Paid To Travel: The UGC Podcast

Maddy Garrett

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.

  1. 32 MIN AGO

    29: UGC Is Not 'Too Good To Be True' — Krista Signed Her First Paid UGC Deal Within A Week Of Starting

    If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I actually make money doing UGC?”  this episode is your proof. Krista joined the UGC Accelerator just two months ago and made $1,000 in her very first month—all through Upwork. Now she’s landed over $2.5K in paid brand deals and is turning UGC into her dream remote career (all while being a mom of three.) In today's epsiode,  Krista shares exactly how she discovered UGC, built her first portfolio, and landed her first $1,000 project on Upwork within 30 days. We dive into: The step-by-step of how Krista landed her first paid deal on Upwork What types of UGC projects she took on (and how much she charged)How she balanced building her portfolio with being a full-time mom and small business ownerThe mindset shifts and “why” that kept her motivated through it allFuel your day the smart way with Huel — my go-to complete meal packed with 35g of protein, 27 vitamins & minerals, and 7g of fiber (plus, it’s totally plant-based ). Get 15% OFF your first purchase using code PAYED at [huel.com/PAYED](https://www.huel.com/PAYED)& make sure to fill out the post-checkout survey to support the show! 💫 For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    37 min
  2. 3 NOV

    28: October UGC Income Recap: How I Signed $5,175 in UGC Deals Working 10 Hours/Week

    This month, I averaged $130 an hour working part-time as a UGC creator. Today I’m breaking down exactly how I did it — every brand deal, every deliverable, and how I balanced it all while only working around 10 hours a week. This isn’t influencer content. This is real, sustainable user-generated content (UGC) that pays you to travel, create, and work remotely.  If you’ve ever dreamed about landing paid brand deals or building a flexible remote work lifestyle,  this is your episode. In This Episode: 💸 The exact breakdown of my $5,175 month in UGC income📸 How I structure retainer clients and one-off paid brand deals💼 Why taking a slightly lower rate can build long-term client relationships✉️ My go-to pitching strategy using Bento (use code MADDY for a discount!)🧠 How I keep my workload light and still average over $130/hour🌍 How UGC allows me to get paid to travel while working part-timeMentioned in This Episode: Bento – My favorite platform for pitching UGC deals. Check it out here and use code MADDY for a discount 💌 For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    9 min
  3. 27 OCT

    27: How To Tailor Your UGC Pitch For Holidays: Q4, Black Friday, Christmas, Father's Day, etc.

    Today I’m breaking down how to pitch yourself for holidays and seasonal campaigns — from Black Friday to Valentine’s Day — so you can land more UGC brand deals and grow your income doing what you love. This week we’re diving into how to tailor your UGC pitches for holidays and special seasons to stand out in brand inboxes. I’ll walk you through: ✨ How to tweak your general pitch for Q4, Black Friday, or Christmas campaigns  💌 What timeline to use when pitching for each season  ⚡️ A simple strategy to make your outreach more effective (and stress-free)  💸 How to use discounts and incentives to book more brand deals Plus, I’m sharing my go-to pitching tool — Bento — that helps me send 50+ personalized pitches in an hour! (Use code MADDY for 10% off your subscription 💌) Whether you’re a new creator or already landing UGC gigs, this episode is your crash course in leveling up your UGC pitching strategy — so you can spend less time at your desk and more time exploring the world. 🌎 🔗 Resources Mentioned Book: The Big Leap by Guy Hendricks — my yearly mindset reset 📚Tool: Bento — my go-to platform for email pitching (code MADDY for 10% off) For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    11 min
  4. 20 OCT

    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 $3,000 UGC deal on Fiverr minutes before hopping on this interview. And he didn’t cold pitch. He didn’t chase brands. He simply set up his Fiverr gigs strategically — and let inbound UGC deals roll in. We’re diving deep into: Fiverr vs. Pitching — Which One Gets Faster Results?How to Set Up a High-Converting Fiverr Gig The exact pricing strategy Nate used to go from $60 videos to charging $475 for videos The brutal truth about “low-paying” UGC gigs 5 Mistakes That Kill Your Fiverr VisibilityUnexpected UGC Niches You Can Cash In On Right NowConnect with Nate Flake Host of UGC 101 Podcast Instagram: @nateflakecreatesUse code PODCAST for 15% off his Program and Discord Community Check Out:  The Travel Creator Podcast For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    56 min
  5. 13 OCT

    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 — filming $50 videos from her RV — and grew her confidence, her client base, and her income to over $3,600 a month within three months. We talk about the real journey of becoming a content creator, the power of mindset, and the practical tools that helped Lana stay consistent and focused. If you’ve been dreaming of getting paid to travel, this episode will show you how to turn that dream into reality — without needing to become a full-time influencer. We dive into: You don’t need to be an influencer to make money online as a UGC creator.$50 gigs can turn into $500+ deals when you build relationships and stay professional.Confidence grows from action — not perfection.UGC can give you freedom, flexibility, and a way to get paid to travel. Resources Mentioned: $100M Offers by Alex HormoziUGC Platforms: Billo, Fiverr, JoinBrands, CohleyFollow Lana: Her Website For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    51 min
  6. 6 OCT

    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 UGC pitching, my students are proof that this industry is not too saturated—you can 100% do this too. If you’ve ever wondered:  ✨ How much you can really make as a beginner in content creation  ✨ What UGC pitching looks like in action  ✨ And what kind of deals are possible within just weeks or months of starting… …then this episode is going to give you all the motivation you need. What you’ll hear in this episode: Real student wins from September (including retainer deals + big-name brand partnerships!)My own September UGC income breakdown—exact numbers, deals, and deliverablesWhy UGC is still such an incredible opportunity right nowHow you can get started with UGC pitching even as a total beginner For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    15 min
  7. 29 SEPT

    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 UGC app that has completely transformed the way I pitch.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why pitching is a numbers game and how to stay consistentThe secret to creating portfolios that brands actually want to click onCommon mistakes new creators make in their UGC pitchesHow Bento automates pitching so you can focus on creatingWhy communication and negotiation skills matter as much as your contentTips to increase your email response rate and close more dealsBENTO AFFILATE CODE:  >>https://app.onbento.com/?acode=MADDY Use the Code : MADDY  Connect with Jaclyn and Bento: Instagram: @onbentoTikTok: @onbentoWebsite: Onbento🎧 Listen to Laura’s show: The Travel Creator Podcast: if you want even more strategies for travel content creators.  For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    50 min
  8. 22 SEPT

    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 creator looking to scale, you’ll walk away with a clear picture of how to price your work with confidence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The truth about beginner UGC rates and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answerHow to structure base rates, ad usage, and whitelisting feesWhy pitching brands directly can increase your earningsMy current rates as a travel creator in 2025How to bundle content into packages that land higher-paying dealsExtra income opportunities: raw footage, additional hooks, exclusivity, and rush feesLinks & Resources: 📌 Download My Free Rate Sheet (your guide to UGC pricing)Connect with Laura Haley:  Find out more Travel Creator tips at the Travel Creator Podcast For Talented A.F. Podcast Production: Follow: @yourgirlmedia Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com  Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach 3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclass

    20 min

About

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.

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