In this Season 5 episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Cassidy Sharp, PhD, RDN and Yan Jing Phay, MPH, RDN—two recent graduates of the Diversify Dietetics Internship—to unpack what the reality of transitioning from dietetic intern to practicing RD truly looks like. Cassidy, a maternal and child health dietitian and researcher, and Yan, a clinical dietitian serving diverse patients in Detroit, share candid reflections about their first months as credentialed dietitians.
We explore the emotional roller coaster of passing the RD exam, navigating job searches, managing cultural and linguistic differences, and stepping into roles that require far more counseling, confidence, and compassion than expected. Both RDs open up about challenges specific to being early-career dietitians of color—including representation, self-doubt, and learning to trust their expertise.
Whether you're a current student, future RD, or dietitian early in your career, this conversation offers grounded, realistic insights into growth, identity, and thriving in the first year as an RD.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Finding Their Way Into Dietetics (00:00) How Cassidy transitioned from food science to a combined PhD + RD path, and how Yan’s experience with an eating disorder led her to pursue nutrition and eventually her MPH in dietetics.
Navigating Internships, Visa Barriers, and the Exam (06:00) Yan’s high-pressure experience as an international student balancing visa constraints, timelines, and finances — and Cassidy’s journey finishing a PhD while completing supervised practice.
The First Months as New Dietitians (09:00) That surreal moment of becoming “an RD,” the pressure that follows, and the emotional and mental shift required when stepping into professional roles.
What They Wish They’d Known Earlier (12:00) How understanding program options, timelines, and pacing could have reduced stress — and why patience with yourself matters.
Surprising Moments in Early Practice (17:00) From unexpected counseling dynamics to navigating complex clinical encounters, they share the “no one taught me this in school” moments.
A Look Into Their Day-to-Day Roles (20:00) Cassidy’s work at WIC and upcoming research position, and Yan’s acute care clinical responsibilities, charting, interdisciplinary communication, and patient education.
Why Representation Still Matters (24:00) How being one of few dietitians of color in their settings impacts patient trust, shapes their learning curves, and highlights the need for culturally humble care.
Career Growth and What’s Next (28:00) Maternal and child health goals, MNT literacy, teaching aspirations, breastfeeding support training, and weaving research into practice.
Advice for Future Dietitians (30:00) Set your own pace. Stop comparing. Know why you want this career. Stay grounded in something beyond school and work.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Yan: LinkedIn: Yan Jing Fe, MPH, RDN
Connect with Cassidy: Email: cassiebsharp@gmail.com
️ Stay connected with Feed Me The Facts:
Website: www.diversifydietetics.org
Instagram & Facebook: @DiversifyDietetics
Send in your thoughts/questions: fmtf@diversifydietetics.org
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Squeeze, Diversify Dietetics’ monthly newsletter for the latest updates in nutrition and dietetics.
Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
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In this Season 5 episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Cassidy Sharp, PhD, RDN and Yan Jing Phay, MPH, RDN—two recent graduates of the Diversify Dietetics Internship—to unpack what the reality of transitioning from dietetic intern to practicing RD truly looks like. Cassidy, a maternal and child health dietitian and researcher, and Yan, a clinical dietitian serving diverse patients in Detroit, share candid reflections about their first months as credentialed dietitians.
We explore the emotional roller coaster of passing the RD exam, navigating job searches, managing cultural and linguistic differences, and stepping into roles that require far more counseling, confidence, and compassion than expected. Both RDs open up about challenges specific to being early-career dietitians of color—including representation, self-doubt, and learning to trust their expertise.
Whether you're a current student, future RD, or dietitian early in your career, this conversation offers grounded, realistic insights into growth, identity, and thriving in the first year as an RD.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Finding Their Way Into Dietetics (00:00) How Cassidy transitioned from food science to a combined PhD + RD path, and how Yan’s experience with an eating disorder led her to pursue nutrition and eventually her MPH in dietetics.
Navigating Internships, Visa Barriers, and the Exam (06:00) Yan’s high-pressure experience as an international student balancing visa constraints, timelines, and finances — and Cassidy’s journey finishing a PhD while completing supervised practice.
The First Months as New Dietitians (09:00) That surreal moment of becoming “an RD,” the pressure that follows, and the emotional and mental shift required when stepping into professional roles.
What They Wish They’d Known Earlier (12:00) How understanding program options, timelines, and pacing could have reduced stress — and why patience with yourself matters.
Surprising Moments in Early Practice (17:00) From unexpected counseling dynamics to navigating complex clinical encounters, they share the “no one taught me this in school” moments.
A Look Into Their Day-to-Day Roles (20:00) Cassidy’s work at WIC and upcoming research position, and Yan’s acute care clinical responsibilities, charting, interdisciplinary communication, and patient education.
Why Representation Still Matters (24:00) How being one of few dietitians of color in their settings impacts patient trust, shapes their learning curves, and highlights the need for culturally humble care.
Career Growth and What’s Next (28:00) Maternal and child health goals, MNT literacy, teaching aspirations, breastfeeding support training, and weaving research into practice.
Advice for Future Dietitians (30:00) Set your own pace. Stop comparing. Know why you want this career. Stay grounded in something beyond school and work.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Yan: LinkedIn: Yan Jing Fe, MPH, RDN
Connect with Cassidy: Email: cassiebsharp@gmail.com
️ Stay connected with Feed Me The Facts:
Website: www.diversifydietetics.org
Instagram & Facebook: @DiversifyDietetics
Send in your thoughts/questions: fmtf@diversifydietetics.org
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Squeeze, Diversify Dietetics’ monthly newsletter for the latest updates in nutrition and dietetics.
Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
In this episode of Feed Me The Facts, Deanna sits down with Greg LaFortune, a Registered Dietitian and private practice owner, to talk about his leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business, and his mission to make nutrition accessible—especially for men. Greg shares his inspiring journey from a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 11 to owning his own insurance-based private practice, Optimal Plan Nutrition, LLC.
Whether you’re considering private practice or just love a good entrepreneurial success story, this episode is packed with valuable insights, financial transparency, and practical advice on building a nutrition business from the ground up.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[00:00:00] Meet Greg LaFortune – Greg shares his background, his leap into private practice, and why he’s passionate about making nutrition more accessible.
[00:03:00] From Diagnosis to Dietitian – Greg’s journey began at age 11 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Hear how that experience shaped his career path.
[00:05:00] The Power of Gratitude – Greg explains why contentment, potential, and honor are the three words that define his experience as a private practice dietitian.
[00:08:00] Why Private Practice? – What led Greg to take the leap into private practice, and why focusing on men’s health became his mission.
[00:11:00] The Reality of Running a Business – Greg breaks down the behind-the-scenes work of running a private practice, from marketing to billing and everything in between.
[00:15:00] Talking Money: What Dietitians Can Earn in Private Practice – Financial transparency matters! Greg shares real numbers and his income goals for making private practice sustainable.
[00:19:00] Work-Life Balance & Time Freedom – The driving force behind Greg’s business: getting his time back and creating a schedule that works for him and his family.
[00:24:00] Finding Your Niche as a Dietitian – Why Greg chose to focus on men’s health and how niching down can make your practice more effective (and less stressful).
[00:28:00] How to Market Yourself – From social media to insurance directories, Greg shares the marketing strategies that have helped him grow his client base.
[00:31:00] AI & The Future of Private Practice – How artificial intelligence is changing the game for dietitians, from automated note-taking to efficiency tools.
[00:33:00] Staying True to Your Values – Greg talks about the importance of authenticity in business and why being yourself is the best way to attract the right clients.
[00:35:00] How to Connect with Greg – Want to learn more or work with Greg? Find out how to reach him through his website, social media, and email.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Greg:
Website: gregorylafortune.com
Instagram: @menshealthdietitian
LinkedIn: Gregory LaFortune
Email: nutrition@gregorylafortune.com
️ Stay connected with Feed Me The Facts:
Website: www.diversifydietetics.org
Instagram & Facebook: @DiversifyDietetics
Send in your thoughts/questions: fmtf@diversifydietetics.org
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Squeeze, Diversify Dietetics’ monthly newsletter for the latest updates in nutrition and dietetics.
Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Feed Me the Facts
In this Season 5 episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Cassidy Sharp, PhD, RDN and Yan Jing Phay, MPH, RDN—two recent graduates of the Diversify Dietetics Internship—to unpack what the reality of transitioning from dietetic intern to practicing RD truly looks like. Cassidy, a maternal and child health dietitian and researcher, and Yan, a clinical dietitian serving diverse patients in Detroit, share candid reflections about their first months as credentialed dietitians.
We explore the emotional roller coaster of passing the RD exam, navigating job searches, managing cultural and linguistic differences, and stepping into roles that require far more counseling, confidence, and compassion than expected. Both RDs open up about challenges specific to being early-career dietitians of color—including representation, self-doubt, and learning to trust their expertise.
Whether you're a current student, future RD, or dietitian early in your career, this conversation offers grounded, realistic insights into growth, identity, and thriving in the first year as an RD.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Finding Their Way Into Dietetics (00:00) How Cassidy transitioned from food science to a combined PhD + RD path, and how Yan’s experience with an eating disorder led her to pursue nutrition and eventually her MPH in dietetics.
Navigating Internships, Visa Barriers, and the Exam (06:00) Yan’s high-pressure experience as an international student balancing visa constraints, timelines, and finances — and Cassidy’s journey finishing a PhD while completing supervised practice.
The First Months as New Dietitians (09:00) That surreal moment of becoming “an RD,” the pressure that follows, and the emotional and mental shift required when stepping into professional roles.
What They Wish They’d Known Earlier (12:00) How understanding program options, timelines, and pacing could have reduced stress — and why patience with yourself matters.
Surprising Moments in Early Practice (17:00) From unexpected counseling dynamics to navigating complex clinical encounters, they share the “no one taught me this in school” moments.
A Look Into Their Day-to-Day Roles (20:00) Cassidy’s work at WIC and upcoming research position, and Yan’s acute care clinical responsibilities, charting, interdisciplinary communication, and patient education.
Why Representation Still Matters (24:00) How being one of few dietitians of color in their settings impacts patient trust, shapes their learning curves, and highlights the need for culturally humble care.
Career Growth and What’s Next (28:00) Maternal and child health goals, MNT literacy, teaching aspirations, breastfeeding support training, and weaving research into practice.
Advice for Future Dietitians (30:00) Set your own pace. Stop comparing. Know why you want this career. Stay grounded in something beyond school and work.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Yan: LinkedIn: Yan Jing Fe, MPH, RDN
Connect with Cassidy: Email: cassiebsharp@gmail.com
️ Stay connected with Feed Me The Facts:
Website: www.diversifydietetics.org
Instagram & Facebook: @DiversifyDietetics
Send in your thoughts/questions: fmtf@diversifydietetics.org
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Squeeze, Diversify Dietetics’ monthly newsletter for the latest updates in nutrition and dietetics.
Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
