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CREATOR: The Podcast

CREATOR: The Podcast

Written by: Matador Network
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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© Matador Network Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Virgin Will Pay You $100K to Travel the World: Chris Tomkins on How to Become the next Head of Yes

    Virgin Will Pay You $100K to Travel the World: Chris Tomkins on How to Become the next Head of Yes
    Oct 6 2026
    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.
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    36 mins
  • From 700 Followers to the Internet's Gorpcore Queen | Sabrina Bloedorn

    From 700 Followers to the Internet's Gorpcore Queen | Sabrina Bloedorn
    Sep 22 2026
    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
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    44 mins
  • No AI, All Real: One Photographer's Rule | Kristina Makeeva

    No AI, All Real: One Photographer's Rule | Kristina Makeeva
    Sep 8 2026
    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
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    44 mins
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