Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

Megan chats with Megan Flatt about building a weekly planning system that actually works and helps you finish your most important work. Megan Flatt is the founder of Let's Collective, a business strategy firm helping entrepreneurs achieve more revenue, time, and fulfillment, without the hustle. Megan is also the author of Focused: Reclaim Your Time, Ditch Overwhelm, and Do Less Better, where she blends research and practical strategies to help people do less, better. When she's not strategizing, Megan can be found with a stack of romance novels, a fresh set of office supplies and usually a latte. Learn more at letscollective.co If your weeks feel full but your biggest goals keep slipping, this episode gives you a repeatable planning process that protects your time, your energy, and your priorities even during busy or disruptive weeks. Weekly planning saves time, not wastes it: Intentional planning prevents task jumping and reactive work. Your calendar is the container, not your to-do list: You can only commit

Megan chats with Amy Reid about self publishing a cookbook, choosing the right timing, and building a profitable income stream outside of ad revenue. Amy Reid is the voice-behind and creator-of Baking with Granny. The daughter of a professional baker, Amy grew up in a house which was filled with cakes & bakes. Once her own two children came along (and her mother became "Granny"), it was suddenly obvious that many of their family recipes would be lost in time, if not written down now. And Baking with Granny was born! Amy now takes recipes from years gone by and transforms them into easy home baking recipes that people around the world can make and enjoy. If writing a cookbook has been sitting on your someday list, this episode might be the push you need. Amy Reid from Baking With Granny shares exactly how she self published her first cookbook, why she chose that route, and what it really took to make it profitable. This is a practical, honest look at cookbook creation for food bloggers who want more contro

Megan chats with Maria Lucey about how she built a profitable food brand through YouTube alone and why long form video is one of the smartest growth moves food bloggers can make right now. Maria Lucey is a Registered Dietitian and content creator who launched her YouTube channel at the end of 2023 and grew it to over 44,000 subscribers in just over two years. Her channel focuses on long-form nutrition education and practical recipes that help people meet their health goals. Although she didn't have a blog when she started YouTube, Maria quickly recognized how the two platforms could complement each other and began building her blog soon after. Today, YouTube is her second-largest traffic source after Google and has helped her grow an email list of more than 6,000 subscribers, primarily through YouTube opt-ins, despite her blog still being relatively small. She monetizes through brand partnerships, YouTube and Mediavine ad revenue, and digital products. Maria is passionate about showing that anyone can start f

Megan chats with Liz Pollio about how to stay motivated when progress feels slow, growth stalls, or the work starts to feel repetitive. Liz Pollio founded Flour de Liz in 2016 as a way to share easy, approachable dessert recipes. She truly believes that anyone who wants to bake can bake, and she strives to create a fun, welcoming, and judgment-free space for home bakers of all skill levels. Are you showing up consistently but not seeing the results you hoped for? Liz shares honest mindset shifts that help her stay motivated during plateaus, boredom, and seasons of uncertainty. This is a grounded conversation about playing the long game, finding small wins, and remembering why you started in the first place. Key Topics Discussed: Future wins matter more than current frustration: The work you are doing now sets you up for growth later even when you cannot see it yet. Small data wins are still real progress: Looking at year over year data can reveal growth you might miss in the day to day. Quarterly check ins be

Megan chats with Zhen Zhou about surviving a massive traffic hit, rebuilding income through diversification, and rethinking what it really means to build a sustainable food blog. Zhen Zhou downshifted from a corporate track post-MBA to full-time content creation and is loving it. She currently runs three blogs: greedygirlgourmet.com, alovelettertoasia.com, and tjtakesthetrain.com. If your blog has felt like a roller coaster since the HCU, this episode will feel grounding. Zhen shares what happened when her traffic dropped by 70 percent, why she stopped obsessing over Google, and how systems, funnels, and brand clarity helped her move forward without burning out. This is not a silver bullet episode. It is an honest look at adapting in a landscape that keeps changing. Key Topics Discussed: Stop waiting for Google to save you: Relying on one traffic source is no longer realistic and waiting it out keeps you stuck. Diversification works but it is not simple: Running multiple sites helped offset losses but also re

Traci DeForge teaches us why podcasting can be one of the most sustainable ways to grow a food blog, create multiple revenue streams and build valuable relationships. Traci, founder of Produce Your Podcast, an award-winning full-service production and audience growth marketing agency, is recognized as an international podcast expert, sought-after speaker, and media contributor. The creator of the Podcast Management Academy, the industry's only certified podcast manager training program, PodHive, and Co-Founder of the Podcast Professionals Association.  Traci hosts the Growth Accelerator Podcast, and co-hosts the popular Ask Brien Radio Show in Los Angeles.  She's been featured on all three major networks, including CNN, CTV, American Express Open, and RadioINK. She is also a member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council. Podcasting is often dismissed as too much work or not visual enough for food creators. In this episode, that assumption gets challenged. Traci breaks down why audio builds deeper trust, ho

Megan chats with Christine Pittman, Meredith Kruse, and Melissa Erdelac about what makes Flavor Media Summit unlike any other blogging conference. This is an exclusive event for experienced food bloggers who have successful and income-generating businesses. Our goal is to unite accomplished food bloggers for strategic networking, empowering them to thrive, collaborate and ignite long-term growth in an exclusive and transformative gathering. Not all conferences are created equal. This episode pulls back the curtain on Flavor Media Summit and explains why experienced food bloggers keep returning year after year. From deep dive sessions and intentional speakers to real connection, real food, and real conversations, this is a look at what happens when an event is designed for growth instead of noise. What makes Flavor Media different: Smaller rooms create bigger breakthroughs: Real conversations happen when you are not lost in a crowd of thousands. Advanced topics deserve advanced spaces: Flavor Media is built fo

Megan chats with Chanda Coston about building real success without burnout and why hustle culture is not worth the price. Chanda Coston is a U.S. Navy Veteran, Business Strategist, and Founder of Chanda Co., where she helps entrepreneurs build profitable, purpose-driven businesses without sacrificing peace or passion. With over 20 years of leadership experience and a background in project management, she teaches systems, mindset, and strategy that enable creative professionals, like food bloggers, to grow sustainably, delegate effectively, and avoid burnout. Her coaching blends structure and soul, because clarity and calm are the ultimate success tools. Burnout is not a badge of honor. In this episode, Chanda breaks down what sustainable success actually looks like and why systems, boundaries, and self trust matter more than working harder. This conversation is a reset for anyone who feels overwhelmed, reactive, or constantly behind. Key Topics Discussed: Burnout is a warning, not a requirement: If your busin

Vinny DelGuidice teaches us how to build a sustainable food blogging workflow using batching, planning ahead, and reusing what already works. Vinny DelGiudice is the creator of Always From Scratch, an Italian-American family food blog he started six years ago. He is a professional photographer, dad, and husband who focuses on developing nostalgic family recipes from his and his wife's childhood, meals that make it easier for families to sit down at the table and enjoy time together. Burnout is not a requirement for success. Vincent shares how he stopped forcing creativity, built a repeatable workflow, and learned to do less while growing more. This episode is a reality check for food bloggers who feel overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck in constant decision mode. Key points discussed include: Choose your creative time: You will make better content faster when you stop forcing creative work into the wrong hours. Batching saves your sanity: Planning shoots and tasks in advance removes decision fatigue and keeps mo

Megan chats with Cheryl Norris about what the transition from corporate employee to full time blogger really looks like and how to navigate it with purpose. Cheryl Norris is the founder of the Bakes by Brown Sugar baking blog, where she specializes in baked goods for the homebaker. She combines her technical background as a mechanical engineer and self-taught baker to write detailed recipes and explain the baking science behind her recipes. She lives in Porltand, OR with her husband. She recently left her full time job and now operates her food blog full time. In addition to her business, Cheryl loves to travel. Her favorite city is Paris, but her favorite food country is Japan. She also loves to read and is always up to learning something new. Cheryl's story is raw, honest, and deeply helpful for anyone dreaming of going full time. She walks through the emotional and logistical challenges of leaving a 37 year career, the mindset shift that changed everything, and the systems that helped her step into entrepr

Natalie Battaglia teaches us simple and sustainable Instagram growth strategies that attract loyal followers without burnout. Natalie Battaglia is the founder of The Mindful Mocktail, a blog and Instagram community dedicated to helping people celebrate without alcohol. What began as a way to share simple, beautiful mocktails has grown into a global destination for wellness-inspired drinks that anyone can make at home. Through her website, social channels, and book The Mindful Mocktail, Nat inspires people to drink mindfully, explore new flavors, and find joy in the ritual of making a beautiful drink. If you are tired of shouting into the Instagram void, this conversation will feel like oxygen. Natalie breaks down the exact behaviors that helped her build a global brand, including the five minute reel that brought in more than two hundred thousand followers. She offers clear, doable strategies for retention, repurposing, analytics, and building true community so you can grow with intention instead of pressure.

Hanelore Dumitrache explains Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and what bloggers must change now to stay visible in an AI driven search world. Hanelore is a food blogger, AI strategist, and founder of the tech startup Whimzi AI. She helps creators and businesses future-proof their work through innovative, human-centered AI solutions. Hanelore is also the creator of AEO Audits, a pioneering framework that teaches bloggers how to stay visible in AI-driven search. Her mission is to make AI approachable, practical, and genuinely exciting for everyone. Search has transformed and AI engines no longer rely on rigid keyword matching. Instead, they understand intent, context and entities in a way traditional SEO cannot cover alone. Hanelore breaks down AEO, the new optimization approach that helps search engines correctly interpret your content and surface it inside AI answers. She explains why bloggers are losing traffic, what AEO does differently, and the exact shifts you can begin making today to prepare your blog f

Megan chats with Lindsay Pinchuk about simplifying your marketing through her SWEEP framework so you can finally stay consistent without burning out. Lindsay is an award-winning entrepreneur, consultant, and small business mentor who's among the less than 1% of female founders to successfully lead her company through an acquisition. She built her first company, Bump Club and Beyond, from just $500 into a 7-figure brand with partnerships that included Target, Nordstrom, Huggies, and Unilever, reaching over 3 million people every month before selling the business to a large agency holding company. Today, Lindsay is the founder of Dear FoundHer..., a top 0.5% podcast and community supporting women business owners over 40. Through her podcast, newsletter, mentorship program, and her signature SWEEP framework, she helps entrepreneurs simplify their marketing, grow their businesses, and build long-term success. She built a seven figure business without an ad budget, and the strategy behind it is surprisingly simple

Megan chats with Megan Flatt about how your hormone cycle affects your ability to focus and the simple shifts that let you work smarter, protect your brain and get bigger results by doing less. Megan Flatt is the founder of Let's Collective, a business strategy firm helping entrepreneurs achieve more revenue, time, and fulfillment—without the hustle. Megan is also the author of Focused: Reclaim Your Time, Ditch Overwhelm, and Do Less Better, where she blends research and practical strategies to help people do less, better. When she's not strategizing, Megan can be found with a stack of romance novels, a fresh set of office supplies and usually a latte. Learn more at letscollective.co This episode reframes productivity in a way that feels sane again. Megan explains what actually helps your brain focus, why multitasking backfires, and how to plan in cycles that match your energy and biology. She digs into the default mode network, the value of "done" definitions, and the three step planning framework she uses w

Tasheena Womack teaches us how to break free from perfectionism, reframe failure and build the kind of mindset that makes you unstoppable. Tasheena founded Simply Tasheena in 2011 as a lifestyle blog that has since partnered with major brands including Disney, Goya®, Hilton, Mazda, and Kodak. With a Master's degree in Organizational Management and Leadership, she has built multiple successful ventures and spoken at over 100 organizations throughout the tri-state area. Tasheena specializes in helping entrepreneurs develop the mindset strategies needed to transform creative passions into sustainable businesses. She strives to empower others with practical tools for entrepreneurial success and personal growth. Tasheena talks about shifting out of fear, treating mistakes as data, creating an evidence file, and taking bold action without waiting for things to be perfect. If you have felt stuck, hesitant or discouraged lately, this episode will clear that fog fast. It is the kind of mindset reset that changes how y

Megan chats to Kat Duncan about sustainable organic traffic and why intentional content, email strategy and high volume output matter more than chasing trends. Kat is the CEO of Honeycomb Media, a women-owned and operated marketing agency that works primarily with food bloggers. Passionate about marketing and social media from a young age, Kat has spent the past five years helping bloggers grow their online presence. Under her leadership, Honeycomb Media has become especially strong at driving organic traffic for food bloggers. She lives on the coast of South Carolina with her husband and their two kids. Kat loves that her work revolves around food and is dedicated to giving bloggers the tools and support they need to succeed in such a competitive space. She breaks down the platforms that actually move the needle right now and why food bloggers should lean into email, Pinterest, social search and consistent publishing. She shares what is working for clients across Honeycomb Media, how to approach Newsbreak an

Hannah Holzum teaches us about what it really feels like to start a food blog in 2025 and why courage, community and simple systems matter more than anything. Hannah is a registered dietitian and food blogger who shares healthy, balanced takes on family favorites. As a mom of three daughters, she knows firsthand how busy weeknights can be, so she focuses on creating recipes that are simple, nourishing, and kid-approved. Her goal is to help families enjoy mealtime together without the stress of cooking multiple dishes. She is only ten months into her blogging journey, but she has already built systems, invested in smart help, and navigated the overwhelm that comes with being brand new. She walks through the mindset shifts that helped her move forward quickly, the early investments that paid off, and the importance of ignoring traffic obsession in favor of serving real people. If you are starting a blog or thinking about it, you will walk away feeling braver, clearer and less alone. Key points discussed include

Megan chats with social media strategist Shannon McKinstrie about creating Instagram stories that actually convert, without overthinking, overproducing, or burning out. Shannon McKinstrie is a social media mentor & strategist on a mission to eliminate the neverending content-creation guesswork and overwhelm so business owners can actually enjoy promoting their business and engaging with their audience on social platforms without burning out. If Instagram stories intimidate you or feel like another box to check, this episode will change your mind. Shannon McKinstrie breaks down the art of storytelling on Instagram in a way that's approachable, human, and fun. She shares her three-story formula, engagement hacks that feel natural, and simple ways to connect with your audience beyond recipes. You'll learn how to show up consistently, grow your visibility, and build trust with your followers. No perfection required. Key points discussed include: - Start simple: Three stories a day is all you need to build tra

Molly Patrick teaches us about creating a values-driven business through genuine connection, radical honesty, and community that sustains itself without ads, gimmicks, or burnout. Molly is the co-founder of Clean Food Dirty Girl, a global community known for its honest, inclusive approach to plant-based living. Raised off-grid in New Mexico, Molly learned early to value simplicity, hard work, and humor - principles that still shape her work today. A lifelong vegetarian and vegan since 2010, she has been alcohol- and cigarette-free since 2015 and now lives on the island of Maui, leading a thriving movement that helps people eat more plants and live more intentionally. For over a decade, Molly has built a thriving global community around eating more plants, not through viral hacks or paid ads, but through heart, storytelling, and trust. She has turned authenticity into strategy and connection into sustainability. In this conversation, she and Megan dive deep into what makes communities stick, how to serve befor

Megan chats with Zoe Forestier about using structure, batching, and mindful planning to protect your energy, sustain creativity, and actually enjoy the blogging journey, especially during high-pressure seasons. Zoe is the voice behind Girl Meets Fire, where she shares Puerto Rican recipes with a global audience. Her work blends tradition with modern strategies, from food photography to SEO-driven content planning. Alongside the blog, she developed the Firestarter Planner, a tool designed to help food bloggers streamline their workflows, track ideas, and stay consistent without burning out. Her passion lies in making content creation manageable and sustainable for fellow bloggers. Food blogging can feel like juggling a dozen spinning plates. Zoe has found a system that keeps her grounded. She shares how she uses planning as both a productivity and mindset tool. From batching content before Q4 chaos to color-coding creative focus, she teaches us how organization can actually spark more joy.  Key points discusse