Eat Blog Talk

In this episode, Megan outlines 5 steps to help us craft a morning routine that fosters energy, productivity, and overall well-being. Whether you spend 10 minutes on a morning routine or 3 hours, these rituals can enhance our consistency in business endeavors and our personal lives. Megan explains the multitude of benefits of morning routines, including increased productivity, improved mood, mental and physical health, and the cultivation of gratitude and inspiration. She covers the following key points: - Design Your Dream Morning Routine: Envision an ideal morning routine without time constraints, considering activities that ignite energy and align with personal goals. - Develop a Baseline Morning Routine: Determine the time available for your morning routine and prioritize activities accordingly. Even short routines can yield significant benefits. - Prepare in Advance: Visualize the morning routine before bedtime to set intentions and align the mind with upcoming activities. Use strategies like going to bed earlier, removing distractions like phones, and finding an accountability partner to keep you on track. - Set It in Motion: Initiate your morning routine without delay; you'll be surprised at how empowering it feels to take action. Start immediately rather than procrastinating for the "perfect" moment. - Refine and Repeat: Do your routine consistently but remain flexible and adapt it when necessary, this will make it sustainable in the long run. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 498, Megan chats to Brittany Roche about mindset shifts and practical strategies for successful brand collaboration while staying true to ourselves. Brittany Roche founded Plant Power Couple with her partner Terrence in 2015, eager to share their innovative take on vegan cooking with other plant-curious people. Brittany started working with brands in 2020. She had just made it into MediaVine when the pandemic hit and she saw her RPMs drop drastically. She had been learning about working with brands for 3 years prior to this, but when she knew she had to diversify her income, she decided to really go for it! Now, she's formed genuine relationships with dozens of brands and has created a system that ensures a consistent stream of brand work that feels natural. In this episode, you'll learn about the importance of building genuine relationships with brands, strategies for resilience in the face of rejection, and effective follow-up techniques to maximize collaboration opportunities. - Build Genuine Relationships: It is important to establish authentic connections with brands to create meaningful collaborations. - Resilience in the Face of Rejection: Maintain a positive mindset and separate your self-worth from the outcome of pitches; you'll need perseverance. - Effective Follow-up Strategies: Pitch with a timeline in mind and implement follow-up sequences to maintain engagement with brands. - Setting Deadlines and Themes: Set deadlines and create themed series to structure pitches and provide a clear framework for collaboration opportunities. - Recognize the Emotional Toll: Don't underestimate the emotional challenges of pitching - continue self-care practices and self-compassion throughout the process. - Apply Mindset Shifts Beyond Pitching: The mindset shifts discussed can be applied not only in pitching to brands but also in various aspects of entrepreneurship and personal growth. - Celebrating Progress and Resilience: Celebrate small victories and recognize the courage and resilience required to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. Connect with Brittany Roche Website | Instagram

In episode 497, Lexi Harrison teaches us the latest strategy to grow on Instagram and TikTok and how to generate a lot of audience engagement. Lexi and Beth are the mother-daughter duo behind Crowded Kitchen, a (mostly) vegetarian food blog. In addition to creating recipes, photography and videography for Crowded Kitchen's social media and website, Lexi and Beth also create freelance content for many food and beverage brands. In this episode, you'll learn about how to increase your social media following and improve your engagement using hooks, voiceovers and captions. - Post a Series to Build an Audience: Posting a series of related content on Instagram Reels encourages people to follow your account for more. - Leverage Facebook for content distribution: Leverage your content via Facebook, especially now that there is the ability to post reels. - Casual Setup and Filming: Avoid overstylizing your shots and use an iPhone for filming. - Longer Form Content for TikTok: TikTok strategy includes using longer videos to qualify for the creator fund (i.e. monetization). - Variable Posting Frequency: The frequency with which you post can vary without it necessarily affecting your views (e.g. daily, weekly, bi-weekly etc.). - Caption This: Detailed captions on Instagram Reels are emphasized for audience engagement. - Your Voice = Engagement: Voiceovers are crucial for engagement, especially on TikTok. - Showing Your Face: Showing one's face is not necessary for content success; Lexi suggests you focus instead on compelling hooks. - Practice, Practice, Practice: Experiment with different hooks to capture audience attention and drive engagement. Connect with Lexi Harrison Website | Instagram

In this episode, Megan explores the transformative power of visualization, focusing on five steps to help you manifest your dreams. Megan explains why visualization is essential in accelerating personal and professional goals. Visualizing your dreams involves more than just imagining; it entails embodying the emotions and sensations associated with achieving your desires and requires clarity, belief, and inspired action in the process. Megan covers the following key points: 1. Know What You Want: Clearly define your goals, whether they involve material possessions, experiences, or personal growth. Be open to flexibility in the details while maintaining clarity on your desires. 2. Understand Why You Want It: Dig deep into the reasons behind your aspirations. Your true motivations often extend beyond surface-level desires and connect to deeper values and emotions. 3. Believe It Is Yours: Embrace a mindset of unwavering belief that your dreams are within reach. Visualize them as if they are already manifesting in your life, amplifying the emotions of gratitude and fulfillment. 4. Release and Trust: Surrender control over the "how" and trust in the universe, God, or your higher power to orchestrate the details. Let go of doubt and have faith that your intentions will materialize in due time. 5. Take Inspired Action: Remain open to signs and inspirations that guide you towards your goals. Act upon these insights with confidence and determination, knowing that each step brings you closer to realizing your dreams. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 495, Megan chats to Ashley Covelli about how to host successful virtual or in-person cooking classes, including technical setup, engagement strategies, and pricing considerations. Ashley Covelli is the food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor behind Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen and the co-founder of Passing the Plate. She loves helping busy people find time to cook delicious meals while reducing the amount of stress, money, and waste involved in the process. She believes in the restorative and joyful practice of sharing meals in the community, preserving the recipes of our ancestors, and cooking as a way of creating memories with loved ones. Ashley's legitimately tiny kitchen is located in Ossining, New York, where she lives with her husband, son, and a feisty rescue cat. Her professional background is in graphic design and fine art, and she brings that aesthetic to her culinary creations. In this episode, you'll learn about how to generate additional income through cooking classes and finer details like creating a welcoming environment, managing class logistics, and striking a balance between preparation and execution. - Diversify Revenue Streams: Consider various income sources like sponsored posts, affiliates, and teaching classes to sustain your business. - Protect Your Energy Levels: Avoid overcommitting to classes or projects to maintain balance and prevent burnout. - Factor in Prep Work: Acknowledge the extensive preparation involved in virtual classes, including recipe testing, setup, teaching, and cleanup. - Test Your Gear: Prioritize tech checks and microphone charging to ensure smooth virtual class experiences. - Encourage Audience Interaction: Create a welcoming environment by inviting questions and feedback during classes. - Be Prepared for Tech Glitches: Stay calm and adaptable in case of technical issues during live sessions. - Use Instagram Stories: Use platforms like Instagram Stories to practice and improve comfort with video content. - Engage Authentically: Embrace imperfection and genuine interactions to connect with your audience effectively. Connect with Ashley Covelli Website | Instagram

In episode 494, Ella Gilbert talks about how to create extra income streams for your business through freelancing while still maintaining time for your blog. Ella is a food blogger focused on cozy and approachable recipes for the modern baker and home cook. Ella is also a food photographer and writer for other food bloggers. In this episode, you'll learn about the viability of having a career in freelancing, how to build your personal brand, develop strong relationships and manage your time. - Freelancing as a Viable Career: Freelancing offers a viable career path, providing opportunities for individuals to showcase their skills and expertise in a flexible and independent manner. - Personal Branding: Building a strong personal brand is crucial in freelancing, enabling freelancers like Ella to differentiate themselves and attract clients based on their unique skills, experience, and reputation. - Client Relationship Management: Clear communication, transparency, and professionalism foster long-term client partnerships. - Continuous Skill Development: Freelancers need to prioritize continuous skill development to stay relevant in the ever-evolving market, by consistently upgrading skills and knowledge. - Time Management and Discipline: Managing time effectively and maintaining discipline are essential for freelancers to balance multiple projects, meet deadlines, and maintain a sustainable work-life balance. - Value Proposition: Ella stresses the importance of articulating a clear value proposition to potential clients, demonstrating how freelancers can communicate the benefits of their services and expertise to meet client needs effectively. - Financial Management: Freelancers need to prioritize financial management, including budgeting, invoicing, and tax considerations, to ensure financial stability and sustainability in their freelance careers. - Work-Life Balance: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for freelancers' well-being and productivity - set boundaries and allocate time for personal pursuits and relaxation. - Adaptability and Resilience: Freelancers must be adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges and uncertainties, demonstrating the ability to navigate setbacks, learn from failures, and persevere in pursuing their career goals. Connect with Alpine Ella Website | Instagram

In this episode, Megan explores the 5 steps to release business grudges and why it's important for our blogging career and mental health. It is important to address business grudges, because they can evolve into significant mental burdens affecting various aspects of our lives. From negative comments and unsolicited advice to challenges with platforms like Facebook, Megan unveils the common grudges that plague the food blogging community. She covers the following key points: 1. Defined and Acknowledge the Grudge: Identify the business grudge occupying the most mental space and write down specific details. 2. Write Out Your Grudge Story: Delve into your grudges, answering why you hold them and exploring the emotions associated with these grievances. 3. Analyze Your Grudge Story: Take a step back, analyzing the grudge story with a big picture lens. By distancing yourself from the emotions, you can identify patterns and underlying issues. 4. Rewrite Your Grudge Story: Reframe the narrative with a collaborative and empathetic tone. By taking responsibility for our attitudes, we can shift the perspective and find positive aspects even in challenging situations. 5. Release Your Grudge and Forgive: The final step involves a powerful declaration of release and forgiveness. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover.

In episode 492, Megan chats to Murielle Banackissa about how to create inspirational food photography and tell a story using lighting, props, food and textures. Murielle Banackissa is a food photographer, food stylist, YouTuber, and soon-to-be cookbook author based in Montreal, Canada. Outside of spending hours developing new recipes and shooting them in her home studio, Murielle loves getting lost in good books, designing her bullet journal spreads, sipping on warm beverages, and going on long walks. She draws a lot of inspiration from the colors and textures found in nature. From water droplets to the sun shining through the leaves early in the morning and the orange glow of summer nights, Murielle loves paying attention to the magic surrounding her as a way to feel more grounded and present. In this episode, you'll learn how to improve your food photography, from setting mood and learning from others to practical advice such as which lenses are best depending on where you are in your own food blogging journey. - Intentional Photography - Tell a story by focusing on details, intention, and purpose, bringing elements like family history and special moments into visuals. - Create Atmosphere - Consider the story and mood behind a recipe. - Moody Photography - Moody photography evoke comfort and warmth. Achieve this style using black foam boards to control natural light and creating a cozy atmosphere. - Learning from Others - Look at the work of other photographers for inspiration. Analyze behind-the-scenes content and experiment with different techniques. - Creative Seasons - Accept the non-linear nature of the creative journey. - Favorite Lens - Use a 50mm F1.8 lens, particularly for those starting in food photography. This lens allows for a low F-stop, enabling a beautiful blurry background and focus on the main subject. - Macro Shots Capture Close-Up Details - It also highlight textures, decadence, and intricate elements of the food. - Observing Light - It's important to observe and understand natural light. Recognizing how different lighting conditions affect food can help develop a unique style and improve photography skills. Connect with Murielle Banackissa Website | Instagram

In episode 491, Jacqueline Debono teaches us how to grow an engaged audience of email subscribers by sending authentic newsletters. Jacqueline is a Brit living in Verona Italy for 20 years, happily married to a wonderful Sicilian. Jacqueline has a love of Italian food, particularly pasta and so 7 years ago she started her blog about Italian pasta, including only authentic Italian recipes for all kinds of pasta (dried, fresh, homemade). Her original goal was to feature as many types of pasta as she could (with recipes). So far Jacqueline has about 400 recipes for 80 types of pasta! Many more to go! Jacqueline got accepted to MediaVine in 2019 (with 25k sessions) now at 190-200k sessions a month. She can say it's a pretty successful niche blog. But then everybody loves pasta, right? In this episode, you'll learn how to grow your newsletter subscription base using personal anecdotes, insights into your own life and evergreen content, as well as finding out how often to send out emails to your subscribers. - Apply A Growth Strategy: How to approach growing your email subscribers, including the use of the MediaVine subscribe widget, social media, and regular newsletters. - Add a Personal Touch: Adding personal elements about your own life into your newsletter, like failures or anecdotes, can lead to increased engagement and a healthy circle of followers. - How to Monetize Newsletters: Strategies include the creation of paid-for eBooks and addition of affiliate links. - Build Relationships With Your Subscribers: Newsletters offer the opportunity to build real relationships with subscribers, even leading to in-person meetings. - Use Social Media Influence: Using success on other platforms such as Facebook is a great way to encourage newsletter sign-ups. - Content Reusability: Reusing content, especially recipes, is a unique advantage for food bloggers with evergreen content. - Build Subscriber Loyalty: Email subscribers tend to be the most loyal followers, engaging through comments and emails, providing a dedicated audience. - A Blogger's Passion Is Important: Appealing to the passion or interests of the target audience, Jacqueline focused on Italy and Italian food as an example. Connect with Jacqueline Debono Website | Instagram

In this episode, Megan shares quick ways to boost your mood and feel good instantly. When we're going through a tough time, we ironically resist positive activities. Find out how to overcome this barrier with a set of easy ways to feel good instantly and create your own personalized list of activities that bring you joy. Megan covers the following key points: 1. Breathe: Explore the power of intentional breathing, giving you instant relief and rejuvenation. 2. Express Gratitude for Another Human: Express gratitude, focusing on specific individuals who bring joy and support. Take immediate action to convey appreciation. 3. Hydrate: Use quick hydration as a simple yet effective way to improve mood and energy levels. 4. Quick Workout Burst: Do a brief one to five-minute workout to instantly boost energy and improve mood. 5. Get Out in Nature: Spend just a few minutes outdoors, connecting with the environment and experiencing the instant mood-lifting effects. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram