Imagine a dessert so powerful it can heal a broken heart, unite strangers, and even spark heated debates. That’s the magic of pie, according to Beth Howard, a woman who turned her love for this humble treat into a full-blown empire. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Thanksgiving itself is mired in myth and debate, Howard argues that pie is the one thing Americans can unanimously agree on—it’s pure love in flaky, buttery form. And she’s not just talking the talk; she’s living it, one slice at a time.
Howard, a former web producer who burned out in Silicon Valley, rediscovered her passion for pie during a moment of crisis. During her exit interview, she confessed to her bosses that she needed to create something tangible—something like pie. Though they sympathized, they were tied down by mortgages and car payments. Howard, unburdened by such constraints, took the leap. Her journey led her to Malibu, where she convinced Mary Spellman, co-owner of Mary’s Kitchen, to hire her as a pie maker. Her qualification? “I’m from Iowa.” Surprisingly, it worked—though Spellman quickly became her mentor, teaching her the art of pie-making by hand, no food processors allowed. And this is the part most people miss: pie-making, for Howard, wasn’t just about the dessert; it was about reclaiming her hands-on creativity and finding solace in simplicity.
Her obsession with pie grew into a blog, The World Needs More Pie, and a career baking for celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg. But life took a tragic turn when her husband, Marcus, died suddenly just hours before their divorce mediation. Devastated, Howard found refuge in pie—and in an old friend, Janice Molinari, who suggested they hit the road in an RV to gather pie stories. What began as a healing journey evolved into Pieowa, a documentary that chronicles the history of pie and its power to bring people together. The film features everyone from church ladies to cyclists, with a special focus on Iowa, a state where pie is practically a religion. But here’s the twist: while Howard celebrates pie’s unifying power, her partner, farmer Doug Seyb, points out that pie can also stir up drama—especially when it comes to crust. Butter? Lard? Vodka? Opinions run as hot as a freshly baked pie.
Today, Howard splits her time between Los Angeles and Seyb’s farm in Iowa, where she hosts pie-making classes and embraces the imperfections of her craft. “Pie is not about perfection,” she insists. It’s about connection, creativity, and finding common ground. Pieowa is now screening across the U.S., proving that sometimes the simplest things—like a slice of apple pie—can hold the most profound meaning.
Now, here’s the question: Do you think pie really has the power to unite us all, or is it just another dessert? And where do you stand in the great crust debate? Butter, lard, or something else entirely? Let’s slice into this discussion in the comments!
