Garrett Gee: Building the Bucket List Family’s Travel Empire
Description
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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