Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

Megan chats with Diane Woodford about living a life led by love, embracing purpose in uncertainty, and why the most powerful thing food bloggers can do right now is be deeply human. Diane Woodford is a retired critical healthcare professional and educator. She is also a published author, speaker, philanthropist, co-host of Love Drops Podcast, creator of Paths2transformation website, and world traveler. With a deep commitment to serving humanity, Diane focuses on mentoring young women and raising the energy wherever she goes. Diane is currently traveling around Europe with her husband Charles on a remarkable journey, embodying love in action as One Love Ambassadors spreading love at every stop while making incredible human connections. Diane Woodford shares her journey of traveling the world with her husband, Charles, spreading compassion and human connection wherever they go. From overcoming near tragedy to offering hope through storytelling, Diane reminds us that love is the ultimate creative force and the o

Megan chats with Melissa Seideman about turning your email list into your most powerful marketing tool, no algorithm required. Melissa is a former 15-year history teacher and the CEO of Not Another Virtual Assistant (NAVA). She helps busy entrepreneurs, especially fellow CEO moms, take the stress out of marketing so they can focus on what they do best. NAVA provides strategic email marketing solutions that drive consistent sales and build strong customer relationships, all while freeing up valuable time. Your email list is more than a newsletter. It's your most reliable business asset. Melissa shares how to use it to consistently drive traffic, boost engagement, and make money. Learn how to build irresistible opt-ins, segment your audience, design engaging weekly emails, and monetize strategically. Whether you're just starting or ready to revamp your entire system, this conversation will give you a blueprint for sustainable email success. Key points discussed include: Email over algorithm: Stop waiting for so

"Someday" is a myth that keeps you waiting. This episode helps you trade it for today and finally take that first step. I used to say "someday" all the time: someday I'll write a book, someday I'll slow down, someday I'll care for myself. But someday never came until I created space and just started. That's when everything shifted. This episode is a reminder that life isn't waiting for later. It's happening now. Action Steps: Spot your some days: Notice where you're delaying dreams with the word someday. Reframe the myth: Understand that perfect conditions will never arrive. Take one step today: Write a sentence, go for a walk, or block an hour. Choose presence: Replace waiting with courage and simple daily action. Build now, not later: Remember freedom is created in today's choices, not in tomorrow's promises. Join the email list for Take The Exit - Be the first to step inside the story! More from Megan YouTube | Website |  Instagram

Destini Copp teaches us how to transform your knowledge into scalable, automated income streams that sell while you sleep. Dr. Copp is a business growth coach and digital product strategist. She helps business owners turn their digital products into consistent, scalable revenue using growth flywheels and AI-powered systems. If you've ever thought about creating a digital product but weren't sure where to start (or what to do when one flops) this episode is your go-to guide. Destini shares how to identify your best product idea, craft an irresistible mini-course or ebook, and design sales funnels that work. You'll also learn how to simplify your tech, monetize your newsletter, and infuse more of you into every offer. Key points discussed include: Start with a spark: Choose a product that aligns with your passion and expertise - it will sustain you long-term. Mini-courses win: Short, actionable workshops build connection and can't be replicated by AI. Lead magnets that convert: Begin with a simple freebie, then

Megan chats with Eat Blog Talk community manager Taryn Solie about what's truly working in food blogging right now, what's not, and the big changes coming to Eat Blog Talk in 2026. This candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the current food blogging landscape: what's thriving, what's fading, and how Megan and Taryn are evolving Eat Blog Talk to better serve the community. If you've felt the turbulence of 2025's AI and algorithm shifts, this one will help you recalibrate, refocus, and reconnect. Key points discussed include: Community is your lifeline: Stop going it alone, connection is non-negotiable for success. Email is the new MVP: Taryn shares creative, low-lift ways to grow your list and diversify income. Video builds trust: Why showing your face (or at least your voice) can future-proof your brand. Experiment boldly: Short-term tests and gut-led creativity can reveal long-term wins. Consistency is queen: From publishing to relationships, it's the decade-long growth driver. Diversify with intenti

Fear often feels like a stop sign, but it's really a doorway. This episode shows you how to step through it toward freedom and growth. Fear has kept me stuck in places I didn't belong, like a toxic corporate job I should've left long before I was fired. But that loss became one of the best gifts of my life. Fear is not the enemy. It's a signal pointing to where growth lives. In this episode, I invite you to see fear differently and take a brave step forward. Action Steps: Reframe fear: Recognize it as a signal, not a stop sign. Identify the doorway: Ask what opportunity your fear might be pointing to. Take a small step: Write one line, send one email, or lift one weight. Practice saying no: Release fear of disappointing others with one simple no. Act with fear beside you: Remember courage is action taken even with fear present. Join the email list for Take The Exit - Be the first to step inside the story! More from Megan YouTube | Website |  Instagram

Megan chats with Pat Flynn about breaking free from information overload, focusing on what matters, and building momentum through experimentation and micro mastery. Pat Flynn is a father, husband, and lifelong learner from San Diego known as one of the most trusted voices in digital entrepreneurship. He’s the founder of Smart Passive Income, co-creator of the SwitchPod, and host of Deep Pocket Monster on YouTube. Pat inspires millions through his podcasts, communities, and live events like Card Party, all while advising companies and sharing his passion for creativity, connection, and growth. Pat also serves as an advisor to dozens of companies and is a sought-after keynote speaker. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, collecting Pokémon cards, and rewatching the Back to the Future trilogy. Pat shares how to stop drowning in advice and start acting. From his “lean learning” method to daily experiments and micromastery, Pat teaches creators to swap perfectionism for progress. This episode is packed with energy

Michael R. Drew teaches us how to write books that build credibility, serve your audience, and generate lasting business impact, far beyond bestseller lists. He has spent his career turning ideas into bestsellers. With more than 100 books launched onto national lists and over 1,000 No. 1 titles on Amazon, he’s one of the most accomplished book marketers in the industry. Having worked with publishers such as Bard Press, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Thomas Nelson, Michael has mastered the art and strategy of getting books noticed. Today, he helps authors write with purpose, build powerful platforms, and turn their message into lasting influence. Michael has helped launch over 130 books onto major bestseller lists. But his true genius lies in showing authors how to use a book as a business tool, not just a trophy. He breaks down the real meaning of success, how to define your book’s purpose, and why the best authors start with outcomes, not words. Key points discussed include: Define your “why”: Start with the out

If you crave more moments of feeling awake and fully present, this episode reveals how aliveness is already available in the ordinary. I’ll never forget a moment in Montana when everything felt so alive - the colors in the sky, my family laughing, the fire crackling. But soon I wondered, why can’t I feel this at home too? That question led me to discover that aliveness isn’t rare, it’s simply missed when we rush past it. Today, I share how to notice it more often. Action Steps: Practice presence: Slow down and let yourself truly notice small things. Savor simple rituals: Linger over coffee, watch the sunset, or enjoy your first bites of dinner. Put the phone away: Create space to be fully there with people and experiences. Use your breath: Take slow, intentional breaths to reconnect with your body. Invite joy daily: Play music, dance, or hug someone a little longer. Join the email list for Take The Exit - Be the first to step inside the story! More from Megan YouTube | Website |  Instagram

Megan chats with Julie Gaeta about turning hardship into strength through intentional habits, grounded mindset work, and resilience that fuels both life and business. She runs Becoming You with Julie, where she shares plant-based recipes, wellness tips, and mindset strategies to help people feel good. After going through a divorce after 22 years, she rebuilt her life and business from the ground up, which taught her how critical mindset is for success. She’s a holistic health coach, mom of nine, and working on growing her brand into a sustainable business. When Julie’s 22-year marriage ended, she started over with nine kids and a dream. What followed was a journey of deep mindset work, structure, and purpose that transformed her life and blog. Julie shares simple practices for protecting energy, creating momentum, and moving forward, no matter what’s fallen apart. Key points discussed include: Reset your life with clarity: Reflect on what you truly want—and what no longer serves you. Habits ground the chaos:

Laura Ashley Johnson teaches us what it takes to push through massive setbacks and rebuild a thriving food blog with grit, faith, and community. Dinner in 321 is a place for food and nutrition inspiration for cooks of all levels, busy families and food lovers! It’s Laura Ashley’s mission to make cooking fun, share delicious and nutritious recipes (comfort food, crockpot meals, casseroles, southern cooking, and nostalgic recipes), and spread joy! She’s a Kentucky girl now Texan, married, with two kids (one graduate from A&M now a chemical engineer and the other graduating in May in Computer Science from Texas Tech), and a dog named Butter and cat named Newman. She LOVES cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling to NYC, camping in their Airstream, everything Fall and Christmas, and simply spending time at home with her family. Laura Ashley Johnson faced every blogger’s nightmare twice: her website was hijacked for illegal activity and her Facebook audience of nearly half a million was stolen by hackers. In

If your voice has grown faint under the noise of everyone else’s needs, this episode shows you how to tune back in and hear yourself again. There was a season when my voice felt almost gone. Muted by all the demands around me. I didn’t even realize how quiet it had gotten until it was taken away in a painful way. But that loss sparked something powerful and eventually led to creating Eat Blog Talk. If you’ve ever wondered “Where am I in all of this?” then this episode is for you. Action Steps: Ask gentle questions: Pause daily and ask “What do I need right now?” Listen for whispers: Your true voice usually returns as nudges, not shouts. Try journaling: Let your thoughts spill onto paper without editing. Take quiet walks: Go tech-free and notice what surfaces in silence. Release performance mode: Shift from living for others to partnering with your own truth. Join the email list for Take The Exit - Be the first to step inside the story! More from Megan YouTube | Website |  Instagram

Megan chats with Emma Dunham about weaving emotion, story, and simple styling into your food photography so your images connect deeply with your audience and inspire action. Emma Dunham is an award-winning food photographer, author, and founder of The Food Photography Academy. She helps bloggers, photographers, content creators, and food professionals shoot, style, and curate scroll-stopping images that elevate their brand and support their business goals. Through commercial work, creative retreats, and training thousands online, she has built a business around bridging the gap between brilliant storytelling and the visuals to match.  Photography is one of the most powerful tools in a food blogger’s business. In this episode, you’ll learn why your camera gear matters less than you think and how to create images that spark emotion and stop the scroll. Emma shares pitfalls to avoid, the three essential angles to use, and the must-have items to keep in your kit bag. Key points discussed include: Lead with emotio

Nicole Kelley teaches us how to use simple, smart ads to amplify what’s already working in your blogging business without wasting time or money. She is a marketing strategist who helps creative entrepreneurs turn their BEST content into consistent traffic, leads, and sales using Facebook and Instagram ads. With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, Nicole specializes in building simple, high-converting ad funnels that work behind the scenes, so her clients can spend less time posting and more time creating. She’s worked with bloggers, coaches, and small business owners to grow their audiences, launch digital products, and create sustainable revenue streams without relying on the social media grind. Nicole explains how to stop fearing ads and start using them to grow traffic, email lists, and product sales. She shows us why ads aren’t a sign of failure but a lever for scale, and how even $5 a day can create momentum. Key points discussed include: - Mindset shift: Ads aren’t a sign of failure, they’

Carrying around endless “shoulds” can feel like a crushing backpack of pebbles. This episode helps you set them down and trade them for truth and freedom. For years I lived under the weight of “shoulds”. I should stay in this job, I should be more grateful, I should run my business like they do. It left me exhausted, resentful, and depleted. When I started questioning those shoulds, everything changed. In this conversation, I’ll walk you through how to swap shoulds for wants and lighten your load. Action Steps: -Notice your shoulds: Pay attention to how often they creep into your thoughts. -Question the rules: Ask whether a should truly belongs to you or if it’s borrowed. -Swap language: Replace “I should” with “I want” or “I choose” and feel the difference. -Write them down: Identify three shoulds and rewrite them into aligned wants or no’s. -Seek truth, not perfection: Remember that freedom comes from living your own definition of success. Join the email list for Take The Exit - Be the first to step inside

Megan chats to Elena Davis about how to weather algorithm storms, refresh content with intention, and lean into authentic connection to keep growth alive. Cucina by Elena is a food blog for simple, high-quality, and flavorful Italian, American, Mexican-inspired, and Mediterranean recipes. Whether you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal, a nostalgic family dish, or a stunning dessert, my recipes are made to be approachable, delicious, packed with real ingredients, and full of love. If you believe in the power of simple recipes that connect, comfort, and inspire, you’re in the right place!  Elena shares her story of perseverance after multiple algorithm hits. She reveals the strategies that helped her revive traffic, from updating posts to leaning into community and experimenting with video and AI. Key points discussed include: - Community is the safety net: When algorithms shift and traffic tanks, it’s your readers who will carry you through. - Update old content: Refreshing posts is often more powerful than

Jamie I.F. talks about what it was like losing $80K a month in affiliate revenue, rebuilding from the ground up, and what keyword research really looks like in the age of AI. He is a former affiliate SEO who once scaled to $80,000 per month before the HCU update brought that down to nearly zero. Now, Jamie focuses on building software for SEOs and other niches. One of his tools, Answer Socrates, helps bloggers generate thousands of topic ideas and cluster them into organized groups so they can focus on the fun part: writing. By leveraging SEO, Jamie has grown the tool to over 100K monthly users and has also found creative ways to drive traffic through platforms like Reddit. Jamie shares the wild ride from skyrocketing affiliate earnings to starting over after Google’s updates. He teaches us how to approach keyword research differently in the AI era, how Reddit is reshaping SEO, and why feelings, not just facts, win traffic today. Key points discussed include: Affiliate highs and lows: One decision brought in

Sometimes life looks abundant from the outside, but inside you may feel numb or empty. This episode explores why that happens and how to rediscover sparks of aliveness. I’ve been in that place where everything looked good on paper - my calendar was full, my family cared for, my fridge stocked - yet inside I felt hollow. It’s confusing and even scary to admit that emptiness when you think you should feel grateful. But that ache isn’t a flaw, it’s an invitation. In this episode, I share stories and practices that helped me follow sparks of joy back to a life that feels alive again. Action Steps: - Pause and breathe: Notice that emptiness isn’t a sign you’re broken, but a signal to pay attention. - Reframe fulfillment: Recognize that abundance outside doesn’t guarantee fullness inside. - Notice sparks: Watch for small moments that stir joy, then let yourself follow them. - Try simple practices: Step barefoot in the grass, sing in your car, or sip tea without distractions. - Say no when needed: Protect your energ

Molly Madigan Pisula teaches us how to plan vacations as a blogger so you can unplug, recharge, and come back stronger without the stress of reentry. Molly is a food blogger and food photographer. After beginning her career in the corporate world of high-tech marketing, she decided to forge a new path in the food industry. She received her certificate in French pastry, then opened a small business as a personal chef. For over 12 years as a chef, Molly cooked weekly meals for busy families, taught cooking classes, and catered small events. Now Molly runs the recipe blog, Vanilla Bean Cuisine, featuring French-inspired seasonal recipes for both everyday and entertaining. Time away from your business is essential, but most of us dread the chaos that comes before and after. This episode is a roadmap for prepping your blog, managing your mindset, and creating smooth reentry so vacations actually feel restful. Key points discussed include: - Prep ahead with purpose: Why doing more than just one week of work pays of

Kim Cauti talks about how chronic illness reshaped her perspective on business, hustle culture, and why prioritizing health can actually fuel growth in unexpected ways. Kim is a food blogger, photographer, and content creator focused on gluten free, high protein "better for you" recipes for people who have chronic illness or are simply looking to treat their bodies better while still eating deliciously! When burnout or illness strikes, it’s tempting to push harder, but slowing down may be the secret to building a stronger, more sustainable business. This episode reveals how honoring your body, creating boundaries, and embracing rest can unlock creativity, clarity, and even bigger results. Key points discussed include: - Rest fuels growth: Why stepping back can increase traffic and revenue. - Boundaries protect energy: How saying no creates space for creativity and healing. - Nervous system care: Simple practices that calm burnout and reduce anxiety. - Food and health connections: Why what you eat directly imp