Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lily Bean. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Lily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I wish that I could go back in time to my 20 year old self and say, “start now.” Even if it isn’t perfect, even if I didn’t know how to do everything, or where to start. I would have been able to capture a whole different story and a whole different person. I view my podcast as a large scale time capsule. I’ve only been podcasting for a year now, and the growth and changes that I’ve had and been through have been DRASTIC. I got engaged, cut off friends, lost my grandmother, traveled all over the United States, tried new things, the list goes on. I started last year on my one year anniversary with my, now fiance, he’s my biggest supporter and told me to upload an episode and see how I like it. And I’ve really grown to love it- it’s almost an addiction. I’ve always been creative, held leadership positions, and had a knack for yapping. So I knew that I’d enjoy creating my podcast. Originally, the idea stemmed from voice notes I’d send back and forth to one of my friends, and before I knew it, I had my own podcast, with the same cadence, liveliness, and messages. I wanted to help connect my friends and family, and build them up- while bringing the audience into my realm. I want everyone who listens to not feel alone. I want to be that girl friend that I, so desperately needed as a 20 year old.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My mother’s my biggest inspiration. She’s been an attorney for 30 years or so. I’ve always been comfortable around the law. I always thought I’d go to law school and we’d open a practice together. I did mock trial in high school, I majored in Law and Criminal Justice, I took the LSAT, I interned, and then worked in a law firm. It never felt quite right, always like I was forcing it. I find the law interesting, but I tended to see that people usually need lawyers during the worst parts of their lives (divorce, custody, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, etc.). While it’s a good field, and a good day job, I needed a creative outlet.
And that’s where podcasting comes in! Growing up I really enjoyed playing with GarageBand and singing, and so I’d thought I’d use the same platforms to record my episodes. I used Canva to create the podcast cover and videos that coincide with the audio for my social medias, I use social media to promote and engage with my audience. I am a HUGE Spotify girl, so they are where I will ONLY host my podcast, I’ve tried other platforms and it almost ended Girl Math with Lily Bean as we know it.
One of the BEST compliments I’ve ever been given is that I’m a social chameleon. I can get along with anyone, and chat about… pretty much everything. I love learning, I love providing resources, being insightful, while also being funny and quirky. I want people to laugh with me. I want to create experiences for my audience. I love getting texts from my friends saying that they laughed out loud… or barked when I asked them to. You just have to listen to find out :)
I’m most proud of podcasting for a WHOLE year. Granted, there were some lulls in my weekly uploads, but I really kept up with Girl Math with Lily Bean and will continue to do so! It was surreal being a guest on the Updated AF Collective podcast, Magan Worth is a QUEEN.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Not everyone should have access to your big beautiful brain. I’m sure many people get the messages starting with, “Hey girl…” and continue on to tell you that they think they should do what you’re doing. I will be the first to say- there is room for EVERYONE. Everyone deserves to take up space and create and hit their stride.
But not everyone needs to hear how YOU do YOUR work. I’m not talking about gatekeeping and I’m really not trying to sound cold. But not everyone can do what you do.
I’ve handheld many acquaintances and talked them through creating their podcast and telling them things I’ve learned. I’ve had hundreds of messages in a text thread, I’ve had numerous phone calls, and meetings. And yet, I’m still waiting for them to start their podcast.
I get it, you learn by teaching, but sometime’s sharing your wisdom is a waste of everyone’s time and energy. The people that really want it, do it and ask questions later.
Not everyone wants to do what we do. They just want to talk about it. And that gets frustrating. My next episode is about everything I’ve learned within my first year of podcasting. I’m not claiming I know it all, at all. BUT I am sharing my experiences. And so when one of my “friends,” hits me with the “Hey girl…” They’re getting the link to that episode, and not a lot more. Protect what you’ve worked hard for and worked hard to learn.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
It is SO simple, but I wish I used YouTube more in the beginning. There’s a fabulous TED Talk by Mike Dronkers titled, “How to Interview ‘Almost’ Anyone” and that really put things into perspective when I started welcoming guests on my show. I still watch it before every interview. YouTube is a free resource with the answers to most of the world’s problems. If I have problems with my computer, my equipment- YouTube will be there to troubleshoot with me. If I want to learn how to get more traffic, or grow my podcast, or edit a video, or make things more aesthetically pleasing- there are at least 5 different YouTube videos that can teach me in minutes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/bunchesxoxo
- Instagram: @bunchesxoxo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liliana.camille.18/
- Twitter: @bunchesxoxo
- Other: Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girl-math-with-lily-bean
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girl-math-with-lily-bean/id1713073629
