Hosted by immigrant and traveler Lu Colmenares

"Keep recording and posting, even if you are not getting consistent downloads, it took me a year and a half to get daily downloads and grow my audience."

More details on Listen Notes.

Today Lu Colmenares, the creator of The Solo Female Traveler shares her story of making the travel podcast.

► Tell us about you and your podcast

My name is Lu Colmenares. I am originally from Venezuela and after traveling to more than 20 countries on my own, I realized I met very few women from the American Continent traveling solo. The idea for the podcast came to me while backpacking in Asia, I had so many life changing experiences that I wish many more women could have.

When the pandemic started and we couldn’t travel anywhere, I started The Solo Female Traveler as a hobby. Now the show provides a wide range of resources and stories to help prepare women for their first solo trip, as well as resources for seasoned solo female travelers.

My listeners are 63% from the US, aged between 23 to 59.

► Why & how did you start this podcast? 

In 2019 I did listen to one podcast only, that changed and right now I listen to a wide variety of shows to keep learning how to moderate as a host and also have material and topics to bring into the conversations with my guests.

The podcast started as a hobby, back then my goal was just to have conversations with women around the world about travel. I didn’t have a microphone or any materials, just a laptop with internet. It took me about two weeks to learn how to edit the audio and that is when I posted the first episode.

► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?

I released the episodes once a week and I do it by season to avoid burnout.

The first year of the podcast I did everything myself and it took me about 4 hours total from guest acquisition, editing, releasing and promotion. I scheduled time on the weekends to work on it, now that I outsourced the editing part I spend 3 hours a week contacting the guest and recording.

I do fund the podcast myself.

► What do you gain from podcasting?        

I am open to sponsorship but I don't have any right now.

My biggest benefit so far is the chance to network with amazing women around the world and also provide a space for them to share their stories. Also, podcasting has given me visibility and the exposure to be invited as a speaker for different events related to women and travel.

► How does your podcasting process look like? 

I use free services to produce and publish episodes like zoom and anchor. I outsourced the editing part since it was the one I enjoyed the least and pay for that service.

I use my everyday laptop, and a cheap mic I found on Amazon. Calendly is the most useful tool (and is free) since it helps to schedule the interviews.

I use Instagram and Tiktok to find guests, and all the interviews I have recorded have been done on zoom.

► How do you market your show?

The title of the show and episodes help me a lot, when you type in Solo Female Travel my podcast is most likely the one to show up.

My Breakdown is:
Apple Podcasts 54%
Spotify 38%
Google Podcasts 3%

To Market I use Instagram and I have been experimenting with Tiktok lately, I get the most results when my guests share their interview in their profiles.

► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?

Keep recording and posting, even if you are not getting consistent downloads, it took me a year and a half to get daily downloads and grow my audience, but if I gave up 6 months in. I wouldn't have had an audience in the first place.

► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?

https://www.instagram.com/thesolofemaletravelerpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@solofemaletravelerpod

https://www.lucolmenares.com/(coming soon)