Renee Hahnel (@reneeroaming), the photographer who visited every US national park and turned it into a best-selling book, joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss building a sustainable creator business over the past decade. In this episode, Renee shares the wild story of how winning the US green card lottery led her and her husband from Melbourne to Colorado, eventually settling in Washington State where they've built their entire creator business. Host Ross Borden explores Renee's journey from visiting all 63 US national parks in just seven months to publishing the best-selling coffee table book "Roaming America," diving into the reality of turning brand partnerships into long-term income, the difficult decisions around turning down lucrative deals that don't align with your values, and why integrity matters more than quick money in the creator economy. Renee offers behind-the-scenes insights about working with partners like Expedia and Capital One for years, plus candid reflections on why Washington State is the most underrated outdoor destination in America. Whether you're an aspiring travel creator or simply interested in how digital creators sustain careers long-term, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building a business that lasts beyond the algorithm. To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com 00:00 - Introduction to Renee Hahnel 00:24 - Host Introduction 01:05 - Reno Tahoe Creator Camp Experience 04:13 - Meeting Followers and Building Community 08:50 - Moving from Australia to the United States 11:02 - Why Washington State 15:07 - Fire Lookouts and Pacific Northwest Adventures 18:19 - Visiting Every US National Park 21:09 - Creating "Roaming America" Book 25:35 - The Business of Being a Creator 28:50 - Turning Down Brand Deals 30:41 - Going Full-Time as Creators 36:30 - Favorite Travel Destinations 37:22 - Antarctica and South Georgia Island 38:18 - Iceland Adventures 40:20 - Alaska's Remote National Parks 43:03 - Bear Viewing Safety and Experience 44:54 - Three Countries Question 47:28 - Where to Find Renee Online