The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Bjork Ostrom

Running a business as a couple, working with brands, and creating content for your audience.
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Welcome to episode 411 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shanika Graham-White and Darnell White from Orchids + Sweet Tea about how they work together to run two businesses, partner with brands, and create content with their audience in mind.
Working with Brands and Knowing What Your Work is Worth We’re really excited to share this week’s conversation with Shanika Graham-White and Darnell White. They’re the creators behind the food blog Orchids + Sweet Tea, and the production company, Brooklyn Sweet Tea Productions.
In this episode, you’ll hear all about the evolution of their businesses, how they negotiate with brands, and more about their experience as black creators in the food blogging space.
It’s a really inspiring episode with tons of actionable takeaways, and we can’t wait for you to give it a listen!
In this episode, you’ll learn: How and why Shanika and Darnell started Orchids + Sweet Tea, and why they decided to start a production company, too. How they made the leap from food photography to videography. Shanika’s workflow and equipment set-up for photography and shooting video. What the division of labor looks like between Shanika and Darnell. How Darnell’s background in programming translated to videography, and how he got started filming recipe videos. How Shanika determines and structures pricing when working with brands for sponsored content and/or video production. How they divide their time between their different businesses and goals. What advice Shanika and Darnell have for food bloggers wanting to start working with brands. How they navigated and persevered through the early stages of blogging, and how they found a balance between personalization and optimization. More about the experience of being black creators in the food and wellness space. How Shanika creates content with her audience in mind. What advice Shanika and Darnell would give to their past selves when they were just starting Orchids + Sweet Tea. Resources:
Orchids + Sweet Tea Brooklyn Sweet Tea Productions Orchids & Sweet Tea: Plant-Forward Recipes with Jamaican Flavor & Southern Charm The Guardian: Hungry Planet: What the World Eats - in pictures Parker Walbeck Productions Follow Shanika and Darnell on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Navigating the changing landscape of video advertising, adapting to a future with AI, and understanding the removal of third-party cookies with Paul Bannister
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Welcome to episode 410 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Paul Bannister from Raptive.
AI, Third-Party Cookies, and Changes in Video Advertising Standards
If it feels like the last few years have come with a lot of changes in the online world, that’s because there have been tons of changes. We’re talking ChatGPT and AI, the removal of third-party cookies, the rapid growth of video, and more.
Luckily, our guest on the podcast today is just the person to break down these big changes and explain how it all relates to content creators. Bjork is chatting with Paul Bannister, the CSO and co-founder of Raptive (formerly AdThrive and CafeMedia) about all of these buzzy topics.
Whether you’re hoping to qualify for Raptive in the future, are already a Raptive creator, or are just curious about all of the tech news in the online space, this is a really informative listen!
In this episode, you’ll learn: More about the beginning of Paul’s career founding Online Gaming Review in 1995. How he approaches big changes in the online space. What third-party cookies are, how they relate to digital advertising, and what you need to know about the removal of third-party cookies from Google. What’s next for advertisers after the removal of third-party cookies. How ChatGPT and AI are changing the world of content creation. How the transition from UA to GA4 will change Raptive’s eligibility criteria. About why he believes “video is the future” and how the advertising space is changing to reflect that. The difference between in-stream, out-stream, and accompanying content video ads. More about the new standards for video advertising. How Raptive is evolving to help content creators diversify their income streams. Resources:
Paul’s previous episodes on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast here and here Raptive formerly known as AdThrive and CafeMedia Dotdash Meredith ChatGPT Pinch of Yum’s 20 Minute Healthy Chicken Parmesan Bard Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost Raptive’s Eligibility Criteria 363: What Bloggers Need to Know About Google Analytics 4 with Alison Bechdol Google Analytics Course on Food Blogger Pro IAB Tech Lab Raptive Blog Follow Paul on Twitter Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Duett. Learn how the Duet team can leverage your email list for ever more site traffic at duett.co/foodbloggerpro. 
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Insights on dark ads and whitelisting, updates on privacy legislation, and details about how AI is impacting contracts with Danielle Liss from Businessese and LISS Legal.
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Welcome to episode 409 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danielle Liss from Businessese and LISS Legal.
AI, Privacy Policies, and Sponsored Content The legal side of food blogging can be stressful, overwhelming, and complicated. Most food bloggers don’t get into the business because of their passion for contracts and privacy policies! But that’s why we have experts like Danielle to help us navigate these issues.
In this week’s podcast episode, Danielle is back on the podcast (this is her 9th episode!) to chat about legal hot topics in 2023. Danielle breaks down updates in privacy legislation, and the impact of AI on contracts and confidentiality, and explains more about whitelisting and dark ads.
Danielle is a master at explaining tricky topics in a straightforward (and entertaining!) way, and this episode is a must-listen for any business owner!
In this episode, you’ll learn: How and why Danielle helps food bloggers and digital creators with the legal side of their businesses. Everything you need to know about dark ads and whitelisting, and the differences between the two. More about how AI is impacting contracts and brand deals. What you need to know when it comes to AI, confidentiality, contracts, and privacy policies. Details about updates in privacy legislation and privacy policies. About deletion requests, and how to approach them. More about the services Danielle’s businesses (LISS Legal and Businessese) offer. Resources:
LISS Legal Businessese Pinch of Yum ChatGPT Netlist Wins $303 Million in Patent Damages From Samsung Raptive Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Investing in education, self-publishing a cookbook, and shaping a career in food photography following a diagnosis with a chronic illness with Helena Murphy.
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Welcome to episode 408 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Helena Murphy from Helena Rose Photography.
Food Photography, Self-Publishing, and Chronic Illness Advocacy One of the best parts of working as a food creator is that you have the ability to determine exactly what your career looks like. By prioritizing your interests and diversifying your income streams, you can shape what your day-to-day work consists of to meet your needs!
And that’s exactly what Bjork is chatting about with Helena Murphy in today’s podcast episode. Helena shares her journey from corporate marketing to freelance product and food photography, and how her diagnosis with Crohn’s disease influenced both her personal, and professional life.
Helena is an incredible photographer and has self-published both a magazine and a cookbook. She has a really inspiring story, and we’re excited to share this interview with you!
In this episode, you’ll learn: All about Helena’s career journey, and how she left her corporate job to start a freelance career. How she invested in education to improve her photography and editing skills. What advice she has for people looking to take the leap into photography as a career. How she determined what she wanted her business to look like and diversified her income streams. More about the process of self-publishing her cookbook. Her diagnosis with Crohn’s disease, and how it led her to create a cookbook to help others with the same diagnosis. How her chronic illness has impacted how she views and operates her business. Why she chose to use a print-on-demand service for her cookbook, and what the process looked like. How she uses photography and aesthetics to convey a message and mood to her readers. Resources:
Helena Rose Photography Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Capture One This American Life Lightroom Magic Course Beth Kirby ChatGPT The Multi-Hyphen Life: Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You by Emma Gannon Ctrl Alt Delete The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook Cowspiracy Omnom Magazine So you want to publish a magazine? Kindle Direct Publishing Asana Trello Airtable Follow Helena on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Optimizing your website for Core Web Vitals, following best practices for images, and learning more about Google's Ranking Factors with Andrew Wilder from NerdPress.
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Welcome to episode 407 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Andrew Wilder from NerdPress.
How Core Web Vitals and Image Size Impact Search Ranking Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the nitty gritty tech side of running a food blog? Well then, this week’s podcast episode is for you. Bjork is chatting with Andrew Wilder, our WordPress Support Expert, and the Founder and CEO of NerdPress.
In this episode, Andrew takes a deep dive into Core Web Vitals and explains how they’re calculated, and why it’s important to optimize your site with Core Web Vitals in mind. They also discuss the best practices for blog image sizes, including the best method for compressing your images, and frequently asked questions about Featured Images.
Andrew is a frequent flyer guest on the podcast for a reason — he is super knowledgeable, and can teach us all about the tech side of blogging that many of us struggle with! If that sounds like you, you won’t want to miss this episode.
In this episode, you’ll learn: All about Andrew’s journey of starting and growing NerdPress as a business. Why it’s important for creators to pay attention to Core Web Vitals. More about Google’s Ranking Factors (and how they relate to Core Web Vitals). Everything you need to know about Core Web Vitals, including how they’re calculated and how to optimize for Core Web Vitals. What Google Search Console is, and how to set it up. The process for optimizing and compressing the images on your site. The difference between .jpeg, .png, and .webp, and when to use them. Best practices for sizing and cropping your Featured Images. More about working with Andrew and the NerdPress team. Resources:
Andrew’s episodes on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast NerdPress International Food Bloggers Conference Google Search Console’s Core Web Vitals report The Feast Plugin WP Rocket Perfmatters PageSpeed Insights 339: Tech Check-In – The Best Plugins and Tools for Food Bloggers in 2022 with Andrew Wilder Google Search Console Google Discover Adobe Lightroom Adobe Photoshop WP Recipe Maker ShortPixel Imagify Smush NerdPress Frequently Asked Questions Follow Andrew on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Navigating the influencer industry as a food creator, working with brands, and building a more profitable business.
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Welcome to episode 406 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brittany Hennessy from Carbon August about influencer marketing.
Monetization Strategies in the Influencer Industry Do you consider yourself to be an influencer? As a food creator, whether or not you have a large social media following, you are definitely influencing your audience. And today’s guest is the expert when it comes to all things influencer.
In this episode, Bjork is chatting with Brittany Hennessy, an author, and pioneer in the influencer industry. They discuss her career path, experiences working at a media company, and why creators are more important than ever in the marketing space.
It’s a thought-provoking episode that will help you think more critically about your strengths as a content creator, and how to build a stronger, more profitable business.
In this episode, you’ll learn: More about Brittany’s career path and how she got started in the influencer industry. What it’s like to work at a media company like Hearst. Why creators are more important than ever in the marketing space. Whether you’re an endorser, entertainer, or educator as a creator, and what the metrics for success look like for each. Her advice for when you should build vs. monetize. Why she thinks that social media followers and email subscribers are the most important relationships to build. Why you should ask yourself “Is this good for my brand, is this good for my business, and/or does this make me happy?” when making decisions regarding what you share. How to approach affiliate marketing on a food blog. When and why you should consider working with an agency. More about Brittany’s book (Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media). Resources:
I Faked My Grandpa To The Top of Fashion Week Horizon Media Hearst Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media Collective Voice Magnolia Wirecutter Travis Scott Skims Striped Spatula The Casper Blog Getty Images DBA Follow Brittany on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership