Mirna Valerio (@themirnavator), bestselling author, ultra-marathoner, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, joins Creator: The Podcast to share her extraordinary journey. In this episode, Mirna reveals how a panic attack transformed her life from overworked teacher to endurance athlete, including the moment her cardiologist asked, “You want to see your son grow up?” Host Ross Borden explores Mirna’s evolution from struggling to run one minute on a treadmill to completing a staggering 142.6-mile desert ultra race, diving into her experiences as a plus-size athlete in elite sports, her rise to social media fame after a Wall Street Journal feature, and her groundbreaking partnership with Lululemon. Mirna offers candid insights about confronting skeptics who doubt her abilities, plus practical advice for aspiring writers and content creators. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast interested in inclusive adventure sports or simply seeking inspiration to start something new at any age, this conversation delivers a powerful perspective on challenging stereotypes and finding joy in the journey rather than focusing solely on the destination.

Travel Creator Michael Motamedi (@michaelmotamedi) joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss his journey living around the world with his family. In this episode, Michael shares how watching his father’s unfulfilling retirement sparked his decision to travel full-time with his wife and baby daughter. Host Ross Borden explores Michael’s journey from restaurant entrepreneur to bourbon company founder to viral travel creator, diving into his month-long stays in destinations worldwide, his experiences using AI travel assistant GuideGeek, and his philosophical perspective on escaping the American “rat race.” Michael offers refreshingly honest advice for new creators: “If you’re able to create without needing to hit a quota and you create because it makes you happy, you’re gonna be way better off in the long run.” Whether you’re dreaming of location independence or seeking authentic perspectives on international living, this conversation provides both practical insights and philosophical wisdom about prioritizing happiness over conventional success.

Travel Creator Adam Lovick (@adam_lovick) joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss the evolution of travel content creation and brand building. In this episode, Adam shares how his family’s travel agency background shaped his career path, including the ironic twist of being “fired by grandma” during COVID—a setback that ultimately pushed him to launch First Class Jerk, a travel media publishing company focused on the ‘premium traveler.’ Host Ross Borden explores Adam’s signature green-screen TikTok style, his brand partnerships with major companies like Delta and Emirates, and the challenges of balancing creative work with business development. Adam offers refreshingly honest insights about the difficulty of building a creator business, admitting “This stuff is really hard. People underestimate how much time and energy it takes to be a creator.” Whether you’re looking to launch your own content brand or simply fascinated by the business of travel media, this conversation provides a realistic look at what it takes to carve out a distinctive voice in the crowded travel content space.

Ocean Diver and Content Creator Shane Brown (@shangerdanger) the self-titled ‘CEO of the Ocean’ with over 20 million followers across platforms, joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss his evolution from amateur GoPro enthusiast to ocean content phenomenon. In this episode, Shane shares the exact moment his content strategy clicked, including how finding a phone underwater and creating a multi-part story became the blueprint for his viral success. Host Ross Borden explores Shane’s savvy cross-platform approach, diving into his content experimentation process, and the challenges of finding brand partnerships as an environmentally-conscious creator. Shane candidly discusses the financial reality of creator life, admitting that “most creators are always fighting” regardless of follower count. Whether you’re an aspiring content creator or simply enjoy ocean adventures, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building a sustainable career by following your passions while continually adapting to platform changes.

Content Creator and Travel Expert Jessica Nabongo (@jessicanabongo) joins CREATOR: the Podcast to discuss her journey as the first Black woman to visit every country in the world. She explains how reading about another traveler’s global journey in 2017 inspired her to undertake her own mission to visit all 195 countries—completing it just months before the pandemic hit in 2019. Jessica offers a candid look at how she funded her travels without major brand partnerships, and the challenges of reaching remote destinations in the South Pacific and Central Africa. The conversation explores her evolution as a creator and entrepreneur: from launching a luxury travel agency to publishing with National Geographic, having her photography displayed at Christie’s, and developing successful partnerships with major brands like Four Seasons and Expedia. Jessica also reveals her upcoming projects, including a new cookbook featuring one recipe from every country in the world, and shares honest advice about authenticity, financial management, and airline loyalty for aspiring travel creators.

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.