JJ Yosh (@jjyosh), the creator behind viral TikTok sensation, Backpacking Kitty (@backpackingkitty), joins Creator: The Podcast to discuss building a content empire around his adventure cat Simon. In this episode, JJ shares the remarkable origin story of how he reluctantly adopted Simon—a rescue kitten hours away from euthanization—and transformed him into an internationally-traveling mountaineering phenomenon. Host Ross Borden explores JJ's journey from filming outdoor excursions at UC Santa Barbara in 2006 to taking Simon snowboarding, mountain biking, and climbing 14ers across Colorado, the Austrian Alps, and Guatemalan volcanoes. JJ reveals the challenges of training cats for extreme adventures, the logistics nightmare of international pet travel, and how he influences Simon to perform on command for brand partnerships with companies like Purina. He also discusses going viral on TikTok in 2019, the waves of plateaus and reinvention that come with content creation, and his ambitious plans to attempt the seven summits with Simon in 2026. Whether you're a pet owner dreaming of adventuring with your animal or a content creator navigating brand deals and virality, this conversation delivers inspiration on turning unconventional ideas into sustainable creator businesses.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 - Introduction to JJ Yosh
00:25 - Welcome and podcast intro
01:07 - Why travel with a cat?
02:05 - How JJ met Simon (rescue cat story)
02:14 - Simon's natural athleticism and training
04:43 - Public reactions to adventure cat
06:03 - Snowboarding and skiing with Simon
07:27 - Encounters with dogs on the trail
09:02 - Can any cat become an adventure cat?
11:25 - Technical climbing and peak bagging
13:25 - Starting content creation with Simon
14:25 - Going viral in 2019 on TikTok
15:55 - International adventures (Alps, Guatemala, volcanoes)
17:09 - Future bucket list: Seven summits
19:43 - Travel logistics and international requirements
22:01 - Flying internationally with a cat
24:16 - Cost of traveling with pets
29:42 - Brand partnerships and working with Simon
32:02 - Starting the production company
33:31 - Meeting Simon on camera
34:08 - Launching Simon's own social media accounts
35:16 - Where to find JJ and Simon online
35:57 - Outro and podcast credits
