The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Turning 5 million social media followers into real revenue, syndicating content strategically across platforms, and prioritizing Facebook with Lexi Harrison from Crowded Kitchen. ------ Welcome to episode 547 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lexi Harrison from Crowded Kitchen. Inside Crowded Kitchen's Strategy for Growing to 2.4 Million Followers on Facebook Lexi Harrison and her mom first started sharing food content on Instagram back in 2015 — and what began as a fun creative outlet has now turned into a thriving, multi-platform business with over 5 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. In this episode, Lexi shares how they strategically grew their audience, refined their content approach, and learned to make social media work for their business. You'll hear how they navigated major shifts in priorities, why they overhauled their content strategy, and what happened when they decided to take Facebook seriously. If you've ever wondered how to buil

Adapting to the evolving search landscape, building an ecosystem around your food blog, and practical strategies for staying visible in an answer-engine-first world with Casey Markee from MediaWyse. ----- Welcome to episode 546 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Casey Markee from MediaWyse. Surviving (and Thriving) in an AI-First Search World In this episode, we're welcoming back Casey Markee from MediaWyse to talk about the evolving nature of search and traffic. Casey shares his latest insights on AI Overviews, their impact on food bloggers, how SERPs are changing, and why great content still wins. Bjork and Casey also chat about whether you should block AI bots, the growing importance of community, and practical strategies for staying visible in an answer-engine-first world. If you've been concerned about traffic drops, the future of food blogging, or how AI will reshape content discovery, this episode is a must-listen. Three episode takeaways: How AI Overviews are

Understanding your rights as a creator, your guide to DMCA, and how to use technology to hunt down copycats. ----- Welcome to episode 545 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danielle Liss (one of our esteemed FBP experts!) of Liss Legal.  The Creator's Guide to Digital Rights and Copyrighting with Danielle Liss If you feel like you're constantly fighting to protect your original work, you're not wrong; content theft is getting sneakier, especially when you throw AI into the mix. In this episode, Bjork and Danielle of Liss Legal simplify how you can protect yourself. The key takeaway here is knowing that the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) is your best friend. You'll learn exactly how to use this powerful tool to shut down content thieves on major platforms, giving you back control over your hard work. You'll also hear Danielle share innovative strategies for monitoring your content without getting burnt out. We're talking quick wins like using Google Alerts and

Creating with purpose in a changing digital world, behind-the-scenes of running Ambitious Kitchen for 14 years, and managing burnout with Monique Volz. ----- Welcome to episode 544 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Monique Volz from Ambitious Kitchen. Monique Volz On Reinventing Ambitious Kitchen Over 14 Years Monique launched Ambitious Kitchen in 2011 as a passion project and now it has grown into her full-time business (with several employees) and a New York Times bestselling cookbook (and another cookbook on the way). In this interview, Monique shares how she has adapted to all of the changes in the food creator landscape over the last 14 years, how her priorties and definition of success have changed, and the different "eras" of her business. Due in part to an incredible season of growth during the pandemic, by 2022, Monique was burned-out. The pressure of keeping up with constant content demands — especially in the age of TikTok and Reels — prompted her to take a

The future of search, using the exposure effect to build trust, and adapting your content strategy for 2026.  ----- Welcome to episode 543 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we're bringing our very own Emily Walker (Associate General Manager, Food Blogger Pro) back to chat with Bjork about the articles we shared in our latest blogging newsletter! Food Blogging News Roundtable: Black Friday Strategies, New Raptive Requirements, and a Guide to GEO for 2026 In this episode, Bjork Ostrom and Emily Walker discuss the latest articles from the Food Blogger Pro blogging newsletter. They talk about where digital marketing is headed and how to make sure your brand doesn't get left behind. Spoiler alert: If you're only focused on Google, you're missing out! Bjork and Emily break down the reality that users under 45 are looking for answers across an average of five different platforms (yes, we're talking TikTok, Reddit, and all the rest). We delve into the exposure effect, which is a fancy way of

Embracing slow and steady growth, scaling a food blog without losing joy or balance, and hiring team members with Isabel Orozco-Moore from Isabel Eats. ----- Welcome to episode 542 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Isabel Orozco-Moore. Scaling a Team and Reaching 2 Million Monthly Pageviews In this episode, we're welcoming back Isabel Orozco-Moore from Isabel Eats, who first joined us on the podcast back in 2019, just after she had narrowed her niche to Mexican recipes. Since then, she's grown her blog from 650,000 to over 2 million monthly pageviews and grown her team to 3 full-time employees (including her husband!) and several contractors. Isabel shares how she's built a sustainable business by focusing on slow, intentional growth, smart hiring, and maintaining joy in her work. Bjork and Isabel chat about how she avoids the comparison trap, what it's like working with her husband, and how she uses tools like Airtable to stay organized while managing a growing team.

The future of AI, leveraging custom GPTs, and the importance of personal branding with Trey Griffin from Raptive. ----- Welcome to episode 541 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Trey Griffin from Raptive.  Maximize Efficiency with AI (Without Losing Your Voice) with Trey Griffin from Raptive In this episode, Bjork and Trey Griffin get real about AI, which is here to be your new workhorse, not your competition. They dive into how tools like Custom GPTs can give you a massive efficiency boost, helping you move past the grunt work of brainstorming and drafting so you can focus on creative risks and developing better ideas. By letting AI handle the routine tasks, you’re freeing up your most valuable resource (your time!!!) to strategize and stay ahead of a rapidly changing content landscape. The biggest factor that will keep you relevant? Your human touch. Since AI can create a mountain of content, your unique personal branding and authentic storytelling is now more crucia

Building relationships with your audience, thriving as a content creator in a crowded market, and adapting to AI with Stephanie Woodin from Raptive. Welcome to episode 540 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This is the first episode of Can’t Be Automated: A Raptive Series on Scaling, Standing Out, and Staying Human. To kick-off the series, Bjork interviews Stephanie Woodin from Raptive. Authenticity, AI, and Audience Connection This week, we’re joined by Stephanie Woodin to pull back the curtain on her brand-new podcast with Raptive, Ctrl+Alt+Ask, and dive into the fast-changing world of the creator economy. Stephanie has spent years working with top creators at Raptive, and now, as the host of Ctrl+Alt+Ask, she’s taking calls from creators to talk about everything from burnout and branding to revenue strategies, AI, SEO, and more. She’s the perfect person to chat with Bjork about the unique challenges creators face today. In this episode, Bjork and Stephanie unpack what it takes to thrive as a content creator

Niching down, the power of a simple sales funnel, and preventing burnout with Johnny Brunet.  ----- Welcome to episode 539 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Johnny Brunet.  The Journey to $100k as a Content Creator with Johnny Brunet Johnny Brunet’s story is proof that a pandemic pivot can lead to major success! He went from stand-up comedy to mastering the Blackstone griddle, finding his sweet spot by creating content specifically for beginner cooks. He shares the secret sauce of his content empire: how he strategically focused on one niche tool to stand out and why targeting the starting-out crowd was the perfect gap in the market for massive growth. Beyond the cooking, Johnny gets real about the business, breaking down his successful revenue mix of YouTube AdSense, eBooks, and affiliate marketing. You’ll get his best advice on keeping your sales funnel incredibly simple and the importance of smart content marketing to drive product sales. This episode will give you

Leveraging Facebook for monetization and audience growth, leaning into short-form video, and creating relatable content with Jessica Robinson from A Farm Girl's Kitchen. ----- Welcome to episode 538 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jessica Robinson from A Farmgirl’s Kitchen. How Jessica Robinson Built a Profitable Food Brand Without SEO From publishing her first two cookbooks to launching her site, Jessica walks us through the early days of her journey as a food creator and the strategies she used to help her gain momentum — fast! She talks about why she chose to focus on Pinterest and Facebook instead of traditional SEO and how those choices paid off, allowing her to monetize her business within just a few months. Jessica shares her tips for growing her audience on social media, monetizing through the Facebook Content Monetization program and Amazon affiliate links, and how her short-form videos not only drive traffic but also boost her SEO. With over 430k followers

How to identify AI-generated food content, optimize email opt-ins, and build a personal brand with Emily Walker and Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 537 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we’re bringing our very own Emily Walker (Associate General Manager, Food Blogger Pro) back to chat with Bjork about the articles we shared in our latest blogging newsletter! Food Blogging News Roundtable: AI-Generated Food Content, Optimizing Opt-ins, and Building A Personal Brand In our latest episode, we sat down with Bjork Ostrom and Emily Walker to talk about the future of food blogging. The main takeaway? Don’t let AI steal your thunder! We dive into why your personal stories and unique perspective are more crucial than ever to standing out. We also cover why building an email list is your most valuable asset (stop us if you’ve heard this before!) — it’s the one place you can directly connect with your audience. So if you’re looking to create content that feels genuine and builds a real co

Navigating burnout, creating unique content, and running a blog with 30 million monthly pageviews with Jeanine Donofrio from Love & Lemons. ----- Welcome to episode 536 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jeanine Donofrio from Love & Lemons. The Journey to Reaching 30 Million Views a Month In this episode, Bjork chats with Jeanine Donofrio, the creator of the massively popular vegetarian food blog Love & Lemons, which now receives over 30 million monthly pageviews (!!!). Jeanine shares the story behind her blog’s evolution — from a personal creative outlet that she started in 2011 to a thriving business with multiple employees. Bjork and Jeanine also talk about how Jeanine balances creativity with content strategy, manages the pressure of staying consistent, and how she navigates seasons of burnout. Three episode takeaways: How and why Jeanine started focusing on SEO — Love & Lemons was monetized solely with sponsored posts for the first 8 years, before

Optimizing your website for Q4 success, making your personal brand stand out, and adapting to the changing landscape of content creation with Madison Wetherill from Grace and Vine Studios. ----- Welcome to episode 535 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Madison Wetherill from Grace and Vine Studios and Joyfully Mad. Branding, Blogging, and Q4: How to Stand Out Online In this conversation, Madison discusses the importance of personal branding and website optimization for food bloggers, especially as they prepare for the critical Q4 season. She emphasizes the need for food creators to carefully define their niche and audience, effectively communicate their brand message, and integrate your brand into your site. Madison also shares strategies for standing out in a saturated market and the significance of calls to action on websites. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of content creation and the need for bloggers to adapt to stay relevant and connect with thei

Leveraging social media to grow your audience and building a community through your website with Danny Dobrzenski from Cooking in the Yard. ----- Welcome to episode 534 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danny Dobrzenski from Cooking in the Yard.  From Pandemic Hobby to Full-Time Hustle with Danny Dobrzenski In this week’s episode, Bjork interviews Danny Dobrzenski, a food creator who turned a pandemic hobby into a full-time content career. After getting laid off in April 2020, Danny took a leap of faith and leaned into sharing his cooking journey online. With some serious hustle and smart use of platforms like Instagram and Facebook (particularly Facebook!), he built an engaged audience and started landing brand deals that helped turn his passion into a paycheck. Danny also reveals what it really takes to grow as a creator, from staying consistent with content to learning how to navigate ever-changing social media algorithms. He discusses how delegating and “buying ba

Reconnecting with creativity, redefining success as a creator, and creating without burnout or comparison with Sabrina Loyer. ----- Welcome to episode 533 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sabrina Loyer. Building a Creative Life Beyond the Metrics In this episode, we’re chatting with Sabrina Loyer about what it really means to be successful as a content creator. Sabrina built a thriving business around helping others go viral, but she also experienced the anxiety, burnout, and pressure that can come with chasing metrics. She shares her journey of moving beyond the comparison trap, creating without boundaries, and learning to view social media as a tool rather than the end goal. Sabrina and Bjork also discuss the two powerful tools that have transformed her creative process (and life!) and Sabrina’s practical advice for simplifying content creation and using tools like ChatGPT effectively — all while staying grounded and joyful in your work. Whether you’re a seasoned c

The impact of the latest Google Core Updates, how AI can assist with content creation, and expanding your content's reach with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 532 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we’re doing something a little different and bringing on our very own Emily Walker (Associate General Manager, Food Blogger Pro) to chat with Bjork about the articles we shared in our latest blogging newsletter! Food Blogging News Roundtable: Core Updates, GEO, and Content Syndication Curious about the latest happenings in the food blogging sphere? In this episode, Bjork and Emily are chatting through the articles we shared in the Food Blogger Pro newsletter that went out last week and diving into what they mean for food creators. From Google’s recent Core Update (which actually brought some good news for bloggers!) to the continued importance of E-E-A-T, they’re breaking down how to keep your content high-quality and search-friendly. They’ll also discuss how AI is showing up in the w

Discoverability with Meta Ads, digital product sales funnels, and thinking beyond organic traffic with Tammy Overhoff from Organize Yourself Skinny. Welcome to episode 531 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Tammy Overhoff. Mastering Digital Products and Meta Ads Tammy started food blogging in 2011 and has reinvented her business many times over the last 14 years. After taking her food blog full-time in 2014 and being hit hard by one-too-many Google algorithm updates, Tammy knew she needed to make a change to her business so that she was no longer working from a place of desperation. In 2022, she took a step back from SEO and diversified her business by leaning into digital product sales. In this interview, Tammy explains her exact process (including numbers!) for selling digital products, including her Meta Ads strategy. For any creator, it can feel daunting to spend money to reach an audience when social media and organic traffic are free. But Tammy makes a really com

Leveraging AI to be a more efficient content creator and the role of keywords in today's SEO landscape with Aleka Shunk. ----- Welcome to episode 530 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Aleka Shunk from Aleka’s Get Together and Keywords with Aleka. She also happens to be one of our FBP experts!  How to Personalize AI for Better Content with Aleka Shunk In this conversation, Bjork and Aleka discuss the evolving landscape of SEO and content creation, particularly focusing on the role of keywords and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT. They explore how keywords remain essential in SEO, despite changes in content creation approaches. Aleka will also share insights on how to use AI to streamline content creation processes, enhance brand collaborations, and personalize interactions for better outputs. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI advancements and leveraging them to improve efficiency and creativity in content creation. Three episode takeawa

Editing more efficiently in Lightroom, using AI thoughtfully in your food photography, and developing a visual aesthetic that's uniquely yours with Roberta Dall'Alba. ----- Welcome to episode 529 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Roberta Dall’Alba. In this podcast interview, Bjork and Roberta discuss the importance of having your own distinct style or photography aesthetic to build your brand and why editing is such an essential part of this process. Roberta is an incredible food and travel photographer (trust me, you need to check out her food photographs!) and was a 2023 Lightroom Ambassador. Needless to say, she has spent a lot of time experimenting with Lightroom. Roberta dives into how she approaches editing food photos with integrity, efficiency, and her own unique style. From navigating AI tools responsibly to building a signature look in Lightroom, she offers practical tips to help creators stay authentic while working smarter. This is an excellent interview t

Committing to consistency, running strategic year-long marketing campaigns, and leaning into a niche with Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality. ----- Welcome to episode 528 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality. How Kate Shungu Grew to 800k Sessions a Year from Pinterest by Using a Marketing Campaign Kate first started food blogging in 2017 with no real focus or niche. In 2018, she rebranded to entertaining and hospitality but, understandably, had to pivot again during the summer of 2020. Since then, she settled into her niche of vintage recipes for modern cooks and quickly grew to 50k sessions by the spring of 2021. In this interview, Bjork and Kate discuss approaching your brand promotion via platform-specific, year-long marketing campaigns and how to think about marketing as investing your time versus spending your ad dollars. Kate’s success stories on both Pinterest and Facebook will be really inspiring to anyone looking to diversi