BLOG 363: THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY I CHANGED THE PODCAST NAME AFTER 6 YEARS

Sometimes the smallest changes can feel like the biggest ones.

For six and a half years, I have released a new episode of The Face Yoga Expert Podcast every single Sunday. Yes, every single Sunday! Not one missed week.

In that time, the podcast has had over half a million downloads from people around the world, as well as millions of views on YouTube. I’ve recorded hundreds of conversations, interviewed some incredible guests and shared a LOT of my own life, thoughts, experiences and lessons along the way.

And I absolutely love it.

But there has been one thing that hasn’t felt quite right for a while. The name.

So this week, after six and a half years, 'The Face Yoga Expert Podcast' officially became 'With Danielle Collins'.

And although changing a few words might not sound like a particularly big deal, for me it actually feels like the beginning of a really exciting new chapter.

The truth is, it was never really a Face Yoga podcast

Obviously, Face Yoga has been a huge part of my life and career and one I truly love. I created The Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method, I’ve spent more than two decades teaching it and I am incredibly proud of everything that has grown from it.

That isn’t changing.

But if you’ve listened to my podcast over the years, you’ll know that Face Yoga itself has actually only ever been a small percentage of what we talk about.

I might be sharing a solo episode about something I’ve learnt in business, a wellness practice I’m loving, ageing, confidence, hormones, mindset or something happening in my own life.

The following week I might be sitting down with an incredible guest talking about their story, career, health, spirituality, success, relationships or the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.

The podcast naturally became a place for much bigger conversations about wellness, beauty, business, mindset and life. Yet every Sunday, those conversations were still going out underneath the title The Face Yoga Expert Podcast.

And somewhere inside, I knew the name no longer completely represented what was on the inside.

So why didn’t I change it sooner?

This is the interesting bit. Because I think there was a little bit of fear there.

When you’ve spent years becoming known for something, it can feel scary to step outside of that box.

Being known as The Face Yoga Expert has given me the most incredible career. It has taken me around the world, onto television, into magazines, allowed me to write books, create products and courses, train teachers around the world and connect with millions of people.

Why would I want to move away from that?

And the answer is: I don’t.

This isn’t about leaving Face Yoga behind. It’s about allowing myself to be all the other parts of me too.

And perhaps that’s something you can relate to.

Sometimes we become so associated with one version of ourselves, in our careers, relationships or simply in our own minds, that evolving from that identity can feel uncomfortable.

Even when we know we’re ready.

With Danielle Collins

Eventually I realised that the answer was actually incredibly simple.

The podcast didn’t need another clever name. It just needed to be a place where you could come and spend some time with me.

So With Danielle Collins suddenly felt exactly right.

It gives the podcast space to evolve as I evolve.

Some weeks that absolutely will mean Face Yoga and natural beauty. Other weeks it might mean wellbeing, healthy ageing, business, entrepreneurship, mindset, confidence or something very personal that I’ve been thinking about or experiencing.

And around half of the time, it will mean sitting down with fascinating guests and having the sort of conversations that I love most, honest conversations where we get beneath the surface and hopefully all come away having learnt something.

The name and artwork are new. But the heart and soul of the podcast haven’t changed.

Maybe there’s a lesson in this for all of us

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how we give ourselves permission to evolve.

We can sometimes feel that because we’ve been one thing for a long time, we need to stay that thing forever. But I don’t think growth works like that.

We don’t need to completely reinvent ourselves or reject everything that came before. Sometimes the next chapter is simply about making a little more room for who we’re becoming.

And that’s exactly what this change feels like for me.

Not a completely new beginning. Not an ending. Just an evolution.

And I’m incredibly excited to see where it goes.

If you’ve listened to the podcast at any point over the last six and a half years, thank you. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or hundreds, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to spend that time with me.

And if you’ve never listened before, this feels like the perfect time to join me.

Welcome to With Danielle Collins: The Podcast.

A new name. A new look. The same heart and soul, with plenty more conversations to come.

Listen to With Danielle Collins anywhere you get your podcasts or on my website here