CREATOR: The Podcast

Matador Network
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated weekly

Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers. Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com

  1. 20 Oct

    How "WeekendMaxxing" Makes Epic Travel Possible on PTO | Garrett Sears

    He turned a weekend and $300 into a viral volcano trip — now hundreds are copying him. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast for more conversations with leading creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers. In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Garrett Sears — the travel creator behind the viral "weekend maxxing" movement — talks about how anyone with a job, limited PTO, and a few hundred dollars can take bucket-list trips on a regular weekend. Garrett has exploded across TikTok and Instagram by making travel radically accessible. He started with zero travel budget and no audience — stitching viral travel videos and telling people exactly where those places were and how much they cost. That "Shazam of travel" approach snowballed into original content, brand deals, and a community of followers who are actually booking the trips he posts about. Ross and Garrett go deep on the weekend maxxing concept, the Guatemala volcano hike that started it all, how to find cheap flights and plan fast trips, and what's next for Garrett's content and business. Garrett breaks down how he: • Coined "weekend maxxing" — epic travel adventures squeezed into a single weekend with one or two days of PTO • Hiked and camped on an active volcano in Guatemala for a few hundred dollars — and inspired hundreds to do the same • Grew from zero to viral by stitching popular travel videos and filling the information gap in the comments • Uses Google Flights' "search anywhere" tool to find affordable weekend destinations within reach • Gained ~90,000 Instagram followers from a single weekend maxing video • Plans each trip around one unforgettable activity — then lets the rest unfold organically • Went from broke college student road-tripping Iceland for under $400 to full-time travel creator • Is building a new series and a travel product to make weekend trips even more accessible Whether you're stuck in a 9-to-5 dreaming about travel or a creator figuring out how to break into the travel space, this conversation is the blueprint. 🔗 Follow Garrett Sears: https://www.instagram.com/yourdestinationinspiration/ | TikTok: @destination.inspiration 🔗 To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit https://creatorthepodcast.com/ Conversations with the people building careers, businesses, and culture through creativity. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-the-podcast/id1788987273 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aHdngxWvkUbpDlmmCq8Z6?si=zQjPxLneRaOUIwP-y5BmyA 🕐 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction to Garrett Sears 01:19 - Defining 'Weekend Maxing' 02:12 - Making travel accessible & avoiding doomscrolling 03:56 - Viral impact & audience DMs (Guatemala & Iceland) 05:17 - Weekend Maxing destinations: Iceland, Puerto Rico & Norway 06:27 - How he selects weekend destinations (Google Flights "Anywhere") 07:17 - Tetons & US weekend trips 08:08 - Future Weekend Maxing ideas 11:06 - Planning trips around one big activity (volcano hike) 13:22 - Hiking Fuego & Acatenango (trip details) 16:32 - Volcano safety, risks, and guide precautions 21:05 - Garrett's creator origin story & early travel 26:32 - 'Shazam of travel' strategy and content approach 29:17 - Content strategy that converts (value & accessibility) 30:35 - Future plans: long-form, product/service, expansion 35:31 - If you could live in only three countries 40:49 - Where to follow Garrett & sign-off #GarrettSears #WeekendMaxing #TravelCreator #BudgetTravel #CreatorPodcast #ContentCreator #TravelTips #VolcanoHike #Guatemala #Iceland

  2. 6 Oct

    Virgin Will Pay You $100K to Travel the World: Chris Tomkins on How to Become the next Head of Yes

    He spent six months getting paid to travel the world with Virgin. Now it's YOUR turn. 🔴 VIRGIN IS LOOKING FOR ITS NEXT HEAD OF YES Six paid months of flights, hotels, voyages and extraordinary experiences. You'll get £75,000 if you're based in the UK or $100,000 if you're based in the US. Want in? Good! To apply, tell Virgin about a time you said yes in a video posted on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. Tag @virgin and use #headofyes. Apply by October 20. 👉 Learn more about Head of Yes: https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/ultimate-side-hustle-alert-were-looking-for-a-head-of-yes In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Chris Tomkins, Virgin's first-ever Head of Yes, shares the full story of how he went from part-time watch salesman and aspiring content creator to travelling the world for one of the biggest brands on the planet. Over six months, Chris said yes to Edinburgh, New York City, a Virgin Voyage, a luxurious stay in Mallorca, a Southern States road trip, and a first-class press flight to Seoul for Virgin Atlantic's brand-new route. Chris breaks down how he: • Went from posting his first video while backpacking in Australia to landing a life-changing brand deal with Virgin • Almost didn't apply — and the conversation with his dad that changed everything • Created the application video that won him the role (and his tips for standing out) • Navigated content creation on the road while balancing Virgin's brand goals with authentic storytelling • Experienced Valentine's Day in NYC, including convincing a stranger to say YES to a helicopter ride • Fell in love with cruising on Virgin Voyages — and why he calls it "a happy little universe in the middle of the sea" • Flew first class to Seoul on a Virgin Atlantic press flight for a brand-new route launch • Met Richard Branson on board a Virgin Voyages ship and what "Dr. Yes" is really like in person • Maintained the freedom to work with other brands during his six-month Virgin engagement 🔗 Follow Chris Tomkins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christomkins1/ 🔗 Follow Chris Tomkins on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christomkins123 🔗 Learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast: https://creatorthepodcast.com/ 🕐 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction to Chris Tomkins 01:04 - Overview of Head of Yes 01:44 - Background & path to applying 02:26 - How he heard about Head of Yes 04:10 - Application video and "yes" moment 06:51 - Notification reaction & reveal filming 09:12 - First trip reveal: Edinburgh 13:11 - New York trip & helicopter challenge 17:14 - Virgin Voyages cruise experience 21:32 - Southern States road trip & New Orleans 22:23 - Content creation process with Virgin 24:11 - Growth, exposure & community response 25:14 - South Korea press flight and Seoul highlights 27:27 - Meeting Richard Branson 29:10 - Season two application details & submission deadline 30:16 - Advice for applicants and content tips 31:10 - Working with brands and becoming full-time creator 33:59 - Passport question, closing thoughts & where to find Chris * This episode is proudly produced in partnership with Virgin. Terms apply, see https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/ultimate-side-hustle-alert-were-looking-for-a-head-of-yes. 18+ UK and US residents only. By submitting an application video, you agree to your video being reposted (in whole or in part) on Virgin channels. Head of Yes is a paid content-creator engagement selected on merit, not a prize draw or employment relationship, and is subject to the selected individual entering into a content creator agreement with Virgin Red. Apply by 20 October.

  3. 22 Sept

    From 700 Followers to the Internet's Gorpcore Queen | Sabrina Bloedorn

    She went from 700 followers to 300K by hiking in Arc'teryx — now she's launching her own outdoor brand. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast for more conversations with leading creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers. In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Sabrina Bloedorn — the "Gorpcore Queen" with 300K+ followers known for blending high fashion with outdoor adventure — talks about building a full-time creator career from scratch and designing her own hiking clothing brand. Sabrina grew up in a tiny Ontario town with 1,200 people, never flew on a plane until age 17, and spent seven seasons tree planting in the Canadian wilderness before landing a marketing role at Arc'teryx. A single photo in an orange Arc'teryx jacket got reposted 80+ times, catapulting her from 700 to 10K followers in two weeks — and the gorpcore movement carried her the rest of the way. Now a full-time outdoor fashion creator, she's partnering with global brands, leading group hikes across six countries, and building her own technical hiking clothing line called Biome. Sabrina breaks down how she: • Grew from 700 to 300K followers organically through gorpcore styling and outdoor content • Made the leap from a marketing job at Arc'teryx to full-time content creation • Blends sci-fi film aesthetics with functional outdoor gear to create her signature look • Leads group hiking trips across Iceland, Patagonia, Machu Picchu, and more with Mapo Tapo • Shares her top gear picks — from Arc'teryx shells to a Ukrainian designer making her favorite hiking pants • Designed her first product sample by combining the best features of four different hiking pants • Built long-term brand partnerships that keep her booked without a single slow month • Went from never seeing a mountain to horse packing through Kyrgyzstan and snowmobiling in Svalbard Whether you're into gorpcore fashion, outdoor adventure content, or building a creator business around what you love — this one's for you. 🔗 Follow Sabrina Bloedorn: https://www.instagram.com/sabriinab___/ 🔗 To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit https://creatorthepodcast.com/ Conversations with the people building careers, businesses, and culture through creativity. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-the-podcast/id1788987273 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aHdngxWvkUbpDlmmCq8Z6?si=zQjPxLneRaOUIwP-y5BmyA 🕐 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction to Sabrina Bloedorn 01:20 - Kyrgyzstan horse-packing trip, yurts and food 03:41 - Nomadic lifestyle, livestock and traditional games 06:30 - Growing up, discovering the outdoors and tree planting 11:18 - Tree planting life: camps, sleeping in car, helicopter drops 12:10 - From no travel to full-time travel life 13:44 - Origin story: geology, mining and Arc'teryx marketing 16:01 - Viral Arc'teryx posts and Instagram growth 18:24 - What Gorpcore is and its cinematic influences 20:46 - Styling Gorpcore and mixing fashion with outdoors 22:44 - Going full-time as a creator and early success 25:35 - Brand trips and Svalbard expedition with DB Journey 27:27 - Leading group hikes and Mapo Tapo collaborations 30:19 - Favorite gear: rain shells, warm jackets, and pants 32:42 - Trail running shoes and notable collaborations 34:43 - Receiving gear, sewing background, and design skills 35:04 - Launching her own brand "Biome" and sample design 38:03 - If passport only worked in three countries: Brazil, Iceland, Japan 41:27 - Thoughts on tourism partnerships and brand focus 42:06 - Closing, where to find Sabrina and episode outro #SabrinaBloedorn #Gorpcore #GorpcoreQueen #CreatorPodcast #ContentCreator #OutdoorFashion #HikingOutfits #Arcteryx #OutdoorCreator #CreatorEconomy

  4. 8 Sept

    No AI, All Real: One Photographer's Rule | Kristina Makeeva

    She grew up in a grey city near Moscow — so she turned the entire world into a fairy tale. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast for more conversations with leading creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers. In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Kristina Makeeva (@hobopeeba) — the fairy tale photographer with 1.5M Instagram followers — talks about how she transforms real places into magical art without using AI. Kristina is a multi-award-winning photographer and visual artist known for her dreamlike images blending fashion, nature, dance, and travel across 60–70+ destinations worldwide. From diving with sperm whales in Tonga to shooting on the frozen ice of Lake Baikal in Siberia, her work has been featured by Instagram's official accounts and global brands. Now based in London, she opens up about her creative process, her famous cat Kotleta, and why she refuses to use AI to generate her art. Kristina breaks down how she: • Escaped a "grey, ugly city" near Moscow by building fairy tales through photography • Went viral on Instagram through photos of her cat Kotleta, featured by Instagram Russia • Sources and custom-designs elaborate dresses with fashion designers for her iconic shoots • Scouts locations across 60–70+ countries and adapts her creative vision on the fly • Casts ballerinas as her favorite models — combining dance, nature, and photography as "three arts in one" • Dove into open ocean with a rare pod of socializing sperm whales in Tonga despite barely knowing how to dive • Shot the legendary frozen ice of Lake Baikal with custom dresses designed to look like the ice itself • Explored Socotra, Yemen on only the second plane after the island reopened — inflating mirror balloons with a toilet pump • Takes a firm anti-AI stance, explaining why real travel and handmade art matter more than generated images Whether you're a photographer, travel creator, or visual artist navigating the AI era, this conversation is a masterclass in building a creative career rooted in real experiences. 🔗 Follow Kristina Makeeva: https://www.instagram.com/hobopeeba/ 🔗 To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit https://creatorthepodcast.com/ Conversations with the people building careers, businesses, and culture through creativity. 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-the-podcast/id1788987273 🎙️ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aHdngxWvkUbpDlmmCq8Z6?si=zQjPxLneRaOUIwP-y5BmyA 🕐 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction to Kristina Makeeva 02:05 - Early life and inspirations 03:16 - Learning Photoshop and first camera 04:21 - Instagram breakthrough & Cutleta Cat 06:15 - Costume design & fashion shoots 07:16 - Models, casting and ballerinas 10:54 - Creative process & location scouting 12:13 - Socotra: challenges and projects 16:24 - Diving with sperm whales (Tonga) 22:28 - Wildlife projects & favorite shoots 27:00 - AI, authenticity, and copyright concerns 33:34 - Russia highlights: Lake Baikal & Kamchatka 37:02 - Future ambitions: space & Mars 40:07 - Top three countries to live and work 41:54 - Where to find Kristina & closing #KristinaMakeeva #Hobopeeba #TravelPhotography #CreatorPodcast #FairyTalePhotography #ContentCreator #NoAI #LakeBaikal #Socotra #SpermWhales #Tonga #PhotographyPodcast

  5. 25 Aug

    Adam Rotstein on Getting Paid to Hate Everything

    A comedian built a viral brand around hating on neighborhoods — now brands, book agents, and algorithms are all paying attention. In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Adam Rotstein (@rot_bot) breaks down how he turned his inner monologue into a serialized content empire, why nostalgia is his secret weapon for shareability, and the real tension of monetizing a "negative" brand. 🎙️ Topics covered: the professional hater origin story, what makes a place ripe for roasting, handling flops as a full-time creator, the gentrification playbook that connects Williamsburg to every city, brand deal challenges when your whole thing is hating, and why a book deal might be next. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Meet Adam Rotstein, Professional Hater 00:58 – How the "hater" persona was born 02:01 – East Coast roots, LA adulthood 02:40 – Villain origin story: Playa Vista 03:47 – What makes a place go viral (nostalgia + shareability) 07:54 – Dealing with flops and the creator grind 12:34 – Creative process: B-roll, notes app, VO 15:05 – Brand deals: Hulu, restaurants, and the monetization puzzle 16:56 – Why serialized format wins followers 18:30 – Next cities: Orange County, NYC, international? 20:51 – Anti-influencer culture and TikTok overtourism 23:31 – Gifted meals, ethics, and handshake deals 24:55 – Book agents calling: what a hater's book looks like 27:29 – Where to find Adam & wrap-up

  6. 11 Aug

    Mega American on Building 32M Followers Without Saying a Word

    He went from renting cars at Enterprise to 32 million followers — filming the world's most breathtaking places on nothing but an iPhone, without ever saying a word. This is Mega American's first long-form interview. In this episode of CREATOR: The Podcast, Josh Platillero, otherwise known as @megaamerican breaks down how he built one of the largest travel accounts in the world, his "nature mogging" philosophy, the exact video that changed everything (and why a 50% like ratio made him quit his job overnight), his nomadic lifestyle with no home base for 2.5 years, the most beautiful places he's ever seen, and what's next — including live streaming adventures and a potential travel show. Whether you're searching for a travel creator podcast, TikTok growth strategies, or just want to know how someone sees the best of Earth for a living, this conversation covers it all. 00:00 - Introduction to Joshua Platillero01:22 - What is Nature Mogging?02:14 - Becoming a Creator During COVID03:10 - Viral Reaction Format Breakthrough04:23 - Nomadic Lifestyle & Travel Strategy05:24 - Choosing Destinations & Flights06:33 - Researching Places & Audience Preferences07:40 - Favorite Sunsets & Destinations09:03 - Sea Otter Viral Video & Wildlife Filming11:23 - Tulip Lore & Tulip Mania13:30 - Filmmaking Style: Hands, Face & Presence14:33 - Faith & Psalm 19:115:39 - Audience Impact & Recognition17:03 - Filming Process & Solo vs Group Travel19:11 - Streaming Ambitions & Live Adventure Streams21:53 - Early Trends & Going Full-Time24:27 - Monetization & Brand Partnerships26:13 - 50 States in 50 Days Sunset Tour29:36 - Most Breathtaking Places on Earth33:00 - Places He Hasn't Been Yet37:37 - If You Could Only Live in Three Countries39:04 - Japan & Future Travel Priorities41:05 - Future Plans, Family & Wrap Up

  7. 4 Aug

    ENCORE // Jordan Egbert: The Mission to Visit Every Country on Earth

    Jordan Egbert (⁠@counting.countries⁠) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss his goal to visit every country on earth and the unexpected business he built along the way. In this episode, Jordan reveals how he went from zero international travel until age 23 to visiting 142 countries, including returning to door-to-door pest control sales each summer just to fund another year of travel before monetizing his content. Host Ross Borden explores Jordan's most unique destinations, from Turkmenistan (dubbed "the North Korea of the Middle East") to the futuristic cities of China where you can pay with your palm print. Jordan offers practical advice for traveling with young children, and explains his counterintuitive content strategy of studying what already works rather than chasing viral trends. Whether you're planning your next adventure or building a creator business, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on turning passion into profit. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit ⁠creatorthepodcast.com⁠ 0:00 Introduction to Jordan Egbert 1:11 Why Travel Every Country? 2:16 From Corporate Job to Full-Time Creator 4:29 Door-to-Door Sales for Travel Funding 5:17 COVID Pivot and Daily Content Strategy 6:55 First Viral Video Success 8:05 Growing from 10K to 300K Followers 10:09 Launching the Travel Hacking Business 12:37 How Credit Card Points Actually Work 14:12 Building an 80K/Month Business 15:27 Favorite Destinations Around the World 16:33 Turkmenistan: North Korea of the Middle East 20:15 Why White Cars and No Dogs? 22:22 China: Living in the Future 25:50 First Impressions of China 27:39 Must-Visit Chinese Cities 30:10 Harvey Ice Festival 31:21 Lapland Finland: Santa's Village 33:17 Adventure in the Arctic Circle 34:02 Traveling with Young Kids 36:09 Tips for Family Travel 37:13 Hidden Gems in Japan 38:20 Three Countries Passport Question 39:02 Why Indonesia Made the List 39:47 Switzerland's Mountain Beauty 43:04 Future Plans and TV Show Dreams 46:50 Where to Find Jordan Online

  8. 28 Jul

    ENCORE // JJ Yosh: Backpacking Kitty's Journey from Local Hikes to International Summits

    JJ Yosh (@jjyosh), the creator behind viral TikTok sensation, Backpacking Kitty (@backpackingkitty), joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss building a content empire around his adventure cat Simon. In this episode, JJ shares the remarkable origin story of how he reluctantly adopted Simon—a rescue kitten hours away from euthanization—and transformed him into an internationally-traveling mountaineering phenomenon. Host Ross Borden explores JJ's journey from filming outdoor excursions at UC Santa Barbara in 2006 to taking Simon snowboarding, mountain biking, and climbing 14ers across Colorado, the Austrian Alps, and Guatemalan volcanoes. JJ reveals the challenges of training cats for extreme adventures, the logistics nightmare of international pet travel, and how he influences Simon to perform on command for brand partnerships with companies like Purina. He also discusses going viral on TikTok in 2019, the waves of plateaus and reinvention that come with content creation, and his ambitious plans to attempt the seven summits with Simon in 2026. Whether you're a pet owner dreaming of adventuring with your animal or a content creator navigating brand deals and virality, this conversation delivers inspiration on turning unconventional ideas into sustainable creator businesses. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to JJ Yosh 00:25 - Welcome and podcast intro 01:07 - Why travel with a cat? 02:05 - How JJ met Simon (rescue cat story) 02:14 - Simon's natural athleticism and training 04:43 - Public reactions to adventure cat 06:03 - Snowboarding and skiing with Simon 07:27 - Encounters with dogs on the trail 09:02 - Can any cat become an adventure cat? 11:25 - Technical climbing and peak bagging 13:25 - Starting content creation with Simon 14:25 - Going viral in 2019 on TikTok 15:55 - International adventures (Alps, Guatemala, volcanoes) 17:09 - Future bucket list: Seven summits 19:43 - Travel logistics and international requirements 22:01 - Flying internationally with a cat 24:16 - Cost of traveling with pets 29:42 - Brand partnerships and working with Simon 32:02 - Starting the production company 33:31 - Meeting Simon on camera 34:08 - Launching Simon's own social media accounts 35:16 - Where to find JJ and Simon online 35:57 - Outro and podcast credits

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About

Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers. Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    Matador Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matador Network
  • Show Website
    CREATOR: The Podcast

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