The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Bjork Ostrom

Acquiring an existing food blog, navigating traffic drops, and reimagining a site to make it your own with Parker Thornburg from Foodness Gracious.
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Welcome to episode 457 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Parker Thornburg from Foodness Gracious.
How to Acquire and Grow a Food Blog Starting a food blog or business is hard work. It can take months (years!) of determination, practice, and consistency before you start to see results. So what if you just… skipped ahead?!
That’s exactly what Parker Thornburg and his business partner did when they acquired the existing food blog, Foodness Gracious. But just because the site was up and running (with thousands of recipes!) doesn’t mean the transition has been an easy or seamless one.
In this interview, Parker shares more about the process of acquiring a site, what the transition has been like, how they’ve navigated hiring and traffic drops, and have started to come out the other side. Whether or not you’re thinking about acquiring a site (or selling your own), there are lots of great lessons to be learned for anyone!
In this episode, you’ll learn: More about Parker’s professional background (including time at Yahoo and a start-up). Why Parker decided to acquire an existing food blog. About the process of acquiring a site and using a brokerage site. What factors to consider when acquiring a site (including calculating potential profits). How they hired their team and what the early days of the site looked like after acquisition (including lots of lessons learned). How Parker and his business partner have navigated traffic drops since acquiring their site. The importance of consistency and habits when trying something new. How he balances his full-time job, family life, and growing Foodness Gracious. What he wants the legacy of this site to be. Resources:
Foodness Gracious Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game QuietLight Empire Flippers 032: Buying & Selling Websites with Mark Daoust from Quiet Light 159: Different Ways to Create an Income Online with Mark Daoust Mediavine beehiiv Maray Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Snackdive Follow Foodness Gracious on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by CultivateWP and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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 creator landscape, improving the value of your site, and the importance of diversifying with Chelsea Clarke.
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Welcome to episode 456 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chelsea Clarke from Her Paper Route.
Monetizing, Diversifying, and Leaning Into Pinterest and Email We are thrilled to welcome back Chelsea Clarke to the podcast this week. Chelsea is an expert at all things monetizing, buying, selling, and optimizing sites and she shares lots of that expertise in this interview.
Bjork and Chelsea chat about the current state of the industry for online creators, and how the slew of recent Google algorithm updates have impacted the industry. Chelsea also shares how she has reacted to these changes with her sites (hint: it includes Pinterest, video, and email marketing).
Chelsea also explains more about how buying and selling websites works, and how you can make your own site more valuable for yourself (and for potential investors)!
In this episode, you’ll learn: Chelsea’s view on the current “state of the industry” for creators. A recap of all of the recent Google algorithm updates. Her recommendations for diversifying traffic sources (remember Pinterest?). Why to prioritize building a community around your brand. Why Pinterest is such a valuable traffic source (and how to get started with Pinterest SEO). What the future of search might look like. How she has strategically grown her email list and approaches the marketing funnel on her site. How to make your site more valuable (both for yourself and/or if you ever planning on selling your site). How she approaches buying and selling sites. Resources:
Her Paper Route 297: Blog Flipping – Developing, Monetizing, and Selling Websites with Chelsea Clarke Google on Helpful Content Raptive Google Seach Liason on Twitter Pinterest The Simple Pin Podcast Pinteresting Strategies 2.0 by Carly Campbell Blogging Like We Mean It TikTok Niche Investor Epic Gardening Follow Chelsea on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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.

Developing your own product line, diversifying income streams, and increasing brand awareness with Barbara Hobart.
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Welcome to episode 455 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Barbara Hobart.
Creating Your Own Products and Adding a Revenue Stream Barbara Hobart is a television writer and producer who also happens to work with food bloggers and other entrepreneurs to identify, create, and manufacture custom products.
In this interview, Bjork and Barbara chat about why food creators might consider selling their own products to generate new revenue streams and increase brand awareness. They walk through all of Barbara’s recommendations for how to develop, manufacture, and distribute a product, and what kinds of products tend to perform well for food creators.
We always love to chat about diversifying income streams on the podcast, and this is a great episode to get you thinking about how you might do that! Don’t miss it.
In this episode, you’ll learn: More about her background as a television writer and producer in Hollywood and how she (accidentally!) got started creating products. The importance of diversifying income as a creator. How someone should know if they’re ready to build a physical product and/or a brand that sells products as a digital creator. Her recommendations for how to easily create, manufacture, and ship a product. Products that food creators might consider selling (and how to get started). The difference between white-labeling something and creating a custom product. What to know about food safety, insurance, and the importance of due diligence when selling your own food products. Why selling your own products can help you control your bottom line. Resources:
BarbaraHobart.com 430: Grow Your Email List with ConvertKit’s Creator Network with Nathan Barry ConvertKit Primal Kitchen Shopify Pinch of Yum Nom Nom Paleo Spice Blends Best Ever Backdrops Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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.

Balancing two blogs, social media, and two dessert shops, using trends and viral videos to drive blog traffic, and winning a baking competition on Netflix with Catherine Zhang.
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Welcome to episode 454 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Catherine Zhang.
Catherine Zhang on Being a Netflix Star and the Power of Social Media Catherine Zhang has quite a resume: she was on (and won) NETFLIX’s Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2, runs two food blogs, has over 1 million followers between Instagram and TikTok, and owns Kurepu Crepes — a dessert shop with locations in Perth and Sydney. She also happens to have a Bachelor of Science majoring in Food and Nutrition Science, and spent two years working in pastry kitchens.
Safe to say, she has had tremendous success as a creator over the last few years. In this podcast interview, Bjork and Catherine chat about her professional journey, how she balances her businesses, and the power of social media.
It is a really fun and inspiring interview — Catherine is so intentional about everything she does for her businesses and will definitely leave you with a lot to think about.
In this episode, you’ll learn: More about Catherine’s professional journey (including opening two brick-and-mortar dessert shops, being on a Netflix show, and growing her Instagram following to 500,000+ followers). How she first started creating content online. How she applied for (and won!) the Netflix baking show, and how it impacted her online presence. How she balances her blog, social media accounts, and dessert shops (Kurepu Crepes). How she manages and maintains her blog (which gets 350,000+ monthly pageviews). Why she decided to start a second food blog (Dimsimlim) with her business partner (and how they qualified for Raptive within one week). How she uses social media, trends, and viral videos to drive blog traffic. What she’s learned about the process of building a team and running a brick-and-mortar business. Resources:
Catherine Zhang NETFLIX’s Zumbo’s Just Desserts Pinch of Yum Snackdive crumbl Dimsimlim Raptive Kurepu Crepes dimsimlim on Instagram Follow Catherine on Instagram and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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.

Transitioning careers, deciding not to take your blog full-time, and using your blog as a business card with Vincent DelGiudice from Always From Scratch.
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Welcome to episode 453 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Vincent DelGiudice from Always From Scratch.
Balancing a Full-time Job and Your Food Blog We first met Vinny when he joined Bjork for a Coaching Call in 2023. He is on the podcast this week to chat more about his career journey — including how he made the leap from working as a full-time speech-language pathologist to where he is now.
Vinny started his blog, Always From Scratch, in 2019 and has had lots of success in that short amount of time — including qualifying for Mediavine and reaching over 100,000 followers on Instagram. While he contemplated taking his site full-time last year, he has since decided to hold off and shares more about his decision-making process in this interview.
Vinny and Bjork chat about balancing a full-time job with your blog, how you can use your blog as a “business card” for other job opportunities, and how to create a work-life that fills your cup.
In this episode, you’ll learn: What’s changed since Vinny’s Coaching Call with Bjork in the last 6 months. Why Vinny decided not to take his blog full-time (yet!). How he used his blog and Instagram account to get himself a full-time job in this industry. How he balances his full-time job, his blog, and his family. How to mentally justify the early days of blogging, when you’re spending lots of time on something without yet making an income. How qualifying for Mediavine and reaching 100,000+ followers on Instagram changed his mindset. What advice he has for someone looking to make the transition into running their blog full-time. How to approach your work tasks to make help you be “gas tank full.” Resources:
Always From Scratch Food Blogger Pro Coaching Calls Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One Designing Your New Work Life Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life The War of Art Follow Vinny on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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.

Creating content for YouTube, developing meal plans for your community, and strategizing for growing your brand with Nisha Vora from Rainbow Plant Life.
Welcome to episode 452 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Nisha Vora from Rainbow Plant Life.
YouTube, Meal Plans, and Business Growth Nisha Vora (who just so happens to be the YouTube Expert on Food Blogger Pro!) is back on the podcast this week to chat about all things YouTube, business growth, and meal plans!
Bjork and Nisha kick off the conversation with a deep dive into YouTube — YouTube shorts, longer-form videos, monetization on the platform, and more.
Nisha also recently launched Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life and shares more about the process of developing and marketing the meal plans, and what the future of Rainbow Plant Life might look like!
In this episode, you’ll learn: How she prioritizes creating content for her different platforms (blog, YouTube, newsletter, and social media). How her income varies between platforms. Her current strategy around YouTube Shorts vs. long-form videos (and how monetizing differs between the two). How she developed her meal plans product. Why surveying her audience played such an important role in the development of her meal plans. What meal plans version 2.0 might look like. How she tested and promoted her meal plans. How she continues to improve her skills as a content creator. How she balances creating content and managing the business side of Rainbow Plant Life. How she has grown the Rainbow Plant Life team. Resources:
Rainbow Plant Life 302: Growth Strategies – Growing Your Brand on YouTube and Beyond with Nisha Vora Digiday Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life ConvertKit Eisenhower Matrix Follow Nisha on Instagram and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----
This episode is sponsored by Memberful and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.
Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.
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.