It’s not even April yet, and it’s already been a big year for the Joe Cup. This month, we welcomed Janelle back from maternity leave (and the wild birth of her third baby!). And our wonderful long-time contributor Kelsey Miller has officially joined the team as Senior Editor. It was a bittersweet farewell to Maureen after seven wonderful years, and my new partnership director is none other than my friend Alison Piepmeyer. Our new team has some familiar faces, so we’d like to come out from behind the scenes and introduce ourselves…
joanna goddard
Founder and Editor
A former magazine writer, I started Cup of Jo in 2007 as a weekend hobby, but over the years I’ve grown it into an award-winning daily website featuring a diverse group of writers and photographers. I also launched it in 2023. big salada weekly newsletter about style, design, and relationships, has quickly become the #1 fashion/beauty publication on Substack. I live in Brooklyn with my two talkative sons.
Drinks perfect for breakfast: Cinnamon tea made at home.
Childhood nickname: My father still calls me Fofun, inspired by that song “Banana Fana Fo Fana.” My brothers and cousins call me Joe. Now, whenever someone calls me “Joe,” I instantly feel a sense of familiarity.
Favorite activity after work: I’m playing with my two cheerful sons. The preteen/teen years are my favorite so far. Of course, there are times when I get grumpy, but there are also times when I find myself laughing. delhi girlsshare wise observations about life and still want a bedtime chat and a hug.
Celeb crush: Andy Samberg palm springs. I would gladly be caught in his time loop.
Books that changed my life: when I read it catcher in the lie When I was in high school, I saw Holden Caulfield as a sexy bad boy. He grew up in Manhattan! He smoked! However, when I reread this book as a mother in my 40s, my heart ached for the lost and lonely 16-year-old boy. I realized how much our views on people change depending on our own life experiences and life stages. I always try to keep that in mind.
kelsey miller
senior editor
kelsey He is a culture writer and author of three books, including a memoir. big girlthe best-selling pop culture history book, i’ll be there for you. her first novel, old moneywas published in 2025. Among other things, she often writes about the influence of food culture and the evolution of the body positivity movement. She loves Polish movies, strange history, and long swims. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
Standard weekday breakfast: On nice days, enjoy jammy eggs and buttered sourdough toast. A typical day is leftovers for my daughter Margot.
Childhood nickname: Wankin. This is a word my father created for me when I was born. It’s a combination of “wonder” and “pumpkin” (I had jaundice!).
Favorite activity after work: Once a week, a few mom friends from school and I take the kids to Shake Shack for dinner. A mid-week break. Everyone has time to socialize and no one has to make dinner when they get home.
Celeb crush: Bowen Yang. know.
Books that changed my life: holiday on iceby David Sedaris. Specifically, the essay santaland diary. My high school English teacher read this book to her class the day before winter break, and we laughed and cried. we were I was surprised As funny as it was, it seemed impossible. That was one of those moments that showed me how powerful good writing can be.
Alison Piepmeyer
partnership director
Alison has spent 20 years in marketing, working with brands and influencers, and running her own company. social media agency. She and her family moved to New York from the West Coast in 2021. She loves a good audiobook and always agrees to host a bagel brunch. She lives with her husband Zach, son Linus, and daughter Georgie. (Also, remember her weeklong costume and house tour?)
Standard weekday breakfast: i love a cup Trader Joe’s goat yogurtmuesli, chia seeds, and a handful of berries.
Childhood nickname: Ali
Favorite activity after work: Watching stupid reality shows ( The secret life of Mormon wives!).
Celeb crush: Michael B. Jordan. When he won the Oscar, I turned to my husband and said, “Wow, that guy is fascinating.”
Books that changed my life: I’m not usually the type to help myself, but way of thinking I really understand. This book changed the way I think about failure, criticism, and growth. And honestly, it helped me parent better than any other parenting book I’ve ever read.
christine pride
racial issues columnist
Christine I’m a writer, editor, and french fry enthusiast. She worked in the publishing industry for 20 years before jumping into the “other side” to write novels. She has written two books with Joe Piazza. we are different from themand you were always mine. her solo debut, All the Men I’ve Love Againwas published in 2025. She also writes newsletters. make a reservation. Christine lives in Harlem, New York.
Standard weekday breakfast: I don’t eat breakfast! That’s not intentional. You won’t be hungry until noon.
Childhood nickname: My family calls me Christy.
Favorite activity after work: Watch all the TV. And I mean all of it.
Celeb crush: Girl: Tracee Ellis Ross. Man: Rege-Jean Page — He called me bridgerton.
Books that changed my life: my first novel, we are different from them. It changed my career and my entire life.
Janelle Sanchez
senior editor
Janelle always loved talking to people and hearing their stories. After graduating with a degree in journalism, I wrote for marketing teams at various technology companies and joined Cup of Joe in 2021. Janelle lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three children.
Standard weekday breakfast: Coffee (half & half and a teaspoon of sugar!), toast with butter and strawberry jam.
Childhood nickname: Growing up, all of my relatives called me Janely (Janely, yeah). And I still call it that. Sometimes, when strangers read my name out loud, they pronounce it “Janely.” I instantly feel like a four-year-old.
Favorite activity after work: A week ago, my 5-year-old daughter Ella and I planted Cup of Sun seeds. Now I love watering the garden and watching new sprouts emerge every day.
Celeb crush: Jess Mariano gilmore girls. He knows how to yearn and write notes in the margins.
Books that changed my life: Little Women. This was the first classic book I read as a child, and I reread it every few years. It taught me so much about childhood, family, friendship, and love.
caitlin tier
Newsletter Senior Editor
caitlin I am a senior editor of big saladwhere she interviews writers such as barbara kingsolver, katherine newmanand Roxanne Gay. her essay collection, Little Apocalypse: Essays on Motherhood, Climate Change, and End-of-the-World Hope It will debut next month. She lives in Washington state with her husband and two children.
Standard weekday breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast – Ideally with freshly ground peanut butter, the glossier the better.
Childhood nickname: Professionally I call myself Caitlin, but just about everyone who knows me outside of work calls me Katie. That being said, the Cup of Jo team usually calls me by my initials, KT, which just sounds like “Katie.” So wherever you go, I will be there!
Favorite activity after work: I joke that I plan on killing it after I retire. Because my favorite things to do are either outdoor adventures like bird watching or mountain biking, or leisurely solitary hobbies like knitting or working on my vegetable garden.
Celeb crush: Cillian Murphy, especially when he’s around doing a press junket. An interviewer once asked him what he thought about the disappointing Cillian Murphy. memehe said. he didn’t know what a meme was.
Books that changed my life: Annie Dillard’s Tinker Creek Pilgrim. This is an amazing example of how an ordinary place like a neighborhood stream can come to life when approached with curiosity and attention. Every time I pick it up, I notice something different.
That’s our team! We’re all excited to be here with you. Shit
PS: 10 lessons I’ve learned in my career and the best career advice I’ve ever gotten.
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
