Advertise on podcast: Travel Matters

What happens when a spontaneous travel tip turns into a viral TikTok video and thousands of new followers? And more importantly, how do you turn that attention into something that lasts? In this episode of Travel Matters, TBEX CEO Rick Calvert talks with Terry Abromitis, better known as Traveling Terry, about building a travel content business that connects social media with a blog. Terry shares how a chance encounter at TBEX Greece led to a video showing a fellow creator how to save €822 on a flight. The video went viral, helping her TikTok following grow from 58,000 to 125,000 in less than two months. But Terry isn't interested in collecting followers just for the numbers. Drawing on her background as a teacher and digital entrepreneur, she's developing practical ways to guide TikTok viewers toward useful content on her website. Key Takeaways Turn unexpected moments into content. Some of your best-performing videos might come from everyday conversations rather than carefully planned shoots. Make the next step easy. Every additional click between a social media post and your website risks losing potential readers. Give viewers a reason to visit your blog. Terry explains how a TikTok about five useful travel apps helped quadruple her website traffic. Prioritize publishing over perfection. A helpful video that gets posted can do more for your business than a cinematic masterpiece that never goes live. Use your platforms together. Social media and blogging can reinforce each other rather than compete for your attention. Relevant Links Traveling Terry on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travelingterry  Traveling Terry's website and social links: https://linktr.ee/travelingterry  Gerald Gruenig on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@geraldgruenig  TBEX: https://tbexcon.com  Travel Matters Podcast: https://tbexcon.com/podcast/  RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk  Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What if your biggest opportunity as a travel creator isn't another sponsorship, but turning your audience into your customers? Chris Joondeph, the creator behind Authentic Traveling, has visited 170 countries and built an audience of millions by exploring places many travellers overlook or misunderstand. But his biggest business opportunity came when he started inviting followers to experience those destinations with him. Today, his company, Authentic Tours, takes travellers to destinations including Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia. And despite his enormous social media following, Chris says his tours now generate more revenue than his content. Palle Bo and Rick Calvert talk with Chris about building an audience through short-form video, turning trust into bookings, working with local partners and creating a business around something you genuinely love doing. In this episode: How Chris turned a passion project into a full-time business. Why his first Nigeria tour changed everything. How content creation and group tours support each other. Building customer trust and encouraging repeat bookings. Why everyday experiences can produce extraordinary travel content. Relevant links: Authentic Traveling: https://authentictraveling.co Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentic_traveling YouTube: https://youtube.com/@authentictraveling TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authentic_traveling Facebook: https://facebook.com/authentictraveling.org Ethiopia and Somalia Group Tour: https://authentictraveling.co/ethiopia-somalia-group-tour/ Extraordinary Travel Festival (October 22–25, Bangkok): https://extraordinarytravelfest.com (Use promo code Vagabond for $100 off.) Learn more about TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Find more Travel Matters episodes in your podcast app or on https://tbexcon.com/podcast/ Podcast produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

Google traffic is down. AI is changing how people search. Strategies that worked for travel creators just a few years ago are suddenly far less reliable. So what do you do when the rules of the game keep changing? In this episode, Palle Bo and Rick Calvert talk with Jarryd Salem, co-founder of NOMADasaurus, one of Australia's leading adventure travel and photography blogs. Jarryd has worked deeply with SEO for years and was experimenting with AI tools long before ChatGPT became mainstream. His view is refreshingly optimistic: the travel creator industry isn't disappearing, but creators need to stop expecting the old playbook to keep working. The conversation moves from the changing world of SEO and Google search to something even more important – building a creator business that doesn't depend on a single source of traffic or income. Jarryd calls it the "income octopus": multiple revenue streams that can keep the business moving even when one tentacle gets cut off. In this episode: Why traditional SEO strategies aren't working like they used to How AI could help creators discover new opportunities rather than simply replace them Why storytelling and first-hand experience may become even more valuable How the "income octopus" can make a creator business more resilient Why passion and authenticity still matter in an increasingly automated world Relevant links: NOMADasaurus: https://www.nomadasaurus.com Learn more about TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Find more Travel Matters episodes: https://tbexcon.com/podcast/ Podcast produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What happens when the platforms you've spent years building on suddenly stop delivering? Travel creators have lived through countless social media changes, Google updates and shifting algorithms. In this episode, Palle Bo and Rick Calvert sit down with two creators who have built very different travel businesses – Chris Christensen of Amateur Traveler and Hendric Tay, co-founder of The Travel Intern. Chris has been podcasting since 2005 and says he now puts far less effort into social media because the return often isn't there. Hendric takes a different approach, running a 15-person content team across a website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube – while deliberately avoiding short-term SEO tricks. They compare what has survived Google's changes, where social media still makes sense, and how a travel creator's job changes when a passion project becomes a real business. In this episode: Why Chris has reduced his focus on social media Hendric's value-first approach to SEO and Google updates Growing The Travel Intern from two people to a team of 15 Turning a travel content brand into a travel business Why podcasting may be looking stronger as other platforms become less predictable Relevant links: Amateur Traveler: https://amateurtraveler.com   The Travel Intern: https://thetravelintern.com Learn more about TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Find more Travel Matters episodes in your podcast app or on https://tbexcon.com/podcast/ Podcast produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What happens when Google and AI companies can answer a travel question using the experiences, photos and expertise of creators – without sending the reader to the creator who did the work? Travel Matters hosts Palle Bo and Rick Calvert sit down with travel creator and former attorney Nate Hake, founder of Travel Lemming, to talk about what he sees as an existential challenge for online creators. Nate argues that the problem isn't AI itself – it's how companies are using creators' work while taking away the traffic that has traditionally allowed publishers to make money. But he also believes creators have more power than they might think. They discuss blocking AI crawlers, emerging licensing models that could eventually compensate creators, why personal experience is becoming more valuable rather than less, and why relying on search traffic alone may no longer be a sustainable business model. The episode also includes an update recorded a year after the original conversation, looking at how AI licensing has developed since Nate made some of these predictions. In this episode Why AI-generated answers can threaten the traditional creator business model How creators can block selected AI bots without disappearing from Google Search Why AI companies may eventually have to pay publishers for access to their content Why personal experience, storytelling, photos and video are becoming increasingly important Why creators should think beyond traffic and build products, services and direct relationships with their audience Relevant links Nate Hake: https://natehake.com Travel Lemming: https://travellemming.com Nate's step-by-step guide to blocking AI bots: https://travellemming.com/perspectives/block-ai-bots/ Nate dives deeper into AI and content creators: https://youtu.be/0ftNbm6zmK0?si=YL25bgMoaSgvTPCx Watch the section specifically about blocking AI bots: https://youtu.be/0ftNbm6zmK0?si=zNqEe_m2V9dJLBZ8&t=3010 Nate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natehake/ Nate on X: https://x.com/natejhake Nate on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.hake/ TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What happens when the platforms that built your business suddenly stop sending you traffic – or your entire industry shuts down almost overnight? Gary Arndt knows both scenarios very well. Gary was one of the early stars of travel blogging and an award-winning travel photographer. Then the pandemic wiped out 95% of his income within weeks. Instead of waiting for travel to return, he built something completely different: the daily Everything Everywhere podcast. That decision paid off. Everything Everywhere Daily has since passed 65 million downloads and now averages around 1.5 million downloads per month. In this conversation with Palle Bo and Rick Calvert, Gary explains why he became increasingly frustrated with a travel blogging industry dominated by SEO, algorithms and interchangeable listicles – and why he believes creators should focus more on building direct relationships with their audiences. The conversation also turns into a lively debate about AI. Gary isn't against using it, but argues that outsourcing the creative work can also remove the personality and expertise that give a creator a competitive advantage. In this episode Why Gary abandoned his old travel-media business model How a short daily podcast changed the economics of his content Why SEO dependence can leave creators dangerously exposed Where Gary thinks AI helps – and where it hurts creative work Why podcasts and newsletters may be a creator's most valuable assets Relevant links Everything Everywhere: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Everything Everywhere Daily podcast: https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ TBEX: https://tbexcon.com/ RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk The Radio Vagabond: https://theradiovagabond.com Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What happens to "family travel" when the kids are old enough to order the cocktails? For Margarita Ibbott, it becomes a completely different kind of travel – and an interesting opportunity for destinations and content creators. Margarita started DownshiftingPRO in 2009, originally writing about professional organizing and simplifying life. Over time, the blog evolved with her. Today, her focus is travel for the 50+ audience, including luxury and cultural experiences, girls' getaways and traveling with adult children. Her philosophy can be summed up in four words: less stuff, more travel. In this conversation with Palle Bo and Rick Calvert, Margarita talks about following your interests as both your life and your audience change. She shares how attending her first TBEX helped convince her to make the leap into travel content – and why she keeps coming back. There's also the story of how a Colombian-born Canadian who desperately wanted to become an Irish dancer eventually got to live that dream through her daughter. In this episode: Why your content can – and perhaps should – evolve as you do The overlooked opportunity of travel with adult children Creating girls' getaways that give destinations multiple creators from one trip Why the 50+ travel audience deserves more attention How the TBEX community helped Margarita make the move into travel content Relevant links DownshiftingPRO: https://www.downshiftingpro.com/ TBEX: https://tbexcon.com/ Produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What happens when one of your guitar heroes tells you he has your lessons saved on his computer? In Part 2 of our conversation with Marty Schwartz of Marty Music, we pick up exactly where we left off – with Marty casually revealing that Slash from Guns N' Roses knows who he is. The story gets even better. On the very same day Marty met Slash, he received an unexpected phone call from Howard Stern, who had become fascinated with learning guitar. Marty also shares some of the other surreal side quests his career has brought him, including teaching Jordan Belfort and action star Jason Statham. But behind those stories is nearly two decades of relentless creator work. Marty explains how he turned early YouTube attention into private lessons, DVDs, digital products, courses and memberships – and why collecting email addresses became one of the smartest decisions he made. Today, after years of putting most of his energy into platforms like YouTube, he has deliberately reversed that strategy. His priority now is the business and audience he owns. In this episode The remarkable story of Marty meeting Slash – and what Slash said to him How a random phone call from Howard Stern turned into an hour-long conversation Why Marty started collecting email addresses early in his YouTube career The danger of handing too much control of your business to someone else Why creators should stop depending entirely on social platforms Marty's simple advice for growth – build an owned audience and stay consistent Relevant links Marty Music https://martymusic.com Marty Music on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MartyMusic Free Marty Music Guitar Courses & Resources https://martymusic.com/free-courses Marty Music Community https://martymusic.com/memberships Carter Vintage Guitars https://cartervintage.com TBEX https://tbexcon.com Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

What can a travel creator learn from one of the biggest guitar teachers on YouTube? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Marty Schwartz is the creator of Marty Music, a guitar education brand with close to five million YouTube subscribers and thousands of lessons produced over nearly two decades. Marty joined us at TBEX North America in Richmond, and although he works in a completely different corner of the creator economy, the similarities are striking. In Part 1 of our conversation, Marty talks with Palle Bo and Rick Calvert about growing an audience before anyone really knew what a "YouTuber" was, turning free content into a sustainable business, and why creators in different industries should pay more attention to what they can learn from each other. We also get into brand deals, the difference between free products and actually getting paid, how the pandemic transformed partnerships in the music industry, and why Marty deliberately chose an affordable Epiphone for his signature guitar rather than a more expensive Gibson. And sometimes branding starts with something as simple as a hat. In this episode How Marty rebuilt his YouTube presence from scratch and reached almost five million subscribers Why creators should learn from industries outside their own Free products versus paid brand partnerships How Marty turned guitar education into products, courses and recurring revenue Why his fedora became an instantly recognizable part of the Marty Music brand Relevant links Marty Music https://martymusic.com Marty Music on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MartyMusic Free Marty Music Guitar Courses & Resources https://martymusic.com/free-courses Marty Music Community https://martymusic.com/memberships TBEX https://tbexcon.com Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

With AI producing more content and Google constantly changing the rules, how does a travel creator actually stand out? Josefine and Dom of Red White Adventures have a refreshingly simple answer: be more yourself. The Danish-Canadian couple has travelled together for more than eight years and turned what began as a casual travel blog into a full-time content business focused on outdoor adventures, slow travel, and the digital nomad lifestyle. Recorded at TBEX Europe in San Sebastián, this conversation gets into the reality behind that journey – from learning SEO and affiliate marketing to working with tourism boards, building multiple income streams, and deciding to commit fully to the blog. They also talk candidly about the uncertainty created by Google updates, why creators need to think long term, and why following every social-media trend can eventually make everyone look the same. Perhaps their most useful advice comes down to something no algorithm or AI tool can easily reproduce: your own experiences, personality, and point of view. In this episode: Why staying longer in a destination can lead to better travel content How Red White Adventures turned a hobby blog into a business Their approach to affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and diversification Why community matters when the industry is changing How personality and authenticity can help creators stand out in the age of AI Relevant links Red White Adventures: https://redwhiteadventures.com/ Produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk TBEX: https://tbexcon.com/ Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

Can AI save travel creators hours of work without removing the personality, experience and human perspective that make people trust them? At TBEX Eau Claire, Palle Bo and Rick Calvert sat down with content entrepreneur and author Julia McCoy, who had recently made a dramatic transition from outspoken AI sceptic to President of Content at Scale (now BrandWell). Julia explains what changed her mind. Early AI writing tools produced generic, unreliable content filled with fluff. Then she discovered technology capable of researching, writing and producing content at a speed that forced her to reconsider what the future might look like for professional writers and content creators. The conversation also explores the risks. AI can confidently invent facts, places and even legal cases, making human judgment and fact-checking essential. For travel bloggers, the bigger question is whether travellers will continue searching for blogs when an AI tool can build an itinerary in seconds. Julia's answer is that personal experience matters more than ever. AI may provide information, but it cannot replace your stories, your observations or the trust created by a recognisable human voice. In this episode: Why Julia changed her mind about AI almost overnight How AI hallucinations make fact-checking non-negotiable Where AI can save travel creators significant time Why firsthand stories remain a travel blogger's greatest advantage Whether ChatGPT and similar tools will take traffic away from travel websites Update Since Recording This conversation was recorded in 2023. Content at Scale later became BrandWell, and Julia McCoy has since left the company. She is now the founder of First Movers, which helps businesses implement AI systems, automation and digital-clone technology. Relevant links: First Movers: https://firstmovers.ai Content at Scale – now BrandWell: https://brandwell.ai Julia McCoy on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/juliaemccoy/ The Content Writer's Handbook: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Content-Writers-Handbook-Audiobook/B0CX793N8L Transcendent Man documentary: https://transcendentman.com/ Learn more about TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Find more Travel Matters episodes in your podcast app or at: https://tbexcon.com/podcast/ Podcast produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

Shelley Marmor turned travel blogging into a multiple-six-figure business within two years. In this episode of Travel Matters, she shares why mindset matters, why SEO comes before monetisation, and how travel creators can use affiliate marketing more strategically instead of simply adding links and hoping for the best. What separates a travel blog that makes a little side income from one that becomes a serious business? In this episode of Travel Matters, Palle Bo and Rick Calvert sit down with Shelley Marmor, founder of TravelMexicoSolo.com, TravelBlogging101.com and several other niche travel sites. Shelley started her first blog in April 2020 and was making multiple six figures by her second year of blogging. Her secret? She says it starts with treating the blog as a business from day one. Shelley explains why tracking your money changes your mindset, why SEO is the foundation of affiliate income, and why travel bloggers should focus on "buying keywords" that attract readers who are already ready to book. Instead of simply placing affiliate links into random posts, Shelley breaks down how to create content for "hell yes" buyers – the people searching for things like the best hotels, tours, rental cars and travel services in a destination. She also shares what she has learned from running five blogs, working with human writers, testing affiliate partners like Booking, Expedia and Stay22, and balancing affiliate income with display ads and her own courses. The conversation also touches on AI, conference networking, the value of attending TBEX, and why independent creators often need to get out from behind the screen and meet like-minded people in person. Key Takeaways Treat your blog like a business from day one if you want it to become one. Tracking your income and expenses is a major mindset shift for creators. SEO comes before monetisation – no page views usually means no affiliate sales. Affiliate marketing is not the same as simply adding affiliate links to a post. Focus on "buying keywords" that attract people ready to make a purchase. Travel bloggers should test different affiliate partners, including Booking, Expedia, Stay22 and direct relationships where possible. Affiliate income can outperform display ads when it is done strategically. Running multiple niche sites can work, but Shelly warns that five blogs may be too many for most people. AI may become hard to ignore, even for creators who are not early adopters. Conferences like TBEX can create unexpected connections, ideas and opportunities. Relevant Links Travel Mexico Solo: https://travelmexicosolo.com Travel to Merida: https://traveltomerida.com Travel to Oaxaca: https://traveltooaxaca.com Tulum Travel Secrets: https://tulumtravelsecrets.com Travel Blogging 101: https://travelblogging101.com Start With Why by Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/ TBEX: https://tbexcon.com

Should travel creators ever work for free? And is a free trip fair compensation – or simply unpaid labour with a nicer view? Travel Matters is back, and our first conversation of the new season brings together two longtime members of the TBEX community: Jen Ruiz, the travel writer, author and entrepreneur behind Jen on a Jet Plane, and Melvin Boecher, founder of Travel Dudes. Jen believes that when a creator is brought in to produce work for a campaign, money should always be part of the agreement. Melvin agrees that professional creators need to be paid – but argues that collaborations, barter and other exchanges can still make business sense when both sides receive genuine value. The result is a lively and occasionally heated debate about what creators are worth, when exposure or experience may have value, and how travel bloggers can build businesses that are less vulnerable to changing algorithms and declining revenue streams. In this episode: When a complimentary trip becomes unpaid work Why follower count does not determine the value of your content Getting paid for creative assets as well as audience reach Negotiating better affiliate partnerships directly with businesses Why every creator should consider developing a product of their own Relevant links: Jen on a Jet Plane: https://jenonajetplane.com Travel Dudes: https://traveldudes.com Learn more about TBEX: https://tbexcon.com Find more Travel Matters episodes in your podcast app or on https://tbexcon.com/podcast/ Podcast produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk Follow Travel Matters in your podcast app for a new conversation every Friday.

In this electrifying episode of Travel Matters, Palle Bo and Rick Calvert sit down with Christine Lozada, famously known as the Drone Queen. Dive into the world of drone photography and videography as Christine shares her journey from a newbie to a renowned drone expert. Discover the secrets behind capturing breathtaking aerial shots, navigating legalities, and utilizing drones to land incredible travel partnerships. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just curious about drone technology, this episode is packed with insights and tips that will elevate your travel content creation to new heights. Three Key Points Drone Photography and Videography Essentials: Christine Lozada reveals her top tips for capturing stunning aerial shots, including the importance of smooth, cinematic movements and understanding safety settings to prevent crashes. Strategic Use of Drones for Content Creation: Learn how Christine uses drones not only to enhance her travel videos but also to differentiate her content, land partnerships, and monetize her work. She emphasizes the accessibility and affordability of drones as powerful tools for storytellers. Memorable Drone Experiences and Safety Insights: Christine shares captivating stories from her drone adventures, including an encounter with a black tip shark migration and a daring drone retrieval from a cliff in Ethiopia. She also discusses the evolving ease of flying drones and how they have become essential tools for modern travel creatives.

In this episode of Travel Matters, join hosts Palle Bo and Rick Calvert as they sit down with travel blogger Mike Shubic from Mike's Road Trip at TBEX North America 2023 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They dive into Mike's journey from early tech adoption to exploring the latest in AI tools, sharing invaluable insights for content creators. Tune in to hear about Mike's adventures, the transformative power of AI in the travel industry, and how technology is shaping the future of content creation. Key Points AI Tools for Content Creation: Mike Shubic discusses various AI tools like ChatGPT, Luminar AI, and others, highlighting how they can enhance content creation, marketing, and video production, offering new revenue opportunities and audience engagement for travel creators. The Evolution of Travel Blogging: Mike shares his journey from starting Mike's Road Trip in 2009 to becoming a travel influencer, discussing how early adoption of video and new technologies like AI have transformed his career and the travel blogging landscape. Future of AI in Travel and Content Creation: The conversation explores the potential and challenges of AI, including its impact on white-collar jobs, the importance of maintaining human creativity and artistry in content, and how AI can be a valuable tool without replacing the authenticity of personal experiences.