1. Introduction
Blaze Your Own Trail ("we," "us," or "our") is a podcast and media brand operated by Jordan Mendoza. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit byotpod.com (the "Site"), submit a guest application, or otherwise interact with our content and services.
By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Site.
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
When you submit a guest intake application, you may provide your full name, professional title, company or organization, email address, phone number, headshot photograph, social media profile URLs, a short biography, topics you wish to discuss, and any other details you voluntarily include in the form. You will also be asked to provide an electronic signature and to agree to the Podcast Guest Release Agreement as part of the application process. We store the signature data, the method used (typed name or hand-drawn), and the timestamp of your consent.
When you contact us through the Site's contact form, you provide your name, email address, and the content of your message.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and the date and time of your visit. This information is collected through standard web server logs and analytics tools (including Umami Analytics, a privacy-focused, cookie-free analytics platform).
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Data Used |
|---|---|
| Processing and responding to guest applications | Name, contact info, bio, headshot, signature |
| Scheduling and coordinating podcast recordings | Name, email, phone |
| Producing and publishing podcast episodes | Name, title, bio, headshot, social links |
| Promoting episodes on social media and the Site | Name, title, bio, headshot, episode details |
| Responding to inquiries and contact form messages | Name, email, message content |
| Improving Site performance and user experience | Analytics data (anonymized) |
| Complying with legal obligations | Any data required by applicable law |
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
4. Guest Release and Consent
By submitting a guest application and signing the Podcast Guest Release Agreement, you grant Blaze Your Own Trail and Jordan Mendoza the right to record, produce, distribute, and promote your episode across all media formats and platforms, in perpetuity and throughout the world, as described in the Release Agreement. Your electronic signature (whether typed or hand-drawn) and the timestamp of your consent are stored as a record of this agreement.
5. How We Share Your Information
Service Providers. We work with trusted third-party vendors who help us operate the Site and deliver our services. These include hosting providers, email delivery services (Resend), podcast hosting platforms (Simplecast), and analytics tools (Umami). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on our behalf.
Podcast Distribution Platforms. Once an episode is published, your name, professional title, biography, and episode content are distributed to podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and others as part of normal podcast distribution.
Legal Requirements. We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
Business Transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.
6. Data Retention
We retain guest application data, including electronic signatures, for as long as the associated podcast episode remains published or as required by applicable law — whichever is longer. Contact form inquiries are retained for up to two years. Anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely.
If you would like your data deleted, please contact us at the address below.
7. Cookies and Tracking
The Site uses Umami Analytics, a privacy-first analytics platform that does not use cookies and does not collect personally identifiable information. No cookie consent banner is required because no tracking cookies are placed on your device.
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or other cookie-based advertising trackers.
8. Third-Party Links
The Site contains links to third-party websites, podcast platforms, social media profiles, and other external resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
9. Children's Privacy
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.
10. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or delete the data we hold about you, the right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.
11. Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
This Privacy Policy was prepared for Blaze Your Own Trail and is intended as a good-faith disclosure of data practices. It is not a substitute for legal advice. Jordan Mendoza recommends consulting a licensed attorney to ensure full compliance with applicable laws including CCPA, GDPR, and other regulations relevant to your audience.