Episode 57: Your favorite Connect Post

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Local Guides Connect is the official forum that Google provides for local guides. It’s a place where we can all exchange our experiences, celebrate our achievements, ask Maps-related questions, and even utter our frustrations about seemingly unfair treatment of our contributions. On July 15th, Connect celebrated its 10th anniversary, and to honor this occasion, I asked all of you to let me know what your favorite Connect post was from those 10 years by submitting short audio clips.

SHOWNOTES

 

TRANSCRIPT

Spotify automatically creates (with 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.

0:06

Hello and welcome to yet another episode of the Let’s Guide Podcast, the ultimate podcast for Google Local Guides.

Local Guides Connects, or Connect as it’s commonly referred to, is the official forum that Google provides for Local Guides.

0:24

It’s a place where we Local Guides can all exchange our experiences, celebrate our achievements, ask maps related questions and even utter our frustrations about seemingly unfair treatment of our contributions, which happens on July the 15th of this year.

0:44

Connect celebrated it’s 10th anniversary and to honour that occasion I asked all of you to let me know what your favourite Connect post was from those 10 years.

You could do so by submitting short audio clips before exploring those clips submitted by local guides from around the globe.

1:04

I want to point out, of course, that I’m not an official representative of Google, just a local guide myself.

Everything you hear, except for the clips submitted of course, are my personal interpretation of things.

This episode, which is number 57, is recorded at the beginning of August 2026 and is describing the situation as it is today.

1:28

Should you be listening at the later date, things might obviously have changed.

Let’s get started.

Actually, the idea for this episode was suggested by a fellow local guide and loyal listener of the podcast Just Jake from Arizona.

1:47

He suggested go and have a look at Connect and pick your favourite post.

And although that sounds pretty easy, it really is quite difficult, mainly for two reasons.

The 1st is that there are of course a lot of very good posts, and picking just one is hard, as several of the people who in the end did submit clips have mentioned.

2:10

The second reason is that it’s not easy to find things back on the platform unless you have bookmarked those posts before.

That is of course largely due due to the concept of a forum as such, where posts quickly get buried into quasi oblivion by the constant flow of new posts.

2:30

It’s impossible to know how many posts exactly there are on Connect after 10 years of activity, but it must be 10s of thousands at least.

That sheer number obviously makes it hard to pick just one favourite, but in the end some fellow local guides did submit audio clips.

2:48

Perhaps fewer than I originally expected, but understandable because of the reasons I just summed up.

So let’s check out what was submitted.

I’ve grouped the submissions according to the type of posts that was selected and the first few were selected because they contain a wonderful personal story like this one selected by Sonam 1DA Level 8 Local Guide from India whose handle is at Sonam W on Connect.

3:21

And she selected a post from Katarina Sibikova, a level 8 local guys from Slovakia currently living in Belgium.

Let’s check out Sonam’s contribution.

Thank you, Jan Van Heever.

For this opportunity, my favourite recent post is.

3:38

LG Katarina Sibikova’s titled.

My journey as a new local guide.

GAAD, 2000. 26 Inclusivity and the power.

Of community what touched.

Me most.

Was how personal?

Experiences became a mission for change.

Hearing about her sister struggles as a wheelchair user reminded me how everyday barriers can exclude.

3:58

People from simple moments.

Her message showed that accessibility.

Is not about infrastructure.

It is about dignity, inclusion and equal access for everyone.

A special shout out to Just Jake for this wonderful idea of sharing reflections through audio clips.

4:16

Thank you, a great post indeed, and accessibility has always been and will no doubt remain a major topic on Connect.

Another touching personal story was selected by Maria Eugenia Gallardo, a Level 9 local guide from Argentina on Connect.

4:36

She’s can be found under the handle at UG Gallardo.

She submitted her clip in Spanish to remove at least the language hurdle.

I had indicated in my post calling for clips that everyone could use their own language, so I have then used some AI tools to transcribe, then translate and create a new audio clip in English.

5:01

What I also did is add an accent hopefully fitting to the submitter’s language.

By the way, if you’ve never ever tried the Tool 11 Labs, which is the AI tool I used for this text to voice, you definitely need to check that out.

5:19

Maria Eugenia chose a post from Markov, a level 10 local guide from Argentina.

I will play both clips now, the Spanish and the English 1 back-to-back.

La estoria que mar me O tenestos Y sanos fuestueno comor Vera oxa pampa la estoria El bouquet de Marco pita mendra que lo leya centia que viaja com Marcos esta tambien E credo que tasse centir que de traportas ESO paisa que no conoces Bello colores centre Los aromas E sobreto tesua centir com la legria que de Marco esta re mucha VE SER recorded en estos Enos ETA naracion E perano de SE UN de parte.

6:07

The story I like best over the past 10 years was I dream of returning to Oxa Pampa Marco Pita’s story about the bouquet.

As I read it, I felt like I was travelling with Marcos.

6:23

It’s so well written that it makes you feel transported to those landscapes you’ve never seen, see the colours, smell the sense and above all, it helps you feel the joy Marcos feels at being there.

6:38

I’ve thought back on this story many times over the years, eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I hope there will be more stories like this one.

Muchos Gracias Maria Eugenia and of course Muchos Gracias Marco.

6:56

Another category of Connect posts that popped up a couple of times are posts where a local guide is sharing his or her experience or knowledge to give guidance to other local guides or describe best practises.

The first clip submitted in that category is 1 is Well.

7:16

The submission is by Terry PG level 10 local guide from Ajax ON in Canada.

Terry selected a post from Morton, Copenhagen, the level 10 local guide from Denmark.

Well, it was clear from the start that at least one person would be mentioning a post from the Inevitable Morton.

7:37

Terry selected a post from May 2020 where Morton gives a detailed step by step description on how to discover if any of your reviews and pictures are not publicly visible.

Jan It’s very difficult just to pick one post, but there was 1 early post when I first joined Connect that always stuck in my mind and always kept me on the right path.

8:06

And since that that day I’ve always followed it and I’ve been able to clean up all my own contributions.

Back in May 2020, Morton Copenhagen posted How good of a local Google Guide are you?

8:24

And I’ve always followed the rules in that wonderful post.

Terry PG is actually not only one of the local guides submitting a clip, but also one of them who is named as author of a favourite post.

8:40

To find out which, we move to the contribution submitted by Explorerholic Aza Level 10 local guide from the USA.

You can find her under the Handle AZ Underscore 2021 on Connect.

Let’s discover which post she selected from Terry PG.

9:02

My name is Explorer Holic AZ and my favourite article is the 90° Photo by Terry PGI.

Really love how he explained the how of getting both the front and side of a place and the signs and his examples are great too for visual learners and helped make it Click to me like aha.

9:24

The 90° helps visitors find the place no matter which direction they approach it from and even see things like this accessibility around the area.

I ended up using that photo tip, so thank you, Terry.

Quite a few of the selected favourite posts also have interesting discussions in the comments on Connect, so make sure to check them out.

9:48

I’ll include links in the show notes to all of the selected posts.

Marco Doverly, then a level 10 local guides from Italy, mainly active on the Isle of Sardinia, also mentions A guidance post as his favourite, once again won by Morton Copenhagen.

10:09

It’s the series on storefront photography.

And in the show notes I’ll link to the index of that series of non less than 19 posts from October 2022.

Let’s hear Marco.

Hello dear local guys, this is Marcus speaking from Sardinia in Italy.

10:29

There are many posts and comment that I really appreciate and often revisit because they help me to grow and become a better contributor.

However, if I have to choose just one, my favourite is Storefront Photography by Morton Copenhagen.

10:45

What makes this post special is that you can truly feel more than special for sharing knowledge and helping others to improve their skill.

Although it focuses on something really simple, taking a great storefront photo, it goes far behind a technical guide.

11:03

For me, it perfectly represents the spirit of the local guides community, learning, sharing and helping each other to contribute to matter better content.

It is inspiring example of what the motivated local guides can achieve and pass to the other.

11:20

Thanks a lot and take care.

Bye Mark.

Another topic that returns regularly on Connect is sustainability, so it also makes perfect sense for that topic to pop up here as well.

We find it in a clip submitted by Nirav Prajapati at MP45 from India and he selected a post from Ketan Chaniyara, a Level 8 local guides from India.

11:48

The post is from January 2026.

Hello, I’m NP from India.

My favourite connect post is Bag the Change by Ketan Chaniyara.

What I love most is that it turns sustainability into a simple action anyone can take.

12:10

The challenge encourages local guides to support business using eco friendly bags and highlight them on Google Maps.

That’s why Bag the Change is my favourite connect post and a great example of community driven change.

Thanks NP45 for pointing out this post and the music you added to it actually make it sounds a bit like an ad for that particular post, which is nice, of course, in this context.

12:37

Moving on then to the other side of the globe, we were in India.

We’re heading to Mexico now with the topic of, let’s call it city highlights, something we also encounter from time to time on Connect.

The clip was submitted by Ariadne, a Level 7 local guide from Mexico, who can be found on Connect under the handle Ariadneca.

13:00

She selected a post from Mexican Connect moderator Ricardo you can find on Connect under the handle Light Ridge.

Let’s listen to her contribution.

Hello everyone, I want to share why my absolute favourite post on Connect These letters in Golden Palaces Postal Palace by our moderator Rich at Light Ridge.

13:25

Living here in Mexico City, I have walked past this majestic building countless times.

Yet written Rich’s post made me stop, look up, and truly rediscover it.

He doesn’t just showcase historical facade, he pays special attention to the monumental staircases and shares images that capture how architectural design can command space.

13:49

More than a review, his words on look a deeper perspective on human connection before the digital area.

For me, as a local guide, it opened a nostalgic door to my own childhood.

Back in elementary school, this palace was my first introduction to a real live game.

14:06

We used to collect savings stamps on little Cardboard charts, and once they were full, we will exchange them right here or at the bank.

It felt exactly like trying to complete a Panini football album.

Back then, Violeteli wasn’t just a hobby, it was a beautiful, tangible system of microinvestment, patience, and emotional savings.

14:29

I also remember writing to my UNESCO pen pal in Nepal, coming here with my dad, and watching the clearest weighed my envelopes on those mysterious scales.

I will later use Steam to carefully detach the stamps of the envelope I received and save them in a little box like a real treasure.

14:48

This is what I invite all of you to go and read Rich’s post.

He beautiful captures have a 119 year old place connect our past with our present.

In fact, after reading it, Rich kindly invite me to a global post crossing group.

15:06

It made me realise that the vintage magic of sending a handwritten piece of fact across the world is still very much alive, connecting people globally just like Google Maps does today.

If you are planning to visit Mexico City, please do yourself a favour, go read Rich’s post, use it as your guide and visit the Postal Palace.

15:29

Thank you Rich for writing a piece that doesn’t just review a place, but connects our collective emotions across generations.

Thank you so much and I love the postcard idea.

Wonderful story Arianae, and checking out Ricardo’s posts, I completely understand your choice.

15:48

One of the absolute strengths of Connect is that it helps create a sense of community and that is reflected in the selection made by Shalendra, a level 10 local guides from India who you can find on Connect.

As Shy Leno, he selected a post from another Level 10 local guide from India, Rahul.

16:09

His handle is Rahul 001.

This CLI was also submitted in the local language.

So I used some AI tools again and you can hear now those two clips 1 after the other.

Hello, Jennifer, Sir.

16:27

Good morning from India Ghaziabad meh Shailendra aapke poda cast my favourite connect post Kelly abhi hali Mein Ek post aithi Rahul Ki global love day Ki us post just tarique say community conversation Co highlight kiya satmuj kabile tari or us post me Jo matlab meri city chronicle local guide vice Kojo highlight kiya usna mujhe baat appreciate kiya or mujhe Ek motivation or inspiration milaki Mein or acha kar saktam Local guides Co inspire kar saktam motivate kar saktam is post Mein satmur mera dil Ji kya Jo hamesha mere saath rehi yeh post Ki appreciative post parla sabse badiya post ultimately yehi.

17:16

Hello Jaan Sir, good morning from India Ghaziabad.

I am Shailendra for your podcast episode.

My favourite connect post.

Recently, a post of Rahul came on Global Love Day.

The way he highlighted the community conversation in that post is really praiseworthy.

17:34

And the way that post highlighted my City Chronicle local guide voice, I really appreciated it and I got motivation and inspiration that I can do even better.

I can inspire and motivate the local guides.

This post really won my heart which will always remain with me.

17:52

This is an appreciative post.

I mean, this is the best post.

Ultimately, everyone who has visited Connect from time to time will have noticed that local guides also use the forum to share stunning pictures.

Oliver Kiwi, Level 10 Local Guide from New Zealand, decided to go for one of those posts where some of these amazing pictures are collected.

18:15

It’s a post written by Claudia GA, former Google moderator.

I.

Had a few favourite posts but this.

Post.

This is from Claudia G Stunning sunrise and sunset photos by Local guides on Google Maps and Connect Always.

18:33

Close my eyes.

And it’s.

Just a constant.

Reminder of how beautiful this planet is and.

We should do.

Something to keep it that way.

Thank you.

Sunsets and sunrises can indeed be stunning.

18:50

I have some nice ones in my personal collection as well.

Perhaps I should add one of them to the post that Oliver selected.

Another category that we frequently see on Connect are posts celebrating achievements either from individual local guides or achievements of a specific campaign, such as the Track campaign, which is all about adding roads.

19:16

Roman who will introduce himself in the clip right away, has selected a post from Shola Connect moderator and Level 10 local guide from Nigeria who is actually the founder of Track where T still stands for 1000 rights.

19:33

Well, that’s outdated since a long time.

But on the other hand, MREC with million doesn’t really sound proper.

Hello, greetings to all let’s guide postcard listeners.

This is Roman, a level 9 local guide from Lisbon, Portugal and I am originally from Bangladesh.

20:00

Responding to the question about my favourite post on Connect, I found that on May 1st 2026, Connect to moderator.

Shola posted.

That the track 26 campaign is 100,000 approved roads on Google Maps.

20:19

This matching achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of every participating local guide.

Reaching this milestone will undoubtably help Google Maps users navigate to their destinations more easily and accordedly, thank you to all the listeners.

20:43

And all of those achievements are tracked, of course, in the well known leaderboards created and maintained by Connect moderator Adam GT from Australia.

A post related to those leaderboards was selected by Just Jake, Level 10 Local Guide from Arizona.

21:00

And as I mentioned, he was actually the one that came up with a suggestion for this episode.

So he was given the privilege to select two posts.

The second one he selected is one in the guidance category, a post by all time Local Guides hero Hermes T from Treviso, Italy.

21:22

Hey there, this is just Jake, Local guide level 10 from Arizona in the United States.

Thank you Jan for another opportunity to participate in your programme and thank you for the distinct honour of allowing me to choose two favourite posts.

My first favourite was called Correct Rd Shapes in Google Maps.

21:41

Follow the blue line by Hermes T from March of 2022.

This is the post that got me interested and obsessed in editing and adding roads, something I have done now over 25,000 times.

My second favourite post was the Top 100 Star Photo Leaderboards of May 2022 by Adam GT.

22:05

This was my first exposure to the leaderboards and my first introduction to the wild group of stat nerds that follow and track each photo edit video that they make to ensure that their contributions to the map are useful and meaningful.

22:22

I appreciate Adam and I appreciate Hermes and we appreciate you Yon.

Thank you.

The last type of connect posts we’re going to mention here are meet up recaps.

My personal experience is that meetups, especially the in person ones, are definitely the number one way to build the community and often create friendships for life.

22:46

You simply have to have experienced such a gathering of like minded people to understand what I mean.

So by all means check out Connect to find out if there’s any meet up in your area and make sure to join it.

If there’s none close to you, you can always host one yourself.

23:05

It’s really not as hard as it sounds and there are loads of tips to do so on Connect.

Or you could always join a virtual meet up to experience the vibe already.

The meet up meet up recap post was selected by Feliciana Connect moderator from Indonesia.

23:24

You can find her on Connect under the handle at Velvel and she selected a post from another Indonesian level 7 local guide who is called Andika.

Proposed from an Indonesia local guide called Anika with the title Recap in person, Indonesia, May 27, Exploration Walk Ubuntu.

23:47

This post is a part of the challenge of the June Tempe Marathon that is created by me and Doc tells so in this post.

I could see and feel the warmness from their togetherness in exploring the nature through the tea garden as well as the good foods that they had together, including the Tempe Komul that I haven’t tried it yet but it looks so interesting and appetising.

24:15

Before finishing up, there’s still one more thing to do and that is of course reveal what my favourite post is from 10 years of Connect.

It has to do this.

The post I selected has to do both with meet ups and community because it’s the recap post for Community Life by Adrian Lunsung, a level 10 by now I guess.

24:38

Local Guides and all time hero from UK and Malaysia during the COVID lockdowns end of 2020.

Adrian set up this marvellous virtual event with the help of a lot of other Connect moderators.

24:55

But the event is really the ultimate proof of how resilient, vibrant and Absolutely Fabulous the Local Guides community is.

The post I selected includes links to the sessions held during the events, which are still available on Adrian’s YouTube platform that’s called Go Local Guides.

25:17

As I mentioned, I will link to all of the selected posts in the show notes and I want to thank once again all the contributors for submitting the clips and I want to apologise if I butchered some of your names in the process.

25:34

Should you have any other questions, comments or remarks about anything related to Google Maps or the Local Guides programme, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

You can send an e-mail to letsguidepodcast@gmail.com.

Find me on Connect as moderator Jan von Haverham.

25:53

The show notes, as always, can be found on the website of the podcast, which is simply let’s guidepodcast.com.

Thank you very much again once again for listening and hope to find you on the other side for the next episode,

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