CREATOR: The Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Want to become a full-time content creator? CREATOR: The Podcast reveals the secrets behind successful social media creators and digital entrepreneurs. Join Matador Network Founder & CEO Ross Borden as he interviews top creators who've turned their passion into profit. Each episode unpacks proven strategies for growing your audience, landing brand deals, and building a sustainable creator business. Start your creator journey with insider tips and real-world advice from those who've made it. New episodes drop every Tuesday. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Michael Motamedi 01:37 - Michael's background and early life 03:43 - From Master Chef to bourbon entrepreneur 05:01 - Decision to travel the world full-time 06:36 - Starting from zero on TikTok 07:27 - Going viral in Amalfi Coast 09:08 - Philosophy of slow travel and immersion 11:44 - Guide Geek AI travel experiment 14:46 - Haircut adventure in Morocco 15:22 - Returning to Barcelona and potential settling down 18:16 - The difference between US and European lifestyles 23:27 - The addiction of constant travel 26:54 - Advice for new creators 31:51 - Biggest mistake as a creator 34:49 - Michael's three countries to live in forever 37:07 - Closing remarks

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Adam Lovick 01:26 - Adam's early travel background and family business 03:20 - Getting fired by grandma and starting First Class Jerk 05:01 - The green screen content style and approach 06:36 - Sourcing content for green screen videos 07:47 - TikTok vs Instagram: Platform differences for creators 09:40 - The story behind First Class Jerk brand 12:48 - Working with brands and monetization strategies 16:25 - Building brand partnerships and cold outreach 20:22 - Perspective on influencer and PR agencies 23:42 - Long-term partnership with Delta 26:15 - Making the leap to full-time creator 29:17 - Adam's three favorite countries to live in 31:33 - Closing and where to follow Adam

Adventure photographer Chris Burkard (@chrisburkard) has inspired millions with his stunning outdoor photography and travel content. In today's episode of CREATOR: the Podcast, we explore how this self-taught photographer transformed from a broke kid in Central California into one of the most successful outdoor content creators and adventure photographers on social media. Chris shares his journey to becoming a full-time creator, his photography tips for aspiring creators, and how he built his massive Instagram following. Learn about his transition from landscape photography to adventure content creation, why he chose to move to Iceland full time, and his advice for creators looking to turn their passion for adventure photography into a sustainable career. Follow CREATOR: The Podcast on Instagram and TikTok. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Shane Brown  02:19 - Origin story: How Shane got started with GoPro content  03:10 - Beginning of Shane's content journey (2013-2014)  03:32 - Evolution of Shane's diving videos and trash collection  04:19 - First viral TikTok success: Finding a phone underwater  05:30 - The strategic "cliffhanger" approach that drove traffic  06:26 - Changing trends in social media content strategies  07:26 - Early YouTube struggles: 10,000 subscribers after six years  08:32 - The role of TikTok in growing Shane's YouTube audience  09:40 - Cross-platform strategy with identical content  10:43 - Breakdown of Shane's most viral video: Diver Cracks Egg at 45 feet  12:26 - YouTube monetization versus brand partnerships  14:18 - Challenges of brand deals for an environmental creator  15:57 - Financial reality of being a full-time creator  17:20 - TikTok monetization and adapting to platform changes  18:35 - Recent success with longer-form content  20:00 - Future plans: Incorporating family content with his daughter  22:16 - Shane's three countries he'd choose to visit forever  23:22 - Partnership with GoPro and life achievement  24:46 - Conclusion

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Jessica Nabongo: First Black Woman to visit every country 02:15 - Jessica's origin story: Growing up in Detroit with Ugandan parents 03:43 - Moving to Japan at age 23 05:38 - Learning Japanese and living as an expat 06:50 - Starting "The Catch Me If You Can" blog 08:44 - Following life's opportunities: Benin, Rome, and DC 09:22 - The decision to visit every country in the world 11:04 - The world of "country counting" and extreme travelers 12:35 - Strategy for visiting remaining countries 14:52 - The Seychelles: Jessica's final country celebration 16:47 - Post-journey: Media attention and the Nat Geo book deal 18:23 - Funding the journey: Working vs. brand partnerships 21:06 - Writing a book with National Geographic 24:27 - Highlighting underrepresented countries in her book 26:28 - Jessica's photography at Christie's auction house 28:37 - Recent brand partnerships: Four Seasons, Cadillac, and more 30:39 - Speaking engagements around the world 32:48 - Most lucrative aspects of Jessica's creator career 34:13 - Advice for aspiring travel creators: Find your "why" 36:33 - Jessica's new cookbook: "Catch Me in the Kitchen" 37:52 - Food origins and cultural identity through cuisine 39:19 - Jessica's top three countries if limited to only three 41:09 - Where to follow Jessica online

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Gareth Leonard 01:30 - First meeting in Toronto and the beginning of a friendship 03:16 - Origin story: From Tourist to Townie blog in 2009 04:55 - First year in Argentina: Learning Spanish and bartending 07:08 - Building an authentic travel brand through vulnerability 09:53 - Documenting the journey for friends and family back home 11:53 - The difference between Instagram travel and YouTube authenticity 13:17 - Early monetization: From banner ads to tour partnerships 16:12 - The five-year plan: Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, and Brazil 18:57 - The evolution from blogging to video content 20:49 - The Brazil tourism board deal: Filming all 13 World Cup cities 22:58 - Building a YouTube channel to 700,000 subscribers 26:41 - Balancing authentic storytelling vs algorithmic content 28:51 - Creating Gareth Eats: A strategic second channel for consistent revenue 31:08 - YouTube monetization: The benefits of high CPM US-based content 33:18 - Comparing revenue models across platforms: Why YouTube wins 35:40 - Content strategy: Reposting and maximizing your video library 37:57 - The challenges with social media scheduling platforms 39:23 - Current content plan: Day in the Life series and local San Diego food 41:35 - Why major streaming platforms aren't always worth pursuing 44:07 - Passport question: Choosing three countries for life (US, Japan, Portugal) 44:51 - Why Bhutan is Gareth's favorite travel destination

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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Elona Karafin 01:13 - Background: Ukrainian roots and health journey 02:46 - First solo travel as an immigrant child 04:12 - Transitioning from finance to travel content creation 06:44 - Perspective on the Ukraine war and its impact 08:18 - Travel fearlessly: Breaking misconceptions about "dangerous" places 10:48 - Discovering the real Middle East beyond Western stereotypes 13:24 - Media portrayal vs. reality of developing nations 15:55 - Finding warmth and hospitality in unexpected places 17:54 - Recent travels to Syria before Assad's fall 21:42 - Navigating Syria as a tourist pre-regime change 24:10 - Building a business around adventure travel groups to Iraq and Syria 26:23 - Revenue streams as a creator: Brand deals and consulting 27:42 - Developing "Japan Like a Local" app and diversifying beyond social media 29:02 - Nomadic lifestyle across New York, Dubai, and Tokyo 31:01 - Consulting firm for GCC market and bridging cultural gaps 33:08 - The journey to financial success as a creator 35:34 - The vision behind the Japan travel app 38:04 - Antarctica expedition with White Desert 40:59 - Getting engaged in Antarctica 41:52 - Top three countries if limited to only three passports 43:16 - Why Afghanistan is her favorite country 45:34 - Outro

Solo World Sailor and Viral Creator Luke "Sailing Songbird" Hartley (@sailing_songbird) 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. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 Introduction to Luke "Sailing Songbird" Hartley  02:05 From music teacher to sailing around the world  03:38 Learning to sail from YouTube videos  05:37 Quitting his job and buying a boat  07:10 Family reactions to his global sailing plans  09:32 Safety in the middle of the Pacific Ocean  12:13 Paddleboarding 1,000 miles from land  15:17 Sailing without an engine across the Pacific  17:29 Going from 300 to 100,000 followers in 5 days  19:07 Losing communication for 30 days at sea  21:51 Impact of his content on viewers' lives  23:51 Maintaining positivity through challenges  25:25 Content creation setup on a small sailboat  27:39 Overcoming creator's block and mental health  30:15 Life at sea: fishing and catching mahi-mahi  32:11 Preserving eggs with Vaseline for long voyages  34:37 Brand partnerships and monetization challenges  36:43 Future sailing plans and five-year itinerary  40:17 Favorite destinations: French Polynesia and beyond  42:56 Living off spearfished mahi for a month 44:21 Where to find Luke online 42:56 Living off spearfished mahi for a month 44:21 Where to find Luke online

Scottish Content Creator and Musician Stephanie Cheape (@StephanieCheapeofficial) shares her remarkable journey from aspiring singer-songwriter to becoming one of Scotland's most influential digital creators with over half a million TikTok followers. In today's episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, we explore how a spontaneous video during the pandemic transformed into a thriving career spanning social media, television, and sports entertainment. Learn how this homeschooled musician unexpectedly became the first female creator featured on the Scottish National Football team's social media and landed a presenter role with BBC Radio. Stephanie reveals her authentic approach to content creation, insights on managing your brand without an agent, and why overcoming the fear of being yourself is crucial for creative success. Whether you're a musician looking to build an audience, an aspiring content creator, or someone passionate about showcasing your culture, Stephanie's journey from posting random videos about Scottish life to becoming a prominent voice in Scotland's media landscape offers valuable lessons on turning genuine self-expression into meaningful opportunities. 0:00 - Intro: From zero to half a million followers 0:51 - Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Cheape 2:03 - Background: From musician to content creator during Covid 4:36 - How it started: The viral "Kiss a Ginger Day" video 6:48 - TikTok's impact on music discovery and distribution 8:56 - Adapting music for TikTok and the changing industry 11:27 - Using Celtic music and Scottish soundtracks 13:36 - The UMG music removal from TikTok 14:55 - Landing the BBC presenting role 17:09 - Experience with TikTok live streaming 19:03 - Partnership with Scotland's National Football Team 23:24 - Evolution of the football partnership 25:04 - The importance of authenticity and overcoming fear 26:19 - Managing yourself vs having representation 31:11 - Top three countries to live in 33:08 - Future plans for travel content 35:43 - Where to find Stephanie online To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com