Shows
What Editors Want Podcast'Lazy' travel blogging | No goals, just funI talk to David Gilbert, a software engineer by training and a digital product manager by trade, but a travel blogger by night/spare time. He has written his blog randomwore.com for 20 years, and has a refreshingly 'no goals' approach to his blog. No traffic goals, no money goals, very little SEO optimisation, just travel blogging for the joy of it. You can also watch this interview on YouTube:Topics covered: 00:00 - Introduction – David’s background as a product manager and blogger 01:04 - How the Blog Started – An escape from everyday work 02:16 - Beca...2025-02-1031 min
What Editors Want PodcastPress trips and other PR insights for travel writers | Interview with a PR turned freelance writerChris Dwyer, formerly the Director of Communications at CNN and Turner Broadcasting in Hong Kong, gave up that comfortable corporate life to become a freelance food and travel writer. Here he describes how writers can build relationships with PRs, and what you need to to know about how PRs work in order to score press trips. You can also watch this interview on YouTube:(00:43) Transitioned from CNN to freelance writing after 14 years in corporate PR.(03:09) Started a food blog, leading to paid travel writing opportunities. (10:48) PR background helps in pitching and building industry relationships. (11:20) Creating...2025-01-2138 min
What Editors Want PodcastShould you join a writing society? Interview with Pres. of the Society of American Travel WritersI sit across Zoom with 'Chez' Chesak, a travel writer, veteran of the travel industry, Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and recently elected President of the Society of American Travel Writers.Also available on YouTube (below), Apple Podcasts and Spotify:Topics of discussion include: (01:51) - How Chez still pitches like the rest of us (when he has time) and his disappointment with some of the feedback he gets from editors (03:52)- His aims with the associations he runs, and how he hopes to build communities that collaborate to form...2025-01-1439 min
What Editors Want PodcastThe 'enshitification' of travel writing - this publisher has a warning for travel brandsMatt Barker, CEO at Horizon Guides, talks about the 'enshitification' of the travel content world - how for the past 10 years every brand and company has tried to become a media company and publisher on the side, with disastrous results. His company Horizon Guides uses specialist writers and niche topics to offset this, trying to expose people to unsung places and experiences, rather than the tired and over-subscribed ones.Travel writing career tips: https://www.skool.com/mediamatrix/about Daily calls for pitches from editors Weekly story idea and pitch reviews Courses and resources...2025-01-1338 min
What Editors Want Podcast'Voice' in travel writing | Interview with writer, editor, author Chuck ThompsonChuck Thompson was editorial director at CNNGo as it grew from a brand new lifestyle content experiment into one of the world's most popular travel websites. He achieved this by injecting 'voice' into the content and enlisting and/or training writers to did the same with their stories. Here's what that means, and how writers can use voice to inject personality into their writing. You can also watch this interview on YouTube:Travel Writing Insights: Finding Your Voice with Chuck Thompson What is "Voice" in Travel Writing? [00:13:22 - 00:16:44] Chuck Thompson defines voice as...2025-01-1133 min
What Editors Want PodcastTravel writing from scratch - Interview with Portugal journalist Lucy Bryson | Travel Writing SkoolLucy Bryson jetted out of Manchester, UK, many years ago and headed to Brazil, without knowing the language and with little in the way of travel writing experience. But now, even as a single mother, she has carved a niche as a travel writer specialising in Portugal and Brazil with bylines in BBC Travel, AFAR, Wanderlust, Vice, Time Out, Fodor's Travel, Atlas Obscura, DK Eyewitness Guides, easyJet Traveller, USA Today, and Rough Guides, among others. Travel writing career tips: https://www.skool.com/mediamatrix/about Daily calls for pitches from editorsWeekly story idea and...2025-01-1036 min
What Editors Want PodcastNiche vs generalist: Interview with 'dog-friendly travel' writer Lottie GrossI discuss the pros and cons of 'niching down' as a travel writer. Freelance travel journalist and author Lottie Gross, who runs the Talking Travel Writing newsletter, describes how falling into the niche of dog-friendly travel has opened up opportunities and marked her as an 'expert' in this under-served market.Travel writing career tips: https://www.skool.com/mediamatrix/aboutThese podcasts are available on Substack, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and you can watch the interview on YouTube.Travel Writing: Niche vs. Generalist - Insider Insights with Lottie GrossExperienced travel writer...2025-01-0737 min
What Editors Want PodcastHow a struggling travel writer finally wrote for CNN, SCMP, NatGeo and moreIn this podcast episode James talks to Philipp Meier, a former accountant from Switzerland who moved to Thailand a few years ago to chase his dream of being a travel writer. After years of writing for small publications for free, Philipp recently broke through to some better known publications such as CNN Travel, Nat Geo Traveller, and South China Morning Post. James and Philipp discuss his journey, examine what he did that finally saw him win commissions at big name titles, and discuss some of the dos and don’ts if you’re a wannabe travel writer pitching to edit...2024-07-2230 min
The Small Steps to Wellness Show#47 What's with all the sugar in our schools?Nutritional therapist student and mum of 2, Lisa James, sits down and talks to members of the round table, Amy Durston, Debbie Best and me, about the issues we are facing trying to raise our children to make healthy food choices for themselves in a world where they are inundated with sugar, ultraprocessed foods and carb heavy school meals. A proper good rant, with some suggestions interspersed to inspire you to have a chat with your school about how we can support our children and our schools to make healthier choices, which in effect will positively influence their growing b...2024-04-161h 05
What Editors Want PodcastInterview with Lola Akinmade, travel photographer & writer for NYT, Nat Geo, Travel + Leisure and many moreThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit whatedswant.substack.comFor the first podcast on What Editors Want I spoke with travel photographer and writer Lola Akinmade, who has one of the most impressive resumes in the business. She explains how she got into the big publications, what qualities she thinks helped her succeed, how she gets commissioned for 60% of the pitches she makes, as well as one shamefully embarrass…2022-12-1900 min
Retro SpectivesEpisode 66: Phoenix Wright: Ace AttorneyThe Ace Attorney franchise adds a twist to visual novels that has rarely been replicated. Instead of having you as a passive participant in the story, or making decisions through dialogue trees, you instead gather clues and cross examine witnesses to get to the truth. Its eclectic cast of characters all have some deeper truth to hide, and it's up to you to get to the bottom of it as you defend your client from the rapid passage of justice. But just how well crafted are the murder mysteries that you unravel? Do you really feel like a def...2021-07-191h 43
HikeDan Durston's Yo-Yo Hike of The Great Divide TrailDan Durston and his wife did a yo-yo of the Great Divide Trail (GDT) in 2017. Listen as he shares his experiences preparing for the trail and the hike itself. We talk permits, route finding, resupplies, water sources, wildlife and the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Dan also explains the differences between his thru hike of the PCT and being on the GDT. Announcements: Congrats to Instagram giveaway winner James. Check out his hiking group @kasamahikingConnect with Dan DurstonWeb site: Into Cascadia; Into Bohemia (Tara)Dan's Gear List for GDTYou...2019-12-1347 min
The Future Is A Mixtape007: Grammars of the PalateFor this week’s episode, Matt & Jesse transition away from talking about which man-made myths must be stripped out from the the mixtape for the future (“The Poison Pyramid”) or what should just be ignored while they haplessly spiral in the drain (“The Circle”). Instead, our co-hosts will introduce a new idea-shape “The Golden Square,” which is comprised of the four most essential tracks in our shared mixtape for the future. All too often, the notion of rights in nation-states don’t acknowledge the fundamental requirements of a just society, but our Golden Square is composed of four tracks that are essenti...2017-07-061h 21