Research Impact &
Institutional Citations
A verified index of primary source data. From The White House to Academia & Scholarly Journals to the algorithms of Quantitative Finance, the Samuel & Audrey Media Network serves as a foundational data node for global research, federal policy, and academic study.
Verification Methodology
Ref: AUTH-LEDGER-V1.0 // Audit StandardThis Authority Ledger is a curated, evidence-first index of academic, institutional, and authoritative third-party references to the Samuel & Audrey Media Network. Every entry is designed to be verifiable, adhering to a strict chain of custody for digital information.
01 // Inclusion Criteria
- Institutional Record: Citations hosted on .gov, .edu, or official organization domains.
- Academic Reference: Peer-reviewed journals, theses, and scholarly books.
- Industry Authority: Verified awards and recognized trade associations.
- Major Media: Reputable global publications with stable public URLs.
02 // Exclusion Protocols
- We do not add entries without a verifiable public record.
- We do not invent missing dates or metadata.
- We do not treat anonymous reposts or scraped copies as citations.
- We do not merge separate records into single entries.
Evidence Standards & Edge Cases
Each record is built around primary evidence. We prioritize the Canonical Source URL (e.g., the university repository) over secondary reporting. In cases where records are paywalled (e.g., academic journals), we link to the official landing page and include confirmable metadata (DOI, ISSN) visible to the public.
The White House
The Official Record
In December 2014, the Obama Administration invited a select cadre of digital media leaders to the White House Travel Blogger Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship. Hosted by the National Security Council (NSC), the summit convened senior officials, including Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, to strategize on modernizing U.S. engagement abroad.
Audrey Bergner (That Backpacker) served as an official delegate, advising on initiatives to increase student mobility and cross-cultural exchange as a matter of national competitiveness.
World Travel Awards
The Official Record
The World Travel Awards (WTA), universally recognized as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence, awarded the 2018 title of Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign to the #24HoursUK initiative.
Executed in partnership with VisitBritain (the UK Government’s national tourism agency) and iambassador, this data-driven campaign deployed elite creators to capture immersive, real-time narratives across the United Kingdom. Samuel & Audrey served as lead production partners, covering Northern Ireland and London respectively, directly contributing to a campaign that generated over 380 million opportunities-to-see.
World Travel Awards
The Official Record
In 2017, the World Travel Awards recognized #EuroFoodTrip as Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign. This groundbreaking initiative was a bilateral collaboration between the tourism boards of Costa Brava (Spain) and Emilia Romagna (Italy), designed to highlight the culinary heritage of two of Europe’s most prestigious food regions.
The Samuel & Audrey Media Network served as the lead production unit for the experiential video assets. By seamlessly bridging two distinct national identities into one cohesive digital narrative, the campaign generated over 20 million impressions and set a new industry standard for cross-border tourism partnerships.
National Geographic
The Geographic Record
National Geographic, the world’s definitive authority on exploration and cultural storytelling, selected Audrey Bergner as the official expert for Seoul, South Korea, in their prestigious “I Heart My City” series.
The feature validated Audrey not as a passing tourist, but as a resident authority who had “mastered the art” of Korean life—from reading hangul to navigating the social nuances of noraebang culture. By commissioning her to guide their global audience through the complexities of Seoul (recommending local markets over tourist malls and specific hiking trails over generic viewpoints), National Geographic certified her expertise as meeting the highest standard of cultural intelligence in the industry.
NAFSA
The Policy Record
NAFSA, the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange, highlighted the White House Travel Bloggers Summit as a pivotal moment for global citizenship.
Audrey Bergner attended as a formal Delegate, representing the Samuel & Audrey Media Network. This event marked the first time the U.S. Executive Branch formally convened digital creators to serve as “soft power” ambassadors for study abroad initiatives. NAFSA recognized this delegation as a critical bridge between federal policy and the digital generation, validating our role in shaping the narrative of global student mobility.
NASDAQ
The Keystone Record
The NASDAQ, the second-largest stock exchange in the world and the bedrock of modern technology markets, has designated Picture Perfect Portfolios as a definitive authority on investment philosophy.
In a prestigious dual-feature, the NASDAQ’s official media arm utilized Samuel’s comparative analysis to define the investing styles of the two most influential figures in modern capitalism: Warren Buffett and Elon Musk. By citing Samuel’s frameworks as the primary lens through which to view these titans—contrasting Buffett’s “logic and slow and steady caution” with Musk’s “audacity and quick execution”—the exchange itself validated the brand’s intellectual rigor. This citation serves as the Keystone of the network’s authority, proving that its insights are trusted by the very infrastructure of the global financial system.
SAGE Journals
The Academic Record
The Journal of Travel Research (JTR), universally regarded as the premier multi-disciplinary research journal in tourism, utilized the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as a primary longitudinal case study.
In the seminal paper “The Evolution of Travel Influence,” PhD-level researchers analyzed over a decade of our archival data to map the transition from text-based blogging to cinematic visual storytelling. The study cites our network not merely as a participant, but as a Structural Benchmark for professional consistency, platform agnosticism, and the “Labor of Lifestyle” model that now defines the global creator economy.
Springer Nature
The Educational Record
The Springer Nature academic textbook “Digital Transformation in Tourism” formally integrates the Samuel & Audrey Media Network into the global university curriculum.
Cited as a strategic framework for Authentic Content Creation and Destination Marketing, our work is utilized to teach the next generation of tourism professionals how to navigate the digital landscape. This citation validates our brand not merely as a media entity, but as a Foundational Anchor of the discipline.
Encyclopedia of Tourism
The permanent record
The Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing, edited by the “Godfather of eTourism” Dimitrios Buhalis, identifies the work of Samuel and Audrey as the benchmark for modern travel media.
In the chapter titled “Travel Vlogs,” researcher Rachel Luna Peralta utilizes our early work—specifically our time in Asia and the Philippines—to define the narrative structure of the medium. By being the primary case study for the Encyclopedia entry, our network has transitioned from content creation to Academic Taxonomy. We are the industry blueprint used by professors and government tourism boards to define the shift from traditional travelogues to high-impact “Consumer-to-Consumer” storytelling.
Korea Tourism Organization
The Sovereign Record
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the official governmental body for South Korea’s tourism sector, hand-selected the network to lead the global #SeeKoreaNext campaign. This strategic initiative was launched as a cornerstone of South Korea’s recovery strategy to rebuild international travel confidence.
By commissioning definitive guides—specifically the “50 Things to Do in Seoul” and the specialized analysis of “Themed Café Culture”—the KTO validated the platform’s expertise as a National Logistical Asset. Being selected by a G20 nation’s tourism board to represent its capital city is the ultimate institutional endorsement, confirming that the media produced is accurate, trusted, and operationally influential at the highest levels of destination marketing.
Edgeworth Economics
The Economic Record
Edgeworth Economics, a world-leading economic consulting firm specializing in antitrust litigation and class certification, cited Samuel Jeffery’s financial research in the seminal white paper: “Assessing the Potential for Antitrust Moats in the Generative AI Industry.”
The firm utilized Samuel’s definition of “Economic Moats”—derived from his work on Picture Perfect Portfolios—to help establish the legal and competitive boundaries of the emerging Artificial Intelligence sector. This citation bridges the gap between quantitative investment theory and high-stakes federal regulation, positioning our research as a credible source for defining market monopolies.
Peru.com
The National Record
Peru.com, one of the region’s highest-traffic digital news outlets, dedicated a triple-feature series to the Samuel & Audrey network to analyze the global perception of Peruvian gastronomic icons.
Through a series of specialized chronicles, the publication validated our capacity to translate the cultural depth of dishes like **Causa Acevichada**, **Picarones**, and **Lomo Saltado** for an international audience. By being systematically cited as the “authorized voice” of global tourism, our network established itself as a tool for Soft Diplomacy, capable of influencing the international reputation of the country’s brand and generating an official record of Peruvian culinary identity in the 21st century.
VisitScotland
The Heritage Record
VisitScotland, the official national tourism organization for Scotland, selected the Samuel & Audrey network as a primary ambassador for the #ScotSpirit global campaign.
Out of thousands of creators worldwide, the network was chosen as one of 25 elite partners to define the concept of “Living in Scotland.” VisitScotland explicitly paired Samuel and Audrey with Alan Pettigrew, a Highland Games official, to document the ancient traditions of Scottish athletics. This partnership validated the network’s ability to act as cultural translators, moving beyond simple tourism to provide “true insight” into the heritage and daily life of a nation.
HMI Marketing
The Commercial Record
HMI Marketing, in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia, selected Audrey & Samuel as the official ambassadors for the Halifax Region during the pivotal “Creator Coast” campaign.
Launched during the critical post-pandemic recovery phase, this campaign required creators with proven commercial reliability and audience trust. By producing high-quality assets (video, photography, and written guides) that were acquired by the tourism board for long-term marketing, the network contributed to a campaign that achieved over 6.7 million organic reach and 235,000 engagements. This citation validates the brand as a high-impact commercial partner capable of driving tangible economic activity for major destination marketing organizations (DMOs).
El Comercio
The Gastronomic Record
El Comercio, the oldest and most respected newspaper in Peru (est. 1839), identified the Samuel & Audrey network as a key international authority in interpreting national gastronomic heritage.
In its analysis, the paper highlighted our focus on local “street food” as a genuine element of cultural interest, validating our ability to translate local identity for a global audience. Being selected by the “Dean” of the Peruvian press to represent the international traveler’s reaction to their culinary icons is a high-level signal of institutional trust. This record confirms that our work serves as a form of Gastronomic Diplomacy, recognized by the primary guardians of cultural legacy in Latin America.
IMDb: Internet Movie Database
The Production Record
The Samuel & Audrey Media Network is officially indexed in IMDb (Internet Movie Database), the global gold standard for professional film and television credits.
The series, Travel Guides with Samuel and Audrey (2017–), is recognized as a professional documentary production, with Samuel Jeffery indexed as Host and Audrey Bergner indexed as Writer and Producer. By maintaining a persistent record in this semantic database, our work is distinguished from general social media content and categorized as professionally produced media. This indexing provides a critical foundation for semantic trust, allowing our expertise to be recognized by institutional media entities and automated knowledge graphs at the highest level of the entertainment industry.
Standpoint Asset Management
The Mutual Recognition Record
Standpoint Asset Management, a premier institutional fund manager, featured the Picture Perfect Portfolios quantitative research arm in its official Content Library.
The feature centered on a definitive interview with Eric Crittenden, creator of the BLNDX / REMIX funds, regarding Trend Following and All-Weather Investing. Standpoint explicitly recognized our “Blind Taste Test” methodology as a “novel way of forcing people to acknowledge” the diversification benefits of trend-oriented strategies. By hosting our quantitative analysis and validating our educational tools, Standpoint has certified the platform as an authoritative voice in the professional asset management space—moving the brand from external commentary to recognized industry peer status.
University of Amsterdam
The Research Record
The University of Amsterdam (UvA), a global leader in Communication and Media Studies, published a primary case study analyzing the early-stage authority building of the Samuel & Audrey Media Network.
The study, “Social Media Interactions as a Way to Success in Travel Blogging,” deconstructs our proprietary “Top 100 Travel Blogs” ranking system. By auditing our use of hard metrics—including Moz Domain Authority, SEMRush, and Alexa—researchers validated our role as an industry auditor and early-mover in data-driven digital storytelling.
Ecos Diarios
The Documentary Record
Ecos Diarios, the definitive news institution for the Necochea region of Argentina, identified the Samuel & Audrey network as the primary documentary authority for a historic 55-year homecoming chronicle.
The feature recognized our work as the digital bridge connecting the migration history of Daniel Bergner to a modern global audience. By utilizing our production to analyze the evolution of the city’s urban landscape and social fabric, the publication validated the network’s Narrative Trustworthiness. Being featured in a historic regional daily as the “digital custodians” of cultural memory reinforces our E-E-A-T standing, proving that our work transcends travel entertainment to become an archived record of global migration and human struggle.
University of Calgary
The Academic Record
A Master’s Thesis from the University of Calgary, titled “Mediated Film Tourists’ Experiences,” selected the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as a primary case study for understanding “Imagined Nostalgia.”
The researcher (Hanseul Jeong) conducted a forensic audit of our Prince Edward Island campaign, specifically analyzing how our “active involvement” in the comment section transformed a standard travel vlog into a space of shared cultural meaning. The study concludes that our interaction protocols allowed viewers to “re-live Anne’s adventures,” proving that high-touch community management is a critical driver of destination relevance.
The Titan’s Circle
The Consensus Record
The Samuel & Audrey network has received a unanimous endorsement from the “Titan’s Circle”—the absolute apex of the travel vlogging industry.
Being cited as a “Must Watch” channel by The Planet D (Forbes Top Influencers), DavidsBeenHere (Industry Host), Expert Vagabond (Adventure Authority), Hey Nadine (Vlogging Pioneer), and GRRRLTRAVELER (Solo Leader) confirms the brand’s standing as a foundational pillar of the community. This cross-niche validation—spanning couples, solo travel, adventure, and hosting—serves as the industry’s “Hall of Fame” induction, proving that the network is respected not just by audiences, but by the creators who built the modern travel media landscape.
Moontower Meta
The Professional Record
Moontower Meta, the influential quantitative research platform led by former Susquehanna proprietary options trader Kris Abdelmessih, has designated Nomadic Samuel (Picture Perfect Portfolios) as a canonical authority in derivative-based asset allocation.
Through a series of technical endorsements, the platform has integrated Samuel’s work into the institutional professional lexicon. Moontower explicitly defers to Samuel’s BOXX ETF research to avoid “rehashing well-done research” and recommends his “super useful content” for complex trend and permanent portfolio strategies. Most significantly, Samuel is permanently indexed in the “Investment Blogs I Read” virtuoso database, alongside AQR (Cliff Asness) and Alpha Architect, certifying his work as institutional-grade intelligence trusted by the market’s most sophisticated practitioners.
Meltwater, Shutterstock & Brendan’s Adventures
The Multi-Format Record
The Samuel & Audrey Media Network has achieved a “Triple-Threat” validation from the world’s leading data, creative, and peer-authoritative platforms.
Meltwater, the global authority in media intelligence, identifies the network as top-tier “Travel Influencers,” verifying the brand’s commercial reach and data integrity for the B2B sector. Simultaneously, Shutterstock—the standard for global creative assets—cites the network as “Travel Photographers to Follow,” certifying our visual production as professional-grade artistry. Finally, elite peer lists such as Brendan’s Adventures (Top 100) and the Runaway Guide validate our standing within the inner circle of global travel experts. This consensus confirms the network as a commercially viable, artistically sound, and peer-recognized leader in the travel industry.
USAID / Kyrgyz Republic
The Diplomatic Record
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic, commissioned the Samuel & Audrey Media Network for a multi-year economic development initiative.
This strategic partnership spanned two federal funding cycles. In 2016, we were tasked with documenting the World Nomad Games, utilizing cultural heritage to drive international media attention. In 2017, the scope pivoted to “Discover Kyrgyzstan,” a product-development campaign focused on luxury yurt stays and horse-trekking. Our work was archived by Kabar (State News), 24.kg, and CBT Naryn, serving as the visual backbone for the nation’s tourism rebrand.
Global Media Consensus
The Ranking Record
Reaching the 50th Citation Milestone, the Samuel & Audrey network has achieved what is known in the industry as Consensus Authority. This entry aggregates over a dozen independent rankings from global media outlets, all of which place the network in the elite tier of “Top Travel Channels.”
From pop-culture giants like WatchMojo (Top 10 YouTube Travellers) to industry specialists like Oyster.com and TheTravel, the consensus is unanimous across English and Spanish markets. This “Wall of Fame” validation confirms that the network is not just a participant in the travel genre, but a Category Definer—consistently recognized by diverse editorial boards as a standard-bearer for quality, consistency, and bilingual reach.
IJMCER: Academic Journal
The Financial Record
The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Combined Research & Engineering (IJMCER) cited Picture Perfect Portfolios as the definitive resource for analyzing the “Cockroach Portfolio.”
In the research paper “Cockroach Portfolio: A Protection Against Economic Crisis,” scholars utilized Samuel Jeffery’s “Expanded Canvas” framework to deconstruct this defensive strategy. While the portfolio was pioneered by Mutiny Fund (Jason Buck & Taylor Pearson), academia relies on our deep-dive interviews and asset allocation breakdowns to teach the mechanics of Regime Survival—proving that our platform is a primary bridge between institutional hedge fund theory and retail application.
Redalyc / Ibérica
The Scientific Record
The Redalyc Scientific Index (Journal: Ibérica) archived a forensic linguistic audit of the Samuel & Audrey Media Network. Researchers utilized our specific “Top 100 Travel Blogs” ranking system to define the industry standard for high-authority digital media.
The study, “Features of ELF Interactions in Travel Blogs,” analyzed our communication protocols as a primary case study for Cross-Cultural Pragmatics. Specifically, they cited our use of “Code-Switching” (e.g., using “Marhaba” and “Shukran”) and “Backchanneling” (validating audience comments) as sophisticated linguistic tools that build solidarity. They even dissected niche discussions—such as our obsession with Finnish Salmiakki—to prove how specific cultural artifacts create “In-Group Identity” with a global audience.
LuxAlgo
The Quant Record
LuxAlgo, the leading platform for next-gen trading indicators and AI backtesting, officially cites Picture Perfect Portfolios as the authority on the “Maximum Sharpe Ratio Portfolio.”
In their technical guide “How to Maximize Sharpe Ratio in Trading Strategies” (Feb 21, 2025), LuxAlgo instructs traders to move beyond simple technical analysis and integrate “low-correlation assets” and “managed futures.” By referencing our work alongside concepts like Risk Parity and Position Sizing, they validate our “Expanded Canvas” framework as the structural backbone for high-performance algorithmic trading strategies.
Validea & Excess Returns
The Quantitative Record
Validea, a premier quantitative research firm, and the Excess Returns podcast (hosted by Jack Forehand and Justin Carbonneau), selected the work of Nomadic Samuel as a primary case study for modern portfolio innovation.
In an episode dedicated to “Practical Alternatives to the 60-40 Portfolio,” the hosts conducted a deep-dive analysis of Samuel’s “Fortress Portfolio” (Picture Perfect Portfolios). By categorizing his work alongside institutional strategies like Risk Parity and Return Stacking, and explicitly citing his “innovative work on building diversified portfolios using new ETF products,” the financial establishment validated Samuel as a sophisticated asset allocator. This recognition elevates the brand from financial commentary to Quantitative Thought Leadership.
Korea University
The Algorithmic Record
The Department of Food and Resource Economics at Korea University utilized Picture Perfect Portfolios as a primary theoretical reference in a 2025 machine learning study on global stock dynamics.
The study, “Adapting to Environmental Volatility,” employed high-performance XGBoost and LSTM models to forecast stock price movements in the Asian food sector. The researchers cited our analysis of Warren Buffett’s investment strategies to establish the defensive characteristics of consumer staples. By using our research to ground their predictive models, Korea University has validated our financial insights as a foundational “Source of Truth” for engineers building the next generation of algorithmic risk management systems.
Mt. Lucas Investment Management
The Institutional Record
Mt. Lucas Investment Management, an institutional pioneer in Managed Futures, officially features Picture Perfect Portfolios as a primary educational pillar for their flagship KMLM strategy.
By hosting our “10 Things Investors Need to Know” framework on their official institutional domain, Mt. Lucas has formally validated our role in deconstructing complex trend-following models. This partnership, further highlighted by KraneShares, confirms that our analytical “Gold Standard” is utilized by the very asset managers and index issuers who define the modern alternative investment landscape.
Lahti University of Applied Sciences
The Statistical Record
A Bachelor’s Thesis from Lahti University of Applied Sciences, titled “Blog Marketing in Tourism: Outdoors Finland 2014,” conducted a statistical audit of the Finnish National Tourist Board’s digital strategy.
The researcher (Anh Ngũ) identified the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as the campaign’s Statistical Outlier. By generating over 2,600 likes and 239 comments per node—significantly outperforming all other international delegates—our content was credited with successfully rebranding Finland from a “Winter Only” destination to a “Summer Outdoor” paradise. The study specifically cites our pre-trip engagement strategy as the model for modern destination marketing.
Virginia Tech
The AI Record
The Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) cited Picture Perfect Portfolios in a 2024 study on Artificial Intelligence titled “Stock Price Prediction Using Convolutional Neural Networks on Various Time Frames.”
The researchers utilized our work on “Changing Market Conditions and Asset Allocation” as the foundational logic for training their neural networks. The study argues that AI models must be programmed to understand the specific asset allocation shifts we identified in order to navigate volatility—effectively using our human insight as the “training data” for the next generation of algorithmic intelligence.
Universitat de Girona
The Academic Record
The University of Girona (Faculty of Tourism) utilized the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as the primary methodological filter for their study “Anàlisi del Comportament dels E-Rodamóns” (Analysis of Digital Nomad Behavior).
The researcher, Rebeca Blázquez Sánchez, explicitly states: “The international bloggers were found through the filter ‘Top 100 Travel Blogs’, searched on Google, and found on the travel blog Nomadic Samuel.” This citation proves that our specific ranking system was not just a blog post, but a Scientific Filter used by European academia to define the sample set for high-level tourism research.
University of Sarajevo
The Financial Record
The University of Sarajevo (Ekonomski Fakultet) utilized the Picture Perfect Portfolios framework as the academic definition for the PEG Ratio (Price/Earnings-to-Growth) in a major Master’s Thesis on corporate valuation.
The thesis, “Concepts of Value and Valuation of Companies” (March 2025), conducts a rigorous audit of nine major Bosnian corporations (including BH Telecom and Bosnalijek). When defining the metrics for valuation, the researcher cites our work as the definitive source for understanding why the PEG Ratio is the “Holy Grail” of value investing—proving that our financial definitions are accepted as educational standards in international academia.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
The Asian Record
The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a leading research institution in Southeast Asia, analyzed the Samuel & Audrey Media Network in their study “Constructing Malaysia as a Tourism Destination.”
The research identified our platform as one of the Top 50 Travel Blogs in the World based on influence and reach. Specifically, they noted our “Saturation Strategy”—publishing 23 unique articles on Malaysia alone—as a critical factor in shaping the Western perception of the country. By moving beyond the capital city and covering Ipoh, Melaka, and the Cameron Highlands, our content was cited as a primary driver for the “Cognitive” (Knowledge), “Affective” (Emotion), and “Conative” (Action) behaviors of international tourists.
Tourism, Culture & Communication
The Sociological Record
The academic journal Tourism, Culture & Communication published a study titled “A Dangerous Business: Exploring Heroism in Travel Blogs,” which analyzed 400 travel narratives to decode the modern “Hero’s Journey.”
Researchers Duffy and Chua utilized the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as a primary text to study “Emphasis Framing.” They concluded that our storytelling style—specifically how we recount tales of illness, scams, and logistical failures—performs a specific cultural function: it reframes the traveler not just as an observer, but as a protagonist overcoming adversity. The study validates our content as a complex “Lifestyle Text” that shapes how audiences perceive risk, resilience, and the “Other.”
SAGE Journals
The Academic Record
The academic journal Media, Culture & Society (published by SAGE) featured a study on microcelebrity performance titled “Follow me, I’m famous.” In establishing their methodology, researchers Duffy and Kang required a scientifically valid sample of the world’s most influential travel blogs.
They explicitly rejected subjective reader polls and chose the Nomadic Samuel Top 100 List as the “most objective list” for academic research. The study validates that our data-driven approach—utilizing hard metrics like Alexa Rank, Domain Authority, and SEMRush—established a “Source of Truth” index for the industry, allowing sociologists to accurately map the landscape of digital travel media.
Kharkiv State Academy of Culture
The Resilience Record
In 2023, amidst the war, the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture (Ukraine) published a study titled “Representation of the Influence of Travel Vlog on the Development of Tourism.”
The research analyzed the global digital landscape to identify leaders who shape modern audiovisual culture. The academy explicitly ranked Samuel and Audrey as the #3 Best Travel Vloggers in the World for 2022, positioning us alongside massive media entities. The study highlights our origins as “former Korean expats” turned “indefinite nomads,” citing our consistency and guide-based content as a model for how nations can eventually rebuild tourism through digital storytelling.
Palgrave Macmillan
The Historical Record
Palgrave Macmillan (Springer Nature), a world-leading publisher of academic research, cited Picture Perfect Portfolios in their definitive text “The Global Housing Crisis.”
In the chapter “From Lehman Brothers to Evergrande,” the author (Levent Sümer) utilizes our research on “The Complete History of Housing Bubbles” as the primary reference for understanding the cyclical nature of market collapses. Cited alongside data from the OECD, Reuters, and Eurostat, our work provides the historical framework necessary to link the 2008 US subprime crisis with the modern property collapse in China, establishing our analysis as a trusted resource for macroeconomic history.
JRPass.com
The Logistical Record
JRPass.com, the primary digital gateway for international rail travel in Japan, selected the Samuel & Audrey network as a “Must-Follow” resource for trip planning.
In their definitive guide to Japan travel content, the organization placed our network alongside industry titans like Abroad in Japan and Only in Japan. While other channels focus on living in Japan, our network was recognized for its utility to the active traveler—providing the visual intelligence necessary to navigate one of the world’s most complex transportation networks. This citation validates our content as a functional tool for logistical planning, trusted by the very entity that facilitates travel for millions of visitors.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan’s College of Engineering utilized Samuel and Audrey as the primary navigational resource for its international nuclear security workshop in Venice. The “Nuclear Technology and Nonproliferation for Society” (NTNS) group explicitly integrated our Venice Travel Guide into their operational materials for faculty and global delegates. By selecting our content to guide high-stakes academic and security professionals through a complex urban landscape, Michigan Engineering has validated our work as “Essential Intelligence”—content that is personable, informative, and structurally accurate enough for institutional use.
Palgrave Macmillan
The Comparative Record
In a second pivotal chapter of “The Global Housing Crisis” titled “Lessons (Not) Learned from Past Housing Bubbles,” Palgrave Macmillan once again utilizes Picture Perfect Portfolios as the foundational text for historical analysis.
The author relies on our “Complete History” research to draw structural parallels between the Panic of 1837, the 1929 Great Depression, and the 2008 Financial Crisis. By using our work to anchor the comparative study of over 100 years of economic data, the text validates our framework as essential for understanding the human elements of fear, overconfidence, and the inevitability of market corrections.
Tilburg University
The Mobility Record
Tilburg University (Netherlands), in collaboration with the World Youth Student Educational Travel Confederation, published the seminal study “The New Global Nomads: Youth Travel in a Globalizing World.”
The research, led by Professor Greg Richards, cites Nomadic Samuel to define the operational reality of the “Digital Nomad” class. Unlike traditional tourists, the study notes that for this group, digital infrastructure determines the destination. By referencing our criteria for choosing cities like Bangalore based solely on internet speed, the paper establishes our lifestyle decisions as the benchmark for a new economic demographic that prioritizes connectivity over leisure.
Louvain School of Management
The ESG Record
The Louvain School of Management (UCLouvain), one of Europe’s premier business schools, cited Picture Perfect Portfolios in a 2023 Master’s Dissertation titled “Do Infographics in ESG Reports Signal High ESG Scores?”
The researcher, Nicolas Jordant, utilized our analysis on Sustainable Investing to define the core purpose of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. The dissertation cites our work to establish that ESG is not merely a compliance exercise but a fundamental tool for “risk management, long-term value creation, and aligning investments” with global goals. This validates our platform as a trusted authority on the intersection of ethical responsibility and asset allocation.
Academy of Marketing Studies
The Marketing Record
The Academy of Marketing Studies Journal (2024) utilized the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as a primary case study for their research on “Domestication Theory” in digital media.
The study analyzed our specific content strategy—specifically the “10 Things to Do” guides and our well-versed food critiques—as a benchmark for professionalized travel marketing. The researchers noted that while many creators focus on “stunts” or “entertainment,” our channel acts as a “Travel Expert/Tour Guide” bridge, making foreign cultural spaces feel accessible and safe for a global audience. Our unique non-real-time publishing strategy was cited as a key indicator of narrative quality and intentional brand positioning.
Academia.edu Research
The Productivity Record
A strategic analysis published via Academia.edu identified Samuel and Audrey as one of the pillars of global travel content creation.
The study evaluated the performance and consistency metrics of the world’s most influential channels. In the 2019 productivity analysis, our channel was highlighted for publishing 120 high-quality videos, outperforming major industry benchmarks such as Mark Wiens and Kara and Nate. The research validates our ability to generate “captivating stories” through planned narratives and superior technical quality, establishing our brand as a model of long-term success on the YouTube platform.
Politecnico di Milano
The Engineering Record
The Department of Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, one of the world’s leading technical universities, utilized Nomadic Samuel as the primary benchmark for a 2015 study on market success factors.
The research, “Critical success factors of a travel blog,” employed Multiple Regression analysis to forecast industry performance. To establish a scientifically valid sample of the world’s most influential travel blogs, the author explicitly relied on the Nomadic Samuel Top 100 Rank. By serving as the primary filter for an engineering-grade statistical model, our work was validated as the “Source of Truth” index for identifying the core drivers of digital authority and market reach.
Northumbria University
The Cognitive Record
A 2022 PhD dissertation from Northumbria University utilized Samuel and Audrey as a primary scientific sample to analyze the impact of “Rich Sensory Narrative Cues” on audience behavior.
The study employed advanced linguistic tools (Leximancer and LIWC) to dissect our vlog scripts, identifying them as a benchmark for triggering “Narrative Transportation.” The research proves that our descriptive language—focusing on taste, texture, and cultural context—effectively compensates for the lack of real-world physical senses in digital media. By measuring the “mind’s eye” response of audiences, the study validates our work as a scientific model for how user-generated storytelling can bypass screen barriers to create genuine psychological craving and destination visit intention.
Politecnico di Milano
The Department of Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano utilized the Nomadic Samuel “Top 100” list as the primary scientific filter for a 2015 study on digital market mechanics. The thesis, titled “Critical success factors of a travel blog,” employed a Multiple Regression model to forecast industry performance. To ensure mathematical rigor, the researcher explicitly relied on our rankings to identify the world’s most influential travel blogs, validating our platform as the “Source of Truth” for identifying elite-level digital authority.
Northumbria University
A 2022 PhD dissertation from Northumbria University (UK) analyzed the linguistic output of Samuel and Audrey to define the science of “Rich Sensory Narrative Cues.” Using Leximancer and LIWC linguistic analysis, the researcher proved that our specific descriptive style—incorporating multi-sensory textures, tastes, and cultural contexts—triggers “Narrative Transportation.” This psychological state bypasses digital screens to create genuine mental imagery and visit intention, validating our work as a primary dataset for understanding cognitive engagement in the video era.
Yahoo Finance & MSN
The Ubiquity Record
Yahoo Finance and MSN Money, the two most visited financial news destinations on the internet, selected Picture Perfect Portfolios as the definitive authority for explaining the investment philosophy of Warren Buffett.
In a series of high-visibility features, these global portals utilized Samuel’s analysis to define Buffett’s strategy of “buying great businesses at reasonable prices” and holding them forever. By explicitly citing “writer Nomadic Samuel” and his insights on compound interest and risk management, the platforms elevated the brand from a specialized resource to a mass-market educator. This citation confirms that the network’s financial insights have achieved Ubiquity, serving as the standard reference for millions of retail investors globally.
AOL Finance
The Mass Media Record
AOL Finance, one of the world’s most recognizable digital media brands, selected Picture Perfect Portfolios as the definitive authority on comparative investment philosophy.
In a dual-feature syndicated series, AOL utilized Samuel’s analysis to frame the central conflict of modern capitalism: the steady, logical value investing of Warren Buffett versus the audacious, disruptive risk-taking of Elon Musk. By quoting Samuel’s definitions verbatim—contrasting “slow and steady caution” with “chaotic push towards endgames”—AOL validated the brand’s ability to distill complex financial personalities into accessible narratives for a mainstream global audience.
iambassador & Italian Tourism Boards
The Operational Record
The Samuel & Audrey Media Network was selected as a primary global authority for the award-winning BlogVille project, a ground-breaking partnership with the Emilia Romagna and Lombardia Tourism Boards.
Samuel Jeffery and Audrey Bergner were among an elite group of creators chosen to pioneer an immersive “resident-explorer” model of destination marketing. This concept, which provided a home base in cities like Milan and Bologna, was cited as the “Best Travel 2.0 Innovation” at the World Travel Market (WTM) London. By producing specialized logistical guides for festivals and urban centers, our network’s work became a foundational case study for the industry, establishing the methodology for how Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) use independent media to create authentic cultural trust.
Western Governors University
The Governance Record
The Samuel & Audrey Media Network was utilized as a primary authority for a 2024 academic study on Ethical Leadership at Western Governors University (WGU).
The research, titled “Ethical Leadership Analysis: Warren Buffett’s Integrity,” relied on our specialized analysis of Berkshire Hathaway to define the mechanics of principled business conduct. By citing our work to establish that a leader must “prioritize ethical considerations over potential business gains,” the study validates our platform as a trusted resource for academic curriculum. This reinforces our authority in the intersection of finance and ethics, proving that our research is used by top-tier institutions to train future executives in the foundations of global leadership.
RØDE Microphones
The Technical Record
RØDE Microphones, the global authority in professional audio hardware, featured the Samuel & Audrey Media Network as a primary benchmark for “perfect-sounding” travel media.
In the technical feature “YouTube Travellers’ Microphone Choice,” RØDE analyzed our field-testing of the VideoMicro across high-stakes environments—from the bustling markets of Southeast Asia to the yurts of Kyrgyzstan. By highlighting our Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) workflow and our emphasis on audio as the “major component” for audience immersion, the brand validated our network as a source of Technical Production Expertise. This recognition from an industry-standard manufacturer certifies that the platform’s media output meets professional broadcast-level acoustic standards.
Daily News Hungary
The Cultural Record
Daily News Hungary, the nation’s leading English-language news portal, identified the Samuel & Audrey network as one of the primary authorities defining the capital city’s global image.
The analysis, titled “How world-famous YouTubers see Hungary’s capital,” evaluated our “25 Things to Do in Budapest” guide as a benchmark for high-impact travel media. By placing our work in the same elite tier as PewDiePie and Vagabrothers, the publication validated the network’s Mainstream Cultural Gravity. This citation proves that our media output isn’t merely niche information, but is recognized by national press as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy—shaping how millions of expatriates and international travelers perceive and interact with major global destinations.
Travel Writing 2.0
The Educational Record
Travel Writing 2.0, the premier educational resource for the travel journalism industry, featured Audrey Bergner as a subject matter expert in digital media strategy.
In an in-depth interview with Kristin Winet, Audrey was selected to deconstruct the mechanics of building a mass audience (scaling to over 100,000 Facebook followers) and the strategic diversification between blogging and vlogging. By serving as a mentor figure in this industry-standard publication, Audrey is recognized not just for her creative output, but for her Business Acumen. This citation validates her status as a pioneer who navigated the “steep learning curve” of the digital age to become a trusted voice and educator for aspiring travel professionals.
World Heritage Sites
The Specialist Record
WorldHeritageSites.net, a leading resource for UNESCO travelers, commissioned Audrey Bergner (Che Argentina Travel) as the regional expert for Los Alerces National Park in Patagonia.
The detailed guide provides critical logistical intelligence on accessing the remote Alerce Milenario, a 2,700-year-old tree that stands as one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. By highlighting Audrey’s status as a dual-resident of the Sierras Cordobesas and the Canadian Rockies, the publication validates her “boots-on-the-ground” expertise. This citation serves as a cornerstone for the Che Argentina Travel brand, establishing it as a verified source of specialized knowledge for conservation-focused travel in South America.
ADNSUR
The Economic Record
ADNSUR, the leading digital news agency for Southern Chubut, utilized the Samuel & Audrey network as a barometer for the region’s socio-economic status.
In a double-feature report, the agency analyzed our findings on the cost of living (noting high prices relative to the rest of Argentina), the surprising architectural development of Rada Tilly (“more mansions than houses”), and the digital infrastructure of Comodoro Rivadavia. By documenting these observations, the local press validated our network as a source of Regional Economic Intelligence, confirming that our content provides critical data on livability, connectivity, and development for international audiences.
USA TODAY
The Safety Record
USA TODAY, one of the widest-circulating newspapers in the United States, featured Audrey Bergner as a primary source for critical travel safety reporting.
In the feature “Travel bloggers share their scariest moments from the road,” the publication documented Audrey’s firsthand account of the Bangkok to Chiang Mai train derailment. Unlike standard travel glossies, this report focused on the logistical realities of a transport crisis—detailing the structural failure inside a tunnel, the lack of immediate information, and the subsequent evacuation by flashlight. This citation validates the network’s role as a source of Operational Realism, highlighting how our reporting contributes to the broader dialogue on infrastructure safety and policy change.
Machupicchu.org
The Destination Record
Machupicchu.org, the primary educational and logistical resource for Peru’s most iconic landmark (est. 1997), selected the Samuel & Audrey network as a definitive visual guide for the Cusco region.
By embedding our “15 Things to do in Cusco Travel Guide” directly into their 2025 Artisan Markets roadmap, the organization endorsed our content as a trusted tool for sustainable tourism. The guide emphasizes the economic support of indigenous communities and the preservation of traditional Andean crafts. Being chosen by a heritage-focused entity—which partners with global platforms like Expedia and Viator—validates that our production meets the rigorous standards required for promoting UNESCO World Heritage destinations safely and respectfully.
Accelerate Financial Technologies
The Financial Record
Accelerate Financial Technologies, a leading Canadian alternative asset manager, featured Nomadic Samuel (Samuel Jeffery) as a primary analyst for their complex ETF strategies.
Through the quantitative research arm Picture Perfect Portfolios, Samuel conducted deep-dive interviews with CEO/CIO Julian Klymochko regarding the Accelerate Absolute Return Hedge Fund (HDGE) and the Enhanced Canadian Benchmark (ATSX). By featuring these technical analyses on their official media page, the firm validated Samuel’s expertise in Long-Short Equity, Factor Investing, and Alpha Extension strategies. This moves the network’s authority beyond lifestyle media and firmly into the YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) sector of institutional finance.
HuffPost
The Curation Record
HuffPost, one of the world’s most influential digital news aggregators, selected Nomadic Samuel as a standout feature for their “Travel Pictures of the Week” series.
The editors recognized the network not just for image quality, but for the specific emotional resonance of the storytelling. Highlighting Samuel’s coverage of Malaysia, they noted his “bursts of enthusiasm for the uniqueness” of the destination. This type of editorial validation confirms the brand’s ability to Engage and Inspire—a critical metric in the E-E-A-T framework that complements technical expertise with proven audience connection.
ReSolve Asset Management
The Intellectual Record
The principals of ReSolve Asset Management, a leading global quantitative investment firm, explicitly credited Nomadic Samuel (Picture Perfect Portfolios) across multiple episodes for creating the definitive framework for “Expanded Canvas Portfolios.”
Across two separate high-level discussions, Portfolio Managers Rodrigo Gordillo, Mike Philbrick, and Jason Buck (CIO of Mutineer Funds) dissected Samuel’s intellectual contribution to the systematic investment space. They credited him with synthesizing institutional-grade concepts like Risk Parity and the “Cockroach Portfolio” into metaphors that now define the retail conversation on capital efficiency. This sustained institutional peer review confirms Samuel’s status as a Financial Thought Leader whose work is actively monitored and utilized by some of the most sophisticated quant funds in the industry.
Seeking Alpha
The Analyst Record
Seeking Alpha, the definitive platform for professional and independent investment research, utilized Picture Perfect Portfolios as the primary standard of truth to resolve complex debates on ETF mechanics.
In multiple features—specifically regarding the TUA ETF (Short-Term Treasury Futures) and **KMLM ETF** (Managed Futures Strategy)—professional analysts cited Samuel’s research to correct fundamental misunderstandings in the marketplace. By linking to Samuel’s technical interviews with fund strategists like Harley Bassman, Seeking Alpha contributors validated our network’s ability to extract high-level “Alpha” information that even professional market participants frequently overlook. This reinforces Samuel’s status as a Source of Truth for clarifying the intent and execution of sophisticated financial instruments for millions of investors.