Megan chats with Jessie from Life as a Strawberry about strategic hiring, thoughtful systems, and what it really takes to grow a food blog into a thriving, values-driven business.

Jessie Johnson is the founder of Life As A Strawberry, a food and recipe site that shares well-tested recipes for weeknight comfort food. Her team is known for breaking complicated recipes and techniques into accessible, easy-to-follow action steps. Jessie grew up working in catering and community kitchens, and spent her academic career studying sustainable food systems and food security. After grad school, Jessie went full-time with Life As A Strawberry and never looked back. Today, Life As A Strawberry is a full-fledged media company with multiple verticals - including Everyday Artisan Bread, an online bread-baking course - and team members across the country.

This episode is packed with gold for food bloggers ready to level up—from creating sustainable systems to building a team that supports long-term success. Jessie gets real about burnout, hiring with intention, onboarding like a pro, and why “should” isn’t always a good enough reason. Whether you’re still flying solo or scaling a business, you’ll walk away with fresh motivation and practical tools.

Key points discussed include:

- Time tracking tells the truth: Find out what you're really spending time on.

- Your first hire matters most: How to choose—and afford—the right support.

- Teams cost more than you think: Jessie breaks down the hidden expenses.

- Content planning can spark joy: Use her “Model T” system to balance strategy and fun.

- A “no list” saves your sanity: Protect your time by deciding what you won’t do.

- Onboarding isn’t an afterthought: Create systems once—then hire with ease.

- Letting go unlocks growth: Even when it’s work you love, it might be holding you back.

- Ignore the rules: Jessie built success without Instagram, and you can too.

Connect with Jessie Johnson

Website | Instagram