256. How to write, create, and sell beyond the algorithm

A big part of my personal life is whole foods, which is a foundational part of how our family operates. My husband prepares every meal from scratch—from homemade sourdough to scratch sauces to kombucha. So this week’s episode is a special one with Melissa Griffiths, the creative soul behind Bless This Mess, a long-running food and lifestyle brand that celebrates simple cooking, slow living, and the beauty of everyday family life.

For more than fifteen years, Melissa has shared approachable recipes, homesteading inspiration, and routines with a community of home cooks looking to bring more peace and purpose into their homes. We talk about how she balances using AI for automating texts yet prioritizing human creativity in core content creation. And even though this episode isn’t about writing books, it’s about writing meaningful content that speaks to your audience, especially through sharing real stories and shared values to deepen audience engagement.

We also discuss facing the challenges of business shifts, like with traffic and revenue, and looking at new product development. The overarching theme is connecting and engaging with your audience and finding where you fit in and meet a need.

As a mother of five, Melissa built her business in the margins of family life, testing recipes during naptime, photographing meals at her kitchen table, and shaping her work around the seasons of motherhood. Her work isn’t just about food, it’s about reclaiming time, joy, and connection in a world that often demands more than we have.

If you’re interested in reclaiming a more meaningful lifestyle through food and community, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Melissa:

Recommended books:

Raising Securely Attached Kid, by Lisa Damour
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, by Eli Harwood

Follow me on:

To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(267)

255. Ask Stacy | How should I use storytelling in my nonfiction book?

If you followed me for very long, you know that storytelling is a big part of my nonfiction work. Stories change a dry, boring, put-this-book-down read to an engaging, transformative experience for th...

3 Kesä 10min

254. Ask Stacy | Should I upload my manuscript to AI?

If you’re an author and are ready for feedback on your first draft, you may have considered this question posed by Trent. Especially if you’re weighing AI’s advice versus hiring an editor.In this “Ask...

27 Touko 14min

253. Ask Stacy | Can I really build a writing and editing career in my 50s?

What do you do when you've spent nearly 30 years building one career, and your heart is quietly pulling you toward something different? In this week’s episode, I'm answering a question from Katie, a h...

20 Touko 10min

252. How mini retirements can transform your career, creativity, and life

What if you didn't have to wait until the end of your life to rest, explore, and pursue the things that matter most to you? That's the question at the heart of this week's conversation—and honestly, i...

13 Touko 49min

251. Your message is bigger than you (and that's the point)

What is a brand? A brand is how you show up to the world. It’s how you articulate your unique voice and expertise to clients. If you’re new to promoting your brand, you may wonder where or how to star...

7 Touko 43min

250. Writing as a tool for clarity for your personal life and business

If you’ve followed me for very long, you know that I love books, especially because they inspire change and spark conversations. As a book coach, I get to help authors create frameworks that organize ...

30 Huhti 14min

249. Choosing Portugal even when it’s hard: 3 struggles right now

This week on the podcast, I talk about three struggles I’m facing right now: two of which you’ve heard me talk about in the past, one of which might surprise you. But first, let me be very clear that ...

22 Huhti 16min