Interview: Danielle Lehman - Marketing Consultant & Creator of the Open Belly Podcast
We like to take time to highlight women we see out in the world doing their part to make the world a little nicer. In this Real Nice Lady Spotlight, we’re talking to Danielle Lehman, Founder of Boxer & Mutt and Host of the Open Belly Podcast, about finding balance in quarantine and what she gained through letting go of her fear of failure.
Job Title/Profession
Founder, Boxer & Mutt, Host of the Open Belly Podcast
Favorite Drink?
7am - 12pm: Iced coffee with sugar free vanilla syrup; 12pm - 5pm: Diet Coke or Spindrift; 5pm - 9pm: Sauvignon Blanc. I try to remember to sip on water in between.
Favorite Food?
The sisig at KC Pinoy. It’s crispy pork served in a fajita skillet with peppers, vinegar, calamansi juice, onion, egg, over garlic fried rice.
Karaoke Song?
“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness. I once won a karaoke contest in LA singing this song.
What song are you listening to on repeat right now?
I never, ever get tired of “How Long Do I Have to Wait for You?” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. I saw her perform live in Santa Barbara after she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was performing a day after her latest chemo treatment, but she was still a powerhouse. One of the most inspiring moments of my life.
Female icon you would be for Halloween?
Oh for sure, Olivia Benson
Telling as little or as much as you want, how are you feeling these days?
I’m doing okay. I’m embracing feeling two extremes at once. On one hand, I’ve really enjoyed the extra time with my son and husband, and life seems a lot simpler in some ways. On the other hand, I’m drowning and on the verge of a breakdown. But most days, I am just trying to float somewhere in the middle, just grateful that we are healthy.
What, if anything, are you enjoying about quarantine?
I’ve discovered our wifi works pretty well in our front yard, so when the weather is nice, I usually try to work from a lawn chair while my son plays in the yard. I’ve been taking more time off during the day to go on hikes or to do activities with him, too. I used to have a lot of anxiety about being “available” for clients 24/7, but since we are all navigating a new work/life balance, I feel less guilty if I take a few hours off to enjoy the day.
What part(s) of your life during the pandemic have made you rethink your "normal" life?
I find a lot of inspiration and energy in going out to eat, exploring the city, traveling--basically enjoying new experiences. So quarantine has been frustrating from a creative perspective. But what I’ve also learned about myself is that some of my "need to experience” is driven by FOMO. Now that everyone is home, I’m finding joy in discovering things much closer to home (I just ordered a tree swing and I’m super excited).
How has the pandemic changed how you do your job and how you run a business?
In a lot of ways, it's given me the freedom that I've always craved. Less of a focus on being in the office from 9-5 or being available 24/7, and more of a focus on getting the work done in an efficient way. I've always wanted to be one of those people who checks my email only twice a day and takes breaks to go on walks throughout the day. That never felt responsible, but now that I have to balance taking care of my son, it's forcing me to adapt that lifestyle.
What first attracted you to your current profession?
I really enjoy working with creatives and also helping people. As a marketing consultant, I get to work with incredibly talented artists, writers, marketers, and also help small business owners who really appreciate what we do. It’s very satisfying from that perspective. And as a podcast host, I get to curate stories and help people share their passions with the world. I enjoy both for similar reasons.
What is your favorite thing about your industry? Your least favorite?
My favorite thing: There are endless possibilities in marketing. It’s never boring because we can always come up with a new way to do something. That said, it doesn’t always work. It’s hard to accept that occasional failure is part of the process. On the podcast side, my favorite part is connecting with podcast guests on a deeper level and getting to know them as humans. My least favorite thing is hearing myself talk. Am I really this annoying?
Photo by: Alyssa Broadus
How has your relationship with failure changed over the course of your career?
I really struggle with this. I am so hard on myself and expect more of myself than I can realistically give, but I'm learning to be more comfortable with failure. Do you know how many failure related quotes I have written down in Evernote? Here's a small sampling....
"Failure is proof I’m pushing myself to my limits.”
"Failing feels uncomfortable, but I can handle it.”
"Failure is an opportunity to sharpen my skills.”
"I’ve overcome tough things before. I can do it again.”
"Well, it's a lot like walking into the ocean, and a big wave comes and knocks you over. And you find yourself lying on the bottom with sand in your nose and sand in your mouth. And you are lying there, and you have a choice. You can either lie there, or you can stand up and start to keep walking out to sea. After a while, it will begin to seem to you that the waves are getting smaller and smaller. And they won't knock you over anymore.”
What do you want for the future of your industry?
On the marketing side, I hope people focus more on asking bigger questions, focusing less on tactics. What are you doing that’s special? Why should anyone care? How can you translate that into an interesting story that will connect with people? Yes, you need SEO, but that shouldn’t be where you start.
On the podcasting side, I am so excited about the tools that are becoming available for indie podcasters. It used to require a lot of expensive gear to do a well produced podcast, but now there are so many options for creating a podcast on the fly—really anyone with a good idea and curiosity can do it well. And now with COVID implications, I’m sure we’ll be seeing even more ideation around tools to make really high-quality podcasts from home.
What advice would you give other women trying to succeed in your industry?
Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Take risks. Start before you’re ready.
Photo by: Alyssa Broadus
Photo by: Alyssa Broadus
Have you always had the “look before you leap” mentality or was that something that developed over your life?
I've always been a pretty cautious person because of that fear of failure, or fear of letting people down. I am learning to let go of that fear, because I realized the fear was making me miserable. I was too afraid to try things that I really wanted to pursue, and I didn't want to look back on my life and wonder "what if."
What was a formative moment in your life that made you who you are?
It sounds cliché, but the birth of my son. Before I became a mom, my concept of success and happiness was very focused on what I could achieve. Having a child forced me to prioritize what’s really important to me, because I only have so much time in the day, and I had to ask myself what values I wanted to instill in my child. I’m much happier where I am now.
When do you feel the strongest in your life? When do you feel the most vulnerable in your life?
I think I feel the strongest and most vulnerable at the same time — whenever I put something new out into the world, like a new podcast episode. On one hand, I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and I’m excited for people to hear it. On the other, I’m just waiting for the internet trolls to rip into me.
What have you been doing to maintain your mental health since the pandemic hit?
Always 8 hours of sleep. We’ve been using the Moshi app for my son’s bedtime (it’s a storytelling/meditation app for kids). I’ve been allowing myself to just lay in his bed and space out to stories about Luna the Sleepy Sloth and Captain Codswallop’s Sleepy Shanty. I wouldn’t call it “meditating” but it’s a pandemic, cut me some slack.
Who are five women that inspire you?
My mom, of course. I get my work ethic from her. Whenever we were stressed out about a test or a job interview, etc., she would always tell me and my sister “Do your best and let the Lord do the rest.” I still carry that with me— not sure the Lord is doing me any favors, but it taught me to be okay with doing my best and leaving it at that.
My sister, Cammie, has dedicated her career to helping people. I always thought I wanted to take a more corporate career path, but she’s definitely opened my eyes to how fulfilling serving your community can be.
ALL of the women on the Open Belly podcast inspire me. If I have to call out a couple specifically, I’d say Sohaila Humayon from Sohaila’s Kitchen is one. It was her lifelong dream to open a restaurant serving Pakistani food, and she finally was able to at the age of 62 (after a battle with breast cancer).
Chrissy Nucum of KC Pinoy also stands out in my mind. She is so courageous, generous, kind, and just wonderful. I love hearing her talk about her family and seeing the love she has for them.
Finally, I’d say Jenny Vergara. I reached out to her when I was thinking about starting the Open Belly podcast, and she took the time to sit down and have coffee with me. She has always been willing to give advice and encouragement, and I honestly don’t know if I would have started the podcast without her gently nudging me to move forward. Jenny, this is me nudging you — when do we get to hear your podcast? ;)