A pep talk with your best friend, where we laugh, get real about life’s chaos, and share gems of wisdom to help you stress less.
"Don’t get too caught up in perfection."
Today Cheryl Paris, the creator of ABGW - Amazing, Brilliant, Gorgeous, Wonderful shares her story of Mental Health podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
Well, hey there! I’m Cheryl Paris—your friendly neighbourhood Trauma Stress Recovery Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist based in the peaceful countryside of Berkshire. I help people shake off stress, heal old wounds, and find their way back to joy, all while keeping things light and real.
Now, about my podcast, ABGW (Amazing, Brilliant, Gorgeous, Wonderful)—it’s basically like sitting down with your bestie for some no-nonsense, heart-to-heart chats about life’s ups and downs and all the twists in between. We laugh, we learn, and I share some practical tools I’ve found useful in navigating the chaos. It’s where you come to get unstuck and sprinkle a little more joy into your day.
Oh, they’re a fabulous mix of amazing, brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful souls (see what I did there?). They’re mostly women juggling a hundred things at once—careers, relationships, self-care, you name it—while trying to stay sane and keep the joy alive. You’ll find a few men tuning in, too, especially those looking for ways to stress less and get more clarity in their lives. Basically, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed but still determined to sparkle through it all, you’re in the right place. We’re all about finding balance, embracing a fresh perspective, and having a good laugh along the way!
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
Well, partly because I love to talk (and talking to myself wasn’t cutting it anymore), and partly because I wanted to create a space where people could come for a little bit of wisdom wrapped in a lot of laughter. I’ve always been passionate about helping people shake off stress and live with more joy, so I thought—why not share what I’ve learned in a way that feels more like a conversation than a therapy session? Plus, a podcast felt like the perfect excuse to wear comfy clothes and have deep chats without needing to leave my house.
Absolutely! I’ve always got a podcast playing while I’m doing the dishes or avoiding folding laundry. They’re like having a friend in your ear—who doesn’t love that?
The initial goal of ABGW was simple: create a podcast that felt like a cosy chat where we could laugh, get real about life’s chaos, and share some practical, stress-busting tips along the way. I wanted to reach people who might be feeling a bit stuck and show them that life can be tricky, but there are ways to flip the script and find joy in the little moments.
I started ABGW in December 2023, and let me tell you, getting that first episode out was an adventure! From figuring out the tech to finally hitting ‘record,’ it took a while to pull everything together. I think I rehearsed the first episode at least 20 times (and deleted it 20 times), but once I decided to let go of perfection, I hit publish. It probably took a few months from the idea to that glorious release of the first episode, but hey—good things take time, I think!
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
Well, let's say it's a bit of a juggling act! Between running Her Guru Hypnotherapy, helping people destress, and trying to maintain some semblance of personal life (hello, Netflix binges), podcasting is something I squeeze in during those magical, elusive moments of "free time"—usually very early mornings.
I try to release an episode every week, but life happens, so sometimes it’s more of a “when I can” situation. That’s another adventure! From coming up with ideas to recording, editing, and cringing at the sound of my voice, each episode can take a few hours spread over a few days; it might take a bit longer.
As for funding, yes, I’m my podcast mama! I fund it myself, covering costs like hosting, editing software, and the occasional marketing boost. It’s not wildly expensive, but it adds up. Luckily, I keep things pretty lean—no fancy studio, just a mic, my laptop, and a dash of determination. I do all the editing and producing myself, which saves on costs but definitely eats up some time.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Besides the satisfaction of talking to more than just my house plants? Well, it’s been a great way to connect with people, share what I’ve learned, and hopefully add a little light to someone’s day. It’s also been a surprising form of therapy for me—I get to vent, reflect, and laugh at life’s craziness while hopefully helping others do the same. And let’s be honest, it’s pretty cool when someone says, “I listened to your podcast, and it really resonated with me.” Those moments make it all worthwhile. Definitely!
As for sponsorships, I have been approached, but there is no right fit yet. Let’s just say ABGW is a passion project right now. I haven’t hit the "rolling in podcast sponsorship cash" phase yet. My sponsorship so far has been from my cup and saucer, which supports me every episode with warmth and English breakfast tea. I haven’t actively pursued sponsors yet—mostly because I want to keep the content authentic and focused on what matters most: helping people.
That said, I’m open to future sponsorships—if the right fit comes along. Something that aligns with the vibe of the podcast, you know? But no, I don’t have any revenue numbers to boast about yet. I’m currently more focused on building connections, growing my community, and learning as I go.
Podcasting has benefited me in so many ways—it's connected me with incredible people, opened up new opportunities in my career, and taught me way more about audio editing than I ever thought I’d need to know. Plus, it’s just plain fun. I get to have deep, meaningful conversations (sometimes with myself) and share a little bit of joy with the world. And who wouldn’t want to do that?
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
Oh, it’s a delightful mix of chaos and creativity! Picture me with a cup of tea in hand, talking to myself at odd hours .
I keep it pretty simple on the tech side. My hardware is a trusty microphone that makes me feel a bit like a radio DJ, and my laptop has seen better days but still gets the job done. For software, I use Audacity for editing (which I taught myself through a lot of trial and error... and YouTube tutorials). It’s like a quirky relationship: sometimes it behaves, sometimes it crashes, but we make it work. For hosting, I use a podcast platform that keeps everything running smoothly in the background so I can focus on content rather than techy stuff.
It’s like speed dating but with less pressure. I prepare for each episode by creating a rough outline of what we’ll cover, but I like to keep it conversational and spontaneous. I want it to feel natural like you’re eavesdropping on a fun and insightful coffee chat.
When it comes to interviews, I'm flexible. I’ve done one in-person interview so far, but most of them happen via Zoom because life is busy, and not everyone can trek out to Berkshire. Plus, Zoom has the added bonus of letting me wear pyjama pants if I want to—don’t tell my guests!
So, that’s my process in a nutshell—equal parts planning, winging it, and having a good laugh along the way.
► How do you market your show?
My listeners find the show in all the usual podcast places—iTunes, Buzzsprout Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts like to hang out. If there’s a platform for it, ABGW is there, trying to catch your ear!
As for the breakdown of where people are tuning in, I’d love to say I have a fancy pie chart with exact percentages, but honestly, it’s more of a “people are finding me, and I’m thrilled about it” situation. I suspect a good chunk comes from Apple Podcasts, with the rest scattered between Spotify and my relentless Facebook plugs.
Speaking of Facebook, that's one of my go-to marketing channels. I love sharing little nuggets from the show and connecting with my audience in a fun, visual way. I also occasionally use TikTok to send out episode updates, and I dabble in newsletters to keep my lovely listeners in the loop.
Social media is the most useful marketing tool—it’s a great way to engage with my audience directly and build a community. Plus, it’s free (yay!). So, if you’re ever scrolling through your Facebook roll, see a post about stress management with a dash of humour and a cute cat pic—yep, that’s me marketing the show!
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
For starters, you’ll quickly realize that talking into a microphone is both easier and weirder than you expected. You’ll feel like a total pro one minute and then question your life choices the next—especially when you accidentally record an entire episode on mute (not that I’ve ever done that... ahem).
One big lesson? Don’t get too caught up in perfection. I used to stress about every little detail—was my voice too high-pitched?
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
As for helpful resources, I’ve learned a ton from YouTube tutorials—seriously, YouTube is a podcaster’s best friend when you’re trying to figure out editing software without pulling your hair out. Krystal Proffitt helped me a lot; her book is still a bit of a bible.
Most importantly, have fun with it! Podcasting is an amazing way to share your voice and connect with people. Don’t be afraid to experiment, try new things, and laugh at yourself along the way.
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
Lightning-fast: Transcribe a 1-hour audio file in 1 minute.
Pay-as-you-go: USD $0.06 per minute + $1 per file. No subscription required.