In today's episode of The Personal Branding Podcast, I'm joined by writer, speaker, and transformational storyteller Jason W. Miller — a man who, until November 2025, had never posted a single thing on social media.

When Jason and I first spoke in October of that year, he had one goal: I have a story I've been carrying for over two decades, and I think it's finally time to share it.

Three months later, he had nearly 20,000 followers on Instagram, a growing TikTok community, a launched website, and a columnist from the New York Times in his DMs.

This conversation is one of the most honest we've had on the show about what it actually feels like to share something deeply personal in public for the very first time at 51, with no platform, no roadmap, and everything to lose.

We talked about:

• why it's never too late to tell your story
• what made his first video resonate with hundreds of thousands of people
• and what it really takes to show up as a first-time creator when the stakes feel impossibly high

If you've ever wondered whether your story still matters, or whether the world actually needs to hear it, this episode is for you.

Follow Jason on Instagram and TikTok: @jasonwaidmiller Visit his website: jasonwaidmiller.com

When I first met Colette Fehr, she had no platform and no social media presence, just a book idea she deeply believed in. Nearly three years later, that decision has turned into a literary agent and a book deal with Penguin Random House.

In this episode, Colette shares the full behind-the-scenes story of how it happened — from writing the book in early morning hours, to staying in touch with the agent who initially told her “not yet,” to building a platform in her 50s despite feeling overwhelmed, exposed, and unsure if anyone was paying attention.

We talk about the emotional side of building a platform, why persistence mattered more than talent, and how believing in her work before anyone else did changed everything.

If you’ve ever wanted to write a book, share your work, or build something meaningful, this episode is a reminder that staying in the game can change your life.

Order The Cost of Quiet
https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book

Substack:
www.colettejanefehr.substack.com

Instagram & TikTok:
@colettejanefehr

Website:
colettejanefehr.com

My TEDx talk — “Secrets from a Couples Therapist”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tSUOB2yEd0

In this conversation, I talk with bestselling poet Jennae Cecelia, whose words have reached over 16 million readers worldwide through her viral poem I Met My Younger Self for Coffee.

We met in Boston earlier this year, and I left our conversation feeling deeply inspired by her story — how she’s built a thriving creative career through consistency, faith, and a willingness to evolve. From self-publishing 13 books to signing with Simon & Schuster partner Andrews McMeel, Jennae opens up about what it really takes to keep showing up for your work when it feels like no one’s watching.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The reality of staying creative and relevant in an ever-changing online world
• How Jennae turned her love of words into a full-time career as a poet
• The behind-the-scenes of self-publishing, including how she hit #1 on Amazon
• Her strategies for growing an audience on Instagram and TikTok
• The “postpartum blues” of publishing a book and how to move through it
• Why showing up imperfectly still matters more than waiting until you’re ready

If you’ve ever felt discouraged about your art or unsure whether your work is making an impact — this conversation will remind you why it’s worth it to keep going.

After dropping her boyfriend at the airport for a month-long trip, Olivia Yokubonis recorded a late-night voiceover about autonomy in relationships — how important it is to keep discovering yourself, even when you’re with someone. By morning, the video had a million views.

In this episode, Olivia shares how that moment of honesty became the catalyst for building a personal brand rooted in storytelling. We talk about what makes a video truly captivating, why specificity matters more than perfection, and how she transformed heartbreak into a thriving community of 127K+ followers. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to find your voice online, or had doubts about whether your story is worth telling, this conversation will change the way you think about creating.

What does it really take to turn a personal story into a book you’re proud to share with the world? In this episode, I sit down with my editor and dear friend, Elena, to unpack the messy, magical process of transforming Lonely Girl from Substack serialization to a finished print book. 

We talk about what it’s really like to edit a memoir, how to know when a story is ‘done,’ the difference between writing and refining, and why honoring your reader is as important as honoring your art.

Join the waitlist to get notified when Lonely Girl is available for purchase

Follow Elena on Substack
TikTok
Instagram

In this episode, I sit down with content creator and photographer Jordan Loufas, whose cozy, relatable vlogs have helped her build a deeply connected and loyal community online. We talk about how she grew her platform from scratch, starting with playful TikToks during the pandemic and finding real connection after opening up about her eating disorder. Jordan shares what it was like going viral overnight, how she handles criticism, and why the block button is her best friend.

We also dive into what it really means to be relatable online, how to turn ordinary life into creative art, and why you don’t need a niche to grow a loyal following... just a willingness to be fully yourself.

Whether you're a new creator wondering how to start, or a seasoned one rethinking your relationship with social media, this conversation will remind you: there are no rules. You’re allowed to evolve. And your personality is your brand.

Topics We Cover:

• The moment Jordan’s content started taking off
• Sharing personal stories online (and handling the backlash)
• Building confidence on camera—farts, flaws, and all
• Creating without a content calendar
• Letting your identity evolve beyond your job
• The myth of the niche—and what to focus on instead
• Why people crave realness over perfection

Follow Jordan:
TikTok
Instagram

Follow Anna:
@annavatuone | personalbrandaccelerator.com

Victoria Mitchell, COO of Good Party, openly talked about her decision to freeze her eggs, and the complications that came with it, on social media. Her latest series, "My Egg Freezing Journey" has reached millions of people on Instagram and TikTok.

I was curious:

What led her to share this story? And how was able to transform a deeply personal journey into a viral sensation?

After pouring countless hours into the project with little to no reward, she almost gave up. But the fifth video, which she admittedly 'phoned in', was the turning point. After that, the series blew up.

Victoria's story shows us that sometimes, our most compelling stories are the ones that emerge from our most authentic experiences, no matter how complex or paradoxical they may seem.

The hardest part? Being brave enough to share them.

Victoria P. Mitchell is a Chief Operating Officer and content creator who’s on a mission to reveal the paradoxes behind our ability to make a deep, lasting impact.  You can find her sharing her journey @victoriapmitchell with her 10k+ followers on Instagram and TikTok. She shares even more insights with her email list – learn more at www.victoriapmitchell.com.

I've been following Gelsey on TikTok for years, but her latest hit, "How to Be That Girl," which has been viewed by over 4M people, really caught my attention. 

I was curious:

• What led her to create it? 
• How does she come up with her ideas?
• How did she transform it from a post with 23k views into a post with 4M views?

Her answer was juicier then I expected.

Ready to tell your own story?

Dive into my new course, “How to Write Your Personal Brand Story.”  No personal brand required. All you need is the willingness to share something authentic and meaningful with the world.

Inside this transformative course, you can expect to:

• Master the art of personal storytelling
• Learn how to hook readers from the start (and keep them on the edge of their seats)
• Discover the unique story you were meant to share (that only you can tell)
• Refine your writing skills and learn how to share your story effectively on social media

Start Here

In this episode, I'm interviewing Josh Hayman the co-founder and CEO at Interact. Interact is a quiz software founded in 2013 that pivoted to an AI-first approach in 2023. Today Interact has over 7,000 paying customers and the ability to make a quiz from any piece of content in 2 minutes with AI.

Start Building Your Quiz Today

In the episode, Josh and I discuss how to leverage quizzes to grow your email list, how to make a good quiz, how to choose the right topic, and create results people want to share.

Key Takeaways:

• Quizzes are a powerful tool for building an email list and converting website visitors into subscribers.
• Using AI to generate quizzes can save time and make the process easier.
• Segmenting your audience based on quiz results allows for more personalized and targeted marketing.
• Having a website and utilizing email marketing are essential for long-term business success.

Today’s guest is TikTok superstar Chayse Byrd. You might know her for her gym vlogs, piss pant reviews, and barefoot running—but today she is giving us something entirely different — insights into how she gained 1.3 million followers on TikTok and her strategy for staying consistent with her posts. In the episode, we talk about how to push past the awkward phase of posting, crying on camera, and how to diversify your content while staying true to who you are.

If you wan to create high-quality content and build your following, this episode will be highly-informative for you and most certainly get you started on the right track.

Join the Waitlist for Personal Brand Accelerator
Follow Chayse on TikTok
Follow Chayse on Instagram