Meet Christine Blackburn

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Blackburn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christine, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
I love this question. I guess the first thing I would say is be passionate about what you’re doing, if not in your daily job, at least in your off time. It’s normal to encounter burn out, or fatigue, especially after a long week, or even a long day. To combat this I think it’s wise to take a power nap daily to help get thru days.

I’ve been podcasting for 13 years with my show Story Worthy. I have over 820 episodes since 2010. I used to get stressed about making sure I had a brand new episode every Tuesday. I even had a period in 2014 when I wanted to boost ratings so badly I thought logically, if I double the amount of shows, I would double my audience. I produced 40 shows in 5 months. It was very intense and it didn’t work. Basically, expecting a person to commit that much of their time to you is ridiculous. Some people haven’t even watched Ozark yet. There’s a lot of choices for peoples entertainment in a variety of mediums. Don’t push your luck.

Here’s something I didn’t realize until about the 10th year of podcasting – My time is valuable and if I don’t have an episode ready to go because of any number of problems, I have to give myself a break. When that happens, and it will, I’ve discovered a way of getting around it. In the last year, I have been posting past episodes of Story Worthy called “Still” Story Worthy. I go into the back catalog of Story Worthy and choose a story from a past episode. I record a new intro and outro and I don’t include my conversation with the guest, only their story. It’s fresh. It’s new. The episode has been repurposed. Guess what? My ratings have stayed the same. Sometimes instead of burning yourself out, think of another idea. Maybe you can find something from your catalog that you can repurpose, it will save you time and burn-out.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I celebrated 13 years of podcasting this past July 2023, and I have over 800 episodes as producer and host of my storytelling podcast, Story Worthy. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in show business like Larry King, Sugar Ray Leonard, Greg Proops, Judy Gold, Marian Keyes, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Nealon, and on and on. Over the last 13 years the stories have ranged from laugh out funny to heart-wrenching but always with a positive message.

My newest podcast, and greatest passion, is My Life in 3 Songs. This show features comedians sharing 3 songs that have impacted them, not necessarily the comics favorite songs, but songs that are attached to strong memories, that paint a picture of their life. I invite top comedians on the show to share 3 songs that take them back, to a time and place. Listen to My Life in 3 Songs exclusively on Spotify and follow the show on Instagram and Twitter @MyLifein3Songs
Hear the comedians you love, sharing stories about the music they love. My Life in 3 Songs exclusively on Spotify. I’m really proud of this one guys!

I am also the creator and host of Story Smash: The Storytelling Game Show live in Los Angeles. This game is extraordinarily funny and hopefully will be coming to television soon. As a storyteller I am a 3-time MOTH story winner and I am the author of the book: PIT to LAX: My Story Worthy Life. I have contributed to The Huffington Post and as an actress, I hosted Ready for the Weekend Movies on USA Network. I have also appeared in over 100 commercials, most notably eating cat litter on television for World’s Best Cat Litter. Find me on all social media @StoryWorthy, @StorySmash, and @MyLifeIn3Songs.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I am a big fan of technology. I got my first computer in 1994. It was called a Macintosh Plus CS. The CS stood for “color screen.” It was a tall tower with a tiny 8 inch screen in a dreadful tan color. It used floppy discs and the keyboard was clunky. But the word processing program was unbelievable. Luckily I took typing in high school and I immediately excelled. I loved being able to type quickly and erase easily. The idea that I could move paragraphs around blew my mind. I thought to myself, “I could write forever!” Plus, I got into using the Quicken financial program, moving around my $18,000 a year salary as a flight attendant speedily, as if the IRS was knocking on the door at any moment.

Fast forward 2023, I keep my computer and phone up-to-date. I realize this can be difficult for some people who have not made the full transition to living with a computer, but trust me computers are designed for the lowest common denominator. In other words, they’re made simple so that anyone can use it. Don’t be intimidated by technology. I’ve also always been a big fan of Apple products, but that’s a personal decision. No matter what system you’re using, be confident and comfortable using it, and if you’re not finding it “easy,” get a new computer.

The second skill I have learned in life is the utilization of YouTube. I still find it incredible you can ask any question in the world to YouTube, and you will not only get an answer, but you will most likely get a video explaining your answer as well. I use YouTube for things as simple as- How to load the staples in my staple gun, recipes, song lyrics, and the news. Lately, I find myself watching YouTube more than regular television. The news is up to date and I can pull from resources all over the world. For your business and for life skills, YouTube can’t be beat!

Finally, I feel I have mastered a ‘going with the flow’ mindset. This is a quality I’ve gained with life experience. This can be attributed to my vast years of working in customer service as both a waitress and then as a flight attendant. While those two jobs taught me most is People complain a LOT. It’s just the way it is. And I have a lot less control over other people’s behavior than I thought I did. Or wish I had.

Whether it’s sitting in traffic, waiting in a line, or on hold with (god forbid) Ticketmaster, it’s best to realize, most inconveniences are not personal. They’re just life’s haphazard circumstances . Make sure you have something else to do while you “wait” in life. Realize things are not always going to go smoothly, and instead focus on your reaction to that fact.

Try to say ‘yes’ as much as possible. That way when you do have an issue you’re passionate about, it will make more of an impact. Think twice about the argument you want to die for. Just go with the flow. and keep an even temperament.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey. I’ve read it dozens of times. My copy is old, dog-eared and highlighted, but I love it. First off, you don’t need to play tennis to ADORE this book! It’s about so much more. The term “inner game” refers to a player’s mental and emotional state while playing a game of tennis. According to Gallwey, mental and emotional challenges in tennis are frequently higher than technical or physical ones. Meaning, it’s a head game, guys! The way your mind thinks is completely unique and is something no one can take away from you. The Inner Game is a constant battle with distractions, worry, self-doubt, and self-loathing.

The best way to combat these obstacles is with self-awareness and mindfulness. These are the most important skills we will use in life. If you can somehow master your mind, you will trust your natural abilities, focus on the present moment, and let go of self-doubt and distractions. How about that??? And you thought tennis was just a game!

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Image Credits
Jefferson Graham

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