Speaker 1: 0:01

What does it look like if you find just the right topic for just the right audience at just the right time? That is what we were talking about today, because my guest, karen, had just that happen to her podcast, and I want to break down exactly what that looked like and how you could use the same approach to launch your podcast or rebrand your podcast, or just consider a lot of these questions before you put your podcast out into the world, because one of my favorite things is, when I bring someone onto this show, they get the chance to talk through those decisions that maybe they only kept to themselves and never really shared out loud with anybody else. There's a lot of podcasters. You in this audience, you're doing this by yourself, or maybe you have a team of people, but you're the one making the decisions on what your content's going to be, what it's going to be about, because you're the host of the show. So I love it whenever I get to have people on and just go through those nitty gritty details that maybe they've never even thought about after they made the decisions and some of the other awesome things that we just got to cover today. So let me tell you a little bit about Karen. So Karen is a certified health and lifestyle coach who works with women over 40 who want to transform their bodies and their lives. She's the founder of Well-Ogget Women Coaching and host of the Well-Ogget Woman Redefining Midlife. Now, this is so important to what Karen does and we're going to dive into it. But her niche, her topic, everything is so spot on and you just have to listen to it, because we uncover so many awesome things in this conversation. So let's get right to it. Welcome to the Profit Podcast, where we teach you how to start, launch and market your content with confidence. I'm your host, crystal Profit, and I'm so excited that you're here. Thanks for hanging out with me today, because if you've been trying to figure out the world of content creation, this is the show that will help be your time saving shortcut. So let's get right to it, shall we All right Profit Podcast listeners, I'm so excited about today's guest. Welcome to the show, karen. How are you today?

Speaker 2: 2:35

Hi there, thank you. Thank you for having me, I'm great.

Speaker 1: 2:38

Yes, we were kind of chatting before we started talking and I really love the topic, the topic that you have chosen for your podcast and your content and really specifically the audience you serve. So can you tell everybody what it is that you do Like? I just want to start right at the top and just call out very specifically the audience that you serve, because I think you know, from my perspective, being a woman, I think that this is an underrepresented community that we have that can really benefit from your message. So can you share a little bit about that?

Speaker 2: 3:14

Sure. So I was certified. I'm going to take you back a little bit and I'll keep it short and sweet. I was certified as a health coach back in 2012 and I wrote a healthy lifestyle blog for years, and then I turned 48 and all of the healthy things that I was doing no longer were working. I was exhausted and now I realize I was in the early stages of perimenopause. I was also going through a divorce, so I was in this physical and emotional time of change and it really put me in a position where I had to rethink everything that I had learned before and I had to learn. I took some advanced certifications in women's wellness and I really, within a short period of time, kind of turned things around for myself, and during this time, I was also consuming a lot of podcasts. So I have always loved I had always loved blogging. That was really when I got turned on to podcasts, and what I loved the most about them is that you know I could consume them while I was doing other things. So, as my life was getting busier and time was becoming more scarce, you know I could listen in the car, I could listen on a walk, I could listen while I cooked. So I was just really falling in love with the whole medium of podcasting. When I decided to kind of revamp my business, I kind of realized that there aren't a lot of voices for this demographic, at least not voices that have a really empowering message. And I knew this first hand because when I would go to doctors, you know, I would hear a lot of things like well, you know, you're over 40, or well, this is what happens in perimenopause, like I kind of got to the point where I decided that if I couldn't find the expert I needed, that I needed to become that expert. And then I just began to see how desperate women were for this kind of information. So I decided, as I said, to kind of revamp my business and I decided I wanted to start a podcast instead of continuing with my blogging, because I just felt like, you know, there was something very personal about hearing somebody's voice. There was a little more of a connection for me than when I would read somebody's blog and I just was enjoying sharing what I was learning. So that's really kind of how the podcast came to be. And so you know my approach. I'm certified as a health coach and a life coach. So my approach is kind of a unique blend of both. So what that means in terms of my podcast is that sometimes I have topics that are very health driven, health related, like you know how to stop overeating, or you know the which supplements do I really need over 40. So I have those topics which are definitely more health related, and then I've also got topics that deal with a lot of mindset and thought, work, and the two pieces together, I think you know, are really what this group of women over 40 seem to be resonating with. You know the idea that it's. I have podcasts on style, I have podcasts on beauty. You know it's kind of like all the things that I myself, as a woman over 40, I'm thinking about and interested in and sort of managing.

Speaker 1: 6:46

I love this. I love this so much because you're again, it's like you are your audience, but you're also like, okay, I know this listener, I know this audience, like this is me, like this is the thing, and I love that. You said that you went looking for an expert and you realized, like it's not out there, like I need to be this person because there has to be other people looking for this type of content and this type of information. So I'm curious, because you were a blogger before, because I've had a lot of people ask me I did this myself, I was blogging and then I got into podcasting how much of your audience for blogging transitioned with you into a podcast? Like, was it a seamless transition where people excited, or was it like, okay, I started this new thing and people weren't as receptive, like, can you like walk us through what that looked like for you?

Speaker 2: 7:39

You know, I don't exactly know because I did take some time off in between, so I could probably answer that question more accurately if I had gone, you know, right from blogging into podcasting. But it really took me a little bit of time and I kind of shut the blog down and then really took time to, as I said you know, go through some advanced certifications, get really clear on what my new business was going to be, went through life coach training. So you know, unfortunately I can't really answer it because there was that gap in between.

Speaker 1: 8:11

Yeah, yeah, no, but that's great and I actually the reason why I really wanted to bring this up is because I think that people are like people listening right, I'm calling you out listener If you're sitting there saying well, I tried this one type of content for me a long time ago and it didn't work. Therefore, I shouldn't try another type, like I will have people come to me all the time and say I tried YouTube, I was awful at video and it just didn't work for me. I tried this one thing one time and it didn't work for me. So I guess an adjustment to that question is how did it feel going from blogging and writing Cause we talked about earlier? Like? You're more of an introvert and I'm very extroverted. So I'm curious how was that transition for you from? I mean, blogging can be a solo only endeavor, you don't have to interact with anybody, you can do your own thing and you sure you can answer comments to do that type of stuff. But what was that transition like once you finally made it?

Speaker 2: 9:13

You know, for me it was I felt much more vulnerable podcasting than I ever did blogging. I think there is something about it felt a little bit like there was this invisible layer between me and my blog readers and with the podcast it really feels like that is kind of stripped away. So, you know, as somebody who is who does tend to be a little more introverted, who, you know, kind of shied away from social media and video and all of those things, that was kind of a, you know, part of this steep learning curve that I managed. I think what was helping is that, as I said, I just love listening to blogs so much that I think that was really motivating me to I'm sorry listening to podcasts so much. So I think that was really motivating me to to do one myself, because I just I always felt very connected to, to whomever I was listening to, and I really wanted to develop a community and have that kind of connection with my listeners. So, you know it, it made it a little bit easier to dip my toe in and kind of step outside of my comfort zone. You know to do it, but it but it definitely was outside my comfort zone, no question.

Speaker 1: 12:40

Okay, I love that you say you know you're. You're sitting there like you're. You've been an active podcast listener for many years before you ever started a podcast. So I'm curious because I did this myself. I loved podcasts. I like got to where I was listening to hours and hours whenever I was staying at home with my kids and I was doing stuff around the house and I'd work out and like I just I got addicted, like I was obsessed when I found podcasts, so like, oh my gosh, I can learn all these incredible things. So I went through this period where I was, consciously or unconsciously, I just saying, oh, I like this episode or I like that interview, but I would have done it this way or I would have. You know, this is like I listen to this one and I can't listen to it anymore. I can't stand it because of X, y and Z. So by the time you got ready to jump all in with your podcast, did you have basically had you already scripted out your first few episodes in your head, or had you already decided this is exactly how I want my show to be formatted? Or is it something that you kind of just had to stumble through when you were going through the process?

Speaker 2: 13:44

You know I stumbled through it, but here's. Here's where I think blogging really helped me. When I was blogging, I got used to outlining topics and breaking topics down and organizing my ideas. You know, and I think that's really helped me with the podcasting, because while I don't ever go into it with you know, everything scripted word for word, I do, I do. I do like to sort of organize my thoughts into an outline, and a lot of times it'll be, you know, sometimes it'll be in a list format. I think that that's maybe where the blogging skills kind of crossed over. I do think it's helped me to be a little more clear and a little more organized in what I'm saying. You know the fact that I had that experience with laying things out.

Speaker 1: 14:33

Okay, this is. This is so helpful because I think that my approach was the exact opposite. So this is why I'm so glad to hear and this is what I was telling Karen before we started recording I was like I love having different perspectives on the show because it really bronze the lens for everybody that's listening and has a different approach than what I typically teach or other people that have come on the show. And so I really appreciate you saying that, because in the beginning for me it was so hard to outline the thing because I did not want to sound scripted but I didn't want to have too loose of an outline or too much Like it was this weird balance that it took me a long time Like I would say up until about 20 episodes in, because I just kind of stumbled through it. And then, of course, now today it's second nature and it's a lot simpler. So, for any way that's listening and you're just getting started, there's no right or wrong way to do it. I always say there's no rules with podcasting. You kind of figure out some guidelines and what you can do. But thank you so much for sharing your perspective, because I think that someone's listening and they're like, oh my gosh, I didn't even think about taking these other skills that I already have and transferring them into a podcast.

Speaker 2: 15:51

And it probably plays a little bit into what you were talking about the introvert, extrovert right. So it's probably easier for you to sit down with a mic and just sort of freestyle than it was for me as somebody who was a little bit shyer in front of the mic. So I think that's also probably a good entry point for someone who may be introverted to just have the comfort of that guide, that outline, kind of guiding them.

Speaker 1: 16:19

Yeah, yeah. And I'm curious too now that, since you brought that up about having, because you're 30 episodes like as of us recording this, like you just released your 30th episode, like congratulations, I think, thank you. I think it's always fun to celebrate like whether it's your first, your 30th, your 300, 3000, like it's so much fun because you're still in the game and you're still going, and I think that that is part of the secret to podcasting is just staying in the game and continuing to learn new things and to keep going. But I'm curious because you said you know, having being introverted and a little bit shyer behind the mic, what does, I guess, episode one versus episode 30 look like for you? Is it easier to sit down behind the mic or is it still sometimes a struggle and then you get into it and you kind of hit that flow state.

Speaker 2: 17:14

It's definitely easier now. In fact, I was joking that the 30th episode. I decided to honor it by discussing 30 lessons that midlife taught me and it is by far the most personal and the most vulnerable that I've been in an episode Up until now. As I said, it was sometimes health-related or style or this or that, but this was really peeling back on like OK, since I turned 40, I went through a deforestation, I started a new business venture, like there was a lot of change and so I could never have done that episode one. I just I wouldn't have been able to open up that way. So I think that was maybe the biggest thing that I noticed just that a little bit more comfort with just getting vulnerable with my listeners. But it's funny because I think those, I think those I don't. I haven't looked at the stats for that episode yet, but I think that's what listeners really enjoy. I know it's what I enjoy when I'm listening to a podcast to just feel like the person at the other end. They might be an expert in this or that, but they're also a human being and sometimes just those little peaks you get into their life or their story or their vulnerability To me. I just think that's what really forges that connection. So it was. It was fun to do it and and I was really proud of myself because, as I said, I could never have done that in the very beginning.

Speaker 1: 18:50

Yeah, and I think that this, this is such a teachable moment too, because, like when you were talking about being vulnerable and sharing parts of your story, that would have been hard in episode one. It probably would have been hard for your listeners to hear too, because they're like OK, Karen, are you just going in this deep? I don't even know who she is Like who is this? person. So I think that it was the right move. But I do see this a lot where people will say, ok, episode one, it's like ripping off the band aid, like I just got to share the most vulnerable things that I've ever shared in my life, like it's a therapy session for them, basically, and I'm like, oh no, no, no, those are the things that you record and then you delete that one. It's kind of like writing like the journal technique. They say, ok, write it down, write a letter to someone and then set it on fire or whatever, like just get rid of it. So I think that that was a perfect choice for that. But I absolutely agree with you those connections where you can share parts of your story, where your audience is like that's where I see myself, like I see myself in Karen or parts of her story, or these little nuggets of the things that you're sharing about your life. And again, and I've said this multiple times on the podcast, it doesn't have to be your social security number or where you live or intimate details about your life. But do you think that there's one specific thing that you've been able to share to your audience and you've actually had people reach out and say this was life changing or this helped me so much. Have you had any of those instances happen yet?

Speaker 2: 20:24

Well, I have so many women reach out to me who are just feeling terrible, and that's where I really get it, because, you know, I always say mother nature has a sense of humor. So I started my journey into perimenopause the very year that I got divorced and ended a 24 year marriage. You know, it was like my life became this. You know, tornado it felt like I was going through a tornado and women don't even know where to begin. You know, when you're feeling that terrible and you know that part of it is emotional and part of it is physical, you don't even know what to do first. And so I think, hearing that somebody was in that place and got out of it, hearing that it's possible, you know that there are tools that can help women lift themselves out of that really dark place where you just depleted physically and emotionally, I think you know that those messages are just hopeful for that woman who's really suffering and struggling. And unfortunately there are many, many women out there who are suffering and struggling and need that information. And you know, I mean you know, the funniest part of my whole podcasting journey was that the podcast launched in January and in March I get a letter from Apple saying congratulations, you've made it to the top 50 midlife podcasts. And you know, in my mind I'm like, oh, okay, I must be like number 50 of 51 podcasts. You know, it was so new that I couldn't have imagined that it took. And when I opened it up I was number nine. My podcast had gone in a matter of two months to number nine on the list. What that told me is that there are more women like that out there than I, even you know, ever could have imagined. The fact that I think people you know maybe found my story relatable, maybe found my story hopeful, maybe, you know, found me clear and informative. Whatever it was, I think you know it told me like, wow, there's a really big audience out there for this kind of information.

Speaker 1: 22:37

Yeah, and this is so key. So, for anybody that's listening, like I wanna go back to what Karen just said, because having your content accessible in the right places where people are looking, it's such a simple, overlooked concept. It really is, because people will come to me and say, gosh, you know, like people aren't finding my content or they're not. You know, like my audience is not out there. I thought that they were gonna be out there and they're just not. And this is a perfect example of because I didn't even know that there was a midlife category. Is that under health and fitness? Where is that located? Because they just I think categories.

Speaker 2: 23:21

Okay, yeah, I honestly. I had no idea that that was a category until I got that email.

Speaker 1: 23:26

Yes, no, this is fantastic to know because it's a constant evolution, the way that podcasting keeps evolving, because it used to be, I wanna say, there were like five or six categories, like when everything first started. And as they keep evolving and they keep changing, I think it's so important to be very cognizant of where your podcast, where your content, lies, because I bet that there were people that found your show because they were looking specifically at that category. And now that doesn't translate to all content, because I know there's a lot of people listening. They're like I wanna have a marketing podcast. I'm like so do like 10,000 other people. But if your content speaks specifically to an audience, like Karen's, then I think that it is worth sitting down and investing. Like, where does my content belong? Where are people gonna be looking for? You know other similar content, podcasts that are built for them, they were made for them. So I love that and congratulations. I hope that you share that all over the place because that's fantastic. That's fantastic. I've ever gotten any gum jealous. Okay, it was so exciting, so fun, so fun. But I wanna go back to your audience and your listeners and hearing back from them, because this is a common theme that I'm seeing right now with people that have recently launched their podcast and they're like well, crystal, you know you say to reach out and survey your audience or get feedback from them, but I feel like it's crickets, like I don't hear anything from anybody. I see that, yeah, there's a few downloads, but how do I actually engage with the people listening to my show? So I'm curious if you have any advice for someone that is listening, that is just getting their show started, like if you could go back to your episode one day one when you launched. Is there's something that you have seen success with in getting engagement with your listeners?

Speaker 2: 25:41

You know, what's been interesting to me is and again, I was coming from a blogging background, so this was all new to me and I kind of approached all of it like an experiment. That's why I have, you know, I tried podcasts on style and beauty and all different kinds of topics because I didn't exactly know what was going to hit with people. Funny enough, the beauty and the style episodes are some of my most listened to episodes, which you wouldn't think you know for someone who's primarily health and wellness. So I don't exactly know. I think one of the things that has been a little bit of a frustration is that I don't know that podcast audiences cross over so easily to email lists or to social media. You know, the fact that I have, you know, my podcast following, the fact that it's so much larger than my social media following, has been really interesting to me and I think, you know, because it is still fairly new, I am, you know, watching those things and kind of trying to see patterns and stuff, but it's, I feel, like podcast audiences are very much, remain very much within that medium and it can sometimes be deceiving. You know, I think sometimes you'll look at somebody's social media following and say, oh well, they don't seem that big. But you know, I just think the audiences seem to be very separate and I think that's been that's sort of a goal of mine is to now try to move, you know, some of my podcast listeners over onto, you know, connect with me on social media or jump onto my email list. You know that kind of thing, because there is a lot of other content that that I'm offering on those other platforms. But it's just, you know, I guess, a matter of educating the podcast listeners about what they can find in these other places.

Speaker 1: 27:44

This is so interesting and I'm so glad you brought this up because I think you're the first person I've ever met that has has that like. You have like such a loyal podcast following, because typically what I will see is people start on Instagram, they start on a blog, they start with their email list and then they launch their podcast and then they're like how do I grow my podcast, how do I keep it going? But, as you were saying that, I was thinking about my own listening habits. So I think about some of the shows that I listened to that aren't business related, that are lifestyle, or they are just like for health and wellness, and most of the time I'm listening because it's like you know, self improvement or it's you know self help, it's like leadership, it's just other things where I am purely listening for the information, for the content, and even if they do mention something that is email related or follow me here, I I kind of selfishly am like but I like you here in this little box, like this little intimate space that we've created with the podcast. So I want to again celebrate what you've created, because I think that that's fantastic, that you have that little bubble for your podcast listeners to hang out and really hear those intimate details of everything you're sharing. But that's really interesting that I don't think that I've met another podcaster that has had that experience. People are typically like I gotta grow my podcast, I gotta grow my podcast. So I love hearing the other, the other transition.

Speaker 2: 29:17

So I think you can get there, though like I'm super confident you can get them to come over, yeah no, they're coming and, in fact, one thing that's been really helpful is, you know, because a lot of what I share is maybe a little complex if it's a health related topic and someone might be in their car and not able to take notes. So, you know, often I try to have information sheets, or you know what I call cheat sheets, that they can download, and that's definitely been, you know, a great way to just introduce people to my website and the other resources that I have. So it's definitely happening, but it's it's it's slower than I would have expected, only because I think, as I said, you know, people just like listening and I think you know it's so much easier to consume a podcast than to jump on a website and start looking up blog posts or to go to YouTube and start listening to videos. You know it's because you don't have to, because you can do it, you can consume it while you're doing other things. I just think people get really comfortable there and and I'm like you I mean I, I most of the podcasters who I follow I don't necessarily follow them in other places either. It just feels like this nice little relationship we have. It's so funny.

Speaker 1: 30:38

I know it's so interesting and I feel like as I mean, a podcast listener is like we're stubborn, like we're I don't know about you, but I people will tell me about this new app, even as someone in the industry. They're like oh, I love this podcast app. You should go download it and you know, or you should go to Spotify, or you should go to Apple, or you should go to this, and I'll hear all these things and I'm like I do my own thing when it comes to my podcast. Don't try to, don't try to mess up my podcast, but I think that it's that's what's so beautiful about. It is, and I would love to hear your perspective, too, on this. But I feel like I have this cadence with my podcast that I listened to. I'm like, okay, on Mondays I got this one episode. Tuesdays, I got this one Wednesday. No, like they released every other week, so I don't have to listen to that. But I mean it is literally baked into my routine, which is the goal, right, this is the goal of so many podcast hosts. They want that to happen, but I'm curious if that's kind of how your listening habits are.

Speaker 2: 31:38

Yeah, oh, definitely, definitely I. I'm a creature of habit in just about every sense, which is, you know, maybe, why, as you said, you know, we get a little stubborn like. For me, it's all about what's easy, you know I just there's a sense of ease that I really enjoy. So, the same way that listening to a podcast feels easy to me, you know, doing certain things within the context of my own podcast, certain routines I have and rituals I have, are easy for me, you know, I think I think it just becomes kind of routine and and almost like these little rituals, yes, I look and I really look forward, like there are, there are some podcasts I listen to where I really look forward to like, oh, wednesday, you know, there'll be a new episode of this or that, it's, it's you do, I do. I do just feel very connected to the podcasts that I listen to. So I totally get why you know that audience is there and why they tend to stay there. I think it's just such a great medium, I think it's it's just such a more personal experience than a lot of you know the other ways that people can connect. They're certainly not getting a sense of me in the same way on my Instagram account. You know it's there's. There's that barrier where podcasting, you really feel like someone's in your ear and they're just talking to you. You know it's like we're sitting across from each other in my living room or something.

Speaker 1: 33:05

Exactly exactly, and it's like such a different experience if you're listening to someone for 30 minutes versus a 30 second you know, real or just an image on Instagram. It totally just deepens that like. This is what I love about podcasting is that connection can just be established so much faster, especially, I mean, because now people are going to go listen to Karen's podcast. Actually, we haven't even what is the name of your show. We haven't even said the name of your show.

Speaker 2: 33:32

This I almost brought it up before when we were talking about, when you were talking about you know how people can get the names out Because this, this, I made a change. Originally it was called the Wellagant Woman podcast. Now my website is Wellagant Woman and it joins together you know, these two ideas of wellness and elegance, which, for me, you know. Obviously, wellness, we all know what that means. But elegance, I think of simplicity, discernment, valuing quality over quantity. So I thought, okay, wellagant Woman is, is perfect. But what I did after the fact was I went back in and I made it Wellagant Woman, redefining midlife, because I really wanted that midlife piece to be obvious to someone who was searching for a podcast. You know, wellagant Woman while it may be a great title, it doesn't really clue people into what the show is about. But when you hear, you know, redefining midlife, they can get more of a sense of what it is. So I'm sure that also helped the people who were looking for a podcast. You know the women in that demographic. I'm sure that also kind of helped them to find it.

Speaker 1: 34:47

I have to know when did you change the name? How far into it Were you like? Oh, I need to add this tagline to it.

Speaker 2: 34:55

Not too far in it was, it was within the first, I want to say like maybe six or seven episodes.

Speaker 1: 35:01

Okay, okay. Well, this is, it's super key because, like, there's a lot of people that come into my audience and they're like I picked this name, I got to die with it. Oh my gosh. No, you don't. Like, I've rebranded. You know Karen Stirling, you know her story rebranding, and we have so many examples of this. So I really wanted to key in on that piece because, especially, I think that I agree with you. It probably made all the difference because it is immediately, I know, just adding those two words onto the title, who I know. You know exactly I'm thinking of women in my life that I can say she would be great for this podcast. She needs to listen to it, and when you can identify the audience very quickly like that, it's so much easier to market it. So this is what I wanted to ask you next is how has that been on your journey? Because you're a life coach too, so I'm assuming that you help the people that would be in your audience. So how has that been marketing your podcast or marketing your business on the podcast? Is that something that you kind of blur those lines together, or is it like something that you're still figuring out?

Speaker 2: 36:17

You know, when I was trying to really get my footing with the podcast, I really didn't market too much of my coaching or my programs or much else. I was really just trying to establish a connection with my audience and I kind of in the beginning was afraid that maybe by coming in with a lot of marketing it just would be a little harder. I tend to be kind of a soft personality and I wanted people to just get to know me without feeling like right off the bat I was starting to market. So it took me a while before I started mentioning my one-on-one coaching or my coaching programs or even my lead magnets, and then I started doing that. But again, I do it in a soft way. I just I feel it's just podcasting just feels like a sacred space to me. So I'm careful about not I try to be careful about not over marketing on the podcast, because I don't always appreciate that when I'm listening to somebody and I feel like they're marketing at the beginning and there's a break in the middle and they're marketing and they're marketing at the end, I kind of feel like it disrupts the flow a little bit for me as a listener. So I just prefer not to do too much of that Now. On the other hand, I do want to introduce my audience to my work and to the other ways that I might be able to help them. So, as time's gone on, I've done a little bit more of that, and right now I'm running a free workshop and I have a course that I'm launching, so, of course, my podcast listeners will be privy to all that information.

Speaker 1: 38:00

Yeah, but I think that it's such a great approach because I totally agree with you. I think it's like a little harsh if you turn something on and you're again. It's kind of like telling your whole vulnerable personal story right from the beginning. It's like whoa, whoa, whoa, like we don't have a connection yet. But even if I find a podcast and I stumble upon it and I go back to the beginning or I listened to their last few episodes and I'm like man, this person has given me so much value Like this is incredible Then I have a different. I guess it's kind of like the first impression, right, if you're meeting somebody for the first time, if you come on a little too strong, it's like whoa, whoa, okay, nope, I'm gonna. Oh sorry, my phone rang. I have to go. You know you're like do it. Oh yes, honey, I'm coming, like you know whatever the thing is, to get you out of there as quickly as possible. But whenever you're listening to a podcast I've binge listened to people's episodes I just find them and I'm like I want to buy everything that they've ever sold, because where has this person been my whole life? Like this is exactly what I'm looking for. So I think that that's a beautiful mix of how you can slowly introduce yourself, your offerings, everything to your audience, and I love that. It's been an evolution for you and I can't wait to see where that goes, I think thank you.

Speaker 2: 39:21

And you know, the other piece of it is that I think I think people can hear, you know, when you're excited about what you know, I know, when I'm talking about this workshop that I have coming up or my new program that I'm launching in September, like there's really a sense of excitement and I think that you know what's great is that when you read something, you just don't get that. When it's not, the same as when you're listening to somebody talk about something and they're like, oh my God, this is great. You know, this will really transform the way you do X, y and Z. And here's what I'm offering and you know. So I much prefer to have that in that sort of conversational format than to be sending it out. And, of course, you know, as entrepreneurs we do all the things. We send it out in the newsletter, we post it on social media. But I do think there's something really special about hearing somebody talk about it as opposed to reading something about it, you know, in a newsletter or on social yeah, absolutely, absolutely, and I think it's one you come off so much more authentic, I mean, for anybody that's listening, if you need to script yourself, that's awesome.

Speaker 1: 40:30

Like I had to script myself whenever I sometimes still try to script myself, but to your point, I feel awkward and weird if I read it and it's like I sound like a robot, like I don't wanna do that one. But I love that you come to it with an approach of what works best for you and I think that that's really like. I mean, one of the themes of today is, you know, the first is you're creating the content that I'm sure you wish that you would have had, you know, at the very beginning of your own journey. And then you're just, you're going with the flow of what feels right for you and I'm thinking about okay, you just hit 30 episodes. Like I'm still. I wanna say congratulations again because it is big, it's a big thing, but I wanna like fast forward you to cause. You said you launched in January, right, like January 2023. So imagine it's January 2024. What is the thing that you would be so proud Like? Not numbers, not stats, none of those things, but what's like the big thing that you're like man, I just wanna accomplish this one thing and I would feel so proud for my first year of podcasting.

Speaker 2: 41:47

That's a tough question. You know, I'm really loving just the people I've met, podcasting and the people that I've interviewed with on their podcast and the ones who are coming on mine. So I think, really just expanding my little circle, my professional circle, I think that's been so fun and I've spoken on podcasts that are. You know, this month I'm speaking at a, I'm presenting at a summit that's style and then I presented at, you know, a summit that was loving life after divorce. So it's like I feel like, you know, it's just taken me in such interesting circles. You know, I've had the opportunity to meet such interesting people. So I think, you know, if I really expanded that circle and I think that's what's inspired me the most is just like the people I've connected to through the podcast. So I guess January 2024, I would love to just expand that kind of professional circle and do more of those collaborations. Those have been really fun for me.

Speaker 1: 42:55

Yeah, I love that you said that, because I think that whenever we look at our network and the different people that we interact with, I mean this has been an incredible conversation and it's not like it's five minutes or two minutes, like it is, you know, the ability to make a deep connection. Like I said, now I know about Karen's podcast and you can bet your bottom dollar if I, you know, know someone that I'm like, oh my gosh, you have to go check out this podcast. And what I will do a lot whenever I meet people is I will refer them. I'll be like, oh my gosh, you'd be perfect for Karen's podcast. Send her an email and say Crystal Prophet sent me. You know, like, hey, like you know, crystal said that she knows you and she's been on, you know, you've been on her podcast and everything, and so it really does not just expand your network but it exponentially expands your network because when you find this niche of people that can really just help you understand your audience better or understand different sub segments. I love that you said you know there's style, there's divorce, there's all kinds of living well and fitness pieces to your content. You're not. It's like that niche down to like what is the term? It's like niche down to blow up or something. It's like that's how you really get so strategic, and so I think that you're well on your way to making that happen and I'm super excited for you.

Speaker 2: 44:21

Thank you. You know, I think wellness, I think what's been interesting too is that it really is the foundation of so many other things. Yes, so I think, no matter whether it's a style podcast or a divorce podcast, or you know I interviewed with someone who works with women in midlife who are making career changes you know the bottom line is we're all needing to start from a foundation of wellness. So I think, as you said, it's a niche but it's broad enough that it really can be applied in so many different areas. So I think that's why it's been so much fun for me. I really never imagined when I started the podcast that I would be, you know, interviewed on a business podcast or interviewed on a style podcast. It's. But it's highlighted for me that we and when I say we, I mean women over 40, are everywhere, in every circle, and you know we're connected to each other because there's a lot of things that, despite our different circumstances, are shared experiences. So you know that, I think, makes it easy to kind of cross over and have these kinds of conversations in these different arenas.

Speaker 1: 45:37

Yeah, I feel I totally agree with you. You have little pockets of every single genre across all podcasting and I just I'm excited about your topic because I think I haven't seen this specifically in the way that you're doing it, and I love whenever I can tuck like in the back of my head, like I said, as soon as I know someone that's looking for a podcast, I'm like, oh, this is the one you gotta go check out. So now you're in my Rolodex of podcast that I go and share with other people. I love it.

Speaker 2: 46:07

Thank you.

Speaker 1: 46:07

Yes, of course. Well, I want to transition into. We have some rapid fire questions that we always ask all of our guests. So are you up for those? Sure, sure, okay, okay. So, since you've been in your podcasting journey for a little bit now right, a little over then half the year what piece of advice would you give to a brand new podcaster or content creator?

Speaker 2: 46:36

You know, I guess my advice would be to work in advance. I always try to have a cushion. I'm never recording the episode that's coming out that week. That would be entirely too stressful for me. So I, you know, I plan in advance. I, you know, outline and record and kind of batch them in advance. So I think, you know, for someone who's busy, who's got a lot on their plate, that little cushion that you create to me is very comforting. You know, if I have a crazy week and I don't get to, you know, record something this week, that's okay. I know that I have something kind of in the queue. Oh, that's so good, I love that.

Speaker 1: 47:17

Okay, my next one is a two-part question. So what is the dream podcast you would love to be on and who is your dream podcast guest you'd love to interview?

Speaker 2: 47:30

So I, I, really love Tamzin Fidal and I think she was hugely inspiring to me when I got into the the midlife space. So I think I would love to really either be on her podcast or have her on mine, just because I think she's sort of like one of the women at the forefront of this movement to, you know, age powerfully and and change this perception that we dream and build and grow until we're 40. And then from 40 on we're like basically in decline, right, you know, like I think there's there's this movement to kind of change that narrative so that we look at the second half of life with that same sense of opportunity and vitality, that we approach the first half and I believe that we have a lot of a lot of potential and vitality that we approach the first half. And I really feel like you know, she was kind of um one of the big voices that that inspired me, you know, when I reached that stage of my own life.

Speaker 1: 48:33

So, so, yeah, and what's the name of her show? Is it just her name, tamzin Fidal? Yeah, okay, perfect, all right, we're going to link to that in the show notes for anybody that's curious. That's a great one, okay. And then my last question is do you consider yourself a perfectionist?

Speaker 2: 48:50

Yes, unfortunately I'm. I'm much better than I used to be, but I definitely fight a lot of perfectionist tendencies. Um, yeah, I, just I have to. You called me out on that one.

Speaker 1: 49:04

I have to be honest I yeah, well, I'm curious did that also kind of manifest itself in your blogging too? Or is that just something that you're like? It's something that's been around?

Speaker 2: 49:15

You know, I think I think it's always been around. Um, I think as I've gotten older I've I've softened it. You know it's softened for me, but but yeah, I mean, anytime I'm trying anything new and the podcast was this huge new thing. You know, it was like you know that that expression better done than perfect. I tell myself that all the time. You know, just put it out there, it doesn't matter if it was you sounded a little awkward, it doesn't matter. Or if you know you didn't say that, exactly right, it's. I do, because otherwise I'd be re-recording and re-recording, you know, all the time. So, yeah, I've had to embrace imperfection in a way that that kind of doesn't come naturally to me.

Speaker 1: 50:00

This is so good, but you just gave someone listening such a gift because I bet they have recorded and re-recorded themselves over and over and over again and that's the thing that's keeping them from hitting publish. So if you heard that, like go back and listen to Karen, cause she just like that was a mic drop moment of just hit, like done is better than perfect, just hit, publish and put it out there and you'll be able to learn and grow and evolve with your audience. So I absolutely love that. Karen, where can everybody find you? I actually I know that you were talking about. You have a workshop coming up and you have a free resource. Where can everybody learn more about that and about your resources that you have? Sure?

Speaker 2: 50:44

So my website is a well-licken womancom. I have a. I have a number of free resources there, but one is the midlife glow up guide seven days to your healthiest, most radiant self. And it just runs through, you know, for somebody who isn't feeling good, who maybe just wants to start putting a few simple, manageable changes in place to feel better. It's kind of a quick seven day, you know clean up your diet, start moving, just in in some very manageable ways. So that's, that's my resource. And, of course, someone you know, instagram and and the podcast is called well-licken woman redefining midlife, so they can listen there.

Speaker 1: 51:26

Perfect. Yeah, we're going to have a link to everything in the show notes. But, karen, thank you so much for coming on today. This was so much fun and I do meet it from the bottom of my heart. I wish you the best of luck. I know you're going to do incredible things with your show and I just appreciate you coming on and sharing your story. Oh, thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 2: 51:47

It's been so much fun.

Speaker 1: 51:48

Gosh, wasn't that so fun? Like I guess that earlier, I think it's so awesome when we get to dive into the details of someone's podcasting journey and the decisions that they made, because these are likely the same decisions that you are making about your content. So I want you to hear as many possible ideas as you can because, like, having my experience and knowing my story is only going to get you so far because I'm one person, I'm one podcaster out of millions that are out there. So I want you to have just like a different lens on how people make these decisions. Let's talk through them and this is why I always call it like we're in a podcast therapy session. Right, because we're digging into the details and this episode was so fun. But I also want to give another shout out to Karen, because I wrote it in my notes and it was so funny because we talked about this a little bit, but she answered a call to action. So I made a call to action a few episodes ago and I had said you know what, if you want to be a guest on this podcast, come on, pitch me. I don't even remember which specific episode it was, but it was so funny because she. I had forgotten. I even said that. I forgot. I even said that in the episode and whenever she pitched me, she had said hey, I'm answering your call to action, I'd love to be a guest on your podcast. And here she is. We made it happen, so I'm just throwing it out there like shoot your shot. If you want to join me on the show, let me know what you have. Send me an email. Go to crystal, or actually it's almost the same Go to my website. You could do that too and submit an audio clip. If you go to my website, go all the way down to the footer. You're going to see a place to leave a message to be on the show. If you want to submit an audio clip, but also you can go to send me an email. There, I'm trying to say it again Send me an email, crystal, at crystal profitcom, and let's chat, let's see what you have to offer. If you want to share your message on this podcast, let me know, because Karen was able to make it on the show and I'm so grateful for all the value she added to this audience today. But that's all I have for you, so make sure you are following or subscribed. Wherever you are listening to this podcast and, as always, remember, keep it up. We all have to start somewhere.