I always love leveraging the old Chicago network of friends and colleagues for business. But one of the most fun introductions I’ve had in a while is to Johanna Almstead, founder and curator of #eatmywords podcast. We had a dynamic conversation that you may enjoy listening to her in season 2, episode 2 available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeartRadio, et al.
 
And for my exclusive Q&A with Johanna, keep reading.
 
AJR: What inspired you to start #eatmywords?

JA: First of all, thank you so much for joining me on the show and for sharing your story.  I know women are going to be so inspired by your journey and your voice. And thank you for having me here!
 
I have had the unbelievable joy and privilege to share dinner tables with some extraordinary women throughout my life and career, and I would leave these candid and sometimes rowdy evenings with the feeling of, “wow, these women are so extraordinary- I wish women around the world could be a fly on the wall during these conversations.”  I also have witnessed the power of just sharing one’s story and how that simple act can change someone’s life.  So, I thought why not find a way to bring these conversations to a bigger audience so their lives can be touched too?  Our words matter. Our stories of womanhood matter.  So, I built Eat My Words as a place for us to share them.
 
AJR: What are you hoping listeners gleam from your podcast?

JA: I hope that by listening to our stories, something gets ignited inside of them.  Maybe it is a light of recognition in a shared experience or struggle, maybe it is the light of an idea they have been wanting to try and just haven’t had the gumption to do yet, maybe it’s the light of a voice inside of them that they haven’t been paying enough attention to. I hope that by hearing another woman’s story they are inspired to make their own lives better, fuller, richer and that in turn we can make the world a better place, by sharing one story at a time.
 
AJR: How is #eatmywords different from all other podcasts?

JA: I think it is different because it is so authentically me- I talk to and about the people and things that I love and feel passionate about.  I am unabashedly committed to that mission.  I also think that by sharing our whole selves as women, we are doing an important service to the world.  I don’t want to only know about your work or only know about your experience with motherhood or grief or success.  I want to know how those things co-exist in us and how we continue to nourish ourselves in the process.
 
 
AJR: What does “winning” look like for #eatmywords?

JA: Oh wow!  Well, I already feel like I am winning every day that I get to have these meaningful conversations with these incredible women.  So, on top of that, I’d love to continue to grow our audience so that we can touch more women’s lives.  I’d love to line up some great brand partnerships so that we can expand the world of Eat My Words with IRL events and more in person activations with our guests and listeners and most definitely an Eat My Words book of shared ideas, quotes from our guests, inspirations, recipes, beautiful photos of women gathering over food and playlists.  There is so much I want to do because this community of women and our audience is just so extraordinary- I want to shout it all from the rooftops!
 
To hear our conversation on #eatmywords that aired this week, you can find it in season 2, episode 2 available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeartRadio!