Kaila Prins is a host of the Finding Our Hunger podcast. The podcast focuses on recovery and discovery for people who have an eating disorder and for those who have a complicated relationship with food. The “life is a journey” metaphor is important to this podcast.

When did you start podcasting? What’s your experience in podcasting been from then to now?

The idea for the Finding Our Hunger podcast was born in December of 2012, but my co-host Ito Aghayere and I recorded and released our first episode in March of 2013. We have a pretty cool origin story (if I do say so myself!): I had met my co-host in 2010, when we were both in grad school in NYC for theatre. I dropped out after a year because I had relapsed with anorexia and exercise addiction, and she and I lost touch while I was in recovery. I started a blog about my recovery in 2012 and began posting about it on Facebook. She saw it and reached out to me. We started talking on the weekends about our experiences with body image, food, and exercise. I had been thinking about starting a podcast for a few months, and at some point (and I can’t remember who suggested it to whom) one of us said, “We should be recording these conversations.” Of course, that’s exactly what we did.

I love podcasting so much that I wish it could be my full time job. I have had the absolute blessing to talk to almost 100 of the world’s most incredible, thoughtful, insightful, moving people so far—and that number keeps on expanding as the years go on. I knew almost nothing about recording, wordpress, or social media/email marketing when I started, and now I successfully record, edit, upload, and publicize the podcast on my own each week—which has actually helped me improve in my 9-5 job in marketing too! I’ve also finally started following my dream of becoming a voiceover artist after so many people reached out to tell me that they thought I should be “doing something” with my “podcast voice.”

What inspired you to become a podcaster?

When I was in recovery for my eating disorder and exercise addiction (and while I was on disability for an exercise addiction induced injury), I had a LOT of time on my hands. While writing and blogging provided me with a great creative outlet and a huge sense of catharsis, I spent a lot of time away from the computer and on my feet, as I started walking again. I found myself drawn first to audiobooks—but those can get expensive quick, especially if you’re on disability. So I turned to podcasts.

I found myself really drawn to the idea of sharing stories and insights; however, most of the podcasts that I listened to were by “experts” who had already “figured things out” when it came to body size, nutrition, and fitness. As someone who has been duped too many times by the world of marketing, I wanted to share a different insight: that there’s no end of the journey, no after picture. Life is a process and we’re all on a journey to figure it out. So when Ito and I started talking about recording our insights into the matter, I knew that this was going to be the best podcast for me to produce.

What kinds of topics do you cover on your Finding Our Hunger podcast?

Finding Our Hunger is all about recovery and discovery—because you don’t have to have an eating disorder to have a complicated relationship with food, your body, exercise, and your identity. While many of our guests have recovered from eating disorders or exercise addiction, we try to balance the episodes with representatives from the fitness, nutrition, health at every size, feminist, etc. communities. Because we’re big into the “life is a journey” metaphor, we have each of our guests “unpack their bags” and “unashamedly air what they have inside.”

The podcast is less of an interview and more of a conversation. Listeners get the chance to hear what’s going on in the guests lives, and they also get the chance to get to know me and Ito and to be a part of our community of people who just want to have a little bit of extra positivity to pack in their bags.

What words of wisdom do you have for women who are thinking about starting their own podcast?

Do it. Do it, because it will change your life. Do it, because it will open doors. Do it, because it will give you the chance to meet and connect with people—from influencers to listeners—who will change your life.

Be consistent, and be prepared to do work. Podcasting is so easy that anyone can do it, but it also requires a little bit of blood, sweat, and tears for not a lot of monetary gain (unless you’re super famous with tons of sponsors, and then, more power to you, and can we talk?!). But while it may not be immediately financially lucrative, the things you’ll gain—like knowledge, friendship, the ability to help, inspire, and reach people all over the world, and even a sense of your own identity—are priceless.

One last thing: due diligence. Please…be aware that podcasting is a public forum. The things you say can hurt people if you are not careful. I do my best to vet my guests and to try to facilitate a discussion that will lead to the betterment of my listeners’ lives. I don’t “sell” anyone or anything that I do not believe in, even if it would be smart—for my financials or for my subscriptions or iTunes rank, because I do not want to ever trigger or hurt a single member of my audience. Please, if you pick up a microphone, add some positivity back into the world. I promise that it’s worth it. You may save a life—my podcast has, and knowing that is what keeps me going back to the mic each week.