► Tell us about you and your podcast
Hey. I'm Michele. I've spent decades preparing healthy food (as a chef), growing healthy food (as a permaculture farmer) and teaching people how to prepare food in a way that supports the overall health of the body (as a wellness educator). I also teach people how to support the health of our environment and economy (with an MBA in Sustainable Business).
I like healthy food and living a healthy life, and if you're reading this, I bet you do too.
But, if you're like me, you've probably eaten food that you thought was healthy, and probably didn't think it was slowly compromising your health, the environment and your wallet. I don't mean to be dramatic. However, food is expensive, and there is no denying that many foods contain chemicals, additives, preservatives, genetically engineered ingredients that have been proven by science to be toxic to humans, or at best, not beneficial to good health embedded deep within the framework of our food supply chain.
That's what Food Slain is about. It's about peeling back the layers of obfuscation, misinformation, marketing gibberish and straight up untruths, that have become embedded into, and surrounded our food supply chain - and not just in the United States, but around the world. The more we know, the better decisions we can make on the plate for ourselves and our loved ones, and I hope you'll come along for the ride.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started this podcast to share the wealth of accumulate research and experience I've garnered through working with clients, writing books and growing healthy food.
My initial motivation was personal, but the global pandemic was on the rise when I started talking about the food supply chain back in March 2020, and it was good timing.
My first episode was written, recorded and uploaded in record time - two weeks! Also during that time, I created my website, started my mailing list and began promoting episodes.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
There's one episode each week, with a two week break in between seasons. I basically bootstrapped this podcast, while running a small farm and working part-time as a graphic designer. I know...crazy! But it's about time management and priorities. Each episode takes a couple of hours of research, an hour or so to record and edit, and about an hour to do graphics, upload and share on social media. I'm still not sure how I find the time, but I'm passionate about sharing this information (which has been a part of my life and career for decades)...and my friends got tired of hearing me talk about it, so I figured - I'll start a podcast and share it with the world! :) Currently, I am funding the podcast by accepting donations, as well as having a handful of patrons on Patreon...and of course, through my other "job".
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I would love to connect with the right sponsors for my show. I haven't had any yet, but as I continue to create episodes, I will eventually find the right sponsors for my content. I do my best to monetize my work with books I've written, products on my website and am seeking new partnerships in Season Four! Podcasting has deeply impacted my life. I do a lot of things...but podcasting helps me organize, research, and share the important food news and topics that impact our health, our environment and our economy.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
My process is very basic. It can be done minimally. I had a fancy mic, but it broke, so I just use my laptop speakers for now. I edit in iMovie. I record via Audio Hijack, Zoom and Skype and it works for those of us bootstrapping our efforts. I find guests by reaching out directly to them, asking my audience who they want to hear from and also on the MatchMaker.com podcasters platform. Truth be told, I prepare an entire season of topics in advance, which makes execution easier. If there is a suggestion from my audience, I ALWAYS include it and give folks recognition or a "shout out". And I do my best to find the most relevant research to support the topic...which is what takes the most time and effort.
► How do you market your show?
My podcast is available on almost every podcast platform and I promote each episode (even my BONUS episodes) on social media, on Patreon and to my email list of listeners. The responsiveness of my listeners varies from week to week, but it is consistently growing. The main takeaway here is to be consistent...no matter what! And don't compare. It will ruin your enthusiasm. :)
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
The most important thing I've learned that wasn't obvious beforehand is...listening. As a podcaster, we tend to focus on talking and sharing our thoughts, but it is so valuable to figure out WHO your target audience is and listen to them. Ask them what they want to hear about. There are many valuable podcasting resources out there...but one that I consistently engage with is a guy by the name of Daxy Perez. He gives a lot of great tips about how to monetize, how to engage, how to present your message, etc. Find him on LinkedIn. To learn more about me and my podcast, visit https://foodslain.com and connect with me on the "socials" @foodslain. I look forward to continuing the conversation about food.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
To support my show or make a one time donation, visit https://foodslain.com
If you want to become a patron visit https://patreon.com/foodslain
You can email me at info@foodslain.com
Connect with me on social media @foodslain (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
Thanks, and I'll see you on the other side of the plate. Chow!