Levain Bakery’s Cookie Queens, Connie McDonald & Pam Weekes

For today’s show, we’re airing our first joint episode with She’s My Cherry Pie, Cherry Bombe’s baking podcast hosted by Jessie Sheehan. Today’s guests are Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, the founders of Levain Bakery, the beloved New York bakery known for its signature thick cookies. Levain started as a small bread shop on the Upper West Side in 1995, and has since grown into one of the most recognizable bakeries in the country, with more than 20 locations and fans lined up for their famous chocolate chip walnut cookies. Connie and Pam join host Jessie Sheehan to talk about how they met while training for triathlons, how their bread business began with the support of Anthony Bourdain, and how a call from then-New York Times columnist Amanda Hesser helped put their now-iconic cookie on the map. Connie and Pam also talk about their memoir, “Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies,” and why community has always been at the heart of Levain. Thank you to Nonino & Fisher & Paykel for supporting our show. Thank you to S. Pellegrino for supporting our show. Learn more and follow the 2026–2027 competition at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com. Click here to order The Game Changers Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Sign up for our free She’s My Cherry Pie & Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com More on Levain: Instagram, website, "Levain Bakery" book More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series