Oneika Raymond: Translating Wanderlust into Media Success
Emmy Award-winning presenter, TV host, and travel creator Oneika Raymond (@oneikaraymond) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss her remarkable journey in the travel content space. In this episode, Onika shares highlights from her recent five-and-a-half-month round-the-world adventure with her family through 24 countries, including surprising insights about destinations like Saudi Arabia. Host Ross Borden explores Oneika's transition from international educator to full-time creator in 2016, diving into her multi-year brand partnerships, her role as producer and host of Marriott Bonvoy's "About the Journey" podcast, and her approach to authentic content creation. Oneika offers behind-the-scenes perspectives on navigating the creator economy, plus practical advice on relationship-building that has led to her enviable position of receiving 99.9% inbound work opportunities. "The people that you meet on the way up are the same people you're gonna meet on the way down," she shares as a cornerstone of her success philosophy. Whether you're an aspiring content creator or simply interested in global travel insights, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building a sustainable, multi-faceted career in the creator economy.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 Introduction to Oneika Raymond
01:31 24 countries in 5.5 months with family
02:51 Taking time off vs. working while traveling
04:28 Planning and affording a round-the-world trip
05:22 Favorite destinations: Zanzibar and Saudi Arabia
06:02 Traveling as a woman in Saudi Arabia
08:39 Going full-time as a creator in 2016
09:55 The pivot from teaching to content creation
11:09 Most lucrative revenue streams as a creator
12:58 Multi-year brand partnerships vs. one-offs
13:39 About the Journey: Marriott's travel show/podcast
14:53 Becoming a producer, not just a host
16:43 The standout New Orleans episode
17:50 Future projects and what's coming next
18:32 Building long-term brand relationships
19:32 Why being inbound-only works
20:23 The importance of being easy to work with
22:07 How relationships lead to new opportunities
23:22 Three countries to live in forever
26:22 Thailand and the White Lotus connection
27:26 Where to find Oneika online
CREATOR: The Podcast
Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers.
Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com
- No. of episodes: 24
- Latest episode: 2025-07-08
- Business Entrepreneurship Marketing
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