The Creative Bodega with Em Connors | Email & Content Marketing for Solopreneurs

Em Connors
  • 5.0 (106)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Creative Bodega, a podcast about email marketing, content, and personal branding for female solopreneurs who are done building their business on rented land. Here's the belief this whole show runs on: the followers you rent from an algorithm will never be as valuable as the audience you own. Instagram can bury you overnight — your email list can't.  So each week, host Em Connors shows you how to build an owned audience you actually control, stay consistent without the burnout, and turn casual followers into people who buy from you again and again. From what to actually write when the page is blank, to staying consistent when life lifes, to selling in a way that sounds like you and not a pushy sales bro — Em answers the real questions with strategies straight from her own million-dollar business. And because life happens, she doesn't hold back on the unfiltered truth of running a business while raising a family — the messy, the honest, and the "here's what I'm actually figuring out right now." Every so often, Em also pulls back the curtain with other women who've built businesses their own way — real conversations about how they grew, what they'd do differently, and how they stay sane while doing it. If you're ready to stop shouting into a feed that isn't showing you, and start building something you own — alongside a community of women who get it — you're in the right place.

  1. 5h ago

    83: How I Never Run Out of Newsletter Ideas (Or Stare at a Blank Page)

    ✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) You want to email your list. You know you should. Maybe you even have the list sitting right there, ready to go. But you sit down, the cursor blinks, and your brain goes completely blank. So you close the laptop and tell yourself you'll figure it out next week. And next week? Same exact thing. If that loop feels familiar, you are not broken, and you are not out of ideas. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I break down why the blank page was never a creativity problem in the first place, and the shift that made "what do I even write?" stop being a question I dread every single week. If staring at a blank newsletter makes you want to throw your laptop out the window, this one is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why the blank page is a structure problem, not a lack of ideasThe free assignment I give every week: subscribe to newsletters and study which ones you openWhy the section that connects most is almost never the strategic oneWhere my 3-2-1 format came from, and why borrowing a structure is the pointThe reframe that ends the panic: you are your own ideal client, one problem aheadWhy an unsure email that gets sent beats a perfect one stuck in your draftsResources & Links mentioned in the episode: One of my early newsletters sent 4/7/21 via Flodesk (referenced when talking about her short, unsure first j)James Clear's 3-2-1 newsletter (the original format Em's 3-2-1 traces back to)✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  2. Aug 24

    82: Here's Why You Keep Ghosting Your Email List (It's a System Problem, Not a You Problem)

    You started an email list. You were proud of it. And then...you never emailed it. 😅 Now every time you think about sitting down to write, the cursor blinks, your brain goes blank, and you tell yourself you'll do it later. Later never comes, and the guilt just keeps stacking. If that's the loop you're stuck in, you're not lazy, and you're not flaky. You're missing one thing. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I break down why consistency with your email list was never a discipline problem, why a small list of people who trust you beats a huge silent following, and the one small move that breaks the blank-page spell. If your list has been collecting dust, this one is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why creators with huge accounts and silent lists are quietly losing moneyHow a list of 100 people who trust you out-launches 50,000 followersThe real reason the weekly blank page keeps beating you (it's not you)Why Instagram is a slot machine, and what owning your list changesThe two-creator test that shows exactly why the inbox wins the saleThe reframe: consistency is a system problem, never a willpower problemYour one small move this week to break the blank-page spell for goodResources & Links mentioned in the episode: 💌 The Newsletter System waitlist. My 6-week program doors opening September 14th, built to take the blank page out of your weekly email for good. Getting on the list means first word when doors open: join the waitlist.🎙️ Listen to last week's episode (81) on why every solopreneur needs an email list, not just a personal brand. It sets up everything in this post, so start there if you missed it!✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  3. Aug 17

    81: I'm Done Teaching the Thing That Built My Business (Going All In on Email Marketing)

    💌 Join The Newsletter System September Waitlist — first access when doors open September 14th, limited spots available! Have you ever been genuinely good at something, even known for it, and still felt a quiet pull that it is not the thing you want to keep doing forever? For years, I couldn't name that feeling. I just felt scattered and a little off, pouring most of my energy into the platform that gave me the least back. It took three weeks completely off Instagram to finally see it clearly. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I share the biggest pivot I have made in nine years, why I am going all in on email, and what my two fiddle leaf fig trees have to do with all of it. If you have felt scattered too, this one is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why I am walking away from teaching Instagram after nine years of postingWhat three weeks off the app made impossible to unseeThe difference between rented attention and an audience you truly ownWhy Instagram tactics keep expiring while email stays a durable skillThe moment in Nashville that quietly cracked this whole decision openWhat is changing, what is staying, and what it means for youResources & Links mentioned in the episode: The Newsletter System September Waitlist — first access when doors open September 14th, limited spots available!Flodesk — the email platform I use and swear by. Grab 50% off your first year with code THECREATIVEBODEGAClick here to see what a fiddle leaf fig is! ✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  4. Aug 10

    80: Ep6: Nobody Told Me How to Stay Consistent With Content When Motivation Disappears

    You've poured hours into a post, hit publish, and watched it land with a thud. Just crickets. And in that moment, the question creeps in: is something wrong with me? Should I just pivot to something else? If you've ever wondered why you're still showing up when the growth is slow and the engagement is low, you're not the only one. In this final episode of my Nobody Told Me series on The Creative Bodega, I'm sharing the one thing nobody told me would end up being my superpower: consistency. I'm getting honest about the numbers, the near-burnout seasons, and the two things that actually keep me going when motivation is nowhere to be found. If you're building something online and quietly questioning it all, this one is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: The real numbers behind 80 episodes, 290+ newsletters, and nearly 2,000 Instagram postsWhy I took my first-ever three-week break from Instagram, and what I was scared ofThe reason it always comes back to the women I serve, not the metricsWhy most people quietly disappear online, and how the gap compoundsSystems first: how to stop relying on motivation that runs outPurpose second: finding the why that carries you through the low-everything daysThe full-circle truth about reps that I opened this whole series withResources & Links mentioned in the episode: The Messaging Edit won't be taking place in the fall as planned! I've switched gears, totally pivoted, and am building a brand new program called The Newsletter System. You can hop on the Sept 2026 waitlist HERE!✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  5. Aug 3

    79: Ep5: Nobody Told Me No One Is Watching That Closely on Instagram

    Episode 79: Why You Think Everyone's Watching You (And Why They're Not) You've got that post sitting in your drafts. The one that feels a little too loud, too niche, too much you. You keep telling yourself everyone's going to see it and judge it, so you don't hit publish. I've been there more times than I can count, and this episode is for you. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I'm telling you about the first time I learned this lesson (a CrossFit gym in 2008, terrified everyone was watching my every move) and the second time it showed up years later, running a business people can actually see. Both taught me the same thing from two completely different angles. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: The CrossFit gym story that taught me nobody was watching me as closely as I thoughtWhy the fear of judgment never fully goes away, even at 125,000 followersWhat happened when I called talking head reels "effing stupid" onlineThe real reason visibility attracts people who want to knock you downWhy the algorithm isn't showing your post to everyone who follows youWhat I want you to do with the post you've been sitting onA quick preview of next week's episode on messaging✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  6. Jul 27

    78: Ep4: Nobody Told Me These Habits Were Keeping Me Invisible

    Do you ever feel like you're doing everything "right" online, posting, following the tips, showing up consistently, and still getting completely ignored? It's not your strategy. It's not the algorithm. It's a handful of small, sneaky habits quietly keeping you invisible, and once you spot them, they're easier to shift than you'd think. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I'm walking through exactly what those habits look like, why personality gets remembered while generic content gets ignored, and the small moves that actually change things. If you've ever wondered why people aren't opening their wallets for you yet, this episode is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why generic content gets ignored while personality is what actually gets rememberedThe real reason people need to trust you before they'll ever buy from youThe one habit to notice first: which accounts quiet your brain versus fuel itWhy muting or unfollowing the noisy accounts is the first small shift to makeClosing the app and making something instead of scrolling past someone else'sThe habit of sitting on your ideas instead of posting them, and why that stops nowWhy asking for help and joining a community moves you faster than doing it alone✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  7. Jul 20

    77: Ep3: Nobody Told Me I'd Have To Share My Life Online With Strangers

    You know you're supposed to share parts of your life online. But what, exactly? You're private. Your kids don't want to be content. And you have zero interest in crying on camera for engagement. I hear some version of this from the women I work with every single week, so if that's you, you're not alone. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I'm introducing you to a concept I call your core story bank: the 4 to 5 stories and personal themes that make you relatable without making you an open book. If you're the private one, the introvert, the one who cringes at performed vulnerability, this episode is especially for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why "be authentic online" has spiraled into performing pain for viewsThe "share your scars, not your wounds" rule and how I apply itWhat a core story bank is and why 4 to 5 stories is plentyMy own core stories and themes (the CrossFit gym era, NYC, Blitzy the pit bull)How to find the bridges between your life and your ideal client'sWhy I pulled back from showing my kids online, even though those views spikeThe private-person path to a personal brand (dog walks and morning coffee count)Resources & Links mentioned in the episode: EP 13 - The past episode where I tell my NYC-to-meeting-Rob story (referenced when discussing core stories)✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

  8. Jul 13

    76: Ep2: Nobody Told Me My Camera Energy Was Part Of My Brand Visuals

    Your Canva templates are perfectly on-brand. Your color palette is locked. So why does your content still feel a little cold when you hit record? You're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone in wondering why the visuals aren't translating to connection. In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I'm getting into the part of visual branding nobody talks about: the energy you bring to camera, and why it might matter more than any font pairing you've ever agonized over. If your branding feels done on paper but flat on video, this episode is for you. Check out the full show notes for this episode CLICK HERE. Things I cover inside this episode: Why my own visual branding started with a color I borrowed from another creatorHow my palette evolved from muted and safe to bold as my confidence grewThe 2017 video I almost couldn't watch back, and the one shift that changed itWhy smiling before you hit record changes how your content actually feelsWhat "done" really means for your visual brand, and why it doesn't existWhy your energy on camera matters more than your font choices right now✨💌 CLICK HERE to hop on The Newsletter System waitlist (join for first dibs on the limited spots plus a behind-the-scenes tour of my full newsletter process) Connect with me: 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @its.em.connors 💌 Join my weekly newsletter: 321 Create 🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership 💵 Snag 25% off Flodesk, or use the code: THECREATIVEBODEGA Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!

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5
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About

Welcome to The Creative Bodega, a podcast about email marketing, content, and personal branding for female solopreneurs who are done building their business on rented land. Here's the belief this whole show runs on: the followers you rent from an algorithm will never be as valuable as the audience you own. Instagram can bury you overnight — your email list can't.  So each week, host Em Connors shows you how to build an owned audience you actually control, stay consistent without the burnout, and turn casual followers into people who buy from you again and again. From what to actually write when the page is blank, to staying consistent when life lifes, to selling in a way that sounds like you and not a pushy sales bro — Em answers the real questions with strategies straight from her own million-dollar business. And because life happens, she doesn't hold back on the unfiltered truth of running a business while raising a family — the messy, the honest, and the "here's what I'm actually figuring out right now." Every so often, Em also pulls back the curtain with other women who've built businesses their own way — real conversations about how they grew, what they'd do differently, and how they stay sane while doing it. If you're ready to stop shouting into a feed that isn't showing you, and start building something you own — alongside a community of women who get it — you're in the right place.

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