761: The Truth About Bestsellers And How To Write a Book That Matters With MIchael Drew
Release Date: 10/23/2025
787: The Blogger’s Guide to YouTube - Traffic, Email Growth, and Income with Maria Lucey
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Maria Lucey about how she built a profitable food brand through YouTube alone and why long form video is one of the smartest growth moves food bloggers can make right now. Maria Lucey is a Registered Dietitian and content creator who launched her YouTube channel at the end of 2023 and grew it to over 44,000 subscribers in just over two years. Her channel focuses on long-form nutrition education and practical recipes that help people meet their health goals. Although she didn’t have a blog when she started YouTube, Maria quickly recognized how the two platforms could...
info_outline
786: How to Keep Going When You're Not Seeing Results with Liz Pollio
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Liz Pollio about how to stay motivated when progress feels slow, growth stalls, or the work starts to feel repetitive. Liz Pollio founded Flour de Liz in 2016 as a way to share easy, approachable dessert recipes. She truly believes that anyone who wants to bake can bake, and she strives to create a fun, welcoming, and judgment-free space for home bakers of all skill levels. Are you showing up consistently but not seeing the results you hoped for? Liz shares honest mindset shifts that help her stay motivated during plateaus, boredom, and seasons of uncertainty. This is a...
info_outline
785: The Smarter Way to Grow in 2026 (That Has Nothing to Do with Google) with Zhen Zhou
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Zhen Zhou about surviving a massive traffic hit, rebuilding income through diversification, and rethinking what it really means to build a sustainable food blog. Zhen Zhou downshifted from a corporate track post-MBA to full-time content creation and is loving it. She currently runs three blogs: greedygirlgourmet.com, alovelettertoasia.com, and tjtakesthetrain.com. If your blog has felt like a roller coaster since the HCU, this episode will feel grounding. Zhen shares what happened when her traffic dropped by 70 percent, why she stopped obsessing over Google, and how systems,...
info_outline
784: Why Podcasting Is a Powerful Growth Channel for Food Bloggers with Traci DeForge
Eat Blog Talk
Traci DeForge teaches us why podcasting can be one of the most sustainable ways to grow a food blog, create multiple revenue streams and build valuable relationships. Traci, founder of , an award-winning full-service production and audience growth marketing agency, is recognized as an international podcast expert, sought-after speaker, and media contributor. The creator of the , the industry’s only certified podcast manager training program, , and Co-Founder of the Traci hosts the , and co-hosts the popular in Los Angeles. She's been featured on all three major networks,...
info_outline
783: Why Depth, Intention, and Real Strategy Matter More Than Ever with Christine Pittman, Meredith Kruse and Melissa Erdelac
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Christine Pittman, Meredith Kruse, and Melissa Erdelac about what makes Flavor Media Summit unlike any other blogging conference. This is an exclusive event for experienced food bloggers who have successful and income-generating businesses. Our goal is to unite accomplished food bloggers for strategic networking, empowering them to thrive, collaborate and ignite long-term growth in an exclusive and transformative gathering. Not all conferences are created equal. This episode pulls back the curtain on Flavor Media Summit and explains why experienced food bloggers keep returning...
info_outline
782: Mindset Management for Creators - Hustle Culture Worth It? with Chanda Coston
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Chanda Coston about building real success without burnout and why hustle culture is not worth the price. Chanda Coston is a U.S. Navy Veteran, Business Strategist, and Founder of Chanda Co., where she helps entrepreneurs build profitable, purpose-driven businesses without sacrificing peace or passion. With over 20 years of leadership experience and a background in project management, she teaches systems, mindset, and strategy that enable creative professionals, like food bloggers, to grow sustainably, delegate effectively, and avoid burnout. Her coaching blends structure and...
info_outline
781: Stop Forcing Creativity - How To Plan And Manage a Repeatable Workflow To Prevent Burnout with Vinny DelGuidice
Eat Blog Talk
Vinny DelGuidice teaches us how to build a sustainable food blogging workflow using batching, planning ahead, and reusing what already works. Vinny DelGiudice is the creator of Always From Scratch, an Italian-American family food blog he started six years ago. He is a professional photographer, dad, and husband who focuses on developing nostalgic family recipes from his and his wife’s childhood, meals that make it easier for families to sit down at the table and enjoy time together. Burnout is not a requirement for success. Vincent shares how he stopped forcing creativity, built a repeatable...
info_outline
780: “I Decided I Was Going to Be the Driver” - Leaving a 9-to-5 for Full-Time Blogging with Cheryl Norris
Eat Blog Talk
Megan chats with Cheryl Norris about what the transition from corporate employee to full time blogger really looks like and how to navigate it with purpose. Cheryl Norris is the founder of the Bakes by Brown Sugar baking blog, where she specializes in baked goods for the homebaker. She combines her technical background as a mechanical engineer and self-taught baker to write detailed recipes and explain the baking science behind her recipes. She lives in Porltand, OR with her husband. She recently left her full time job and now operates her food blog full time. In addition to her business,...
info_outline
779: The Instagram Strategy Behind 200K Followers (In 5 Minutes) with Natalie Battaglia
Eat Blog Talk
Natalie Battaglia teaches us simple and sustainable Instagram growth strategies that attract loyal followers without burnout. Natalie Battaglia is the founder of The Mindful Mocktail, a blog and Instagram community dedicated to helping people celebrate without alcohol. What began as a way to share simple, beautiful mocktails has grown into a global destination for wellness-inspired drinks that anyone can make at home. Through her website, social channels, and book The Mindful Mocktail, Nat inspires people to drink mindfully, explore new flavors, and find joy in the ritual of making a beautiful...
info_outline
778: Is Your Blog Ready for AI Search? The AEO Strategy You Need Now with Hanelore Dumitrache
Eat Blog Talk
Hanelore Dumitrache explains Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and what bloggers must change now to stay visible in an AI driven search world. Hanelore is a food blogger, AI strategist, and founder of the tech startup Whimzi AI. She helps creators and businesses future-proof their work through innovative, human-centered AI solutions. Hanelore is also the creator of AEO Audits, a pioneering framework that teaches bloggers how to stay visible in AI-driven search. Her mission is to make AI approachable, practical, and genuinely exciting for everyone. Search has transformed and AI engines no longer...
info_outlineMichael R. Drew teaches us how to write books that build credibility, serve your audience, and generate lasting business impact, far beyond bestseller lists.
He has spent his career turning ideas into bestsellers. With more than 100 books launched onto national lists and over 1,000 No. 1 titles on Amazon, he’s one of the most accomplished book marketers in the industry. Having worked with publishers such as Bard Press, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Thomas Nelson, Michael has mastered the art and strategy of getting books noticed. Today, he helps authors write with purpose, build powerful platforms, and turn their message into lasting influence.
Michael has helped launch over 130 books onto major bestseller lists. But his true genius lies in showing authors how to use a book as a business tool, not just a trophy. He breaks down the real meaning of success, how to define your book’s purpose, and why the best authors start with outcomes, not words.
Key points discussed include:
Define your “why”: Start with the outcome you want your book to achieve, then design everything around that.
The bestseller myth: Lists don’t define success, impact and leverage do.
Build before you publish: Create the infrastructure and audience your book will serve.
Measure what matters: Identify metrics that reflect transformation, not just sales.
Distribution wisdom: When and how to pursue hybrid, traditional, or self-publishing.
PR is your job: No one will care more about your book’s success than you do.
Start before you’re ready: Don’t wait for perfect writing, get help editing later.
Share your story: You have an obligation to use your experiences to help others.
Connect with Michael R. Drew