Episode #72: Meet the Team Behind Nourish with Michelle Fox
Michelle Fox: [00:00:00] I do think it takes courage to show up being messy. And I've been very clear, even now, even the three of us working together, like there are things that we have room to improve.
Michelle Fox: And I'm like, you know, step by step, we're going to get there. It's been a A sincere practice to not want to be like, we have to fix everything right now. It has to be perfect. Like, no, I believe our message is getting through and our community is giving us the feedback that they want more. So I'm grateful that we keep showing up.
Michelle Fox: Welcome to Nourish with Michelle Fox, your guide to a vibrant life If consistency has been a challenge for you and you occasionally forget self-care, you, my friend are in the right place. Tune in for weekly inspiration to nourish your mind. I know your plate's full and I want to help you support a life and a body that you adore. Let's dig in. [00:01:00]
Michelle Fox: Today, I am so thrilled to be able to introduce you to the team that is part of Michelle Fox Culinary Nutritionist. As you know, if you've been with me for five seconds or five years, then you are very clear that community is my number one value. And as I talk about that, the outward community, I thought it would be really fun today to introduce you to my internal community.
Michelle Fox: And that is none other than Brittany McCray, who is our podcast manager and Shirley Lin, who is our digital marketing assistant. I am telling you, there is no way I could show up the way that I do as clean and clear and creative as I do without this amazing team. So without further ado, Brittany and Shirley, welcome to the show.
Brittany McCray: Hi, thank you, Michelle. Thank you, [00:02:00] Michelle.
Michelle Fox: So, 1, thank you all so much for saying yes. And then 2, like, before we dig in, because I really do want to talk about how to build a podcast, because so many people in my community, I think they think of podcast production as this huge thing, which is why a lot of people don't do it. And yes, as we all know, it is, there are lots of parts and I don't think it's so huge that it's impossible.
Michelle Fox: And so I really thought we could demystify some of the parts and pieces of building a podcast together. But before we do that, would you be willing to play a rapid fire game? Of course. Yes. All right. So I actually, I think I'll start. So Shirley, one of my favorite questions to ask our guests that come on the show is, would you be willing to share a story from your childhood in the kitchen?
Shirley Lin: Yes. So I guess one vivid memory would be the one where me and my mom [00:03:00] and my sister would crack walnuts on the floor, on the kitchen floor. It was really fun because it was a mini factory. So we would just have a bag of walnuts, and then a hammer, and we would go around, just one person cracking them, one person opening them, and then one person like tossing them into like a bowl, and that's just like a really immersive like experience to have.
Michelle Fox: That is so fun. I love it.
Shirley Lin: So Brittany, I'd like to
Shirley Lin: ask you. If you could choose only one condiment or sauce for the rest of your life to use, what would you choose?
Brittany McCray: Oh, I love this, I think it's like a chipotle mayo. It's kind of like Spicy, but not too spicy. I put it on everything. Burgers, fries, tacos.
Brittany McCray: It goes with everything. It's delicious. So I would definitely want to keep that.
Brittany McCray: So [00:04:00] Michelle, are you ready? I'm ready for you. All right. So question. What is the food that you had so much growing up that if you never had it again, it would be too soon. Oh,
Michelle Fox: I love it. I don't know that I've ever been asked that question before.
Michelle Fox: Oh, you got me, Brittany. Nicely done. Nicely done. Let's see. I would say it was liver. My mom would cook us liver before she knew all of the toxins and why it probably isn't a great idea to feed your family liver anymore, because it definitely was not organic liver. And I just remember every time she'd bring it out, my brother and sister and I would literally start crying, like, please don't make us eat this.
Michelle Fox: And all the research at the time, I mean, this was, you know, before you both were born, back in the 70s, you know, back then. It was thought that liver was healthy for you and it was so disgusting. So, yeah, I [00:05:00] never need to eat liver again. Thank you so much for bringing up that gross memory. So, on that note, I'm so excited to be able to.
Michelle Fox: pass the baton to Brittany, because my friends, Brittany has agreed graciously to host this conversation. I thought that as our podcast manager, it would be amazing to have her perspective so that you can see a little bit of how we make the sausage, as they say back here in the factory of MFCN to build, Nourish with Michelle
Michelle Fox: Fox. And so with that, and actually before I pass the baton for my friends who are watching us on YouTube, you might be looking at us saying, Ooh, they're all wearing like really cool t shirts. And we say Kale yeah, we are. And so if you want your own kale, yeah. T shirts, just head over to michellefox. com and you will see a very easy button to click and get your [00:06:00] own.
Michelle Fox: And so with that, Brittany, the mic is yours.
Brittany McCray: Thank you, Michelle. All right. So I just have a couple of questions for both of you. I'll go back and forth just to get your perspective on the whole podcasting thing to help your guests out. So if Michelle, can I start with you?
Michelle Fox: I would love it.
Brittany McCray: Awesome.
Brittany McCray: All right. So basically let's just start at the beginning and tell us what inspired you to even start your own podcast and why did you choose this particular audience to talk to?
Michelle Fox: Oh, I love that question. And it is two fold. And so actually I'll ask. I'll answer the former and then get back to the beginning, which is I hit menopause at the age of around 46, 47, now about to be 51.
Michelle Fox: And I can tell you when it happened, it was really [00:07:00] scary for me, especially because I see myself as an expert when it comes to nutrition and health and wellness. And I knew I was, you know, quote unquote, doing all of the right things. And yet I got the belly bloat and I was having night sweats. I was getting hot flashes at really crazy times during the day.
Michelle Fox: And I'm like, if I can't figure this stuff out, I wonder how hard it is for other women who may not have the education that I have. And so that really lit the fire for me to one, figure it out for myself, which I have, thank goodness. I feel so grateful for this journey. But then I'm like, well, now that I know I have to share it with my friends because I don't want
Michelle Fox: anybody suffering. And so that's what motivated me to talk to women over 40, who are typically walking through perimenopause or menopause. And then as far as why I decided to do a podcast is I absolutely love, like when I get inspired. as soon as I decided to do a podcast, I realized I could attract so many women to have these conversations, to [00:08:00] move this conversation forward.
Michelle Fox: And so that's what we've been doing and being able to verbally talk about these things and have conversations with other women who are in and out of the health industry. It's just been really healing and helpful. And it's been motivating me to show up every week to see and to find ways that I can help other women.
Michelle Fox: So, did I answer the question all the way? Yes. . Oh good. Thank you so much for asking.
Brittany McCray: Awesome, thank you. Alright, Shirley, can I move it on to you? Mm-Hmm. , of course. So for my fellow new podcasters, do you have any advice or tips for podcast planning or how do you organize the podcast content that people want to talk about?
Shirley Lin: that's a good question. So for us specifically, we use Asana to communicate, and what we did was basically create [00:09:00] a template for all the steps that we need to do. So kind of an SOP, if you will. And it lists all the procedures that are necessary to complete a podcast episode, and so, and we would assign each task for our group who does what and who is responsible for what so that everything gets done in a timely manner.
Shirley Lin: And I think for the maintaining the schedule, it's important to do things in advance to plan ahead and also I would say to dedicate a specific time to work on the podcast. If you're doing, for example, a weekly basis release, like we are doing. So, currently we are planning our podcast. Our goal is four episodes in advance, and so we've been working towards that.
Brittany McCray: And I would agree. Asana [00:10:00] has been a wonderful tool to help us all out and keeps us where we need to be. We can look ahead and see what's coming and just keep a good schedule going, which I agree is very important because getting behind. It is very stressful, but you don't want that stress, so staying on top of that is definitely been beneficial all around.
Brittany McCray: So, as far as other tools to use that I feel are helpful, besides Asana for organizing the content and coming up with your ideas, starting a podcast does not have to be An exact science. It is kind of as you go, you add new things, you learn more things, but the baseline, if you have a microphone, some headphones, even you can even use your phone as a camera if you want to use video.[00:11:00]
Brittany McCray: You don't have to have the most expensive equipment, but using if you wanted to use a microphone, using a dynamic microphone is a great option, which means you just plug it into your USB if you have a computer and it really gives you good sound. Some people have like something called a pop filter, which will keep like a screen in front of you and your microphone to keep those like P sounds from popping into the microphone, which is helpful with the editing. Also using headphones to kind of block out the noises
Brittany McCray: around and you can hear yourself. I've even heard some people will record in the closet. So don't feel like you have to have the most beautiful setup and everything going on. It's more of just the sound and the sound going where you want it to go. Having carpeted rooms, having a lot [00:12:00] of cloth around helps absorb the sound so you don't want to have, be in a big open area where your voice is bouncing all around.
Brittany McCray: So you can start somewhere small and as you go further into your journey, then you can expand. So don't feel like you have to have the best of the best to start with. Definitely just to learn as you go. And the biggest part is being consistent. So just stay consistent in your journey and keep going. Hmm.
Michelle Fox: And I didn't even know about the P and the popping so that's great to know as well. Thank you, Brittany. No problem.
Brittany McCray: So, Michelle, do you, you've been doing this for a while. Do you have an episode that really sticks out as a favorite?
Michelle Fox: I had a feeling you would ask me that. And I think I'm going to have to plead the fifth on this one. I feel, [00:13:00] I feel like a mama bear. Like I've been told that, you know, you can't call your business, your baby, because a real human baby is very different than, you know, this
Michelle Fox: business with moving parts, blah, blah, blah. What I will say is every single episode really feels special to me. And I can tell you from episode number one that I did with my brother and sister who were literally holding my hands as I was like, fearfully putting myself out there to start this podcast.
Michelle Fox: I'm like, that was a highlight. And that was amazing all the way up to, you know, I think we're in our seventies at this point, you know, every single episode, I just feel gets deeper and richer and it just has its own special quality and so I cannot pick my favorite because I truly have loved every single episode
Brittany McCray: That's awesome and I love how you say that and it just goes to show being consistent and not feeling like The first podcast that you put out there has to be the [00:14:00] best.
Brittany McCray: Just do it. Just do it and keep going. So look at you all the way into the 70s. Every single one is practice and showing up. So just showing up is always important. So I love that and congrats.
Michelle Fox: Thank you. And thanks for pointing that out. I do think it takes courage to show up being messy. And I've been very clear, even now, even the three of us working together, like there are things that we have room to improve.
Michelle Fox: And I'm like, you know, step by step, we're going to get there. It's been a A sincere practice to not want to be like, we have to fix everything right now. It has to be perfect. Like, no, I believe our message is getting through and our community is giving us the feedback that they want more. So I'm grateful that we keep showing up.
Brittany McCray: Yes. Authenticity is important. I would definitely say that.
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Brittany McCray: I love the way Michelle's artwork looks and all of the social media going on. It has a really great colors. It had. It really stands out and it [00:16:00] really shows her brand. Can you share a little bit of the process of how you create those beautiful cover arts and Instagram posts that you do for the show every week?
Shirley Lin: of course. I'd love to share. So we use Canva as a team, which is a pretty universal graphic design tool that a lot of people use, and it's fairly user friendly. So for my process, I basically Look at what Michelle had done previously, and I try to incorporate the brand colors as well as kind of like her style, but also adding, I guess, my own little details and playing around a bit.
Shirley Lin: Basically, just experimenting until I'm happy with it. And then. Basically for the podcast, the blog headers and the YouTube thumbnails are didn't change that much, but for the Instagram covers, I basically ended [00:17:00] up creating several template versions that I switch according to which episode is next.
Brittany McCray: Awesome. Great. So it sounds like Michelle gives you a little bit of creative freedom, which has been helpful for you. What'd you say? Yes.
Shirley Lin: Yes, that's
Brittany McCray: awesome. That's awesome. So if you want to do your podcast definitely take the time to play around and it can always switch around and doesn't have to be the first thing you do.
Brittany McCray: You can switch it around and see what you like best. So have fun with it.
Michelle Fox: Awesome, including the name. I'll just jump in and say, because we originally started off as Healthy, Sexy Nutrition. And as our message gradually shifted, and some of the work I've done has shifted, it just made sense to switch over to Nourish.
Michelle Fox: And so I just add that to tack on to what you're saying, Brittany, is that Podcasting is supposed to be fun. Like, I [00:18:00] just encourage you to have fun with it.
Brittany McCray: Yeah. And I love that you mentioned changing the name. So things like that is definitely important when it comes to promoting your podcast and really getting your name out there.
Brittany McCray: And finding the audience that you want to talk to the title of your podcast is really important. So when people are searching for just an idea of something, your podcast will pop up. So if your name has nothing to do with what you're talking about, it's probably not going to pop up when people are searching for it.
Brittany McCray: So the title of your show, the title of, your each show that you do are is very important to get just that audience engagement to get those numbers up and get the amount of listeners up. So, I would definitely say, if you're looking at promoting your [00:19:00] podcast and just really getting a good audience, those are
Brittany McCray: two things to really start off thinking about: who do you want to talk to and how are you going to get them engaged into coming to listen to you outside of all the podcasts out there because there are a lot out there nowadays. So we definitely want to keep our audience interested and figure out what they want to listen to.
Brittany McCray: So who are you talking to? What do they want to hear? Keeping that in mind. So, Michelle, you do a lot of guest interviews. How do you keep the flow going when you're interviewing so many people every week?
Michelle Fox: Yeah, great question. You know, what I have found effective is having a format specifically. I love starting off with an intro.
Michelle Fox: So it lets our guests know that we've done our research. We're paying [00:20:00] attention. And then 2, I love doing the rapid fire game because I. Believe that helps our audience get to know our guests and also me in like a rapid fire kind of way. And then just getting into the meat of the conversation, I do my best to make sure our guest feels comfortable.
Michelle Fox: In fact, in the intake form that we have for every single guest to read through, to sign, to give us, you know, their headshot and their bio. At the very top, I let them know, hey, I want you to bring your authentic self because we want to bring the best that we can to our community. And so I believe just having.
Michelle Fox: The organization 1 giving people specifically, our guests, what to expect 2 and then 3 having a particular outline that our listeners can expect week to week. I really think having that foundation just [00:21:00] grounds the conversation to help it be that much more rich and also deep and hopefully impactful for our listeners.
Brittany McCray: Awesome. I love it. And as your editor and listening to all the podcasts so far, I love the way that you set everything up. It's very well organized and the guests really get to shine. Which I think is important. You don't want to guest on a show and not really get your message out there. So you allow the guests to get their message out there while also being authentic to your message for your audience.
Brittany McCray: So I love
Brittany McCray: that.
Michelle Fox: Thank you for saying that. And that means so much, especially from a Virgo. I always tease just for my friends who are listening right now, I tease that on my team, I got so lucky to have two Virgos, which means I have people who love details and they love planning and they love strategy.
Michelle Fox: And this Sagittarius, who is like all over [00:22:00] the place, I need these, you know, guardrails. So. Again, Brittany, Shirley, I cannot say thank you enough for being on this team.
Brittany McCray: I love it here. Thank you for having
Brittany McCray: me.
Brittany McCray: So as we wrap up a little bit of our conversation today, I just wanted to end off with a question for both of you.
Brittany McCray: So Shirley, I'll start with you. How are you nourishing yourself today?
Shirley Lin: Yes, so as a college student, you know, it's life is very hectic and just so chaotic and stressful, but I guess how I'm nourishing myself is making sure that, you know, like, I'm eating my meals and eating healthy meals, you know, making recipes like, for example, I bought beets from the market.
Shirley Lin: I'm going to make a beet soup. [00:23:00] And I've also bought chard, so I'm gonna make like a pasta salad that I'm really excited about. And just like, yeah, fruits and vegetables, you know, and protein, just so I can get through today and also just not fall behind on anything.
Brittany McCray: Awesome. All right,
Brittany McCray: Michelle.
Brittany McCray: What about you?
Brittany McCray: How are you nourishing yourself today?
Michelle Fox: Thank you for asking before I share I'm like, over here like doing this internal cheerleading for Shirley Lin like that is freaking amazing. I wish I had that knowledge when I was a college student, I may have. Been a better student if I had better nutrients feeding my brain.
Michelle Fox: So kudos, Shirley. And to answer you directly, Brittany, I can commit to, what can I commit to? Because at the time of this recording, it is a Friday, which means I have a ton of work to wrap up before the weekend begins. And so I can commit to A bath. That is how I'm going to nourish myself, [00:24:00] that that will be my reward for this week.
Michelle Fox: So tonight, you all have my word by 8:00 PM I'm turning off the computer. I'm turning off the phone, and I am taking my butt up to take a bath tonight. .
Brittany McCray: Love it. Awesome
Michelle Fox: What about you, Brittany? I wanna hear how you are nourishing yourself today.
Brittany McCray: Well, you know what? Let's stick to one of your shows, , that I edited.
Brittany McCray: Which I know this all the time because my husband gets on me constantly, but then you know how another voice says the same thing and you're like, oh, yeah, I guess I'll listen drinking more water. I am the worst drink more water. So I bought my big thermos cup, and I'm trying to refill it as much as possible and get
Brittany McCray: the most water in me to counteract the coffee.
Brittany McCray: Drinking more water is [00:25:00] definitely my goal today and every day.
Michelle Fox: Nicely done.
Brittany McCray: All right. Well, thank you, ladies. Thank you for joining me on the show. Thank you, Michelle, for having us. And thank you listeners for thank you for taking the time to listen to us. I hope you all enjoyed your time and stay nourishing yourself every day.
Michelle Fox: thanks so much for listening to Nourish. Have you been driving, doing laundry or walking around the neighborhood? Sweet. I've got show notes for you. Hop on over to michellefox.com/podcast. When you are ready. I will let you know that on the page, you will find resources to support what you just learned on today's show. And then of course you can grab some health supportive freebies as well.
Michelle Fox: If you enjoyed this episode, I would be honored. [00:26:00] If you would leave a review on whichever podcast platform you are listening on. It will help me with my mission to build healthier communities. One person at a time and it will help you because you will be part of that mission.
Michelle Fox: I'll be back next week and I encourage you to keep showing up for yourself and know that you and your health matter. Big love!
