Parker Sheppard (@pshepfpv), an acclaimed First Person View (or FPV) drone pilot whose volcano footage has garnered tens of millions of views, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss the art and technology behind breathtaking aerial cinematography. In this episode, Parker shares his journey from building a media agency in West Virginia to capturing erupting volcanoes in Iceland, including how he once flew so close to molten lava that his GoPro started melting. Host Ross Borden explores Parker's evolution from real estate drone tours to adventure filmmaking, diving into the technical challenges of custom-building drones, the intensive training required (with thousands of flight hours), and the viral Faroe Islands shot that launched his career. Whether you're a filmmaker looking to elevate your aerial footage or simply fascinated by breathtaking drone videos that explore impossible places, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on following creative passion and the future of immersive cinematography.

To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com00:00 Introduction to Parker Sheppard

01:22 What is FPV Droning?

01:58 Origins of FPV Racing and Freestyle

02:46 Building Custom Drones

03:42 Flying Over Crowds and Legal Requirements

04:13 Parker's Production Company Origin Story

05:36 Learning FPV - The Challenge

06:52 Daily Practice Routine

07:42 Flight Hours and Experience

08:15 From Hobby to Business

08:48 Real Estate Breakthrough

09:45 Landing the First Big Contract

11:19 Business Growth and Expansion

12:07 First Trip to Iceland

13:23 Faroe Islands Viral Moment

14:54 Iceland Volcano Rush

16:32 The Million-View Volcano Shot

17:33 Becoming a Top FPV Pilot

18:57 Moving to Utah for Passion Projects

19:47 Hotel and Tourism Work

20:16 Future Bucket List Destinations

21:18 Three Countries Question

22:02 Where to Find Parker Online

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