Baklava Is The Language of Love

Hoda Kotb explains the magic powers of her mother's dessert and how she lives a life of longer tables

If you are subscribed to this newsletter (and thank you if you are!), you know why it’s named Longer Tables. It’s shorthand for my philosophy that we can only solve big problems by sitting together and talking. Longer tables, not higher walls!

Which is why I am so in awe of today’s guest: Hoda Kotb. The host of the Today Program on NBC, she lives the longer tables philosophy: talking each morning to all kinds of people: Democrats, Republicans, nice people, not-so-nice people. Hoda has all of them on Today, and somehow finds a way to connect with them, no matter who they are. In our chat, I asked Hoda to teach me, and you, a few tricks for connecting with people from around the world and across the political spectrum.

We also talk all about food. (Are you shocked? I know!) We talked about her mom Sami’s baklava, which is famous at 30 Rock, and Hoda’s love of New Orleans where the star of all stars are…chefs. As it should be, people!

As they say in the biz…tune in.