Destination Interesting: A Casual Podcast for Destination Marketers

So, What's the Big Deal?

Okay. Okay. I get it. There are a TON of podcasts out there right now, and while I nearly always have Spotify music streaming in the background while I work, it's only been the last few years or so that I have become a "podcast guy".

You see, though I consider myself an avid reader, if I'm being honest my compulsion to multi-task often puts snuggling up with a good book on the backburner. I love reading and diving into a topic in a self-guided way, but there's something so nice about having a good podcast playing in the background while I'm doing something that doesn't require intense attention. I typically lean toward science and educational shows, like Huberman Lab or 99% Invisible, but my wife loves true crime shows like My Favorite Murder.

Though I've been in digital marketing for more than 15 years, I've always been a bit hesitant recommending the creation of a podcast as a marketing tool, and maybe I still am. I, too, felt that people are too fickle, with too short of attention spans. But, did you know that 50% of Americans between 12 and 34 years old surveyed listened to a podcast in the last month? source

That's nuts!! It's incredibly encouraging to know that somewhere around half of folks are willing to take a deep dive into a topic – attention spans be damned!

My wife and I were discussing a podcast we listened to recently on a drive to the mountains, and it hit me – I love the way good podcasts can spark great conversation. Unlike books or blog posts, there's something more sticky about hearing two or more people discuss things they love and you get to be a fly on the wall.

So, along with preparing to launch Search Party, I wanted to do something that combined my love for technology, marketing, and good wholesome conversation. Thus, Destination Interesting was born.

On the show I'll be sitting down with great folks from the travel & tourism industry to talk about life, the business, wins and losses, and why they think travel can be a great thing for the world.

I'm looking forward to talking with great movers and shakers from DMOs, leaders on the travel endemic vendor side of things, and folks making impacts in the destination marketing space.

Why Does it Matter?

For the last 8 or so years that I've been in destination marketing I've seen that there are a ton of really great people in this industry – and how cool would it be to be able to let them share their stories while we all learn a little something?

A Commitment to Sharing Information

I've been really fortunate to have learned so much from people that have freely shared what they know with me, and I want Search Party as an organization to carry that ethos forward.

You've heard a rising tide lifts all boats, but how about shared knowledge makes us all better?

Sure, I may have made that last one up, but it still rings true.

So, yeah! We are launching a podcast in early 2024 with me, Seth Chalmers, as host. To start, I'll be inviting some of my friends in travel & tourism to sit down and chat with me – with the hope that we learn something new about each other and our industry. Then, maybe we can take that new information into our jobs, into our lives, and out into the world.

I hope you'll join us. You can learn more about the podcast at DestinationInteresting.com (launching very soon) or go ahead and subscribe using the links on this page.

If you want to nominate yourself or someone else to be a future guest, email us at hello@asearchparty.com and put "Destination Interesting Guest" in the subject line! We can't wait to chat!