Ina Garten says she has declined approaches to adapt her 2024 memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, into a film because she expects filmmakers to alter her story and does not want details invented for dramatic effect. “It’s my story. I get to keep it,” she told PEOPLE.
Garten said writing the memoir helped her see a through line in her life and recognize accomplishments she had not previously connected. While working in Washington, D.C., she renovated houses, taught herself to cook and went to banks for loans. She said writing the book gave her confidence, and that readers have told her it encouraged them to pursue goals they feared.
Her podcast, Happy Hour with Ina Garten, launched Sept. 16 and releases new episodes on Wednesdays. Garten said producer Jenna Weiss-Berman had discussed the idea with her for two years before she decided to proceed; she wanted to do it differently from other podcasts.
