Journey with a 16-year-old teen who loves to travel as she explores the world through stories from incredible female travellers!

I'm Ifra Khan, a 16-year-old adventure enthusiast, and my podcast, 'The Backpack Diaries,' reflects my passion for exploring new places and cultures! Each episode features incredible female guests—like travel influencers and everyday adventurers—sharing their unique journeys and valuable lessons learned along the way. My listeners, fellow adventurers of all ages, are eager to discover new destinations and embrace the beauty of travel. My main audience is primarily females, as I aim to inspire them to travel and explore the world. Through inspiring stories and insightful conversations, I aim to create a space where we can all share our wanderlust and motivate each other to explore the world, one story at a time!
 

I've always found podcasts to be incredibly inspiring and motivating, and I thought starting one would be a fantastic way to share my passion for vlogging and storytelling while inspiring my classmates. My initial goal was to turn it into a successful business in the long run, but my motivation really stemmed from my enthusiasm and the business project I was doing this for (high school business). I launched 'The Backpack Diaries' in October 2023, and I was so excited to upload my first episode just days later on October 6! I reached out to some of my favourite travel influencers on Instagram, and within the first week, I received a quick response from one who was willing to be a guest—such an incredible moment for me! It took only two days to record and edit the episode, thanks to a user-friendly editing tool, so in total, it only took me about five days to release my very first episode!
 

Podcasting is definitely time-consuming! I have to coordinate with guests, wait for replies, prepare my questions, and set up suitable meeting times, which often get rescheduled due to busy schedules. Once I have everything lined up, recording and editing the episode is the most time-intensive part, and it typically takes me about five days to release a new episode—sometimes quicker if I’m well-prepared in advance. Fortunately, I don’t have a day job since I started this as a school project, and I decided to pursue it outside of school when my classes weren't too demanding. The amazing part is that I haven't spent a single penny on my podcast! Everything I've used is free and super user-friendly, and I’m always happy to share tips with others looking to start their own podcast!
 

While I haven't secured any sponsorships yet—since my podcast is still small and growing—I’m focused on sharing these inspiring stories and connecting with my audience. I haven’t started earning revenue, but I know that will take time. The benefits I’ve gained from podcasting are immense! For starters, it’s given me valuable business experience, and I gained a lot of popularity at school. I’m incredibly thankful for the support from my teachers; as soon as I published my first episode, my business teacher shared it with all the other teachers, and suddenly everyone knew about it! It felt surreal discussing my podcast with so many teachers, many of whom were eager to be interviewed. My friends and classmates jumped on board, spreading the word and following my journey, which has made this whole experience even more rewarding!
 

My podcasting process is pretty streamlined! I use the CapCut app on my laptop to record the audio, and then I import it for editing. To find guests, I usually reach out through DM on Instagram or via email—sometimes I do both to increase my chances of getting a response. Once I connect with a guest, I take some time to learn more about them and craft questions based on that information, which I plan out in Google Docs. When it comes to recording, we set up a virtual meeting, typically using Microsoft Teams or Riverside. I’ve found Riverside to be an amazing tool for podcasting since the audio quality is often much better than Teams. This whole process I've found to be very fitting for me and it allows me to create engaging and high-quality episodes that resonate with my listeners!
 

My podcast is available on multiple platforms, starting with Spotify, where I launched it using Spotify for Podcasters. I highly recommend this platform for anyone looking to start a podcast because it’s completely free and incredibly user-friendly! In addition to Spotify, my show is also on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, and iHeartRadio. Currently, about 80% of my listeners tune in through Spotify, with Apple Podcasts coming in second. To market the show, social media has been my most effective tool. I created an Instagram page dedicated to the podcast, and it's really helped me connect with viewers and grow my audience. Sharing engaging content and snippets from episodes on social media has been a great way to spread the word!
 

My biggest piece of advice for aspiring podcasters is to just start! It might seem daunting at first, but the most important step is to take action. I've learned that planning and preparation are key—spending time researching your guests and crafting thoughtful questions makes for a more engaging episode. In terms of social media marketing, creating an Instagram page was a game-changer for me! As for resources, I recommend exploring platforms like Spotify for Podcasters to get started, as well as checking out blogs and YouTube channels dedicated to podcasting tips and techniques (some YouTube channels I found helpful were Think Media, Pod Sound School, and Katie Steckly) . There’s a wealth of information out there, and connecting with other podcasters can also provide valuable insights. Most importantly, stay passionate and enjoy the journey!
 

My main podcast page is linked here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebackpackdiaries
You can follow all my travel adventures/podcast updates here: https://instagram.com/thebackpack.diaries
Here's a link to my personal/business blog: https://khanifra261.wixsite.com/thebackpackdiaries
For any questions or collab requests, you can email: khanifra261@gmail.com