🎧 Why You Should Start an Email Newsletter in 2026

If you’ve ever thought, “An email list isn’t really for my niche” or “That feels like one more thing I don’t have time for,”this episode is for you.

In this week’s podcast, I’m breaking down why starting an email newsletter in 2026 isn’t optional anymore for creators (in my opinion) and how it can be one of the most powerful, low-pressure tools you own.

I share why I trusted my instincts and started building an email list early in my creator journey (even when it was tiny), and why that decision became incredibly valuable when platforms felt shaky. If we all learned anything from the near TikTok shutdown in 2025, it’s this: you don’t own your audience on social media, but you do own your email list.

In this episode, we cover:

Why any niche can have a newsletter (yes, even yours)
What an email list actually represents (hint: it’s not your follower count)
How newsletters deepen connection beyond the algorithm
Why consistency doesn’t mean “weekly daunting task”
The mindset shift that keeps this from feeling overwhelming
The real reason email builds trust, loyalty, and long-term opportunity
Then I walk through the big-picture steps for getting started—without drowning you in tech or minutiae:

Choosing the right platform
Deciding what to write about (sustainably)
Setting a cadence you can actually maintain
Planning ahead so it doesn’t become another chore
And how to give people a reason to sign up—without feeling salesy
You don’t need a massive audience.
You don’t need to email all the time.
You just need to start.

To join the studio and learn how to do this step by step, go here:
https://muthership.mn.co

Social Media Strategy 101

Why this episode matters
Most creators say they want a strategy but don’t actually know what that means. Today’s podcast episode breaks down how to think about social media before you worry about growth, trends, or monetization.

What is covered

• What “strategy” really means (and why most people skip this step)
• The biggest mistake new creators make when choosing what to post
• Why copying “growth tips” can actually hurt your account
• Why selling too soon backfires and what to focus on instead
• How creators actually build loyalty (not just followers)
• The truth about viral growth vs. sustainable growth
• How to find your lane without boxing yourself in
• A simple way to think about content rotation so your page makes sense to new viewers

Who this episode is for

• New creators who feel overwhelmed by “expert advice”
• Experienced creators who feel stuck or unfocused
• Anyone tired of chasing trends without results
• Creators who want clarity, confidence, and direction

Bottom line

This isn’t about hacks or algorithms. It’s about building a strategy you can actually stick with and enjoy.

Need more help? Join the Muthership Creator Studio and learn, level up and make your efforts amount to something meaningful!
JOIN HERE: https://muthership.mn.co/

In this week’s podcast, I break down how to create social media habits that actually stick — inspired by Atomic Habits and adapted specifically for content creators.

We’re talking:

Why “trying harder” is the wrong strategy

How to make content creation feel almost automatic

The tiny shifts that remove friction and eliminate burnout

How consistency gets easier when the effort gets smaller

If posting feels overwhelming, or dependent on “being in the mood”… this episode will change how you think about content.

Want help putting this into practice?
The New Year Content Challenge is underway right now inside the Muthership Creator Studio.

✔️ Daily prompts
✔️ Weekly content plans
✔️ Accountability + support
✔️ Weekly meetings with me to ask questions

Use code NEWYEAR10 for $10 off your first month.

👉 Join us here: https://muthership.mn.co

Recording & Editing Tips Every Creator Should Know

In this episode, Helen shares practical filming and editing tips drawn from decades in professional production—simplified for today’s content creators.

What you’ll learn:

• Why the first 2–3 seconds of your video matter more than you think
• How tightening clips instantly improves engagement
• When to use wide shots, close-ups, zooms, and POV shots (and why)
• How camera movement can help—or hurt—your storytelling
• Simple editing techniques that keep viewers watching
• Why taking breaks makes your edits better
• How to create content you actually enjoy so consistency comes easier

Plus, Helen shares two unsponsored favorites and encourages creators to head into the New Year with confidence, creativity, and a focus on making content that feels good to make.

On Camera Confidence!

In this holiday-themed episode, Helen shares honest, encouraging guidance for creators who struggle with confidence on camera—especially those who feel awkward, intimidated, or frozen when they hit record.

You’ll hear real talk about pushing through discomfort, releasing expectations around views, and why confidence is built through practice—not perfection. Helen also shares a meaningful Unsponsored By spotlight on Alec’s Gift Baskets, a purpose-driven business supporting people with disabilities, veterans, and second-chance employment.

FIND ALEC'S GIFT BASKETS HERE: https://www.alecsgiftbaskets.com/

In this episode, we cover:

• Why feeling “weird” on camera is part of the process (and totally normal)
• How imagining a receptive viewer—not a critical audience—changes everything
• Letting go of views, metrics, and performance pressure
• Taking baby steps to build on-camera confidence
• Why your first take is often your best take
• The power of showing up before you feel ready
• A behind-the-scenes lesson on building an email list through value-driven content

This episode is a reminder that confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, one imperfect video at a time.

✨ Happy holidays, and get ready to step into the new year with clarity, courage, and creative momentum.

🎙️ Podcast Outline — Why You’re Not Growing on Social Media

INTRO

• Helen returns from a creative brand shoot in Dallas — fresh insights coming soon
• This week’s Unsponsored by Choice: Fable Cosmetics
• Shoutout to Tina at Fable for beautifully branded products and a makeup refresh
• Today’s topic: Why you’re not growing on social media — and how to rethink your strategy

MAIN TOPICS COVERED

1. The Real Reason Growth Stalls

• Relying solely on TikTok Shop, lip-syncs, or still photos = limited growth
• Followers need a reason to follow you — value, entertainment, inspiration, or connection

2. What Big Brands Actually Look For

• Brands favor great storytellers, not just big influencers
• Authenticity > polished sales pitches
• Creators who share their truth perform better than creators who “sell”

3. Influencers vs. Creators Today

• The old-school influencer model is shifting
• New audiences don’t flock to “famous influencers” — they follow relatable problem-solvers
• Trust is now the currency, not follower count

4. Value: The Most Important Ingredient

• Followers want content that improves their life in some way
• Value can be: humor, creativity, education, inspiration, personality, or storytelling
• Lip-syncs or shop-only videos rarely build loyalty anymore

5. Flip the Script: Ask Yourself the Big Question

• “Why do I want to post on social media?”
• If your answer is “to make money,” growth will be slow
• Money is the outcome, not the purpose
• Authenticity collapses when the only driver is sales

6. Trust Takes Time — And It’s Worth It

• Real monetization comes from trust, consistency, and community
• Great example: Amber from the Studio—small but powerful niche audience → brand deals
• Niche, passion, and community outperform random product pushes

7. Play the Long Game

• Quick money = short-lived, burnout-heavy path
• Long game = purpose-driven content, sustainable growth, and genuine enjoyment
• You don’t need millions to monetize — you need loyalty

8. Holiday Challenge Reminder

• Join the 12 Days of Vlogmas / Holiday Challenge starting today
• Easy prompts, flexible formats, and a great way to build momentum

JOIN US HERE and use HOLIDAY10 for $10 off your first month!

This week on the podcast, we’re talking about one of my favorite topics:

How to transition from being a content consumer to a content creator.

If you’ve ever felt the nudge to start posting—or you're already creating but want to rethink your approach—this episode will give you a fresh perspective. It’s also a perfect one to share with someone who’s just getting started and isn’t sure where to begin.

Here’s what we get into:

• How to watch your For You Page with real intention and learn from what stops your scroll
• Why clarifying your “why” makes content creation so much easier
• How crowded niches still allow for your unique voice
• The different ways your content can add value—educational, entertaining, storytelling, or character-based
• The truth about growth, consistency, and resilience
• How to filter out bad advice and learn through experimentation
• Why creating what YOU genuinely want is the most sustainable long-term strategy

It's a simple framework, but a powerful one—and it’s exactly what I wish every new creator understood before posting their first video.

Feel free to reply or comment with your questions—I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

🚫 The “bad advice” episode:

I’m breaking down the most common pieces of social media advice that need to go — and why they’re messing with your head more than helping your content.

⚠️ How fake “rules” spread: Why fear-based, clickbait-y tips (“you’ll get shadowbanned if…”) travel so fast — and how to spot creators who are optimizing for their views, not your growth.

❤️ Spam-liking, shadowbans & other myths: What actually happens when you like a bunch of videos, and the real line between normal behavior and “bot” behavior.

💬 “Engage from the bottom up” & other fake hacks: Why tricks like this only boost the creator who said it — and do absolutely nothing magical for your own account.

👀 Should you only follow people in your niche? I explain how that advice quietly turns you into a copycat, fuels comparison, and limits your creativity.

🎵 “Use this audio to go viral”: The truth about trending sounds, why they can sometimes help, and why anyone promising virality is… let’s just say, stretching it.

🧠 Red-flag language to watch for: Why “always,” “never,” and “guaranteed” are your cue to be skeptical — and how I personally fact-check advice before I believe it.

📈 What actually works long-term: The unsexy but real stuff — consistency, clearer storytelling, better pacing, authentic energy, experimenting, and focusing on impact over viral hits.

These are the kinds of things we dig into in this episode, so if you’ve ever felt confused or discouraged by conflicting social media advice, this one will feel like a big exhale. 🎧📺

Join the studio and learn to create better content:
https://socialize-studio.mn.co