Travel in 10 delivers 10-minute destination guides with expert tips on where to go, stay, eat, and explore worldwide.
"In reality, you are going to learn and improve as you go."
Today David Brodie and Tim Johnson, the creators of Travel in 10: Travel Podcast share their story of Places & Travel podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
Hi, I’m David Brodie, co-host and creator of the Travel in 10 podcast. I’ve been passionate about travel for as long as I can remember, and back in 2005, I launched Travel in 10 to give people quick, inspiring snapshots of some of the world’s best destinations. I come from a background in travel PR, working with brands like Tourism Australia and Emirates, but my real love has always been helping people discover new places in a way that feels personal and authentic.
I co-host the show with Tim Johnson, a longtime travel writer who’s been to over 150 countries. Between the two of us, we’ve seen a lot—and we love sharing what we’ve learned along the way.
Travel in 10 is all about short, actionable travel inspiration. Each episode is about 10 minutes long and highlights what to see, where to stay, what to eat, and what to do in a specific destination. It’s designed for busy travelers who want real tips without having to sift through hours of content. Think of it like a quick guide you can listen to while you’re at the airport, on your commute, or dreaming up your next trip.
Our listeners are curious, adventurous people—mostly between 30 and 55 years old—who love exploring the world and want experiences that go beyond the typical tourist checklist. They’re looking for trusted, relatable advice that helps them travel smarter and deeper.
Outside of Travel in 10, I also run Voyascape Media, a podcast network focused entirely on travel content, but Travel in 10 remains at the heart of why I love doing this—helping people find their next great adventure.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started Travel in 10 back in 2005 during a year when my wife and I took a career break to travel around the world. We were living in Japan at the time, and the first iPods had just come out. That’s when I discovered podcasts—this brand-new way to share stories and experiences—and thought it would be a great way to document our travels and help other people find interesting things to see and do.
I launched Travel in 10 with the idea of creating short, 10-minute episodes featuring travel highlights from different destinations. It ended up being the second travel podcast ever listed on the Apple Podcasts store, which really helped us build an audience early on.
At first, the show was very immediate—recording quick clips about what we were seeing and doing on the road. But as we continued traveling around the world, it evolved into a format where each episode focused on a new destination. The goal has always stayed the same: to give people quick, practical, and inspiring travel ideas they can listen to while they’re commuting, packing for a trip, or daydreaming about their next adventure.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
When I first started Travel in 10 in 2005, I had the time because my wife and I were on a year-long career break, traveling full-time. Living in Japan, traveling across Asia and beyond, it was the perfect opportunity to record episodes on the go. Once we returned home and I was back to a full-time job in travel PR, it became about carving out nights and weekends to keep the podcast going. Luckily, the show’s short, 10-minute format made it manageable even with a busy schedule.
At the beginning, I funded everything myself—basic gear, hosting, and production costs were all out of pocket. I kept it lean and focused, relying mostly on word-of-mouth and early podcast directories for growth. Each episode usually takes a few hours from scripting to editing to publishing, and I try to release a new one every few weeks, depending on travel and work schedules.
Over time, Travel in 10 found a strong and loyal audience. That early success opened the door for something bigger: building out a full travel-focused podcast network, Voyascape. Thanks to the momentum of Travel in 10, I was able to attract aligned sponsors, partner with other amazing travel podcasters, and turn it into a real business. Now we’re not only telling great travel stories but also helping other creators grow their shows, secure sponsorships, and build sustainable brands—something I’m really proud of.
So while Travel in 10 started as a passion project, it’s evolved into the foundation of a much bigger platform that’s connecting travelers and creators around the world.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Podcasting has been an incredible journey for me, both personally and professionally. On a personal level, it’s connected me with travelers, storytellers, and creatives all over the world. It’s opened doors to friendships, collaborations, and amazing experiences I never would have had otherwise. On a professional level, it’s allowed me to blend my love of travel storytelling with real business opportunities—building out Voyascape, a dedicated travel podcast network, and helping other creators grow their audiences too.
Yes, we do take sponsorships. Early on with Travel in 10, I funded everything myself. It wasn’t until I hit around 3,000–4,000 downloads per month that I landed my first sponsorship, which came through a direct relationship with a travel brand I had worked with in my PR career. They loved the idea of reaching engaged, travel-focused listeners in a very targeted way.
Today, Travel in 10 is part of the Voyascape Network, and across the network we’re reaching several million downloads . Our approach to finding sponsors is very relationship-driven—we prioritize brands that are a natural fit for our audience. I also focus on season-long partnerships and host-read ads rather than one-off programmatic ads because they feel more authentic and create more value for both listeners and sponsors.
Revenue varies depending on the season and partnership deals, but sponsorships, network-wide ad deals, and additional income streams like merchandise and affiliate links are all part of the business model now. Podcasting has definitely gone from being a passion project to becoming a full-fledged business for me—one that still keeps the heart of storytelling and connection at its center.
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► How does your podcasting process look like?
The Travel in 10 production process is streamlined but focused on quality. For equipment, I use an Audio-Technica ATR2500 microphone for studio recording and a Boya Link 2 wireless mic system for field recording—which I really love and highly recommend for anyone doing travel or outdoor recordings. For remote recording sessions, I use Riverside.fm, which offers great reliability and audio quality. Editing is handled with a combination of Audacity and the AI voice enhancement tools from Adobe Podcasts to make the final episodes sound polished and professional.
Each episode usually focuses on a destination that both Tim and I have personally visited. That firsthand experience is a huge part of the show’s authenticity. Even though episodes are just about 10 minutes long, we spend at least an hour (often more) researching and preparing each one—making sure we’re providing not just general tips, but genuinely useful, up-to-date insights.
When interviews are part of the show, we record mainly via Riverside, but also occasionally capture live audio using the Boya Link 2 system when traveling. The goal is always to keep the episodes feeling natural, energetic, and packed with helpful advice—something you could actually use while planning or dreaming about your next trip.
► How do you market your show?
Marketing Travel in 10 has changed a lot since we first launched in 2005. In the early days, most listeners found us organically through Apple Podcasts, which was still part of iTunes at the time. That early presence really helped, and even today, Apple Podcasts remains our biggest discovery channel, with about 60 percent of our audience coming from there. Spotify, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts account for most of the rest, along with some direct traffic from our website and social media.
Social media, especially Instagram, has been helpful for building awareness, but one of the most effective marketing tools has been cross-promotion through the Voyascape Network. We regularly do feed drops, promo swaps, and shoutouts between shows on the network. Because all the shows are focused on travel, we are able to introduce Travel in 10 to listeners who are already passionate about the same kind of content.
Another big part of growing the audience has been guesting on other podcasts. Being featured on shows outside of our network brings new listeners who are looking for trusted, authentic travel recommendations.
Overall, the combination of organic discovery through podcast platforms, cross-promotion within the Voyascape Network, guest appearances, and a consistent presence on social media has been key to building and maintaining our audience.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
If I could give one piece of advice to new podcasters, it would be to just start. A lot of people get stuck trying to make everything perfect before they launch. In reality, you are going to learn and improve as you go. Your first episodes will not be perfect, and that is okay. Focus on being consistent, delivering value to your audience, and refining your process over time.
One thing I learned that was not obvious at the beginning is how important your format and consistency are. People need to know what to expect from your show. With Travel in 10, the idea of a short, focused 10-minute travel guide helped the show stand out and made it easier for listeners to keep coming back. Having a clear, repeatable structure can make your production much easier and your content more engaging.
Another thing I would tell new podcasters is to focus on relationships early. Connecting with other podcasters, guesting on shows, and collaborating helps you grow much faster than trying to market your show in isolation. Podcasting is a community-driven space and building genuine connections makes a huge difference.
As for resources, there are some great ones out there. I have found the Riverside blog and YouTube channel really helpful for remote recording tips. Podnews is great for keeping up with industry trends. The Captivate.fm blog also offers a lot of practical advice, especially around growth strategies. I also think just listening to well-produced shows you admire can teach you a lot about pacing, tone, and storytelling without even realizing it.
The biggest thing is to be patient. Growth takes time. Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint, but if you are passionate about your topic and committed to improving over time, you will find your audience.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
You can find everything about Travel in 10 and the other shows in our network at www.voyascape.com. That is the main hub for all our podcasts, including Travel in 10, Curious Tourism, Winging It Travel Podcast, and more.
You can also follow us on Instagram at @voyascapemedia, where we share travel inspiration, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes content.
If you want to reach out directly, you can email us at contactus@voyascape.com.
We are also expanding the network and launching new shows soon, so the best way to stay updated is through the website or by following us on Instagram.
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