CREATOR: The Podcast

• Ciara Johnson: Empowering Women to Travel Solo

  Solo travel content creator Ciara Johnson (@hey_ciara) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss her journey from corporate America to full-time travel influencer. In this episode, Ciara shares how she quit her HR job in 2017 to take an "adult gap year" that transformed into a successful career, revealing how she bridged her initial savings with a remote travel writing job before landing her first paid brand deals in 2019. Host Ross Borden explores Ciara's evolution from unpaid brand collaborations to earning up to $50,000 in a single month, and dives into her pitching strategies. Ciara offers behind-the-scenes insights about working with major brands like Marriott, Toyota, and American Express, plus practical advice on maintaining authenticity in content creation. She explains how her niche in empowering women for solo travel emerged naturally from her own experiences: "I knew that if I wanted to travel, I was just gonna have to simply do it alone." Whether you're an aspiring content creator or simply interested in travel entrepreneurship, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on building a sustainable career from your passions. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Ciara Johnson 01:01 - Ciara's background and journey as a creator 02:30 - Quitting her job to pursue content creation 05:18 - Living first, then creating content philosophy 07:46 - Early brand deals and pitching to companies 08:51 - Major brand partnerships (Marriott, Toyota, Chevrolet) 12:26 - Finding her niche in solo female travel 15:39 - How brand opportunities developed over time 18:55 - Getting management and the benefits of representation 23:56 - Revenue as a full-time creator 24:37 - Future plans and creating balance 26:25 - Speaking engagements and networking opportunities 29:42 - Content production process and editing 31:18 - Ciara's top three countries to live in 32:15 - Where to find Ciara online

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• Luke Tarrant: How a Motorcycle Accident Turned Into Viral Fame

  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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• Mirna Valerio: Championing Body Diversity as a Plus-Size Athlete

  Mirna Valerio (@themirnavator), bestselling author, ultra-marathoner, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, joins Creator: The Podcast to share her extraordinary journey. In this episode, Mirna reveals how a panic attack transformed her life from overworked teacher to endurance athlete, including the moment her cardiologist asked, "You want to see your son grow up?" Host Ross Borden explores Mirna's evolution from struggling to run one minute on a treadmill to completing a staggering 142.6-mile desert ultra race, diving into her experiences as a plus-size athlete in elite sports, her rise to social media fame after a Wall Street Journal feature, and her groundbreaking partnership with Lululemon. Mirna offers candid insights about confronting skeptics who doubt her abilities, plus practical advice for aspiring writers and content creators. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast interested in inclusive adventure sports or simply seeking inspiration to start something new at any age, this conversation delivers a powerful perspective on challenging stereotypes and finding joy in the journey rather than focusing solely on the destination. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Mirna Valerio 01:39 - Mirna's background and achievements 02:54 - Health scare and life-changing moment 07:08 - Beginning the running journey 08:49 - Ultra marathon accomplishments 10:50 - Creating "Fat Girl Running" blog 12:18 - Getting discovered by Wall Street Journal 14:10 - Media attention and brand sponsorships 15:52 - "A Beautiful Work in Progress" memoir 18:39 - Facing doubt and stereotypes 20:52 - Completing the 100K race despite challenges 23:25 - Inspiring others through social media 25:58 - The Mirnavator's Grand Year at 50 27:09 - Origin of "The Mirnavator" nickname 33:30 - Closing remarks

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• Michael Motamedi: Living Worldwide, One Month at a Time

  Travel Creator Michael Motamedi (@michaelmotamedi) joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss his journey living around the world with his family. In this episode, Michael shares how watching his father's unfulfilling retirement sparked his decision to travel full-time with his wife and baby daughter. Host Ross Borden explores Michael's journey from restaurant entrepreneur to bourbon company founder to viral travel creator, diving into his month-long stays in destinations worldwide, his experiences using AI travel assistant GuideGeek, and his philosophical perspective on escaping the American "rat race." Michael offers refreshingly honest advice for new creators: "If you're able to create without needing to hit a quota and you create because it makes you happy, you're gonna be way better off in the long run." Whether you're dreaming of location independence or seeking authentic perspectives on international living, this conversation provides both practical insights and philosophical wisdom about prioritizing happiness over conventional success. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Michael Motamedi 01:37 - Michael's background and early life 03:43 - From Master Chef to bourbon entrepreneur 05:01 - Decision to travel the world full-time 06:36 - Starting from zero on TikTok 07:27 - Going viral in Amalfi Coast 09:08 - Philosophy of slow travel and immersion 11:44 - Guide Geek AI travel experiment 14:46 - Haircut adventure in Morocco 15:22 - Returning to Barcelona and potential settling down 18:16 - The difference between US and European lifestyles 23:27 - The addiction of constant travel 26:54 - Advice for new creators 31:51 - Biggest mistake as a creator 34:49 - Michael's three countries to live in forever 37:07 - Closing remarks

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• Adam Lovick: The Business of Building a Travel Media Brand

  Travel Creator Adam Lovick (@adam_lovick) joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss the evolution of travel content creation and brand building. In this episode, Adam shares how his family's travel agency background shaped his career path, including the ironic twist of being "fired by grandma" during COVID—a setback that ultimately pushed him to launch First Class Jerk, a travel media publishing company focused on the ‘premium traveler.’ Host Ross Borden explores Adam's signature green-screen TikTok style, his brand partnerships with major companies like Delta and Emirates, and the challenges of balancing creative work with business development. Adam offers refreshingly honest insights about the difficulty of building a creator business, admitting "This stuff is really hard. People underestimate how much time and energy it takes to be a creator." Whether you're looking to launch your own content brand or simply fascinated by the business of travel media, this conversation provides a realistic look at what it takes to carve out a distinctive voice in the crowded travel content space. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Adam Lovick 01:26 - Adam's early travel background and family business 03:20 - Getting fired by grandma and starting First Class Jerk 05:01 - The green screen content style and approach 06:36 - Sourcing content for green screen videos 07:47 - TikTok vs Instagram: Platform differences for creators 09:40 - The story behind First Class Jerk brand 12:48 - Working with brands and monetization strategies 16:25 - Building brand partnerships and cold outreach 20:22 - Perspective on influencer and PR agencies 23:42 - Long-term partnership with Delta 26:15 - Making the leap to full-time creator 29:17 - Adam's three favorite countries to live in 31:33 - Closing and where to follow Adam

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