The Socialize Podcast

🎙️ The Social Media Strategy Podcast — “What Not to Do on Social Media”

Episode Summary:
In this energetic and laughter-filled episode, Helen (aka The Muthership) records just before jetting off to Greece! 🌍✈️ She dives into a passionate and practical list of “what not to do” on social media — straight from her creator heart and years of experience coaching others through content strategy. From avoiding loud mu...

Today, I’m kicking things off in the Unsponsored By segment with a surprise fashion find (yes, pants!) from Vuori—plus a little lesson in how to actually pronounce the brand. From there, we’re diving into the heart of this episode: why it’s never too late to make a first impression on social media.

Every video you post is someone’s very first encounter with you, and that means you always have a fresh opportunity to ...

Intro & Unsponsored By
Helen kicks off with her “Unsponsored By” segment, introducing Pistache, an Italian linen brand she recently discovered and loves for its breathable, versatile pieces.

Guest Spotlight
Helen welcomes her friend and colleague Elysha Lenkin, a personal stylist with 30+ years of experience in fashion and TV commercial styling. Elysha helps midlife women show up more powerfully in their lives by ...

This week, Helen kicks off the episode in true Muthership style—by showing up in a dental lab coat. Why? Because the Unsponsored By products of the week are all about oral care. From toothpaste that changed her life (literally) to the softest toothbrushes on the planet, she shares behind-the-scenes stories from working on Sensodyne and Pronamel shoots—and how those experiences shaped her own daily habits.

But after the laug...

Today's episode dives into editing basics for creators — why keeping things simple, intentional, and well-paced can make your content stronger and more engaging.

Unsponsored By Segment

• Simple Mills Sweetened Nut Flour Crackers – gluten free, natural, chocolatey crunch, a win.
• Catalina Crunch Protein Cereal – decent crunch, but highlights the murky meaning of “natural flavors” on labels. A reminder to read ingredient lists...

September Reset + Building Community

Happy September! 🎉 For me, September feels like a mini New Year — a chance to reset, refresh, and get back on track.

In This Episode:

• September Theme: Inside the Studio, we’re focusing on building community — creating content that connects your audience to YOU and to each other.
• Why It Matters: TikTok is shifting, and being proactive (not reactive) is key. Strengthening your community ...

Content gear that is not sponsored, but will help you level up your content game!

Click here listen to the full debrief on the scam that took my pride along with 15 hours of my life: https://yourstruly.transistor.fm/episodes/86-did-we-just-get-scammed

Click here to view it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bINNjxirRBE&list=PLlBCxxLwC-ffe2WHY4ckPCoy3-cQ-rSAX

Segment 1: Unsponsored By (Products I Love)
• Kiehl’...

I’ve got some fun things to share with you today, and then we’re diving into a topic I think is going to be really pressing soon: What happens if TikTok goes away?

Now, I don’t want this to sound like doom and gloom—it’s actually the perfect wake-up call to think about your bigger social media strategy. Even when platforms shift, there are things you can (and should) be doing to protect your growth, your community, ...

🎙️ Welcome back to The Socialize Strategy — the podcast where we talk social media, creator life, and all the behind-the-scenes bits most people don’t tell you.

Before we get into today’s strategy, it’s time for my “unsponsored by” picks — aka products I genuinely use and love without a penny in my pocket from the brand. This week’s lineup includes:

• Oura Ring — why I love it, how it tracks my sleep and steps, and the su...

The Vlog Evolution

The “Unsponsored By” segment kicks off the episode with two daily must-haves:

o   Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea – Helen's forever favorite (no sugar needed, think chai vibes)

o   Fellow Tea Kettle – Sleek, fast, and perfect for daily tea-making (she swears it boils faster!)

🎥 Main Topic: Why You Need to Start Vlogging

·       Vlogging creates connection. It gives your audience a be...

🎯 Main Topic: Why You Should Do Trends (Yes, Even You)

Helen breaks down the why behind occasionally participating in social media trends — even if you're hesitant:

✅ Reasons to Embrace Trends:

• Staying current: Shows you're tuned into the platform's culture.
• Algorithm boost: Trends get pushed further — they work.
• Community building: Viewers relate more when they see familiar content done your way.
• Creative n...

🔑 In This episode Helen shares tips for going live, how to deal with the nerves if  it's your first time and why you should just do it anyway.

And here are the 3 pieces of equipment that are worth the investment if you want to up your gams:

**Wireless Hollyland Lark M2 Microphone Set: https://amzn.to/4bwInBu

**SmallRig Tripod with remote: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1897565-REG/smallrig_5291_st30_lite_one_touch_de...

✨ Episode Overview:

In this heartfelt and information-packed solo episode, Helen kicks things off with a meaningful story sparked by a letter and a stack of old cards—reminders of the deep, lasting connections she’s built through her content and community. She then dives into two of her most-used (unsponsored!) products that make her content-creating life easier, and shifts into a hands-on mini-masterclass: tips for...

On this week’s episode, Helen covers: Favorite Tools + TikTok Future + Building What’s Next

🔌 Unsponsored Favorites of the Week

1. Hollyland Wireless Mic: 

• Compact, clean audio, magnetized for easy placement
• Comes with adapters for iPhone/Android
• Great alternative to bulky, poor-quality wireless mics
• Bonus: Comes with discreet black stickers to cover the logo

2. Eastpak Travel Backpack:

• Perfect for laptop + t...

How to Build Effective Social Media Habits

If staying consistent on social media feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Between the pressure to post, the temptation to scroll, and the constant changes in trends, it can be hard to build a rhythm. But what if creating content became as automatic as checking your phone?
This week, we’re diving into simple strategies to turn content creation into a daily habit—startin...

Today we're talking about real life tv commercial production and how it relates to social media content creators.  Helen covered the stages and crew roles on a shoot, as well as how to connect the dots to yourself as a content creator.

Pre-Production: This happens before the shoot where the client sources their team of production experts. Once a crew is established, they all use their expertise to nail down the budget, crea...

If you’ve ever wondered why your videos feel flat—even if your content is great—it might be the angles. The right camera angle does more than just capture a scene, it sets the tone, creates emotion, or tells a story without a word.

This week, we’re breaking down the essential camera angles every content creator should know—and how to use them to elevate everything from talking-head videos to creative B-roll and storytelling...

In today's episode, we share how to become your most authentic self on camera. Helen went well beyond the newsletter outline below and covered bonus tips about how to gain confidence with little camera hacks and practice ideas! 

🎬 Record Something Daily (Even If You Never Post It)

Treat it like vocal warm-ups for your face. One take, one topic—anything goes. Talk about your breakfast, your to-do list, your opinion on oat m...

Today we’re diving into the world of social media ads—how they hit us, how they're crafted, and why they’re more familiar than you think. After decades working behind the scenes in commercial production, I’m pulling back the curtain on the old-school tricks that are now dressed up as everyday TikToks and Instagram Reels. From bubble machines that never worked to duffel bags that “magically” shrink, let’s get real about the...