Episode 106: Starting a New Account Was the Best Thing They Ever Did

In this episode of The Creator Passport Podcast, we’re sitting down with Trey and Juliana, the couple behind American Travel Archives, to break down what it really looks like to build a travel creator business from the ground up without full-time travel, without overnight virality, and without having it all figured out at the start

Juliana shares her journey from growing a 220,000-follower fandom account to starting over from zero in travel, why launching a brand-new niche account changed everything, and how systems, repurposing, and consistency helped them scale fast. Trey opens up about supporting the business behind the scenes while working a full-time job, handling filming and logistics, and learning to treat content creation like a real business.

This conversation is an honest look at what happens before the big wins, the slow growth, the pivots, the self-doubt, and the systems that make momentum possible.

We’re covering:

• Why starting a new account can outperform pivoting an old one

• How they grew rapidly in the first 6 months without full-time travel

• Posting volume, repurposing, and building sustainable systems

• Splitting roles as a creator couple (editing vs. backend vs. pitching)

• How they started monetizing through tourism boards and paid campaigns

• Why pitching consistently matters more than waiting for inbound deals

• Charging confidently and walking away from bad brand offers

• Balancing content creation with full-time work and real life

If you’re a creator stuck in the early stages, overwhelmed by slow growth, or unsure how to turn content into paid opportunities, this episode will help you zoom out, simplify your strategy, and build momentum the right way with patience, systems, and intention.

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Follow Juliana & Trey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americantravelarchives/