We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Gunning and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sara, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
When I was struggling with anxiety, depression, and feeling unmotivated I started consuming all the self-help and personal development content I could find. That meant podcasts, Instagram accounts, audiobooks, documentaries, all of it. I drowned myself in positive content until I started believing in myself a little more. Eventually, I started dreaming of what I really wanted my life to be like and came to the conclusion I wanted to build a business online somehow. I knew I wanted to connect with people and I knew I wanted it to be related the wellness and lifestyle. So, I tried to start a blog. Then I tried to make YouTube videos. Then I tried to grow an Instagram account. All of these things were close, but not quite right for me and I could feel it so I kept trying new things. Eventually, I tried podcasting and fell in love. It was exactly what I envisioned from the start. An online platform that allowed me to ask questions and provide value to others. Then name The Tea, Please comes from the phrase “spilling the tea” which is usually used when referring to gossip. So I took that and added a twist by making it a positive kind of gossip, the latest and inside scoop on important topics in the lifestyle and wellness industries.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a podcast host for The Tea, Please podcast! I do everything on my own right now and I’m proud of that. I source guests, interview, edit, and market the podcast by myself. Hopefully, I’m able to hire a team in the future but I’m very proud of what I’ve done on my own. I got where I am today with a lot of trial and error. I didn’t know I wanted to be a podcast host, but I did know I wanted to build an online platform and community that helped people in one way or another. It wasn’t easy to get where I am now and I spent years feeling frustrated and confused about how to make my dream a reality. I had a lot of fear about showing up online and being myself. I felt so silly making YouTube videos in my 1 bedroom apartment where my fiance could hear and see everything I was trying to do. And I felt so nervous on my first interviews and reaching out to people to get on the podcast. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that there are no short cuts. I’ve tried to find the short cuts and they don’t work. The best way to grow online is to focus on making quality content that is authentic to you. For me, that’s podcasting and bringing on experts so I don’t have to be the expert. I learned how to do a lot of things while still being scared. I was definitely scared most of the time when I was starting, but I did it anyway. If I had waited until I felt confident I would have never gotten to where I am now. The Tea, Please is a fun and honest platform that focuses on value and doing our best without judgment.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
City O’ City has the BEST vegan food in town and a really fun atmosphere so we’d probably go there everyday. Cherry Creek farmers market in the morning to grab a local breakfast or snack. The MilkBox at union station has my favorite milkshake of all time, banana pudding! And it’s fun to check out union station. We’d grab a few Bird scooters and take them around town on the bike trails. Such a fun and easy way to see the city! Linger has amazing food and a stellar rooftop bar. Little Man Ice Cream is iconic, and just so happen to be the same ice cream as MilkBox.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Denver Boss Babes group has been so incredibly helpful for my podcast. This group is so supportive and truly wants to support each other. I was able to find many of my first podcast guests through this group because it’s filled with women supporting women, and women who are doing amazing things! The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast was also a huge source of inspiration for getting started. They talk to so many entrepreneurs and inspiring people, I would recommend this podcast to anyone looking to start a business on their own in the health and wellness space.
Website: theteaplease.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteapleasepodcast/?hl=en
Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51UkPqsdzes1NU4oHYbfSP?si=t_153_OxSaytYfN5MG0piw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/the-tea-please/id1544892934
Image Credits
Lyndsey Leach Photography