Your Message Can Change People’s Lives with Michelle Abraham

JB Intro/OutroWelcome to Just Breathe: 00:00:02

Parenting your LGBTQ Teen, the podcast transforming the conversation around loving and raising an LGBTQ child filled with awesome guests practical strategies and moving stories host Heather Hester always makes you feel like you're having a cozy chat. Wherever you are on this journey. Right now, in this moment in time, you are not alone. And here is Heather for this week's amazing episode

Welcome to Just breathe. I am so happy you are here with me today. And I am really, really just excited and honored to have the guest that I'm about to introduce. I have been begging for months for this amazing person to be on the podcast with me. And I'm just so excited for you to hear from her today. And to learn from her because she just has so much to share. Michelle is I actually work with Michelle. Michelle is a coach for me. And just a little background on Michelle, that I think you'll find really, really interesting. So she is the host of amplify you. She is an international speaker. She's a Podcast Producer. And she was voted number 14 And the top 50 moms in podcasting and 2020 and 2021. Michelle is also the category director for kids and family and podcast magazine. She is the host of blissful parenting podcast as well. And she is the founder of amplify you. Michelle and her team have launched well over 300 podcasts in the last few years. And she actually began her work in the podcast industry 10 years ago. And 2012. So just think about what was going on in podcasting. 10 years ago, not many of us knew about it, right. So something unique about Michelle, that I love and that I love to share is that she doesn't just speak about a freedom lifestyle, she actually lives it. She and her family live off the grid, and a boat access side of a lake that she actually takes her kids to school, either by boat or by jetski, which is awesome. And I've been on calls with her when she has shown this and oh my goodness, it's so beautiful. And doing all of this. She runs her business 100% online. Absolutely extraordinary. So I'm gonna share a couple of quotes that people share about Michelle. One is from a client of hers who says Michelle is not only extremely knowledgeable about how the how and what of podcasting, she is also a wonderful, supportive and nurturing coach. She's a pro. And I actually have so many things I'd like to say. But I have just loved working with Michelle the past six months, she is intuitive. She is an active listener. And she is an incredibly savvy businesswoman. These combination of traits allows her to really see her clients and guide them in a way that is truly helpful. So I am just really thrilled to introduce Michelle Abraham today. And Michelle, thank you so much for being here.

Oh my gosh, Heather, that was such a nice intro. Thank you so much. You're so awesome. I am honored to be here with you today. So, so excited to be able to share this podcast interview with you.

Thank you, thank you. Thank you. I know this has been just a long time in the in the coming. And we've been we've been trying to find dates and all of that. So I'm just so excited that that it's working. And we're together today. And I just want to jump in. There's several different kind of big topics that I want to jump in between and see if we can work everything together. Because the podcasts that you do both behind the mic, ask the experts which is part of amplify you. And then blissful parenting. Those are two really different topics that you cover. And I'm wondering if you can kind of share how you discovered podcasting as a whole. And then what led you to taking on those two very, very different topics.

Yeah, for sure. It will podcasting actually started for me when I became a new mom. And I remember playing on the floor with my son and I think I probably got into a little Bit of a funk after being a mom, as I'm sure many women do, and looking back at it now, it's probably a little bit of postpartum depression, where I just couldn't get motivated to do anything. And I remember like, you know, googoo, Gaga on the floor every day, it was amazing. He was so cute, but like, my brain was like going too much. So I looked at our Apple TV, I turned it on one day, and I found this purple little app. And I thought, hey, this little app, if I click on it, there's some really cool things that happened, took me to a show called The eventual millionaire. And it was this show about people who had a story, and then the idea, and then they turned it into a business that made over a million dollars. And I thought, wow, was super motivating listening to these people. So as soon enough, I listened to all 100 episodes she had at the time, I put my earbuds in. And every Monday morning, as the new episode would drop, I would put my earbuds and take my son for a walk. And I listened to the new episode. So as a listener, if she didn't produce that episode, I'd be pretty mad. If she didn't, you know, put out an episode that week, because I was an avid listener. And I built this relationship with the house like she would have no idea who I am. But I built a relationship of this, like trusting her loving the stories, loving the show, looking forward to it every week. And I thought, wow, if this is the power, and I started to feel much better, I think it pulled me out of that funk. If this is the power this medium has on me, could you imagine the difference that can make and millions of people's lives who are listeners can you know, all sorts of things. So I just my imagination went wild at the time. And I started down the path of really wanting to inspire others to get their voice out there in the world.

I love that that is so cool. So you started, did you start your company amplify you first? Or did you start podcasting first and then create your company from that?

Well, that's a great question. And it's a little bit of both. So I had opened a co working space. Outside of the downtown Vancouver area, it was the first co working space in, in a suburb. And and this is back in 2012. And then we got to the suburbs, and we opened this beautiful co working space. And we realized that nobody in the suburbs needs a co working space because they have bigger houses which have offices in them. While you're out there, we had this lovely space. So we started hosting events and and meetups and to get some people into our space that we were paying for. And so one of the groups that I wanted to start with podcasters Meetup group. And so I thought, well, I want to learn more about podcasting. So I sought out some experts in the area, which to be honest, I only found two or three in the area that would come in and talk to our group. And every week we would meet and we would talk about podcasting. While I was at the co working space, I was doing digital marketing. So I was helping people build their funnels, helping them launch their, their webinars, helping them create launch their publisher books, we were doing all sorts of things for digital marketing for their businesses to get online. And soon enough, people started asking me to help them with their podcasts. And he said, Sure, I know all about podcasting. Now. I've been learning about it forever. And you know, I started getting good at helping other people with their podcasts. Meanwhile, there was this little voice inside of me that wanting to start their own podcast, but I couldn't figure out what topic I wanted to talk about. I was too scared that no one was gonna listen, I didn't feel like an expert on any particular topic that I wanted to share on. And I had all these fears surrounding starting my own podcast. And I see now why I had to go through that. So I spent four years thinking about my podcast. Well, I always helping other people. So to answer your question, the company came first helping other people lunch shows before I had my own podcast.

Wow. I mean, that is, I love how you did that. Because you you were first doing something that was just that is just your natural gift, right? I mean, that's something that you've always just have had a really deep understanding of both in a business sense. But I think, you know, what I've kind of mentioned earlier, and what's one of the things that I think makes you really unique and really gifted is that you're extremely intuitive. And so you're able to kind of read between the lines and and really see, I think in a lot of cases that I have found just in working with you, you know, before the other person kind of sees what they need to do or sees what is going on in their greater world. Right. And I just love how you you were doing this for everyone else. And this is like shows just such a great piece of humanity. And we were like well, I kind of want to do this but I'm not quite sure. I think that's such a common that's how All, almost everyone feels right. And that's why I really wanted you one of the reasons I wanted you on today because I have a feeling that there are many of you who are listening who are thinking, I'd kind of like to do that I'd kind of like to have a podcast start a podcast. And one of the cool things that you always share with us are the numbers that blow me away. And I was just wondering if you could share that? Because I think it's kind of to your other point, people think, well, there's so many but who's gonna listen to me? Right, right. So can you just share all of that awesomeness because it always blows me out of the water?

Yeah, for sure. Well, there's 2.8 million podcasts out there right now, which is crazy. That's a lot of podcasts. And now over 75% of the US, North American homes now listen to podcasts on a weekly basis, which is great, because thinking back to that 2012 story of mine, when I'd asked my mom, friends, what podcasts they're listening to, they were like, What the hell is a podcast, they really had no idea what I was talking about. So there's a lot of podcasts out there, but a lot of podcasts don't make it past episode 20. In fact, more than 75% of shows don't make it past episode 10. And out of those 16, out of those, I do other shows that don't make it past episode 10, there's even less than make it episode 20. So to keep consistent and keep going out there is really something that takes a lot of effort. And it's so worth it, though. It's so worth it. And I think if you have the right strategy, you have some support in place at the beginning, then you can get your message out there. And I think what you really need to think about if you're thinking about starting a show, you don't need to be an expert. And Heather and I were talking about this before, you know, both of us have been curators, you know, we're not the experts on the topic, although had heard in 200 episodes, and we were probably experts on the topic now. But we don't have to be the expert. When you're starting out, for example, one of my shows that I do is a parenting podcast called blissful parenting. And I'm definitely not a parenting expert. But I feel like it's gotten the best. I've gotten the best parenting coaching advice, hundreds of hours of free coaching in the parenting space. And now I feel like I've become a little bit much better of a parent, but also a little bit more of a expert in the parenting space. So you don't need to be an expert to start that Heather. All those things that I went through the fears that I went through is exactly what we see people going through now. Getting sorry, and I don't regret waiting for years. Well, I wish I started my podcasts a little earlier. But I see why I had to go through all those things. Because now I understand what goes through all of our clients minds when they're about to launch just launch a podcast and use their voice. Right.

Right. Right. Well, I think that you know, you were meant to go through that because it helped really build even, you know, that much more compassion, right? So you could be like, Yeah, I've been there. I get this. This is scary. And you can do it right.

Now, absolutely. I mean, I had some role models growing up where I saw them do things that were out of the norm, and they use their voice and they stood up for what they believed in. For example, one example is my dad, my dad was like this, like serial entrepreneur. He had many, many businesses over time. And I always saw him chasing his passion in standing up and although other people will be like, Oh, what's, you know, what's, what's this? What's Wayne doing now? Like, that was a big joke. What business is waning? Now he's done so many of them, right. And another example is I have my grandmother's brother. So my great uncle, he is probably one of the first LGBTQ people I've ever met. And this was like, in the early 70s, late 60s, and he will he stood up for what he believed and he was his own person, he used his voice. And it was really cool to see his life unfold because he was had the courage to use his voice and had the courage to to live the life that he wanted on his terms. Even though there was a lot of a lot of exterior exterior factors that were probably against his, against his his way of living, but he was he was such a role model for me too.

Oh, I can imagine I mean, that is really extraordinary because especially in that time as as we know. He was very scary to come out and not just to come He didn't just come out he advocated and and spoke up and it's because of your uncle and people like your uncle that you know my My son can come out right and and, you know, everyone listening, your kids can come out. And yes, it is still hard in a lot of ways, but it's exponentially easier because of people like your uncle. So thank you for sharing that. I love that love that love that so much.

You're welcome. I can't imagine how difficult it actually did for him. Yeah, it must have been super difficult. But he

just, I mean, how just how scared, he must have been a lot of the time and just kind of pushing through that fear knowing that what he was doing was so important. And that was, you know, that was what was driving him. And I just think that kind of bravery is is really, really extraordinary.

Yeah. And I think in this situation, I'm sorry, go ahead.

No, no, go ahead.

Oh, he said, a bit of delay there. Sorry. I was just gonna say, I think what I what I gathered from, you know, both those stories of my uncle, you know, and my dad is that their happiness and doing what they want, and what made them happy, was like the number one thing, which is why I've done with some of the things I've done in my life is that, you know, there's, there's no, you don't, you don't want to do things that don't make you happy anymore. And I've seen I know, we've seen a lot of that in the last couple years with people the great resignation, people quitting their jobs and moving like we did, we moved off the grid. And this is well before COVID. We did it earlier on, but living a lifestyle that you are happy with. And your it's on your terms, I think is the important takeaway too.

I really, I think that's a very important takeaway. And something that I hope is really, really hitting home that that is possible, that it is possible to follow what you're passionate about. Make that into a business of some kind, right? And, and kind of take that chance to create, create the life that you want, create the lifestyle that you want, that is very, very possible. And your story is just a beautiful example of that.

Well, thank you and yours, too, right? It's amazing how we were aligned with what we're, what we're, what we're doing how we inspire others to do the same as well. Right. And, you know, having, what are the one of the reasons I wanted to do the parenting podcast was because I wanted to be a better parent. And so starting my podcast was purely for that reason. And it's been really helpful when we're aligned with what we want to do. And we're aligned with something that we're passionate about how easily that kind of unfolds.

Absolutely, absolutely. And I think too, and this is something that I just, I've it's been kind of hammered home for me, I don't want to say, I've learned it, but I feel like I've just learned so much more about this. And that is being having that spirit of being here to serve. Right. So you like for instance, you started your podcast, the blissful parenting podcast, was the spirit to serve, not the spirit of I'm the expert, and everybody's here to learn from me. Right. And, you know, rather unknowingly, that's what I did as well. And but now that I realized that, you know, that's something that's really important to me to continue. Because I think we all are lifelong learners. And that's just part of, you know, the gift of being here on this earth. But I just want to, I want to shift just a little bit because I kind of circle back maybe, and ask you, in your discussions with all these amazing parenting experts, you've had the chance to interview and I love that because it's really hours and hours of free parent coaching. I mean, think about that, y'all, this is awesome. But I am wondering if in between all of these people that you've talked to and just your own life experience, what do you feel is the most important or the, you know, couple most important things that a parent can do to support their child when they come out as LGBTQ plus?

Yeah, great question. No, I love that. I love this answer to because it's, um It's something that's so it's so simple. Yet I think like sometimes we overcomplicate things. And I think one of the one of the things that I've gleaned from all the experts is that, you know, one treat your treat your kid like a human being, you know, like, you know, say things express things, the way you would want to see things are expressed to you. You know, there another human being there, even though they're a lot less smaller than you, maybe there are human beings. So just treating with them with that respect, I think is number one. Yeah, and then I've got a few others, you want to hear some more?

Yes, I'd love whatever you have. I want to hear yes. Because that's so good. And so important.

Yeah, one of the other things that I've learned in this is like parenting in general, but I think this could also support parents who, you know, whose kids are coming out, as well as, ask them for help. So ask them, enlist them to help support you. So I need your help with this. I don't I don't know how to act, I don't know how to be, can you help me figure that out. And this works as well, for those kinds of conversations, as well as like, I need your help unloading the dishwasher kind of conversations there, their innate human, their innate, that, you know, enabled, they, they really want to be able to help their their kids want to help in any way they can. And so when they're asked to help, rather than told to do something, it's a whole different kind of person that comes to the table. I know that difference when I and so I think I think so one of the things when your kids are coming out, I think asking them for their your to help you be a better person, I think would be a huge help. Huge,

I love that answer. I've never gotten that answer from anyone. And you've hit the nail on the head. I mean, it's been, like talked around and said different ways. But that is spot on. Because it does so many different things. I mean, tear, it's to the whole, like being a human point, right? It shows your child that you're human.

Yeah, to have all the answers.

Right, exactly that, that we need help as parents like we we need help understanding things and, and I think that's been one of my most favorite things of you know, having teenagers and and having, you know, teenagers who are coming out is the amount of number of things I can learn from them that I have learned from them. And it's just kind of amazing.

as well. And I would say the third thing is something that I've kind of noticed about the kind of like figuring out where your kids will let down their guards and share with you figuring out when that is in for both of my kids. Well, actually for my daughter, I would say is probably more when we're like driving in a car or we're spending time alone, she'll just open up and start bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla, tell me everything in anything. For my son, it's like, right before his head is about to hit the pillow and go out all of a sudden, he wants to tell me everything I wish he told me, like for the several hours before bed. So my kids are like still on the younger side. So you know, however, much criticism I might get for lying down with my kids to go to sleep still is because of those conversations that are had, if they're gonna let me lie down beside them, I'm gonna lie down beside them because I hear and understand so much more about what's going on in their world at that moment of the day. So wherever that is for your kids, like see if you can have more of that time. And for me, I will not give up that before bed time to time because that's I have learned so much in those few minutes.

Oh my goodness, yes. And that, that is fleeting. That moment, the lying down in bed with maybe not with your daughter, but I know with both of my sons that's happened where I've been like, Oh, so you kind of have to find a different candidate. You're gonna find another time, right? When? Right, if that's such a great, you know, a great point and something that I know, you know, you may hear this and think, Oh, well, yeah. Holy cow. That's something I totally, I can do that. Right. And I think sometimes we just need to hear things out loud to to be like, Oh, that's such a yes. That will help me be a better mom and this situation or helped me understand this better. So

yeah, like one of the things I love too is like I heard I had a couple of couple of really great guests on my show that were like specifically about like, how to like how to parent voice and I thought that they were amazing. These Ladies and other podcast is called on boys. And one of the things they told me which is really helpful is like don't expect your son to look you in the eye. Because boys kidneys, you can't if they can't talk and look at the eyes at the same time and like, Oh, that's interesting boy, like, look here look like me, I want to talk to you, right? You don't expect boys to do that. And then also, for if you pass the blind down together point of their, you know, my son's 10, I can still get away with it. But you know, as they're getting older, I know that's gonna go away. Another great place would be in the car. But if they come into the car, just be quiet, and let them do the talking. And don't ask them a bunch of questions. And I noticed this, I was playing around with it. I was like, what would happen if I just let him come in the car, spend a few minutes maybe silent for a few minutes, all of a sudden, he starts talking again to him like this is great. So perhaps that could also be another place that parents can look at is in the car. But don't ask a lot of questions. Just let them know.

And it's hard. It is so hard to be quiet. And don't turn the music up. Like I know you could be i There are times where I'm like, I'll just turn the music up a little bit now leave the music down low. And it's just like, sit there because I too have done this experiment. Like it is the highest, especially with the boys like it is the hardest thing where you just want to be like, So how was your day? Or how is baseball practice? Or how is this and

this is exactly what these ladies said. They're like moms ask too many questions. And right on the back and the boys Shut up. I was like, oh, yeah, we just want to know how their day was more than one word.

Exactly, exactly. Oh, my goodness, and more than one word. Amen to that

fine, good.

grunt. Sometimes it's just a sound that comes. Oh, my goodness, oh, my gosh, well, I'm wondering if there are so many things, and we could talk for another hour, I think. But I want to be respectful of your time. And so I'm wondering if there's just something else or, uh, you know, one or two more things that you would like to share? And, and just, you know, so you know, I plan on sharing all of Michelle's contact information in the show notes. So you can, you know, listen to her podcasts. And if you have questions about starting your own podcast, she is your gal, for sure. Oh, my goodness. Just a quick aside on that, I will tell you all that. I, you know, for the first two years of my podcast, I did it all myself, just because I didn't know there was another option. And then I met Michelle, and she has changed my life. Because now Michelle's company manages my podcast for me. And it is, oh my gosh, and as I meet more people who work with you, and have seen just how easy you make it to start the podcast, you know, to be in that like, even beginning stages of brainstorming and building all the stuff that you build beforehand, right before it even launches out to the world. I'm just amazed by that. And I think, wow, I mean, so lucky. I just want to tell each one of them. You're so lucky. You're even contemplating starting a podcast, reach out to Michelle.

Well, thank you for that. Heather. We love doing your show, because I think just matches so well with our mission. Like we only want to work with shows who people who are changing their lives and making an impact in the lives of the people who are listening. And you are certainly doing that. And I would encourage our your listeners, you know, if you have a message inside of you, that needs to come out and needs to be shared. There is no better platform to do it on than podcasting, whether you be on on podcast, as a podcast guest or you have your own show and do like Heather and I did the kind of experts by gleaning all their amazing information from all the people that you're interviewing. I think there's no better place and like, you know, I love the plot of the podcasting platform because all opinions all walks of life are welcome. It's something that it's it's so there's podcasts on everything and for everyone. So your message is important. And I can't tell you how many people I've heard say that a listener reached out to them and said they changed their life you know, never go down one way and something they said changed their life completely and know whether you've gotten emails like that yourself too.

It is it is quite extraordinary. It really is. It's a gift I feel I mean every day I feel like doing this is such a gift and being maybe able to meet all the people we get to meet right is it It is beyond anything I ever imagined when I started doing this, for sure so,

so Lily and I'm gonna go a little dark for a second because I want to just I think this will hit home this point, my, one of my best friends was we were 19 years old, having the time of our lives backpacking through Europe, and she was killed by a train, she was just becoming this amazing woman really coming out of her shell and like, truly, like, you know, starting to live her life, her message was not able, it's never gonna be able to get out of her. So I feel like I'm very fortunate that, that I was with her that and I feel like her sharing her message is kind of what inspired me to help others get their message out, you don't know how long you have to live. And you don't want to have that message still inside of you when you leave this planet. So make sure that you're sharing your message and you have no idea the impact it's going to make on others when you do share it because everyone's going to resonate with your story in some way or another. And that's why I share that stories because life is so short and you want to be first of all, make the most of it like my uncle, my dad, like why we're doing live the life that you really want. What makes you late to hop into happy and excited. And don't let anyone you know deter you from doing that because of their opinions. And number two, definitely turn on the microphone, press record, and have a great have a great time out there sharing your message because someone needs to hear it.

That's exactly right. I can't even add anything to that because that was beautiful and perfect. And thank you just thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and yourself and your time with us today. I'm just really grateful.

Well, thank you. I'm so honored to be on this show. You doing amazing things. Heather are so proud of you.