We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Crystal Uhl, Hillary Blake, and Kelly McKinney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Crystal, Hillary, Kelly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The world we are living in can be challenging and impossible to walk through alone, but the three of us have found great friendship in each other. We love to encourage people, make them laugh, and have started The Calm The Storm The Whimsy podcast based on our differences to reach a wider network of people. Our podcast represents each of our unique personalities and we aim to be transparent while walking alongside our listeners. In each episode, we tackle different topics, providing a sense of community, connection, and support, especially during times when it’s easy to feel isolated. We want our listeners to join us on this journey as we navigate the ups and downs of life, reminding each other that we are never alone and inspiring others to find their own tribe and support system.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Crystal Uhl (The Calm)
I am Crystal Uhl, also known as “The Calm” from The Calm The Storm The Whimsy Podcast. I’ve been Aaron’s wife for 18 years, and together we are blessed with three wonderful children. Our life is enriched by a vibrant community of friends and other couples with whom we share our journey. For over eight years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, currently homeschooling our youngest daughter. Alongside this, I run a small virtual assistant business and have a passion for writing and editing content.
They call me The Calm because I maintain a calm and relaxed demeanor, even in emergencies, bringing a soothing presence to any situation. I’m an avid learner, regularly tuning into podcasts, which inspired me to explore content creation as a way to generate income. With our podcast, I aim to make a meaningful impact, contributing positively to the world around us. I have a deep love for people and find joy in seeing others grow and learn.
Hillary Blake (The Storm)
My name is Hillary Blake, and I have been married to my husband Chris for 18 years. Together, we are blessed with 5 wonderful kids. While I am primarily a stay-at-home mom, I also work various administrative jobs remotely. Additionally, my friend Kelly (known as the Whimsy) and I have run a successful photography business for the past 12 years. Interacting with our clients and capturing their precious moments brings us immense joy.
Recently, I have embarked on a new adventure in podcasting, which has been incredibly exciting. On this podcast, I go by the name The Storm, a fitting title for this hot mess mama! Each day, I come up with new real life stories that are like scenes from a movie, showcasing the real and messy side of womanhood. I believe in the importance of being transparent and sharing the raw, vulnerable moments of our lives, as it is far too easy to compare ourselves to others’ highlight reels. Embracing our imperfections and sharing our real selves is not only empowering but also connects us in our shared experiences as women.
Kelly McKinney (The Whimsy)
My name is Kelly McKinney, and I have been happily married to my husband Lennie for nearly 17 wonderful years. Together, we have been blessed with four incredible children. We are passionate about planting home churches and serving our community, as well as exploring new destinations and immersing ourselves in the magic of Disney. We believe in creating lasting memories with our loved ones, as these moments are truly priceless. Known as the Whimsy, I bring a sense of fun and joy to every situation, whether it’s through playful pranks, witty jokes, or spontaneous dance moves that never fail to bring a smile to others’ faces. As the Calm keeps us grounded and the Storm keeps us real, I am the one who adds a touch of whimsy and laughter to our lives. There will always be unexpected surprises on this podcast, as you never know what the Whimsy will say next.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
Over the years, we have supported each other through various life stages, from youth group at church to getting married, starting a business, and becoming mothers. The addition of Crystal to our circle five years ago, when our children began attending the same elementary school, strengthened our bond even further. Our unique personalities complement each other perfectly, creating a deep connection that enhances and enriches our lives. Together, we navigate life’s challenges and triumphs, making each moment more meaningful and fulfilling. The natural progression of our strong friendship leads us to the exciting decision to embark on a new adventure together: starting a podcast.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
We as podcasters have had to unlearn the need for perfection. In the early stages of our podcast, we told ourselves that we had to be bad in order to be good. We ran with that concept. We had no idea what we were doing when it came to recording and providing content. We had all the thoughts and material but what do we do to get it out to the world. That was a very hard concept to understand and unlearn, there’s often a pressure to ensure that every release is flawless, from the audio quality to the content delivery. However, this pursuit of perfection can actually hinder creativity and spontaneity, making the content feel less authentic.
The backstory to this unlearning process has involved the realization that our listeners often value genuine interaction and authenticity over polished perfection. They appreciate the raw moments, the occasional stumbles, and the real emotions because it makes us more relatable. Learning to embrace imperfections can help podcasters like us connect more deeply with their audience, encouraging a more engaging and sustainable podcasting experience.
For a laugh at imperfection listen to our very first podcast episode called Beautiful Train Wreck, which use to give us anxiety and thoughts of imperfection but is a story of our journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecalmthestormthewhimsy.buzzsprout.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_calm_the_storm_the_whimsy/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/The-Calm-The-Storm-The-Whimsy/61556181497623/
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-calm-the-storm-the-whimsy/id1731774614https://open.spotify.com/show/4yqUitTmllRQh2Ic5p9fYr?si=c096d3b9bb6d45d8
Image Credits
Liza Piza Photography
Scott Maxwell @smmedits_