Ep 246 Shop Talk: Busy seasons, owning outcomes, and shaping your work lifestyle

October’s Shop Talk is full of honesty, exhaustion, and big-picture reflection. Whitney shares how an overwhelming travel season pushed her to rethink her team structure and workflows—and what needs to change before next year. Brianna reflects on her own delegation journey, what it means to truly give team members ownership, and how she decides when to let go of personal preferences in favor of team growth. Together, they talk about balancing high-volume success with sustainability, taking sabbaticals abroad, and the launch of The Hivemind Podcast.

Search is changing faster than ever—and it’s not just about Google anymore. As AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshape how travelers look for information, the rules of online visibility are shifting. In this conversation, Brianna Glenn and SEO strategist Meg Clarke of Clapping Dog Media break down what travel advisors need to know to stay discoverable. From optimizing for engagement and authority to showing up consistently across platforms, Meg shares practical steps to help you stand out in the age of AI search.Learn more about Meg: https://clappingdogmedia.com/

This week, we are previewing an episode from newly launched The Hivemind Podcast. For more episodes like this, add it to your weekly podcast roundup (new episodes release on Thursdays.) Seville embodies what travelers imagine when they think of ‘classic Spain’—flamenco, tapas, Moorish palaces, and lively plazas. Sam Lister, Founder & CEO at Tailormade, shares why this southern city is both a cultural icon and a versatile base for travel advisors planning Spain. From must-sees like the Cathedral and Alcázar to unique experiences like flamenco jam sessions, tapas in local barrios, and art restoration studios, Sevilla offers something for every client profile. Learn how to structure itineraries, when to avoid the summer heat, and why 4–5 nights in Seville unlock both the city and its rich day-trip options, from Córdoba to Ronda, Cádiz, and jamón farms.Learn more at: https://www.thehive.travel/podcast-posts/the-essentials-seville

In this episode, Whitney sits down with Jeremy Sulek—CEO/Owner of Jetset World Travel and founder of Brava—to unpack a new, advisor-first approach to commissions. Brava aims to decouple commission payments from host agencies so advisors can own their bookings, get paid faster, and give suppliers clear visibility into which advisors are actually driving sales. They discuss why the current agency-centered system creates misaligned incentives, and how shifting to advisor ownership unlocks flexibility, transparency, and growth.

Many travel advisors hit a stage where their business is running, clients are happy, and revenue looks strong — but behind the scenes, it still feels harder than it should. In this solo episode, Brianna shares the three clear signs that you’ve outgrown your current business model and offers quick, practical wins to help you step into the next phase of growth. From recognizing when you’re the bottleneck, to patching hidden leaks in your workflows, to aligning your marketing with the business you’re really running, this episode is designed to help you lighten the load and reclaim your role as CEO.

When your calendar is full but your goals are bigger, something has to change. In this candid conversation, Ali Raymer (Picture This Travel) shares how she scaled from solo advisor to leading a 6-person team—owning mistakes, codifying training, and letting go of control to protect life outside of work. Expect practical frameworks, real client-experience lessons, and permission to build the support you need to grow sustainably.

And we're back with newly recorded content! Picking up with a Shop Talk check in. We unpack the difference between trip operations and business operations, how project tools like Asana and ClickUp can run an entire agency, and why protecting client data with clear roles is non-negotiable. Plus: Brianna shares fresh takeaways from the Biz Huddle conference and strategies to make your content more discoverable in the AI era.

In this second episode of our 4-part client experience series, we explore five top areas of business that impact any client's experience working with you: service offering, aesthetics, communication, systems, and attracting new clients. Do a self-audit on your travel business with this episode, and hear our experiences and advice as you consider these vital parts of your business and how to improve each of them.*For the next few weeks, enjoy replays of listener favorite episodes that were previously behind a paywall. We will be back soon with newly-recorded content.

Today premiers the first episode of our 4-part Client Experience Series! Join us as we explore all the ins and outs of creating a memorable, signature client experience. This week, we are talking about how your brand experience impacts the client experience more than you may realize. Learn to define your business purpose, gauge a client's expectations, and create memorable memories from the first moment the learn about you to the post-trip check-in.*For the next few weeks, enjoy replays of listener favorite episodes that were previously behind a paywall. We will be back soon with newly-recorded content.

Join Brianna as she chats with Megan Vatnsdal, the passionate entrepreneur behind Onyx and Evergreen Travel, to discuss the ins and outs of attracting new clients and crafting value in our sometimes competitive industry. They explore marketing, but with a twist – how to use events as a way to showcase your value and serve as a catalyst for travel business growth. Plus, they also chat about mentorship, networking, and growing into your entrepreneurial mindset.*For the next few weeks, enjoy replays of listener favorite episodes that were previously behind a paywall. We will be back soon with newly-recorded content.