ENCORE // Luke Tarrant: How a Motorcycle Accident Turned Into Viral Fame
This week, we're bringing back this conversation with Luke Tarrant as an encore presentation - originally published April 29th, 2025.
Motorcycle adventurer turned unexpected social media star Luke Tarrant (@luke_tarrant) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss how a catastrophic accident changed his life forever. In this compelling episode, Luke shares his harrowing experience of a life-altering motorcycle crash in Colombia that led to the amputation of his leg and a battle with sepsis that nearly killed him. Host Ross Borden explores Luke's journey from his early motorcycle travels through Vietnam and Southeast Asia to his ambitious Texas-to-Antarctica trip that was interrupted by tragedy. The conversation delves into Luke's unexpected rise to social media fame after his father posted an update video that garnered millions of views, his experiences navigating Colombia's healthcare system during a crisis, and his resilient plans to eventually complete his interrupted journey. Luke offers a refreshingly positive perspective on his new reality, stating "I don't view myself as really any different to before. I just happen to not have a leg." Whether you're an adventure traveler or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation delivers a powerful testament to human resilience and finding purpose in life's unexpected turns.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 Introduction to Luke Tarrant
01:50 Pre-Accident Travel Experience
05:00 Luke's Travel Philosophy and Content Approach
07:52 The Americas Trip Before the Accident
13:13 Venezuela Travel Experience
15:18 The Motorcycle Crash
18:05 The Hospital Experience in Colombia
21:06 The Ambulance Journey to Medellín
24:43 The Battle with Sepsis
28:57 Going Viral During Recovery
31:13 Adjusting to a New Reality
34:00 Life After the Accident
38:17 Finding Purpose in New Opportunities
40:24 Future Plans and Projects
43:50 Facing Fears and Moving Forward
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Chelsea Yamase: The OG Travel Creator Protecting The Places She Loves
Chelsea Yamase (@chelseakauai) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to share her journey from shy Hawaiian surfer to million-follower creator. Host Ross Borden explores Chelsea's 11 trips to Indonesia and her philosophy of prioritizing raw, authentic experiences over Instagram-perfect locations. Chelsea dives into growing up in Hawaii and how she learned to free dive at a later age. She offers candid insights about earning 80% of her income through quality brand partnerships over quantity, organizing epic women's adventure retreats from Patagonia to the Galapagos, and why she recently put everything in storage to search the world for a new place to call home. Whether you're an aspiring travel creator or simply interested in conscious tourism, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building an authentic creative career while grappling with your impact on the places you love.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 - Introduction to Chelsea Yamase
01:14 - Living in Bali and Upcoming Scooter Adventure
02:06 - Exploring Lesser-Known Indonesian Islands
04:05 - Philosophy on Travel and Authentic Experiences
05:41 - Balancing Tourism Recognition vs. Protecting Places
09:33 - Growing Up in Hawaii
11:28 - Free Diving Journey and Underwater Passion
14:35 - Travel as a Path to Mindfulness
16:19 - Social Media, Mental Health, and Inspiring Young Women
19:09 - My Soul Track App and Affirmations
20:49 - Business of Being a Creator
23:55 - Running Retreats and In-Person Events
26:14 - Three Countries Passport Question
30:38 - Leaving LA and Searching for Home
32:38 - US Culture vs. European Lifestyle
35:39 - Community and Third Spaces
36:07 - Closing Thoughts
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Garrett Gee: Building the Bucket List Family’s Travel Empire
Garrett Gee of the Bucket List Family (@thebucketlistfamily) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss building a travel media empire with his family as they’ve traveled to over 100 countries over the past 10 years. In this episode, Garrett shares how he sold his iPhone app Scan to Snapchat for $54 million, then made the bold decision to set that money aside and fund their world travels by selling everything they owned. Host Ross Borden explores Garrett's journey of founding the Bucket List Family brand with over 5 million followers, diving into their philosophy of traveling with the entire family, and raising "brave kids" who approach new experiences with confidence. Garrett offers behind-the-scenes insights about expanding into hospitality with private island resorts in Tonga and Canada, plus his ambitious animated cartoon project that has 30,000 investors waiting for results. Whether you're an aspiring creator, travel enthusiast, or parent wondering how to raise adventurous kids, this conversation delivers actionable insights about building authentic content businesses and living life on your own terms.
0:00 - Introduction to Garrett Gee
1:28 - Why Travel with Little Kids?
3:08 - Swimming with Killer Whales in the Sea of Cortez
9:54 - Garrett's Entrepreneurial Journey and Shark Tank
12:53 - Selling Scan App to Snapchat for $54 Million
16:07 - Starting the Bucket List Family with $45,000
18:08 - Early Brand Partnerships and Growth
22:28 - Launching the Bucket List Collection
24:13 - Building a Safari Lodge in Africa from Scratch
27:10 - Preserving Special Places as Stewards, Not Owners
29:17 - Current Properties: Tonga Island and Canada Lodge
30:56 - Creating the Bucket List Family Cartoon
34:52 - Raising $10 Million and Pitch Meetings with Distributors
38:17 - Raising Brave Kids and Teaching Inner Confidence
41:09 - Filming Family Adventures as Home Videos
43:11 - 25 Days in Antarctica
45:20 - Sleepwalking on the Bow of the Ship
46:01 - Disney/Nat Geo Book Launch at Walt Disney World
47:29 - Favorite Countries Around the World
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Kira Bella: Rural Revitalization and Preserving Japan's Cultural Heritage
Kira Bella (@earthkira), Founder of Kirameki and rural revitalization entrepreneur, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss building a cultural tourism business in the Japanese countryside. In this episode, Kira shares how she went from house-sitting cats and koi fish to becoming the third foreigner in Hiroshima Prefecture to receive a startup visa, including her journey of joining a 2,000-year-old Kagura dance team and performing in a UNESCO World Heritage rice planting festival. Host Ross Borden explores Kira's transition from traveling to 40+ countries to settling in Kita Hiroshima, diving into the challenges of language barriers in rural Japan, the art of gaining community acceptance as an outsider, and her vision for scaling cultural exchange programs across Japan. Kira offers behind-the-scenes insights about navigating Japanese business culture without formal training, plus practical advice on building authentic relationships in traditional communities. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in cultural preservation, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on creating meaningful tourism that benefits local communities.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 - Introduction to Kira Bella
02:08 - How Kira Discovered Rural Japan
03:07 - What is Kira Meki? The Vision and Mission
07:40 - Creating Unique Experiences That Didn't Exist Before
09:08 - Building a Following and Growing the Business
11:38 - From One Program a Month to Viral Success
16:21 - The Town of Kita Hiroshima: Population Decline and Revitalization
19:37 - Getting to Kita Hiroshima: Accessibility and Location
21:28 - Why Hiroshima Prefecture is a Strategic Tourism Hub
23:16 - Learning Japanese Through Immersion
26:19 - Joining a 2000-Year-Old Kagura Dance Team
29:25 - Earning Trust and Acceptance from the Community
32:49 - The Moment Kira Decided to Stay in Japan
34:45 - Navigating the Startup Visa Process
36:42 - What's Next? Scaling Kirameki Across Japan
39:54 - Working with Tourism Boards and Prefectures
41:39 - Travel Tips: Off the Beaten Path in Japan
46:48 - Closing and Where to Find Kirameki
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Kevin Droniak: Going Viral for ‘Micro Travel’
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
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