In this episode of the Media Makers Club podcast, I sit down with Annie Sargent, creator of the Join Us in France Travel Podcast. Annie shares her 10-year journey of podcasting about French culture, cuisine, and travel destinations.

Annie's podcast began as a way to rediscover her homeland after living abroad for years. She discusses her approach to content creation, focusing on lesser-known French destinations and providing authentic insights into French life.

The podcast - now at more than 500 episodes - has grown to include trip reports from listeners, book discussions, and cultural explorations.

We touch on Annie's podcasting process, including her equipment setup and production techniques. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and patience in growing a podcast audience, likening it to planting trees that take years to harvest.

Annie has expanded her brand beyond the podcast, offering Voicemap tours, itinerary consultations, and guided day trips. She shares her strategies for monetization, including Patreon tiers, affiliate marketing, and creating travel-related products.

Annie and her friend Elyse make it look easy running a travel podcast. Her advice is to focus on content quality and consistency rather than aggressive marketing, to develop your unique voice and be authentic, and not obsess over download numbers.

Annie discusses the challenges of balancing content creation with travel and research, and the importance of connecting with listeners through events like her annual France bootcamp in Toulouse.

The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of travel podcasts, the value of word-of-mouth promotion, and the benefits of collaborating with other content creators in your niche.

Annie and Elyse launched the show in Feb 2014. Annie invites various guests on the show, most of them are listeners who enjoy the show and have tips they want to share. There are also solo episodes by Annie on topics having to do with French culture, food, wine, places and attractions.

If you wish to get in touch with Annie, check out her podcast on all podcast platforms (Join Us in France Travel Podcast), and visit her website and boutique at: https://joinusinfrance.com

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:34 Annie's Journey Back to France

02:56 Starting the Join Us in France Podcast

04:38 Podcast Content and Structure

12:39 Challenges and Evolution of the Podcast

16:56 Tools and Techniques for Podcasting

27:27 Balancing Work and Travel

29:11 Exploring France with Elyse

30:12 Challenges and Perseverance

31:59 Marketing and Monetization Strategies

37:48 Connecting with the Audience: The Bootcamp

45:05 Advice for Aspiring Podcasters

47:24 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

I cover the latest changes in Descript’s pricing model that took effect on September 23rd, including the introduction of top-ups for buying extra credits. I explain the shift from transcription minutes to media minutes, how each uploaded file impacts your quota, and the implications for existing users. Additionally, Descript has changed how AI features consume credits from your monthly allowance, making previous inclusions now metered. I break down the costs of these new top-ups, highlight alternative tools, and share insights on how these changes might affect your workflow.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Join my Media Makers Club, a membership where you get:* Access to the community to ask questions, interact with other editors* Free access to all of my courses and mini courses (all of them!)* Free access to live webinars and Q&A Sessions* Early access to ad-free YouTube videos and experiments* Free downloads (Camtasia assets, music, templates)* 1-on-1 Coaching Session DiscountsJoin here: https://www.mediamakers.clubWould you like to learn one-on-one with me?https://cotovan.com/coachingMore Descript tutorials:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5dqU8ndfeoh1tzkR5uig36x-KV0V0a_gJoin our Descript Community on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/descriptusersAre my tutorials useful? Buy me a coffee! I LOVE coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cristiCristi's website and blog:https://cotovan.comChapters:00:00 Introduction00:31 What We Have00:31 Old vs New Plans01:08 Impact on Workflow02:47 AI Credits and Top Ups03:45 Cost Breakdown06:45 User Reactions and Alternatives11:32 Conclusion

In this first episode of the Media Makers Club podcast, I chat with Chris Menard - Microsoft Certified Instructor who has created a successful educational YouTube channel, all centered around Microsoft software.Chris shares his insights on:* Growing a YouTube channel to over 65,000 subscribers* Strategies for creating educational content that resonates with viewers* The importance of evergreen content for long-term channel growth* How the pandemic led to a spike in views for his tutorials* Tips for diversifying content while maintaining a core focus* Key YouTube analytics to pay attention to* Equipment recommendations for new creators on a budget* Advice for aspiring educational content creatorsChapters:00:00 Intro01:29 Chris Menard’s YouTube Journey02:05 Growing a YouTube Channel04:36 How did you grow your Youtube Channel?09:46 Growth in the Pandemic11:31 Key to Sustained Growth23:58 Strategies for YouTube Content and Scheduling25:14 Fresh Content Ideas and Utilizing New Features28:34 Deep Dive into YouTube Analytics and Optimization36:38 Equipment Essentials for Starting a YouTube Channel42:00 Tips for Creators Links: * Chris's YouTube: https://youtube.com/chrismenardtraining * Chris's Website: https://chrismenardtraining.com * Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-menard/Subscribe and follow the podcastOn the Media Makers Club podcast, I aim to bring you conversations with creators who have stuck with it through thick and thin. Maybe they have gone ‘viral’, maybe not. In spite of that, consistency and sustained effort has proven that you can build successful YouTube channels, courses, podcasts and other types of creative businesses. Join me on a journey of learning from these creators.Media Makers Club: https://mediamakers.clubCristi Cotovan: https://cotovan.com#YouTubeTips #ContentCreation #MediaMakersClub