Facing burnout, she chased her dream of making pie - and built an empire: Pie brings us together'

"No matter what, pie brings us together. Pie is love, says Howard, who never tires of talking about anything with a flaky crust and filling. She's spent the last few months at community screenings — over 100 and counting — of her new documentary Pieowa that's Pie + Iowa (her home state). The film chronicles the history of pie and how it brings people together. It's full of church ladies, blue ribbon winners, home bakers, expert pie makers and cyclists, which is where Iowa comes in."

"The state has a special relationship with pie, fueled by farm culture's tendency to create simple, hearty desserts from what's available, small-town diner fare, and, more recently, a tradition at RAGBRAI, the annual 500-mile week-long bike ride across Iowa that draws some 30,000 participants from all over the world. Pie is the official treat at route stops with slices served up by locals."

"In 2001, she burned out as a web producer for a Silicon Valley startup. During her exit interview, she told her bosses she needed to do something with her hands like make pie. She had fond memories of making pie as a youth. They said they also wanted to make pie, but they had mortgages and car payments, recalls Howard. She didn't."

Thanksgiving pie is portrayed as a widely embraced, unifying dessert that connects people across communities. A documentary titled Pieowa (Pie + Iowa) traces pie's history and highlights its role in bringing people together, featuring church groups, blue-ribbon winners, home bakers, expert pie makers and cyclists. Iowa's pie culture arises from farm traditions, small-town diner fare, and the RAGBRAI bike ride, where pie serves as an official route treat. Community screenings and personal stories, including a career burnout followed by renewed focus on baking, underscore pie's emotional and communal resonance.

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