You only get one body, so taking care of it is important. Your health-related habits play a role in many aspects of your life, from your ability to cope with stress to your mental health—the list goes on. Our guest today has used her platform to educate the world on all things gut health and general wellness. Dani Stevens is one of the world’s most popular lifestyle social media influencers, an author, and a fitness and food motivator. In this episode, she will be sharing how she found success in motivating others to take control of their lives while being a mother of four.
Listen in as she opens up about her inspiring story of growing her social media accounts to over 150K followers, as well as her advice for anyone wanting to make connections with people who may seem untouchable. You will learn the importance of sharing your accomplishments, why Dani decided to grow out her natural grey hair, and Dani’s advice for busy moms who want to feel great as they age.
What You’ll Learn:
When Dani started pursuing her healthy lifestyle.
The power of hashtags.
How Dani grew her Instagram.
The importance of following your passion.
The power of a positive mindset.
Why you should face your fears.
How Dani got the attention of Richard Branson.
How to connect with seemingly untouchable people online.
The importance of sharing your dreams and accomplishments.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“If you find that passion and you have that purpose, you will be discovered.” - Dani Stevens
“Connect with like-minded people and pages and contribute often to [their platforms].” - Dani Stevens
“It’s so important to have a connection with your followers.” - Dani Stevens
Resources:
TRANSCRIPT:
Molly Dare 0:07
Hello and welcome to On Air with Molly dare. I am joined today by the amazing Dani Stevens all the way from Australia, one of the world's most popular lifestyle social media personalities, healthy lifestyle author and a fitness and food motivator helping people take control of their lives through health and fitness. Dani has built a community of hundreds of 1000s of followers with long term partnerships with Dr. Oz, Jamie Oliver, volvo and so so many others, recognized as one of the top five fitness experts as featured in women's health. Dani, welcome. I'm so happy to be speaking with you today.
Dani Stevens 0:47
Oh, thank you so much, Molly, you're sort of reminding me of all this stuff that I've done because I don't get told this every day because I don't actually go to work anymore. You know, I'm a stay at home mom with four kids. So it's, it's very nice to hear all this stuff. So thank you so much for having me.
Molly Dare 1:02
Oh, absolutely. I know, I always get such a kick when I when I'm being interviewed and people do kind of the intro and you're like, oh, wow, I guess I do all that because i too we're very similar because I too am a single mom of two. And so my life is just mom, you know, I'm mom. I do all this other stuff. But I need to be reminded every now and then. Right? All the stuff that we accomplish
Dani Stevens 1:26
that's right I just went Oh, that's great. Oh, yeah, I did that too. Oh my gosh, I should remember that when I'm not feeling you know, 100% best.
Molly Dare 1:33
I know we are we are our harshest critics sometimes. So you are a busy single mom of four and man I thought it was was tough being a single mom of two. I can't even imagine doubling that to four. Are your kids your motivation and pursuing this healthy lifestyle of yours? Did you pursue it first or after you had your children?
Dani Stevens 1:53
It was most definitely after because I think I just winged us with my party life. And the way I just was eating fast foods, but then just not eating throughout the whole day. And then I just went, Oh, I've actually got a living being in my body. Now I should be like eating proper food and nourishing myself and moving my body. So it wasn't until I had my second son Oscar that I sort of jumped online and Googled, you know how to get rid of a muffin top and how to sort of beat the blues being a stay at home mum and just joined an online sort of women's program, which educated me to sort of food journal, move my body and just connect with like minded women. So that pretty much just started like Oscars now 14. So that's when I would have legit started my healthy jet journey as such. And then I had zali in 2011, my baby number four, and my girlfriend just said, Dani, you've got to share what you do every day because women, I don't have four kids and can get to work on time with a green smoothie and four pack lunches. But your fist pumping the air as well. You're so motivated, you're so positive, you've got to share your day with people. So I miraculously just embarked on Instagram and just started posting my diary of food going to the park pushing the kids on the square swings as I would squat down and do my little mini workout and then years later because I feel like I'm the Instagram OG person. Years later, you've got all these social media influencers that are the Fit yummy mummies that just don't ever look as if they had a child. So that's sort of more after the years.
Molly Dare 3:34
So funny that you said that because I have in my notes that you are the OG you know, iG, OG-IG
Dani Stevens 3:41
IG.
Molly Dare 3:44
Yeah, so good. And you were one of the first to be sharing very openly, transparently your weight loss journey. Journaling, also for fitness food style, which is now danistevens.com. Am I correct?
Dani Stevens 3:58
Yes, that's correct. So I just used to use the blogger platform. And I love fitness. I love food. And I love style. So every morning and because a lot of my followers were from the States, they used to go, Oh my gosh, Dani, this is amazing. You've just given me my meal planner for the next day, because obviously it's nighttime where you are now. Right? So I had already had my breakfast, my lunch and my dinner planned. And so they're like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. I know what I'm going to eat. You know, Dani Stevens has provided that for me. So yeah, that's how it started.
Molly Dare 4:29
In 2013, you say that you discovered the power of the hashtag and with monthly challenges and I have a lot of people who are listening, who are maybe starting kind of their blogging journey or starting on Instagram and trying to curate a community around what they do. Explain the importance of the hashtag and these challenges in growing your community.
Dani Stevens 4:53
Well, I've found as you just said, the power of the hashtag, it doesn't matter what that post is, as long as It's the truth like say, if you've got a squat and you want to sort of, you know, burn calories, glutes, lift your butt, anything like that, that you and I would use common words, I would just use those as my hashtags. And then that's how I got picked up by Women's Health, Dr. Oz other brands that I ended up collaborating with, because everyone's just like, how did you grow like 100,000 followers, and back then it was maybe a year four into my career. And it was because other pages were featuring the other pages would, you know, share my story and that power of the hashtag. So yeah, it's very important that when you post, place relevant hashtags, so people can actually see your post, otherwise, the post is just sitting there in no man's land.
Molly Dare 5:45
What I want to highlight in what you just said, it was the importance of sharing your story, honestly, authentically, because that is what people are sharing. And if you want your posts to go viral, if you want it to be noticed by not only just other influencers, or celebrities, but other, you know, magazines, TV, people, I know, for me, I'm searching through hashtags that are relevant to the interviews that I want to do, it's a great way to be discovered, you now have many celebrities contributing to your website a lot. I mean, Richard Branson, Jay Shetty, Kelly Sleater, there's the list goes on and on and on. And that's all through the power of social media, which is amazing.
Dani Stevens 6:26
It just blows my mind. Because these people that I used to look up to, which I still do today, and now considered by peers. So it's just mind blowing, getting invited by Jamie Oliver to appear on his Fuchu channel. And then we wrote a, we co wrote a book together in a youth app. And I'm like, Oh, my gosh, I was an everyday mom, in a country town in Victoria. Living the dream of wanting to eat well, you know, looking after my health, my children's health. And here I am on a cooking show and an app teaching this with women and people all around the world. It was just like, Wow, I did this because of what I love doing. So that's what I want to share with your community as well. If you find that passion, and you have that purpose, you will be discovered.
Molly Dare 7:17
Absolutely. And I want to go back to kind of a pivotal point that I think brought that, that moment for you, which was back in 2013, you participated in the ride to conquer cancer, bicycling across Australia, and you had never ridden a bike before. So how. So the first time I bought a bike you decide to run across Australia, which I think is amazing, because why not? Right? And
Dani Stevens 7:45
I had nothing better to do, I'd four kids under six, you know, and nothing else to do. So.
Molly Dare 7:49
It's logical, why not. But what it really struck for me is how important it is to get your mindset to the place where you're okay, doing things that are uncomfortable doing things that maybe scare you a little bit that challenge you a little bit. So talk a little to me kind of what was your mindset in that moment? What made you say yes to doing that, because that really was a big launch to you catching the eye of Richard Branson, and so many others.
Dani Stevens 8:17
100% And I've got a very good friend Klaus Bartosh to thank for that, because he saw me out in social media. And he said, Dani, you're doing all these challenges. You are the Instagram challenge Queen like I had no added sugar squats before you know, Christmas, I had all these numerous challenges going out there he goes, You know what I'm doing? I'm setting up a team vision crusaders to cycle around Australia. And we need to get the attention of someone you know, that's going to help us get these funds. And he goes, who inspires you like who do you think we could get, you know, if anyone can get them? You can get them. And I guess you know, and people believe in you as well. Like when you just just? Yeah, when you read out what I did as well. I'm just like, wow, she's got my back. Like, I feel supported. So when he said you know if anything, you know, you can do it. I just went, you know what, I can do it. So I thought I was reading Richard Branson's book. And I just went, you know what, Richard, I'm gonna reach out to him. And why not? Yeah, why not? You know, like, he's got nothing better to do either. And Mike had some very pessimistic people just saying, oh, as if Richard Branson is going to, you know, reach out to you. You're in Australia. You've got four kids, you're a stay at home mom, like, what do you do? So I remembered those voices. And then I remembered the purpose. I was cycling for these people that were less fortunate than me that were suffering and dying from cancer. I have that family history and my family. And some people close to me that had passed. So that was my passion. That was my purpose. So then I just went Okay, so what do I do now? Like, I didn't have a bike, you know, those bikes with those cleats to click on with the shoes, I just had the one with the kids at the back, you know, the lake. And then, so I've got that I got a bike shop to sponsor me. And I said, I'm going to do this, and I'm going to try and get the attention of Sir Richard Branson. So I held up the sign and posted it and saying, Richard, if I get a million likes, will you come ride with me and the vision Crusaders. And it took maybe three months of that campaign because I had to start training, right? I couldn't just get on a bike and do because every leg we did six races, every leg was 200 kilometers, which I can't convert in your miles at the moment. And so I had to start training. And I'll never forget, we had a group Facebook page of the vision Crusaders, they would laugh, because I was at home because remember, I've got four kids. At this point, they're under 12. Because I think Sally was just two. And I'm in my lounge room with one of those bike holders that you know, you're not riding around in your lounge room, you're just stationary. And I had this big cushion underneath my bottom and my pubis because I had a pubis dysfunction after having kids, a really bad pelvic condition. And my mom, I'll never forget her just saying hi, Danielle. Are you going to cycle across Australia when your whole pelvis is in so much pain? And I just went you know what mom? The pain that I'm feeling is not anywhere near the pain that people at the moment are feeling that have lost loved ones and move last minute. So I've thought the least of my worries. But my team does laughter going Dani, you know, you'll eventually need to actually go ride out in the elements like you've actually got to be. So I'll never forget that. And then I'm getting ready for the First Minister. Because back then I used to dye my hair for your community that may not know my hair for white hair. But that's another story. So yeah, so three years ago,
I've gone natural, but I was in the cell on dyeing my hair, brunettes hiding the these beautiful silver highlights. And I'm flicking through Instagram. And then I'm like, Hey, and then I just screamed the whole cell and just went, Oh my gosh, what's wrong is her hair on fire. And I've just gone. It's Richard Branson, he just wrote back to me. And he's holding a sign saying Dani and the vision Crusaders, we support you good luck with your ride. Molly, I jumped out of that chair like a rocket. And I've left that solar cell on and just ran around this roundabout. I'm sure people thought I was crazy. But I just went, Oh my gosh, I did it. And everyday mom of four children got the attention of Sir Richard Branson. And that empowered me and my my team to then go to get more sponsors to get more support, because I couldn't go on the streets with a tin can to say, Hey, can I have $1 $2 We do sponsor us, you know? And yeah, it was just the best kind of career achievement that you know, I've had a one of a career highlights that I've had thus far.
Molly Dare 13:21
Right? I love this story so much. And I love that it highlights you know, I get asked a lot Molly, how do you get the people that you get on your podcast or in your filmed interviews? And like I asked them, I just put it out, do you know what I mean, it's like, why not? And I find that so often we put these people on pedestals and we think they're unobtainable and untouchable. And really, why not? You have daily.
Dani Stevens 13:48
Everyday people, we're just the same.
Molly Dare 13:50
Absolutely. There's no reason not to reach out to these people. The only thing that has differentiated me from maybe somebody else is that they had the guts and the mindset to go for it. And so why shouldn't I? I've got something to share, you've got something to share. Everyone who's listening has a special talent or gift. And why not ask the person that you're looking up to? Why not asking someone who could bring such amazing exposure and community to what you're doing. And then you start sharing your communities. And that's where the real growth happens. Because not only have these major names, major celebrities contributed to your website, but now they're having you on theirs. So now you're cross pollinating these amazing communities. You're now collaborating, you're now coworkers and friends. And how, how important would you say are relationships? And how do you develop relationships with these people who we think are untouchable. What advice would you give for people who are like, Oh, no, I could never
Dani Stevens 14:49
Oh, look for me, Molly. I live and breathe. Just the connection with people. So that's why everyone that's on my page that comments they're like, Oh, am I DMS are like, Oh my gosh, Dani, I can't believe you've actually found time to respond to me. And I'm like, of course, you've just written to me. So it is my, I want to just contribute back. So it's that energy of giving. So I would recommend to your community that you just have to go participate and join, you know, the lives and group chats and make comments, like genuine comments, obviously, there's those bots going, Oh, I like this, you know, this foodie picture, and it was like a quote, and you're like, Are these people that get it all automated? It's just, it's not that authentic. So, yeah, I would just highly recommend that you just connect with like minded people and pages and just contribute, offer your time. I mean, that's how I obviously started back then. We didn't monetize you were getting things as gifts to then share. But then obviously, it became just like, it just morphed into this big marketing advertising platform, which it is today. And then now it gives me you know, a six figure income to, to be able to sort of share with my my four kids as a single mom. So I'm so so blessed. And I thank my lucky stars, that I wake up every day. And even if it wasn't for Instagram, if it was just my journaling a piece of paper and pen or meeting someone down at the cafe, just to say hello to someone and having that other person feel that connection. And that genuine, how are you going today? How can I serve you because if you're just posting like, obviously at the moment, because I just hit the runway as a 48 year old. Obviously, I've been really posting all this modeling stuff, because it's very new in my brand.
Molly Dare 16:35
Not about your model, you guys, you have to go on her Instagram and look at her walk that runway, like she's been doing that forever and ever and ever.
Dani Stevens 16:47
Mostly because I don't want that page to be like, Oh, look, Dani, it's just all about Dani but
Molly Dare 16:52
I will be doing I will be posting it nonstop. I think it's amazing. I love it.
Dani Stevens 16:59
That was my 16 year old dream that she just gave me a big high five when we achieved that after 48 years. So I am very very chuffed. So people are just saying Dani bomb away, just keep posting. But yeah, that's it's just really, really important to have that connection with your audience. And the purpose behind that connection. Are you just getting online, just to get likes, and just to get followers, it's not really going to translate to a community that you want to form and bond or be a part of.
Molly Dare 17:29
So true. And I want to highlight two things that you said because I think it's really, really important. One is engage, just start engaging with people commenting on their work on their stuff that you see. Tell them what you like about what they're doing. Honestly, most of my really great relationships have just started because I just started engaging with them. I just started commenting, I they could tell that I was actually paying attention to what they were doing. The second thing that I want to point out that you said which is so important, is I love when I watch people be proud about themselves. I love when people post their accomplishments because it's not bragging it's branding yourself and it's proof of execution of what you say you can do and what you say that you're about so own it right because what it does is allows other people to dream that big too and I think when we share our wins and our goals it just it's like it puts a smile on other people's faces like oh I can't wait for my turn to be able to do that as well that's that's obtainable for me so I love that you that you share that? You are also absolutely you are also releasing a book soon right Family First
Dani Stevens 18:41
Yes Do you know what that is? In the pipe? It's out there Molly, you and my coach are just going Dani What are you doing? Like putting it out there?
In you know what it is? I think I want to be a perfectionist. I want to I want it to have beautiful photography I want it to just be that coffee table book that you'd be like oh my gosh she's just got everything it's like a one stop shop of beautiful recipes how Dani spends her family home evening with her four kids how Dani does you know finances as a single mom how and I think because I want too many things in this one book. My coach just said just keep it simple. Or as I say sweetie, and just get it done just get one series maybe just don't put everything in it. So so thank you for bringing that up because that is something that I'm going to
Molly Dare 19:31
like a reminder yeah
Dani Stevens 19:34
sooner rather than later.
Molly Dare 19:37
Well you know you bring up the you know the I hate using this word balance because I don't believe there is such a thing but you know a single moms were juggling a lot and sometimes things that are really important fall to the wayside like healthy dinners, healthy meals, all of that. You did partner I have to say I saw with one of my personal favorites HelloFresh which for me, was a lifesaver, especially during pandemic, just easy, healthy recipes that I could quickly do with my kids. And they actually helped me prepare it. And so even just the joy of that moment of helping to prepare the healthy meals that was kind of sometimes our only quality time that we had that day, but how important that's so, so important.
Dani Stevens 20:18
And so important, I did a story. And if it wasn't last night, it was the night before where me at my number three baby, I was running a bit late. And I said, Honey, could you grab the HelloFresh? Menu? Could you follow the steps of the food prep for me? And could you start just so mommy can start the dinner when I get home? Molly, I got home and my 12 year old had our HelloFresh dinner, ready to rock and roll for me to place
Molly Dare 20:45
I am playing for my children so that they can hear that the other kids out there are doing.
Dani Stevens 20:52
So HelloFresh thank you, for my family to everyone else's family for those moms or dads that sort of struggle with their teens or kids to help in the kitchen. I just found her so proud. And she was so like, oh my gosh, I did this mom, like so empowered, because I obviously cook all the time. And I do it with so much love. And I'm like, oh, hope you're enjoying this. She got to share the joy and how you know, I present food every night. And yeah, so HelloFresh big kudos to them. I love them.
Molly Dare 21:24
They're the best. We're gonna do it plug HelloFresh Yes, for sure. Yes. I'm gonna change the topic for a quick second. Because what another thing, there's so many things that I love about you. But what another thing that I love that you talk about is wanting to grow old gracefully. And naturally, you and I both being in our 40s Letting the natural Grace shine through. And this is a struggle. This is a struggle for so many of us, me as well. What gives you the confidence to do that and to say that.
Dani Stevens 21:54
Now, I remembered in Melbourne where I used to live, I said to my hairdresser, I said I wouldn't mind going gray, I said I'm sick of coming here every three to four weeks. And she just said, Oh no, you don't want to do that now, like you're gonna look old. So it was just that whole, what everyone else would perceive about me that got my brain thinking. Am I going to listen to her? Or am I listen to my intuition, my own guide. So then a couple of years passed on. And then I remember telling my husband I said, you know, would you mind if I grew up my hair and just did an eL natural? And he's like, Oh, no, don't know if I want to be waking up with my mother in law because my mom and I look very similar. You know, we'd be looking to now with you and I'm looking at them just going home like goes like no one wants me to go why? You know, and then I just it was just like that. Click, mind you, you know, we're no longer together. But that was like a little bit of a red flag for me. And I just went you know what, Dani, you have had this thing within you that you want to get this, you know, new, new look happening? Why are you listening to other people like it was it was a huge, huge step. And I can honestly say it was like the last eight years I'd kind of be you know, pro and cons and, and then I just went nuts suffered. This is me. If people won't accept me for who I am, that's on them. I'm happy within myself. And then hence signing up to a modeling agency last year and running on the catwalk in Australian Fashion Week, a couple of weeks ago. I'm just going head I listen to those people. I would not be in the billboards in Canada, Finland and in our major shopping centers, and doing some epic campaigns with some beautiful brands that I love. So yeah, it's a big step. But it's it's one of the best and most empowering decisions of my life, like my life has completely changed.
Molly Dare 23:51
Well, it does help that you are stunning. And again, I'm gonna encourage everybody to look at your Instagram page to look at these photos because you are studying gray hair, white hair, brown hair, whatever hair, it doesn't matter. You could rock it all. So that definitely is helpful. What tips or advice would you give exhausted working single moms like me are in their 40s What should I be doing to keep up my energy? My focus as we age?
Dani Stevens 24:21
Yes, well, most importantly, I know our kids come first but honestly it was my life. It's yourself like you have to put yourself first because if we don't eat well move well our mindset is off balance then we're not going to perform and be the amazing mums to our children and the examples to them because if they see us burning the candle at both ends frazzled, come on get ready get in the car, because I used to be that Mom, come on quick. And then I just went How am I sending my children off to school or frazzled needing to get that coffee? His or Come on? Why are you doing this? So it just all changed back for myself to just get up that one hour earlier, and really just sit with self. And you can play meditation, I lay on an acupressure mat. Sometimes we feel without music because sometimes I think, yes, I have music to distract me. But then I also like to just listen to where my, what my self talk is, you know, talking to me and I can listen to that intuition. So that would be my first thing really set your day with just yourself. And then obviously, with food it's super super important because if I don't balance my fruit, my veggies Yes, I love to have a cookie from time to time and some ice cream. But I always choose healthy choice less processed always, you know, plant based, and then water because people just say, oh my gosh, Dani, your skin is amazing. I cannot stress enough how important water is. And that for me am I sort of top three I know they're pretty basic, but they have kept me the way I am today. fully energized eating well moving my body, setting the clock just that one hour earlier before everyone else gets up to my stretching my meditation and yeah, fist pumping for the rest of the day.
Molly Dare 26:15
I love it. That is incredibly, incredibly helpful. Dani, where can people find you? Contact you keep up with you where's the best place for them to go?
Dani Stevens 26:25
So pretty much anywhere they love to hang out. I'd love to hang out with them. So I'm on Twitter. I'm on full of not really Snapchat, but you'll find me mainly on Instagram. And then that sort of copies over to Facebook. But yeah, I've also got my website Danistevens.com With all the recipes and I also offer coaching one on one as well for people that just need to kickstart and yeah but I love hanging out on Instagram at the moment so you'll find me there and it's all the same URL like my Dani Stevens name on all platforms so they can find
Molly Dare 26:58
We love when people do that it keeps it simple right it's just use your name as your main handle across the board. Oh my goodness Dani, thank you so much for joining me today and reminding us the importance of living a healthy and fulfilling life and thank you everyone for tuning in. And see you next week
thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of On Air with Molly dare Your support means everything to me and my guests. The best way to support this podcast is with a five star review on iTunes. The best way for this podcast to keep growing is by word of mouth. So if you love this episode and got a meaningful takeaway, we'd love for you to share on social media, tag me and the guests and we will be sure to share as well. You can also head over to our new website at Mollydare.com Check out our fun shop with been merged along with our Spotlight Series filmed features and all of our podcasts episodes. If you do get your hands on some on air with Molly Dare swag, and of course our line of daring fear less and aggressive like her sweatshirts and hats and coffee mugs. It just gives me all the biggest smile and feels as always, please tag me when you receive your items. And I'll share on my social media as well. Nothing makes me happier than seeing all of you daring and fearless aggressive bikers out there wearing it loud and proud. Thanks again for listening and look forward to next week's episode.
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