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Naia Lewis, founder of Walters Way Publishing, sits down exclusively with The Ash Said It Show to discuss diverse children's books, Jamaican Patois literacy, and cultural representation in publishing. What You'll Discover in This Episode: * Filling the Representation Gap: Hear Naia Lewis's inspiration for starting Walters Way Publishing and her mission to address the critical lack of diverse characters and authentic cultural experiences in the children's book market. * The Power of Patois: Explore how Naia's books specifically validate the lived experiences and languages of children in the Jamaican diaspora. Learn about the profound impact of seeing Jamaican Patois celebrated in print on literacy and cultural confidence. * Beyond Reading Time: Naia shares her vision for using her books as powerful educational tools for classroom discussions, family conversations, and cultural appreciation across all communities. * Authentic Storytelling: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the illustration process—how Naia works with artists to ensure her vibrant stories and characters are brought to life with visual and cultural authenticity. * Advice for Aspiring Diverse Authors: Receive candid advice and essential tips for new writers struggling to find a publisher that aligns with their vision for diversity and representation. * What's Next for Walters Way: An exciting peek at the new themes and projects on the horizon, continuing their work to preserve culture and bring the vibrant sounds of Jamaica to the next generation. Tune in to this inspiring talk about the power of storytelling to build confidence and bring Caribbean culture home. Web: https://walterswaypublishing.c... About: Founded in 2017, Walters Way Publishing is a leading independent publishing house dedicated to producing high-quality original fiction for readers of all ages—children and adults alike. Our diverse catalog includes captivating books across all formats, from engaging novels to inspiring stories, designed to excite, enlighten, and inspire generations. At Walters Way Publishing, we are passionate about the transformative power of words. Our mission is to nurture a love for reading and writing through innovative storytelling and meaningful connections. We specialize in comprehensive author services, including dynamic book readings, insightful author talks, and transformative school workshops that foster literacy and creativity in communities. Whether you're an aspiring author or a reader seeking inspiring stories, Walters Way Publishing is committed to supporting your journey. Contact us today to learn more about our publishing programs, author services, and upcoming events. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

This episode features key insights from Tony Sandrew of the renowned Aurora Theatre. Celebrating its milestone 30th Anniversary Season, the conversation delves into why the Lawrenceville theatrecompany has become a cultural landmark and a major draw for Atlanta professional theatre audiences, attracting patrons from far and wide.

The Ash Said It Show just teed up an amazing chat with Ben Helmrath, VP of Hard Goods for PGA TOUR Superstore—your go-to spot for everything golf equipment! Seriously, the game has totally changed, and Ben explains why golf is hotter than ever, shifting from just a sport to a full-blown Golf Lifestyle Revolution. Think about it: new fans like LeBron James and Bronny are getting into it, and major excitement is building around brands like Tiger Woods' Sun Day Red! Ben breaks down all the trends you need to know, from the course to your couch. What You'll Discover in This Must-Listen Episode: The Secret Sauce: How did PGA TOUR Superstore manage to open its 80th U.S. location? Ben spills the secrets behind their success in the competitive golf retail world. Your Own Golf Clubhouse: The DIY Simulator Boom is here! We dive into the newest in-home golf simulator technology. Ben explains how lower costs and simple DIY packages make year-round golf training and interactive home entertainment totally doable. Say goodbye to cold weather and hello to a family fun center in your garage! The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Stress less about shopping! Ben shares his picks for must-have clubs for the serious player, fantastic gear for junior and women golfers (a huge, growing segment!), and his best recommendations for low-price golf stocking stuffers. The Modern Golf Life: Find out about the surprising products people are snatching up to elevate their golf lifestyle, both on and off the course. Giving Back: Learn how PGA TOUR Superstore is making a positive Impact on the Green through their incredible Adaptive Golf programs and investment in HBCU athletics. Oh, and yes—we get the scoop on the story behind the Vice President's famous nickname: "The Hammer!" Tune in now for your definitive guide to the modern golf boom and the easiest way to crush your holiday shopping list! Web: https://www.pgatoursuperstore.... PGA TOUR Superstore, the nation's premier destination for golf equipment, apparel, and accessories, is revolutionizing the golf experience by introducing curated DIY in-home golf simulator packages. This initiative allows golf enthusiasts to perfect their game from the comfort of their basement, garage, or backyard, utilizing cutting-edge technology tailored to their individual needs. The surge in popularity for residential in-home golf simulation is driven by lower costs, advanced new technologies, and a wide selection of customizable packages. More than just a training tool, these golf simulators are transforming family entertainment, exercise, and socialization, offering an immersive, interactive experience that appeals to everyone, from core golfers to casual players. Redefining Home Entertainment: Interactive, Affordable Luxury According to Ben Helmrath, Vice President, Hard Goods for PGA TOUR Superstore, these devices go "Beyond offering technology for those who are passionate about improving their game or playing renowned courses." They function as a full-fledged entertainment center, offering gaming options for the whole family. The convergence of growing golf popularity across all demographics—including the rise of women and youth players—and more affordable, attainable home technology is positioning the golf simulator as the ultimate year-round hub for fun and skill development. Here are the key topics that highlight why the PGA TOUR Superstore's DIY simulators are a game-changer: Interactive Home Entertainment Trends: Passive media rooms are a thing of the past. Golf simulators are redefining home entertainment by providing an immersive, interactive centerpiece for singles, couples, and families. Affordable Luxury & DIY Customization: Lower costs and the ability to choose customizable DIY setups are making the dream of owning a high-quality golf simulator a reality for more consumers than ever before. Convenience Redefined (Year-Round Golf): Simulators eliminate barriers like work obligations, harsh weather (summer heat or cold temperatures), and limited tee time availability. They offer unmatched year-round convenience and an inviting setting for inexperienced players to learn the game at their own pace. The New Home Entertainment Center: Whether it's a dedicated "golf loft" or a multi-purpose social space, the simulator becomes the social centerpiece for gatherings. These setups offer everything from playing classic golf courses to engaging in family-friendly games like virtual skee-ball and mini-golf. By offering these customizable, high-tech, and increasingly affordable in-home golf simulator options, PGA TOUR Superstore is not just selling equipment; they are delivering the future of home entertainment and golf training directly to consumers. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

Hey, flavor fanatics! You HAVE to check out this sizzling, exclusive interview with the CEO of Side of Pepper LLCon The Ash Said It Show! This isn't just about spice; it's about a food revolution born from pure passion. Get ready to ditch your basic pantry—this brand is far from ordinary! From "Aha!" to Authenticity: The Side of Pepper Story The CEO shared their inspiring "Aha!" moment—it wasn't just a recipe, but a burning desire to give everyday meals unparalleled, bold flavor. * Spice Specialists: While competitors water down their offerings, Side of Pepper is committed to specializing in unique spice blends. Their secret weapon? Authenticity, complex, layered flavors, and quality ingredients that turn home cooks into culinary heroes. Every blend is designed to be a showstopper! * The Panda Fest Phenomenon: Hear the behind-the-scenes scoop on prepping for huge events like Panda Fest! The most rewarding part? Watching a customer taste a sample and immediately shout, "What is that, and where can I buy it?!" That pure joy is the brand's fuel!

Dr. Karin Luise, the renowned spiritual psychologist and best-selling author of “The Fatherless Daughter Project,” offers an exclusive look into the ALIVE Collective Story Stage on the Ash Said it Show. The Collective, which has evolved into a movement for authentic living, addresses the modern epidemic of isolation by providing a space for personal reinvention and community connection. The ALIVE Collective Mission: Connection is the New Currency The ALIVE Collective was created to serve the universal need to rebuild after major life shifts, loss, or professional change. Dr. Luise passionately asserts that human connection is the "new currency" in our isolated digital world. The Collective's mission is simple yet powerful: counter isolation by bringing people together to share their truth, reminding guests they are "not doing it alone" on their journey of transformation. The Immersive Story Stage Experience The Story Stage event on Wednesday, November 12, 5:00–7:30 p.m. in Atlanta (Buckhead) is an immersive experience, intentionally different from a traditional talk or panel. * Format: It features unscripted, open dialogue focused on purpose, reinvention, and authenticity. The evening begins with a champagne reception, transitions into deeply personal conversations with visionary leaders, and culminates in a powerful "energy reset"—a guided reflection led by Dr. Luise to help guests recharge and realign.
 * Goal: Guests should expect the evening to "feel like coming home to yourself," rediscovering their power and presence. Featured Storytellers for November 12th The Story Stage features an exceptional, Atlanta-based lineup of leaders who have redefined their purpose: * Jenny Levison (Souper Jenny): Shares her story of continuous reinvention and fearless authenticity in community-focused leadership. * Femi Ola (Ade by Femi): Discusses bridging artistry and advocacy, inspiring self-expression. * Parish Hattub: Offers grounded resilience and guidance on reconnecting with inner wisdom. Event Logistics & Future Plans Dr. Luise confirms that the Story Stage is a continuing series and is evolving into a platform for growth and expansion. Limited spots are available for the November 12th event, and interested attendees are strongly encouraged to reserve early. For tickets and event details, listeners should check Dr. Luise's channels and the official ALIVE Collective platform. Community members, brands, and partners are invited to support the Collective as it grows this essential platform for authentic living in Atlanta and beyond. Tickets: www.doctorkarin.mykajabi.com/alivecollectiveevents  Follow: thealivecollectiveatl @doctorkarin  Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

In this exclusive interview with Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications and author of the definitive bestseller Public Relations for Dummies. Yaverbaum dissected the central paradox in marketing today: why are major brands rejecting AI in their advertising, even as the tech industry pours billions into automation? Yaverbaum explained that this “anti-AI” trend is not a technological rejection, but a highly strategic public relationsmove. It's a response to a deep-seated crisis of consumer trust and a sophisticated way to achieve competitive advantage in a hyper-digital world. The Core Paradox: Consumer Trust and the Anti-AI Trend Yaverbaum asserts that while AI promises efficiency, public sentiment reveals a massive gap between corporate adoption and consumer comfort. Consumer trust in AI is low, with many expressing anxiety over deepfakes, job displacement, and data misuse. * Public Sentiment: Brands like Polaroid and Heineken are actively responding to this skepticism. For example, Polaroid's viral slogan, “AI can't generate sand between your toes,” taps into a public yearning for tangible, human-produced experiences and authenticity. * Strategic Rejection: Rejecting AI is the smartest new counter-cultural marketing strategy. It positions a brand as authentic, human, and a champion against digital fatigue, creating an immediate, clear competitive distinction in a crowded market. The PR Crisis Connection: Labor and Trust A significant driver of the AI marketing backlash is the negative news cycle connecting rapid automation with mass layoffs (e.g., Amazon's cuts). * Distancing the Brand: Brands using "human-made" campaigns are intentionally distancing themselves from the negative labor narrative associated with rapid automation. This is a crucial PR move to maintain a positive ethical image and soften the perception of C-suite-driven cost reduction. * Credibility & Misinformation: The proliferation of deepfakes makes the promise of human creativity a non-negotiable asset. For consumers struggling to discern real content from AI-generated content, a brand that explicitly champions human effort becomes a trustworthy, credible harbor. Crisis Management: The 'Public Relations for Dummies' Tactic Drawing from his expertise, Eric Yaverbaum offered essential crisis communications advice for companies facing a PR nightmare (e.g., an AI mistake or layoff fallout): 1. Lead with Human Value: Pivot the narrative back to human contribution and transparency. 2. Take Meaningful Action: Sincere apologies are insufficient. Companies must demonstrate concrete steps to invest in their human workforce and stakeholders. 3. No Empty Promises: Every public decision must align with stated core values to prevent hypocrisy accusations that can destroy long-term reputation. Future Outlook: Will Public Sentiment Slow the AI Boom? Yaverbaum concluded that the backlash has the power to reshape the conversation, forcing companies to be more cautious and transparent about their use of automation. While the momentum of the technology itself may be too great to stop entirely, this shift in consumer behavior and preference will force a necessary industry-wide correction, making authenticity the most valuable asset in the modern digital economy. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

CEO Phil Trapkin's journey to creating BlissTrax started over two decades ago with his personal discovery: syncing music to his running pace significantly elevated his workouts. This early experience in marrying rhythm with movement was the seed. The idea fully came to life when he was later introduced to the concept of binaural beats, leading to the insight that sound technology could be engineered to guide the brain into specific states while the body is active. BlissTrax was born from the desire to offer a simple, accessible tool for stress relief that doesn't require users to sit still.

Food historian and acclaimed author Becky Libourel Diamond provides an exclusive look inside her spectacular new release, The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook, during an in-depth interview on The Ash Said It Show. This summary is a must-read for holiday bakers and food history enthusiasts seeking to bring 19th-century elegance to their modern Christmas celebrations. The Mystery of the Sugar Plum Revealed Becky definitively solves the mystery of the legendary sugar plum. She reveals the surprising truth: these historic confections are not sugary plums, but highly prized, expensive spice-coated nuts and seeds, meticulously layered in candy. This insight reframes the sugar plum as the ultimate luxury Victorian dessert of the Gilded Age. Extravagance, Adaptations, and Chef Walter Staib When discussing Gilded Age extravagance, Becky champions incorporating the era's tradition of extended, multi-day feasts and generous hospitality into the modern holiday schedule. The most demanding recipe to update was the lengthy historic fruit cake. Her secret weapon for accurately translating complex 19th-century measurements for today's home bakers? The simple, essential digital kitchen scale. Becky shares her deep respect for fellow food historian Chef Walter Staib, who penned the book's foreword. She would love to see him prepare the grand historic roasted Christmas goose on his show—the ultimate Gilded Age holiday centerpiece. Global Traditions and Festive Recipes Beyond Christmas, the cookbook includes Hanukkah and New Year's traditions. Becky shares a fun fact about Hanukkah: the focus on oil-fried recipes, such as perfect latkes, symbolically commemorates the miracle of the oil. For those ready to dive in, Becky recommends the Holiday Tea Cakes as the perfect festive project to start with. For the ultimate showstopper dessert at a holiday feast, she suggests the impressive, flaming Victorian Christmas Pudding. The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook is the definitive guide to vintage holiday recipes and traditions, offering a blend of history and accessible Christmas cooking for every modern kitchen. Becky Libourel Diamond: The Food Historian Connecting the Past to Your Plate Becky Libourel Diamond is a uniquely accomplished food writer, librarian, and historian whose career masterfully blends rigorous historical research with captivating storytelling. She is the definitive authority on Gilded Age food history and Victorian culinary traditions. New Release & Must-Read Cookbooks NEW! Her latest book, The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook: Cookies and Treats from America's Golden Era (Launched September 2025), is a critical resource for holiday bakers and Christmas enthusiasts. Each recipe offers a colorful glimpse into Gilded Age Christmas lore, featuring the history, ingredients, and original baking methods of the era. * Available Now: Find this essential historical cookbook on: * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Bookshop.org * Walmart * and more major retailers. Previous Bestseller: The Gilded Age Cookbook (August 2023) transports readers back to the elegant dining tables of the 19th century. This book successfully merges detailed Gilded Age stories of celebrity figures—the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Goulds—with historic menus and period recipes updated for modern kitchens. Landmark Culinary History & Research Becky's expertise extends across early American fine dining: * The Thousand Dollar Dinner: An engaging account of the nineteenth-century "Top Chef"-style competitionbetween Philadelphia and New York restaurateurs, documenting the extravagant, seventeen-course feast that helped launch fine restaurant dining in America. * Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America's Cooking School: Her first book details the life of a successful 19th-century pastry chef who pioneered an innovative cooking school for young women in Philadelphia.

Lila Owens, the founder of Cupcakin' Bake Shop, joined The Ash Said It Show for an exclusive interview, detailing her journey from a home-based business to a successful bi-coastal brand. Expansion, Innovation, and Community * Bay Area to Buckhead: Lila discussed the strategic decision to choose Buckhead for her second Atlanta location, offering insights into how the burgeoning Atlanta dessert scene compares to the established California market. * The Art of Flavor: We explored Cupcakin's commitment to innovation, focusing on the creative process behind developing their beloved "Flavor of the Month" and the new Custom Cake Program. * Beyond Cupcakes: Lila highlighted how the brand has evolved past its name, utilizing offerings like custom cakes, cookies, and viral cupcake bouquets to serve broader community needs that traditional cupcakes alone couldn't meet. * Finding the Niche: She confirmed that Cupcakin' stands out in the competitive market due to its focus on sustainable ingredients and an inclusive menu that proudly features high-quality vegan and gluten-free options. Success and the Entrepreneurial Mindset * Award-Winning Start: The conversation covered the significance of winning "Best Dessert" at Grand Tasting Buckhead, especially as a newer business in the area, calling it a major validation for the team. * Advice for Founders: As a seasoned female founder, Lila shared the most valuable lesson she's learned since launching in 2007, offering compelling advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on building and scaling a successful brand. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in food entrepreneurship, luxury baking, and the power of a strong business vision. Web: https://cupcakinbakeshop.com/ Cupcakin' Bake Shop — Gourmet Cupcakes Made Fresh Daily Cupcakin' Bake Shop is a top-rated bakery specializing in handcrafted gourmet cupcakes made from scratch with premium ingredients. As a woman-owned business with locations in the Bay Area and metro Atlanta, we're proud to deliver fresh, flavorful desserts that elevate every occasion. Our menu features best-selling classics like Red Velvet and Chocolate Salted Caramel, alongside seasonal favorites such as Strawberry Lemonade, Maple Bacon, and Lemon Lavender. Every cupcake is baked fresh daily and frosted to perfection, making Cupcakin' the go-to destination for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and everyday indulgence. Known for our commitment to quality, creativity, and community, Cupcakin' Bake Shop has earned a loyal following and rave reviews across Yelp, Google, and social media. Whether you're searching for custom cupcake catering, vegan dessert options, or a local bakery near you, Cupcakin' delivers sweetness that stands out. ✨ Discover why Cupcakin' Bake Shop is one of the best cupcake bakeries in California and Georgia — where every bite is a celebration. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

We sat down with Urthy Co-founder Jen for a brilliant conversation that explored the roots of the clean living brand, the philosophy behind its luxurious products, and Urthy's exciting future. This interview is a must-listen for anyone passionate about wellness, entrepreneurship, and clean, high-end skincare and home goods. Urthy: Born from Necessity, Rooted in Purpose Jen shared the deeply personal journey behind creating Urthy, explaining that the brand was truly "born out of necessity." * The Gap: Jen recognized a critical gap in the market: a lack of products that were genuinely clean (free from harmful chemicals) yet simultaneously delivered a luxurious, high-end experience. Urthy was created to fill this space, proving that clean living doesn't require sacrificing quality or indulgence. * The Name & Brand: The name "Urthy" itself is grounded and personal, reflecting the company's core philosophy of being rooted in natural goodness and intentional living. Products, Philosophy, and the Atlanta Blend Bar Urthy has mastered the delicate balance between clean and luxurious through a meticulous product development process. * Product Philosophy: The focus is on achieving a rich, luxurious feel while maintaining radical ingredient transparency across its range, which includes home scents, skincare, and new elixirs. * Scent Creation: Jen discussed the artistic process behind creating and naming their signature fragrances, hinting at the inspiration behind the upcoming Fall/Holiday 2025 collection. * The Atlanta Blend Bar + Lab: Urthy offers a unique, hands-on community experience at its Atlanta Blend Bar. This lab allows customers to engage directly with the brand's philosophy and create personalized scents and products. * Corporate Gifting: The brand has seen a rapid expansion into corporate gifting, connecting with teams and brands seeking a thoughtful, wellness-focused approach for client and employee appreciation. Web: https://urthyscents.com/ Looking Ahead: Expansion and Wellness The interview concluded with a look toward the future, as Jen discussed the rituals and lessons that help her balance life as a female founder in the wellness and business space. Expect new launches and expansions as Urthy continues its dream of making clean luxury accessible to all. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

Get ready for the most thrilling Halloween season yet! In an exclusive interview on the "Ash Said It Show," featuring Shane from Atlanta Bar Tours, it was officially declared: Atlanta is the Halloween Headquarters of the Southeast!This year, the city is set to host an unparalleled series of can't-miss Halloween parties, promising the ultimate celebration across the most exhilarating weekends. Unmatched Halloween Revelry Across Atlanta With a multitude of Atlanta's premier bars, clubs, and restaurants participating, attendees are guaranteed an unparalleled Halloween experience. Prepare for a spectacular display of amazing costumes, spine-tingling music, and ghoulishly good times that will transform the city's vibrant nightlife. Shane of Atlanta Bar Tours emphasized the meticulous planning to ensure every event delivers an unforgettable atmosphere for all. Your Essential Guide: Five Fantastic Halloween Parties in Atlanta! Organizers, including insights from Atlanta Bar Tours' Shane, have meticulously curated a definitive list of five fantastic Halloween parties that are the only events you need to attend this year. Each party promises a unique atmosphere, but all share the common goal of delivering a hauntingly good time for everyone. Whether you're seeking spooky fun, epic dance floors, or exclusive themed celebrations, Atlanta's Halloween lineup has it all. Prime Locations for Spooktacular Celebrations: These highly anticipated Halloween events will be taking place in some of Atlanta's most popular and accessible neighborhoods, ensuring a diverse range of experiences: * Midtown Atlanta: Known for its lively entertainment scene, Midtown will host several high-energy Halloween bashes perfect for urban revelers. * Virginia Highland: Discover unique and charming Halloween celebrations within this beloved and walkable district. * Buckhead Atlanta: For those seeking to celebrate Halloween in ultimate style, Buckhead will feature upscale and exclusive costume parties. Secure Your Spot! Tickets On Sale Now & Selling Fast! Tickets are on sale now for all featured events and are expected to sell out quickly. Partygoers are strongly encouraged to secure their tickets in advance to guarantee entry to Atlanta's most anticipated Halloween festivities. Don't miss your chance to be part of the Southeast's biggest and most thrilling Halloween celebration! Web: https://www.atlantabartours.co... Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

In a captivating and inspiring exclusive on the Ash Said It Show, founder Lilith of Lit with Lilit LLC dives deep into her philosophy of turning everyday luxury into a meaningful lifestyle. This interview summary highlights how Lilith is pioneering a unique space in the Atlanta candle market by blending high-end decor with immersive DIY experiences. Reclaiming the Word "Lit" For Lilith, the name "Lit with Lilit" is more than trendy slang—it's a powerful mission statement. She explains her aim to redefine 'lit' beyond just a good time, leveraging it to encompass creativity, purpose, and community. The brand is a call to action: to inspire customers to "light up" their own lives with intention and style. This focus on deeper meaning is key to the brand's authentic connection with its audience. From Product to Deco-Friendly Experience Lilith shares the genesis of her unique "deco-friendly" concept. Frustrated by beautiful candles that were only meant to be burned, she created pieces designed to function first as high-end home decor—from stylish geometric shapes to fun, sculpted sneaker candles. This unique vision transforms a simple product into a complete sensory and visual experience, ensuring the candle is a statement piece long before the match is struck. The Unique "Lit Experience" in Atlanta While candle-making classes are popular, Lilith details what makes the Lit with Lilit "Lit Experience" a stand-out in the competitive Atlanta market. She emphasizes creating an atmosphere that is not just instructional, but genuinely joyful, creative, and memorable. Participants don't just pour wax; they immerse themselves in a high-vibe, low-pressure setting where they forge a new skill and lasting memories of connection and self-expression. Scent as a Storyteller Discover Lilith's innovative approach to scent creation. She treats fragrance as a powerful narrative tool, meticulously crafting diverse scents and shapes to evoke specific feelings or tell a unique story. Whether it's a comforting note of nostalgia or an energizing burst of freshness, her process focuses on creating an immediate, emotional connection that makes each purchase deeply personal. The Entrepreneur's Journey & Weekend Events Lilith opens up about the biggest challenge in starting Lit with Lilit—the inevitable moments of doubt and near surrender. She reveals the core motivations that fueled her perseverance and helped her build the successful business she has today. Don't Miss Out! Lilith also excitingly shares where to find her amazing creations this weekend, inviting the community to experience the art of Lit with Lilit firsthand. Web: https://www.litwlilitllc.com/ Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

In this mouthwatering episode of The Ash Said It Show, Ash Brown sits down with Chef Andrea Young, founder of Sweet Vegan NYC, to explore the delicious world of plant-based chocolate and the exciting launch of two new flavors: Cranberry Passion Bark and Espresso Blueberry Bark.

MIMMS Museum of Technology and Art founders, Karin and Lonnie, recently joined The Ash Said It Show for an exclusive interview, providing an in-depth look at their new, highly-anticipated iNSPIRE exhibit. The conversation covered the museum's origin story, the curation process for the largest public collection of Apple products ever assembled, and the unique intersection of technology and art. The Vision: Why a Museum for Tech? The founders first discussed the driving force behind the museum's creation. They detailed the specific inspiration that led to the launch of a highly shareable social media campaign, "Show Us Your Apples," designed to promote the new exhibit. This campaign aims to tap into the public's emotional connection and personal history with Apple innovation. Curating iNSPIRE: The Apple Collection Lonnie shared insights into the immense scale of the iNSPIRE exhibit, which is billed as the most extensive public collection of Apple products anywhere. The founders revealed the intensive curatorial process required for a collection of this magnitude, touching on the most challenging artifacts to acquire and the surprising items that tell a richer, untold history of Apple. Visitors can expect to find stories and artifacts unavailable in books or online archives. Bridging Technology and Art A central focus of the discussion was how the MIMMS Museum blends its two components: technology and art. Lonnie explained how the iNSPIRE exhibit successfully bridges this gap, confirming that the display will feature art pieces and creative works inspired by Apple products. * Interactive Exhibits: Following the art discussion, the founders touched on the planned interactive exhibits, many of which will also feature a creative or art component, ensuring an engaging, hands-on visitor experience. The Future of Public Engagement When asked about the highly successful "Show Us Your Apples" campaign, the founders addressed their plans for integrating submissions. They confirmed that the museum is waiting to gauge the full public response but plans to incorporate submissions digitally and through social sharing. The public's personal stories and photos are intended to be a vital part of the overall experience. The Message for the Next Generation The conversation concluded with a powerful question about legacy and purpose: Why is it crucial to dedicate a massive museum exhibit to a company's past innovations in a world defined by constant technological release? Lonnie and Karin shared the overarching message they hope to convey to the next generation of innovators who visit MIMMS, emphasizing the importance of studying history to shape the future of technology. Web: https://mimmsmuseum.org Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment & Action Looking for a motivational speaker, authentic podcaster, or influential media personality who can spark your journey toward personal growth? Meet Ash Brown — a dynamic American powerhouse known for her uplifting energy, relatable wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Ash is a:

Author Paula Franklin recently sat down with The Ash Said It Show for an exclusive interview to discuss her raw and riveting memoir, Fear Unraveled: A Journey Through Life, Bikers, Boaters, and the Bible. Blending humor, heartbreak, and spiritual transformation, Paula's book offers a deeply personal look at her unconventional life—from growing up near the Blackstone Rangers in Chicago to finding redemption through faith.

In this exclusive episode of the Ash Said It Show, host Ash Brown reconnects with Chris Kiser, CEO of Spice World Inc., to explore the latest innovations in garlic and ginger products, seasonal cooking inspiration, and what's trending in flavor as we head into the holidays. Listeners will discover:

In this exclusive holiday-season episode of the Ash Said It Show, we sit down with Tricia Ekholm from Atlanta Ballet to explore their upcoming season — including the return of their iconic production of The Nutcracker at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Whether you're a seasoned ballet lover or a first-time attendee, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at:

 "At the end of the day, you're only as good as the result that you're able to get people." —Madeleine Raiford-Holland The most successful entrepreneurs understand that money flows where creativity and strategic thinking intersect. In today's dynamic economic landscape, diversification isn't just a strategy— it's transforming passive potential into active income.Madeleine Raiford-Holland is a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from corporate sales to building a multi-faceted business empire in short-term rentals and coaching. With a strategic approach to business and lifestyle design, she empowers entrepreneurs to reimagine their professional potential.Tune in as Heather and Madeleine talk about effective content creation, business scaling, retreat hosting, work-life balance, podcasting, multiple revenue streams, personal development, and the transformative power of strategic thinking and intentional living.Connect with Heather: WebsiteFacebook InstagramLinkedInEpisode Highlights:01:37 Meet Madeleine 05:33 Building a Lifestyle Blog and Content Creation 12:26 Expanding the Business and Team Building 17:12 Client Acquisition and Funnel Building 24:23 Retreats Retreats 35:10 Balancing Business and Family LifeConnect with Madeleine: Madeleine Raiford-Holland is a dynamic entrepreneur and business strategist who transitioned from government sales to building a successful short-term rental empire. As the co-founder of MHM Luxury Properties along with her husband, John, she manages 16 properties across Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Her coaching and consulting business helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop systems and strategies for creating financial freedom. A military wife and mother of two young boys, Madeleine is passionate about helping families design lifestyle businesses that provide time and location flexibility. She hosts the podcast "The Lux and the Short of It" and leads transformational retreats, focusing on mindset and entrepreneurial growth. With a background in scaling businesses and a commitment to multiple revenue streams, Madeleine empowers entrepreneurs to reimagine their professional and personal potential.WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramPodcastSupport the show

This week Ariel is joined by a designer who found her calling for interiors through a lifestyle blog she started in 2009. Alexandra Kaehler has been recognized as a “Next Wave” interior designer by House Beautiful, plus being named to LUXE Magazine's “Gold List”. After growing up in the suburbs, she began what she believed to be her dream career in advertising, where she soon realized design was actually her real calling. Through the blog, and a postgraduate program at Harrington College of Design, she began to take on clients, eventually opening her firm, Alexandra Kaehler Design, in 2011.Alex believes the most important thing is to fill your house with things you love. The “aesthetic” will build on that. There is nothing better than looking around your home and seeing things that make you happy. Second, nothing should be too fragile or delicate that you aren't able to enjoy it. A home is meant to be loved and lived in. Now more than a decade since founding her firm, Alex still calls Chicago her home, with her husband and two kids. And her work has been featured in numerous publications and websites including House Beautiful, Domino, Luxe, Vogue, the Chicago Tribune, and the Wall Street Journal.—Learn more about Alexandra's firm: https://alexandrakaehler.com/Follow Alexandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkaehlerdesign

At around 5pm on a hot August afternoon in 2015, a 911 call comes in about a fire at a service station in Columbus, Ohio. A man has poured two jerry cans of fuel over his partner, 31-year-old Judy Malinowski, and is watching as flames engulf her. Judy is rushed to the hospital with 90 per cent of her body burned. Doctors warn her family that her chances of survival are slim, but against all odds, Judy survives. She endures severe ongoing pain and dozens of surgeries in the years that follow, dying two years after being set on fire. After she dies, she becomes the first person in history to testify at her own murder trial. Director Patricia Gillespie seeks to honour Judy's remarkable strength and raise awareness about domestic violence in her documentary, The Fire That Took Her. You can watch it here. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia Find out more about Mamamia's charity partner RizeUp Australia here. And if this episode has brought up anything for you or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). CREDITS Guest: Patricia Gillespie Host: Gemma Bath Producer: Tahli Blackman Audio Producer: Scott Stronach GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We're listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP. If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're excited to welcome Carol Lander to the podcast! Carol is the creative force behind Bluesky at Home, a successful home decor and lifestyle blog. Carol shares her journey from the culinary arts into starting a home decor and lifestyle blog, and offers advice to anyone wanting to start and monetize their own blog (even if they're feeling the imposter syndrome). She talks about how she grew her blog with email marketing, how she makes smart financial decisions for her blog, and the value of joining a supportive blogging community. She also shares how someone wanting to get started can find their niche and audience in the home decor space. Tune in to get inspired and get serious about starting your home decor and lifestyle blog!Learn more about creating your first digital product here!Sign up for our newsletter hereCheck out the show notes (link below) for more information including links and resources mentioned in today's episode!SHOW NOTES: www.sparkmediaconcepts.com/episode145

Send us a Text Message.This week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am delighted to welcome Flavia Gray, creator of Ships and Champagne, A Luxury Cruise and Lifestyle Blog. I wrote about Flavia's story in my first cruising book, The Joy of Cruising amzn.to/2EAMddF, in a section called The Influencers, which focuses on individuals like Flavia who epitomize what The Joy of Cruising is about: individuals moved by their passion for cruising who choose to manifest that passion in an engaging way when not sailing. Flavia hails from the UK; as you've likely heard me point out before fully a third of the passionate cruisers profiled in The Joy of Cruising were from UK, and that proportion has held up through the subsequent books, Cruising Interrupted  amzn.to/3seFU8y and The Joy of Cruising Again amzn.to/3lAfyON, as well as The Joy of Cruising Podcast. I feel a connection with my new friends from UK—and I hope to meet a few of them when I finally cruise out of Southampton in 2025. What's different about Flavia is unlike my other UK friends with whom I have interacted with via email, Zoom, or Skype, I have met Flavia in person twice in Florida on visits she made to see friends in the US. Flavia was also one of the first passionate cruisers—UK or elsewhere in the world to agree to be in The Joy of Cruising. I vividly remember writing her feature—with a great deal of assistance from Flavia—with a smile on my face as it was my first foray into kind of, sort of, travel writing. Flavia's feature in The Joy of Cruising, Ships and Champagne was at times quite poignant. A single mother of two saw her singing hobby turn into a full-time career, singing in bands performing at weddings, pubs and clubs. Though Flavia was quite good at her craft—it was not going to provide enough of a reliably constant income. This need led her to a position with Royal Caribbean as a Cruise Specialist—telephone sales.  Flavia progressed in her cruise career and went on to create an award-winning cruise blog, Ships and Champagne—named a top 50 cruise blogger and nominated for UK's Wave Award in 2017 and 2018.  Flavia loves cruising and remains a cruiser at heart but has shifted away from the sea to the air. In 2022, she started a new travel career as a flight attendant. Flavia does however long to cruise again, and we ask her about her brief change of career and future cruise plans.  Text me!Support the Show.Support thejoyofcruisingpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113608/supporters/newSupport Me https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drpaulthContact Me https://www.thejoyofcruising.net/contact-me.htmlBook Cruises https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingPodcast-BookACruiseUS Orders (coupon code joyofcruisingpodcast)The Joy of Cruising https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingCruising Interrupted https://bit.ly/CruisingInterruptedThe Joy of Cruising Again https://bit.ly/TheJoyOfCruisingAgainIntl Orders via Amazon

Ayurveda-Massagen sind etwas ganz Besonderes, das bekomme ich immer wieder bestätigt....Und Ayurvedamassagen zu geben, das ist für mich eine ganz besondere Kunst.Hast Du schon einmal eine Ayurveda-Massage bekommen?Gibst Du beruflich Ayurveda-Massage.Wenn Du eines der Beiden bestätigen kannst, dann weißt Du wovon ich rede.Höre Dir diesen Beitrag an und Du erfährst Vieles darüber, was Ayurveda-Massagen bewirken und wie gut diese auch für denjenigen sind, der sie gibt....Und wenn Du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest, wie einzelne Massagen auf Körper, Geist und Seele wirken und welche Doshas (Vata, Pitta und Kapha) dadurch günstig beeinflusst werden, dann schau Dir auch den Beitrag auf meinem Blog "Ayurveda-Lifestyle" an.Ich wünsche Dir viel Freude beim Zuhören und auch beim Lesen auf meinem Lifestyle-Blog...Herzliche GrüßeWolfgangSchule-für-Ayurveda

In der ersten GLOWCAST-Episode des Jahres 2024 begrüßt Miriam Jacks einen ganz besonderen Gästin: Sue Giers, kreativer Kopf und Gesicht des renommierten und nachhaltigen Modelabels SoSUE. Diese Episode entführt uns in die Welt der Bootstrap-Gründungen und beleuchtet die inspirierende Geschichte einer Frau, die sich mitten im Leben neu erfunden hat. Sue Giers spricht offen über ihren späten, aber umso beeindruckenderen Durchbruch in der Modewelt. Nachdem sie jahrelang die PR des Modelabels CLOSED, der Firma ihres Ex-Mannes, geleitet hatte, musste sie sich nach der Trennung neu orientieren. In einem tiefgründigen Dialog mit Miriam spricht Sue über die emotionale Last der Trennung und den herausfordernden Weg aus dem Schmerz. Gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester Vanessa Gieser startete sie 2016 einen Lifestyle-Blog. Aus dem Projekt ist seitdem ein beliebtes und bekanntes Modelabel geworden. Im GLOWCAST erzählt Sue von den Hürden, die sie als Gründerin mit Ende 40 überwinden musste - von Vorurteilen gegenüber ihrem Alter bis hin zur Herausforderung, den deutschen Perfektionismus hinter sich zu lassen und dem eigenen Bauchgefühl zu vertrauen. Die Episode "Mein Neustart" spiegelt Sues persönliche Renaissance wider und zeigt, wie sie es geschafft hat, die Barrieren aus Schmerz und Vorurteilen zu überwinden. Ihre Geschichte ist eine Hommage an die Kraft der Widerstandsfähigkeit und ein Beispiel dafür, dass es nie zu spät ist, seine Träume zu verwirklichen. Taucht ein in eine Episode voller Inspiration und Mut, die nicht nur Modebegeisterte berühren wird, sondern jeden, der über einen Neuanfang nachdenkt oder sich für die Hintergründe einer erfolgreichen Unternehmensgründung interessiert. Die Geschichte von Sue Giers ist ein lebendiges Zeugnis dafür, dass man mit Leidenschaft, Mut und einer Prise Intuition Großes erreichen kann.

Welcome back to The Ultimate Blog Podcast!  It's Amy here and today I am sharing four foundational tips to help you if you are wanting to start a lifestyle blog. A lot of bloggers want to start with a lifestyle blog and there are some things we think you should know before creating your own. If you are considering starting a lifestyle blog, you won't want to miss this episode! Thanks for listening! Connect with us on Instagram: @sparkmediaconceptsCheck out Restored 316's Templates here!Check out The Blog Depot. This is a community and course that we have set up for you if you need questions answered before you start your blog. Join The Ultimate Blog Bootcamp, our online course and coaching that helps you build the blog that you have always dreamed of.Check out the show notes (link below) for more information including links and resources mentioned in today's episode! SHOW NOTES: www.sparkmediaconcepts.com/episode73

Not all ventures need to be successful to learn valuable lessons from them. In this episode, we unravel the story of our friendship and a business venture that never quite took off, Cheese and Cheer. From its inception during a trip to Florida to its evolution into a lifestyle blog and charcuterie box service, we shed light on the reasons behind its downfall and the importance of understanding the investment of time and money required for a successful business. Drop us a line! enTICEingmedia@gmail.com Click the link to grab a copy of Nell's #1 Bestselling book, Curvature of the Career: https://www.amazon.com/Curvature-Career-Twists-Pursue-Happiness-ebook/dp/B09VD5VNKC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ADN1EYOBN906&keywords=curvature+of+the+career&qid=1647545221&sprefix=curvature+%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1 Find Nell on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nell.tice IG: https://www.instagram.com/nellktice/ Travel Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxvtS3QSmTLOL8IZxm-kyg Produced by enTICEing Media, LLC: www.enticeingmedia.com

Venerdì 14 Aprile alle ore 16.00, Luca Abete interviene nel programma di Lifestyleblog.it, E' Tutto Live, condotto dal direttore di Lifestyleblog.it Bruno Bellini.Giunge alla 9a edizione del tour motivazionale legato alla campagna sociale #NonCiFermaNessuno, il tour ideato e condotto da Luca Abete, partito lo scorso martedì 28 marzo da Napoli, dall'università degli studi Federico II.

In 2016, after losing her mother to Ovarian Cancer, Safiyyah O'Quinn created The Susie Amin Foundation to celebrate her beloved mother's life. With a mission to enrich the lives of families in underserved communities through food distribution, wellness, and life skill programs, SAF has raised over $5,500 and provided over 30 pallets of food to 1,000 families with the help of 70 volunteers. The foundation is her way of personally honoring her mother while impacting underserved communities. Her mother Susie was well-known in the community through her restaurant, Salaam Seafood, which is still open today in Griffin, Ga after 36 years.A global marketing professional with 15 years of experience, Safiyyah is currently a Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft where she blends her passion for storytelling and marketing expertise. She is responsible for the go-to-market strategy and growth of her solution. Her marketing experience spans various industries technology, healthcare, supply chain, and entertainment. Enjoy this informative and uplifting interview. Follow Safiyyah on Instagram @soqweenly and check out her Lifestyle Blog soqweenly.com Let us know your thoughts about this interview, and if Safiyyah and Louis should collaborate on something together.Like and Subscribe to The Heart Matters podcast Get bonus content on Patreon Become a member so we can continue to bring you content and interviews that nourish the mind and heart. It is our mission to bring good to the world by educating ourselves and others from the inside out. Truly, the heart matters. https://plus.acast.com/s/the-heart-matters-with-life-coach-louis-morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2016, after losing her mother to Ovarian Cancer, Safiyyah O'Quinn created The Susie Amin Foundation to celebrate her beloved mother's life. With a mission to enrich the lives of families in underserved communities through food distribution, wellness, and life skill programs, SAF has raised over $5,500 and provided over 30 pallets of food to 1,000 families with the help of 70 volunteers. The foundation is her way of personally honoring her mother while impacting underserved communities. Her mother Susie was well-known in the community through her restaurant, Salaam Seafood, which is still open today in Griffin, Ga after 36 years.A global marketing professional with 15 years of experience, Safiyyah is currently a Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft where she blends her passion for storytelling and marketing expertise. She is responsible for the go-to-market strategy and growth of her solution. Her marketing experience spans various industries technology, healthcare, supply chain, and entertainment. Enjoy this informative and uplifting interview. Follow Safiyyah on Instagram @soqweenly and check out her Lifestyle Blog soqweenly.com Let us know your thoughts about this interview, and if Safiyyah and Louis should collaborate on something together.Like and Subscribe to The Heart Matters podcast Get bonus content on Patreon Become a member so we can continue to bring you content and interviews that nourish the mind and heart. It is our mission to bring good to the world by educating ourselves and others from the inside out. Truly, the heart matters. https://plus.acast.com/s/the-heart-matters-with-life-coach-louis-morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sierra Redmond of The Daily Impressions Travel and Lifestyle Blog joins us to talk about all things travel. She shares her top tips for travel from low budget to luxury.  She also explores her journey of being a military spouse, mother, entrepreneur and digital creator.  For more about Sierra check her out on social mediat @iamsierrared or on her her blog:  https://www.thedailyimpressions.com/about/ Check out our blog for more tips on becoming a better version of yourself or to learn more about us:  https://chasingbrighter.com Follow our journey on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasingbrighter/ We encourage you to keep chasing the brighter version of you!! Thanks for listening!!!

Host Sheri Kaye Hoff Interview. Melissa Vera, a busy wife & mom, started her blog in 2011. Faced with health issues (her own & in her family) she decided to stop teaching & pursued blogging full time. Her blog has grown and evolved so much she has created her own office outside of the home! In 2018, the full-time income it created gave her the income she needed to create her office. She purchased her blog cabin, Where she virtually hosts “Chats from the Blog Cabin.” Melissa is passionate about helping female entrepreneurs get ahead.

In just a moment you'll meet Heather Bien and Adam Shapiro, the creators of Rosehill Cottage — a charming river house on the Rappahannock River in Virginia.  Heather works in marketing at a tech start-up by day and runs her lifestyle and travel blog by night, and Adam works for the federal government.   While the couple lives in Washington DC, they thoroughly enjoy weekend escapes from the city.  And it was on one of these weekend escapes that they fell in love with the charming Virginian towns along the Chesapeake Bay.  Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Heather and Adam found the perfect home in Locust Hill, Virginia and how they brought Rosehill Cottage to life.  Book Rosehill Cottage on Airbnb. Visit the Rosehill Cottage Website. Follow Rosehill Cottage on Instagram. Follow Heather Bien on Instagram. Discover Heather's Lifestyle Blog.  Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.     You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com    This week's episode is brought to you by Mount. A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego.    The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right?   There was only one problem — the home didn't come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay.    We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not.    Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem.  Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences.    Mount let's you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses!    With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds.    Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking.    Oh, and if you don't have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you.   Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at help@RentMount.com 

Today, Tes talks with Valerie Bennis. Valerie is an award winning aromatherapist who created the Essence of Vali line of therapeutic products. She recently started a new chapter with the launch of her company, Fragrant Notes, a lifestyle blog for women over 50. Her mission is to inspire women to love and appreciate ALL that they are through all the phases of their life with purpose, self-care, passion and creativity. To learn more about Valerie Bennis: For Fragrant Notes: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefragrantnote Website: www.fragrantnotes.com For Essence of Vali: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essenceofvali Website: www.essenceofvali.com

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guests Julien and Kiersten Saunders, the Atlanta based co-creators of the lifestyle blog Rich & Regular. Together, they paid off $200k in debt in five years and were able to walk from their corporate jobs before turning 40. Now they are adding authors to their resume as their debut book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away hit bookshelves everywhere.

We venture into the Greater North Atlanta region of Georgia to chat with Cheryl Gregory. Ms. Cheryl is a registered nurse, who hails from Sweet Home (small town in Arkansas) and is a product of a community of tenacious women from Highway 365.  Her profession has sustained her through critical life transitions as she made challening decisions that would impact her and her family.  Her journey with relationships, relocation, and resiliency are a true reflection of, "if at first you don't succeed...dust yourself off and try agian." Let's G[R]O[W]!! If you would like to contact Ms. Cheryl her Facebook and Instagram handles are @Cheryl Gregory and @sexycherylrenee Join us on the journey: IG: @nextstoploading FB: Next Stop Loading YouTube: Next Stop Loading (within the week) Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you are listening or by using this link: https://linktr.ee/nextstoploading For business inquiries nextstoploading@gmail.com

Kat Jamieson (formerly Tanita) started writing her blog; With Love From Kat 11 years ago. While working in the fashion industry and living in NYC, Kat found herself endlessly inspired. What initially began as a creative outlet, quickly turned into a blossoming career. Today, Kat is an expert in all things lifestyle. She is known for her elevated yet attainable style across the fashion, beauty, travel, food and decor sectors. Her goal remains to inspire and uplift women through every piece of content she shares.

Welcome to the "BE LOCAL PODCAST," with episode 38!  Hope you are having a great week.  Don't forget to follow us on instagram @BeLocalPodcast and get ready the EDBL app is coming real soon.  When we talk about "EAT DRINK BE LOCAL," we can't leave out some of the amazing food bloggers here in South Florida.  One of those food/lifestyle blogs  being @TakeABiteOutOfBoca, created by one of our favorite locals Shaina Wizov.   Shaina is the founder of Take A Bite Out of Boca, a well respected food and lifestyle blog and social media platform celebrating over 10 years in the community. Shaina is a strong advocate for supporting local South Florida businesses, which is exactly what living the EDBL life is all about!

Teri and Elise chat all about their shared passion for travel and exploring our amazing world! Elise is the writer behind “WHAT THE FAB”, a travel and lifestyle blog based in San Francisco which she founded in 2012. She proves that blogging is thriving and now is an educator and shares exciting news about the upcoming launch of her SEO masterclass. Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dream of being an entrepreneur & she shares STELLARGIRL's mission by inspiring women to find “fabulous” in their everyday! Visit whatthefab.com

Geoff Horen gives us practical advice for choosing the right contractor for your lifestyle. Listen in as Geoff goes through what to ask and look for as your shopping for a remodeling company. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to know more information, check out our The Lifestyle Blog “How to Choose A Contractor”.   Submit your questions to The Lifestyle Group at lifestylegroup.com

Today, Tes talks with Valerie Bennis. Valerie is an award winning aromatherapist who created the Essence of Vali line of therapeutic products. She recently started a new chapter with the launch of her company, Fragrant Notes, a lifestyle blog for women over 50. Her mission is to inspire women to love and appreciate ALL that they are through all the phases of their life with purpose, self-care, passion and creativity. To learn more about Valerie Bennis: For Fragrant Notes: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefragrantnote Website: www.fragrantnotes.com For Essence of Vali: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essenceofvali Website: www.essenceofvali.com

Anna Haddock is the creator of The Coffee Table Blog and you can find her on instagram @Annakhaddock! She graduated from Meredith College with a degree in nutrition but through her college internships, she discovered her passion lies in marketing! Anna works in marketing during the day and spends her weekends & evenings sharing the best coffee shops, restaurants, and places to travel to on her blog! She is so inspiring as everything she does she has learned on her own by following her passions!

Following Sustainable Fashion September on NatureHub app, we interviewed Gabriela Rocafort a.k.a. One Vegan in Heels. She runs an inspirational blog for women who want to look good, do good, and feel even better in a conscious, sustainable, and eco-friendly way. ⏱3:50 Intro to fashion evolution. Contamination, human rights problems, Fairtrade issues and animal/ resource exploitation9:16 Sustainable tips10:05 Greenwashing14:10 Work condition in the mass-fashion industry23:32 How to teach kids about sustainable living29:42 Sustainable businesses in Tampa, Florida Join us for this interview where Gabriela tells us about:✨Ethical fashion businesses in Tampa, Florida✨Some of her inspiring sustainable fashion tips✨Her philosophy on bringing up a child in an eco-conscious way✨Her future plans and ideas Find Gabriela at https://www.veganinheels.com Follow NatureHubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturehubofficialTwitter: https://twitter.com/nature_hubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturehub.official/Website: https://naturehub.com

Tiffany Turner Moon is a lifestyle/digital creator, you can find her on instagram @Tiffanyturnermoon! Tiffany has such an amazing and unique story and she shares it all with her community, she promotes easy recipes, activism, and community! She shares the best tips & tricks on how to use instagram to gain followers and how to start monetizing your platform!

Do you ever feel like you're getting into the game too late? The industry is too saturated or there's too many people doing what you want to do... Blogger and online business coach, Megan McQueen, shares a different perspective on blogging in 2021. We cover everything from how to start, how to succeed, and what to do about Instagram's new Terms of Service. Click here to save 60% on all of Megan's blogging courses with password "BRANDWELL".For the full transcript and show notes, head to the blog at  www.brandwelldesigns.com.

In this Episode, I welcome guest Zelenka Boyd the Face behind “MamaZee and her 3” to the show. Zelenka is a 32 year old Mom of three who's oldest is Marley, 5 and twins, Ayden and Ireland, are 4 years old.  She has been a front line worker taking and dispatching 911 calls for over 10 years. However, her journey into entrepreneurship began just under 2 years ago while journaling as an outlet during a storm that she was going through at the time. Soon after using her personal IG page as a part of her healing process, it grew into some thing bigger than she imagined. What began as writing words from her struggles down onto paper, has turned her into a lifestyle and mommy blogger, a freelance writer, and an online boutique owner.  Her work has been featured on popular mom blogs and websites. And, her 3 minis have been featured on numerous social media pages including Children's Place. Her most recent additions to her brand include a journal, Facebook group and daily text affirmations for her community.  For more information on Mama Zee and Her 3 visit www.mamazeeandher3.com _____________This episode is brought to you by:Dubsado - The #1 business management platform, helping businesses stay in motion. Get 20% off your first month or year with this link: dubsado.com/?c=legasheGet our Business Builder Kit and start building your brand: BUSINESS BUILDER KITGUEST INFO:Follow Zelenka on social media:Instagram @mamazee_mommybloggerGet a copy of her Mother Hustler Manifestation Journal- HERE_____________Make sure to follow LegaSHE Builder:Instagram- LegaSHEbuilderFacebook- LegaSHEbuilderGain access to resources here: www.legashe.co-----Music in this episode provided by: Coma-Media --- Love our show? You can show us some love or buy us a cup of coffee : HERE*Note the description includes affiliate links that allow you to find the items that may or mayn't be mentioned within the episode. While we may earn minimal sums whenever individuals use the links, you are in no way obligated to use the link. Thank you for your supportSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-legashe-builder/donations

 Blogging is often a hobby or a passion that a lot of people have. But did you know that you could turn it into a business? This is exactly what today's guest did! Since 2009, Emily Martin has curated the Lifestyle blog, The JetSetting Fashionista, where she writes about restaurants and wineries in the Bay Area and around the world, and interviews some of the industry's most talented chefs and winemakers. This inspired Emily to further pursue her passion for food, wine, events and hospitality by founding  Emily Martin Communications & Events. Her company offers event planning & execution--ranging from intimate cocktail parties, to team offsites, corporate dinners or events, formal galas, and Winemaker Dinners or Wine Club pickup parties.Highlights:Emily tells us how she started The JetSetting Fashionista blog, taking her content from private to public as she turned her hobby into a real business.The importance of over-delivering when working with a brand or company in a partnership, so they appreciate your work and want to hire you again!How she manages to balance the world of blogging and the world of event planning, both her own businesses.The power of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Emily gives us some tips on using this marketing tool to bring more visibility to your business on the web!Emily explains the different types of wines and shares a few of her personal favorites.Learn more about Emily by visiting her blog and check her out on Instagram.Sign up for The First Degree Membership! By becoming a member, we're getting more intimate than ever! Get the Membership! Check our past episodes of The Sixth Degree podcast! Remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

If you struggle with creating content you are not alone. Publishing content is important for your online business. Coming up with creative content ideas shouldn't be difficult. Today Samantha from Ahfro Baang, is in the guest chair. Samantha is an author, YouTuber, and natural hair icon. She's been creating content for years and shares her journey with how she learned to create new content that her audience loves as much as she does. Listen in as Samantha shares tips on how to create creative content and how to find enjoyment in your content creation again.   Points Worth Listening To:  How Samantha got started as a blogger. (3:02)  How Samantha finds unique ways to present her content. (5:42)  “It's always good to be open to learning more technology.” (6:30) What tools Samantha uses for creating content. (8:21)  “Use what you have, learn with what you have, learn with the camera that you have.” (13:26)  “I think the biggest thing is that you just have to get started.” (14:20) Samantha's health journey and how she's adding health to her platform. (33:18)  “It's about being assertive and creating your own lane.” (49:56)  Actionable tips on how to get started as a blogger. (52:56)    Guest Info:  Follow Samantha on IG @ahfro_baang Follow Samantha on YouTube Ahfro Baang Final Thoughts:  Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.  Follow MJ on Instagram @lifebymj  Follow the podcast on Instagram @alifebyyou Join the Life By You Facebook Community

Welcome to the Girl Guide Podcast! Today, Grace sits down with a fellow GW student and friend, Lauren Ofman. Lauren discusses how she created her own organization on campus called The GW Local. This org acts as a student lifestyle blog for all things GW. Check out this episode to hear all about Lauren's journey! The Girl Guide Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlguidepodcast/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebartolotti/ Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiJ0F1yWklAzZ3Uj51G1vGA Email girlguidepodcast@gmail.com for business inquiries! Lauren's Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenofman/ The GW Local Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegwlocal/ The GW Local Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gw.local.1 Check out The GW Local in action: http://thegwlocal.com/ THE AMAZING GW LOCAL E BOARD: Editors: Brandon Wallace Kaleigh Werner Caroline Dehn Tori Mandato Maya Konings Nelson brown Taylor Gorjestani Amazing writers and photographers: Krista Minas Bella DiRussa Sophia Sasson Parisa Akbarpour Daniel Okay Catherine Feisthamel Carly Novell Alex Teerlinck Chloe Levine Hannah Oros Felicity Zhang Bekah Redwine --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thegirlguidepodcast/support

Today on the show I have the lovely Carlyn Porter: the creator of popular Scoliosis blog 'The Curvy Truth'. Caryln shares her wisdom about a number of Scoliosis related topics including Functional Nutrition, Nutritional Deficiencies, Bone Health, Body Acceptance,  Releasing Expectations, Self Love, and how to live your best life with Scoliosis. 

Today my guest is Melissa Johnson from the blog, Best Friends for Frosting. Melissa has built one of the most beautiful and successful lifestyle blogs out there. In this conversation, we talk about the best ways to monetize and grow a lifestyle blog, what it's like working with your husband, how to experiment with selling products, and tips for working on sponsored posts with brands. Melissa has been at this a long time, and you can tell by all her wise advice! Listen now! Resources: The Blogger Genius on iTunes Best Friends for Frosting MiloTree Cupcakes & Cashmere Bando Best Friends for Frosting Pinterest Heartfelt Success Podcast Transcript: How To Monetize And Grow A Lifestyle Blog with Melissa Johnson Host 0:04 Welcome to The Blogger Genius Podcast, brought to you by MiloTree. Here's your host, Jilian Leslie. Jillian Leslie 0:11 Hello and welcome back to the show. Before we start, I have a very quick favor to ask. Please, if you haven't already, subscribe to The Blogger Genius Podcast. Pause it for 10 seconds. Just press the subscribe button on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, wherever you get your podcasts. This will help get the podcast found, help it grow so that I can keep bringing you awesome guests. So let me tell you about today's episode. Today I am interviewing Melissa Johnson, and she is the creative force behind the blog Best Friends For Frosting. Melissa is an old timer like me, when I think about her blog, it is one of the most beautiful blogs. She creates incredible content, she is the ultimate creator. So without further ado, here is Melissa Johnson. Melissa, welcome to the show. Melissa Johnson 1:09 Hello. I'm so excited to be here. Jillian Leslie 1:12 So we have been kind of like friends, colleagues online, but we've never spoken, and it's so fun because it feels like I'm talking to an old friend. Melissa Johnson 1:24 Same here. I feel like it's been so long that we've emailed back and forth and we've been Facebook friends, and it's about time we have a call. So this is perfect. Jillian Leslie 1:32 Totally. I don't even know your story. Tell me how you started with Best Friends For Frosting. By the way. I've always loved that name. How your business your entrepreneurial journey has evolved since then. Starting the blog, Best Friends for Frosting Melissa Johnson 1:44 So I started Best Friends For Frosting, eight years ago, and it was initially a dessert blog but I learned that I was multi passionate. So about a year and a half into blogging I turned it into a lifestyle website where we cover everything under the sun whether it be entertaining, DIY, a little bit of fashion, recipes, interior design, all that fun stuff that I'm passionate about. The way that I see the blog is that it's all of my favorite things that I get really excited about on my little corner of the internet. So that's what I've done at Best Friends For Frosting over the years, and then also we've expanded into product lines. We have launched a Best Friends for Frosting Airbnb that was named after our Best Friends for Frosting Instagram hashtag, that has over 120,000 shares. Jillian Leslie 2:29 Wow. Okay, keep going. But we're going to have to come back and talk about that. Melissa Johnson 2:33 Sure okay. There's just a lot going on. It's been really fun. And I absolutely love blogging. So I feel like this podcast feels like a second home to me already. Jillian Leslie 2:43 Good. Okay. So have you always been creative? Melissa Johnson 2:46 I have ever since I was little. I love baking. I love doing little DIY projects. My mom would always take me to the craft store to get little pieces of confetti and stationary. So I have always been creative. Yes. Jillian Leslie 3:00 Okay. And so you are the quintessential lifestyle blog? Melissa Johnson 3:05 Yes. Jillian Leslie 3:09 You are the ultimate lifestyle blog. Melissa Johnson 3:11 Yes. The ultimate lifestyle blog. I guess you could say. I don't know big words like that. Jillian Leslie 3:18 But again, like it doesn't matter. Because look how creative you are. You have an Airbnb. Okay, so explain. Did you start because you're like, I want to be a blogger, or this is like my business. How did that work? Melissa Johnson 3:40 So my brother actually, he started blogging about, gosh, I want to say like, almost 15 years ago, he was like, an original blogger. I remember one day I was working a job that I was not passionate about. And he came to my parents house and he had a check for $30,000 from Sprite. And I was like, Oh my gosh, I always thought I was more entrepreneurial than my brother was, I feel kind of bad saying that. But growing up I did just because I was really organized. And my brother wasn't as organized as me. And I just always felt like I was driven. So it's like, oh, my gosh, if he can do it, I can do it, too. And so he really inspired me just seeing how he monetized. And so he taught my husband and I some things about blogging. And then I just figured out what I was passionate about. And then I ended up running with it. Working with your husband on a blog Jillian Leslie 4:25 That's amazing. Okay, and you work with your husband? Melissa Johnson 4:28 I do, we work full time together. It's our only revenue stream. Jillian Leslie 4:31 Wow. And did it start that way? Melissa Johnson 4:34 No, we did not start that way. So it was just myself actually. And I'll tell you what, my son was actually about six months old when I started blogging. And basically what happened was, at first, it was myself running a blog. And then I was working as a marketing director for senior in home care agency. And so I was working that job while blogging. About a year into blogging. I started monetizing. And so I was able to actually quit my job immediately from that monetization. And do that full time. My husband ended up quitting his job, I want to say about three years into it. It's all so blurry to me. But about three years in the blogging, he quit his job and came with me full time. So ever since then, it's been him and I on this. Jillian Leslie 5:14 Wow. And how do you split up what you do what he does? Melissa Johnson 5:18 So it's really cool. Because with him, and I, and we both have total separate zones of geniuses. So with him, he's very much a true blue artist. He does photography, he does recipe development. It's amazing. I really hit the jackpot with him. And so with myself, I'm really great at marketing, branding. Um, gosh, I mean, we're both good at a lot of different things. But we're able to split up equally what we're both individually good at and take those skill sets, and then blend them together and just kind of run with it. So it's been really fun. Jillian Leslie 5:55 I work with my husband, David, and he's the technologist and he built all of the software and all that stuff. And I would agree, which is we have very concrete domains. And I've heard this from other interviews I've done that sometimes when you work with your spouse, it can get kind of mucky if you don't have those delineations. And the people who seem the most successful are the ones that have these, you do this, I do this, we come together for this. And we kind of hand stuff off to each other. But like, I don't have to answer to you. And you don't have to answer to me. Melissa Johnson 6:33 Yes, it's so true. And its so funny you say that, because I feel like this is gonna sound horrible. I love my husband. But I feel like during our work hours, the least that we have to run into each other, the least smooth sailing, it's going to be. I'll tell you all of our fights that we have revolved around business and kids, because those are the things that we're super passionate about. Jillian Leslie 6:55 Yeah. And for us, I would say that people say that what is for you the biggest downside of working with your husband and I always say that, it's like, we can't, it's hard to turn off the business side and the parenting side, like, just to be the two of us goofy and funny. My husband is really funny, and he cracks me up all the time. And sometimes though, when we're like, in our work zone, we will be playful with each other. And it's a weird, I miss you, even though I work with you. Melissa Johnson 7:36 We're the same way too, because you're working. We're in the mode, we're in the zone, but outside, we have to have boundaries on that as well, where it's like, okay, like five o'clock and beyond we are not going to talk about business. We're focusing on the kids, we're focusing on our family weekends as well. We really try to adhere to our schedule Monday through Friday working. It's exciting too because our daughter, we have a two year old daughter, Claire, and she actually just started preschool a few months back. So I feel like she's been at home with us for the past couple of years. So it's really exciting for us where we feel like the newness is kind of coming back, we are able to dive in deeper into our business and focus on things that we weren't able to focus on months or even years ago. Monetizing a lifestyle blog Jillian Leslie 8:17 Okay. So when you start your blog, you start monetizing via traffic, via display ads. Melissa Johnson 8:23 Right. Jillian Leslie 8:23 And we both talked about how we were with the same ad network, Mode. And they went out of business and we both lost a ton of money. We'll just say that that was very painful. But I did feel really bonded to you. Because we're in this Facebook group talking about it. It was we were both talking just before we got on, how it made us both sick. I remember walking around with a stomach ache for like weeks. But it was horrible. Melissa Johnson 8:47 And honestly, I'm an open book about it. I have been very candid about the loss in interviews and different things. I think it is important for bloggers to realize to get their money up front versus waiting. Because I was very much trying to trust with our agency and so on. I just kept thinking, oh it's going to be fine. It's going to be in my Paypal. It's all good. And then yeah, I just remember like I was signed with them. They were the first company that allowed me to quit my day job. So I was so thankful for them. And I still a very thankful for the opportunity even though it's crummy, what happened. But yeah, it's crazy. Jillian Leslie 9:21 Yes. I think it taught us a very valuable lesson, which is, the internet is a crazy place and don't count your eggs. What is it? Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Melissa Johnson 9:35 Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Jillian Leslie 9:36 Don't put all your eggs in one basket. I mean, if you're doing this full time you're doing this with your husband. It's a wild ride, huh? Embracing change as a blogger Melissa Johnson 9:45 It truly is. Jillian Leslie 9:46 You gotta hold on and just like be willing to embrace change, to embrace disappointment. And there are some really cool things about it. Melissa Johnson 9:57 Yeah, you said it so well. And I think, embracing the change in the disappointment. Everybody deals with that no matter what part or part of the journey they are in. For myself, even right now, I'm embracing a lot of change, a lot of different things on my journey. And just because right now, I'm really focusing on growing a podcast from the ground up, and you're probably, you probably can relate to that. I mean, especially with MiloTree, what you've been growing and working on, which is so cool. I mean, it's like, it's kind of like you have your business, but then you're starting new businesses and new adventures. Jillian Leslie 10:28 Absolutely. Okay. So let's talk about this. Okay. So you start your blog, you're monetizing via ads, and sponsored content. And then how did you start growing into products? How did you start growing into an Airbnb, all of that? Selling products as a blogger Melissa Johnson 10:44 So this year, we really tried to like beta test different products, because we haven't put a ton of money behind it. It's more of like brands have come to us and have paid us for releasing the line, that sort of thing. So we really wanted to beta test it behind other brands. So that way that we wouldn't lose a ton of money it into a product line, just to see how our audience reacts to the sales and all of those different things. So that was our game plan when we release the product line, which sold out. Jillian Leslie 11:12 Slow down. I need you to go step by step. Okay. So you decide you're going to make a product line product, right? Melissa Johnson 11:21 Yes. So we decided to make a product line. Jillian Leslie 11:24 Okay, what kind of products? Melissa Johnson 11:26 So for starters, we released a desk, a very stylish modern desk. We released the desk earlier this year. Jillian Leslie 12:00 I have to say, it's a little random. Melissa Johnson 12:04 It is random. But I mean, it isn't. Because interior design is one of our most popular category. I really wanted to test what sells would be like releasing an actual furniture product. Jillian Leslie 12:15 Okay, got it. Melissa Johnson 12:17 So we released the desk, but you sit and write out or work on your laptop out. And I'm actually sitting here as I'm talking to you. It sold out. Jillian Leslie 12:27 Wow. And you did this with another company. Melissa Johnson 12:30 We did. We had another company manufacturer it, ship it out, sell it. We took the product imagery, I worked in designing it. And that's how the whole thing came about. Jillian Leslie 12:38 Got it. And then was it like a rev share kind of thing where, you know, this is their manufacturing and shipping it and all that stuff. Like you get a cut of it. And they get a cut of it? Melissa Johnson 12:48 Correct. Jillian Leslie 12:49 Okay. Melissa Johnson 12:52 So that ended up performing really well. And then in addition to that, we also released a product line with a company called Readable. It's a female founded company. They're amazing. And they're just doing some really cool things. They did their first collaboration with Emily Schumann, of Cupcakes and Cashmere. And they also collaboration with Band-O. And so I'm the third one on board. And so we did a product line collaboration, which sold out to different rounds, I believe. Jillian Leslie 13:24 What kind of product? Melissa Johnson 13:26 So it's actually like, it's a box that you order. I know this is a little confusing, but it's a gift box that you ordered, put really fun things inside. And then on the inside of the box is personalization. You can upload your own custom photos. And a little message like Happy Birthday says, I love you, or whatever you want to write in the box. And so I designed the exterior of three different prints for the boxes. And they performed really well. It was really fun for me, I got to work hand in hand with their designer, oversee the entire design of each box. So it was just a really cool experience. Jillian Leslie 14:11 With you selling these products. Were you testing if people would buy from you? Melissa Johnson 14:22 That's exactly what we wanted to see how the sales generated. And it's tough when you're in the blogging industry, and you see your audience and the other side. It's hard to know, okay, what are they going to gravitate towards the most? What are they going to be most inclined to purchase? And so we just really wanted to test the market and see how that worked. Without totally breaking the bank. Jillian Leslie 14:41 Totally. Wow. And it's good. I mean, your stuff is selling. That's phenomenal. Okay, let's talk about social media. Your husband takes some beautiful photos. When I think of you, I think of beautiful photos. Melissa Johnson 15:02 That's really sweet of you to say yes, to me and then also we've collaborated with a couple other photographers in Sacramento over the years as well. And so now my husband's doing more of the photography. He updated his camera this year. And he's really been learning it and practicing it. So it's been really cool. How to drive traffic as a blogger Jillian Leslie 15:19 Okay, so talk to me then about how you drive traffic to your blog, and what social media platforms do you use? And what where have you connected the most with your audience? Melissa Johnson 15:32 Oh, that's a great question. Okay. So for in terms of social media, I would definitely say Instagram and Pinterest have been our most popular platforms in terms of building relationships, and really making Best Friends for Frosting turn into a brand. I know that they're so different but I'm such a visual person where I love that on Instagram, its so easy to be able to see things, and Pinterest it's so easy to see things. But when it comes to Facebook or Twitter, right, it's not as much of a visual thing. And so in terms of like, generating traffic, Pinterest is working on a case study for Best Friends for Frosting. It turns out that they have told us that we are one of their highest engaged accounts. Yeah, we actually we have 6.5 million monthly viewers on Pinterest and so that's been an awesome way to grow an extension of our brand, because our readership, people learn about us through Pinterest, Best Friends for Frosting from Pinterest, and then from there, will generate more site traffic, which makes makes us able to demand higher rates for sponsored blog post. We can also have a higher amount of traffic from our visitors from Pinterest. And then the other cool thing is that if people are feeling really inclined, they can follow us on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. So Pinterest has been a great, great part of our growth. Jillian Leslie 16:55 Right? And do you use MiloTree? Why the MiloTree Pinterest pop-up will grow your traffic Melissa Johnson 16:57 I do. And I love love, love, love MiloTree. Jillian Leslie 17:02 What are you growing with it? Melissa Johnson 17:04 So MiloTree right now I'm focusing on Pinterest, because one thing that I noticed on Pinterest for a hot minute there, was that followers weren't growing as rapidly in the earlier part of this year, because we weren't putting as much content. I just saw that those numbers weren't growing as fast as they previously were when we were pinning a lot more actively. And so I installed the MiloTree plugin and had a little pop up on my website. This is "Follow me on Pinterest." And I have literally grown thousands and thousands of new followers just by having that little pop up. Jillian Leslie 17:34 What I see probably working for you is if a lot of your traffic is coming from Pinterest to your site, and then your pop-up shows up and says, Follow me on Pinterest, they already know that you're an influencer on Pinterest. So they're more apt to then follow you. Melissa Johnson 17:51 Yes, that's so true. The other cool thing about having that plugin as well, is that people will come and find us on Pinterest. But maybe they just want to see the actual like posts. They're trying to find us from Pinterest, go to my blog. And today, like they haven't even had an opportunity to say like, Oh, I'm going to follow her on Pinterest because they're trying to find that direct content to my blog. And then that pop-up comes up. And it's like, oh, yeah, I need to follow Best Friends for Frosting on Pinterest Jillian Leslie 18:15 Right. I'm so glad it's working for you. I'm so happy. Melissa Johnson 18:21 Honestly, it's funny, because we download a lot of plugins. And a lot of times it's one of those things where we waste money. We buy a year subscription and it's like, oh, this sort of works, but we're not going to renew it. And MiloTree is one of those plugins that I like tell every blogger, like you have to download it, it's so helpful to grow your following, like whatever platform that you're trying to nurture and grow have that MiloTree pop up for. Jillian Leslie 18:43 And we want you to love it. And if you don't, we don't want you to pay for it. So we don't lock you in. I mean you can buy a year subscription but you can also just pay nine bucks a month, and we're super happy, and we we want to be part of your success. Melissa Johnson 18:59 That's what I'm so thankful for, recently we bought a recipe plugin. And they want a whole year up front. And I get a little commitment phobic, like I don't want to pay all that up front. What if I end up not loving it? And so my MiloTree it's cool because you can spend you know that $9 a month and you get these awesome newsletters with all the business tips that you send out, to which is cool. Jillian Leslie 19:19 Oh, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I love doing that. Again. I love connecting. That's how we did this, was you read one of my emails. And you emailed me back and then I said, Come on my show. Melissa Johnson 19:36 That's awesome. Yeah, I'm so thankful to be here. This is so great to just be able to be on your official podcast. I've heard so many great things from other bloggers about this. Jillian Leslie 19:47 So now for Instagram. So Pinterest is driving traffic to you. Is Instagram driving traffic? Or what are you getting from Instagram. How to use Instagram as an influencer Melissa Johnson 19:56 So Instagram right now, we have our website like in the actual address bar on our Instagram page. But to be totally honest, I feel like Instagram is more of a place where it's kind of like its own animal. So it's housing all of its own content. Now it's doing video. Now it's doing stories. I'm even getting to a point where I'm posting my recipes. And I'm not even saying go back to my blog on my here's my recipe because now they're even trying to have like that Pinterest aspect where you're able to save your own content and create your own prints. And so I feel like they are trying to be their own animal and a lot of ways, right. And so I especially, because a large portion of our bread and butter is sponsored posts. I make sure to really nurture those relationships. And offer as much up front value without taking them outside the platform as possible, though, I'll tell you, I do have like anxiety moments where I'm like, I'm going to be kicking myself because Instagram, Facebook owns it. And we don't know what's going to happen because we don't own that platform. When it comes to our blogs. We own that, we own those platforms. And you can easily search for things that a search engine on your blog posts, like, and as a search option, you cannot do that on Instagram. I mean, it's kind of it's a very unique time for content creators. I have to say. Jillian Leslie 21:12 What do you mean by that? Melissa Johnson 21:13 Just, I mean, those spaces just constantly evolving and changing, and there's just a lot happening, Jillian Leslie 21:19 Right. Do you monetize more from sponsored content than traffic? Melissa Johnson 21:25 Oh, yes, we do. Sponsored content is our bread and butter, I would say for sure. We do monetize from or traffic too. But the largest portion of our monetization is from sponsored blog posts and social shares. Jillian Leslie 21:37 Got it. So are you constantly doing sponsored posts? Strategies for sponsored posts as a blogger Melissa Johnson 21:42 We are. We do quite a few a month. Gosh, I mean, anywhere ranging from like, three to ten per month. Jillian Leslie 21:51 Wow. Okay. And how do you think about it? Like, how do you think about managing your time, managing your process, so that you're not just constantly reinventing the wheel? Like, okay, we've got another recipe, like, how do you how do you do it so that you can get everything done? Melissa Johnson 22:13 It's tough. I mean, honestly, it's a never ending battle, because I feel like I'm always refining that process, and then eventually ends up not working for me, or something ends up just, I don't know, it's really tough. I feel like it's a never ending battle. But I am at a unique point where as much as I love blogging, I really want to generate multiple revenue streams. So I am focusing on how to fine tune Best Friends for Frosting to run like a well oiled machine, where I'm not having to be such hands on as I currently am. And so I have that mindset right now. It's an interesting time for us for sure. Jillian Leslie 22:52 We also now have two businesses, so that we're really trying to find a variety of income streams, and especially, you know, when Mode exploded in our face, like it did, you know, I think that that's further inspired us to, to really look at how we can make money in a variety of different ways. Melissa Johnson 23:13 Totally, I completely agree. I know, it was such a shocker. And that was a big eye opener, where it's like, you can't put all your eggs in one basket. And so now at this point, we're working with a lot of different agencies in terms of closing deals for sponsored posts. Jillian Leslie 23:27 That was my question. Are brands reaching out to you? Who is your favorite agency? Like, how do you get work with brands? Melissa Johnson 23:37 So in terms of getting work with different brands, and things the majority, a lot of them are coming to us directly, like Hey, we found you, and we'd love to work with you on this or that. And so then it becomes a negotiating process. And so, you know, sometimes they're not willing to pay our rates, and so it doesn't end up working out. And so it's just a case by case basis, for sure. But we do work directly with ad agencies, PR agencies, and then directly with companies, a lot of companies now. In the past, they used to get companies like ad agencies or PR agencies to house in facilitate their blog partnerships. But now companies are actually hiring dedicated people in their headquarters to handle those themselves. So I'm a little bit of everybody. Jillian Leslie 24:21 Okay. And then how does it work? Like, are you ever racing at the last minute to get the content created? That was always our thing, where I'd tell me husband, this weekend, we can't have any plans, because we have three posts, we have to work on. Melissa Johnson 24:41 Yes and it's hard. Yes, absolutely. We've been there, done that so many times. And it's hard, because, I mean, we've never been late, we always fully execute. But we have had times where we have to scramble at the last minute and so that's the hard part. I love what we do. But there is that side things where it's like, there's so many steps involved, you have to generate that organic content to keep your audience staying put, and loving what you're doing, then you have to pitch brands, create the content to support what you're doing. So there's just so many different steps when it comes to blogging, and not to mention all the social media growth and all that stuff. Jillian Leslie 25:19 Yeah, so how many new posts are you posting a week? Melissa Johnson 25:25 Only two. We're only doing two, we used to do about four to five, years ago. It's just kind of to the point where I thought, you know, quality over quantity, and it's just, I really want to, like produce things that I'm over the moon excited about that are meaningful to me, versus just scrambling together to drop a post. Jillian Leslie 25:41 Does that include sponsored content as well, like, that would be one of the two that you're releasing that week? Melissa Johnson 25:46 It does. Not every single week, but a lot of times it does. Jillian Leslie 25:50 Now, are you going back? This is the thing that we're doing. Are you going back and updating old content? Melissa Johnson 25:58 I should be. I'm doing it for SEO purposes. And I have it on my list. And I'm like, Okay, I gotta jump to that. But I'm at the season where I know I'm kind of touched on this earlier, but I tried the whole, getting an office, having employees, having a team, and then I just felt like I got to a point were just getting to the office was a pain in the, you know what, and then, micromanaging people, where managing employees was just so hard for me, because I'm type-A and I'm a perfectionist. And so I just had a point where I just realized, it's easier for Andy and I to do this together. So that's kind of where we've been this past year. But I'm now at a point where I feel like I'm running myself ragged in a lot of ways. I'm doing a lot of smaller tasks, whether it's like updating a social media platform, or I hate to say it like that. But I mean, when I'm updating Facebook or Instagram, I do have an intern update that for me, but I am on like Instagram and I myself and an intern manage the Pinterest being like, totally fully transparent. But it's hard because I'm trying to do everything and then it's like factoring in growth. I mean, the strategies are just getting tougher and tougher and tougher, right? Updating old blog posts as an SEO strategy Jillian Leslie 27:12 Yeah, they're getting more intricate and so here's what I would say. What we've done that has lightened our load is we used to post three original pieces of content a week and now we have gone to two and all we do with that third one is update a post. Melissa Johnson 27:30 Really? Are you saying that you update it and change the date? Jillian Leslie 27:35 Yes. Republish it, because Google doesn't care. They don't care that you did an evergreen post three years ago, if it's still relevant. And you can maybe make a new collage, update text, all this stuff. Google's happy if you publish it today. Melissa Johnson 27:56 That's awesome. That is really cool. I've heard other people talk about it. But I'd never heard it broken down that way. Where it completely makes sense. Jillian Leslie 28:03 Yes. I used to believe that you had to feed the Google machine with new content, new content. And then actually, it was at the AdThrive conference where the SEO guy was like, it doesn't matter in Google's eyes. And in Pinterest's eyes, if you update it. It's much easier, first of all, to update a post than it is to create a new post. All you need to do is like, right now I'm editing out photos, I realized that we had too many photos in a post or making a new hero image, or trying to really optimize the post for SEO. So I am putting more links at the bottom of a post. So let's say it's a Halloween post that we're updating, well then at the end now we'll say, "Hey, you know, do you want free Halloween party printables?" And then we'll do some links to our other posts. And literally, that's how we update the post Melissa Johnson 29:06 Yeah Google loves those links. Jillian Leslie 29:08 So good. So right. I'm trying to provide for Google, but really, I'm really trying to provide for somebody who wants to see, you know, let's say we do we have Halloween pretzels. And they're cute. And so at the bottom will say, hey, do you want Halloween free Halloween printables? Because, you know, you probably have printables at your party with pretzels. And it's been a really successful strategy. And it's taken a lot of the load off. Melissa Johnson 29:36 Oh, I can imagine. Jillian Leslie 29:37 So you could go to like, one piece of content a week and then take an old evergreen post and update it. Melissa Johnson 29:45 I might just need to do that. Jillian Leslie 29:49 I think that the emphasis used to be back in the day for us was like, we did four posts or five posts or seven posts. And now it's seems like the emphasis is on quality and updating your content. Somebody described it to me as a library, you have a library of content, and all you're doing is just making the books ar as good as they possibly can. Like, you don't even need more books. You just need high quality books. Melissa Johnson 30:20 Right. And that's what I've been learning more and more, even with blogging and building my business in general, is that it's quality over quantity. And simplifying is so important. So if you can take something in fact, it it's better like, just think about In and Out Burger. They could have so many things on their menu, right? They, keep it very simple. Because decision fatigue. Have you ever gone to a website where you're gonna buy something and you love something. But then you see six things that you love, and you can't make the choice and you end up saying to heck with it. And you leave. Jillian Leslie 30:48 I feel that way at Zappos. Shopping for shoes. I can go through 32 pages of shoes. Melissa Johnson 30:56 No way. No way. But if you go somewhere, like In and Out Burger, there's like four really good things that have been perfected, and somebody put their heart and soul into it and just made it the best. I feel like that's the way to go. Jillian Leslie 31:07 And by the way, that's our same philosophy with MiloTree, which is one ask per visit. So it's not, Oh, my God. And then we've got all these things that we need you to do. And you get like, totally overwhelmed as a visitor versus, Hey, follow me on Pinterest. Melissa Johnson 31:22 That's so smart. Yeah, and it's definitely working. Especially from my perspective, from the growth that we've seen on our Pinterest audience loving it. Jillian Leslie 31:30 I'm so glad. Okay, so tell me, what about your business are you most excited about right now? Melissa Johnson 31:41 Is that bad, that I have to think about that for a second? Jillian Leslie 31:43 No, because I know what your life is like. I relate. Melissa Johnson 31:51 You know, right now, I feel like I have five really good ideas in my head. And I'm having a really hard time saying and giving myself permission to say, this is where I'm going to start. And this is the one that I'm going to focus on. And so that's been tough for me. But I'll tell you what I learned during that process. And I'm going to get right back to your question kind of intertwined together. Blogger advice: the secret to getting ahead is getting started But I learned the secret to getting ahead is getting started. So, for example, Heartfelt Success Podcast, that's my, new podcasts that I launched, we feature celebrities and entrepreneurs. And we talk about things that can motivate or uplift you or offer value, whether it's social media tips, or growing your blog, or a challenge that you may have faced in your life, or motherhood or whatever it may be. It's a little bit of everything but I was so nervous and so scared to start that podcast. What I ended up doing was I just started sending out emails and getting guest on and recording and then you know, one thing led to another. We had to learn different things as we were going, but we ended up getting everything going. And so I learned, you know, the secret to getting ahead is getting started. But anyways, that's kind of where intertwines back. I am really excited about Heartfelt Success Podcast, we have some awesome guests lined up. So we've already been featured Laila Ali, and we have other guests in the pipelines that will be released soon. So it's been fun. But yeah, that's what I'm most excited about. Blogger advice: Start a podcast And I have four other things that I'm really excited about, but I just, I don't know which one to go on to next. So that was my whole answer. In a nutshell, I talk a lot, I blame it on being Italian. Jillian Leslie 33:28 I went to a podcasting conference. I love podcasts. I came home. And I said to my daughter, I'm going to start a podcast. And I think she was like, yeah right, mom. And so in a weird way, I wanted to show her that I was going to really do this. And so I just same thing, I just put one foot in front of the other. And I remember it's like saying, I'm really starting a podcast. And she was kind of like, whatever. And then I kept reminding myself that done is better than perfect. And so I watched a bunch of YouTube videos to figure out how to do this. And then the literal boom, I have a podcast. And as I was saying to you, it's kind of messy. And I'm not the best editor. And, you know, sometimes, something will happen in the middle of it. And I go, Well, you know done is better than perfect. And so, I get it. And I'm excited for your podcast. Because I have to say, if you out there are thinking of starting a podcast, do it. It's, it's not expensive. I really fun. I find it really satisfying. Melissa Johnson 34:34 It is really fun. And yeah, that was the thing is that I thought it would be so hard. But honestly, like it's really easy to get things rolling and going. And the secret to getting ahead truly is getting started. I agree with Jillian, if you're thinking about starting a podcast, just go for it. There's so many resources and Facebook groups, and great ways to really learn and find out how to go about it. Jillian Leslie 34:54 Tell me if you agree with this, I think you find your voice. Melissa Johnson 34:59 Yes, it's true. It's true. I said yes. And like a really funny voice. I'm like, wait, but that's not my voice. I know what you're saying you find your voice, you find what you're passionate about. And what's really meaningful to you. Jillian Leslie 35:15 It's like a good way to learn about yourself, that's what I think. Melissa Johnson 35:19 I agree. Jillian Leslie 35:19 Okay, so how can people learn more about you reach out to you all of that? Melissa Johnson 35:25 So in terms of if you want to follow along, I am over on Instagram at Best Friends For Frosting. You can type in Best Friends For Frosting on Pinterest. The website is bestforfriendsfrosting.com We are just now building a website for Heartfelt Success Podcast, so we do have the website holding page up at heartfeltsuccess.com. And then if you go onto Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, just type in Heartfelt Success Podcast and then you can hear me talk unlimited again and we can keep in touch. Jillian Leslie 35:53 Awesome, okay. Well I have to say friend it is so nice having known you for so long, to actually get a chance to chat with you and have all these other people listen. Melissa Johnson 36:06 Yay! We're so overdue. I love that our first conversation was actually recorded, so we can go back to this one day and just laugh about it. Jillian Leslie 36:12 Oh Totally. Well, thank you for being on the show. Melissa Johnson 36:16 Thanks for having me, this is great Jillian Leslie 36:19 If you want to see why Melissa loves MiloTree so much. Head on over to MiloTree.com, set up your pop-up, put it on your site, and watch your Pinterest followers grow. Sign up for MiloTree now and get your first 30 DAYS FREE!