Before Viral, Before Famous: How Lisa Lillien Built Hungry Girl Into a Media EmpireInbox

Lisa Lillien didn't set out to build a media empire. She set out to solve a problem she had herself: finding food she actually loved that didn't derail her goals. That's where Hungry Girl was born. And somehow, a simple newsletter to her friends became a brand, a community, a TV show, a book series, and a household name that millions of people trust. In this episode of Media Savvy, I sit down with Lisa to talk about what it really takes to build something that lasts. Not the highlight reel version. The real one. We go back to the beginning, to the days when she was writing a newsletter and wondering if anyone was actually reading it. We talk about how she figured out who she was talking to and what they actually needed. We talk about the media opportunities she said yes to, the ones she passed on, and how she decided which doors were worth walking through. And we get into something I think about a lot: the difference between growing an audience and genuinely connecting with one. Lisa has done the latter, and you can feel it in the way her community shows up for her. She also gave me one of my favorite cover quotes for my book, Louder Than Likes: How to Amplify Your Expertise and Make Media Work for You, so I may be a little biased. She said: "I wish I had a book like this 20 years ago. As someone who was once petrified of media, I know how intimidating it can feel to step into the spotlight. Bonnie Taub-Dix makes it approachable, practical, and empowering, with the kind of tips and takeaways that help you find your voice and use it with confidence.” This conversation will stick with you, too. If you've ever felt intimidated by media, unsure where to start, or wondered whether visibility is even worth the exposure, this one is for you. Connect with Lisa: hungrygirl.com (Just look for Hungry Girl to find her books, her Instagram, her FB page — her incredible brand!) Connect with Bonnie: Bonnie’s proven media training course: How To Work With Media and Make The Media Work for You: https://btdmedia.teachable.com/p/media-mas... Bonnie’s website: https://betterthandieting.com BTD Media Makers News Digest: https://bonnietaubdix.kit.com/d4132ece48 Follow Bonnie on Social Media: Instagram:@bonnietaubdix and @BTDmedia X (Twitter): @eatsmartbd Facebook: @BonnieTaubDix.RDN Threads: https://www.threads.net/@bonnietaubdix Bonnie’s Books: Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table Louder Than Likes: How to Amplify Your Expertise and Make Media Work for You Get in touch: [email protected]