Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Nam.
Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my podcast because I wanted to create a platform for women with powerful stories. Vibing in Valentino is a well-rounded women’s space, although I do get male listeners as well, where no topics are off-limits. Even though I believe in the power of an appealing visual, I wanted to take content creation beyond just pretty aesthetics on Instagram, into a place where information and entertainment meet and also where I can be able to tell a story or have guests come on to tell theirs. I always make sure each episode has value whether it’s informational, inspiring and just entertaining. Being an avid podcast listener, creating my own podcast seemed like a natural next step.
Has it been a smooth road?
I am usually terrible with technology and I have little to no patience when it comes to editing sound or videos (it’s also why I don’t have a YouTube channel), but I went into creating Vibing in Valentino determined to be everything- the producer, the creator, the host, the sound engineer… everything. It’s my creation, and no one else’s. I taught myself how to edit the episodes. My first two episodes had issues with sound quality, and people could barely hear. By episode 3, I had figured out how to get it right, and I’ve gotten so used to editing and adding in the intro/outro music. It’s just about learning what you have to do and executing it. No excuses.
Aside from the practical challenges, I think another challenge I had was dealing with people that doubted or didn’t understand what I was doing. Content creation is a new field, and people might not understand the amount of work that goes into the process. To them, I might look like I’m not working very hard at all. They don’t know that approximately 12 hours of work total goes into creating a single episode, from start to finish.
My biggest advice for young women trying to start their own journey is to fully believe in yourself and the value of your platform. And you will find that when you’re first starting out, you’ll ask people to guest and people will be hesitant to come on your show. Keep going, and once you get big, they’ll be the ones begging you to come on and speak about their business/life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Vibing in Valentino – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I have a Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Masters of Science. I used to be a personal trainer at Crunch gyms in OC and West Hollywood, but I wanted to make more money, so I quit and took my work private. I have since stopped training, except for a handful of some of my favorite clients and I don’t plan on taking on more due to my focus in the area of content creation.
I am also a fitness writer for the hugely popular women’s space Betches. I got this job when I sent in a sample writing piece, and I honestly had given up all hope of hearing back from them, but three months later, the editor-in-chief responded and hired me.
I spend most of my time planning content for Instagram and Vibing in Valentino. This entails scheduling posts, taking pictures, planning and scheduling guests for the show, filming and editing workout videos, editing podcast episodes, writing introductions and questions for my guests (I give them these days before recording) and negotiating collaborations with brands. My life revolves around the Internet, and honestly, sometimes I feel like I do spend my life in front of my laptop or my phone, but everything I am creating is my baby, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The fact that this is all from my blood, sweat, and tears is something I am most proud of.
Who have you been inspired by?
My mother is the most glamorous person I know, and she has to be one of the most loving and nurturing humans on the planet. Her love and care for others know no bounds and she is extremely empathetic.
Business-wise, Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential is someone I aspire to be like. I learn so much from her just by looking at how she creates and executes her online content.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.linktr.ee/ilovenicolenam
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ilovenicolenam
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