The Creator Passport Podcast Episode 87: How This Couple Grew from 100 to 60K Followers While Working 9–5 Jobs
In this episode of The Creator Passport Podcast, we’re sitting down with Kristen and David, the travel-loving couple behind @upscaleadventurers, who grew from just 107 followers to nearly 60,000 in under a year, all while working full-time jobs.
They prove that you don’t need to quit your job, travel full-time, or be a Gen Z to become a successful creator. By leaning into their strengths (hello Type A systems!) and building a niche around upscale adventure travel, they’ve built a brand that converts with one Reel alone gaining 34,000 followers and over 18 million views.
We're diving deep into the strategies that helped them get traction fast, how they monetized their page before hitting 10K followers, and what mindset shifts helped them finally stop procrastinating and go all in.
We’re covering:
How Kristen and David grew from 107 to 60K+ followers in less than 12 months
Their viral Patagonia video that gained 34K followers overnight
How they built a monetization system with affiliate links (yes, even with under 10K)
The mindset blocks they had to overcome (and how a podcast episode changed everything)
Their exact weekly schedule for content creation while working 9-to-5
How being Type A and organized became their superpower
Why their niche pivot from points & miles to upscale hiking paid off
Their take on batching, repurposing content, and editing on desktop vs phone
What they wish they knew before starting as creators in their 30s
If you’ve ever thought, “It’s too late for me,” or “I don’t have enough time,” this episode will give you a real look at what’s actually possible with a plan and a little mindset magic.
🎒 LINKS & RESOURCES Free 4-Figure Creator Masterclass: https://upscaleadventurers--theloverspassport.thrivecart.com/4-figures-in-4-weeks-webinar/ Follow Kristen & David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upscaleadventurers/