CREATOR: The Podcast

• 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Abubakar Finiin: The Creator Behind Viral YouTube Series Kids of the Colony

  Abubakar Finiin (@kidsofthecolony), the London creator behind the viral travel series Kids of the Colony, joins CREATOR:The Podcast to discuss how he turned BBC rejection into a huge YouTube success. In this episode, Abu shares his journey from university student to independent TV producer, including how he convinced his friends to travel to Bangladesh, Somaliland, and Morocco to explore their parents' homelands. Host Ross Borden explores Abu's unconventional approach to filmmaking, from learning camera equipment for the first time in Dhaka to creating authentic cultural exchanges through working local jobs like delivering water in Somaliland and serving tea to elders. Abu offers behind-the-scenes insights about funding episodes through regular day jobs, plus the viral TikTok moment that changed everything and brought attention from major publications like The Guardian. Whether you're an aspiring creator or simply interested in authentic travel content, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building something meaningful without industry permission or experience. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 Introduction to Abubakar Finiin 01:14 Origin of Kids of the Colony 03:13 Choosing Countries for the Series 05:43 Why the Show Resonated Globally 07:56 Advice for Aspiring Creators 08:57 Show Format and Early Challenges 10:33 Life in Somaliland & Creating Challenges 12:51 Producing and Filming the Series 13:00 Somaliland Explained 13:40 Future of Kids of the Colony 15:24 Funding & Brand Deals 16:53 TikTok & Viral Growth 19:37 Full Circle with Networks 20:11 Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Abu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Mickela Mallozzi: The TV Host Dancing Around The World

  Four-time Emmy award-winning host of Bare Feet, Mickela Mallozzi (@travelbarefeet) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss building an international travel show through the universal language of dance. Host Ross Borden explores her journey from classically trained dancer to independent PBS producer, diving into the challenges of self-funding 8 seasons of a travel show, navigating cultural appreciation versus appropriation, and building authentic relationships with communities worldwide. Mickela offers behind-the-scenes insights about working with tourism boards and creating respectful cultural exchanges, plus practical advice on maintaining artistic integrity while securing sponsorships. Whether you're an aspiring content creator or simply interested in authentic travel storytelling, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on turning passion into sustainable creative careers. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Mickela Mallozzi 00:28 - Host Introduction and Show Overview 01:34 - From Classical Dance to Travel Content Creation 02:39 - Dancing with Strangers: Building Connections Through Movement 04:16 - Finding Dancers: Studios vs. Street Festivals 05:56 - Making Dance Accessible Across Cultures 07:12 - 40 Countries and Returning to Favorites 08:19 - Favorite Places to Dance: New Zealand and the Haka 11:15 - Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation 15:04 - From Solo Creator to Full TV Production 15:29 - Building the Show: From Pilot to PBS 18:37 - Why PBS Was the Perfect Platform 20:26 - Impact of PBS Defunding on Independent Creators 24:11 - Self-Funding a TV Show: Sponsors and Partnerships 26:13 - PBS Advertising Rules and Brand Partnerships 27:22 - Distribution: Amazon Prime and Go Traveler 29:25 - Season 8 Preview: Maori, Taiwan, and Cuba 30:37 - Three Countries Question: Ireland, Italy, and New York 32:21 - Where to Watch and Follow Bare Feet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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