Episode 55: The Imperfections

Everything about Google Maps and the Local Guides program is absolutely flawless. It’s all absolutely perfect. Or is it? Well, in reality, like in every aspect of life there are some imperfections of course. I have been wanting to make a podcast episode about that for a while, but always found it hard to rant about my favorite hobby. So I decided to outsource that task to AI.

And I’m pretty sure the result will baffle you at times (as it did me).

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TRANSCRIPT

Spotify automatically creates (using AI) transcripts of each episode – I am adding that here, but without having checked in full detail. The content might therefore not be 100% accurate.

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Episode 54: Perks

The Google Local Guides program is based on users of Google Maps making voluntary contributions to the map. No money is paid whatsoever for the (sometimes quite elaborate) work local guides are performing. From time to time, however, there are some small non-monetary rewards, commonly known as perks. And those are the topic of this episode.

Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode, as I will share some tips on how you might also become eligible for some of the most valuable perks.

SHOWNOTES

TRANSCRIPT

Spotify automatically creates (using AI) transcripts of each episode – I am adding that here, but without having checked in full detail. The content might therefore not be 100% accurate.

Continue reading “Episode 54: Perks” →

Episode 53: News & Updates

It’s been almost a year and a half since the previous News & Updates episode, so you can imagine that there is quite a bit to report on. There are new features in Google Maps in general, but I’ve also spotted a number of changes that are first and foremost meaningful to local guides, especially those who regularly make edits.

Make sure to stay tuned until the end, as I also have some nice stories showcasing the impact Google Maps can have these days in our everyday lives.

SHOWNOTES

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Episode 52: 10 Years Local Guides

The year 2025 not only saw Google Maps turn 20, but also the local guides program has a special birthday to celebrate, as it by now has existed for 10 years already.

Within the local guides community and on LocalGuidesConnect, the official forum, a lot has been organized for this occasion – and I would also like to contribute by making a podcast episode for this 10th anniversary of the local guides program, containing contributions from local guides worldwide.

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Episode 51: Connect LIVE is back!

If you’ve never heard of Connect LIVE, you might wonder why a podcast episode about the return of Connect LIVE is needed at all. If you know what it is, on the other hand you’ll probably be extremely excited about the fact that Google decided to bring it back.

Just keep listening to find out the details.

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Episode 50: Level 10 in a month

One of the most popular episodes of the LetsGuide Podcast is episode 10, titled “Level 5 in a Day”, where I explain how it is possible – in a completely legitimate way – to score 500 points (the amount needed for level 5) in a single day.

Reaching level 10, however, requires 100.000 points, so you would have to spend almost 7 months (200 days scoring 500 points every single day) to reach that goal. In today’s episode I am revealing some advanced techniques that will enable you – once more: in a completely legitimate way – to get the prestigious level 10 badge within 1 single month.

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Episode 49: News & Updates

In the past few months quite a bit of exciting new things have popped up, both on Google Maps and in the local guides program. So what else could I do but put together a brand new “News & Updates” episode? And as a bonus we have some exciting details about the upcoming EuroMeetup 2024 in Manchester.

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Episode 48: 5 Years LetsGuide Podcast

In February 2019, the first episode of the LetsGuide Podcast was released. That is now 5 years ago, and to celebrate this milestone, I decided to make a special episode – one where the content is created by you, the listeners.

So, a while ago I reached out to the audience in several ways asking to submit audio clips with answers to 4 questions. And this is where you now get to hear the result, with contributions from local guides, Connect moderators, Google moderators and even members of the Google Maps team..

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Episode 47: News & Updates

Okay, not only is the Google Maps team continuously releasing new features, I’m now also receiving an increasing amount of messages from fellow local guides and podcast listeners about novelties they have noticed. So, it is high time for another news & updates episode. Do stick around until the end, as I’m also covering a few news items that I have not shared anywhere yet.

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Episode 46: Water Taps on Maps

Sometimes you come across special projects using Google Maps as their main tool. Perhaps you might recall episode 12 about EdPins, a project focusing on schools. In this episode we look at a project that aims to add water taps, places where you can refill your water bottle, to Google Maps.

And you will also find out how local guides can help in getting this ambitious project realized.

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