Text size
This has been a typically busy year for Martha Stewart. The iconic tastemaker continues to shape cultural trends and says she has no plans to stop.
“I have never thought about retiring. I am lucky to do so many jobs in a day and will continue to do so as long as I’m able,” Stewart says.
Her many ventures range from personal passion projects—“I am working on the ultimate vegetable garden with both a year-round greenhouse and in-the-ground plantings,” she says—to professional collaborations with Skechers and Amazon, which is home to her brand store, the World of Martha. Also keeping Stewart busy are her three shows on the Roku Channel and her namesake weekly podcast with iHeart, in which she interviews people from all walks of life who inspire her.
Stewart also opened some eyes earlier this year when, at the age of 81, she made her Sports Illustrated debut as the oldest cover model in the history of publication’s swimsuit issue.
“The response was utterly phenomenal coming from all corners of the earth. Most impressive of all was that many comments came from women my age and older who felt it liberated them,” Stewart says.
Throughout the year she’s also been working on her next book, which is due out in 2024 and will mark a major milestone as her 100th since her first how-to book, Entertaining, came out in 1982. The upcoming book focuses on recipes and how family favorites and traditions can evolve, she says.
Stewart has developed a unique perspective when it comes to cooking.
“There is no separation from one cuisine to another. I still look for innovation, creativity, cross-over taste, and new ingredients,” she says. “The culinary scene is so exciting and ever evolving.”
Fans of Stewart will be able to see her culinary skills in person in October, when she’ll serve as a headliner at the Kohler Food and Wine Festival, which the Kohler Co. holds each year in its namesake village in Wisconsin.
Stewart, 82, recently caught up with Penta from her 156-acre farm in Bedford, N.Y.
More: Hometown Pride and the Allure of the Ocean in the Mid-Cape
Penta: As someone who has extolled the virtues of staying curious, how do you describe your commitment to learning something new every day?
Martha Stewart: I’m a teacher first and foremost, and teachers must keep learning in order to teach. I have to know the best way to do things so I can teach students the best way to do things. For example, I am very interested in sustainable farming. In the coming weeks, I am visiting a new type of scallop farm in the deep ocean. I can’t wait to see how this is done. Very exciting progress is being made.
The term ‘prolific’ is almost always attached to your name in any profile. What does that mean to you?
When I think about 100 books, I would say that is a prolific output. These books reflect the work I’ve been doing for the last 40 years. To me, this seems like a natural progression. Everything I do is natural, unforced, and reflects a busy life, and a creative and curious mind with an audience that is willing and able to partake in the stuff I want to teach, display, and create.
You’ve often been described as a pioneer of omnichannel marketing. Looking back, do you consider yourself a trailblazer?
My company [launched in 1997] was originally called Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and was the first company to incorporate all types of media in one company. We viewed our company as kind of a solar system with content as the center, or the “sun,” then with publishing, then omni-merch, then omni-internet as the rings. In 1990, when I started Martha Stewart Living magazine, [the internet] was just beginning, and now we are getting into AI. The future is bright!
Speaking of AI, is that something you’re looking forward to incorporating?
I certainly hope that I live long enough to see AI—aka “Ask Martha”—in good working condition. Distribution could be universal, in every language, with topics like “how to keep your shower clean” or “how to make potato pierogi,” just by asking the questions out loud.
How would you describe your approach to travel?
I love to travel, and I have two inquisitive, travel-crazed grandchildren who have already been to seven continents, who are just 11 and 12 years old. Having not traveled beyond New York from New Jersey until I was 18, this is an exciting prospect. We are visiting places I haven’t been. We are planning a trip to Japan at the choice of the grandchildren, and we are looking for places I have never seen or been to learn a lot.
Among your current projects and interests, which do you find the most rewarding?
I am very committed to expanding the Martha Stewart Centers for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital [in New York City], which is an outpatient geriatric hospital center that has served many thousands of visitors seeking help in successful aging. I am also very involved with Friends of Acadia on Mount Desert Island in Maine, where we are looking for ways to keep America’s national parks healthy, thriving, and good places to visit.
Celeste Sloman
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Martha Stewart Talks AI, Sustainable Scallops, and Her Sports Illustrated Cover
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer