How She Found Her Voice Through Podcasting—And It Changed Everything—Malissa Hepner | Ep 3

In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Malissa Hepner, a therapist, speaker, and host of the Emotionally Unavailable podcast. Malissa opens up about starting her podcast from a place of personal transformation, how perfectionism nearly held her back, and the raw lessons she’s learned about healing, authenticity, and showing up as yourself.She shares the very real ups and downs of being a solo creator, her struggle with tech and imposter syndrome, and why staying emotionally honest became her greatest podcasting superpower. From launching on a powerful personal anniversary to hitting 7,500 downloads, Malissa's story is a true journey of growth, courage, and purpose.Whether you're a new podcaster or deep in your creator journey, this episode will leave you inspired to start before you're ready and show up as the real you—every time.📌 Topics We Covered:Why she named the podcast Emotionally UnavailableLearning to overcome perfectionism and start messyBuilding a show with no prep, all heartHow tech issues turned into life lessonsWhy she doesn’t focus on downloads to define successMonetization (or lack of) and the long gameHer simple, low-maintenance workflow and toolsLessons in alignment, authenticity, and self-trust🔗 Connect with Melissa:Podcast: Emotionally UnavailableWebsite: https://empoweredwithmalisahepner.org/Link tree: https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner⏱️ Episode Chapters:00:00 – Melissa’s Mission: From Perfectionism to Podcasting04:12 – Naming the Show: Why Emotionally Unavailable Mattered08:42 – How Podcasting Became Her Personal Evolution12:15 – The Year-One Reflection and What Kept Her Going22:30 – Biggest Lesson: Show Up as Your True Self29:00 – Making $40 and Still Loving the Journey36:00 – Tools, Workflow, and Monthly Podcasting Costs45:00 – Growth, Metrics & Celebrating 7,500 Downloads