Trade Secrets is on a quick break this week, so please enjoy this encore episode. Here’s the article Jamie mentions in her updated intro, “How Substack became the hottest social media platform.”

In this episode, Trade Secrets is all about content — and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada.

This episode was sponsored by AmaWaterways. 

Further resources

Kayla Douglas’ email, Instagram and Substack

SmartFlyer Core coverage
From TravelAge West: Five things we learned at SmartFlyer’s 2025 Core Conference
From Travel Weekly: Will luxury travel slow down? One expert expects a dip in hotel rates

Mentioned on this episode:
Substack
Emma’s substack
Flodesk
Mailchimp
Stephanie Lee’s most recent appearance on Trade Secrets
Host Agency Reviews’ travel agency software profiles

Need advice?

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com 

 

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade Secrets is on a quick break this week, so please enjoy this encore episode. Here&rsquo;s the article Jamie mentions in her updated intro, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/how-substack-became-hottest-social-media-platform-11702877">How Substack became the hottest social media platform</a>.&rdquo;
In this episode, Trade Secrets is all about content &mdash; and why travel advisors should get theirs off social media and into an email newsletter. Kayla Douglas, director of content for SmartFlyer in New York, delves into the world of Substack with co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada.
This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://advisors.amawaterways.com/agent-login">AmaWaterways</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
Further resources
Kayla Douglas&rsquo; <a href="mailto:kayla@smartflyer.com">email</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/curatedbykayla">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.curatedbykayla.com/">Substack</a>
SmartFlyer Core coverage
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">From TravelAge West: <a href="https://www.travelagewest.com/Industry-Insight/Business-Features/smartflyer-core-2025">Five things we learned</a> at SmartFlyer&rsquo;s 2025 Core Conference</li>
<li aria-level="1">From Travel Weekly: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Will-luxury-travel-slow-down-in-2025">Will luxury travel slow down</a>? One expert expects a dip in hotel rates</li>
</ul>
Mentioned on this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://substack.com/about">Substack</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://amioknewsletter.substack.com/subscribe">Emma&rsquo;s substack</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://flodesk.com/">Flodesk</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://mailchimp.com/">Mailchimp</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://mailchimp.com/"></a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-find-and-maintain-work-life-balance-as/id1555272051?i=1000675581281">Stephanie Lee&rsquo;s most recent appearance on Trade Secrets</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software">Host Agency Reviews&rsquo; travel agency software profiles</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Need advice?
Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098
Email us: <a href="mailto:tradesecrets@travelweekly.com">tradesecrets@travelweekly.com </a>
&nbsp;
Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
&nbsp;
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran travel advisor to join them and field listeners’ questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more — as long as it’s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at travelweekly.com/podcasts.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS:

Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Society of Travel Advisors’ 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.

Emma Weissmann is a Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, where she interviews notable individuals in the travel industry about their lives — the highs and lows that make them human.


Theme song:
Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

Welcome to Trade Secrets, a podcast from the editors of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, where travel advisors ask -- and answer -- questions. On each podcast, our editors will ask a veteran travel advisor to join them and field listeners&rsquo; questions. Topics will range from business advice to industry trends, history and more &mdash; as long as it&rsquo;s travel-related, we want to address it! Find Trade Secrets wherever you get your podcasts, or at <a href="http://travelweekly.com/podcasts">travelweekly.com/podcasts</a>.
<hr>
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS:
Jamie Biesiada is a senior editor with Travel Weekly. She is an award-winning journalist, including being named the American Society of Travel Advisors&rsquo; 2019 Travel Journalist of the Year. Her roots are in community journalism, where she was the editor of several local newspapers and a regional entertainment magazine.
Emma Weissmann is a Senior Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the host of the Humans of Travel podcast, where she interviews notable individuals in the travel industry about their lives &mdash; the highs and lows that make them human.
<hr>
 Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: <a href="https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop">https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop</a> License: <a href="https://filmmusic.io/standard-license">https://filmmusic.io/standard-license</a>
<hr>
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information