33.4

So if you are a foodie, if you are so curious about the ins and out of the industry, from what dishwashers make to what food reviews and editorials look like, to how someone can build and make the best bookbooks in the entire planet, New York Times bestseller, all things food and chef creation coming up here. But a little update

0:56.1

from my personal life. I was actually in L.A. for a little bit, which is a great time. Had the best

1:02.2

time there. Had a couple activations in Vegas for F1. And now actually I'll be in Charlotte for Thanksgiving.

1:09.7

So that's a fun little update on my end. And David, you'll be in Rochester. I'm in Rochester. Happy Thanksgiving to you. Happy Thanksgiving to all of our listeners. But before we talk about Jakey Boy, you were in L.A. You mentioned it. Dancing with the Stars. It's all over the place. I saw you. Front row, may I add, right behind the judges.

1:28.7

That minty green, what is that suede suit popping in our eyeballs? I was loving it.

1:34.5

Give us some ins and out. Is it electric in the ballroom? Because you've been in the ballroom a bunch before.

1:41.0

Is it change? Is it evolve? Is it leveling up? Give the people a little bit of the insights. Jay. Come on. I got to say, I've been to a bills game plenty of times, right? And I will tell you that I've been in that ballroom several times too. I've never heard the crowd that loud for the pros and, of course, for the stars. Like it was was it felt like at times you had a football game

2:03.0

with the roar of the crowd it was absolutely unbelievable and incredible i have made a change in my

2:09.4

prediction going on to this week we have the finale this week if you heard this after the finale

2:14.1

that means that you're listening after Tuesday and this episode comes out Monday.

2:18.4

My prediction, I thought Robert Irwin was 100% going to win it.

2:22.5

I'm going to make a last minute change up and I'm going to say Alex Errol wins.

2:27.0

David, what's your prediction?

2:27.8

It's been Alex Errol from the start.

2:29.6

It's still Alex Errol.

2:30.9

Let's not forget if you rewind on our podcast, I first sent Jay Alex

2:36.1

Earl when she had 30,000 on TikTok. And I said, Jay, this girl's an upcoming star. And

2:41.4

she continues to just evolve and impress. And all the dancers are incredible. I could see

...

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