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."
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)