Who doesn’t love a good, nostalgic piece of homemade pie? It’s the ultimate comfort food. You know the kind—golden, flaky crust… bubbling fruit or creamy filling… the scent filling the kitchen while someone you love pulls it out of the oven. It’s more than dessert. It’s a feeling. A memory. A moment of joy.

In today’s episode, I bring you a guest whose story is as comforting and inspiring as the pies she bakes. Meet Laurie Gray, the steadfast founder and creator of Laurie’s Pie Bar, a beloved pie shop located in the heart of Long Beach, California.

But here’s the twist: Laurie never intended to become a pie entrepreneur. In fact, owning a dessert company wasn’t even on her “life bingo card,” as she says. After a long and fulfilling career in corporate America, Laurie was laid off unexpectedly at age 50—as a single mom of two teens. In the middle of uncertainty, she turned to something familiar, simple, and soul-soothing: baking pies in her home kitchen.

What started as a holiday side hustle to make ends meet quickly blossomed into a full-blown business—and Laurie’s Pie Bar was born.

In this heartwarming episode, you’ll hear:

• The behind-the-scenes story of Laurie’s unexpected reinvention
• How trusting her intuition led her to say yes to entrepreneurship
• The joy and meaning she finds in watching people connect through pie
• Her favorite part of owning a brick-and-mortar business in a digital age
• Why she believes pie holds a special place in people’s hearts and homes

Laurie reminds us that sometimes life’s most fulfilling chapters come when we least expect them—and that sweetness can come out of even the most uncertain moments.

Special Listener Pie Gift! Access in the Portal of Joy https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Stop by Laurie’s Pie Bar in Long Beach, CA or inquire online at the site about catering (hello, Cutie Pies!) for weddings, birthdays, corporate events. www.lauriespiebar.com

Follow Laurie and her pie magic:
Instagram: @lauriespiebar
Facebook: @lauriespiebar
TikTok & YouTube: @lauriespiebar