Hot Tea with Umo & Bri

Umo Callins and Briana Butler

Hot Tea with Umo and Bri is the go-to podcast for sports nutritionists, fitness pros, and wellness entrepreneurs who are ready to stop playing small and start building careers with purpose, power, and profit. Hosted by Umo Callins, a sports dietitian and fitness coach blazing trails in male-dominated spaces, and Briana Butler, a performance dietitian and former pro athlete, this show is your unfiltered backstage pass to what it really takes to thrive in this industry. Together, they bring over 30 years of experience and a no-gatekeeping approach. They will be sharing the lessons they learned (sometimes the hard way) on building brands, attracting clients, and creating multiple streams of income. From imposter syndrome to industry visibility, you’ll hear real stories, actionable strategies, and expert conversations designed to help you turn your passion into a sustainable, standout career. If you’re serious about growth, crave transparency, and are ready to rewrite the rules of your profession, pour a cup and join the conversation. Welcome to Hot Tea with Umo and Bri!

  1. APR 27

    EPISODE 4: Building Referral Ecosystems

    What if your next best client came from a relationship you already have? In this episode of Hot Tea with Umo and Bri, Umo and Bri talk about why referral systems are one of the most powerful ways to grow a sports nutrition, fitness, or wellness business. They share how trusted partnerships can bring in aligned clients, shorten the decision-making process, and create steady growth outside of social media. From building relationships with physicians, physical therapists, coaches, chefs, and other professionals to creating simple referral packets and tracking contacts in a spreadsheet, this conversation is full of real-life business tips. They also remind founders that referrals are built through care, follow-up, and genuine connection. Sometimes, one kind message or compliment can open the door to a lasting partnership. Umo's Instagram: @sassy.sports.dietitian Bri's Instagram: @theathletitian Join our communiTEA: hotteawithumoandbri.com/communitea-signup If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else! Episode highlights: (1:23) Why referral ecosystems matter for sustainable business growth (2:12) How referrals build trust and credibility (3:21) Using physicians, clinicians, and patient word of mouth as referral sources (5:38) How referrals help clients make faster decisions (6:27) Attracting aligned clients through aligned partnerships (7:32) Why nurturing referral relationships matters (8:20) Referral growth versus relying only on social media (10:31) Why LinkedIn can be a strong place for professional connections (12:22) Choosing the right strategic partners (15:18) Tracking referral contacts and follow-ups (17:14) Creating simple referral systems and packets (19:36) Using events, webinars, and collaborations to keep referrals active (21:00) Building real relationships beyond business (23:27) Why a simple compliment can start a great connection

    27 min
  2. APR 13

    EPISODE 3: Why Delegation Fails for Entrepreneurs

    What if the reason delegation feels so hard is not your team, but the way the work is being handed off? In this episode, Uma and Bri get real about why delegation often falls apart for business owners, especially when you care deeply about your work and struggle to let go. They share honest lessons from their own hiring mistakes, including hiring in chaos, unclear expectations, and assuming people know more than they do. They also talk about what actually helps: clear communication, strong systems, detailed SOPs, examples, accountability, and giving team members the support they need to succeed. This conversation is a must-listen for wellness and nutrition entrepreneurs who want to grow without carrying every part of the business alone. Umo's Instagram: @sassy.sports.dietitian Bri's Instagram: @theathletitian Join our communiTEA: hotteawithumoandbri.com/communitea-signup If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else! Episode highlights: (1:23) Why delegation feels harder than it sounds (3:26) Early hiring mistakes and lessons learned (6:24) Common reasons delegation fails (11:21) Setting clear expectations from the start (14:40) Why systems, examples, and SOPs matter (17:06) Accountability, ownership, and team autonomy (20:47) Defining success and supporting different work styles (23:30) Collaboration, team culture, and founder support (26:23) Final takeaway on building a business that can grow

    28 min
  3. MAR 16

    EPISODE 1: Owning Your Niche vs Chasing Trends

    What happens when you feel pressure to chase every trend online while trying to grow a real business? In this episode of Hot Tea with Umo and Bri, the hosts talk about the struggle many entrepreneurs face: choosing between owning a clear niche or following what is popular on social media. They share how focusing on the right audience helped them grow their businesses, why new professionals should build real experience before calling themselves experts, and how trends can sometimes hurt credibility. The conversation also covers when pivoting actually makes sense and how to expand your niche without confusing your audience. If you’re building a business in fitness, nutrition, or wellness, this episode will help you stay focused and grow with confidence. Umo's Instagram: @sassy.sports.dietitian Bri's Instagram: @theathletitian Join our communiTEA: hotteawithumoandbri.com/communitea-signup If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else! Episode highlights:  (1:27) Season two kickoff and the big question: niche vs trends  (3:37) Why having a clear niche attracts the right audience  (9:59) Social media pressure and the trap of chasing trends  (13:27) The problem with calling yourself an expert too early  (18:56) When pivoting your business actually makes sense  (23:36) Expanding your niche without losing your message  (24:27) Building real authority through research and learning

    32 min
  4. 12/04/2025

    Why Creatives Are the New Athletes with Dezi Abeyta, RD | EP#16

    What if the way you parent, show up, or even just exist is your version of art? In this powerful and honest conversation, Dezi Abeyta, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, performance strategist, and founder of Food Talk Nutrition, shares why he believes creatives should be treated like elite athletes. From getting real about burnout and rebuilding his life after Red Bull to creating performance teams for touring musicians, Dezi drops gems on owning your identity, taking risks, and rewriting your roadmap. He also talks about parenting with intention, being “professionally petty,” and the power of your pen. If you’ve ever felt boxed in by traditional career paths or wondered if you’re “too different” to succeed, this one’s for you. Connect with Dezi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deziabeyta/ Can't Believe I Made It Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/cbimi/ Umo's Instagram: @sassy.sports.dietitian Bri's Instagram: @theathletitian If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else! Episode highlights: (2:22) Who was Dezi before the career & podcast? (6:01) What sparked his passion for wellness & performance (8:54) His first unconventional career move & “kill list” motivation (13:53) Realizing he didn’t need permission to create his own lane (17:23) Why creatives are the new athletes (25:21) How he supports musicians like athletes (29:20) Gatekeeping vs. sharing: Where Dezi stands (36:04) Advice for breaking into a brand-new space (42:02) Diversifying income & the Men's Health journey (47:17) Parenting, risk-taking & working with purpose (59:41) What’s next? Dezi’s vulnerable relationship with writing (1:06:07) A message to aspiring BIPOC professionals (1:09:09) Staying grounded with inner child work (1:17:10) Dezi flips the script: Umo & Bri’s vision for the podcast (1:22:42) Soft launch hint: Something BIG is coming!

    1h 25m
  5. 11/07/2025

    End-of-Year Business Planning for Q1 Success | EP#14

    Are you already feeling behind and the new year hasn’t even started yet? In this energizing episode of Hot Tea with Uma and Bri, your favorite duo shares real, practical steps to help you close out Q4 with intention, and hit the ground running in Q1. From setting clear, trackable goals to refining your systems, team, and tech, they break down why “doing it all” isn’t the move, but planning smart is. You'll hear personal stories, hard lessons, and honest truths about what didn’t work, and what finally clicked. They also dive into how to avoid burnout, set strong boundaries, and why financial planning (yes, taxes too!) is a non-negotiable. If you're a health, wellness, or fitness entrepreneur, this one’s your must-listen game plan. Umo's Instagram: @sassy.sports.dietitian Bri's Instagram: @theathletitian If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else!  Episode highlights: (1:26) Why year-end reflection is crucial for a smooth Q1 (2:45) Celebrate your wins—and learn from the misses (4:35) How to avoid a Q1 scramble in the healthcare space (6:00) Real talk: setting realistic, trackable goals (8:10) Mini-goals and aligning systems, team, and tools (10:15) Year-end tech, team, and tool audit (13:16) What you should outsource (and when) (15:33) Why it always circles back to the business owner (16:26) Avoid overcommitting during Q4 (18:10) Boundaries and saying “no” the smart way (19:59) Taxes and financial planning: do not skip this (24:47) Don’t ignore industry trends because your business depends on it (25:34) Final thoughts: You don’t need a new you. You need a clear plan.

    27 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Hot Tea with Umo and Bri is the go-to podcast for sports nutritionists, fitness pros, and wellness entrepreneurs who are ready to stop playing small and start building careers with purpose, power, and profit. Hosted by Umo Callins, a sports dietitian and fitness coach blazing trails in male-dominated spaces, and Briana Butler, a performance dietitian and former pro athlete, this show is your unfiltered backstage pass to what it really takes to thrive in this industry. Together, they bring over 30 years of experience and a no-gatekeeping approach. They will be sharing the lessons they learned (sometimes the hard way) on building brands, attracting clients, and creating multiple streams of income. From imposter syndrome to industry visibility, you’ll hear real stories, actionable strategies, and expert conversations designed to help you turn your passion into a sustainable, standout career. If you’re serious about growth, crave transparency, and are ready to rewrite the rules of your profession, pour a cup and join the conversation. Welcome to Hot Tea with Umo and Bri!

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