Dillan interviews Michelle Varghese—a writer and former podcaster who co-hosted Build a Wealthy Spirit for four years with her sister.

Now focused on writing and coaching, Michelle helps nonfiction creators improve their craft and grow their audience.

They discuss: why Michelle and her sister intentionally quit their podcast after four consistent years, how to know when you're truly done with a creative project, the identity crisis that can follow quitting, how creators can build systems to stay consistent, what Michelle learned from podcasting that she now applies to her writing business, the importance of marketing your work (even when it feels uncomfortable), what the word "niche" actually means, how to gracefully pivot your creator brand, the rise of personality-driven content in the age of A.I., why vulnerability and in-person connection are the future of content, and much more.

Michelle's links...
Website: https://michelleelisabethvarghese.com/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/mvarghoose
Writing coaching: https://michellevarghoose.gumroad.com/l/writingcoaching/

•••

Follow Dillan on the interwebs...

Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor
Newsletter: https://www.grindstone.coach/newsletter
Apply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/

Music by myboy.scoochy:
https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ 

•••

0:00 Intro
0:58 Why Michelle and her sister quit their podcast
3:22 How to know when to quit a project
6:47 The identity shift that comes from quitting
10:53 Top 3 lessons from running a weekly podcast
15:53 The Ford ad story: why repetition matters
20:53 How creators can build systems to stay consistent
26:33 Moving on from being “the sabbatical girl”
30:51 The risks of changing your niche
35:23 Being your own niche in the age of A.I.
36:53 Vulnerability and in-person connection
42:46 Michelle’s “topics vibe, & connection”
50:33 Launching her writing coaching
55:30 Bye bye bye