102 - From a Dinner Disaster to a Bakery Empire with Heidi Davidson
Thu Feb 05 2026
What do you do when your first attempt at cooking turns into a total disaster?
In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, host Haley Jones sits down with Heidi Davidson, founder of Heidi’s Bakery & Home Cooking, to talk about how a failed home-cooked meal as a newlywed eventually led to building a thriving bakery business in Knoxville.
Heidi shares her journey from taking her first cooking lessons, to starting a food blog, to opening a brick-and-mortar bakery offering pastries, custom cakes, take-and-bake meals, macro-friendly options, and a community gathering space.
This conversation covers: • Turning early failures into confidence • Why baking is more science than creativity • Building a business while raising a family • Lessons learned from opening a physical storefront • Advice for aspiring food and small business owners
An honest, encouraging episode for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, career changes, or creative growth.
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What do you do when your first attempt at cooking turns into a total disaster? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, host Haley Jones sits down with Heidi Davidson, founder of Heidi’s Bakery & Home Cooking, to talk about how a failed home-cooked meal as a newlywed eventually led to building a thriving bakery business in Knoxville. Heidi shares her journey from taking her first cooking lessons, to starting a food blog, to opening a brick-and-mortar bakery offering pastries, custom cakes, take-and-bake meals, macro-friendly options, and a community gathering space. This conversation covers: • Turning early failures into confidence • Why baking is more science than creativity • Building a business while raising a family • Lessons learned from opening a physical storefront • Advice for aspiring food and small business owners An honest, encouraging episode for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, career changes, or creative growth.