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In this episode of Podcast Gurus, we sit down with John, the anonymous host of Expat Property Story, to uncover how he built a top-ranking property podcast while working full-time and living thousands of miles away from his investments. Known as the "Secret Podcaster," John shares how he blurred his face, kept his identity under wraps, and still grew a loyal audience of expats and private investors.

John walks us through his journey from buying student HMOs in the UK to launching a podcast that now boasts over 220 episodes, all without showing his face or quitting his job. He reveals the power of consistency, storytelling, and personalized guest outreach, and how his podcast has opened doors to investment opportunities, professional credibility, and an upcoming transition back to Europe to support his wife's mission to help refugees. If you're balancing a podcast with a day job, looking to build a real estate portfolio, or curious how to leverage audio storytelling for niche success, this episode delivers high-impact insights from a podcaster who’s doing things differently.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why John keeps his identity hidden, and how it hasn’t held him back.
• How he landed a top guest for episode one and used it to attract others.
• The secret to pitching high-profile guests with personalized outreach.
• How John monetizes through private investors, not ads or sponsorships.
• Why editing, narration, and “value per minute” are the core of his podcasting philosophy.

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: The Exit Strategy & Podcasting with a Mission

[00:27] Meet John: The Anonymous Voice Behind Expat Property Story

[01:30] Why John Hides His Identity & Challenges of Growing Invisibly

[02:56] Origin of the Podcast: From Five HMOs to Podcast Host

[05:36] Landing His First Guest: A Cold Email Masterclass

[09:45] Monetization: From Property Education to Private Investors

[12:00] Podcast as a Trust-Building Tool for Investment

[14:15] The Bigger Vision: Exit Plan, Refugee Work & Future Podcasting

[16:45] Why John Loves Podcasting More Than Property

[18:00] “Value Per Minute” Philosophy & NPR-Style Editing

[22:45] Outsourcing & Growing a Remote Team for Property Management

[25:30] Real Challenges: No-Shows, Lost Audio, and Editing Fixes

[27:15] Narration as a Fix & Differentiator in Podcast Format

[31:03] Format Tradeoffs: Prepping Before vs Editing After

[32:45] Podcasting in the AI Era: The Value of Craft and Effort

[35:00] What Will Stay True: Audio Will Always Matter in Podcasting

[37:30] Where to Find John & Connect with Expat Property Story

Follow John (Expat Property Story):

• Expat Property Story: https://www.expatpropertystory.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/expat-property-story-3215782b4/
• X: https://x.com/ExpatPropGuy

Follow Hussam & Guillaume:

• Hussam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-ali-6bb69186/ 
• Guillaume on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/ 
• Gha Marketing Website: https://ghapodcast.com/ 

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