Dan Becker is a backpacker from Wisconsin who turned his passion into his full-time profession. If you’ve poked around YouTube for backpacking, you’ve no doubt seen his videos a time or two. He’s grown a massive following and for good reason - he’s just a great guy. Dan is genuine, sincere, funny, and just loves to backpack. I didn’t know much about him before we spoke, but sincerely enjoyed getting to know him and now have a fond appreciation for what he’s been able to accomplish.

We cover a ton of ground in this episode, including everything from Wisconsin backpacking culture and learning how to find your own style of backpacking, to starting a YouTube channel and making it a real career. One of the things I find fascinating about Dan’s approach to making backpacking a “career” is that he looks at it like a business and a hobby. He’s been able to separate the two things, but also fuse them together which is really hard to do. Dan has used backpacking to create a business and business to create more backpacking adventures and I think a lot of outdoor creators can learn a thing or two from him. I mean, the guy has a family and goes backpacking for a living.

I have no doubt you’ll enjoy getting to know Dan as much as I did.

Show Notes and Links:

  • Dan’s outdoor backstory
  • Backpacking in Wisconsin
  • Getting to know the backpacking crowd
  • Western backpacking vs Mid West backpacking
  • Appreciating what you have
  • Putting backpacking in a box
  • Learning to backpack
  • Finding a personal backpacking style
  • Being the focus of hit pieces
  • Why Dan started a YouTube channel
  • The life of a creative
  • Deciding to go all in on YouTube
  • Sponsorships and brand deals
  • Dan’s advice to creators
  • Working out with Dan
  • How to follow up with Dan
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanBecker
  • IG: https://www.instagram.com/danbeckeroutdoors
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danbeckeroutdoors
  • Dan's rescue recap: https://youtu.be/FRSGGUUtN9Y

Support the showThanks for listening! Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.

  • Connect: emory@byland.co
  • Main Website: https://byland.co/
  • Courses Homepage: https://courses.byland.co/
  • Learn How To Backpack: https://courses.byland.co/learnhowtobackpack
  • 6 Weeks To Solo Backpacking: https://courses.byland.co/6-weeks-to-solo-backpacking-waitlist
  • Recommended Backpacking Gear: https://byland.co/recommended-gear-summary
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmoryByLand
  • Facebook Groups: https://byland.co/facebook-groups
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emory_by_land
  • Support the Show: https://byland.co/donate