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We all regularly watch travel shows – on TV at home, in a caffe, a hotel lobby, in a plane or even on a phone during a Connecto transfer to your destination – but have you ever wondered who produces all that amazing content for us? What goes on behind the scenes of a well-made travel show or documentary that makes us want to pack and head there right this second?
We set out to explore exactly that, and in this edition, we are happy to introduce you to one of the major artists and travelers in this field:
Michaela Guzy, the founder of OhThePeopleYouMeet Productions, creators of the award-winning series: OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy, SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY + LIVING LIKE A LOCAL (also known as OTPYM Productions).
Michaela Guzy is an American documentary filmmaker, media executive, and founder of OTPYM. A former VP at American Express Publishing and NYU adjunct professor, she has traveled to over 120 countries and serves as a global advocate for regenerative travel, sustainable development, and human-centered storytelling.
Her travel shows and expert opinions are regularly featured on major national and international channels, such as FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, KTLA and BravoTV, and she cooperates with various local tourist boards, cruise lines, hotel companies, NGOs and other organizations in her work.
Hello and welcome, Michaela! Artists always get less recognition than their works, and we’d like to change that. Can you introduce yourself in your own words?
My name is Michaela Guzy – pronounced similarly to “fuzzy” – my most well-known show is called “OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy”. It covers travel worldwide, but recently we created several award-winning episodes featuring Croatia where Connecto is based – we have: “OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET in Croatia” and “OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET in Istria.” These episodes that have been seen on Qatar Airways in-flight, KTLA+ across Southern California, People’s Planet and Modern Luxury’s M/LUX Network (available with a VPN in Croatia) - with more distribution news coming soon! Both episodes have won awards at film festivals around the world and our Istra episode won Gold at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing International Adrian Awards in 2025.
Don’t forget to watch our 5x award-winning SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY episodes where this solo female traveler invites audiences to snuggle in with her all across Croatia, featuring: Dalmatia, Kvarner, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Istra and Zadar!
And we're going to have a really big announcement at OTPYM soon, but I can't say it just yet. So stay tuned on our Instagrams (@MichaelaGuzy + @OTPYM) for announcements!
We will follow OTPYM and update it here whenever it’s ready. In the meantime, we’re curious are your TV shows sponsored by a specific network, or do you produce them first and then sell licensing and content rights?
It’s the latter. We create our episodes based on our show formats and production standards. I feature what I find interesting, inspiriting or noteworthy – and then later I distribute it to various outlets using a non-exclusive licensing model.
With Connecto being based in Croatia, even if it operates globally, the next question is already on everyone’s mind: how was your impression of Croatia? Would you like to come back and revisit the experience?
Indeed. We first came to Croatia in 2023 to film for 25 days. All those films have been so well and widely received around the world. They've won a ton of awards and been distributed globally, and they'll be distributed for years to come.
Overall, the Croatia-based series was such a success that we even came back last October, specifically to focus on the region of Istria. We traveled during shoulder season (autumn) as its more sustainable, less crowds plus it time for all the harvests, truffle hunting and food festivals! We are in post-production for the episode. I’m hoping to do the premiere of our culinary journey through Istria hopefully late spring.
Stay tuned on that news – I will announce it on all our social media platforms – we're on Facebook (Pages: OhThePeopleYouMeet + Michaela Guzy), we're on Instagram (@MichaelaGuzy + @OTPYM) and we're on LinkedIn (MichaelaGuzy).
As you know, Croatia wasn’t such a big travel destination a decade ago like it is now. How much do you think Game of Thrones had to do with it?
Well, I mean, it's certainly helped things. It was one of the most popular TV shows out there...EVER. But in our episodes, we don't care so much about the big blockbuster Hollywood productions, since I try to focus on real local people + sustainable travel experiences.
However, what a lot of people don't realize is that the show may be a Hollywood franchise production, but they collaborated with UNESCO to feature many of their World Heritage sites throughout the series, and it brought a lot of attention and money to places that badly needed money and repairs.
I'm all about preserving these very special places. And Croatia has such a deep and rich history, and that's why I continue to return. One of our local hosts was so creative in using movie tourism to teach international travelers about the history of each site through the scene in the show. The tourism board even helped me find a Kalesi costume which we feature – watch the episode!
Speaking of which, you watched Game of Thrones – but how did you feel about the final season?
So my ex-boyfriend had me binge watch all the seasons in lead up to the final season so we could watch it together. I got totally sucked into the first few seasons because, well, it was hot and steamy and had so much great drama.
But boy did it get dark! And I'm not a fan of horror or all these white walkers or whatever they're called. I watched it all, but I didn't love the later seasons.
So while I didn’t really care for the direction it went, I do think it did wonders for the destinations that it featured, and I loved their collaboration with UNESCO because of the awareness and funding it brought. I think of this as regenerative – leaving the people, places + purposes we experience better than when we arrived.
Back to the topic of your work, you mentioned that you put a lot of focus on sustainable travel. How do you define sustainable?
Well, as a start, I follow the United Nations 17 SDG social development goals. You must keep in mind, though, sustainability is very different in Africa than it is in Croatia.
That means every destination that I cover has its own focus on what sustainable travel initiatives are most pressing there. When I had the esteemed honor to interview Dr. Jane Goodall for our episode in Sierra Leone, she described sustainability as a three-legged stool. She said, “You can protect the land, you can protect the wildlife, but if the local people do not feel the positive impact of the inbound tourism dollar, the stool will never stand on its own.”
Sustainability in one place might mean ecology and wildlife, and in another it might relate to historical sites or overcrowding, right?
Yes, but it doesn’t end there. To me, regenerative travel is the intersection of travel companies being sustainable + travelers are responsible.
When you choose to work with a company that has a sustainable mission which, for example, in Africa can mean protecting wildlife or promoting community development, you’re adding another layer of impact to your trip. As a traveler, you could choose to actively participate in an initiative – like building a school or donating to a reputable local group (ideally one sourced by a sustainable tour operator).
For example, we filmed with a woman that was protecting the UNESCO heritage craft with silkworms just outside of Hvar. She not only is preserving ancient crafts and traditions, but teaching school groups and travelers too. And it varies by destination.
In Croatia we have a big backlash against overtourism - especially rowdy, party-type tourism like stag parties that ends up with tourists bathing in public fountains. How would this relate to sustainability?
Well, that type of behavior is just tacky and will be dealt with by local authorities. I would guess with the amount of beautiful coastline Croatia has, that protecting the water is a huge focus. An example would be working with sustainable companies that engage in boating responsibly.
Additionally, you have all these ancient UNESCO sites, as well as crafts similar to the silkworms we described that need to be preserved and protected. Those are ways of being sustainable. If you find and pick those local operators and tour guides for example, sometimes sustainability simply boils down to making sure that local people are feeling the positive impact of the tourism dollar. In the tourism industry we call this “sustainable job development”.
I think that’s a huge part of sustainability – supporting local restaurants, not to mention you get a true sense of place from the experience. I’m not opposed to chains, they do good too, especially if they employ local people.
When we were in Dubrovnik, our local guide shared that a new law had just been passed – wheeled rolling bags were no longer allowed inside the city walls. I thought it was hilarious. But to be fair, if you were a local person, those bags would be annoying because they make so much noise at all hours of the night on the stone.
Balancing protection of local communities can be tough. The racket produced by suitcase wheels on Dubrovnik’s stone surfaces really is infuriating – but it’s also easy to take things too far with these measures.
That is actually the one reason that we thought it was so important that we filmed in Istria in the fall – because it was off-season.
We came in your autumn. It was more sustainable and produced a completely different impression. Basically, you're coming in a period when there's not such a strain on the system. That's very important as it relates to being sustainably minded.
You as a traveler, probably also get a slightly better deal when you travel during the offseason, but you also get to have a different set of experiences. We harvested grapes and olives, attended all kinds of food festivals – from chestnuts and prosciutto, we went truffle hunting with dogs in the Motovun Forest - things that, during the summer season simply aren't available.
For foodies - this is the BEST time to travel to Istra.
You mentioned on your website that your first big trip as OhThePeopleYouMeet was to Africa. What inspired that?
In 2012, I departed my role as the Vice President of Global Travel + Strategic Development for American Express Publishing. I left because nobody, not my company, nor our competitive set had a digital social or video solution that I believed in. And editorially, no one was speaking to why I like to travel, which is meeting new people – who give you that authentic sense of place.
I started OhThePeopleYouMeet to focus on new media + amplifying local voices. In 2012, I left for Africa on a one-way ticket. I traveled solo across seven African countries for three months. It was as if Africa ripped my heart out of my chest and served it back to me on a silver platter – my life, my work, my perspective has never been the same. That’s the beauty of travel – it opens your eyes, minds, and heart to the world around you. I know I am the best version of myself when I’m traveling – I can’t help but feel connected.
We're all aware of the typical travel influencer productions on YouTube, but TV shows are on another level. How much infrastructure does it take to produce a travel TV show fit for a big network with high production values, and what sort of entourage do you travel with?
Well, we're a crew of six typically. When we were in Croatia, we came with five and then we had a local fixer for each of the different regions that we were in. But six is the most common.
That may seem extensive at first but remember if you're talking about big blockbuster shows that are already meant to be shown on the largest networks, they would have like 30+ people. Movies have a lot more.
Our shows are a docu-series, so we're still pretty small and nimble. We all wear a lot of hats, but we still need to deliver the highest level of quality content.
In your opinion as a traveler, what do you think is one place in the world that is seriously underrated - not nearly as famous or popular as it deserves to be?
Oh, so many places! I recently went to Colombia which stole my heart, and everyone must go to Cambodia.
But if I had to pick just one place, I would say Ethiopia. I just came back from the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. We all came from there – talk about immersing yourself in local culture and UNESCO sites!
What's next for the OTPYM Productions?
Ok, so my active series at the moment are: OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy and SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY. We are about to host our season 4 premieres this spring before the episodes start hitting the global airwaves! We also have a pilot episode called LIVING LIKE A LOCAL and about to launch the first season of: Leaders in LXRY. We’ll have some BIG new global distribution news to announce soon too!
Our visual podcast Inspiration Station was amazing, and during the beginning of the pandemic, we did 125 episodes! But as the world started to reopen and we got back on the road to start filming our series, I had to put Inspiration Station on the back burner, but I’d love to bring it back in an evolved form.
How do you balance your TV segments, speaking engagements, filming your series, travel conferences with your personal life?
Yeah, I don't always feel like I have much of a personal life. In March, my company, OhThePeopleYouMeet Productions, turns 14 years old - we're in our teens! It has felt like a mission from Mars, but also extremely rewarding - my passion and my purpose have aligned.
My dad always said that work is a four letter word, and I don't want to say running my company doesn't feel like work because it's a lot of work, but I love what I do. That is a blessing and I’m so grateful that I’ve had the courage and stamina to navigate some pretty crazy proverbial landmines and to the support I’ve received along the way.
Coincidence or total alignment you tell me...the same week that we turn 14, I will also be speaking at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX on the innovation track for the creator economy. I strongly believe that education can put an end to the poverty cycle. I believe in empowering future generations which is why I taught Storytelling at NYU’s School of Professional Studies and mentor film students + creators.
Do you ever take a purely personal trip, like a girls’ trip to the spa or somewhere to just switch off and not think about filming?
Honestly, I can't not think about filming. I can’t help myself when I see something beautiful or meet someone inspiring.
I joke, but I can't really think of the last time I've had a proper holiday.
I guess it’s just a case when your passion and your purpose align.
Though every summer of my life I head to Guzwald Family Vacation at our cabin in Northern Michigan. Me and my whole family go, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. It’s not all relaxing but it’s strangely grounding to return to your roots. You can take a gal outta the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest outta a gal.
Source: Ken Bosma; used under CC Attribution 2.0 generic license
And that cabin has never been featured on TV?
No! We want to keep our getaway in the woods to ourselves. Though the lighthouse at the end of our street is very popular for sunsets. Begrudgingly, I once made an episode on Traverse City, which is the surrounding area. It screams Americana summer.
I always joke with the tourism board, “I don't actually want anyone to know about this.”
Well, do you want us to keep it out of this interview?
No, no, it’s all fine. Everyone should come visit these special fresh bodies of water. I actually think that the Great Lakes are one of our best kept secrets in the United States.
Since America doesn’t have the best impression internationally, I would love to point out that in the US we may have the same federal government, national language and currency, however what a lot of Europeans forget is that every one of our states is massive, geographically and each has its own culture to experience. We are turning 250 this year and there are so many great adventures to be had + wonderful people to meet.
In Europe it’s much easier to visit everything since distances aren’t huge.
For example, the city I grew up in, St. Louis in Missouri, is not even a top 10 DMA – yet is over three and a half million in population. We're almost the same size as the entire country of Croatia, and that's only one city in the United States.
It’s a common stereotype among Europeans that Americans don’t have passports. But I like to stand up for America by reminding everyone that getting around countries in Europe geographically is similar to crossing state lines in the United States.
I’m all for traveling, and I promote global travel. But I do try to cut Americans some slack because we have a really big, wonderfully diverse country to explore.
It’s true that most people around the world don’t really travel and don’t have passports – and often not for lack of opportunity. It’s just a bit of a mystery to them.
That's one thing that I try to do – I try to demystify.
My goal is to inspire people to get out there because I think it’s worth it. And I just know how much I love traveling myself.
I feel like if more people had the opportunity or weren't scared to do so or whatever's holding them back from doing it, I think the world would be a better place. Basically, it's hard to be a jerk to someone if you're looking them in the eye.
Most people are really good people. And when they realize, you're not so different - you and me, that we're all just looking to be loved, have a community and be inspired – then things change for the better.
That realization that we're all looking for similar things out there is important. So when you can break down that wall, which I think travel just inherently does, I think the world becomes a little bit smaller, ya know?
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We would like to once again express our heartfelt thanks to Michaela Guzy for sharing these insights with our readers, and we wish her and all the OhThePeopleYouMeet viewers all the best, with many more inspiring travels!
