🥼 Inside a podcast Mayo Clinic trusts with its name

Presented by Cozy Critters

👺 Monster as Metaphor

Every creative work has its monster. Sometimes it’s self-doubt, whispering that you’re not ready. Sometimes it’s perfectionism, polishing your rough draft into oblivion. Other times it’s that endless scroll of other people’s work—faster, louder, better—gnawing at your momentum.

But here’s the twist: The monster isn’t the enemy. It’s the signal. It shows up when you’re doing something that matters. Something with teeth. The fear, the resistance, the inner critic, that’s just your brain running a stress test on your courage.

So don’t slay it. Name it. Invite it in. Then keep going. The monster only wins when you mistake it for the truth.

🎙️ Signal Flow: Tara Schmidt

Industry game changers and valiant minds share their wisdom, adversities, and paths to innovation.

Tara Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD is a registered dietitian and an instructor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. As the lead dietitian for the Mayo Clinic Diet, she provides guidance rooted in evidence-based principles, helping individuals develop sustainable and realistic strategies for long-term health. She also hosts Mayo Clinic On Nutrition, a podcast that dives into current nutrition research and practical weight management tips, and she lends her expertise as the Medical Editor of the Nutrition & Fitness channel for Mayo Clinic Press.

Mayo Clinic already had a reputation for trusted health content, but it was mostly in article form. Launching Mayo Clinic Press allowed us to be more consumer-facing and agile. We knew podcasting was the next step, especially with so much misinformation out there. We launched four shows, including On Nutrition, to connect with listeners in a more human, accessible format.

This is my first podcasting experience, and I love it. I get to ask the questions and let the brilliance of others shine.

One hard truth I’ve learned: the level of research and vetting required. Having Mayo Clinic’s name on the show means we have to be extra cautious. We don’t say the sky is blue unless there’s a peer-reviewed meta-analysis to back it up. That standard of rigor is critical, but it’s a heavy lift. You can find a study to support almost anything. Our job is to contextualize and clarify.

One unexpected joy: the people. I’ve met and learned from brilliant colleagues I never would’ve crossed paths with. It’s widened my professional circle and deepened my own thinking. Conversations that start as interviews often turn into friendships.

Logistics have kept us mostly audio-only so far (guests and hosts are often in different locations), but we’re ready to expand to video. It’s a natural evolution, even though video brings its own challenges (budget, time, production, lighting, etc.). Still, it’s worth it for the reach and engagement.

I try to ask questions that real people are Googling late at night. If someone’s worried about a trend or curious about a health topic, I want them to find answers that are rooted in science, but also easy to understand. Sometimes, we even tackle topics that aren’t trending yet, helping people get ahead of the misinformation curve. We aim to strike a balance: scientific accuracy with warmth and relatability.

One thing I’ve really worked on is checking my bias. Nutrition is deeply personal, and it’s easy to bring judgment or assumptions into the conversation. I’ve had to remind myself that just because I don’t practice a certain approach doesn’t mean it’s invalid for someone else. Food is emotional. People need space to figure out what works for them, even if it goes against guidelines.

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☀️ Summer Bedtime Gets a Wild Upgrade!

Cozy Critters, a Mom’s Choice Award winner and proudly featured by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, turns bedtime (and summertime) into a cozy animal adventure.

Join Dougie Pickles and his curious kitten co-host, Miss Meow Meow, as they journey across the globe, meeting animals and learning wowzeriffic facts about their lives.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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I didn’t go through formal podcast training. I had some media experience (TV, print, and interviews) so that helped. But I’ve learned a lot by doing. I’ve stopped reading scripts word-for-word. I now rephrase things to sound like me. That shift, to being more natural and conversational, has made the show better.

We do annual reviews of what’s working. Yes, downloads matter, but we dig deeper: Which episodes resonated most? Was it the topic? The guest? The format? We’re especially interested in listener retention—how long people stay with each episode. That tells us a lot.

At launch, there were big hopes: 50,000 downloads per episode within 6–12 months. That’s ambitious, especially for a new show without a major marketing budget or celebrity host. We recently passed 100,000 total downloads, which is a meaningful milestone. Growth takes time.

We’ve leaned on non-paid strategies, leveraging Mayo Clinic’s social following, asking guests to share their episodes, and tapping into existing communities. Sometimes "Big Mayo" posts a link and we see a spike. We’re constantly trying to build momentum.

For anyone creating a health podcast: Prepare to invest. Financially, yes, but also in time and thoughtfulness.

Comfort makes for better conversation. We’ve had episodes we didn’t release because the conversation didn’t land. Now, when someone seems nervous, we prep them more, sending questions ahead of time, doing discovery calls, and reassuring them that it’s all heavily edited.

As for me, I’m a true crime junkie. It’s what I listen to on my own time, something far from my day job. That escape helps me recharge. Because at the end of the day, this work is demanding. But it’s worth it. Podcasting lets me connect, communicate, and share what matters most: health information people can trust.

🎧 Podcast of the Week: Akimbo

If you’re a creative thinker, builder, or boundary-pusher, Akimbo is required listening. Hosted by Seth Godin, each episode explores culture, leadership, and the work of making change happen, without fluff or hype. It’s smart, practical, and quietly profound.

🥾 Further Exploration: 12 Ways to Elevate Your Podcast

Looking for simple improvements that make a real difference? Descript’s recent post delivers 12 no-nonsense tips for recording, editing, and repurposing content, perfect for busy podcasters.

ICYMI:

✌️ Built on joy, paid in podcasts

🙌 She started a podcast with $5K and a mission

🎙️ Creative Advice from an Award-Winning Podcast Showrunner