From Nose to Tail: How Meghan Gates Turned Beef into a Business (and a Bestseller)

What does it really take to write, design, publish, and sell your own cookbook … while raising babies, running a ranch, and building a business from scratch?

In this conversation, Thea Larsen sits down with her longtime friend and fellow ranch wife Meghan Gates to talk about the journey behind Foundations of Beef, the cookbook that went from idea to full-scale hardcover bestseller. From learning to cook with what you have to navigating the chaos of self-publishing, this episode pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes grit, strategy, and heart it takes to build something from the ground up.

Meghan shares the origin story of her book, born out of real-life questions from direct-to-consumer beef customers, and how she created a practical, rural-rooted cookbook that teaches confidence in the kitchen. Together, they unpack the value of whole-animal cooking, the skills every home cook should master, and the beauty of doing things before you're fully ready.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what to do with a chuck roast, felt intimidated by organ meats, or needed a reminder that building something meaningful often starts in the middle of the mess.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

• The backstory behind Foundations of Beef and how a free soup cookbook helped build Meghan’s email list.
• Why beef shares are growing in popularity, and how to help customers feel confident using every cut.
• What it really looks like to self-publish (and sell) a cookbook as a ranch wife with young kids.
• The core kitchen skills Meghan believes every cook should master.
• Real talk on recipe testing, meal planning, and cooking with a rigid palate.
• Why sometimes the best business ideas come from answering the same question over and over again.
• How entrepreneurial women are creating ecosystems of income that align with their lifestyle and values
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Connect with Meghan Gates:

Follow her on Instagram: @meghanlynngates

Grab the Foundations of Beef cookbook (hardcover or digital): goodhandle.net. On pre-sale now for just $29.85.

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