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
The Science of Storytelling: Maya Feller’s Media Playbook
Feed Me the Facts
59 hours 20 minutes
3 weeks ago
The Science of Storytelling: Maya Feller’s Media Playbook
In this Season 5 kickoff of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, founder of Maya Feller Nutrition, author of Eating from Our Roots, and frequent national media contributor. Maya shares her unique journey from avant-garde theater to nutrition science, her passion for culturally humble care, and her mission to make nutrition education accessible and approachable.
We dive deep into what it means to stay credible and authentic in the media space, how dietitians can leverage social platforms without burning out, and why continuous learning and evolving are critical for the future of dietetics.
Whether you’re a current or future dietitian, or someone passionate about inclusive health messaging, this episode is packed with insights on growth, media presence, and making a lasting impact.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Maya’s Unconventional Path to Dietetics (00:00) From avant-garde theater to NYU nutrition — and why she initially wanted to work for UNICEF.
Early Career Lessons & Community Work (06:00) How working with marginalized communities shaped her approach to care.
Building a Private Practice & Breaking into Media (08:00) The pivot from consulting to running her own practice and landing TV opportunities.
The Power of Social Media & Storytelling (11:00) Why Maya launched her YouTube series and how she balances evidence-based messaging with relatability.
Being a Forever Learner (20:00) How reading research, attending conferences, and collaborating across disciplines keep her credible and fresh.
What Influencers Are Doing Well — and What RDs Can Learn (22:00) The importance of storytelling, empathy, and connecting with your audience.
Evolving as a Profession (42:00) Why dietitians need to unpack bias, take stronger stances, and meet the needs of today’s diverse populations.
Measuring Success in Media & Business (32:00) Redefining success beyond followers — doing the work you love, being compensated fairly, and serving your community.
Turning Expertise into Income (35:00) Practical advice on writing, content creation, brand partnerships, and staying authentic.
What’s Next for Maya (52:00) Her passion for food science, biodiversity, and connecting with real people through street interviews.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Maya:
Maya Feller Nutrition – Learn more about Maya and her team’s work: www.mayaellernutrition.com
Follow Maya on Instagram & YouTube: @mayafellerrd
Maya’s Books:
Eating from Our Roots
Southern Comfort Diabetes Cookbook
Watch Maya’s “Ask a Dietitian” YouTube Series: Maya Feller Nutrition on YouTube
️ 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
