CREATOR: The Podcast

Matador Network
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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. 6D AGO

    Max Kolo: The Artist Redesigning Flyers in NYC

    Max Kolo (@cool_looking_bug), an innovative artist, filmmaker, and illustrator, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss his uniquely creative approach to content. In this episode, Max shares his viral "vigilante sign redesigns" series, where he transforms poorly designed small business flyers into professional marketing materials and anonymously places them back in public spaces. Host Ross Borden explores Max's journey from film school graduate to social media sensation, diving into his creative process for branded content, his philosophy on maintaining artistic integrity while working with brands, and his strategic approach to short-form storytelling. Max offers behind-the-scenes insights about his rule that "the brand should never interrupt the story," plus practical advice on developing creative ideas through consistent brainstorming and experimentation. Whether you're an aspiring content creator or simply interested in the intersection of art and digital media, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on finding success while maintaining authentic creativity in today's attention economy. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Max Kolo 00:15 - Podcast introduction & host overview 02:18 - Vigilante sign redesigns: concept and process 03:43 - Targeting mom-and-pop businesses & redesign impact 04:50 - Contacting flyer owners & their reactions 06:07 - Origins of the series & storytelling choices 07:49 - The "Miles" flyer story: finding the missing person 09:53 - Branded work: philosophy and integrating sponsors 12:34 - JBL shoe-print project & last-minute concept 15:02 - Crafting hooks and editing rhythm for short form 16:31 - What short form taught him vs film school 17:59 - Platform differences: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube shorts 25:47 - Real-world activations: murals, hidden prints, Sherwin-Williams 27:28 - AI and its implications for artists 32:30 - Idea generation: the notepad and creative process 34:16 - Going full-time, freelancing, and monetization 36:46 - Where to find Max online & closing

    38 min

  2. APR 7

    Max Campbell: Sailing Around the World on a Floating Youth Hostel

    Max Campbell (@un.tied), who transformed his passion for sailing into a thriving content creation career with over a million followers, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss his extraordinary journey across the world's oceans. In this episode, Max shares how disillusionment with conventional life led him to purchase a small boat at age 20 and embark on his first Atlantic crossing—a decision that completely changed his life's trajectory. Host Ross Borden explores Max's evolution from growing up in a maritime community to navigating treacherous situations, including an encounter with armed pirates off Venezuela's coast and a stint in a Mexican immigration jail. Max offers behind-the-scenes insights about life aboard Elixir (his "floating youth hostel"), the remote Polynesian communities he's visited, and the delicate balance between documenting his journey and preserving the rare disconnection that sailing provides. Whether you're dreaming of breaking free from conventional life or simply curious about what it takes to sail around the world, this conversation delivers a fascinating glimpse into a life defined by adventure, risk, and the profound freedom found on the open sea. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Max Campbell 01:09 - Why start sailing: motivation and first Atlantic crossing 02:26 - Growing up sailing: family, dinghies, early experience 03:43 - Risks and preparation for ocean crossings 05:31 - Early voyages & homemade autopilot to the Canary Islands 08:02 - Life at sea: highs, lows, weather and security 09:55 - Starting content creation and viral TikTok moment 12:06 - Connectivity vs disconnection: Starlink debate 15:26 - Elixir as a floating youth hostel: crew and refit 19:44 - Untied Sailing Club: course, community and resources 21:48 - Buying a boat: sizes, costs, and tips 26:04 - Boarding near Venezuela: armed encounter and resolution 32:26 - Arrest in Mexico: immigration detention experience 36:46 - Remote highlights: South Pacific and tiny island communities 39:51 - Funding the voyage: income streams and monetization 41:47 - If you could only live in three countries: UK, New Zealand, French Polynesia 42:58 - Where to find Max online and upcoming Pilotage guide 46:03 - Episode wrap and credits

    47 min

  3. MAR 31

    Raimee Iacofano: How to Travel When You're Broke

    Travel expert Raimee Iacofano (@raimeetravel) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss transforming her passion for travel into a thriving career. In this episode, Raimee shares her journey from corporate marketing to full-time content creator, including how she maintained both roles until just months ago. Host Ross Borden explores Raimee's approach to budget-friendly travel, from her early days when she traveled with just $5 in her bank account, to her current strategies for creating practical travel content. Raimee offers behind-the-scenes insights about her 65 flights last year, her favorite destinations including South Korea and lesser-known Japanese cities like Sendai, and her experience with alternative accommodation options like TrustedHousesitters. She also provides valuable perspective on balancing brand partnerships, managing over-tourism concerns, and creating multiple revenue streams as a creator. Whether you're an aspiring travel content creator or simply looking for authentic travel advice, this conversation delivers practical wisdom from someone who's mastered the art of seeing the world on any budget. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Raimee Iacofano 01:20 - Channel focus & living between Paris and California 02:19 - Early career and pivot to full-time creator 04:23 - Leaving corporate: the leap moment 06:24 - Financial advice for creators and building a nest egg 07:42 - Traveling on a budget: workaway, hostels, and house-sitting 11:27 - Trusted House Sitters & free accommodation experiences 13:00 - Income streams: brand deals, ambassadorships, affiliates 15:08 - Why base in France and shorter trip strategy 17:32 - Favorite food destinations: South Korea and Tonkatsu 19:29 - Japan hidden gems and best timing to visit 21:59 - Europe off-the-beaten-path: Mallorca and day trips from Paris 23:32 - Overtourism and creator responsibility 25:58 - Outdoor adventure highlights: New Zealand (Doubtful Sound, Mount Cook) 28:12 - Expedia ambassadorship and travel shops 30:17 - Representation: managers, agencies, and negotiating deals 32:51 - Passport question, social handles, and sign-off 33:45 - Closing thoughts

    35 min

  4. MAR 24

    Lamont Travels: How a Roadside Noodle Stop Changed a Family's Future

    Travel filmmaker Lamont Travels (@lamont.travels) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss his unique approach to travel storytelling that's captivating millions. In this episode, Lamont shares the remarkable story behind his viral Cambodia videos, including the fateful night when a power outage during dinner led to a profound connection with a local family and their local restaurant. Host Ross Borden explores Lamont's creative evolution from his musical roots influenced by his pianist father to his self-taught filmmaking techniques that blend cinematic visuals with perfectly matched musical scores and voice overs. Lamont offers candid insights about his transition from a $13.50/hour remote worker traveling the world to becoming a celebrated travel content creator, plus practical details about his production workflow from drone shots to final edits. Whether you're fascinated by the technical aspects of content creation or the human stories behind viral moments, this conversation reveals how authentic connections and artistic vision can create content that truly resonates. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Lamont Travels 00:23 - Host intro and episode setup 01:41 - How Lamont decided to go to Cambodia 03:36 - Exploring Cambodia and meeting locals 05:22 - Stopping at the roadside restaurant 07:40 - Power outage and candlelit dinner 08:37 - Meeting the father and deep connection 10:55 - Brief history of the Khmer Rouge 13:02 - Fundraiser for Maho and school enrollment 16:41 - Impact of storytelling and community aid 19:44 - Musical background and production roots 22:32 - Remote work and the leap to Medellín 24:38 - Asia, Cambodia and focusing on cinematic work 27:47 - Viral breakout and Jen Hamilton discovery 31:29 - Life in Cambodia, local reception and future plans 34:10 - Creative process: shooting to editing 36:43 - Editing tools, voiceovers and audio workflow 38:29 - Cows for Cambodia and community projects 40:56 - Rapid-fire: three countries choice 42:00 - Closing and podcast credits

    43 min

  5. MAR 17

    Arthur Bourbon: The Filmmaker Who Sparked a Surf Revolution in Liberia

    Arthur Bourbon (@arthurbourbon) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss his transformative journey documenting Liberia's emerging surf culture. In this episode, Arthur shares the remarkable story of Reagan, a young Liberian surfer who went viral shredding waves on a piece of scrap wood, demonstrating extraordinary talent with minimal resources. Host Ross Borden explores Arthur's evolution from professional surfer to filmmaker, diving into his two documentaries "Water Get No Enemy" and "We The Surfers," which chronicle how surfing became a healing force for former child soldiers and war refugees. Arthur offers behind-the-scenes insights about filming with minimal equipment and resources, plus how his work sparked an NGO that now supplies surfboards to African communities. Whether you're a filmmaker seeking inspiration for purpose-driven projects or simply interested in how sports can transform conflict-affected communities, this conversation delivers a powerful perspective on using creativity to drive meaningful social change. Both "Water Get No Enemy" and "We The Surfers" are available on all VOD platforms (Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo). To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Arthur Bourbon 00:39 - Podcast intro and episode setup 02:02 - Meeting Reagan: the Liberian surf kid 04:05 - Reflections on Africa and optimism 04:58 - First trip to Liberia and genesis of the film 07:52 - Liberian surf scene and community dynamics 11:55 - Ex-child soldiers and surfers' past 15:59 - Liberia today: safety and economic realities 19:25 - Making "Water Get No Enemy": approach and production 21:46 - Post-film impact: boards, NGO and building the surf club 30:49 - Women surfers and empowerment in Liberia 34:14 - How to watch the films (VOD/platforms) 35:23 - If your passport worked in only three countries 36:20 - Favorite surf destinations and under-the-radar spots 40:09 - Other African surf locations and experiences 42:15 - Outro and podcast credits

    43 min

  6. MAR 10

    ENCORE // Jo Franco: From YouTube Star to National Geographic TV Host

    This week, we're bringing back this conversation with Jo Franco as an encore presentation - originally published August 19th, 2025. Multilingual travel creator Jo Franco (@jo_franco) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss being an immigrant kid who didn’t speak English to a global polyglot television host for Netflix and National Geographic. Host Ross Borden explores Jo's journey from her three-year grind of uploading consistently to YouTube while working night shifts, the moment she chose risk over a corporate salary, and her recent accomplishment of learning Dutch as her seventh language. Jo offers candid insights about the emotional toll of being a creator where "if a video fails, it's like I failed," plus her philosophy that confidence comes from putting yourself in moments of true discomfort. Whether you're a content creator looking to level up or someone fascinated by the courage required to reinvent yourself multiple times, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on turning obstacles into opportunities and never settling for "young travel will never sell." To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Jo Franco 01:30 - Getting Started: From Immigrant Kid to Content Creator 03:28 - The TV Pitch Rejection That Changed Everything 04:28 - Building Damon and Jo: Three Years of Grinding 06:11 - The Bathroom Meeting That Launched a Career 08:49 - Going Full-Time: The Leap of Faith Moment 10:30 - Building Confidence and Sales Skills as a Creator 13:13 - Language Learning: From Portuguese to Polyglot 16:06 - Tips for Learning Languages Fast 18:08 - YouTube Strategy: Playing the Long Game 20:32 - National Geographic's Big Little Italy 22:11 - Creators vs. Hollywood: The Industry Shift 24:59 - Balancing Traditional Production with Creator Content 28:12 - How the Nat Geo Opportunity Came Together 29:47 - Closing Thoughts

    31 min

  7. MAR 3

    ENCORE // Kevin Droniak: Going Viral for ‘Micro Travel’

    This week, we're bringing back this conversation with Kevin Droniak as an encore presentation - originally published September 23rd, 2025.  Kevin Droniak (@kevindroniak) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss the revolutionary concept of micro travel - the art of visiting international destinations for less than 24 hours. In this episode, Kevin shares how he's been to places such as Egypt, Rome, and Ireland all as day trips, never staying the night in any of them. Host Ross Borden explores Kevin's journey from creating YouTube videos with his grandma in 2012 to building nearly a million followers across platforms, diving into his budget travel hacks using Google Flights and Expedia, his upcoming one-day trip to Kenya, and how he manages both his own brand partnerships and his grandma's influencer career. Whether you're a travel enthusiast or simply interested in unconventional content creation, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on turning personal constraints into viral business opportunities. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Kevin Droniak 00:49 - What is Micro Travel? 03:00 - The Challenge and Excitement of Micro Travel 04:16 - Extreme Example: Egypt in One Day 05:32 - Dealing with Travel Stress and Delays 06:29 - When Things Go Wrong: Ireland Flat Tire Story 07:44 - Hour-by-Hour: Rome Day Trip Breakdown 10:34 - Finding Cheap Flights and Travel Hacks 12:54 - Brand Partnerships and T-Mobile Collaboration 13:39 - YouTube Origins with Grandma (2012) 15:08 - Self-Managing as a Creator 16:28 - How Creator Culture Has Changed Since 2012 18:05 - Next Trip: Kenya for the Day 21:40 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Kevin Online

    24 min

  8. FEB 24

    John William Barger: Inside the World's Best Five-Star Hotels

    John William Barger (@jwbarger), luxury fashion and travel creator and a former NBC daytime television host, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to pull back the curtain on the world's most extraordinary hotels. In this episode, John shares how a canceled TV show during COVID unexpectedly launched his career as a luxury travel content creator and eventually led him to build a full creative agency — complete with videographers, editors, and salespeople. Host Ross Borden dives into John's creative process working with high-end hospitality brands, his philosophy on why the influencer shouldn't be the star of the content, and what truly separates an unforgettable hotel from an expensive one. John offers surprisingly candid takes on why point-redemption culture is quietly destroying legacy luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, and makes a passionate case for why Raffles and Rosewood stand above every other hotel brand on earth. Whether you're a travel creator looking to break into luxury brand deals or simply someone who wants to know where to stay when only the best will do, this episode is essential listening. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 Introduction to John William Barger 01:00 Best hotel brands in the world: Raffles vs. Rosewood 05:02 Why luxury hotels need a sense of place 06:40 Favorite Rosewood properties: Miramar & São Paulo 08:18 The case for independent luxury brands over points programs 10:04 Favorite hotel in Mexico: Las Alamandas 13:19 How John got started: from publishing to NBC to creator 15:30 How COVID transformed the creator industry 18:52 John's creative process and working with brand briefs 22:18 Building a team and scaling a creative agency 27:24 Making the property the star, not the influencer 30:07 How to find and pitch new brand partnerships 33:17 Best outreach strategies for creators 34:49 Three-country passport question: USA, Indonesia & Switzerland 37:21 Favorite hotels in Switzerland 39:05 Favorite destinations and hotels in Indonesia 42:41 Closing thoughts

    44 min
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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
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matador Network
  • Show Website
    CREATOR: The Podcast

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