S2 E16 | The Real Reason Your Second Income Stream Isn't Working Yet

S2 E16 | The Real Reason Your Second Income Stream Isn't Working Yet

Building sustainable income as a dietitian takes more than a good idea. It takes honest answers about capacity, realistic systems, and a willingness to start before everything is perfect. In Part 2 of this series on passive income for dietitians, Bethany and Danielle move from reframing to action, covering the specific tools, income sources, and mindset shifts that make a second income stream actually work for registered dietitians. They also dig into why dietitian burnout and passive income pursuits are so often in direct conflict, and what to do when you want to build something new but don't have much left in the tank. Topics covered in this episode: * Assessing your capacity as a dietitian entrepreneur before starting a new income stream * Why launching before you're ready beats waiting for perfection * Treating your dietitian business like a scientific experiment rather than a personal failure * Time-dependent income vs. scalable income structures for registered dietitians * Email marketing as a more sustainable long-term system than social media for dietitians * Social media scheduling tools for dietitian content creators, what works and what doesn't * Why repeating your core message is a content strategy, not laziness * Repurposing podcast, blog, and social media content to work smarter as a dietitian business owner * Sustainable income ideas for dietitians including online courses, digital products, community memberships, workshops, retreats, Patreon, and Substack * Why dietitian entrepreneurs should focus on one income stream before trying to build multiple Resources mentioned in this episode: Southern Running Collective [https://southernrunningcollective.org] Session Rate Calculator [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-session-rate-calculator-for-private-practice-dietitians-copy-1] How much is undercharging really costing you? [Download the calculator [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-price-of-underpricing-calculator]] Well Resourced Dietitian [https://wellresourced.com/] Stay Connected 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @mentordpod [https://www.instagram.com/mentordpod/] Bethany: B. Wheeler Nutrition [https://bwheelernutrition.org/] → @bethanydietitian [https://www.instagram.com/bethanydietitian/] & @dietitian.wealth.accelerator [https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.wealth.accelerator/] Danielle: Southern Nutrition [https://southernnutrition.org/] → @southernutritionllc [https://www.instagram.com/southernnutritionllc/] & @southernrunningcollective [https://www.instagram.com/southernrunningcollective/] ✨ Anti-Diet Designs Merch → Shop Now [https://antidietdesigns.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss what’s next—follow The MENTORD Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another dietitian who needs mentorship. About the Hosts: Bethany Wheeler and Danielle Southern are registered dietitians with years of experience in outpatient care, eating disorder treatment and private practice mentorship. Together, they created The MENTORD Podcast to provide the support, tools and real-world conversations that dietitians wish they had in school. Have a question or an idea for a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Email us at hello@mentordpod.com

S2 E16 | The Lies of Passive Income

Passive income sounds like the dream, but for most dietitians, it is anything but. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Bethany and Danielle get honest about what building additional income streams actually looks like for registered dietitians, why the standard passive income advice was built for influencers and not clinicians, and why sustainable income might be a better goal altogether. They also get into the real reason so many dietitians are looking for supplemental income in the first place: a profession that requires an enormous breadth of knowledge and is still chronically underpaid. Topics covered in this episode: * Passive income vs. sustainable income for dietitians * Dietitian salary and why RD pay remains a systemic problem * Why common passive income strategies like affiliate marketing, Amazon storefronts, and brand partnerships often do not translate for clinicians * The front-loaded work required to build any income stream * Marketing for dietitians and why speaking your ideal client's language matters * Finding your niche as a dietitian and why specificity leads to sustainability * Visibility-based income and the burnout risk it carries * The gap between dietetics education and the business skills needed to build additional income streams * Building systems that reduce day-to-day labor over time Resources mentioned in this episode: Support a local bookstore: The Bookwyrm Bookstore [https://book-wyrm.net/?srsltid=AfmBOorM3TUMSZlUjuawXQgzr-GcJBam47xtwdnzUkvg9WgSkDN4cDa-] **Join Danielle & Abbey for the Flavored with Intention: Mindful Eating & Movement Retreat. More info available here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrkpsrOBqKPDkWZ64GFQGkfK1jaec_OhV9vz6bORNxi2cYg/viewform] ** How much is undercharging costing you? Click here to calculate the income your missing out on [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-price-of-underpricing-calculator] Stay Connected 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @mentordpod [https://www.instagram.com/mentordpod/] Bethany: B. Wheeler Nutrition [https://bwheelernutrition.org/] → @bethanydietitian [https://www.instagram.com/bethanydietitian/] & @dietitian.wealth.accelerator [https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.wealth.accelerator/] Danielle: Southern Nutrition [https://southernnutrition.org/] → @southernutritionllc [https://www.instagram.com/southernnutritionllc/] & @southernrunningcollective [https://www.instagram.com/southernrunningcollective/] ✨ Anti-Diet Designs Merch → Shop Now [https://antidietdesigns.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss what’s next—follow The MENTORD Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another dietitian who needs mentorship. About the Hosts: Bethany Wheeler and Danielle Southern are registered dietitians with years of experience in outpatient care, eating disorder treatment and private practice mentorship. Together, they created The MENTORD Podcast to provide the support, tools and real-world conversations that dietitians wish they had in school. Have a question or an idea for a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Email us at hello@mentordpod.com

[REPLAY] Dietitian Salary Negotiation, Financial Self-Care, and Building Income Streams with Holly Larson

If you've ever felt underpaid, under-confident in a salary negotiation, or unsure how to build financial stability as a dietitian, this episode is for you. Bethany and Danielle are joined by Holly Larson: private practice dietitian, nutrition copywriter, and founder of the Dietitian Money Conference. Holly brings a refreshing, no-shame approach to talking about dietitian finances, entrepreneurship, and building a career that actually pays you what you're worth. In this episode, we dig into why dietitians have been historically underpaid (spoiler: it traces back to a 1950s Medicare decision), how to approach salary negotiations without feeling like you're going to battle, and why salary transparency among dietitians is one of the most powerful tools our profession has. We also get into the nitty-gritty of financial self-care for dietitians, income diversification, passive income myths, and how even small side hustles can offer serious tax benefits and creative freedom. In this episode, you'll learn: 1. Why dietitians have been underpaid since the 1950s and what's being done about it 2. How to negotiate your salary (and total compensation package) with confidence 3. The key mindset shifts that make the transition from employee to entrepreneur more sustainable 4. How to find and use dietitian salary data (including the free database dieticiansalaries.com) 5. What "financial self-care" actually looks like for nutrition professionals 6. How to create passive income from resources you already have 7. Why raising your rates is an act of professional sustainability, not greed 8. The difference between your capability and your capacity (and why it matters) 9. How Holly's Blog Club helps dietitians build writing and SEO skills in community Whether you're a new grad navigating your first job offer or an experienced RD looking to diversify your income, this conversation will leave you feeling more informed, empowered, and ready to advocate for your financial future. Resources mentioned in this episode: Dietitiansalaries.com [https://dietitiansalaries.com/] Creating a Copywriting Portfolio with No Experience [https://www.hollylarsonwrites.com/news-notes/creating-a-copywriting-portfolio-with-no-experience-the-rds-guide/] The RD Blog Club [https://www.hollylarsonwrites.com/program-page/] w/ Holly Larson The Price of Underpricing Calculator: [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-price-of-underpricing-calculator] What is your current session rate costing you? **Join Danielle & Abbey for the Flavored with Intention: Mindful Eating & Movement Retreat. More info available here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrkpsrOBqKPDkWZ64GFQGkfK1jaec_OhV9vz6bORNxi2cYg/viewform] ** Stay Connected 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @mentordpod [https://www.instagram.com/mentordpod/] Bethany: B. Wheeler Nutrition [https://bwheelernutrition.org/] → @bethanydietitian [https://www.instagram.com/bethanydietitian/] & @dietitian.wealth.accelerator [https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.wealth.accelerator/] Danielle: Southern Nutrition [https://southernnutrition.org/] → @southernutritionllc [https://www.instagram.com/southernnutritionllc/] & @southernrunningcollective [https://www.instagram.com/southernrunningcollective/] ✨ Anti-Diet Designs Merch → Shop Now [https://antidietdesigns.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss what’s next—follow The MENTORD Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another dietitian who needs mentorship. About the Hosts: Bethany Wheeler and Danielle Southern are registered dietitians with years of experience in outpatient care, eating disorder treatment and private practice mentorship. Together, they created The MENTORD Podcast to provide the support, tools and real-world conversations that dietitians wish they had in school. Have a question or an idea for a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Email us at hello@mentordpod.com

[REPLAY] Corporate Wellness, Dietitian Entrepreneurship, and Building a Team with Beryl Krinsky

What does it actually look like to build a thriving wellness business as a registered dietitian? In this episode, Bethany and Danielle sit down with fellow dietitian entrepreneur, Beryl Krinsky: founder of Be Komplete, a holistic corporate wellbeing firm that employs registered dietitians, yoga and Pilates instructors, massage therapists, personal trainers, nurses, and acupuncturists. Beryl brings over 10 years of corporate experience to her entrepreneurship journey, and her story is full of practical wisdom for any dietitian thinking about starting or growing a business. From landing her first client over a sushi dinner to building and accrediting her own dietetic internship program, Beryl has done the hard work and she is not shy about sharing what she learned along the way. We dig into what corporate wellness actually looks like day to day, how Be Komplete adapted when the pandemic forced an almost entirely in-person business to go virtual, and what marketing strategies have actually moved the needle over more than a decade in business. In this episode, you'll learn: 1. What corporate wellness is and how dietitians can break into it 2. How Beryl built a multidisciplinary team from the ground up 3. Why networking is still one of the most powerful business tools available 4. How Be Komplete pivoted during the pandemic and why virtual programming is now a core part of the business 5. What marketing strategies work (and why there is no single silver bullet) 6. The difference between building a wellness program from scratch versus supplementing an existing one 7. How to separate your personal identity from your business so you can make hard decisions more clearly 8. Why closing or pausing a business is sometimes the most strategic and courageous thing a founder can do 9. The tech tools Beryl relies on to keep operations running smoothly 10. Where the most exciting opportunities in dietitian entrepreneurship are headed Whether you are a new dietitian curious about business or an established RD ready to think beyond the traditional path, this conversation is full of grounded, real-world insight. Resources mentioned in this episode: B. Komplete Wellness [https://bkomplete.com] The Price of Underpricing Calculator: [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-price-of-underpricing-calculator] Find out just how much your current session rate is costing you **Join Danielle & Abbey for the Flavored with Intention: Mindful Eating & Movement Retreat. More info available here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrkpsrOBqKPDkWZ64GFQGkfK1jaec_OhV9vz6bORNxi2cYg/viewform] ** Stay Connected 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @mentordpod [https://www.instagram.com/mentordpod/] Bethany: B. Wheeler Nutrition [https://bwheelernutrition.org/] → @bethanydietitian [https://www.instagram.com/bethanydietitian/] & @dietitian.wealth.accelerator [https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.wealth.accelerator/] Danielle: Southern Nutrition [https://southernnutrition.org/] → @southernutritionllc [https://www.instagram.com/southernnutritionllc/] & @southernrunningcollective [https://www.instagram.com/southernrunningcollective/] ✨ Anti-Diet Designs Merch → Shop Now [https://antidietdesigns.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss what’s next—follow The MENTORD Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another dietitian who needs mentorship. About the Hosts: Bethany Wheeler and Danielle Southern are registered dietitians with years of experience in outpatient care, eating disorder treatment and private practice mentorship. Together, they created The MENTORD Podcast to provide the support, tools and real-world conversations that dietitians wish they had in school. Have a question or an idea for a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Email us at hello@mentordpod.com

[REPLAY] Should I Take Insurance? Learn How to Decide What's Right for Your Private Practice with Amy Plano

In this episode, Bethany and Danielle talk with Amy Plano, The Reimbursement Dietitian, about what it really looks like to build a sustainable private practice — with or without insurance. Amy breaks down how insurance fits into entrepreneurship, the mindset shifts dietitians need to make when running a private practice, and why understanding billing can create more freedom, not less. If you’re building a practice and want options, clarity, and confidence in your business decisions, this conversation is for you. Resources mentioned in this episode: Amy Plano | The Reimbursement Dietitian [https://reimbursementdietitian.com] The Hiring Dietitian [https://thehiringdietitian.com] What is keeping your session rate low really costing you? [Click here to find out [https://www.dietitianwealthaccelerator.com/the-price-of-underpricing-calculator]] **Join Danielle & Abbey for the Flavored with Intention: Mindful Eating & Movement Retreat. More info available here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrkpsrOBqKPDkWZ64GFQGkfK1jaec_OhV9vz6bORNxi2cYg/viewform] ** Stay Connected 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @mentordpod [https://www.instagram.com/mentordpod/] Bethany: B. Wheeler Nutrition [https://bwheelernutrition.org/] → @bethanydietitian [https://www.instagram.com/bethanydietitian/] & @dietitian.wealth.accelerator [https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.wealth.accelerator/] Danielle: Southern Nutrition [https://southernnutrition.org/] → @southernutritionllc [https://www.instagram.com/southernnutritionllc/] & @southernrunningcollective [https://www.instagram.com/southernrunningcollective/] ✨ Anti-Diet Designs Merch → Shop Now [https://antidietdesigns.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss what’s next—follow The MENTORD Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another dietitian who needs mentorship. About the Hosts: Bethany Wheeler and Danielle Southern are registered dietitians with years of experience in outpatient care, eating disorder treatment and private practice mentorship. Together, they created The MENTORD Podcast to provide the support, tools and real-world conversations that dietitians wish they had in school. Have a question or an idea for a topic you'd like to hear us discuss? Email us at hello@mentordpod.com