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August 4, 2025 38 mins

Overwhelmed by posting on all platforms? Just, stop.

In this episode of UPBEAT, Virginia Kerr, a former TV news anchor turned video strategist, shares her journey of reclaiming her authentic voice online and why she chose to stop chasing every platform — ultimately building her business on YouTube.

In this episode, Virginia reveals:
• How focusing on one platform led to real success
• The burnout that comes with trying to do it all—and how to break free
• Simple steps to find your real voice and show up authentically
• Why storytelling is the key to building a purpose-driven brand

This episode is for creators and entrepreneurs who feel stretched too thin. It’s time to stop the hustle and focus on what truly aligns with you.

You don’t have to be everywhere all at once. Just be real, and be where your tribe is.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Virginia Kerr (00:00):
Wasn't the news and TV that I liked.

(00:02):
It was the creativity andgetting to share stories.
I took a huge leap and decidedto start my own business

Parker Kane (00:07):
being really, really hard on my voice, my whole life.
I literally lost like what myactual voice is because it was
so performative all the time.

Virginia Kerr (00:17):
Being a business owner, you don't have to run your
business like everybody else.
Like yes.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing topromote yourself on other platforms.
Don't get me wrong.
But if you don't want to, that'snot serving you and you've got
your ideal person on the platformthat you love, why do that

Parker Kane (00:32):
community, what are your like top recommendations if someone
starting right now from where youwere before, wants to build that
community and have that interaction?

Virginia Kerr (00:40):
Storytelling is everything.
Information is everywhere.
And everybody can sound the exactsame because they can just go.
To chat BT and get a script.
Really know who it is that youwant in your community first.
What is it that, that they want,and how can you use your personal
experiences and stories to helpthem, to encourage them, inspire
them, teach them, and then you wanna.

Parker Kane (01:11):
She left TV news after 15 years to help creators and entrepreneurs.
Master of video withconfidence and real strategy.
She's built a platform of hundreds ofthousands, all creators and entrepreneurs.
She actively supports with game changinginsights, and to me, and probably many
of you, she's an inspiration when itcomes to being vulnerable about burnout

(01:33):
and when it's time to take a pause andhow to lead with purposeful content.
I am absolutely thrilled to haveher on Upbeat today, Virginia
Kerr, welcome to the show.

Virginia Kerr (01:43):
Thank you for having me.

Parker Kane (01:45):
Absolutely.
I'm excited for this conversation justto catch up the listeners on how we met
and even you, 'cause I don't know if youknow how, how I even discovered you, but
I was looking up videos on YouTube aboutlike the process of posting a video to
YouTube, all the right things to fillout titles, tags, those kinds of things.

(02:07):
I have been on the hunt for thatfor a while, and even some really
big, reputable, you know, peopleI've followed don't have any videos
around those kinds of details.
And so that's what I waslooking up the other day.
And then I got hooked on your content,went through a bunch of videos,
and I just appreciate how real yourcontent is, uh, without all the fluff

(02:30):
and click bait and stuff like that.
So, just wanted to say thankyou, but uh, to the listeners.
Yeah, I emailed her and now she's.
A guest on the show.
So thanks for being here.
Well, and that just

Virginia Kerr (02:38):
goes to show you the power of YouTube because
that video is almost a year old.
That's crazy.
Right?
You, that would've not havehappened on short form video.

Parker Kane (02:48):
That's true.
Yeah.
It doesn't pull up like that,you know, a year or more later.

Virginia Kerr (02:53):
Right.

Parker Kane (02:54):
And I don't know if you've follow, you've probably
followed some of the same people, butsomeone I've followed for a very long
time is Sean Cannel and Think Media.
Yeah.
And um.
I still sometimes will seevideos of theirs pop up from
four years ago, five years ago.
Oh yeah, for sure.
That is cool how YouTube does that.

(03:14):
So, but for people who are justnow meeting you who listen to
this podcast, do you mind doing aquick like rundown, introduction,
overview of who you are, what you do?

Virginia Kerr (03:24):
Not at all.
I was in television news.
I was also a TV host.
I own my own TV show, which I thinkyou'll find interesting considering
what your show is all about.
And I did that and I had always wantedto tell stories and be on the news.
But I realized after doing it a reallylong time and then starting a family,

(03:46):
it wasn't the news and TV that I liked.
It was the creativity andgetting to share stories.
And so I. I took a huge leap in 2019and decided to start my own business
teaching video, and this is beforepeople our age cared about video.
Like there were kids on TikTok,but there wasn't a lot of people.
Even on Instagram, I feel like JasmineStar, if you know who she is, was

(04:08):
like the only person on Instagramthat routinely would upload videos.
And so I'm like, well, I'm just gonnado it 'cause this is what I know.
This is what I love doing.
And so I started giving tips on Instagramand then I started playing on TikTok.
So I would do funnycharacter skits on TikTok.
It had nothing to do with video tips,but I just really liked it over there.
'cause I felt like nobodymy age would find me.

(04:30):
And I blew up a, my first accountover there and then I'm like, I
decided what if I start a secondaccount and actually give video tips?
So that was in 2020.
And then by the time reels hitInstagram in August of 2020, I had
mastered, in my opinion, TikTok,and so I just jumped on reels.
And so that's what I became known forwas short form video, and I taught

(04:53):
a lot of short form video, and I hada YouTube channel, but in my heart,
I always just wanted to be able togo back to what I did on television
as far as sharing long form stories.
And so after a huge breakand massive burnout.
I went back to YouTube last year andwent full throttle and never looked back.

(05:14):
I haven't posted onInstagram in over a year.
I haven't posted on TikTok in maybetwo years, and there's nothing wrong.
I don't think there'sanything wrong with those.
I just as, as a 51-year-old woman,like you just decide what you wanna
do and what you don't wanna do, andI didn't wanna do that anymore, so.

Parker Kane (05:31):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Well, and when you think about allthe different things there are out
there, that's how people stumble intoburnout, you know, because they feel
spread way too thin and like they haveto, I mean, if you're gonna post, for
example, with this podcast, right?
There's gonna be someclips that I post and.

(05:53):
It will take me an hour or an hour and ahalf to just sit down and actually post
to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, all the different platforms
plus blogging it, email, newsletter,website, uh, podcast streaming platform.
I mean, you

Virginia Kerr (06:10):
need, you need it at the very least, a VA
to help you unless you are.
I, I did it, but I mean, I hada va, but I'm just saying it.
It's just too much.
And plus, I'm very controllingwith my content, so there's that.
I don't like people justtaking it and running with it.
I have to have say, and so it'sjust, yeah, it's a lot of work.
That's the part they don't tell you.
Gary V was really good at tellingus to be on all the platforms, but

(06:34):
at that time, he didn't really tellus how much work it was gonna be.
He just would tell us.
And I mean, I love Gary Vate, but hewould just tell us to document everything.
Well, we don't have somebody thererecording us all the time like you do.
I appreciate every minute of myjourney, but I feel like I'm a very
different person now than I was when Istarted five years ago and just wanted
to be known and on all the places.

Parker Kane (06:56):
How so?
So like right now, are you just a lot moreconfident and like clear on exactly what
it is you're out for and not, I guess.
Throwing spaghetti at the wall orwhat, what big differences are there?
Yes.

Virginia Kerr (07:07):
I, I didn't think I would be relevant if I just
up and stopped short form videowhen that's what I was known for.
And I mean, I bought this for twoyears before I finally pulled the plug
on Instagram and I cold Turkey it,which was a little bit jarring, but.
Yeah, I just, I decided, well,how am I, and I knew this going

(07:29):
in because I'd made that big pivotfrom television to working out of
my basement and starting a business.
That was really scary too.
So it was like, well, it'skind of the same thing.
You're just going to move on andpivot and focus on one thing instead
of being in all the places, which isgonna allow you to grow, go deeper, but
also grow that audience more quicklyversus spreading yourself so thin.

(07:52):
And I could start.
Repurposing my long form intoshorts and Instagram if I wanted to.
I just, I, I guess I don'tfeel the need to right now.
If I get to that point where I'mlike, oh, if I, if I wanna keep
going, I better, I better put someshorts out there, then I will.
But I don't, I don'treally feel the need to.
I,

Parker Kane (08:11):
yeah, and that's what's cool is.
I'm learning this from you, andit's a message I think you share
on your channel and to youraudience, but that's totally okay.
You know, like we don't need to feelso spread thin and have to be all these
different places, and there's real ways todo content that actually makes sense for.

(08:31):
People, and they can customizeit to their own scenarios.
Yes.
Same

Virginia Kerr (08:35):
with being a business owner.
You don't have to run yourbusiness like everybody else.
Like yes.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing topromote yourself on other platforms,
don't get me wrong, but if you don'twant to, that's not serving you
and you've got your ideal person.
On the platform thatyou love, why do that?
And, and you know, I did build anaudience on those other platforms,
so that obviously does help me.

(08:56):
You know, people search my name lookingfor me, they find me on YouTube.
So I'm not saying everybody shouldjust go all in on YouTube and forget
the other platforms, but, but you can.
I also have an audio podcastand I think that helps.
And, and the difference islong form content, like a
podcast and long form video.
Your, your people are gonnaconnect with you so much faster

(09:19):
and trust you so much more quickly.
They're going to purchase fromyou faster versus if you're
just relying on the short form,

Parker Kane (09:28):
right?
Like the difference between, you know,seeing a 32nd clip of Gary V on TikTok.
And watching a 52 minute long video ofhim doing a q and a, you know, you, you
just get a lot closer to the question.
My gosh, my, when I was in that,

Virginia Kerr (09:42):
that part of the whole thing, right at the beginning, I
literally stayed up and that's all Idid was watch Gary be YouTube videos.
But I don't thinking, think me watchingall of his short form videos in a
row would've been the same impact.
As me watching him interactwith people, lecturing, giving
these long talks in the cab.

(10:03):
Yes, totally different experience.

Parker Kane (10:05):
Yeah, I could agree with that.
And I'm curious too,with this podcast focus.
What have been some of yourstruggles with burnout and how have
you been able to overcome those?
And when it comes to feeling not readyto to post or like if you are struggling

(10:25):
with a day and you're just like, oh,today's not it, or I don't want to
get in front of the camera today.
Like, do you still have moments like that?
And if so, like how do you overcome those?

Virginia Kerr (10:34):
Absolutely, yes.
I still have moments like that, especiallywhen you come back from a break.
That's really hard toget back in the groove.
For me, I have to remove all the emotion,all the perfectionism, and ask myself.
What is our goal with our content?
Like why do we need to post?
Is it because we've got an audiencethat we know we wanna help?

(10:57):
Is it because we've got a businessthat is not gonna keep going
if we don't market ourselves?
You know, what is, what is thepurpose of the content this week?
And when I focus on thepurpose that I just have to go?
Tunnel vision on the purpose.
So that tells me, all right then ifyou want this goal to be reached,
then you have to post this content.

(11:18):
And when I come back from a break andI'm feeling all those insecurity and.
And, and getting all thosethoughts in my head, I just tell
myself, we've done this before.
We felt like this before, and weknow if we get back on the bike,
we're gonna be able to to ride again.
It's just that we have to do itto get back in the groove again.
And so then I take myself, mygoal is not to have massive

(11:42):
momentum right when I come back.
It's not to have a bunch of views.
I just tell myself, if you create a video.
With that person you wanna help inmind and you actually get it posted.
You've won.
You've won.
And so I just play that game with myself.
I gamify everything when I, whenI'm in the weeds of my thoughts.

Parker Kane (12:02):
Wow.
That's really impactful.
Gamify everything and how to like whenyou're in the weeds of your thoughts.
That's definitely something powerfulthat's gonna stick with people.
And you have gained some followersthough, since coming back though.
Maybe.
Is it more momentum than you thought,like when you first started coming back?

Virginia Kerr (12:21):
Yes.
So when I ca, so going back to how Iovercome all the insecurities, when
I came back from that six month breakon YouTube last summer, I told myself.
I'm not even going to give my,and I'm not gonna suggest that
other people do this 'cause thisis a lot, this is gonna be a lot.
But I, I told myself, you're noteven going to get the chance to be
a perfectionist because we're gonnago all in on a daily challenge.

(12:44):
So I posted, I told myself Ionly had to do it for seven
days and I couldn't edit a lot.
I couldn't overthink my script because thepoint was not to like blow up my channel.
The point was to justreally get comfortable.
Focusing on YouTube as a platformand building a community.
'cause I had posted on YouTube for fouryears and did not have a community over

(13:06):
there because I just didn't prioritize it.
I would take breaks all the time.
I didn't, I look back at those videos andI don't even know who that person was.
I didn't feel like I wasbeing genuine on those videos.
I, I was trying way too hard, so whenI came back, I, I just didn't allow
myself the time to try too hard.
And what is crazy is.

(13:28):
That's when my account blew up,that's when my channel blew up.
So I said, I'm gonna go and posta video every day for seven days.
Then I'm gonna stop and see, okay,can you go for seven more days?
And I did.
So I ended up doing a 21 daychallenge and I, and I was very.
I, I just out in the open with thereason I was doing it, and some of the
videos are so cringey because I had abusiness coach at the time and she was

(13:51):
giving me assignments and trying to getme to be vulnerable on, on video, and,
and that's what, they're still up there.
I would not allow myself to deletethem, but I built the community.
I really found my groove.
But then again, I tooka break recently to.
To update my course and I'mtempted to go back and do another
challenge, not the same challenge,but something it, it was fun.

(14:14):
Similar.
It was fun and I loved to have it,having the community get involved
and they were challenging themselfas well and I really enjoyed that.
I missed that

Parker Kane (14:21):
community.
What are your like top recommendationsas someone starting right now
from where you were before?
Wants to build that community and havethat interaction, what would you say?
They start with?

Virginia Kerr (14:33):
Well, storytelling is everything, especially these days when
information is everywhere and everybodycan sound the exact same because the, they
can just go to chat BT and get a script.
So you have to.
Really know who it is that youwant in your community first.
Like what is, what isit that that they want?

(14:53):
And how can you use your personalexperiences and stories to help them, to
encourage them, inspire them, teach them.
And so that's number one, is knowingwho you even want in your community so
you can make videos for that person.
And then you want to start makingsure that you don't just give tips.
And advice, but you're actuallysharing personal stories and mistakes

(15:15):
that you've made to show them thatyou understand where they are and
that you've been where they areand that you can help them get it.
That transformation that they want, andthat can apply to any type of channel.
It doesn't have to be someonewho is trying to grow their
business with YouTube.
If you want a community where you aremaking an impact, you have to go all
in on that, as we call the ideal viewerand make videos for them and they're,

(15:40):
you'll know it's working when you startgetting comments and they're gonna say.
Oh my gosh.
I, I literally feel like you justmade this video just for me, or I
can't believe you just said that.
I was just thinking that the other day.
So, you know, you've hit the target spotwhen that stuff starts happening, and then
when you start getting return viewers andthey, they are commenting on your videos
and you start recognizing them, that'swhen you know that, that it's working.

(16:01):
But you have to be consistent and youhave to go all in on your ideal person.
And going back to what happenswhen all those fears and
self doubts get in the way.
Sometimes you just make that video andyou tell yourself you are going to win.
This video is going to besuccessful if it reaches and
touches and impacts one person.

(16:23):
And that's, that's what I do.
I, I look at my camera and I think ofthis particular person and I talk to her.

Parker Kane (16:29):
Amazing.
Yeah.
And.
You also mentioned, you know,the gamifying and kind of rushing
through these things, not givingyourself time to overthink or be a
perfectionist or shut down the ideabefore it ever even goes anywhere.
So that's another point.
And then I'm curious what your thoughtsare with AI and everything, because that

(16:50):
is definitely gonna help speed things up.
But one of my biggest fears is thatpeople are gonna lose themselves.
Oh, for sure.
In using ai and I. That's something whyI think I'm so drawn to you and your
content is 'cause it's all about real.
It's all about impact.
It's all about who's that person youwanna help and how can you show up
the most powerful version of you.

(17:12):
Um, those things I think are gonna bemessages that in the next five, 10 years
are gonna be even more and more important.
Um, and so I'm curious your thoughts onthat and how to balance things with ai.

Virginia Kerr (17:26):
What I didn't mention, 'cause I don't want people to
think that they just need to jumpon and just talk to the camera.
There's gotta be strategyand, and even strategy.
Like before I get to the AI part,if, if you wanna get better at this.
Then you have to pick a part ofthat process that you're gonna
focus on and improve upon, andthen move on to the next part.

(17:47):
So for instance, let's say you'regonna just focus on your intros,
your first 30 seconds of your video.
And so you're gonna, you're justgonna focus on improving that first
30 seconds and getting more peopleto watch a little bit longer.
So that's that part.
But strategy is also importantwith AI because if you just go into
AI and ask it a generic question.
It's gonna give you a generic answer.

(18:08):
It might give you the structureof a video, but unless your ai,
unless you've really been feedingit a lot of information, it's
not gonna be personalized to you.
So I have to make sure that, and,and here's the other thing, and.
Your ideal viewer on your channelis gonna be very different than
my ideal viewer on my channel.

(18:28):
So you can't just assume AI isgonna give you the information
that your viewer would care about.
I even called chat GT out and said,that is not how my ideal person talks.
Like, she's not even gonna wannawatch that if I was to say that.
And he'll be, oh, you're soright Virginia, you know,
you're always right with ai,

Parker Kane (18:46):
right?

Virginia Kerr (18:46):
But, um.
I don't think you shouldn't use it.
I mean, I think it's a great tool.
I just think we can't get to the pointwhere we don't think for ourselves, and I
have fallen into that trap just recentlycoming back, and I'm like, I don't.
I don't need ai.
Why do I need AI For every littlething that I do, what I do like

(19:07):
about it is I'll, I'll create athumbnail and I'll upload it to
AI and, and ask it, is this clear?
Does it speak to my ideal person?
How can I make this pop?
You know, I get so I, I start the processand then ask for it to fine tune it.
I think that's a good way to do it.
Love that and need a lot of informationso that it knows who they're talking to.

(19:27):
Although he's very forgetful.
I call him Chad.
Chad's very forgetful.
I'm like, dude, we justtalked about this yesterday.

Parker Kane (19:35):
Right?
It's in your thread.
Just look back at that.
Yes.
That's funny.
Well, no, I appreciate that insight.
and I'm curious, I don't know ifyou're game to do like a couple
minutes of almost like life coaching,but I'm curious, so if someone's
got a podcast like myself mm-hmm.
Do you think they should havetheir thumbnail and title done?

(19:57):
Like.
Before the content even comes out?
Or is that somethingthat happens afterwards?

Virginia Kerr (20:03):
Okay.
If we weren't talking podcast or ifwe were talking a podcast that was
a solo episode without a a guest, Iwould say absolutely a hundred percent.
But even with a guest, and this goesback to my TV news days, one of the
mistakes people make is they don't.
They'll have a guest on and they'll,they're all excited 'cause of, you
know, whatever reason their, theirbackground, their accomplishments.

(20:25):
But if you don't focus on aspecific topic or title, that
that can go all over the place.
And if you don't, if you don'tpre-plan and think about the specific
topic and the title and, and thequestions that you wanna ask them.
Then you're not gonna be listeningout for some of the buzz quotes and
words that they say that could besuper powerful in your thumbnail.

(20:50):
So I've had students who they, theycome to this and they're like, oh, I
gotta make a thumbnail on this podcast.
But then the podcast was all over theplace and they can't find anything.
That was super.
Like if you go to Diary of a CEO,he's a the perfect example of
thumbnails with a guest on a podcast.
So I, I just think it's important that youpre-plan whether you have a guest or not.

(21:12):
But yes, I tell all of my students, youneed to have that title and thumbnail.
Even if you don't create the thumbnailprior to recording the video, you need
to know what it's gonna look like.

Parker Kane (21:23):
Thank you.
Yeah.
Super powerful.
That was something that I saw inone of your videos where I was like.
I've never thought about that before.
Thumbnails for me, it's such a game

Virginia Kerr (21:31):
changer,

Parker Kane (21:31):
was always the last thing I did.
I know

Virginia Kerr (21:34):
every, we all started that way and I still
have students who resist it.
And then I had one come the otherday and she's like, okay, I give up.
You're so right.
I wish I would've made thisthumbnail ahead of time.
Because you're scrambling and, and thenit's so important that your thumbnail
and your title and your intro all flowtogether to keep that viewer, you know,
interested in wanting to keep watching.

(21:55):
'cause that affects your views.
So if you're not thinking of it that way,then you're setting yourself up to fail

Parker Kane (22:01):
with creating your, your target avatar or ideal listener.
What kinds of questions doyou ask yourself to like.
Get that clearly defined, orwhat kinds of questions maybe
would you input into chat GPT?
Just to help kind of zonein on who that person is.
If someone doesn't know right now,

Virginia Kerr (22:19):
well, a really big clue is who you were before
you got this transformation thatyou're so passionate about that
you even wanna go on your channel.
So I have a doctor in my program andhe said, I. Literally picture myself.
'cause he's, he's a pain specialistwhen he was in chronic pain.

(22:39):
And so he talks to himself so thathe's talking in a tone and he's
speaking their, his language beforehe knew all the things he knows.
And so it just helps him become more.
Compassionate and empatheticas he talks to the camera.
And, and so if you can think of yourselfas who your ideal person was, that's

(22:59):
how you're gonna get them to say, oh mygosh, I feel like you're speaking to me.
And what's incredible is sometimes, and Istill struggle with this and I know you've
seen my videos where I was vulnerable,vulnerable, but I, like, I'm in, I'm in
one of those, I call it being too tipsy.
When I come back from a break or if I'mjust not feeling secure, I get way too
heavy on the advice and the tips and thestrategies and, and all the bullet points,

(23:24):
but it's that part of you when you reveal.
The broken part of you, or the part ofyou that didn't have it all together,
that's what connects with people.
And so if you can just speak tothem in that compassionate way
and say, I've been where you are.
I can remember the first timeI made a YouTube video and I
looked ridiculous, you know?

(23:44):
And so I'm just talking about me.
But so it's just so important that.
You picture that person, and here'sthe thing, you're gonna have a,
you're gonna have your ideal personand you're gonna think you know
who they are, but you're not.
It's, it's an ever evolving process.
So I'm still figuring out mine and it's,it used to frustrate me and now it's.

(24:07):
It's fun.
It's fun.
'cause I know the, the deeperI go with that specific person,
the more fun it is for me.
It's just like I tell my clientswho have businesses, think of your
favorite client that you love towork with, that's coachable and
you've gotten them great results.
If you want more people like that,then you need to speak to that
person when you're on camera.

(24:27):
And other people will not be your peopleand they will stop watching, trust me.
But it's gonna be so much more rewardingfor you, and you're gonna be more
effective at helping people when you'respeaking to that specific person.

Parker Kane (24:40):
Wow.
Yeah.
That is incredible.
I think so a word coming to mind as you'resharing that is like being performative.
That's something that'shit me really strong.
These last, well, this year, and I'llshare a quick story, but I, so being
really, really hard on my voice, mywhole life with beatboxing, uh, being
in radio, being a podcaster, beinga speaker, a musician, a singer.

(25:06):
I actually have like, voice issues andI'm going to like voice therapy and having
to do like these exercises and tryingto build it back and, you know, I'm, I
am, uh, finding out too that it's linkedto like chronic stress and emotional
abuse, all those kinds of things, but.

(25:26):
I literally lost like what myactual voice is because it was
so performative all the time.
And I think there's, you know, examplesto be made there where it's, yes.
Well,

Virginia Kerr (25:39):
hold, wait, I gotta, I have to make sure I
know what you're talking about.
So when you say performative, are yousaying like you had like this persona,
like this presenter version of you?

Parker Kane (25:48):
Well, yeah, like my voice.
I'm trying to learn how tolike find my natural voice.
Yes.
And not just like the always on voice.
Um, because for so long it's, you know,hey, it's 1 0 4 0.3 with Parker Kane, you
know, on air do, and blah, blah, blah.
And it's, you know, I've, I thinkI've struggled with that a lot and
I'm having to really, really likeactually go to therapy and do exercises

(26:11):
and try to figure out my voice.
But there's, you know, a crossoverto, to like the mental wellness
part of all this and how.
We lose ourselves in the content andin the grind and in what you were just
sharing, getting stuck in the tips andthe advice and the strategies and all
those things that sometimes we overlookthe best part, and it's like the un

(26:34):
performative or in performative, howeveryou would say that part of ourselves.
And so.
I just wanna say thank you for sharingthat because I think that's huge.
We, we all get too caught up inthose things and we go in these
research loops and a lot of thetimes it leads to no action.
Yes.
And uh, so when you do take action,it's just that reminder to to be

(26:56):
yourself that naturally as you can.

Virginia Kerr (26:59):
Well, so this voice that I'm hearing right
now, is this your natural voice?
'cause you sound really natural to me.

Parker Kane (27:05):
I hope so.
I'm trying to be mindful of it.
I think a lot of it is justtension, like in my throat.
Yeah.
Like I have to remember to, tolike, you know, be loose and just
not put so much pressure behind it.

Virginia Kerr (27:19):
And one exercise that I have found to be really helpful
is, and it's how I started doingvideo on Instagram, even though
I'd been in it for years, it was atotally different ball game, getting
on camera and talking about myself.
You know, I just reportedother people's stories.
I didn't.
I didn't talk about me, and so I foundwhen I would just do an everyday ordinary

(27:39):
routine, like a crock pot recipe or how Iput on my fake eyelashes at the time, I,
I, these are videos I did, it would justallow me to relax a little bit because.
I was doing an everyday thing, so I feltmore comfortable and because I had done
it so much and I would just, whether nowthis is me not talking to an ideal person.

(27:59):
Okay.
This was just for mybenefit again, gamifying.
If I could get on and explain howto put this chicken crockpot recipe
together, I did it and I literally,I had a whole challenge when I was
in that stage of my journey too.
When I first started Instagram,I knew nothing about stories and.
They didn't have reels at thetime, but IGTV and all that,

(28:21):
and so I remember the first.
Week when I said, this is the weekI'm gonna actually go on camera every
day I have to talk to the camera onInstagram stories about something.
And like every day I made ita little bit more challenging.
So the first time I didn't really have totalk, I just had to do like a, a boomerang
to people, even do those anymore.
Uh, and then.

(28:41):
I did another one.
I just showed it behind the scenes.
And so then the, the time that Iactually had to talk for longer than
30 seconds, I did the crockpot thing.
And so I said, okay, all you haveto, this is me talking to myself.
All you have to do is teachsomeone how to make crockpot
chicken and you've won the day.
And I'm like, okay, I can do that.
And so I don't even know if peoplewere watching my stories, but that's
how I got comfortable in figuringout how to talk like myself.

(29:03):
I still struggle with that on YouTube.
Like I said, watching my old YouTubevideos is very painful 'cause I
was over the top performing andlike I said, trying too hard.
But yeah, doing an every dayand just, you know, teaching
the camera how to do something.
Even if you don't post that, it'sgonna help you discover your real life
view on video, what, what you looklike when you're not overdoing it.

Parker Kane (29:26):
Amazing.
Yeah.
And I think that is good advice.
I also, it reminded me of another video.
Like I said, I went down kind of arabbit hole of your videos, but you
were like talking to your gardenand stuff too, and like Oh, that was

Virginia Kerr (29:36):
recently.
Yes.

Parker Kane (29:37):
Do doing voice notes and, and trying to, you know, just be more in
tune with how you actually would talk.

Virginia Kerr (29:44):
Yeah.
'cause I get excited about my flowers.
And I'm not gonna post that'cause nobody else would care.
And it's not like I actually really knowwhat I'm doing when it comes to that.
I just started gettinginto it in the last year.
But, so I did, I mean this was recently,I've been doing this for so long and I
finally, and I just did a video on this.
I'm like, I know I should havealready figured this out, but I
feel like I'm just now talkinglike I do in real life on camera.

(30:07):
And that to give us a little bit ofa break, that was a lot of people,
I mean a lot of people were over thetop, the zoom in, the zoom out, the
flashy, you know, flying graphics.
And that's just, thatwas what YouTubers did.
You know, Hey, what's up everybody?
Welcome back the channel.
And so, but that's notwhat people want anymore.
And so that's hard.

(30:28):
'cause it's like, I, I figuredout how to be that version of me,
but now they want like the, Hey,let's hang out together version.

Parker Kane (30:36):
Right.
That's a good way of, of putting it.
Gosh, so much value in thisconversation and time is flying.
Before we kinda wrap up, I, I wannamake sure I open the stage, for you to
talk about your business, what you'rebuilding, how people can, you know, sign
up or contact you or connect with you.

(30:56):
Anything you'd you'd liketo share in that realm?

Virginia Kerr (30:59):
Well, everything is, this is Virginia Kerr, KERR, and I have
a podcast, and then I have my YouTubechannel under the same names also.
That's my, that's my email, Virginia.
This is Virginia kerr.com.
And yes, I have a YouTube program.
It's for business owners over40, and we meet every week.
It's amazing because, and these arepeople who, they wanna make a difference.

(31:23):
They don't wanna justbuild their business.
They, they really feel pulledto make an impact and, and go
deeper with their audience.
And I think a, a lot of people arefeeling that these days because
there is so much content out there.
And some of us have been postingcontent for a while and we're like.
There's more to me than just this.

(31:43):
And it doesn't mean you have to completelyabandon your niche and stop talking
about what you normally talk about.
But again, it goes back to storytelling.
There's a way to be valuable and providevalue to people without just giving tips
and just showing that one part of you and,and for me, I find like I just recorded a

(32:03):
video for this week and I'm teaching howto do B-roll, and I'm like, and B-roll
is the video that goes over the talking.
Person and I just, it's.
Weird stuff, but I mean, think aboutit, when you watch some of your favorite
YouTubers and then they start showingtheir everyday lives, and I don't mean
a vlog, I, I'm not trying to make you goand become a vlogger, but just when they

(32:24):
get little clips with their phone of themdoing something with people in their life
or you know, maybe they're just walkingtheir dog, there's something about that
that all of a sudden that humanizes.
Them and it sees their us and their life.
'cause we can relate to that.
And so it's little things like that thatI like to help people with so that you're
not just a talking head giving tip.

Parker Kane (32:46):
Perfect.
Yeah, definitely would encouragepeople to check that out.
And I love the B-roll idea.
I think you know all, as much aspeople crave real these days and human
connection, we also literally don'thave very strong attention spans.
And I think when you have those clipschanging every once in a while, it helps

(33:07):
engage that, attention and retention too.
So.

Virginia Kerr (33:10):
Well, and here's one of the things I struggle
with since you brought that up.
So right now, for those of youwho do not wanna record B roll,
like you don't have to have B rollin your video to be successful.
And a lot of people would saythey, that's just too much.
We just want you to sit there and talk.
I have it in my head that nobodywould watch my video until the end
if I just sat there and talked.
Now it's probably the former newsreporter and me because we always

(33:32):
had to get video for our our stories.
So it's.
Again, I get to make my business and,and, and teach people the way I want to.
And in my opinion, I think B-rollis a good thing to know how to do.
And, and plus you have all those littlevideos on your phone that you can
put together and have memories with.
Like, if I didn't have all of this contentthat I put out, I wouldn't have nearly

(33:54):
as many videos and pictures of my family.
Not that I really post them in mycontent, but back in the day I did,
when I did skits and stuff like that.

Parker Kane (34:03):
Yeah, well it, that just reminded me it's a good way
to be more creative with it too.
Yeah.
To have more pieces to play with.
Right.
Because sometimes itcan get really stagnant.
You do the same thing over and overand over again, and doing B roll is
a way to make it more fun, to createmore engaging for the person watching.
And also it's gonna set you apart from.

(34:25):
Literally anybody else doing what you'redoing, because they're not gonna have
the same B roll and they don't have thesame life as you, and they're not you.
So this has been just anabsolutely incredible episode.
Before we go, uh, I'm curious what'sbeen like your number one special
takeaway from today's conversationthat's kind of standing out to you?

Virginia Kerr (34:48):
Oh, I'm so glad you asked that.
I, I didn't see it coming thatyou've been working on your voice.
'cause you sound so naturaland conversational and
friendly and down to earth.
Thank, thank you.
I would've never thought you were gonnasay that, but it also made me feel
really good because I have, like I said,struggle with that for so long and I

(35:09):
didn't realize how you aren't like this.
I'm not saying this.
Go look at my old videos, Parker.
You'll see.

Parker Kane (35:15):
It's real bad.
We all have cringe.
I literally, and I might so bad,I might as a dare to myself post
it in this video, but you know,Facebook will do Facebook memories.

Virginia Kerr (35:28):
Yeah,

Parker Kane (35:29):
I got one from 11 years ago of me beatboxing on my couch, and
the beatboxing was really good, but.
I was really cringe in what I was saying.

Virginia Kerr (35:39):
Oh, you have to post it, so

Parker Kane (35:40):
yeah, I'll share it.
It's so crazy.
But no, we all experience cringeand I think, yeah, that's one
of my biggest takeaways from.
This episode is just to be as real as you,as you can be, just the most authentic

(36:01):
version of yourself in real content.
And that's always gonna perform betterthan the fluff or the fake stuff.

Virginia Kerr (36:08):
Absolutely.
Well, the, bless one of the blessingsof getting older, Parker, 'cause
I'm a lot older than you, is thatyour brain just doesn't have time.
To care as much.
Like you just don't.
I think that's right.
I think I turned 50 andI'm like, and scene.
We're done with Instagram,everybody, because I just
don't have it in me anymore.

Parker Kane (36:28):
I feel that.
No, that's a good point.
I also wanted to ask real quick,with everything you're building,
what's the meaning behind it?
Uh, what's the meaning behindyour program and like, what
fuels you to keep doing this?

Virginia Kerr (36:40):
There's so much.
I mean, selfishly, I think it'shelps me to be a better person,
to focus on other people.
And I'm realizing, and it's likethis lesson that I keep learning over
and over again, like just becauseyou're quietly dealing with it
does not mean you are the only one.
Most likely there's more peopleout there struggling with what

(37:00):
you're struggling with than not.
And so if I didn't have those, thatcommunity that we meet every Wednesday.
I just wouldn't be the same person.
I don't, they challenge me.
Even not, they don't realizethey're doing this, but they,
they challenge me to be better.
And that's, that's thewhole point of life.
Like why are we here if we're not gonnamake an impact and make a difference?

(37:23):
And I think for so many people,I'm including myself in this,
after 2020, we just isolated andwe got used to being like that.
And it's not healthy.
I mean, it feels good'cause there's not as much.
You know, you don't have to dealwith people's stuff as much, but
we were not created to be alone.
We were wired for relationships.

(37:44):
And so I think just getting thatmessage out and, and letting everyone
know that everybody has a purposeand everybody's story is powerful.
It's just a matter of identifying thosestories and learning how to share them.

Parker Kane (37:58):
Right.
Equipping them for success.
Love it.
Awesome.
Well, thanks for being on the show.
I end every episode witha beatbox and the guest.
Name in the beat.
So we'll do that real quick.

(38:23):
Thank you.
Thank you.
Virginia.
Virginia, Whitney, Virginia, Kirk.

Virginia Kerr (38:34):
That's amazing.

Parker Kane (38:35):
Thank you so much.
Appreciate you for being on the show.
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