CREATOR: The Podcast

What if your next international trip lasted less than a day? Kevin Droniak went viral for “micro travel,” flying somewhere and coming home in under 24 hours. He walks Ross Borden through a day trip to Cairo, sleeping at the back of the plane, a flat tire that nearly derailed a day in Ireland, and how he plans a full day in Rome. He also explains why he started traveling this way and how he uses Google Flights and Expedia to find deals that make it work.

This is a segment from the episode “Kevin Droniak: Going Viral for ‘Micro Travel,’” originally aired on September 23, 2025.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 Platillero
01:22 - What is Nature Mogging?
02:14 - Becoming a Creator During COVID
03:10 - Viral Reaction Format Breakthrough
04:23 - Nomadic Lifestyle & Travel Strategy
05:24 - Choosing Destinations & Flights
06:33 - Researching Places & Audience Preferences
07:40 - Favorite Sunsets & Destinations
09:03 - Sea Otter Viral Video & Wildlife Filming
11:23 - Tulip Lore & Tulip Mania
13:30 - Filmmaking Style: Hands, Face & Presence
14:33 - Faith & Psalm 19:1
15:39 - Audience Impact & Recognition
17:03 - Filming Process & Solo vs Group Travel
19:11 - Streaming Ambitions & Live Adventure Streams
21:53 - Early Trends & Going Full-Time
24:27 - Monetization & Brand Partnerships
26:13 - 50 States in 50 Days Sunset Tour
29:36 - Most Breathtaking Places on Earth
33:00 - Places He Hasn't Been Yet
37:37 - If You Could Only Live in Three Countries
39:04 - Japan & Future Travel Priorities
41:05 - Future Plans, Family & Wrap Up

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

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

American expat and Iceland expert Kyana Sue Powers (@kyanasue) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to share how she turned an impossible dream into reality through sheer determination and creative problem-solving. In this episode, Kyana reveals the wild story of moving to Iceland with zero savings after leaving her corporate job, then navigating the country's strict immigration system by starting her own company to sponsor her own work visa. Ross Borden dives into Kyana's evolution from struggling photographer to successful content creator, exploring how she built multiple revenue streams through her Iceland travel map, affiliate partnerships, and UGC work—all while teaching her Icelandic chef husband about his own country. Kyana provides expert recommendations on Iceland's best lagoons, waterfalls, and camping spots, plus honest takes on tourist traps and the dramatic changes mass tourism has brought to the island. She discusses the ethical considerations of geotagging secret locations and shares unforgettable experiences like rescuing baby puffins and throwing them off cliffs to help them fly. Whether you're dreaming of moving abroad or planning an Iceland adventure, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom about pursuing unconventional paths.

00:00 - Introduction to Kyana Sue Powers
01:00 - Why Kyana moved to Iceland
02:04 - Living in Boston & reactions from family/friends
03:12 - Immigration hurdles & glacier guide plan
05:00 - COVID derailment of job plans
06:06 - Becoming a creator while a student
08:08 - Starting a company and fighting for a visa
10:20 - Current life: full-time creator & marriage
11:47 - Iceland travel tips & seasons
14:16 - Overtourism, commercialization, and costs
18:00 - Puffling Patrol and the Westman Islands
23:06 - Geotagging, secret spots, and the Kyana map
26:31 - Creator business: affiliates, UGC, and income
28:44 - Icelandic foods: fermented shark and baked rye bread
31:44 - Passport question: top three countries
33:18 - Reykjavik, lagoons, and city advice
35:58 - Camping, highlands, and overland spots
37:52 - Best hikes and remote Westfjords
40:42 - Where to find Kyana online & episode close