Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

Building consistency in your habits is the key to long-term success - learn five simple steps to make habits stick, even when life gets in the way. There’s so much power in being consistent with your habits, and it’s not about being perfect or overly ambitious. It’s about showing up, even in small ways, every single day. I recently read a quote that really stuck with me: "Forming good habits isn't about being perfect, it's about being more of who you are." That hit me hard because when we build habits that align with who we truly are, they become effortless and life-changing. Let’s break it down into five steps so you can build habits that stick for the long haul! Action Plan: 1 - Start Small and Build Gradually: Begin with tiny, manageable habits and gradually build on them. 2 - Make Habits Non-Negotiable: Treat your habit as a must-do part of your day, no exceptions. 3 - Track Your Progress and Celebrate Wins: Use a tracker and celebrate small wins to stay motivated. 4 - Stay Committed Even When Results Are

In episode 675, Megan chats to Laura Piper about how to leverage Pinterest Trends to increase your visibility and drive more traffic to your food blog. Laura Piper is a Pinterest expert who works exclusively with food bloggers. Her mission is to help them make Pinterest their #1 traffic source without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. Using her proven Pinterest strategies, along with in-depth Pinterest trends and keyword insights, she simplifies the platform for food bloggers, allowing them to focus on what they love most—creating amazing new recipes. In this episode, we break down practical strategies for using Pinterest Trends effectively, helping you create timely content that reaches the right audience at the right moment. Key points discussed include: - Pinterest Trends is a goldmine: This free tool helps you identify what people are searching for and when to publish your content for maximum impact. - Use seasonal trends to your advantage: Find emerging trends early to ensure your content gains traction

In episode 674, Alicia Gonzalez Tome teaches us practical strategies for managing time efficiently, optmizing for SEO and balancing life and blogging - especially as a part-time blogger. Alicia Gonzalez Tome is a GF & DF nomad foodie who loves nature and sports. She had a thyroid disorder that led her to change her diet and was part of her natural recovery from this autoimmune disease. Originally from Spain and based in Australia since 2017, she is constantly traveling and currently living in her campervan along the NSW coast. In this episode, you'll learn key strategies for efficiently managing a food blog, from photography tips to time management strategies, while keeping balance in your life. Key points discussed include: - Be intentional with content: Focus on high-volume keywords and recipes that will drive traffic to your blog. - Use the right tools: Investing in tools like RankIQ, SEMrush, and the Feast plugin can save time and boost efficiency. - Batch content creation: Plan ahead and shoot multip

Stop letting negative thoughts and words hold you back—this episode explores five things to stop saying and thinking to create a more positive, fulfilling life. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of our words and thoughts. What we tell ourselves shapes our reality, and sometimes, we don’t even realize how much negativity we let in. I recently made a commitment to be more intentional about the things I say and think—and let me tell you, it’s not always easy! But the shifts I’ve noticed already are incredible. If you want to create a better future for yourself, join me as we talk about five things to stop saying and thinking so you can start seeing real change. Action Plan: 1 - Stop complaining about things you can't control. Complaining drains your energy and keeps you stuck. Instead, focus on gratitude and actionable solutions. 2 - Stop gossiping about others. Gossip creates negativity and doesn’t serve you. Shift conversations to positive or productive topics. 3 - Stop making excuses. Excuses h

In episode 672, Megan chats to Dana Shrager about how to stand out in today’s crowded online food blogging space by embracing authenticity and developing a unique voice. Dana Shrager is the recipe creator at Dana’s Table, where she shares recipes for Jewish holidays and healthy-ish family dinners. She started a recipe website 13 years ago to share recipes with family and friends. Three years ago, she rebranded and began running her site full-time. Now, she helps readers from around the world feel confident cooking and gathering loved ones around their holiday tables. In this episode, you'll learn how to develop a distinct blogging voice, build trust with your audience, and create content that resonates in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Key points discussed include: - Find Your Unique Point of View: Defining your niche and personal style helps you stand out among the many food blogs online. - Authenticity Matters: Readers connect more with real, relatable content rather than polished perfection. - Commu

In episode 671, Amy Coyne teaches us the exact strategies she used to rapidly grow her sourdough blog, Amy Bakes Bread, from 100,000 to 10 million page views in just 2 years. Amy Coyne is a sourdough teacher, recipe developer, and mom to four awesome kiddos. She has grown her website over the last two years from 100K pageviews in 2022 to almost 10 million pageviews at the end of 2024. She shares tried-and-true sourdough recipes on her website and with her Instagram and social media communities. In this episode, you'll learn how Amy leveraged Instagram, built a strong community, deeply engaging with her audience, and strategically optimizing her blog to drive millions of page views. Key points discussed include: - Don’t underestimate consistency: Amy posted daily on Instagram for over a year, which significantly contributed to her growth. - Engage with your audience: She prioritized answering followers’ questions and tailoring content to their needs. - Leverage social media for blog traffic: Instagram played a

Struggling with overthinking? In this episode, Megan shares five powerful strategies to stop ruminating and reclaim your mental clarity. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of overthinking, replaying past conversations, or worrying about things you can’t control—trust me, I’ve been there. Recently, my business coach called me out on how my own thoughts were draining me, not the external events I blamed. It was a wake-up call! So today, I’m sharing five simple but effective ways to break free from rumination and get back to a place of peace and productivity. Let’s put an end to the mental spirals together! Action Plan: 1 - Meditation: A simple daily habit to quiet the mind and break the overthinking cycle. 2 - Journaling: Get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper for instant clarity. 3 - Healthy Distractions: Shift your focus with an activity that keeps your mind engaged. 4 - Reframing & Resetting: Catch negative thoughts and flip the script to regain control. 5 - Change Your Environment:

In episode 669, Megan chats to Chris Panteli about how food bloggers can build high-quality backlinks and boost their domain authority using digital PR strategies. Chris Panteli is the co-founder of Linkifi, a digital PR link-building agency that specializes in securing high-quality media links for clients. His entrepreneurial journey took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 33, leading him to sell his family's fish and chip shop business. Panteli holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics from the University of Liverpool. In January 2022, Panteli co-founded Linkifi, which rapidly grew to generate $50,000 per month within its first year. The agency focuses on responding to PR requests from journalists on behalf of clients, helping them secure valuable online links and enhance their SEO performance. Panteli is also a podcast host, co-hosting "Market Movers: Building Brands and Links with Linkifi," where he shares insights on branding, SEO, and link-building strategies. His

In episode 668, Donnie Lygonis teaches us the power of a growth mindset and how embracing failure can set you up for long-term success. Donnie Lygonis is an Innovation Strategist and Business Coach at KTH Innovation, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, where he has been helping researchers and students for over 14 years, turning their ideas and results into viable products and services. Donnie enjoys working hands-on with exponential technologies and collaborating with individuals who have world-changing and world-saving ideas. His latest venture is Mellanmål Inc, a U.S.-based company focused on bringing Swedish better-for-you-and-the-planet food products to America. In this episode, you'll learn how to shift your mindset to embrace challenges, develop resilience, and build meaningful connections that can drive your business forward. Key points discussed include: - Growth mindset is key to success: Your mindset determines how you approach challenges, failure, and change—embracing growth lead

In this episode, I want to share five powerful strategies to help you recover when life throws you an unexpected curveball. We’ve all had those weeks where everything is going great—until suddenly, it’s not. Maybe you get sick, something unexpected happens, or bad news completely throws off your plans. Years ago, weeks like that would have totally taken me down, and I’d struggle to get back on track. But over time, I’ve learned a few things that make bouncing back easier, and today, I’m sharing five strategies to help you recover when life turns your week upside down. Action Plan: 1 - Embrace the climb back up the mountain: Recovery takes time, and small wins are worth celebrating. 2 - Build a trusted circle of support: Having reliable people in your life makes overcoming setbacks easier. 3 - Establish good habits: Foundational habits provide stability and help you regain momentum. 4 - Prioritize self-care: Taking care of yourself is essential, even in difficult times. 5 - Practice flexibility and acceptance:

In episode 666, Megan chats to Dawn Ledet about how food bloggers can overcome self-doubt, procrastination and perfectionism by building unshakable self-trust. Dawn Ledet, a certified life coach, former corporate sales executive, and author of Master Your Inner Dialogue: Transform Your Self-Talk for Goal Success, is on a mission to help high-achieving entrepreneurs and leaders crush their goals with clarity, confidence, and ease. Drawing on her expertise in coaching and years of experience in high-stakes sales and leadership, Dawn empowers clients to rewrite self-sabotaging narratives, build unshakable self-trust, and turn inner dialogue into a powerful tool for lasting success. Through practical strategies and proven frameworks, she helps people achieve their dreams without the overwhelm.  In this episode, you'll learn how mastering self-trust can help you make confident decisions, follow through on your goals, and ultimately achieve success in your blogging business. Key points discussed include: - Self-tru

In episode 665, Brett Dupree teaches us how collaborating with other content creators—especially through virtual summits—can accelerate business growth and create a steady, self-sustained income Brett DuPree is a food blogger and the founder of Freaking Delish, where she helps hardworking families create simple, delicious meals that fit into their busy lives. In addition to her blog and membership platform, she hosts an annual summit, "What's for Dinner?": The Summit, that brings together content creators from across the food and lifestyle space to share practical tips, recipes, and inspiration. With a focus on collaboration and serving everyday families, Brett is passionate about making mealtime stress-free and meaningful for everyone. In this episode, you’ll discover powerful collaboration strategies and gain insight into hosting virtual summits, helping food bloggers expand their reach and grow their businesses, without relying on social media. Key points discussed include: - Why collaboration matters: Wor

In this episode, I want to share five small but powerful habits that have made a huge difference in my personal growth. This past week has been a rough one for me—I’ve been sick, and it really knocked me out. But even in the toughest weeks, I’ve found that sticking to small, intentional habits makes a world of difference. Habits can make you or break you, and I’ve been on a mission to build ones that help me live my best life. Action Plan: 1 - Start Your Day with a Positive Affirmation: Set the tone for your day by reinforcing empowering thoughts. 2 - Set One Focused Goal for the Day: Prioritize what truly matters to stay on track and avoid overwhelm. 3 - Practice Gratitude Before Bed: Reflect on positive moments to improve emotional well-being and cultivate an optimistic mindset. 4 - Take 10 Minutes for Mindfulness or Meditation: Boost mental clarity, emotional resilience, and focus with a short daily practice. 5 - Read for 10-15 Minutes Daily: Gain knowledge, new perspectives, and inspiration through consis

In episode 663, Megan chats with Jess Smith to uncover the untold truths of traditional cookbook publishing—from crafting a winning proposal to landing a deal, and whether a large social media following really matters. Jess is a mom to three girls based in Kansas City, Missouri. While living in Thailand and working at the U.S. Embassy in 2010 she took Thai cooking classes on the weekends and shared everything she learned on her food blog InquiringChef.com. In the years that followed she pursued her dream of making a career in food and became the chief recipe developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Inquiring Chef has grown to over 6 million page views a year and has been featured in publications like Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost. In 2024 Jess opened a cooking school for kids in Kansas City called Inquiring Chef Academy where she spends school breaks guiding elementary-aged kids through lessons on everything from baking sourdough to chopping vegetables to setting the table. Her first co

In episode 662, Christina Jolam and Nadia Shatila share how they were able to recover from devastating traffic loss following Google's Helpful Content Update (HCU). Nadia is the blogger behind Simple And Fraiche, a website dedicated to sharing wholesome recipes that utilize real foods with minimally processed ingredients. Her goal is to help people create recipes that not only fuel their bodies but also taste great. Christina Jolam helps home chefs get confident cooking seafood through her site, Weekday Pescatarian. The former communications consultant creates foolproof fish recipes that work whether you're shopping at a Portuguese fish market or your local grocery store. Cooking and writing from her adopted home in Portugal, she helps her followers master restaurant-quality seafood dishes and build a delicious, fish-forward lifestyle. In this episode, you’ll learn how to endure long periods of traffic loss and decide what action you should take to successfully regain momentum. Key points discussed include: -

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to use fear as a catalyst for growth in five key areas to open up new opportunities this year. Fear can be a major roadblock, but what if we started viewing it as a guide instead? This year, I decided to challenge myself by facing fears head-on, and today, I’m sharing five powerful areas where stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to personal and professional growth. Whether it’s putting yourself out there in new ways, making bold business moves, or tackling financial and health challenges, embracing fear can open up new doors. Let’s dive in and get uncomfortable—in the best way possible! Action Plan: 1 - Personal Growth: Challenge limiting beliefs and take on new experiences that push you forward. 2 - Professional Growth: Show up boldly in your business, even when it feels scary or imperfect. 3 - Community: Connect with others, build relationships, and embrace the vulnerability that comes with it. 4 - Courageous Action: Take bold steps in life and business

In episode 660, Megan chats to Lauren Less about how to quickly grow a Substack audience and harness the platform for food blogging and community engagement. Lauren Less combines her passions for food and helping others by creating a space where people can find allergy-friendly recipes, chronic illness support, non-toxic lifestyle suggestions, and health and wellness tips. She discusses everything from fitness with chronic illness to tips for traveling with food allergies and everything in between. In this episode, you’ll learn how Lauren grew her Substack from zero to 13,000 subscribers and how Substack can serve as both an email list and a blog, helping you connect with your audience in a more personal and customizable way. Key points discussed include: - Substack is more than just an email platform: It functions like a blog, allowing creators to share content and build a community. - Growing a subscriber base takes consistency: Lauren used Instagram and TikTok to direct her audience to her Substack. - List

In episode 659, Allea Grummert shares seven common email marketing mistakes and how to fix them to create happy, engaged subscribers. Allea Grummert is an email marketing strategist, conversion copywriter and tech expert who helps bloggers make a lasting first impression through automated welcome and nurture sequences. She helps her clients create strategic email sequences that engage email subscribers, build brand loyalty and optimize conversions for sales and site traffic. She is the host of Happy Subscribers podcast. In this episode, you’ll learn why a thorough welcome sequence is crucial for building an engaged subscriber list and why you should clean out your email list regularly. Key points discussed include: - Welcome new subscribers properly. Many bloggers miss the chance to make a strong first impression—use a welcome page and an introduction video to engage them right away. - Make your first email personal. Avoid generic confirmation emails; instead, reflect your brand personality and set clear expe

In this episode, we're going to talk five simple yet powerful mindset shifts that can instantly bring more positivity into your life. Some days just feel off. No matter how much we plan or try to stay positive, life, work, and everything in between can throw us off track. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck in that negative space. I’ve found that small, intentional shifts can turn a rough day around fast, and today, I’m sharing five simple things you can do right now to boost your mood and bring more positivity into your life. These aren’t big, time-consuming tasks—they’re quick, effective, and totally doable. Action Plan: 1 - Actually Listen: Be fully present in conversations and truly hear others. 2 - Offer Undeserved Grace: Show kindness and forgiveness, even when it’s not expected. 3 - Experience a Moment: Pause and appreciate the present, no matter how small. 4 - Lose the Phone: Step away from your screen to reconnect with yourself and others. 5 - Spend 10 Minutes Decluttering: Clear y

In episode 657, Megan chats to Kara Myers about how to organize and automate your blogging business for success in 2025. Kara is the recipe developer, photographer, and voice behind Sweetly Splendid, where she shares comforting Southern and Tex-Mex recipes. She is a 6th-generation Texan and has a passion for nostalgic flavors that bring people together. Her work has been featured in outlets like Woman’s World and Food & Wine. She is a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful businesses, and specializes in helping others streamline their workflows and build efficient processes. Kara likes to use the approach of combining real-world experience with actionable insights for creators looking to grow and thrive. When she's not working, Kara loves camping, reading, and spending time with her daughter and dogs. In this episode, you’ll learn actionable strategies for streamlining workflows, implementing project management systems, and creating a sustainable approach to blogging. Key points discussed include: