Dramatic Travels: Entrepreneurs

Six years ago, Travis was living in Japan and knew he wanted to travel more. But there was no way he could travel as much as he wanted to on a teacher’s salary. Plus, having “only” summers off wasn’t conducive to a schedule of constant travel! So he started learning about all the ways to travel for less, including the golden goose: frequent flyer miles. In five years, he was able to earn over 4 million frequent flyer miles and travel to over 40 countries, all for much less than he ever dreamed.

Travis started Extra Pack of Peanuts to share this knowledge with the world as well as create an online business that he could run from anywhere, including the beach in Thailand. In 2013, he added a podcast for those people too lazy to read, which has now become the top-rated travel podcasts on iTunes! He’s ridden camels in the desert in India, scuba dived on the Great Barrier Reef, and drunk (lots of) wine in Tuscany – all made possible by the fact that they fly anywhere in the world for under $100.

He’s figured out how to run his six-figure online business successfully from a beachfront bungalow in Thailand, an inn in Prague, the rice fields of Bali, and a farmhouse in Florence and how to run it unsuccessfully from the internet-deprived country of Myanmar.

CONNECT WITH TRAVIS

Web: extrapackofpeanuts.com

Web: www.locationindie.com

Cheap flight app: www.letsjetto.com

Instagram: @packofpeanuts

Twitter: @packofpeanuts

Facebook: /ExtraPackOfPeanuts

Grant Baldwin is a nationally known speaker, podcaster, and author who has helped thousands of people start and build their own speaking businesses through his Booked and Paid to Speak training Course.

Over the last 13 years Grant has spoken to over 500,000 people in 47 different states. He's never spoken in Maine, South Carolina or Hawaii, so if you know someone, let him know. =)

Connect with Grant at TheSpeakerLab.com.

CPA Mari Ramirez discusses how travel bloggers and other independent entrepreneurs can keep as much income as possible without ending up on the IRS’s naughty list.

In this interview, Mari discusses exactly which expenses can and can not be written off. She also offers a primer for entrepreneurs considering forming an Limited Liability Company (LLC).

CONNECT WITH MARI

Web: MariCPA.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @marialcia

 

ABOUT MARI

Mari Ramirez has been in public accounting in Austin for more than 10 years and is owner of a paperless CPA firm, focused on start-ups, retail and non-profits.

She wrote a chapter on financial empowerment in “The Better Business Book, Volume 2.”

Mari has received the Humanitarian of the Year award from TAMIU for her efforts to educate students on the political process.

She is currently the President of Georgetown Art Works, Treasurer for FLYTE (Foundation for Learning and Youth Travel Education) and a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer.

She has spoken at various events and panels, for different industry groups and freelance groups, including American Society of Journalists and Authors, Indie Pub Austin and Women Communicators of Austin.

Cory Lee shares how he created his highly successful accessible travel blog, Curb Free with Cory Lee.

In this personal and insightful interview, Lola Akinmade Åkerström shares her audacious journey from computer programmer to award-winning photographer and writer.

Lola has photographed and dispatched from 60+ countries, and her work has appeared in publications such as National Geographic Traveler, BBC, CNN, and many others.

Lola also owns and runs Geotraveler Media – a multimedia and travel consulting firm providing a spectrum of travel media-related services.

LOLA’S BOOKS

LAGOM: Swedish Secret of Living Well

Due North: A Collection of Travel Observations, Reflections, And Snapshots Across Colors, Cultures, & Continents

CONNECT WITH LOLA

Web: LolaAkinmade.com

Facebook: @LolaAkinmade

Instagram: @LolaAkinmade

Twitter @LolaAkinmade

Scott’s Cheap Flights CEO and co-founder Scott Keyes shares in detail how he turned his passion for finding cheap flights into a multi-million dollar business (and a dream life for himself).

Scott also discusses SCF’s humble beginnings, his current challenges as a CEO, and his customer-focused approach to growing the business.

Scott’s Cheap Flights is a subscription service that alerts members about exceptionally cheap flights. 

CONNECT WITH SCOTT

Web: ScottsCheapFlights.com

Facebook: @scottscheapflights

Instagram: @scottscheapflights

Twitter @scottsflights

Today, we’re catching up with Tianna Roser from GoSoloGirl.com.

Tianna first appeared on the show in Episode 4.

If you're launching a podcast—or even thinking about launching a podcast—consider these 10 benefits you can enjoy before you release your first episode.

In a nutshell, being a podcaster allows you to use the power of your unique voice to expand your influence and make a positive difference in people's lives.

 

It's not often talked about, but you don't have to wait until your podcast launches to start enjoying some of these benefits.

 

When I launched Dramatic Travels, I had no social media presence whatsoever. My website got virtually zero traffic, and I didn't spend a dime on advertising.

 

Despite starting completely from scratch, I discovered a variety of ways to leverage my podcast prior to launching.

 

If you're launching a podcast—or even thinking about launching a podcast—consider these 10 benefits you can enjoy before you release your first episode.

01. media access

Podcasters are members of the media—pure and simple. Even if your show hasn’t launched yet, a modest amount of social proof may be all that’s required for event coordinators to grant you media access at their event.

My launch was two months away when I applied for a media credential for the San Francisco/Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show. 

Not only was my request granted, but I also received a second media credential for my videographer (a.k.a. my 17 year-old nephew, Anthony, who worked pro bono.)

I got to interview dozens of people at the event, including two of the world’s most recognizable TV travel hosts—Rick Steves and Samantha Brown.

Each video in the playlist below was filmed at the Travel & Adventure Show—three weeks before Dramatic Travels launched. Note the old logo on my t-shirt (collector's item!)

02. connect with influencers

Eric Stoen and John DiScala have three things in common: 

* Both are on Forbes’ list of top 10 travel influencers of 2017.

* Both are better known by clever aliases (Travel Babbo and Johnny Jet, respectively).

* I interviewed both of them for my podcast well before it launched.

Two of the most influential travelers in the world agreed to be interviewed even though neither of them knew me from a hole in the wall.

What was my secret to securing interviews with these two highly influential gentlemen before my podcast was real?

I asked them.

BONUS: After their episodes aired, Eric and Johnny both put links to DramaticTravels.com on their websites, which provided much-needed SEO juice for my new website.

03. media coverage

Your upcoming podcast launch is exciting news, but it's not going to land on the front page of the New York Times. 

However, there are likely to be dozens of websites and media outlets in your niche that may be willing to give your show a little love—particularly if you can offer them value...

Today, we chat with the inspiring Claudi Sult.

Claudi is a life enthusiast and the founder of GreenMe Berlin— a cool city guide connecting travelers and locals with the local “green scene”.

Through podcasts, maps, and events, Claudi inspires people to explore the city from a new, creative, and sustainable angle— showing that going green can be heaps of fun.

Claudi and her team organize immersive guided tours in Berlin and Melbourne, Australia.  The third outlet, GreenMe Detroit, is launching soon—mainly as an online guide.

She also co-founded a brand new concept called Circular Economy Tours and is now merging both the online and offline world, using experiential travel as a force for good.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

The GreenMe Podcast

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani

Headspace (meditation app)

Calm 

Today, we catch up with entrepreneur Amanda Chay. Amanda is the founder of Wonderment, a wellness travel company specializing in “life-changing travel and wellness journeys.”

Amanda discusses the progress she’s made after attending TravelCon—a conference that helps people develop profitable and sustainable careers in the travel industry.

Amanda also chats about organizing Wonderment’s first trip, how she stays focused , and doing things that scare the crap out of her. Amanda’s first interview was Episode #2 of Dramatic Travels Entrepreneurs when we launched back in September!