Recording my First Audiobook at Home (Lessons Learned)

Recording my First Audiobook at Home (Lessons Learned)

In this episode of the Ms. Michaela Mae Show, Michaela shares the behind-the-scenes story of recording her first audiobook — the Afterthoughts Edition of her memoir, The Barn Off of Colfax Lane. She opens up about why she chose to record at home instead of a studio, how her love of ASMR and childhood memories of being read to shaped the whole experience, and why she intentionally left in the page turns, the stumbles, and even the sound of her Corgis in the background. Michaela also breaks down the difference between "flawless" and "perfect," and why that distinction changed everything for her. She walks through the platforms she used — Buzzsprout, Hello Audio, and ACX — explains why she chose to release the audiobook as its own podcast feed, and shares her plans to eventually post it on Audible. Whether you're thinking about recording your first audiobook or just looking for a permission slip to do things your own way, this episode is packed with practical tips and a whole lot of heart. LINKS & RESOURCES * The Barn Off of Colfax Lane: After Thoughts Edition: [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619782] https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619782 * Buzzsprout: [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=920491] https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=920491 * ACX (Audible's audiobook platform): acx.com * Hello Audio: helloaudio.fm * Amazon KDP / self-publishing: kdp.amazon.com CHAPTER TITLES — Welcome & What This Episode Is About — The Audiobook That Almost Got a Studio  — Why She Recorded at Home (and With Her Dogs)  — Flawless vs. Perfect: A Real Distinction  — The Afterthoughts Edition Explained  — Why the Audiobook Got Its Own Podcast Feed — Buzzsprout, Hello Audio, and ACX Breakdown  — Recording Tips for Your First Audiobook  — Know How You Work and Work With It  — How AI Helped Fill in the Gaps  — Final Encouragement & Where to Listen SEO KEYWORDS how to record your first audiobook, self-publishing audiobook tips, indie author audiobook, audiobook without a studio, record audiobook at home, Buzzsprout audiobook podcast, ACX Audible self-publishing, The Barn Off of Colfax Lane, Ms. Michaela Mae Show, memoir audiobook, flawless vs perfect mindset, independent media creator, audiobook afterthoughts edition, self-publishing for authors, home recording tips

Habits That Will Change Your Life (they're changing mine now)

In this episode of the Ms. Michaela Mae Show, Michaela gets real about one of the biggest blocks keeping people off camera and out of the game — body image insecurities. After a difficult season that included grief, emotional eating, and feeling completely depleted, Michaela shares the mindset shifts helping her show up anyway, even when she doesn't feel ready. She opens up about body dysmorphia, the difference between self-hate and self-love as motivators, and why she's committed to documenting her transformation in real time — for herself and for anyone who needs to see it. Michaela also breaks down the simple, budget-friendly daily habits that have dramatically improved her energy levels in just a few weeks — including hot lemon water for liver and kidney support, kelp for natural iodine and thyroid balance, magnesium citrate for sleep and stress, and morning pages journaling for mental clarity. She discusses why she's shifting away from all-or-nothing thinking and moving toward self-compassion as the foundation for sustainable change. If you've been waiting until you look a certain way to start showing up — this episode is for you. LINKS & RESOURCES * Natural Calm Magnesium Citrate [https://amzn.to/4uEuN7O] — available on Amazon and at most health stores — https://amzn.to/4uEuN7O * Kelp supplement [https://amzn.to/4nXw72Y] — available on Amazon (approx. $16.99 for a 90-day supply) and at Fred Meyer/Kroger stores — https://amzn.to/4nXw72Y * Higher Up Wellness 100-Day Speaking Challenge — search "Higher Up Wellness" on social media * Morning Pages journaling method — three pages of free writing first thing in the morning. Get the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron [https://amzn.to/4f8xKZk] — https://amzn.to/4f8xKZk * The Barn Off of Colfax Lane by Michaela Mae [https://amzn.to/4wVvVoR] — https://amzn.to/4wVvVoR * Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify * Leave a comment on YouTube to help the show reach more people SEO KEYWORDS body image insecurity, showing up online with body image issues, self-compassion for weight loss, how to start a podcast with body image issues, holistic wellness habits, natural energy boosters, kelp iodine thyroid, hot lemon water benefits, magnesium citrate for sleep, morning pages journaling, personal development podcast, healing from burnout, emotional eating recovery, sustainable healthy habits, survivor mindset, Ms. Michaela Mae Show, women's wellness podcast, personal growth podcast, trauma healing podcast, holistic health for women

The Brilliance of The Blacklist

She's back on the mic — for real this time. After months of recording with just her headphones (no pressure, no script, no agenda), Michaela Mae returns to the full setup in Episode 32 of The Ms. Michaela Mae Show — and she's bringing one of her all-time favorite shows with her. The episode opens with Michaela sharing what the last several months have looked like behind the scenes: grieving the loss of her horse Capone, feeling creatively and physically depleted, and slowly building herself back up through fasting, warm lemon water, kelp for thyroid support, magnesium citrate, and morning pages. It's honest, it's real, and it sets the stage for everything that follows. From there, Michaela dives into The Blacklist — a show she's been watching since she was 16 years old and just recently rewatched in full as a 30-year-old. What she discovered on that second watch surprised her. A show she had written off as getting weaker in its later seasons revealed itself to be something far more nuanced and far more true. She explores the idea that we never watch the same show twice — because we're never the same person twice. The lens we bring to a story is shaped by everything we've lived, and when we change, what we see changes with it. This time around, she saw Raymond Reddington's surrender in the final seasons not as weakness, but as wisdom. She understood it in a way she couldn't have before losing Capone — because she was finally living through her own version of it. And then there's the line that stopped her cold. When Dembe tells the FBI that Reddington's greatest resource isn't his empire or his connections — it's his mind — Michaela realized she'd been handing that same resource away without even noticing. The mind is the horse, she says. And she'd let the horse run the show. This episode is equal parts personal reflection, pop culture deep dive, and a quiet but powerful reminder that the most important thing you'll ever own is already yours. Spoiler alert: there are Blacklist spoilers in this episode. Michaela warns you up front — and she also shares her one true spoiler devastation (Dobby. Always Dobby.). MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE * The Blacklist (NBC) — available on Netflix * Morning Pages practice from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron * The Barn Off of Colfax Lane by Michaela Mae [https://amzn.to/4wzIzK5] — available now KEYWORDS The Blacklist review, Raymond Reddington life lessons, personal development podcast, grief and creativity, morning pages Julia Cameron, pop culture and self growth, the mind is your greatest resource, Ms. Michaela Mae Show, creative block recovery, rewatching shows with new eyes, James Spader, letting go of identity, Dembe Zuma, holistic wellness podcast, emotional resilience CONNECT WITH MICHAELA 🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://buzzsprout.com/2544416 [https://buzzsprout.com/2544416]  📩 Join the email list: https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy [https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy]  🛒 Shop the Stan Store: https://stan.store/msmichaelamae [https://stan.store/msmichaelamae]  📸 Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ms.michaela.mae [https://instagram.com/ms.michaela.mae]

The reason you can't see your gifts (yes you have them)

In this reintroduction episode of the Ms. Michaela Mae Show, Michaela Mae opens up about why she's decided to continue running two separate podcasts — the Ms. Michaela Mae Show and The Western Hippie — and why that decision is rooted in clarity rather than fear. She shares powerful epiphanies from a recent weekend that led her to a message she believes is deeply collective: most people are severely underestimating how necessary their gifts are to the world. Michaela breaks down the paradox of the internet — how it has simultaneously expanded our world and closed it — and how living inside an online "think tank" causes creators, coaches, and healers to assume their knowledge is common when it isn't. Using real-life examples, including a conversation with a well-known figure in the spiritual space and the rise of Rachel Hollis, she illustrates why the thing you think is "obvious" is actually life-changing information to someone outside your circle. She also touches on the connection between unused gifts and depression, addiction, and self-destructive patterns — and why showing up fully with what you have to offer isn't just good for your audience, it's necessary for you. Michaela wraps up with an update on her content schedule, what's coming next for the show, and a peek at a possible new daily video format. SEO KEYWORDS Ms. Michaela Mae Show, personal development podcast, spiritual laws podcast, mindset and healing podcast, online think tank, underestimating your gifts, showing up online, personal brand podcast, emotional healing teachings, spiritual principles, Rachel Hollis, content creator burnout, unused potential, two podcasts strategy, Western Hippie podcast, holistic lifestyle podcast, fear of being seen, gift and purpose, depression and unfulfilled potential, energy and addiction, podcast relaunch 2026

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary: REACTION & REVIEW

Twenty years later, Hannah Montana is still making us feel all the things — and Ms. Michaela Mae is not holding back her reaction. In this episode of the Ms. Michaela Mae Show, Michaela shares her honest, heartfelt take on the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, including why she went in with low expectations, what made her cry more than once, and why she thinks this special means something so much bigger than a nostalgia trip. From breaking down Alex Cooper's involvement as producer, to unpacking Miley Cyrus's healing journey and what it took for her to step back into Hannah's shoes, Michaela covers it all with her signature blend of honesty and depth. She also gets personal about what Hannah Montana represented during one of the hardest seasons of her own life — and why she believes this anniversary is asking all of us to grieve what we've lost and reclaim what we left behind. If you grew up watching Hannah Montana, this one is going to hit. Michaela makes the case for why your disappointment in the special might actually be about something much deeper — and what to do with all of that. She breaks down the best moments worth watching, the ones worth skipping, and the emotional gut-punch that is Miley singing Best of Both Worlds for the first time in nearly two decades. This is a must-listen for any millennial who grew up with Hannah Montana, anyone following Miley Cyrus's personal and artistic evolution, or anyone who has ever felt the grief of realizing a chapter of their life is officially over. Drop your favorite Hannah Montana song in the comments — if you're a fan, you already know.  🤍 CONNECT WITH MICHAELA Listen to the Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2544416 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2544416]  Join the Email List: https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy [https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy]  Shop & Work With Me: https://stan.store/msmichaelamae [https://stan.store/msmichaelamae]  Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ms.michaela.mae [https://instagram.com/ms.michaela.mae] KEYWORDS Hannah Montana 20th anniversary, Hannah Montana anniversary special reaction, Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana 2025, Best of Both Worlds Miley Cyrus, Alex Cooper Hannah Montana producer, Hannah Montana special Disney Plus, Miley Cyrus healing journey, Hannah Montana nostalgia millennial, Ms. Michaela Mae Show, Hannah Montana reaction video, Miley Cyrus EMDR therapy, Dr. Daniel Amen Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana special review, millennial nostalgia podcast, Hannah Montana special worth watching, grieving childhood nostalgia, reclaiming your inner child, Miley Cyrus Billy Ray Cyrus reunion, Hannah Montana cast special, Call Her Daddy Alex Cooper podcast