How Lainey Younkin & Megan Huff Started Building Their Media Careers While Working Full-Time

Creating a Life You Actually Want with Christina Manian, RDN

Okay besties, this episode goes in a direction we did not expect and we loved every minute of it. We sat down with writer, media dietitian, and sustainability expert Christina Manian to talk about her career journey, how she built a successful freelance writing business, and why she's intentionally designed her life around what matters most to her. What started as a conversation about media work quickly turned into a deeper discussion about networking, entrepreneurship, manifestation, social media boundaries, mindfulness, creating a lifestyle you actually enjoy, and having the courage to pursue what feels aligned. Christina shares how she transitioned from working in intensive care at the Mayo Clinic to becoming a full-time freelance writer with nearly 700 published articles. She also opens up about building a career that supports her values, her love of nature, and her commitment to sustainability-focused nutrition. This conversation is thoughtful, inspiring, and full of reminders that success doesn't have to look the same for everyone. We’d also love to have you join us for our upcoming Media Mentorship in August. For more information and the application, check out the link below:  https://expertwithinfluence.com/media-mentorship [https://expertwithinfluence.com/media-mentorship]  In This Episode, We Discuss: * Christina's journey from clinical dietetics to full-time writing * Working at the Mayo Clinic and realizing it wasn't her long-term path * Building a freelance writing career from the ground up * Why networking continues to be one of the most valuable career tools * The realities of today's freelance writing industry * How writing rates and media opportunities have changed * Creating a career around lifestyle instead of status * Sustainability-focused nutrition and why it matters * Social media boundaries and protecting your energy * Meditation, mindfulness, and manifestation * Finding work that feels aligned with your values * Why doing things you love often creates unexpected opportunities * Building a business that supports the life you want Key Takeaways: * There is no single roadmap to success. * Networking often creates opportunities that strategy alone cannot. * A career can be built around your ideal lifestyle. * Discipline creates freedom. * Social media boundaries can have a major impact on mental health. * Doing meaningful work often starts before there's a financial payoff. * Success looks different for everyone. * Clarity comes from spending time with yourself and your goals. There were so many moments in this conversation that had us nodding along. Christina reminded us that success doesn't have to look loud, busy, or like anyone else's version of it. Sometimes success looks like creating a life that feels aligned, protecting your energy, spending time doing work you love, and having the courage to trust yourself along the way. Grab your favorite drink, put your feet up, and join the conversation with your business besties. We think you're going to love this one.

How Lainey Younkin & Megan Huff Started Building Their Media Careers While Working Full-Time

Okay besties… this episode is SUCH a good behind-the-scenes look at what it actually feels like to start putting yourself out there in media. We’re sitting down with two recent media mentorship grads — Lainey Younkin and Megan Huff — to talk about what happened when they stopped waiting and started pitching, networking, creating content, and saying yes to opportunities that felt a little scary. From landing paid brand partnerships and TV segments… to navigating rejection, undercharging, busy schedules, and confidence hurdles… this conversation is packed with honest insight for anyone who wants to grow in the media space. We also talk about balancing media work with private practice, clinical jobs, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the very real challenge of trying to do all the things at once 😅 If you’ve ever wondered what the “early stages” of media work really look like — this episode gives you the real story. We’d also love to have you join us for our upcoming Media Mentorship. For more information and the application, check out the link below:  https://expertwithinfluence.com/media-mentorship [https://expertwithinfluence.com/media-mentorship]  In this episode, we discuss: * How Lainey and Megan got started in dietetics * Why both of them felt pulled toward media work * Using media to diversify income and expand opportunities * Balancing full-time jobs, private practice, and media projects * The reality of pitching brands and handling rejection * Why the “slow middle” is part of the process * Learning how to confidently charge higher rates * Landing first paid partnerships and TV opportunities * Using media to fight misinformation online * Why networking matters so much in media * The importance of community and mentorship * How the snowball effect starts happening in business * Delegating and learning where your time is best spent * Building confidence while putting yourself out there Key Takeaways * Media work takes consistency before momentum builds * Rejection is normal — and not personal * Confidence grows through repetition and experience * Your expertise has real value * Networking creates opportunities you can’t plan for * Diversifying your income creates more flexibility * Small wins eventually stack into bigger opportunities * You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting This episode is such a good reminder that every media career starts somewhere. One pitch. One reel. One conversation. One uncomfortable first step. And honestly? That’s usually where the magic starts 💛

How Dr. Renee Korczak Turned Science Into a Media Career That Actually Fits Her Life

Okay besties… this episode is SUCH a good reminder that your career path does not have to be linear. We’re sitting down with Dr. Renee Korczak — media dietitian, researcher, entrepreneur, and founder of Good Gut Family — to talk about the winding road that brought her from pre-med student to food industry scientist to PhD researcher to building her own business in the media space. This conversation is packed with wisdom around adaptability, confidence, networking, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and learning how to trust yourself even when the next step feels uncomfortable. We also talk about building credibility online, working with brands ethically, creating opportunities for yourself, and why sometimes the biggest growth comes from simply staying in the game long enough. If you’ve ever questioned your direction, wondered if you’re “too late” to pivot, or needed a reminder that your experience matters, this episode is for you. (And yes, there’s also a very passionate discussion about press-on nails 😂) In this episode, we discuss: * Renee’s journey from pre-med to becoming a dietitian and PhD researcher * Working in the food industry before becoming an RD * How mentors helped shape her career path * Why adaptability matters more than having a “perfect” plan * Building the Good Gut Family brand and finding a niche * Translating nutrition science into consumer-friendly messaging * The reality of working with brands ethically as a media dietitian * Standing your ground when claims go too far * Why community and mentorship matter in entrepreneurship * What Renee learned from attending the Business Bestie Retreat * The mindset shifts that helped her take big career risks * Launching her upcoming women’s wellness coaching program * Confidence, imposter syndrome, and putting yourself out there Key Takeaways * Your career path can evolve many times — and still make sense * Every job teaches you something valuable * Networking can completely change your future * You don’t need to know the entire plan before taking the next step * Confidence grows through action, not before it * Being adaptable is one of the biggest entrepreneurial skills * You can be evidence-based AND creative * Community makes hard seasons easier to navigate * Staying in the game long enough often leads to momentum Renee’s story is such a powerful reminder that success rarely looks perfectly planned. Sometimes the next chapter starts because you were willing to say yes before you felt fully ready. And honestly? That’s where some of the best things begin

From Clinical Dietitian to Full-Time Media Dietitian: How Chelsea LeBlanc Pivoted Her Career and Succeeded

Episode Description: Okay besties… this one is for anyone who feels stuck between “this isn’t it” and “what do I do next?” We’re sitting down with Chelsea LeBlanc — a media dietitian, mom, and entrepreneur — who shares how she went from clinical work (including the chaos of hospital life during COVID 😅) to building a career in media that actually fits her life. From starting her blog 10 years ago to finally going all in when life forced the decision… Chelsea is sharing what it really looks like to pivot, trust yourself, and figure it out as you go. We’re talking pitching, persistence, motherhood, messy systems (lol), and how this career can evolve with you in every season. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time”… this might be your sign. In this episode, we discuss: * How Chelsea discovered media dietetics in college * Turning a side hustle into a full-time career * Leaving clinical work and why it wasn’t the right fit * The moment everything changed (and forced her to go all in) * What pitching actually looks like behind the scenes * Why most opportunities come from follow-ups — not first emails * How to come up with creative, timely pitch ideas * Building multiple income streams (TV, partnerships, toolkits, events) * What it’s really like balancing work and motherhood * How becoming a mom shifted her priorities and workflow * Why flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of media work * The reality of “figuring it out” in every season Key Takeaways: * Your career doesn’t have to look like what you were taught in school * Starting on the side builds confidence before going all in * Sometimes the “push” you need comes unexpectedly * Follow-ups matter more than your first pitch * Creativity makes your pitches stand out * You don’t need a perfect system — you just need to keep going * Motherhood doesn’t stop your goals — it reshapes them * Every season of life requires a different approach Chelsea’s story is such a good reminder that there isn’t one perfect path — just the one you keep showing up for.

She hit her full year income goal in 5 months with media work

Okay besties… this one is for anyone in the “is this actually going to work?” phase. We’re sitting down with Katharine — a dietitian, mom of three, and past media mentorship student — who is in her first real year of building a media career… and she is in it. From starting with a food blog to landing brand partnerships, TV segments, and even covering her family’s daycare expenses through media work — Katharine shares what it actually looks like to build momentum from scratch. We talk about the slow start, the snowball effect, learning to charge your worth, and how she’s navigating it all while raising three boys (including one at home full-time 👏). If you’ve ever wondered what the early stages really look like… this episode is your proof that it’s possible. In this episode, we discuss: * How Katharine found her niche in family-friendly, realistic recipes * What it looked like starting media work with zero brand partnerships * The “no response” phase — and how she pushed through it * The snowball effect and when things finally started clicking * Landing her first sponsored TV segment (and why that changed everything) * What she says yes to now vs what she passes on * Why she’s focusing on long-term partnerships this year * Balancing media work with being a mom of three * The reality of working during nap time, early mornings, and in the margins * Mom guilt — and how to actually cope with it * How she used media work to help cover daycare costs * Why looking at your income month-by-month can change your strategy * Traveling with kids and building a flexible life through this career Key Takeaways: * The beginning is slow — but momentum builds if you stay consistent. * One “yes” can open the door to many more opportunities. * You don’t need everything figured out to start. * Long-term partnerships create more stability and income. * Media work can fit into real life — even with kids at home. * Guilt doesn’t go away — you just learn how to manage it. * Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of this career. * Small wins turn into big growth over time. If you’re in that early stage where you’re questioning everything… Katharine is your reminder to keep going. Because the snowball does happen — you just have to stay in the game long enough to see it.