Behind The Funny With Amber Wallin

sing she's sayings to the plants. And every single time it was when I was came home with my second baby, which was exhausting. And your your your social media was always just like a moment of like, I knew I was gonna be chuckling while I knew I could just like have a laugh when I went to your social media. So one, thank you for this because you know, you're very welcome. is a lie. Yeah. So Dr. Raquel Martin: thank you for the post partum is a scam. Yeah, I hear that from a lot of

people. Because I even when I try to explain the content that people I'm like, it's just a hodgepodge of different like, what I felt like doing that day is what is happening in the video. I can't there is no through line. There's some recurring characters and CO stars and guest stars. But whatever I get inspired by is what is going to be the video for sure.

Dr. Raquel Martin: Yeah, I always feel the inspiration. And when I was looking into content creation, and I remember someone stating the like, you know, you're trying to actually do this as a job. What do people like? See on your grid? Like how are they How are you pitching yourself to different

organizations? And when I looked at shores I'm like, Oh, this is easily pinchable like you can easily be like oh yeah, I can do if I look at this she can advertise for like Mom Stuff for food for anything that you want it to actually throw comedy and and bring people in. I feel like anybody will come to you for because it that I can see you being able to sell any product because you're an art like an artists like you. You do it well. Like I saw one for hot sauce. And then I saw one thing

crunchy chicken at one point. But then yeah, and it's just like, we'll just artists, the gas station chicken ad during Black History Month. Yeah, that wasn't my finest moment that. But I remember on my way to post it. I was like, what kind of backlash? Is this fried chicken video about and get me right now. But did you? None. I tried to write it very specifically to so it wasn't just like, I have another friend of mine who's a creator. We talk all the time. And she was in here with me when

I was writing the script for the fried chicken. And she was like you sell on a two piece combo. I was like no, I convinced them to let me sell the chicken sandwich. That's a little less black. You know? That's a little less black stereotype. You know, and avocado on it. It's Dr. Raquel Martin: California. Yes. Some something like that, because I just couldn't do like, hand to hand to drum with grease everywhere. You know, we all have a line. You know, I'm saying it has to be. Yeah, has

to be a line somewhere. But yeah, I do. I like to do just a little bit of everything. So I'm a big comedy girl to start. Yeah, I started doing comedy in Chicago. So I was a big sketch, sketch girl improv girl a little bit of stand up as well. And then when the pandemic happened, I got laid off from the comedy club, I was understudying this show there. And like, I mean, like, I mean, three hours into the pandemic, I got laid off from the comedy club. So I remember being like, oh, maybe

I'll just make some more videos at home. I'd always made some video content. Yeah, but I was like now I have the time to fully invest and these these 24 hour stories that used to just disappear. Now I get to like maybe put them somewhere. And that's how many how we found each other. Yeah, Dr. Raquel Martin: because I love your stuff. Do you have any? Do you have any tips for people who are trying to do something similar like unify their message or build their

brand in a way that is appealing in the first place. Because I think my stuff is I don't really post with the purpose. If a company wants to work with me, my grade could be a lot better. But I feel like yours is just streamlined where you could easily tell a story with any product or things like that. How do you get to a point where you're able to do that? Like, what are tips that you make it a point to include and not tips, but like, do you have guidelines when you post your content?

Like, what's the message? Or what are the tips or any of that the best thing I would recommend for people who are just starting is Don't overthink it, like whatever you're already doing. It's the monotony, mundane things that you do that you think are interesting that you record yourself doing those people love those. So I would always recommend just like don't like people come to me all the time. And they're like, I want to start making content, but I don't know where to start. And

I'm like, Okay, well, what did you do today? They're like, well, I watched my favorite coffee shop, and I got my regular coffee. I was like, Well, what's your regular coffee? Like, just whatever you're already doing? You just share that story and stare and share why that's your regular coffee shop and share why that's a regular coffee order. Like because because all of those have little stories behind them. I think I think the best way to describe what I do is just

storytelling, comedic storytelling. And so when when people are trying to do this, they're like, Well, I gotta hop on trends. I got to know like, the viral sounds, and I'm like, just just talk to people and just do what you're already doing. Like I have a cousin who makes a lot of content right now. I was like, This is so nice. I haven't heard your voice in a single video. And that's what people fall in love with.

Because people hate their the sound their own voice. But there's so much like the texture of your voice in the story, too. You know what I'm saying? Like, whether it's a high pitch or whether you're like, you got a little southern drawl to it, like that's a story in and of itself. So I always tell people, like, the big two would be just record what you're already doing. If you're if you did your laundry today, just record that. And then just put some sort of vocal commentary, where you

tell, just tell a story to people. And in 30 seconds in 60 seconds. We just you've been binging the the Who the eff did I marry series Dr. Raquel Martin: I have and I'm the only one because everyone's talking about ai ai. It's like 70 parts. How do people the therapist in you is going wouldwould? Why No. And

Dr. Raquel Martin: you know what? Yeah, no, that's why I'm staying away from it because because I think people want like a so what to clinicians have to say not a darn thing you're about to give me what's your take, they want you to take because it's your professional opinion and people like that like, Okay, I'm reneging on my answer a little bit. I once looked up I was I looked up what makes a good content creator. Dr. Raquel Martin: You said really big in February, by the way continue.

I do I do. Renee is actually supposed to be pronounced Rene egg right. We just pronounce it as Romig for you know, for for black Wayne, that Dr. Raquel Martin: chicken and renege oh my god, I know that's to this two strikes. hold me accountable to the third, how many good there. But what makes a good content creator is I read three things. Either you, you inspire people, you educate people, or you entertain people. So if you can find a way to do all three, that's why people love you,

right? Because you're inspiring us to be better in our conversation that be kinder to each other. It's entertaining, and you have the expertise, you know, so that like that may lay of all that like that. What am I doing a stew. I'm cooking now? I never could. Yes. That's a perfect blend of why people love what you do. You know what I mean? That's my doubt.

Dr. Raquel Martin: Thank you. Oh, yeah, no, I know. I also well, I also think I think one of the reasons why I enjoy watching your stuff too is because we get to one so Amber, she she married to Ben, Ben even Okay, so tone is a very good point, because I don't say I only hear Ben and you're the way you write his name. And I bet you people call him Ben the same exact way because you say it that way.

They come up to even bands, little cousins will come up to him and be like me that like I do that now, which is so funny, because even that right? I didn't even realize I was doing that until the internet was like, Do y'all hear the mispronunciation? And it's like the fanfic of the comment section. Basically re spelled his name. And so now here we go. Right. So even we've been in person with things and like

people have spelled it incorrectly. And I'm like, That's just like the internet spelling of it, which is so funny. Dr. Raquel Martin: Yeah, so her husband ban and her daughter wild. And I liked I like watching that process too, because I because my youngest is close to wild. And it's just so it's just so fun seeing someone going through the same thing. would send me just being like, okay, so it's not me right?

Like, it's not just you, everyone. Anyone dealing with this is just like, okay, just just eat the food do you have to break down every time we leave? This was my food. Why are we here again? Are we? And yet still never eating? What's happening? Why can I happening? What's going on, they like you can't even just feed them, they want to pick out which blueberry they're eating, take a bite and put it back on your plate. Like you're just like, I love it. My child is just like, done with something

and she's just handing it off. Like I like I am her personal assistant like, so this look for me to be like, I can't just put this on the floor or the table that you need to take it from my hand and it's Dr. Raquel Martin: understood that like they don't even they don't even look like most he will literally just, he just puts his hand out and he just knows that like, Oh, she'll be here shortly. She must be happy. Yeah, yeah, breaker and I will

be she can have a break. Because you want the one on the bell at this point. Yeah, cuz she's just like, gospel. Yeah. She's She's. She's fine. Dr. Raquel Martin: She's amazing. I think that's one of the things I think I also appreciate what your content is like sharing your family with us. And I think Ben, I think when I was watching on the beginning, I don't know if this is his character. But Ben seems to be more into it. Now, in terms of you guys moved to you. You guys were in Chicago, right?

We were in Chicago for 10 years separately. Well, we, I guess him and I live in data there together for about seven years. And then we've moved here. Dr. Raquel Martin: And then you Melissa, and you're on La. We're in LA now. Yep. You're in LA. And I feel like the one thing I noticed is you've made this like, in my opinion, like amazing transformation into we talked about this before the entrepreneurship role. When you went into you, you just went you

went all in when it came to join the live show. Podcast merch, you know you I'm sure you always see me wearing yours. It's so comfy. I so appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. I love it. That's so comfy. Because I wear a lot of hoodies. So I'm like, Oh, this is the lining on the inside is really cozy. I don't know what it is. But it's what it's more than just cotton. It's just very comfy. So I wear it all the time. Hey, okay. Thank you. Thank you for supporting the merge. Yes, yes. How did you

feel comfortable pivoting into those roles? Because honestly, I one point I thought you have like a whole team, do if I'm ever only building a team, but I mean, a team of like one or two people right now. But I do I am slowly building a team. I just got to a point where so. So I was a high school teacher for five years, and I wasn't that great of a teacher. But then now the kids were entertained. Were they learning anything was the issue, right? But I wasn't that great of a

teacher. But what was required of us at the beginning of every school year is a long term plan for those educators out there. You're an educator, I'm not sure like at the collegiate level, what you have to provide, you know, the administration or whatever. But in high school, you have to provide like, month to month, day to day, what will you be teaching these children? What geometric standards and mathematical things are you

teaching them? So then, once I fully transitioned to being a comedian, it was really easy for me to longterm plan, how I wanted to run my business, or an hour, or I would look at analytics, and it would say like, okay, most of your users watch your videos before they go to work. And then 5pm When they get off work. So then I would say like, Okay, on a weekly schedule, I need to post two tiktoks a day, one in the

morning, one in the evening. So then it was easy for me to sort of like long term plan that and that's what's helped me to be consistent. Of course, some things fall off, you know, even like my plants thing and series, I want to bring that back, you know, you think we have a child, everything's gonna be like back to normal. But you're like, well, the day I do this thing is now the day we go to swim lesson. So how am I going to navigate, so you just make some sacrifices here and there. But

in general, I try to make it look effortless. But there's a lot of spreadsheets and a lot of trackers and a lot of how did this content perform versus that content behind the scenes. So I really like to nerd out on the analytics and like what I call like a project plan when I decide to do something. Dr. Raquel Martin: Okay, so when people are trying to take it more seriously, it's also important to look at analytics.

Oh, absolutely. Be more organized within that realm. And you mentioned like, even with analytics, even just breaking it down to like, when people are watching the videos, I don't even know when people watch my stuff. I don't even know what you don't know, what do you mean, you never just looked at like the peak times of when we're mostly or the peak cities. So even planning the lab tour, you know, again, our podcasts we rebranded a podcast in June for those of you listening we replay

branded our podcast fly on the wall in in June of 2023. And even then when I rebranded it, because for two years, we ran a black sci fi and fantasy podcast. And while we did love it, while we did love it a lot, I love feedback, right? Because I don't have any coworkers. So I'm always reaching out to people who are smarter than me. So I reached out to this lady wondery. Our podcast is brought to you by wondery. But she was like, I'll take a meeting with you and give you some advice.

And so I took a meeting with her. I love I'll take a meeting. Like, that's great. I took a meeting with her. And she was like, what I'm seeing on your social media page is family and funny, and shenanigans and viral moments. And that's not translating to this science fiction and fantasy podcast. And I was explaining her I was like, well, on the podcast, we talk about relationship stuff and stuff. We just talked about it with the characters, and then how it you know, the text to

self. And she was like, why don't you name the podcast? Something else? Because sci fi might take people out of, you know, like, if you don't, if you don't like sci fi, you're not gonna go watch this just because you love me. So they're like, she's like, make it more a you and him show up and make it. Like, if you're doing a parenting video, why wouldn't you do a parenting segment? And she was like, that's all the advice I should give. So we rebranded it this past summer.

So I'm really big on just in the way that you would in a regular nine to five. It's like I don't I don't get a quarterly evaluation from anybody. So I love taking a meeting on, hey, how can I improve? Like, here's where my business is struggling right now. podcast listeners, how can I make that better? And then when my agent was like, hey, we want to maybe give y'all a tour? What cities should we start with? I use my analytics to be like, Okay, I'm popular in New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta.

Let's try to start and see how it goes in those cities. First, you know what I mean? Because you can just pick Detroit, like, Detroit is great. We love her my analytics, I don't have a big fan base there. So would it be worth it to fly me flat a baby by been fly a production member? And the turnout might not be

great, you know? So we're trying to think about it as much as we can and not to corporate because you know, it's still me, but like, yeah, like, what are the resources that we have that we can use, because the analytics are free, you gotta look at your analytics. Listen, Dr. Raquel Martin: when my business partner slash producers looks at this, he probably he's probably gonna roll his eyes

because I could do a better job of posting with a purpose. But I genuinely feel as though I fell into social media, I genuinely just got one to provide another aspect of mental health stuff that looks worse. And people breaking it down more simple because I just I just got this thing where people always say you use and $20 words you stop, you know, like, this is supposed to be really simple concepts are supposed to help people. And then I just had happen to, like, get bigger, and I'm like, Oh,

okay. It's just like, because you don't need and you feel the need you educated, you entertained? And you inspired so like, you check all the boxes of what makes that we need more people like you because some people wake up to be like, Okay, what am I gonna create today? It's like, you know, you have you have the content already, which is like my expert opinion. Wow. Dr. Raquel Martin: Lately, I've just been like, looking at videos and being like, oh, yeah, there's actually a site concept

behind this. Let me show you let me tell you this right behind and we can't get that anywhere else. Like, where could we possibly get that you can even get laughs somewhere else. But you can't really get here from a therapist that you're not paying to hear it from. So you what you're doing is a huge service to people. Like absolutely this is Dr. Raquel Martin: this was a this is I mean, if we ended right now, I think I would be just excited about what we got.

It's like Oh, my goodness. Hey, everyone, just a reminder that mind your mental is not just a podcast, it is also a amazing community. If I do say so myself. It's phenomenal. I mean, you get more access to me, what more could you want in this life? So if you want to join the community, if you're not already on the community, go to my social media. My social media is the same Raquel Martin, PhD and DM me the word community so you can get details on joining this amazing flipping community. You

get more access to me all like I'm a delight. All right. All right. Hope to see you there.