We were lucky to catch up with Julie Merica recently and have shared our conversation below.

Julie , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

My life has been completely dependent on my ability to get face deep into my fears and take major risks in my life.

It started with a major move after establishing a teaching career in Florida to Chicago without a job (or nearly enough savings) that led to me taking improv classes to get over my debilitating stage fright so I could ideally, try my hand in stand up comedy. Now I have a successful podcast, a dream job I didn’t know was as an option 9 years ago but paid my bills within 1 and a half of recording in my closet.

I have spent so much of my life terrified of putting myself out there – only to be embraced with open arms once I do, which has given me the confidence I’ve always craved to go after the stuff that truly matters to me.

Suffering from depression and anxiety sometimes makes me nervous to leave my house, so to know that I get paid to be on stage, entertain, and produce my own content has made me feel fulfilled beyond any of my wildest dreams, and I know that’s just beginning for me – because I’m taking my time to produce things I’m genuinely proud of instead of feeling the need to be “on” all the time, like I used to feel the need to be.

Risk is the reason I’m here. It’s the reason I’m a person who now says I have suffered from depression and anxiety rather than saying “I’m so depressed and anxious” and I mean it.

Life improves when you gain perspective on what really matters to you and weigh the rewards vs. risks as it pertains to YOU and that’s something that’s taken me nearly 35 years to discover and dang, I’m just get started.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Currently, I am the host of a the make your damn bed podcast, which is a concise (under 10 minutes) daily motivation podcast that can be paired with healthier habits without the shame + trash talk, or the hokey fluff (unless it’s good hokey fluff),

I know there’s a ton of content out there, so creating a functional, proactive, and entertaining enough daily episodic show that encourages us to to tune in, every single day – was a top priority.

Combining my love for psychology, comedy, teaching, and talking to myself in a closet about ways to genuinely improve lives without uprooting them completely has been a dream come true and I’m grateful as heck that I’m able to do something every day that I genuinely and whole-heartedly believe in.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

What worked for me yesterday, may not work for me today.

I struggle with consistency when it comes to my energy, both physically and. creatively, and that means I need to be extra gentle with myself if I’m unable to sustain 110% all day, every day.

Life is weird + hard and we have to become our own best friends or we end up unintentionally working against ourselves if we’re not diligent about the way we’re talking to ourselves + treating ourselves,.. even when we only have 20% to give.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Consistency + authenticity.

We live in a time where we are all desperately craving authentic connection.

At one time, we loved reality TV. That was, until we learned it was scripted. So, we shift to social media, until that was flooded with ads and clickbait. Now, we search for it anywhere + everywhere.

So be kind, honest, real, and consistent – aim to help + not do harm – and show up.

When people can expect you to show up for them in a way that’s consistent and reliable, we offer them something we’re all deserving of and searching for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mydbpodcast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MYDBpodcast
• Youtube: youtube.com/juliemerica
• Other: Search Make Your Damn Bed Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Image Credits
Julie Merica (I’m also a professional photographer!)