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☆ Inside the rise of true-crime podcast empire MrBallen, from TikTok and Amazon to live events
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the four years since he began creating content, MrBallen has become a fixture in the true-crime world and built an empire that spans video content, podcasts, live events, and a talent-management company. "I realized that I had first-mover advantage on TikTok," Allen told Business Insider. "This is a 50-50 partnership through and through, where he has his side of the business, and I have my side of the business," Witters said. "I'll never run out of content," Allen said. Now, Ballen Studios publishes four weekly podcasts, with more shows to be released this year, as well as weekly content across all social platforms.

Persons: Doja Cat, MrBallen, John Allen, Addison Rae, Allen, Nick Witters, Witters, John, Cadence13 Zak Levitt, Joe Rogan's, Nick, we've Organizations: YouTube, Business, Ballen Studios, Amazon Music, Spotify, Ballen

☆ 8 ways to upgrade a box of cake mix, from a former pastry cook
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Pippa Allen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I'm a former pastry cook, and I think cake mixes are a great low-effort but delicious dessert. But when an occasion necessitates a cake, boxed mixes are a great way to deliver a surefire success with minimal effort. Read on for some of the best hacks I've learned for making boxed cake mixes taste homemade. Adding an extra egg makes a cake super moistYou can also add an extra egg yolk. But I also love using buttermilk for chocolate cake mixes or coconut milk for a tropical spin.

Persons: I'm, —, Read, I've, Kristen Griffin, Regis Lagrange Organizations: Service, Mayo Locations: mayo

☆ I rented a $365 cabana at Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon, and it was worth every penny even though it took 3 hours to book
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Megan Dubois | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I rented a cabana for a day at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park for $365. AdvertisementI've been going to Disney World for over 25 years, and I've been to its water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — a few times. But during my most recent visit to Typhoon Lagoon, my family and I decided to spring for a poolside cabana. When my family and friends arrived at Typhoon Lagoon, check-in for the cabana was easyWe were stationed at Beachcomer Shack 7. AdvertisementThe time spent in the water was mostly on the lazy river, because the water park was very busy.

Persons: I've, cabana, —, Megan duBois, it's, I'd, cabanas Organizations: Service, Disney, cabana, cabanas Locations: Typhoon

☆ Ava DuVernay's new movie 'Origin' opens on the night of Trayvon Martin's death — here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ava DuVernay's new film "Origin" is loosely based on Isabel Wilkerson's nonfiction book "Caste." DuVernay told BI that she sought to "humanize" Martin in the film, and obtained his mother's blessing. AdvertisementAva DuVernay's newest film "Origin" is a movie that's as ambitious as its acclaimed source material. Before moving forward with any plans to depict Martin in the film, DuVernay contacted his mother, Sybrina Fulton, for consent. "By speaking to what was shown, you humanize him," she told BI.

Persons: Ava DuVernay's, Isabel Wilkerson's, DuVernay, Martin, —, Aunjanue Ellis, Taylor, Wilkerson, Martin wasn't, Sybrina Fulton, humanize Martin, Fulton Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Nazi Germany, India, Sanford , Florida, Los Angeles

Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesIn 2015, Carey was appointed lead artist for a colossal project, a stained-glass window the size of an American football field for a new church building in Leawood, Kansas. Though he had spent the last four decades mastering his craft, “The Resurrection Window” made Quagliata nervous. The power of light and glass struck him in the 1960s, soon after he left Rome to become an artist in the United States. “I kept thinking: What I would do with red glass, with blue glass?” Quagliata said. In “The Resurrection Window,” Christ’s skin is yellow.

Persons: —, Narcissus Quagliata, ”, Quagliata, Tim Carey, Carey, “, ” Hamilton, Steven Spielberg, ” Carey, ” Quagliata, Marc Chagall, Picasso, – Organizations: VALLE DE BRAVO, Valle de Bravo, United Methodist, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Arts and Crafts Movement, Olympics, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Mexico, Valle de, Mexico City, U.S, Italian, American, Leawood , Kansas, Rome, United States, New York, California, Taiwan

☆ These 'Shark Tank' founders 'desperately' needed a rebrand—they still snagged a $500K deal with Mark Cuban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The company, called Gatsby Chocolate, appeared on Friday's season premiere of ABC's "Shark Tank." The appeal for Gatsby Chocolate was evident — lots of people have a sweet tooth, and a candy bar with less calories but "no compromise on taste" sounds like a no-brainer. But for Lori Greiner and guest shark Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, it just didn't fit. While Lori entertained that notion, for a 25% stake, Cuban balked: "My brand is too big to be the face of the brand," the billionaire said. "Specifically, we're actively looking into 'Gatsby Chocolate: The good for you bar,' after discussing with Mark and Lori, so be on the lookout!"

Persons: Mark Cuban, Doug, Ryan Bouton, Ryan, Gatsby, Lori Greiner, Candace Nelson, Sprinkles, Greiner, Nelson, Kevin O'Leary, O'Leary, Daymond John, Z, Lori, they'd, Cuban, Ryan couldn't, We're, Mark, we're Organizations: Walmart Safeway, Cuban, CNBC

☆ I'm a child psychologist in the Netherlands, home to the world's happiest kids—6 things Dutch parents never do
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Veronique Van Der Kleij | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While each approach has its benefits, Dutch kids are consistently ranked as the happiest in the world. Based on my research as a psychologist and experience raising two young daughters, here are six things Dutch parents never do:1. It's very common to see Dutch kids run free on the playground without too much supervision. Dutch parents make a point to have at least one meal together every day. Dutch children are consistently given a clear daily schedule that allows for plenty of naps for the little ones and prioritizes stability.

Persons: I've, —, they'll Locations: Dutch, Netherlands, It's

☆ Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's made by frothing nonfat cold milk and is added to iced drinks like cold brews. While some drinks come with cold foam on top as standard, such as some of its flavored cold brews, customers can opt to add it to other cold drinks for $1.25. Currently there are six flavors of cold foam available – chocolate cream, cinnamon sweet cream, matcha cream, salted caramel cream, vanilla sweet cream, and white chocolate macadamia cream. Tim Hortons in the US, for example, sells set chilled drinks with cold foam and also has the option for customers to add it to some of its other cold drinks. Dunkin' started selling sweet cold foam in February 2021, and has since launched it in a number of time-limited flavors including brown sugar and salted caramel.

Persons: It's, Tim Hortons, Dunkin, Olivia Vaughn, Heinz Kraft Organizations: Service, New York Times, Starbucks, Maxwell, Aldi Locations: Wall, Silicon, Seattle

☆ A taste of cookie heaven? Lisbon pastry shop marks pope's visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A pastry chef stands beside cookies with Pope Francis images ahead of his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro NunesLISBON, July 26 (Reuters) - As Lisbon gears up for a long visit by Pope Francis next week, a local pastry shop has rolled out a brand-new treat to mark the occasion: a cookie with the pontiff's picture on it that is already selling fast. The idea began as an in-house joke between one of the owners of Balcao do Marques, Fernando Santos, and his pastry chefs. The city-centre pastry shop is close to one of the venues where Francis will attend World Youth Day, a global gathering of young Catholics that runs from Aug. 1-6. Their design features an edible printed image of the pope set on a home-made cookie decorated with icing and coloured sugar sprinkles.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pedro Nunes LISBON, Marques, Fernando Santos, Francis, Santos, he'll, it's, Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira, Pedro Nunes, Andrei Khalip, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Lisbon, Balcao

☆ Jim Gaffigan’s Quintessentially American Comedy Gets Darker and Better
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jason Zinoman | More About Jason Zinoman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

This set the course for a career of food jokes, with so many of them about how the cheap pleasures of eating fast food overpower our knowledge that it’s bad for us. His new special starts with a moody nighttime landscape that pans back to reveal itself as being inside a picture frame. What he doesn’t do is organize them into a thematic, coherent hour, as if he’s making a grand statement. Gaffigan’s old-school act is allergic to anything that might seem pretentious, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t challenge himself. His new work reveals his move into more storytelling, elaborate act-outs and jokes built on deceptions (“My parents aren’t vaccinated.

Persons: Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, “, Jesus, They’ve, He’s, Trump, ” Organizations: Trump

☆ How to spice up your pantry the Mediterranean way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Susan Puckett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But it was the tart, earthy, tingly, subtly sweet notes provided by the sumac and Aleppo pepper that made such a lasting impression. Extra-virgin olive oil, yogurt and feta cheese are dietary mainstays, along with seasonal produce, legumes, whole grains and lean proteins. Made from deep-red Halaby chile peppers, Aleppo pepper is named for the Syrian city where it once grew in abundance. Dukkah, a blend of nuts, seeds and warm spices, makes a savory, crunchy topping on everything from soups to salads. Baharat is just one of a combination of warm spices that can punch up a chicken dish the Mediterranean way.

Persons: CNN —, Suzy Karadsheh, Ionut Groza, ”, ” Michelle Lee, Karadsheh, el hanout, ” Karadsheh, “, It’s, ” Susan Puckett Organizations: CNN, Karadsheh, The Atlanta Locations: Aleppo, Atlanta, Eastern, Europe, North Africa, Syria, Turkey

☆ Spectacular cakes that’ll end your Fourth of July celebration with a bang
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Kristie Collado | Meghan Hynes Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Matt Armendariz / Food NetworkGet the Recipe: Waving Flag CakeStars and Stripes CupcakesThis impressive dual-frosting detail is easier to re-create than you think. Kate Mathis / Food NetworkGet the Recipe: Stars and Stripes CupcakesFlag CakeSo, you’re a fan of sheet cake? Stir just three tablespoons of red, white and blue sprinkles into the batter to create fun bursts of color in every slice. Matt Armendariz / Food NetworkGet the Recipe: Flag CakeStars-and-Stripes CakeTurn your typical layer cake on its side with a vertical stripe cake. Kate Mathis / Food NetworkGet the Recipe: Red, White and Blue Cake RollFireworks CheesecakeBoom!

Persons: Cakes, It’s, Matt Armendariz, Kate Mathis, Ryan Dausch, Jeff, Jeff Harris, Brent Harrewyn Organizations: Food

☆ Opinion | It’s Not Possible to ‘Win’ an Argument With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Farhad Manjoo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

But pretty much every expert I talked to said that none of the issues were likely big enough to have undone Bush’s win. Then Kennedy wrote a rebuttal to my rebuttal, which I, again, rebutted. Salon, a generally liberal-leaning publication, was deluged by letters from readers angry that I was defending Bush’s win. The other day I went back and listened to a debate I had with Kennedy on public radio’s “The Brian Lehrer Show.” Lehrer opened the program by asking Kennedy for his big-picture case. Such was his effort when we met on Lehrer: Kennedy offered an assortment of claims about the election that, in big and small ways, were unsubstantiated.

Persons: Kennedy, Kenneth Blackwell, Bush, Kennedy’s breathless, Brian Lehrer, ” Lehrer, Rogan, —, Lehrer Organizations: Democratic National Committee, Bush’s Locations: Ohio, Kerry

☆ These TikToks say Spanglish is a superpower
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“I used to be the teacher that said to kids, ‘That’s not the way that you say it.’ No se dice así. “Speaking Spanglish is a superpower,” Medina says. Why he sees Spanglish as a strengthMedina says there are three ways Spanglish is spoken:• Alternating between English and Spanish in a sentence. Another expert calls Spanglish ‘the fastest growing hybrid language in the world’Medina isn’t the only expert making a case for Spanglish. “It’s very controversial,” Stavans says, noting that his work on Spanglish has drawn opposition from some who think its use undermines English and Spanish.

Persons: José Medina, Medina, ‘ That’s, ” Medina, he’d, he’s, hasn’t, ”, Spanglish, it’s, José, “, ’ ” Medina, Ilan Stavans, Stavans, ” Stavans, that’s, wasn’t, –, Joe, he’ll, didn’t, they’ve, He’s, ” Susana Frescas, she’s, “ It’s, It’s Organizations: CNN, Spanglish, José Medina Educational Solutions, Amherst College, San Elizario Independent, District, City University of New, Texas Association for Bilingual Education Locations: Texas, Spanglish, José Medina, Mexico, United States, Spain, El Paso , Texas, “, José, Medina, El Paso, City University of New York, Dallas , Texas, San Elizario

☆ Palestinian-American authors bring their culture to the heart of children's books
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Alaa Elassar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Today, Moushabeck, 36, is part of a burgeoning movement of Palestinian-American authors publishing children’s books in English with Palestinians as the main characters. Letting Palestinian children be childrenDespite recent strides in the arts, Palestinian-Americans, along with other Arab-Americans, are still woefully underrepresented in books. Between 2018 to 2022, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education found that less than 1% of children’s and young adult books released by US publishers were about Arabs. The books also feature activities related to Palestinian culture, including a recipe for hummus and a tutorial for tatreez, traditional Palestinian embroidery. Bishara, whose own family was expelled from the Galilee in 1948, says it’s important to teach Palestinian children raised in diaspora about every aspect of Palestinian culture and history, including those that cause great pain.

☆ Don't try to be friends with your boss, says workplace coach—here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

No matter how great of a relationship you have with your boss, it's generally not the best idea to be friends with them. That's because a personal relationship can make things complicated when they may need to make difficult decisions, says Phoebe Gavin, a leadership and workplace coach. "At the end of the day, if your boss's boss says, 'Hey, we can't afford to employ your friend anymore. You need to lay them off,' you know what your boss is going to do? Interpersonal connections are important in the workplace, but they "can't be the foundation of your professional relationship with your boss or your colleagues," Gavin says.

☆ Dunkin' rolls out breakfast tacos as competition heats up for fast food morning grub
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Dunkin' added breakfast tacos to its menu on March 22. The move comes as McDonald's expanded its test of serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Kentucky. Today, Dunkin' launched breakfast tacos for under $3 each. At a December investor day conference, Taco Bell CEO Mark King announced plans to compete with McDonald's at breakfast and lunch. Wendy's, which introduced a new breakfast menu three years ago, told Nation's Restaurant News this month that breakfast sales have surpassed sales targets of $3,000 per week per restaurant.

☆ Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A bishop sprinkles water on the catholic parishioners at the Metropolitan Cathedral, as a suspension of diplomatic ties between Nicaragua and the Vatican has been proposed according to a Nicaragua's foreign ministry statement, in Managua, Nicaragua March 12, 2023. REUTERS/StringerVATICAN CITY, March 12 (Reuters) - Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has ordered the closure of the Vatican Embassy in Managua and that of the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Vatican in Rome, a senior Vatican source said on Sunday. Nicaragua signalled that the move, which came a few days after Pope Francis compared the Nicaraguan government to a dictatorship, was "a suspension" of diplomatic relations. The Vatican source said that while the closures do not automatically mean a total break of relations between Managua and the Holy See, they are serious steps towards that possibility. A year ago, the Vatican protested to Nicaragua over the effective expulsion of its ambassador, saying the unilateral action was unjustified and incomprehensible.

☆ Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Cake Could Be the Secret to Teaching Children About Healthy-Eating Habits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Sarah Toy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Offering cake as well as other sweets and snacks may protect against dysfunctional eating behaviors. Crystal Karges celebrated her youngest daughter’s fifth birthday last month with a gooey chocolate cake covered in white frosting and rainbow sprinkles. The next morning, she served her five children the leftover slices at breakfast alongside fruit, eggs, sausage and milk. Ms. Karges is among parents, dietitians and doctors who advocate giving children more freedom over what they eat including, at times, high-sugar, high-fat and highly processed foods. They said the approach helps children develop healthy dietary habits and protect against disordered eating—or dysfunctional eating behaviors—which affects more than 20% of children globally, according to a recent meta-analysis in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

☆ McDonald's expands Krispy Kreme test to more than 150 Kentucky locations
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this photo illustration, a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut is shown on May 12, 2022 in Daly City, California. McDonald's will sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts at more than 150 Kentucky locations starting next month, for a limited time. In October, nine McDonald's restaurants in Louisville started selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. But both Krispy Kreme and McDonald's have reported strong sales in recent quarters. Krispy Kreme Chief Operating Officer Josh Charlesworth said in January at the ICR Conference that the McDonald's test showed the doughnut chain can execute its daily fresh deliveries to restaurant locations.

☆ Cake Could Be the Secret to Teaching Kids About Healthy-Eating Habits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Sarah Toy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Offering cake as well as other sweets and snacks may protect against disordered eating. Crystal Karges celebrated her youngest daughter’s fifth birthday last month with a gooey chocolate cake covered in white frosting and rainbow sprinkles. The next morning, she served her five children the leftover slices at breakfast alongside fruit, eggs, sausage and milk. Ms. Karges is among parents, dietitians and doctors who advocate giving children more freedom over what they eat including, at times, high-sugar, high-fat and highly processed foods. They said the approach helps children develop healthy dietary habits and protect against disordered eating, which affects more than 20% of children globally, according to a recent meta-analysis in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

☆ Oreo is selling $40 limited-edition NBA cookies ahead of the All-Star Game — and fans are not pleased at the price
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Priced at $40 for a pack of 12, some fans scoffed at the price tag. For $40, fans can buy a box of 12 cookies decorated with frosting, sprinkles, and their favorite team's logo ahead of the NBA All-Star Game next weekend. "$40 for 12 Oreos that have some NBA logos on them is the worst deal ever," one user wrote on Twitter. But NBA fans this time around seem a little less keen on novelty Oreos than Pokémon fanatics. "Yes of course I want these NBA logo Oreos.

This one holds 25 ounces of water, more than a standard water bottle, and it's way cuter than having cups all over your nightstand. Baggu socksIllustration by Elham AtaeiazarPrice: $14 "These socks are fun and cozy, but a little on the pricey side. MoMA card holderIllustration by Elham AtaeiazarPrice: $16 "I never knew how much I hated my wallet until my mom gave me a card holder. BraletteIllustration by Elham AtaeiazarPrice: $15 "A bralette might not seem like a typical gift, but hear me out. A dozen macarons variésIllustration by Elham AtaeiazarPrice: $5.50 "This Trader Joe's treat was my first introduction to macarons, and I haven't looked back since.

☆ ‘Oprah' inspired this pastry chef to start a cupcake shop at age 31—now Oprah Winfrey herself is a fan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

That's according to Sprinkles co-founder Candace Nelson, whose leap from investment banking to pastry making helped drive the early 2000s cupcake boom — all thanks to an unconventional source of inspiration from Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart. Nelson spent hours moping on the couch — which is where the idea for Sprinkles started forming. "The funniest thing happened as I was sitting on the couch, watching hours and hours of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and 'The Martha Stewart Show,'" she said. Nelson had a near-out-of-body experience watching Winfrey wax poetic about the desserts while filming the show, she added. "I can understand how someone like Oprah Winfrey can, and does, have such a positive power over people she's never even met," Nelson said.

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