Can I Talk to your Grandma is BACK! with Episode 11 - Karen Smithson!

We’re back with Episode 11, featuring Karen Smithson! When I sat down with Karen Smithson, it felt less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend. We talked about morning walks, good breakfasts, and how something as simple as posting “good morning” online grew into an unexpected platform of encouragement.

Karen began her Instagram in August 2023 as a small act of accountability. Living 40 minutes from the nearest gym, she wanted motivation to stay active — so she posted daily updates about her walks. What started as a private commitment soon reached far beyond her circle. When one of her videos went unexpectedly viral, she found herself with thousands of new followers overnight.

At first, Karen felt overwhelmed. She hadn’t set out to be “internet famous”; she just wanted to get healthy. But wise friends encouraged her to see it as an opportunity: to be a light, to share hope, persistence, and encouragement (her personal “H.O.P.E.” motto). Now, that guiding principle shapes everything she does online.

We also traced her roots — from growing up in Beaumont, Texas, to raising her family in Baytown and eventually moving to the country. She shared stories of learning to adapt, like realizing that when the power goes out in rural areas, so does the water. “It’s all been a learning process,” she laughed.

Karen’s openness about teaching, motherhood, and her father’s life-changing story (he was the first in his family to graduate high school and college, thanks to the encouragement of a single teacher) reminds us of how one person’s belief can shift the trajectory of an entire family.

The first half of our conversation painted a portrait of someone who is down-to-earth, deeply resilient, and committed to showing up authentically — both online and off.