Travel YouTuber and Content Creator Gareth Leonard (@GarethLeonard) shares his remarkable journey from quitting his job with just $5,000 to becoming a successful travel creator with 700,000+ YouTube subscribers. In today’s episode of CREATOR: the Podcast, we explore how Gareth went from living in Argentina as a bartender who “kept getting fired but showing up anyway” to building a thriving multi-channel content business. Ross and Gareth discuss how he started as an “OG travel blogger” in 2009 with the mission to live in Argentina for a year, focusing on genuine cultural immersion rather than country-counting. Gareth reveals his early monetization strategies selling banner ads and text links, his five-year plan living in countries like Colombia, Bolivia, and Guatemala, and his transition from written blogs to video content. Learn about the business side of travel content creation, including YouTube revenue differences across global markets, his multi-channel strategy with his main YouTube channel versus his food YouTube channel Gareth Eats, and how he’s repurposing years of archive footage for short-form content. Gareth also discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity while scaling a travel brand, the financial realities of social media monetization, and why he prefers self-publishing over traditional TV deals. Whether you’re an aspiring travel creator or interested in the business of content creation, Gareth’s insights on balancing authentic storytelling with strategic growth offer valuable lessons for turning travel passion into a sustainable career.

Content Creator Elona Karafin (@elona) takes us on a journey from Ukraine-born immigrant to global travel expert in this episode of CREATOR: the Podcast. Elona shares how her remarkable life story—including solo international flights at age five—shaped her adventurous spirit and how a pivotal trip to Abu Dhabi challenged her preconceptions about the Middle East. She reveals her bold transition from finance professional to full-time creator, selling two Bitcoins to fund her initial leap into content creation after her Business Insider feature went viral. In this conversation, Elona discusses her unique business model spanning brand partnerships, consulting for GCC markets, curated group trips to conflict regions, and her upcoming Japan app venture. Host Ross Borden digs into Elona’s childhood cancer survival story, her recent experiences in Syria just weeks before regime change, her engagement in Antarctica, and why Afghanistan became her favorite country despite global perceptions. From challenging media narratives about “dangerous” destinations to balancing life between New York, Dubai, and Tokyo, this episode offers valuable insights for creators interested in transformative travel content, developing multiple revenue streams, and building an authentic brand that changes perceptions of misunderstood places around the world.

Solo World Sailor and Viral Creator Luke “Sailing Songbird” Hartley shares his remarkable journey from quitting his job as a middle school music teacher to sailing solo around the world on a 27-foot sailboat. In today’s episode of CREATOR: the Podcast, we explore how Luke went from zero sailing experience to sailing solo around the world, learning everything through YouTube before embarking on his global circumnavigation. Luke reveals how his social media exploded from 300 to 100,000 followers in just five days – now sitting at around 2M, his content creation process while navigating remote waters, and surviving a 49-day Pacific crossing with no engine or communications. Discover how he’s producing long-form content for his YouTube channel, manages extreme isolation while maintaining a positive mindset, and turns his adventures into compelling content. Whether you’re interested in adventure travel content, sailing vlogs, or building an authentic social media presence, Luke’s insights on transforming a personal journey into viral videos offers valuable lessons for creators looking to document unconventional lifestyles.