Paid To Travel: The UGC Podcast
Welcome to the side of the internet where we get paid to travel. In this podcast, I will teach you how to create UGC content so you can work part-time creating fun content and spend the majority of your days exploring the world, rather than sitting at a desk. All while making MORE money than we did at our soul-sucking 9-5. Does that sound like a dream? Well, it’s my reality and it can be yours too.
I’m your host Maddy Garrett, your UGC Travel Bestie. I help everyday people just like you start their own UGC digital nomad business so that they can achieve this kind of life-changing freedom, too. I’ve taught over 2,000 students in my Masterclasses, Programs, and 1:1 Coaching, and I educate my audience of 40,000+ ambitious dreamers daily on social media.
So tune in every week so you can quit your job and start getting paid to travel.
Episodes
27 episodes
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26: How to Land UGC Deals on Fiverr: 5 Proven Tips from UGC 101 Nate Flake
If you’ve ever wished brands would come to you instead of spending hours pitching or think "Fiverr doesn't work for me" Your mind will be changed after today's episode. My guest, Nate Flake, just landed a
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56:24
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25: How Lana Went from $292 to $3,600/Month with UGC (While Doing Van-Life)
Today we are sitting down with my UGC student Lana to unpack how she went from seasonal work to building a thriving UGC (user-generated content) business that funds her travels across the U.S.She shares how she started small — fil...
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51:07
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24: How I Made $125/Hour In September Doing UGC ( + Student Wins!)
Today I’m spilling all the details on exactly what I made from UGC in September plus some seriously inspiring wins from my students inside the UGC Accelerator. From landing four-figure retainers to snagging their very first deals through cold U...
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14:47
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23: Pitching Strategies To Land More Brand Deals: Interview w/ Bento Founder Jaclyn Ling
What if I told you that sending cold emails as a UGC creator could actually land you thousands of dollars in deals—without ever hopping on a sales call? Yep, it’s possible. Today I am sitting down with Jaclyn, the co-founder of Bento, the #1 UG...
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50:19
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22: UGC Rates: What To Charge As A Content Creator in 2025
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about UGC rates in 2025—from base pricing to ad usage, whitelisting, raw footage, bundles, and more. Whether you’re a brand-new UGC creator or an experienced travel creato...
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19:50
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21: What You NEED To Know About Finances As A Content Creator: From A Small Business Tax Expert
Okay, let’s be real — no one becomes a content creator because they love thinking about taxes. But if you’re making money with UGC or content creation, the IRS still expects their cut. And trust me, not knowing the basics can come back...
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52:02
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20: August UGC Income Recap: How I signed $6,460 In UGC Deals
Today, I’m breaking down exactly how I made $6,460 in UGC contracts in August—what brands I worked with, what the deliverables were, and how I actually landed those clients.Whether you’re just starting your UGC journey or you’re a...
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13:57
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19: 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started UGC
Today I’m spilling the tea on what no one tells you about how to start UGC, what it really takes to make it as a content creator, and why those first six months are the hardest—but also the most transformational. This episode is here t...
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21:28
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18: How to Make Consistent 4-Figure Months with UGC
Ever wonder why some creators are landing four-figure deals while others are stuck chasing $200 one-off gigs?Today I am sharing a recent live webinar I hosted — all about scaling your income as a UGC content creator.If you’re tire...
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52:36
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17: How Goldie Replaced Nursing with UGC—and Made $7K in a Month (student interview)
This episode is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to start over — and make it wildly successful.Today, I’m chatting with Goldie — a former nurse who swapped her scrubs for a camera and turned her creativity into a ful...
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43:16
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16: How To Overcome The Fear Of Starting Something New w/ Trauma Therapist Erin Valente
Starting something new like becoming UGC content creator is exciting—but it also stirs up a lot of fear, self-doubt, and straight-up discomfort. In today’s episode, I sat down with Erin Valenti, a trauma-informed ther...
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29:39
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15: July UGC Income Recap: How I Signed $5,700 In Deals
Today I want to talk about how I made $5.7K in UGC Deals this month (without personally pitching.)In this episode, I’m giving you the full behind-the-scenes look at exactly how that happened—what kind of brands I worked with, how I land...
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18:39
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14: Travel For Free: How Everyday People Are Working With Hotels, Tourism Boards, and Brands
You do not need a million followers to get free stays, dreamy adventures, or actual money just for showing up somewhere with your phone. Yes, this is real. And in this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to get paid to travel
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17:40
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13: How to Make $1k a Month as a Part-Time UGC Creator: Student Interview
What if you could start a side hustle that gives you the freedom to travel, reduce your hours at work, and still make bank—all without being an influencer? Today we hear from my UGC student, Jess, a professional massage therap...
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42:11
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12: How To Land Paid Stays As A Content Creator (Without A Large Following): With Full-Time Airbnb Creator Emma Brubaker
Ever dreamt of getting paid to stay in dreamy Airbnbs around the world?Today we sit down with Emma—Airbnb content creator and social media manager—who went from free stays to fully booked and fully paid… all without a m...
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48:42
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11: How to Make PASSIVE Income with UGC
What if ONE brand could pay you nearly $10k... and some of it was passive income?This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of my longest-running UGC partnerships—the kind of deal that feels like a paycheck from...
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17:12
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10: $2,500/m Doing UGC 10 Hours A Week: UGC Student Interview w/ Ashleigh (A Fellow Van Lifer!)
Today, I’m chatting with Ashleigh — one of my UGC Accelerator students who went from thinking about UGC for months… to actually doing it and getting results. We’re talking about exactly how she made her first $16,000 as a tota...
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30:27
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09: Invoices, Contracts, and Getting Paid On Time: UGC Interview w/ DUPAY Founder Grace Tabib
If you’ve ever been ghosted by a brand, stressed about late payments, or totally overwhelmed by contracts—this episode is for you. Because let’s be real: this stuff will happen. And today, we’re diving into how to protect your income a...
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36:40
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08: UGC Terms You Need to Know to Land Brand Deals
Today I’m breaking down the must-know UGC lingo that’ll make you sound like a pro in your brand deals — and help you get paid like one too.Whether you're just starting your UGC journey or looking to level up your conversations w...
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21:29
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07: $450 In Her First 3 Weeks, With 2 Kids, School, And A Job: UGC Student Interview with Ruchel
Meet Ruchel – a college student, working mom, and UGC creator who’s building her dream portfolio between diaper changes and homework deadlines. If you’ve ever thought “I’m too busy for this,” this episode is going to change your mind.Ruc...
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32:52
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06: How To Land Paid Brand Deals
Are you wondering how creators actually land brand deals? If so, this episode is your cheat code. I’m breaking down the 3 best (and shockingly simple) ways to find UGC jobs—even if you’re just getting started. Whether you'r...
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12:36
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05: How To Create Great Hooks As A UGC Creator
So many beginner UGC creators are messing this up... and frankly it’s costing them paid deals. In today's episode, we're tackling the #1 reason your content isn’t converting: your HOOK. If you want your videos to grab attention, bui...
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17:27
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04: How To Make Your First $500 Online This Month
If you’ve got a phone and a favorite product, you're already halfway to your first $500. In this episode, I'm breaking down how anyone (yes, even you) can start creating UGC content and land paying gigs this month.What You’ll...
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11:45