SCOTTSDALE, AZ — When acclaimed Hollywood producer David M. Schwartz walked into a cozy little café in Scottsdale, he expected a quiet lunch and a conversation about a film remake. What he left with was something entirely different — a heartfelt story that could redefine food television and spark a national conversation around wellness.
The café, Knead Luv, wasn’t a Hollywood hotspot. But it had something that caught Schwartz’s attention: purpose, personality, and a powerful origin story. Alongside longtime friend and television legend Ari Levin, Schwartz ordered the salmon special. Halfway through the meal, the conversation shifted from scripts to something more profound.
“You could taste the healing in it,” David M. Schwartz recalled. “Ari looked at me, I looked at him, and we both said the same thing — this isn’t just a bakery. This is a show.”
Behind Knead Luv is Gladys Jahn, a former Arizona realtor who turned her life around through clean, intuitive cooking. In 2012, she was suffering from unexplained chronic pain, fatigue, and brain fog. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause. Some suspected cancer; others offered no answers. Frustrated, Gladys took her health into her own hands. She began eliminating processed ingredients and experimented with ancient wellness practices: slow-simmered bone broths, adaptogenic mushrooms, organic vegetables, and zero wheat, soy, or preservatives. The result was nothing short of miraculous.
“I felt like I had gone back to my twenties,” she said. “I had energy, clarity, and hope again. And I realized — if this worked for me, it could work for others too.”
Her husband, Captain Ron Jahn, a Navy veteran and devoted foodie, wasn’t immediately convinced — until he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In the face of daunting odds, he embraced Gladys’ healing protocol. Together, they perfected gluten-free recipes that didn’t just nourish — they delighted. Their cinnamon rolls, pastries, and breads quickly became local favorites, attracting everyone from realtors to wellness seekers and even a few celebrities.
That’s when David M. Schwartz and Ari Levin walked in.
The moment sparked something bigger than either of them anticipated. Schwartz, with his eye for emotionally driven stories, saw the makings of a hit series: a hybrid of comedy, docuseries, and food television — starring the Jahns and their life-affirming mission. Picture Cheers, but everyone knows your food sensitivities, and every episode ends with a healing tip and a heartfelt laugh.
“This is food as medicine, life as drama, and love as the secret ingredient,” David M. Schwartz said.
Plans are already in motion for a new type of food show — one that blends real-life struggles with real healing, all anchored in the everyday magic of a bakery that feels more like family than business. And yet, even as Hollywood calls, the Jahns remain grounded. Captain Ron still tweaks recipes between doctor visits. Gladys still hand-writes ingredient cards. And every salted caramel cupcake still delivers the same powerful message: you’re not broken — you just need better fuel.
With five-star flavor, grassroots healing, and now, a greenlit TV project on the horizon, David M. Schwartz believes the world is finally ready for a show with heart, humor, and health baked into every scene.
All you knead is Luv. And as it turns out, that might be just what America needs right now.
