Ep #125: The Vulnerable Food Blogger with Beth Hornback

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We hear about the importance of being yourself, but what does that mean? And why does it feel so scary? Today I’m talking with Beth Hornback about being real with your audience. It’s all about becoming the Vulnerable Food Blogger. If you’re into discussions on authenticity, listen to my discussion with Cara Ansis on Branding vs. Authenticity. Or you will love hearing my discussion Ali Ebright on Finding Inspiration as a Blogger.

How do you share your story with your audience? Have you created a persona? Or are you keeping it 100%? Today's show is about the Vulnerable Food Blogger.

I’ve heard so many people talk about the importance of vulnerability. It might have started with Brene Brown on a very, very popular TED talk (see link below).

In my journey to learn and understand authenticity, I’ve read a bit about vulnerability. It’s pretty obvious that vulnerability is the gate-way drug to authenticity. Of course, first you have to be vulnerable with yourself. To me that means being curious and understanding yourself, stripping away the socialized layers to who you really are. Who you were born to be!

That requires some very personal vulnerability.

That’s the first step toward true authenticity.

This is how Brene Brown defines vulnerability. It’s an excerpt from her book, Daring Greatly (see link below);

“I know this is hard to believe, especially when we’ve spent our lives thinking that vulnerability and weakness are synonymous, but it’s true. I define vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. With that definition in mind, let’s think about love. Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can’t ensure, who may stay in our lives or may leave without a moment’s notice, who may be loyal to the day they die or betray us tomorrow – that’s vulnerability. Love is uncertain. It’s incredibly risky. And loving someone leaves us emotionally exposed. Yes, it’s scary, and yes, we’re open to being hurt, but can you imagine your life without loving or being loved?

To put our art, our writing, our photography, our ideas out into the world with no assurance of acceptance or appreciation—that’s also vulnerability. To let ourselves sink into the joyful moments of our lives even though we know that they are fleeting, even though the world tells us not to be too happy lest we invite disaster—that’s an intense form of vulnerability.  — Brene Brown, PhD, from her book Daring Greatly

When I saw Beth share about her struggles with her weight on her blog, I knew she was giving it her all. I mean talk about transparency? She is even showing herself getting on the scale on her Instagram Stories. Wow. I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on getting on a scale any time soon.

However, I really admire Beth for being willing to be so real; so transparent; so vulnerable.

So today we’re talking about transparency and being the vulnerable food blogger. Of course, we’re talking about more. For example, Beth had a blog post go viral and we talk about how that felt for her and how she’s been able to capitalize on that by creating a video too.

There’s a lot in today’s episode. I think you’re going to love it!

A goal of the Chopped Podcast is to fill you with inspiration for the valuable work you’re doing every day! We hope today’s show on learning to become the vulnerable food blogger is part of the excitement that feeds your soul and keeps you going!

Featured Content – The Vulnerable Food Blogger

Here are some of the highlights of my discussion with Beth on being The Vulnerable Food Blogger. Here are some of the specifics:

  • Beth talks about her blog and why she started it
  • She shares about her struggles with weight loss
  • Beth has used her blog and online platform to create accountability with her audience
  • Eat Within Your Means had a great viral post that is still bringing in lots of traffic for her site
  • We talk about vulnerability — how real do you want to be?
  • We discuss the existential side of vulnerability
  • Beth receives lots of feedback from her audience thanking her for sharing so honestly
  • She’s using Instagram Stories to share her story with her audience
  • Beth plans to create a regular post of her Instagram Stories on her blog
  • We talk about workflow and how to create one when you’re self employed
  • We talk about the Slow Blog Movement (see link below)
  • Beth discusses the balance necessary between having a life and pushing herself to get the work done
  • Marly talks about promotion and how to get over the awkwardness of it
  • We talk about blogging from the inside out; rather than looking outside of yourself for all the answers

Show Notes

This episode on the food blog business model includes references to some resources you might find interesting. Here they are:

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Thanks so much for listening to today’s podcast. I hope you found it informative and helpful to the work you do every day. Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the Chopped Podcast episodes by heading on over to iTunes to subscribe to the Chopped Podcast. While you’re there, provide a review and rating is a great way to help other podcast listeners find it too! That’s it for today’s podcast. As always, thanks so much for joining in the discussion!

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Posted in Food Blog Resources, Food Blogging, Podcast