It's not about me, it's about telling stories, says Katie DeRaddo, creator of A Grave Attraction

It's not about me, it's about telling stories, says Katie DeRaddo, creator of A Grave Attraction

On my podcast It’s a Lot this week, I chatted with Katie DeRaddo, the human behind A Grave Attraction. She spent years cleaning headstones for fun before deciding to start sharing the stories of the dead through social media. From there, she’s received tons of opportunities, met interesting people, and cleaned many more headstones along the way. During the first half of the show, we discuss proper headstone cleaning techniques, how she does her research, and some of her favorite cemeteries to work in. In the latter half of our conversation, we dive into the pesky comparison trap of social media, her feelings on long form video content, and fears of being a washed up content creator. I really appreciated Katie’s vulnerability in talking about these things that so many of us struggle with!

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That time Jackie Ortiz angered the birding community (and other stories from a content creator & social media pro)

That time Jackie Ortiz angered the birding community (and other stories from a content creator & social media pro)

On It’s a Lot this week, I chatted with Jackie Ortiz (she/they), a social media professional by day and food/travel content creator by night. Their whole career has focused on building community and cultivating curiosity, which I really admire! We explore figuring out how to identify which stories will resonate with your target audience, learning to create video content, encouraging people to see familiar places differently, and lots more. We even talk about the time a small mistake in one of her travel videos infuriated the birding community!

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A Conversation with Alex Lopez: On Growing a TikTok Following, Pivoting Your Strategy, & Staying True to Yourself

A Conversation with Alex Lopez: On Growing a TikTok Following, Pivoting Your Strategy, & Staying True to Yourself

This is the 18th post in the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview smart humans about their experiences in communications, social media, and content creation. You can read past features here.

This month, I interviewed Alex Lopez, a writer and content creator who has grown a large following on TikTok over the past few years. In this blog post, we explore tips for going viral, pivoting your TikTok strategy, content creation as a career path, and more. 

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A Conversation with Tianna Mañón: Tips for Good Pitches & Great Storytelling

A Conversation with Tianna Mañón: Tips for Good Pitches & Great Storytelling

This is the sixth post in the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview talented folks about their areas of expertise, whether that’s social media, public relations, or communications. You can read past entries in the series here.

This month, I interviewed Tianna Mañón, a self-employed media specialist based in Rochester, NY. We discussed building relationships with journalists, what makes a good pitch, how to tell great stories, and why representation in newsrooms matters. I hope you enjoy her insights!

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