Meet Elizabeth Cheney | Podcast Host of The In-Between & Self Love Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Cheney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Back in 2017, I had been working the ‘corporate America’ hustle for a few years and was already feeling burntout. Surely there’s’ more than working 40+ hours a week making barely enough money to live, let alone comfortably. I started asking myself, what was my dream job? And from there, who says I couldn’t create it? I had to open my mind to the idea of endless possibilities, and as long as I believed in myself and didn’t give up, it would eventually happen. So then the brainstorming started happening! I’ve always been great at connecting and communicating with people and loved the idea of having a TedTalk. How does one start a TedTalk? How does one become a public speaker? All I knew was that I wanted to speak about the experience of what does it mean to live authentically and mental health. I knew that I wanted a career that would allow me freedom and the ability to travel. Eventually, I landed on a podcast. It seemed like the right vehicle where I could get my voice out there, tap back into my creative side, and started finding my niche.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve already given a little insight to how I started and where the inspiration came from. What makes me different is my openness and ability to connect – remember that authenticity? Maybe you can call that my charm, ha! I like to describe my brand as one part empowerment and one part entertainment. I’ve mentioned self love a bit and that’s because I truly believe that is the foundation you need to carry you through every in-between you navigate in life. Now let me tell you the story of how I found self love and finally launched my podcast. After my car accident, it took several years to figure out what was wrong with me. During that time, I didn’t have the best care and was struggling with chronic pain (that come to find out was being caused by nerve damage) and a serious concussion that gave me a lot of issues. Bonus point, no one explained to me the effects of a concussion and what was going on. I thought I was going crazy – truly. I slumped into a deep depression without realizing it and then Covid happened. Keep in mind, I had not started the podcast yet – another thing I was adding a lot of pressure on myself about. “Do you not actually want to do this?” “Do you even believe in your dreams?” “You’re a loser if you can’t actually do this.” The inner narrative was not healthy. Long story short, my mental health got extremely dark, and I hit my personal rock bottom. Living felt exhausting. I can only describe it as feeling empty. I started going to therapy and this woman, who mind you, I never met in person (remember Covid), helped me give myself permission to let go of all my self-inflicted pressures and to focus on the basic necessities – taking care of myself, brushing my teeth, showering, eating, etc. How could I do anything if I couldn’t take care of myself? How could I help others if I couldn’t help myself? Despite not believing her, I chose to trust her and listen to her advice. Slowly, I started to put myself back together, I convinced myself to brush my teeth because I deserved to have clean teeth. I convinced myself to shower because I deserved to feel clean and honor my body. She helped me find my way back to myself. She helped me fight for my life because life was worth living. She gave me the tools to claw my way out of the hole I was buried. Going through that depression, the lowest point of my life, taught me the power of self love. I couldn’t have done it alone, and that’s where I say sometimes you need others to help you. I eventually made it out of the darkness with a whole new outlook with two main beliefs: self love is the most important relationship you can have, and life IS worth living. There is power in meeting yourself at your lowest point and choosing to love through the pain, heartache, and the feelings of unworthiness. That experience is what finally enabled me to launch my podcast, truly believe in my voice and dreams, and never look back. I put that energy in everything that I create. I’m still learning how to be a better host. I’d be lying if I said I never had imposter syndrome, but at least now, I can pick myself back up and continue the trek. One thing I ask myself when feeling lost is, “what does it mean to truly live?” I always land on living authentically and using that to connect with and help others. That’s my art and what I hope others can gain from listening to me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooh! We’re definitely hitting the Atlanta Beltline – we’re walking from Ponce City Market all the way down to Krog Street Market. From drinks at Burle’s Bar, hitting the rooftop at Moonlight, Del Bar Inman Park, Fred’s Meat and Bread (my favorite), or getting a sweet treat at Jeni’s Ice Cream, there are so many places to explore. We’d check out the day party scene at Palo Santo and try to go to a rooftop party at Waygu House Atlanta. For dancing, I’m always down for MJQ, but we’re buying tickets ahead of time because I’m not waiting in that line (lmao). I love Atlanta’s neighborhoods – each have their own vibe and collection of restaurants and things to do. Like East Atlanta Village (EAV), so many places to eat while also offering a lot of things to do. We’d dance at Mary’s, play board games at Agrosy, or end the night out with some street food. I love EAV. There’s also Jojo’s Beloved, a nice place to go and dance after we eat at Colony Square so we can get the midtown vibe. I truly love Atlanta. I might complain about its lack of and accessibility to public transportation, but there is always something to do. All that means is we’re walking as much as possible. If it’s spring time, we’re going to whatever arts festival is happening that weekend – Dogwood, Porchfest, Inman Park Fest – the list goes on. I’m born and raised in Atlanta, and I’m still finding new areas to check out and things to do. The beauty about ATL is that there’s always an adventure waiting to be had.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First shoutout goes to my mom – she was a single mother who raised me in a home that never had me questioning my worth or place in this world. She taught me self love before I knew what it was. She taught me that believing in your dreams was not weak or naive. That foundation is what kept and continues to keep my mind open to any possibility I set out to achieve. How did I eventually start ruminating on a dream job/career path outside the norm? This shoutout goes to my best friend since 7th grade, Victoria, and her consistent nagging to read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. “This book will change your life!” For anyone who hasn’t read it, it’s a simple story about finding your life’s purpose, and it’s written in a way that you can easily identify yourself as the protagonist. I read it right at the start of 2017, when I started to feel the tug that there was more to life than what I was settling for. There’s a term used in The Alchemist, your “personal legend,” which is something that your heart calls out for, it sits in the back of your mind, it’s what you dream about but fear it may be impossible. Of course these things vary by person, but I for one thought I was being called out. That book gave me the permission to own my dreams and that it was ok. My path to finally starting my podcast was long, filled with LOTS of imposter syndrome, self doubt, and a pretty gnarly car accident that gave me issues I still deal with today. I wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for the support of my close friends who always believed in my vision and mission. I’ve even had very close friends share their hard truths on my podcast – shoutout to my best friend Tyaira and speaking on her difficult journey with infertility. Another big shoutout goes to my friend Brooke Qilafi, founder of Qilafi Public Relations. She is one of my biggest hype girls, who is always looking for opportunities for me, whether it’s booking big guests or attending events, and pushes me out of my comfort zone. She’s become a very close friend and networking resource – the best of both worlds. Heck, she made me order business cards! Every creator needs a Brooke in their life. It’s also worth mentioning my fellow podcasting and content creator friends I’ve made over the years. There is value in finding community with like-minded people. I can talk about the grind, the struggle with “am I doing enough?” and “I should be doing more.” They act as a soundboard and have helped me get out of my own head many times. You need those who can resonate with exactly what you’re going through because it can be hard and lonely. I believe that when you want something or you’re trying to achieve something, the universe will conspire to make that happen as long as you’re on your path. Opportunities present themselves, you meet the right people, I don’t know how to explain it other than it’s the magic of the universe, and I believe this to be true because of everyone I’ve met so far on this journey.

Website: https://www.in-between.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethcheney_/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinbetweenpodcast

Image Credits
Laura Anne Watson and Anna Valentine