The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Navigating burnout, creating unique content, and running a blog with 30 million monthly pageviews with Jeanine Donofrio from Love & Lemons. ----- Welcome to episode 536 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jeanine Donofrio from Love & Lemons. The Journey to Reaching 30 Million Views a Month In this episode, Bjork chats with Jeanine Donofrio, the creator of the massively popular vegetarian food blog Love & Lemons, which now receives over 30 million monthly pageviews (!!!). Jeanine shares the story behind her blog’s evolution — from a personal creative outlet that she started in 2011 to a thriving business with multiple employees. Bjork and Jeanine also talk about how Jeanine balances creativity with content strategy, manages the pressure of staying consistent, and how she navigates seasons of burnout. Three episode takeaways: How and why Jeanine started focusing on SEO — Love & Lemons was monetized solely with sponsored posts for the first 8 years, before fellow food blogggers and friends convinced Jeanine to focus on SEO and monetize with ads in 2019. Jeanine explains more about why she resisted ads and SEO for so many years, and how she navigated the transition to creating content with SEO in mind. How to anticipate and navigate burnout — Jeanine has experienced four intense periods of burnout in her time as a food creator, often related to the creation and promotion of her cookbooks. She shares how she plans for these seasons, why she views burnout as a necessary step to making creative space, and how she avoids rushing herself through burnout. How Jeanine has grown her team and batches content — Jeanine explains how she has hired teammates over the years and why she decided to prioritize outsourcing certain tasks, like photography, to free up her time for recipe development, writing, and spending time with her family. She also shares a peak behind-the-scenes into her content batching process (and why she batches 30 recipes at a time). Resources: Love & Lemons Love & Lemons Cookbooks Smitten Kitchen 101 Cookbooks A Couple Cooks Semrush Lemon Water on Substack Register for our webinar with Grocers List Follow Jeanine on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Optimizing your website for Q4 success, making your personal brand stand out, and adapting to the changing landscape of content creation with Madison Wetherill from Grace and Vine Studios. ----- Welcome to episode 535 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Madison Wetherill from Grace and Vine Studios and Joyfully Mad. Branding, Blogging, and Q4: How to Stand Out Online In this conversation, Madison discusses the importance of personal branding and website optimization for food bloggers, especially as they prepare for the critical Q4 season. She emphasizes the need for food creators to carefully define their niche and audience, effectively communicate their brand message, and integrate your brand into your site. Madison also shares strategies for standing out in a saturated market and the significance of calls to action on websites. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of content creation and the need for bloggers to adapt to stay relevant and connect with their audience. Three episode takeaways: How to audit your own content — Madison shares how to review your site for user experience and brand messaging. She explains how to optimize individual blog posts to convey your personal brand and voice, why you must always review your blog on mobile, and how to ensure that every page on your website reflects your brand. Madison describes this process as the foundational work that will make your brand sustainable in the years to come — sold. How to adapt to the changing landscape of content creation — Bjork and Madison discuss the importance of creating an online space and content style that is uniquely yours to stand out from AI (and in a saturated market). Engaging with your audience through personal stories can enhance connection, which is critical for building trust with your audience and moving beyond a transactional relationship for recipes. How can you be more helpful for your audience? What makes you different? How (and why) to prepare your site for Q4 — Q4 is a critical time for food creators thanks to increased site traffic and earning potential. But Madison explains that many creators forgot to get their websites ready and are missing an opportunity. She shares exactly how to do this and why website optimization is crucial for converting traffic into loyal followers. Resources: Grace + Vine Studios Joyfully Mad How to Optimize Your Website Design as a Food Blogger with Madison Wetherill The Vine Podcast MKBHD Pinch of Yum Ask From Food Blogger to CEO: How to Scale Your Blog Without Losing Yourself with Bjork Ostrom Follow Madison on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leveraging social media to grow your audience and building a community through your website with Danny Dobrzenski from Cooking in the Yard. ----- Welcome to episode 534 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danny Dobrzenski from Cooking in the Yard.  From Pandemic Hobby to Full-Time Hustle with Danny Dobrzenski In this week’s episode, Bjork interviews Danny Dobrzenski, a food creator who turned a pandemic hobby into a full-time content career. After getting laid off in April 2020, Danny took a leap of faith and leaned into sharing his cooking journey online. With some serious hustle and smart use of platforms like Instagram and Facebook (particularly Facebook!), he built an engaged audience and started landing brand deals that helped turn his passion into a paycheck. Danny also reveals what it really takes to grow as a creator, from staying consistent with content to learning how to navigate ever-changing social media algorithms. He discusses how delegating and “buying back time” helped him scale and why building a strong creator community is at the heart of everything he does. Now, he’s launching a new project to help other creators do the same: monetize their content and grow with intention! Three episode takeaways: From hobby to full-time hustle: Danny started his food creation journey during the pandemic as a hobby and then grew it into a full-time job (the dream!). He shares how a mix of taking a leap of faith, landing brand deals, and leveraging social media helped him make the transition. The power of having “home base”: While social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook are great for reaching new people, Danny stresses the importance of having a central hub, like a website, to drive traffic and build a strong community. Helping others win: With his new project, Danny is now focused on helping other creators navigate the tricky world of monetization. He’s passionate about sharing his knowledge and building a supportive community to help others succeed. Resources: Cooking in the Yard Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Y Combinator Meta Business Suite Raptive Grocers List Pinterest YouTube The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Check out Danny’s latest venture — Trust Me, Try It Episode 89 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: 9 million visitors & 450 contributors: the Story of Her View From Home with Leslie Means Follow Danny on Facebook and Instagram Be sure to join us for our Live Q&A with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List happening on Thursday, September 25th! Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Reconnecting with creativity, redefining success as a creator, and creating without burnout or comparison with Sabrina Loyer. ----- Welcome to episode 533 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sabrina Loyer. Building a Creative Life Beyond the Metrics In this episode, we’re chatting with Sabrina Loyer about what it really means to be successful as a content creator. Sabrina built a thriving business around helping others go viral, but she also experienced the anxiety, burnout, and pressure that can come with chasing metrics. She shares her journey of moving beyond the comparison trap, creating without boundaries, and learning to view social media as a tool rather than the end goal. Sabrina and Bjork also discuss the two powerful tools that have transformed her creative process (and life!) and Sabrina’s practical advice for simplifying content creation and using tools like ChatGPT effectively — all while staying grounded and joyful in your work. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just starting out, this episode will help you reconnect with your creativity, quiet your inner critic, and redefine success on your own terms. Three episode takeaways: How to redefine success — As a creator, it can be really easy to define success by the number of pageviews, followers, or likes you get. But churning out more and more content in service of those goals can be stressful and lead to burnout. It can also zap your creativity! In this episode, Sabrina explains how to refocus your workflow to emphasize joy and authenticity, not just numbers. Two exercises that will transform your creativity — Sabrina explains two exercises she has incorporated into her life — morning pages and artist dates — that help reconnect with your inner child and creative self. How to avoid burnout — Sabrina shares how she works with clients to reorganize their content strategy with pillars, ChatGPT prompts, and mindful creation to avoid burnout. Resources: Follow Sabrina on Instagram and TikTok HairCut Harry “The Story of the Chinese Farmer” by Alan Watts The Artist’s Way clearspace Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Raptive and Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The impact of the latest Google Core Updates, how AI can assist with content creation, and expanding your content's reach with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 532 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we’re doing something a little different and bringing on our very own Emily Walker (Associate General Manager, Food Blogger Pro) to chat with Bjork about the articles we shared in our latest blogging newsletter! Food Blogging News Roundtable: Core Updates, GEO, and Content Syndication Curious about the latest happenings in the food blogging sphere? In this episode, Bjork and Emily are chatting through the articles we shared in the Food Blogger Pro newsletter that went out last week and diving into what they mean for food creators. From Google’s recent Core Update (which actually brought some good news for bloggers!) to the continued importance of E-E-A-T, they’re breaking down how to keep your content high-quality and search-friendly. They’ll also discuss how AI is showing up in the world of content creation and how creators are using it while still keeping things real and personal (aka human!). Plus, you’ll hear some ideas for getting your content in front of more eyes by expanding beyond SEO to platforms like LinkedIn and Threads. If you want to stay current, get inspired, and pick up some practical tips, this is a great episode to tune into! Three episode takeaways: The scoop on Google’s latest Core Update: Google’s latest update actually brought good news for food bloggers by reinforcing the importance of high-quality, trustworthy content. The emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) continues to be a key factor in search visibility. AI is becoming an integral part of content creation: A recent survey of 2,000 Substack publishers revealed how creators are leveraging AI tools. While AI can be a helpful assistant, the human element and personal voice remain essential! Expanding your content’s reach takes more than just SEO: While you should still continue to develop your content SEO strategy, it’s also imporatnt to understand user intent and syndicate content. Believe it or not, platforms like LinkedIn and Threads can significantly boost visibility and engagement! Resources: Visit the Food Blogger Pro site to subscribe to our email list! Pinch of Yum Search Engine Journal Ahrefs Tastemaker Conference TopHatRank Analyzing pages that improved following the June 2025 core update — Maria Haynes Will GEO replace SEO – or become part of it? — Search Engine Land ChatGPT ProRata Gist Substack The Substack AI Report Claude Granola superwhisper Episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K New Platforms, Real Results: How Creators (and Brands) are Winning on Threads and LinkedIn in 2025 — Later WhatsApp Follow Pinch of Yum on Threads Follow Food Blogger Pro on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Discoverability with Meta Ads, digital product sales funnels, and thinking beyond organic traffic with Tammy Overhoff from Organize Yourself Skinny. Welcome to episode 531 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Tammy Overhoff. Mastering Digital Products and Meta Ads Tammy started food blogging in 2011 and has reinvented her business many times over the last 14 years. After taking her food blog full-time in 2014 and being hit hard by one-too-many Google algorithm updates, Tammy knew she needed to make a change to her business so that she was no longer working from a place of desperation. In 2022, she took a step back from SEO and diversified her business by leaning into digital product sales. In this interview, Tammy explains her exact process (including numbers!) for selling digital products, including her Meta Ads strategy. For any creator, it can feel daunting to spend money to reach an audience when social media and organic traffic are free. But Tammy makes a really compelling case for investing in Meta Ads as a different opportunity for discoverability to allow you to think beyond organic traffic for growing your business online. If you’re looking to diversify your traffic (hello, who isn’t!?) or dive into digital product sales, you won’t want to miss this interview. Three episode takeaways: How to run successful Facebook ad campaigns — Tammy breaks down how she fine-tunes the creative elements and messaging in her Meta ads. She highlights the importance of testing different ad variations — exploring various themes, angles, and messaging — and explains when to optimize your ad sets for better performance. How to analyze Facebook ad data effectively — Tammy and Bjork dive deep into the analytics behind Meta ads, discussing key metrics like ROAS (Tammy aims for a range between 1.6 and 1.85). They share real numbers around daily ad spend and email leads, and walk through how to scale your ad budget strategically. While ads can ensure visibility, they emphasize the importance of making sure your content delivers a strong return on investment. How to strategically build and nurture your community — Tammy shares actionable strategies for growing an engaged audience that’s ready to buy. She emphasizes the value of offering helpful, problem-solving content and explains how to use email sequences, sales funnels, and automation to build a sustainable business, without burning out. Resources: Organize Yourself Skinny Tasty Digital Eats Reset and Flourish Shop Canva Raptive Future Current by Melyssa Griffin ThriveCart Shopify Intentional Spark FREE Nurture to Sales Primary Funnel Audit Checklist Follow Tammy on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leveraging AI to be a more efficient content creator and the role of keywords in today's SEO landscape with Aleka Shunk. ----- Welcome to episode 530 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Aleka Shunk from Aleka’s Get Together and Keywords with Aleka. She also happens to be one of our FBP experts!  How to Personalize AI for Better Content with Aleka Shunk In this conversation, Bjork and Aleka discuss the evolving landscape of SEO and content creation, particularly focusing on the role of keywords and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT. They explore how keywords remain essential in SEO, despite changes in content creation approaches. Aleka will also share insights on how to use AI to streamline content creation processes, enhance brand collaborations, and personalize interactions for better outputs. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI advancements and leveraging them to improve efficiency and creativity in content creation. Three episode takeaways: Keywords are still relevant, but AI can be your co-pilot: Don’t ditch those keywords! They’re still super important for getting your content found. Think of AI as your super-efficient sidekick that can help you with everything from brainstorming ideas and creating outlines to finding new content opportunities. Personalize your AI for pro-level results: Just like you wouldn’t give every human the same instructions, don’t treat AI tools the same! The more you personalize your interactions and even create custom GPTs for specific tasks, the better and more relevant your AI-generated content will be.  Keeping it real in the age of AI: AI can seriously speed up your workflow and help you refine your content, saving you a ton of time, but remember, the human touch is what makes your content truly unique and engaging! You can leverage AI to boost your efficiency, but always keep your personal style and voice front and center. Resources: Aleka’s Get Together Cooking with Keywords Be sure to check out Aleka’s new course, Blogging with AI! Use the code FBP30 for 30% off the course! ChatGPT Episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K Claude Gemini KeySearch Granola Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Episode 484 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: The Importance of Building Community with A Couple Cooks Liss Legal Follow Aleka on Instagram here and here! Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Editing more efficiently in Lightroom, using AI thoughtfully in your food photography, and developing a visual aesthetic that's uniquely yours with Roberta Dall'Alba. ----- Welcome to episode 529 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Roberta Dall’Alba. In this podcast interview, Bjork and Roberta discuss the importance of having your own distinct style or photography aesthetic to build your brand and why editing is such an essential part of this process. Roberta is an incredible food and travel photographer (trust me, you need to check out her food photographs!) and was a 2023 Lightroom Ambassador. Needless to say, she has spent a lot of time experimenting with Lightroom. Roberta dives into how she approaches editing food photos with integrity, efficiency, and her own unique style. From navigating AI tools responsibly to building a signature look in Lightroom, she offers practical tips to help creators stay authentic while working smarter. This is an excellent interview to help you take your photography and editing to the next level. Three episode takeaways: How to use AI thoughtfully in food photography and editing — Roberta shares her approach to using generative AI tools in editing. While she’s open to retouching photos, she avoids adding anything artificial, always considering if edits will help readers successfully replicate the recipe and/or align with her values. Efficient editing leads to better results — Roberta walks through her streamlined Lightroom workflow, from importing and filtering/organizing, to color grading, taking a step back, and final reviews on mobile, to ensure efficient, high-quality results (and to avoid over-editing). Build a visual style that’s truly yours — She emphasizes the importance of creating your own presets over buying someone else’s, why you should deepen your understanding of color theory, and how to develop editing efficiencies that reflect your brand’s unique style. Resources: Roberta Dall’Alba Photography Roberta’s Lightroom Transforms Course — use code FBP10 for 10% off! Pinch of Yum Lightroom Photoshop Follow Roberta on Instagram and Other platform - facebook, youtube, tiktok, whatever seems most important for them Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Committing to consistency, running strategic year-long marketing campaigns, and leaning into a niche with Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality. ----- Welcome to episode 528 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality. How Kate Shungu Grew to 800k Sessions a Year from Pinterest by Using a Marketing Campaign Kate first started food blogging in 2017 with no real focus or niche. In 2018, she rebranded to entertaining and hospitality but, understandably, had to pivot again during the summer of 2020. Since then, she settled into her niche of vintage recipes for modern cooks and quickly grew to 50k sessions by the spring of 2021. In this interview, Bjork and Kate discuss approaching your brand promotion via platform-specific, year-long marketing campaigns and how to think about marketing as investing your time versus spending your ad dollars. Kate’s success stories on both Pinterest and Facebook will be really inspiring to anyone looking to diversify their traffic sources away from Google! Three episode takeaways: How Kate doubled her Pinterest traffic in one year — Kate spent a year devoted to growing her Pinterest account, and it (majorly) paid off. Pinterest is now Kate’s biggest traffic driver and has kept her afloat through many Google algorithm updates. Kate shares her keyword research strategy on Pinterest, her pinning schedule, and more in this interview. How to develop “marketing campaigns” to promote your brand — Kate uses her background in marketing to develop year-long “marketing campaigns” for her brand and has seen huge success when committing her time to different social media platforms (so far, Pinterest and Facebook) for an entire year. She shares why you don’t need to worry about over-promoting your content, and how you can get started with your own marketing campaigns. The importance of clarifying who you’re marketing to — Bjork and Kate discuss the benefits of constraints for creators, and how committing to a niche and defining the person you’re marketing to can transform your marketing strategy. By focusing on your reader — how they use the internet and what platforms they’re on, you can simplify your brand and clarify your business. Resources: Gift of Hospitality Food with Feeling Loom Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

The power of storytelling, experimenting across platforms, and connecting with your audience with Brita Britnell.  ----- Welcome to episode 527 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brita Britnell from Food with Feeling (who also happens to be our Social Media Video Expert!).  How Storytelling Helps Creators Stand Out Online with Brita Britnell In this episode, Brita shares how leaning into storytelling became the heart of her content strategy, and the secret behind quadrupling (!!!) her Instagram following in just one year. From freelancing to full-time content creation, she walks us through the lessons she’s learned about building meaningful connections, staying consistent, and creating content that resonates. Whether it’s reposting viral hits or crafting seasonal recipes, Brita’s approach is rooted in authenticity and real-life experiences. We also dive into why follower count isn’t everything (especially on Facebook), how Brita built a thriving email list, and what she’s learned from years of experimenting across platforms. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your personal story into a creative brand that lasts, this episode is packed with inspiration, insight, and plenty of real talk. Three episode takeaways: The power of real connection: Whether it’s at a conference, through email lists, or in the comments section, Brita shows how building real relationships (online and off) can lead to big opportunities. She emphasizes that collaboration and community often open more doors than follower counts ever could. How to create content that clicks: From storytelling and seasonal posts to reposting viral hits, Brita breaks down how she keeps her audience engaged and why follower count isn’t the whole story, especially on platforms like Facebook. Her success proves that staying authentic and experimenting with your content strategy pays off. Experiment, evolve, and stay consistent: Brita shares how she’s mixed freelancing, focused learning, and a whole lot of trial-and-error to grow a fulfilling and financially stable career as a creator. Her journey is a great reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to keep moving forward! Resources: Food with Feeling Fit Foodie Finds Crowded Kitchen Meta Business Suite Grocers List What Molly Made Episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K Charles and Allie: Charles Trippy’s YouTube channel Copycat Chipotle Sofritas Recipe from Food with Feeling Follow Brita on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Managing a rapidly growing business, growing an Instagram account to 520K followers, and scaling to 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025 with Amy Coyne from Amy Bakes Bread. ----- Welcome to episode 526 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Amy Coyne from Amy Bakes Bread. How Amy Bakes Bread Grew from 500K to 11 Million Pageviews in Just Two Years Amy Coyne first started her blog in 2020 as a hobby. She’s always had a passion for sourdough and, combined with her background as teacher, felt like a food blog teaching others to bake sourdough and solve their baking problems was a perfect fit. In this episode, Amy discusses the evolution of her blog from hobby to full-blown business (with over 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025!), the inflection points that led to significant growth, and the importance of community building on platforms like Instagram. She also shares insights on her business revenue streams, the challenges of work-life balance as a creator, and her strategies for continued growth and engagement with her audience. Three episode takeaways: How Amy grew her Instagram account to over 520K followers — In January 2023, Amy challenged herself to post on Instagram daily for 90 days, growing her account from 1,000 to 16,000 followers. This experiment became her proof of concept. Since then, she’s consistently shown up with content like Q&As, bake-alongs, and carpool chats. Now with over 520,000 followers, Amy shares the strategies that have fueled her growth, including how she uses analytics to refine her approach. How Amy is managing her rapidly growing business — Amy opens up about her current income breakdown, her goals to diversify revenue streams, and how she balances motherhood with business growth. She also talks about why she recently brought on part-time help. Describing her success as “life-changing,” Amy reflects on how her growing business has impacted her family life. How Amy scaled her blog to over 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025 — Amy shares the SEO and keyword strategies that helped her grow from 500,000 pageviews in 2023 to over 11 million in the first half of 2025. She explains how viral recipes have boosted her blog’s visibility in search results, how her traffic sources have evolved, and how she balances creating content for her blog versus social media. Resources: Amy Bakes Bread A Couple Cooks Grocers List Manychat Slickstream Raptive Amy’s cookbooks Amy’s courses Follow Amy on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Raptive and Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Turning older content into revenue and structuring your content for discoverability with Sandie Markle of Blueberri. ----- Welcome to episode 525 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sandie Markle from Blueberri.  Unlocking the Hidden Value of Your Recipe Content with Sandie Markle of Blueberri In this episode, Sandie Markle shares her journey from working at SideChef to launching her own venture, Blueberri. She and Bjork dive into the evolving world of food content creation, especially how creators can structure their content to boost visibility, make it more discoverable on different platforms, and turn old recipes into new revenue. Sandie also sheds light on the unique value that nano and micro influencers bring to brand partnerships. They also unpack how creators can tap into licensing opportunities, work with tech companies, and even use overlooked platforms like LinkedIn to find new gigs. Whether it’s understanding the worth of a single recipe or building smart, non-traditional income streams, this episode is full of practical advice for creators who want to make more from the content they already have. Three episode takeaways: Your Old Content is Still Gold: Sandie shares how creators can repurpose and license existing recipes — even if they aren’t getting tons of traffic. Think: $100–$250 per recipe just sitting in your archive! Structure = Discoverability (and Dollars!): Making your content easy to find, share, and reuse is a game-changer. Sandie breaks down how simple formatting tweaks can boost your reach and unlock new revenue streams. Partnerships, Platforms, and Knowing Your Worth: From nano-influencer perks to why LinkedIn is a hidden gem, Sandie dives into how creators can build smart brand partnerships and confidently navigate the tech world. Resources: Blueberri Sandie’s Substack, Blueberri Pi Blueberri — Tech Partnerships Playbook LinkedIn Follow Blueberri on LinkedIn and Instagram Shoot Sandie an email! Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating multiple revenue streams, making $100 a day from affiliate revenue, and committing to consistent content creation with Mary Smith from Mary's Whole Life. ----- Welcome to episode 524 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mary Smith from Mary’s Whole Life. How Mary Smith Uses Her 500k Instagram Followers to Monetize Across Platforms This week is our third (and final!) episode in our mini-series with Grocers List. In this episode, we chat with a gluten-free food creator who’s built an incredible business by staying consistent, continually learning, and always looking for new ways to serve her audience. Today, Mary gets over 600,000 monthly blog page views and brings in revenue through ads, affiliate links, and brand partnerships. She shares more about her Instagram strategy (with over 500k followers), including her tips for viral Reels, how she uses Grocers List to capture emails, make deep links, and customize meal plans, and how working with a management company has transformed her brand partnerships. Three episode takeaways: How to be intentional with your affiliate strategy and deep linking — By using deep linking on the Amazon affiliate links she shares, Mary has boosted her conversion rate from 5% to 21%, a massive jump that now brings in around $100/day in revenue. She recommends using tools strategically to lower costs, like applying deep links only on Instagram, and doubling down on what converts. How to use tools to bring social followers into your email ecosystem — Switching from ManyChat to Grocers List helped Mary streamline subscriber growth and increase engagement (the “save to email” feature led to 3,000 new subscribers in just a few months)! Mary also explains her process for creating and promoting an ebook opt-in on Instagram. How to make weekly meal plans for your email list — One of the ways Mary has added value for her email subscribers is by sending out a weekly Friday morning email with a meal plan for her subscribers with a curated grocery list. She explains how she formats and customizes these resources with very little effort in this episode! Resources: Mary’s Whole Life Mediavine Raptive Reels for Food Creators Course Bailey Campbell on Instagram What Molly Made Tastemaker Conference Canva Etsy How Recipe Creators Can Increase Affiliate Sales With Amazon Deep Links The Food Blogger Pro Podcast: Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking Ecko Digital Media Applegate Jovial Foods Follow Mary on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Grocers List. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leveraging social media and your email list to make your content work smarter with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List. ----- Welcome to episode 523 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List.  Turning Followers into Revenue with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List In this week’s episode, we’re continuing with our Grocers List mini-series with Ben Jabbawy, the founder of Grocers List! He’ll dive deep into how creators can truly leverage social media — not just for likes, but for real, tangible growth. The key is to shift your mindset from surface-level content to strategic storytelling that drives your business forward. You’ll also hear about why email lists are a creator’s secret weapon. While algorithms change, your direct connection with your audience shouldn’t. Building a list gives you control over your communication and creates consistent revenue opportunities. Plus, he’ll unpack how to make your content work smarter by using automation, repurposing assets, and minimizing the busywork that slows creators down. You won’t want to miss this episode! Three episode takeaways: Social media can be used to build a business: The episode emphasized how important it is for creators to use social media platforms to capture real value and drive their entrepreneurial goals, not just for surface-level engagement.  Email lists are a creator’s best friend: You’ll hear about how crucial email lists are for maintaining a strong connection with your audience and building reliable revenue streams. It’s all about owning your audience and having direct communication, rather than relying solely on ever-changing social media algorithms. Make your content work smarter, not harder. Creators, especially food creators, can benefit from tools and strategies that reduce friction in sharing content, automate workflows, and repurpose what they’ve already created. This frees up time and expands reach without sacrificing user experience — it’s a win-win situation! Resources: Grocers List Privy Lexi’s Clean Kitchen Episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K Episode 516 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Diversifying Income Series: Monetizing Your Email List with Matt Molen Episode 201 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast Episode 229 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Email Marketing – Strategies for Bloggers with Allea Grummert Episode 288 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Email for Bloggers – Maximizing the Value of Your Email List with Allea Grummert Episode 398 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: The Importance of Surveying Your Audience with Email with Allea Grummert Episode 475 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Grow Your Email List and Connect with Your Audience with Allea Grummert Episode 505 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking Ecommerce Marketing School podcast Follow Grocers List on Instagram and check out Ben’s Instagram here. Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Grocers List. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Making Instagram work smarter for your business, repurposing old content, and making the most out of DM automation tools with Lindsay Ostrom from Pinch of Yum. ----- Welcome to episode 522 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork interviews Lindsay Ostrom from Pinch of Yum. How Pinch of Yum Uses Instagram to Grow Their Email List Welcome to the kickoff episode of our new mini-series, sponsored by Grocers List! In this conversation, Bjork and Lindsay are diving into how Pinch of Yum is rethinking its Instagram strategy, especially when it comes to using Reels, DM automation tools, and driving email list growth. They chat about how to balance creativity with conversion, and Lindsay shares why her opinion of DM automation tools has completely changed over time. Lindsay also gets into the nitty-gritty of repurposing blog content and using Grocers List as a strategic bridge to get Instagram followers into the email ecosystem. If you’re looking to work smarter with your content and make Instagram actually work for your business, this episode is for you! Three episode takeaways: How to repurpose old content — Lindsay discusses how she has been breathing new life into older recipes by organizing and packaging her existing content into resources and opt-ins that can a) provide value to readers and b) drive followers to sign up for the Pinch of Yum email list. Pinch of Yums’ current Instagram process and strategy — Lindsay shares her current content strategy for Instagram and how she’s been rethinking the value of Instagram in her business. Historically, she viewed Instagram primarily as a means to build awareness around the brand and new recipes, but she is now being more strategic about the Instagram to email pipeline. She explains her practical tips for getting started with this mindset shift in this discussion! How to make the most out of DM for automation tools — Lindsay first tried out a DM for automation tool to drive site traffic a few years ago, but didn’t like how it cluttered her Instagram inbox and made engaging with readers more difficult. So she abandoned it! Recently, however, she tried again (this time with Grocers List) and has had great success building her email list. In this interview, she explains what changed her opinion on these tools (and shares the Instagram inbox organization tip you need)! Resources: Pinch of Yum Skinnytaste Grocers List Grace and Vine Studios 22 Healthy Freezer Meals (That You’ll Actually Love) Freezer Meals Instagram Post Follow Lindsay on Instagram and Pinterest Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Grocers List. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Scaling a Brand, Navigating Burnout, and Finding Your Why with Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot. ----- Welcome to episode 521 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Joanie Simon from The Bite Shot.  Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot on Scaling, Burnout, and Finding Joy Again In this week’s episode, Joanie gets real about the not-so-glamorous side of turning a creative passion into a full-on business. She shares how her love for food photography grew into something much bigger (and messier!) than she expected, from hiring a team to navigating the financial and emotional rollercoaster that comes with scaling. Spoiler: it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but it was 100% worth the ride! We also explore the tricky balance between staying creative and keeping up with the structure a business demands. Joanie opens up about burnout, the pressure to please everyone, and how she lost touch with her audience along the way. Through mentoring, self-care, and redefining what success actually looks like, she’s found her way back to her “why” — and she’s sharing what that process really looked like. Three episode takeaways: Growth can be messy, but so worth the effort!: Joanie shares how her food photography side hustle grew into a full-blown business, including the ups and downs of hiring a team, dealing with new responsibilities, and learning from the messy parts of scaling. The tug of war between creativity and structure: From chasing inspiration to juggling deadlines, Joanie talks about how building a business can sometimes smother the creative spark and how she’s working to find a balance that actually fuels both. How Joanie reconnected with her why: Joanie opens up about people-pleasing, burnout, and losing touch with her audience — and how mentoring, self-care, and redefining success helped her get back to what really matters. Resources: The Bite Shot Joanie’s food blog, The Dinner Bell Company of One by Paul Jarvis The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander “The Story of the Chinese Farmer” by Alan Watts Follow The Bite Shot on Instagram and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Pitching, writing, publishing, and marketing a cookbook with Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin. ----- Welcome to episode 520 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin. What It Really Takes to Publish a Cookbook with Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Erin Clarke (after 9 years!!!) to dive into the behind-the-scenes journey of traditionally publishing a cookbook — from developing the recipes and managing timelines to copy-editing and more. Erin opens up about how she balanced her cookbook projects with her ongoing blog work, as well as the challenges and rewards of publishing a cookbook. Bjork and Erin also chat about the marketing side of cookbook creation — how Erin mapped out the social media strategy for her cookbook promotion, why she crafted all of her captions in advance, and how she documented the entire cookbook process on social media to create excitement and drive sales. Erin emphasizes that cookbook writing shouldn’t be motivated by money but by a passion for cookbooks and the long-term brand legitimacy and awareness that these books help build. Three episode takeaways: The cookbook proposal is your blueprint — Erin explains why a compelling cookbook proposal is essential — not only does it help you effectively pitch to publishers, but it also forces you to test your concept (and whether you’re up for the challenge!) and clarify your vision before writing begins. Cookbook writing is a long game — Success requires patience, consistency, and a commitment to detail. Erin shares about the challenges of adjusting to the timeline of print publishing and the shift in mindset required to develop a cookbook. How to develop recipes that work — Erin walks through her incredibly detailed approach to recipe development (have you ever counted the kale stalks in a bunch at the grocery store?) and how being methodical when developing and writing recipes from the get-go creates a strong foundation for your future self and sets your readers up for success. Resources: Well Plated by Erin Rebranding Your Blog with Erin Clarke from Well Plated Avery Skinnytaste Ten Speed Rodale Well, Actually…from Erin Clarke of Well Plated The Well Plated Cookbook Well Plated Every Day Follow Erin on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The power of consistency, community, and time management with Christina Leopold from Addicted to Dates.  ----- Welcome to episode 519 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Christina Leopold from Addicted to Dates.  How Christina Leopold of Addicted to Dates Turned Content into Community and Hit 550K Followers This week’s episode dives deep into the journey of food blogger Christina Leopold, who built and scaled her brand, Addicted to Dates. Her story is packed with gold for anyone looking to grow their online gig. One of the biggest takeaways? Consistency is key, but working smarter with your content is essential for staying sane. Christina also spills the tea on turning her passion into a full-time hustle. She had to get down to business with things like SEO and figuring out how to make money. Plus, she emphasizes the power of knowing your worth and when to bring in some extra hands. Finally, we chat about the importance of connecting with your community and fellow creators. It’s all about building those authentic relationships and learning from each other! Three episode takeaways: Consistency and repurposing are your best friends: Christina’s journey highlights that showing up regularly (like her daily posts for years!) is huge. To maintain your sanity, you’ll have to get smart about your content – think repurposing and making the most out of what you create (like turning one recipe into a bunch of posts). Treat your blog like a business (because it is!): Making the leap to full-time meant learning about SEO, monetization, and how to manage her time like a boss. Hiring help, tracking analytics, and creating systems (like batching recipe posts) gave her more space to focus on the creative stuff she loves. How connections can fuel growth: From community support to brand partnerships, Christina emphasizes the power of real connections. Engaging with others has opened doors to brand collaborations, steady income, and long-term growth. Resources: Addicted to Dates Lofi Girl YouTube channel Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Interested in having your own Coaching Call with Bjork? Submit an application here! InfluenceKit — use this link to redeem your 30 Day Trial + 40% off First 4 Months of Pro Plan! Grocers List Email Christina! Follow Christina on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Surveying your audience, building effective lead magnets, and staying consistent with emails with Molly Thompson from What Molly Made. ----- Welcome to episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Molly Thompson from What Molly Made. How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K Tired of the ever-changing Google algorithms, Molly Thompson decided to lean into email marketing a few years ago and has since developed a super effective four-part system for growing her email list. In this episode, Bjork and Molly delve into Molly’s strategies for growing her email list from 15,000 to 100,000 subscribers within a year (and how that has led to an increase of 300,000 pageviews every month!). Molly shares her insights on repurposing content across platforms, surveying her audience for pain points, using her website as a central hub, and her strategies for driving traffic back to her site. Three episode takeaways: The importance of consistency in email engagement — Molly sends out three emails per week, focusing on providing value to her audience. This consistent engagement has helped her build a loyal subscriber base and drive significant traffic back to her site. Why you need to understand your audience’s pain points — A key strategy Molly employs is surveying her audience to understand their challenges and needs. She explains how she uses ChatGPT to organize and analyze the data, and how these insights allow her to create content that addresses her audience’s pain points, making her opt-ins and emails more relevant and engaging. How to effectively use lead magnets — Molly shares her approach to creating opt-ins that convert. She discusses how to use platforms like Instagram to drive email opt-ins and the importance of structuring a welcome series to nurture new subscribers effectively. Resources: Molly Thompson Kit WP Recipe Maker Grocers List ManyChat Tastemaker Conference Follow Molly on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Crafting a brand with meaning and scaling a business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook. ----- Welcome to episode 517 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shen Chen, who jointly runs the English-language Japanese food blog Just One Cookbook with his wife Nami.  Preserving Tradition While Scaling a Modern Business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook This week on the podcast, Bjork sits down with Shen Chen — one-half of the powerhouse duo behind Just One Cookbook. Shen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how a humble food blog grew into a multifaceted business, spanning YouTube, e-commerce, and digital memberships. He talks about the impact of shifting traffic trends, how COVID–19 changed the game, and why sometimes a business pivot isn’t just smart—it’s necessary. Shen also opens up about his newest venture: a brand inspired by Japanese craftsmanship and cultural preservation. From navigating the complexities of physical products to using social media and SEO to fuel organic growth, this episode is packed with practical tips and thoughtful insights for anyone looking to build a meaningful, resilient business. You won’t want to miss this episode! Three episode takeaways: From Food Blog to Full-Fledged Business: Shen shares how Just One Cookbook evolved beyond recipes, expanding into YouTube, e-commerce, and community-building. You’ll also hear him talk about how external factors like COVID–19 forced a shift in strategy, leading to new ventures and unexpected growth.  Crafting a Brand with Meaning: Discover how Shen’s passion for Japanese craftsmanship sparked a new business rooted in tradition. He unpacks the power of appreciating quality, preserving cultural heritage, and building a product line that tells a deeper story. What It Really Takes to Scale a Business: From social media strategy to SEO, from paid ads to packaging logistics — Shen gives us a peek behind the curtain at the not-so-glamorous, but essential, parts of running a physical goods business. Spoiler: it’s a lot, but totally worth it! Resources: Just One Cookbook Tasty Food Photography by Lindsay Ostrom 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Member Mouse Interested in learning more about setting up a donor-advised fund? Shoot Bjork an email here! Shopify Episode 481 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Maximizing the Impact of Your Email List with Nathan Barry from Kit The Billion Dollar Creator Podcast, hosted by Nathan Barry and Rachel Rodgers Stainless Steel Prep Trays - JOC Goods JOC PLUS Membership JOC Goods — the Just One Cookbook store Follow Just One Cookbook and JOC Goodson Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.