Welcome to the Travel Media Lab Podcast!

On this podcast, we help you break into – and thrive in – the travel media space. We also share insights from Yulia’s years of working as a published travel photographer and writer. Enjoy!



Season 6

S6 E71: Season Finale: What If You Fly?

We look back at some of the best episodes from Season 6.

S6 E70: Building Your Creative Career with Travel Photographer Pam Voth

Today on the podcast, we talk to professional wildlife photographer Pam Voth about her journey in the traditional art world, the NFT space, and more.

S6 E69: How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Discovered

Today, we are wrapping up season six of our podcast. It has been an incredible season with fascinating guests, and in today's episode, we look back at some of the best episodes from the season.

S6 E68: Inside My Camera Bag

In today’s episode, Yulia talks about the gear she uses and more!

S6 E67: Go Pitch That Story with Travel Editor Lauren Keith

Lauren Keith is on the show today to shed some light on the pitching process from the perspective of an experienced travel editor.

S6 E66: Breaking Into Travel Journalism In 10 Steps

In today's episode, we break down a series of steps that you should consider taking if you want to start creating work and getting published in travel media.

S6 E65: Disrupting the Travel Industry with Wanderful's Beth Santos

We talk with Wanderful’s founder and CEO Beth Santos, a serial entrepreneur and community builder who is out to disrupt the travel industry for women worldwide.

S6 E64: The Path to Travel Writing with Jessica Poitevien

Today, we sit down with writer and content creator Jessica Poitevien to discuss her path to becoming a full-time freelance travel writer and some of the fears she encountered along the way.

Season 5

S5 E63: Season Finale: Your Voice Matters

We wrap up the fifth season of the Travel Media Lab Podcast and we reflect on how we’ve grown (much like our download numbers) and how we’ve changed (much like our name).

S5 E62: A Lesson From Inside Intro To Travel Journalism

Today, we have a sneak peek into the Intro to Travel Journalism program with one of its lessons: What does travel journalism look like today?

S5 E61: Getting Published in Condé Nast Traveler With Travel Writer Ashley Brooks

Today, our very own Travel Media Lab community member Ashley Brooks is here to share her exciting travel writing success story.

S5 E60: 3 Steps to Getting Published In NatGeo

Today on the podcast, I will guide you through the process of getting published in National Geographic.

S5 E59: Q&A Part 2: The Business

In the last part of this two-part Q&A series, I will discuss the business aspect of travel journalism.

S5 E58: Q&A Part 1: The Craft

In the first part of a two-part Q&A series, I will be addressing questions related to the craft of being a travel journalist.

S5 E57: Inside Travel Media’s Biggest Conference with Travel Writer Hannah Foster-Roe

Today we are joined by one of our travel journalism masterclass graduates and Circle members, Hannah Foster-Roe, and she talks about her first experience at the IMM Conference.

S5 E56: An Update On My NFT Photography Journey

Today on the podcast, our host Yulia Denisyuk shares an update on her journey into the metaverse and the world of NFTs.

S5 E55: Responsible Travel Writing with Rooted Founder JoAnna Haugen

In this episode, JoAnna Haugen talks about how you can be a responsible travel writer and use your influence to effect positive change.

S5 E54: Pitching Insights with Travel Editor Ashlea Halpern

In this episode, veteran travel editor Ashlea Halpern shares her experience and insights about pitching.

S5 E53: Inside Travel Media Bootcamp Part 2: Maximizing Your Chances of Being Hosted

In this episode, you’ll learn how to maximize your chances of being hosted on a press trip, how to find the appropriate media contact for a tourism board, why LinkedIn is important, and why PR agencies want us to succeed.

S5 E52: Inside Travel Media Bootcamp Part 1: Working With Tourism Boards

This week, we share a small part of our conversations during the Travel Media Bootcamp. You'll learn about working with tourism boards and what this process looks like before, during, and after the trip.

S5 E51: A Beginner's Guide to NFT Photography

In this episode, Yulia shares her experience learning to navigate the NFT community and lessons learned from minting her first NFT collection.

S5 E50: Who Gets to Be a Writer with Pilgrim Founder Ashley Halligan

This week’s guest is Ashley Halligan, the founder of Pilgrim Magazine, an idea born in the Peruvian Amazon.

S5 E49: Pitching Good Stories with Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Editor-in-Chief Sarah Khan

Today’s guest is Sarah Khan, an award-winning travel journalist who has reported for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, and others from six different continents.

S5 E48: The Story Behind Travel Media Lab

In this episode, you hear what inspired the name change and how the process has been going so far.

Season 4

S5 E47: Season Finale: Ingredients For Your Creative Vision

Season four was a very special season for us. Let’s look back at a couple of beautiful moments and celebrate our amazing guests

S4 E46: Working Full-Time As A Freelance Journalist With Iona Brannon

In this week’s episode, I talk to travel, beauty, and personal finance freelance journalist Iona Brannon.

S4 E45: Catching Up with travel photographer Marion Payr

Our S3 guest Marion Payr talks about creating visibility for your work, the expansion of artificial intelligence into photography, and more.

S4 E44: Pitching with Confidence with Our Student Kimberli Werner

In this week’s episode, I talk to our SIA student and Genie, Kimberli Werner.

S4 E43: Catching Up with travel journalist Breanna Wilson

Our S2 guest Breanna Wilson talks about challenging the competitive nature of the travel journalism industry to pursuing entrepreneurship, taking over the world, and more.

S4 E42: Catching Up with photojournalist Khadija Farah

Our S1 guest Khadija Farah talks about the constant pressure to produce work, shifting her focus to her personal life during the pandemic, and more.

S4 E41: A Sneak Peek Into My Signature Class, Storytellers In Action

We’re entering the sneak peek time of my secret weapon, my signature class, Storytellers In Action.

S4 E40: On Assignment in Austria

Today, I take you behind the scenes of my assignment in Austria where I documented the craftsmanship process of the traditional Indigo blueprint making.

S4 E39: How To Find An Angle For Your Story

With every piece of content produced, whether a photograph, a travel article, or a 5000-word report, the storyteller has an angle.

S4 E38: A Work In Progress with Journalist Sarah Munir

Today’s guest is Sarah Munir, a digital journalist with over a decade of experience in different mediums including print, broadcast, and digital.

Season 3

S3 E37: Season Finale

In this episode, we’re celebrating our wonderful guests from Season 3

S3 E36: Travel Storyteller Lola Akinmade Åkerström

Today’s guest on the podcast is Lola Akinmade Åkerström, an award-winning storyteller, travel photographer, writer, creator, TED speaker, and author

S3 E35: Insights From The Circle

Today, hear from our Circle members Ashley Brooks and Sam Flanagan

S3 E34: Travel Editor Ashlea Halpern

This week, we’re re-releasing one of our most insightful interviews with travel editor and journalist Ashlea Halpern.

S3 E33: My Nat Geo Assignment

Today, I take you behind the scenes my latest assignment to California with National Geographic Traveller.

S3 E32: Travel Photographer Alex Reynolds

In this week's episode, I am thrilled to sit down with Alex Reynolds, an American travel photographer, writer, and solo female backpacker who's been on the road since 2016.

S3 E31: Travel & Lifestyle Photographer Alina Rudya

We're back this week with a conversation with Alina Rudya, an award-winning lifestyle and travel photographer and digital creator based in Berlin.

S3 E30: Travel Creator Caoilfhionn Rose

In today's episode, I talk to Caoilfhionn Rose, a travel writer, photographer, and content producer based in the UK.

S3 E29: An Interview With Me!

This week, the table gets turned on me, and for once, I'm in the guest seat for the Let’s Get Stabby Podcast

S3 E28: Travel Photographer Marion Payr

Today, we’re chatting with travel and wildlife photographer Marion Payr.

S3 E27: Wellness Entrepreneur Youmie Jean Francois

Today we talk with Youmie Jean Francois, the founder and CEO of Flex-n-Fly, a travel wellness company that provides stretching, meditation, and yoga classes at the airports.

S3 E26: Unearth Women Founder Nikki Vargas

In our first Season 3 episode, we chat with Nikki Vargas, a travel writer, author, and founding editor of Unearth Women, a travel magazine and media platform for womxn by womxn.

Season 2

Season Finale: The Path Forward

In this final episode, I would like to take a look back and share with you a couple of wonderful moments we had on the podcast this season.

S2 E24: How to Get Your Pitch Accepted with Vanessa Dewson

In this episode, we're joined by Vanessa Dewson, a Canadian photographer, passionate traveler, and our very own Genus Womxn community member.

S2 E23: Getting Your Travel Stories Published with Yulia Denisyuk

In this episode, I cover some of the most frequently asked questions I get about working in the travel media industry.

S2 E22: Travel Journalist Jessica Vincent

In this episode, we catch up with the multi-award-winning travel journalist Jessica Vincent.

S2 E21: What Success Looks Like with Yulia Denisyuk

Today, we have a timely discussion on who gets to decide what success looks like.

S2 E20: Photographer Nancy Lova

In this episode, we speak with UK-based travel photographer Nancy Lova.

S2 E19: Photographer Leonie Zaytoune

In this episode, we speak with a Marrakech-based photographer Leonie Zaytoune.

S2 E18: Travel Writer Breanna Wilson

In this episode, we speak with Breanna Wilson, a travel writer and trip designer based in Mongolia.

S2 E17: Crafting Compelling Stories with Yulia Denisyuk

In this episode, we take a closer look at the process of creating compelling stories.

S2 E16: Multi-disciplinary artivist Lindsay Gary

In this episode, we speak with Lindsay Gary, a professor-scholar, multi-disciplinary artivist, and social entrepreneur on a mission to educate, connect and empower the African diaspora.

S2 E15: Travel & Wedding Photographer Kristin Sweeting

In this episode, we speak with Kristin Sweeting, a travel and wedding photographer and a creative coach.

S2 E14: Travel Writer Michaela Trimble

In this episode, we speak with Michaela Trimble, a travel writer and photographer based in Mexico City.

Season 1

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Season Finale: It’s Time to Act with Yulia Denisyuk

On this episode we take a look back at our favorite conversations in Season 1 of the Genius Womxn podcast.

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S1 E12: Nastasia Yakoub of Dame Traveler

In this episode, we speak with Nastasia Yakoub, a travel photographer, author and founder of the popular womxn's travel community called Dame Traveler.

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S1 E11: Gillian Morris, CEO Hitlist

In this episode, I’m joined by Gillian Morris, co-founder and CEO of Hitlist, an app that alerts users when flight prices drop.

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S1 E10: When The Creative Path Calls, Answer

In this episode, I’m joined by 3 amazing womxn making big moves in their creative careers as travel writers and photographers.

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S1 E09: Reimagine & Recommit To Your Dreams with Yulia Denisyuk

In this episode, I talk about how we can begin to let go of the expectations we might have placed on ourselves this year that didn't come to fruition, and how to humbly begin to re-imagine and recommit to our dreams.

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S1 E08: Photojournalist Khadija Farah

In today's episode, I speak to Khadija Farah, a travel and documentary photographer based in Nairobi, Kenya. We dig into the highs and the lows of being a freelance photographer and discuss why womxn are making this industry a more welcoming and accessible space.

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S1 E07: Travel Photographer Karthika Gupta

In this episode, we dig into juicy subjects of creativity, entrepreneurship, self-worth, and going all in before we are ready with a dear friend and a talented photographer and podcaster Karthika Gupta.

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S1 E06: A Roadmap for Pursuing Your Dream Creative Life with Yulia Denisyuk

In this episode, I cover the key components for building your dream creative life and turning your dreams into reality. I also share with you three things you can do right now to get closer to your dreams.

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S1 E05: Language Coach Feriel Temmar

In this episode, I speak to a language coach, an avid traveler, and a dear friend Feriel Temmar, who has great advice for womxn on the creative, freelancing paths: relax.

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S1 E04: Transformation Coach Vibha Chokhani

In this episode, I speak to Vibha Chokhani, a transformation coach with an incredible life story and a special gift of knowing how to honor what her soul is trying to tell her.

S1 E03: Katalina Mayorga, El Camino

In this episode, Katalina Mayorga, founder of El Camino Travel, shares her path of building a travel company dedicated to providing culturally immersive travel experiences for travelers seeking meaningful connections with communities worldwide.

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S1 E02: Travel Journalist Ashlea Halpern

In this episode of Genius Womxn we hear from Ashlea Halpern, editor-at-large for Afar Media and the founding editor of The Urbanist, a pop-up travel blog from New York Magazine.

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S1 E01: The Path To Your Dreams with Yulia Denisyuk

Get to know my story. Today, I’m a published, award-winning travel photographer and writer on a mission to help others achieve their creative dreams. In the first episode of our podcast, I tell the story of the journey that led me to some remarkable assignments in Rwanda and Mongolia, and show you how you too can start building a rich, meaningful, beautiful creative life.