CREATOR: The Podcast

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

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

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

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

Mike and Anne Howard (@honeytrek), the couple behind the world's longest honeymoon, join CREATOR: The Podcast to share how they've built a successful travel brand while living nomadic for 14 years straight. What started as a 500-day honeymoon in 2012 has turned into 5,000+ days without owning a key to a house or apartment, two National Geographic books, and a thriving business focused on glamping and sustainable couple's travel. In this episode, they reveal the unglamorous reality of luxury travel and explain why their best travel memories come from the bumps in the road, not the fancy hotels. Host Ross Borden explores how they've maintained their relationship through constant travel, their partnership strategies with tourism boards and brands, and their commitment to amplifying indigenous and marginalized communities. Mike and Anne share the secret to 5,000 days without a single plastic water bottle, why Africa is much safer than people think, and their lightning round of favorite high-end and budget accommodations across six continents. For travel creators looking to build authority or couples dreaming of extended travel, this episode proves that the adventure doesn't have to end.

Follow @HoneyTrek on Instagram and check out their website https://www.honeytrek.com/ and their books https://www.HoneyTrek.com/BookStore

To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com

00:00 - Introduction to Mike and Anne Howard

01:38 - What is a 5,000 Day Honeymoon?

03:11 - Starting the Journey: Budget vs. Luxury

04:04 - The Honeymoons.com Partnership

06:46 - Building a Travel Creator Business

08:30 - Pushing Couples Beyond Package Resorts

10:06 - Content Creation and Brand Partnerships

13:03 - What Makes a Good Honeymoon?

15:40 - The National Geographic Book Deal

19:55 - The Power of Being Published

21:08 - Traveling Successfully as a Couple

25:28 - Underrated Couples Destinations

29:28 - Breaking Africa Misconceptions

31:34 - The Art of Spontaneous Travel

34:18 - Sustainable Travel Practices

36:10 - 5,000 Days Without Single-Use Plastic

39:01 - Lightning Round: Favorite Hotels & Resorts

46:56 - Amplifying Indigenous and Marginalized Communities

48:22 - Three Countries for Life

50:20 - Where to Find Honey Trek