Ep 56 Melissa Secord of the CCA – One Year On
Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
The podcast is celebrating one year of episodes!! Melissa Secord, Executive Director of the Canadian Celiac Association was the first guest on the first episode and since the CCA has so much on the go, I thought I’d check back with Melissa one year on.
Melissa mentioned the campaign to fund peer counselling services at the CCA offices for people who call in needing assistance. A funding page has been set up, so supporters of the CCA can become Peer Support Champions. It may or may not be difficult to remember back to realizing you needed to eat gluten free, but we all remember how tricky it was. You can become a Peer Support Champion with a single donation, or with monthly support. Go to http://bit.ly/CCAPeerSupportChampion. Otherwise you can find more information under the donate button on the CCA website at www.celiac.ca.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
It’s been a great year. Before I started the podcast, I approached the CCA so they would be aware of what I was doing, and to work with them to help get their valuable message out in a format they had not used before. The CCA encouraged me, but was not sure if their resources could be stretched to assist with a podcast. I assured them that I would do the heavy lifting. I just wanted us to be on the same page.
I hoped to promote their efforts and gain access to some impressive experts in the field of celiac disease and the gluten free diet. That’s just what I got. I have interviewed Shelley Case, Dr. Duerksen, Selena De Vries, Mark Johnson, most of the Chapter Presidents and the list goes on.
Truth be told, when I started my podcast, I really didn’t know what it would be like. Would I run out guests or material after a few months? Would I get bored with the interview format? Would I get frustrated with the technology? Would I get discouraged because no one was listening?
I can now answer those questions. Every time, I start brainstorming for new topics or guests, they seem to appear before me like magic, my friends and connections are more than generous to me. Interviewing does take practice, but I love to talk, and I think, over time, I have become more comfortable with using questions to make an informative, natural conversation. Just when I think I have a handle on the technology, something changes. I have been sideswiped a couple of times by posting my Gluten Free Weigh In podcast on the wrong site. Technology will always be a challenge, but one that feels so good when you actually figure it out.
About anyone listening – I have been so blessed by my many friends in the celiac and gluten free world for helping me to grow my audience. I remember being told, if only 30 people listen to an episode, it’s like talking to an entire classroom of people. To date I’ve had almost 11,000 downloads. We started slow, but now the podcast is receiving hundreds of downloads each week. So yes, people are listening.
One last thing, I didn’t consider when I started the podcast – the kind words, thoughts and feedback I get from my listeners. When someone listens, the effort is worth it, when YOU listen, it’s a relationship, one I am enjoying greatly. Thanks for listening. I’ll keep going if you’ll keep listening.