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HGTV's Sara McDaniel Is Creating Hope Through Phillips Cottage
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This week on the Creatives on Fire podcast, I’m honored to welcome back one of our most inspiring guests—Sara McDaniel of Simply Southern Cottage. If you’ve ever dreamed of using your platform and skills to make a real impact, this episode is for you.
https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode189
You may know Sara as the woman behind the viral renovation of her Minden, Louisiana cottage—a story that launched her into the national spotlight with features on HGTV, the Magnolia Network, and more. But today, she’s taking things to a whole new level.
Sara is spearheading a deeply personal nonprofit project called Phillips Cottage—a transitional home for women and children graduating from Louisiana Teen Challenge. Named in honor of her late father, a beloved youth pastor and lifelong runner, this home is being lovingly restored to serve as a fresh start for women rebuilding their lives after addiction recovery.
In this episode, Sara shares:
- The powerful journey that led her to leave her W-2 job and pursue full-time content creation
- How she found and fought for the Phillips Cottage property
- Her vision for providing safe, affordable, and beautiful housing for families in transition
- How the local community—and brands like Grandin Road—are rallying behind this mission
- Details about the first annual Phillips 5K happening on April 12 in Minden, LA
Whether you’re a creator, a dreamer, or someone looking to support a meaningful cause, this episode will leave you encouraged and full of ideas on how to use your own gifts to give back.
How You Can Help:
- Donate directly to support the renovation of Phillips Cottage
- Partner with Sara through product or sponsorship collaborations
- Register for the Phillips 5K (in-person or virtually!)
- Spread the word by sharing this episode or following Sara’s journey on social media
Sara is proof that when you combine creativity, faith, and purpose, amazing things can happen—not just for your own brand, but for an entire community.
Until next time, stay creative—and stay full of purpose.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Donate to Phillips Cottage
- Register for the Phillips 5K
- Stay at Simply Southern Cottage Villas
- Listen to Sara’s Full Story
- FUEL Mastermind is HERE
- Free Guide: Start Your Blog Today
- You can GO HERE to subscribe and review (On mobile, scroll down past the episodes to "Ratings & Reviews" section, tap the stars, then scroll down to "Write a Review")
- 2025 Content Planner for Content Creators
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I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review (On mobile, scroll down past the episodes to "Ratings & Reviews" section, tap the stars, then scroll down to "Write a Review")
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