Overland Expo West is just over 40 days away, and it’s shaping up to be another amazing weekend with world-class exhibitors, hundreds of hours of instruction, and thousands of great rigs. One part of the weekend that should be on your “can’t miss” list is the creator area. Here you’ll find an amazing group of content creators who truly walk the walk. Not only can you check out their adventure rigs, but over the weekend, you’ll have a chance to learn from their expertise as you prepare to record your own journey, no matter if you plan to take a stab at content creation or not. Check out the roster and sessions below, and we hope we’ll see you at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ, May 15–17.
Michael Ladden
Teaching:
The Truth About Baja: Beyond the Myths
Creator or Consumer? The Real Road to Becoming a Full-Time Content Creator
Powering Your Adventure: Overland Electrical Systems Made Simple
Can You Build Your Own Overland Adventure Rig?
So You Want To Be A Full Time Nomad?
Bio: Growing up in rural New England, surrounded by Jeeps, trucks, and tractors, Michael Ladden developed an early fascination with vehicles and exploration. Watching his father work on Jeeps and Land Cruisers, it was only fitting that Michael’s first word was “Jeep,” marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for adventure and all things that “go.”
Throughout high school and college, Michael spent his free time camping, cycling, hiking, and exploring the United States. In the early 1990s, he made a decision that would shape his future: quitting a comfortable office job to spend a year traveling across North, East, and Central Africa. Journeying by train, bus, camel, and hitchhiking, he discovered both a love for remote travel and his first Land Rover.
Returning to the U.S., Michael found a 1965 Series IIA Land Rover, launching decades of building, restoring, and maintaining overland vehicles. In 1996, he co-founded Drive the Globe Overland Adventures with longtime friend Paul Shumway, organizing self-driven journeys and consulting on larger expeditions. Together, they explored every Canadian province, completed multiple Northern Canada expeditions, and traveled to the Arctic Circle.
In 2000, Michael helped lead the “Vintage Rovers Across Africa” Expedition, where four vintage Land Rovers crossed more than 8,000 miles through West Africa, visiting ten countries from Morocco to the Ivory Coast.
Balancing adventure with business, Michael later co-founded and became CEO of a Keller Williams franchise in Connecticut, helping grow it into one of New England’s largest real estate firms. During this time, he also founded McLadden Restaurant Group, opening four Irish pubs before selling the company in 2019.
Adventure eventually called again. After more than a decade in corporate life, Michael sold his home, moved into a 1979 Mercedes Unimog, and set out on a global expedition. Though the pandemic reshaped those plans, his journey continued. He transitioned through multiple expedition truck builds, including Stewart & Stevenson platforms, and now explores North and Central America by both truck and KTM adventure motorcycle.
Beyond overlanding, Michael is a private pilot, avid cyclist, and author currently writing about his African adventures.
Beth Atencio
Teaching: From Passion to Profit: Building a YouTube Channel That Pays
Beth Atencio is the creator behind Beth’s MidLife Adventure, a rapidly growing YouTube channel documenting her full-time van life journey across the American West. After picking up her camper van in 2021, Beth eventually transitioned into full-time travel, sharing honest, relatable stories about solo adventure, resilience, and building a life outside the conventional path.
In just over a year and a half of consistent content creation, Beth has grown her channel into a monetized platform and business, working with outdoor and travel brands while building a loyal community of viewers who value authenticity and practical insight. Her content blends real-world adventure with the behind-the-scenes realities of entrepreneurship, proving that it’s never too late to start something new.
Through her work, Beth encourages others to pursue bold ideas, embrace midlife reinvention, and turn passion into possibility.
Jason Darrah
Teaching: How to Film Authentic Outdoor Content Without a Crew
Jason Darrah is an outdoor videographer and photographer living the van life in Central Oregon. Camping and overlanding in his Ford E350 4×4 van conversion, Jason enjoys the thousands of square miles of wilderness, National Forest, and public lands available in the region. Jason enjoys capturing his adventures in a fun and inspiring way, and he hopes that his videos and photographs will excite viewers about creating their own overland or van life adventures in the outdoors.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Basecamp: Camping at Overland Expo West 2026
Steve Despain
Teaching: Content Creator Roundtable Discussion
Steve Despain creates content for YouTube rooted in a deep love for and respect for the great outdoors. His videos focus on capturing the magic of being immersed in nature, with an approach that lets the beauty of the wild take center stage. Rather than compete with the splendor of the outdoors, Steve stays out of the way and allows Mother Nature to shine through, ensuring each video reflects a genuine wilderness experience.
Through his work, Steve hopes to share the same sense of well-being, peace, and wholesomeness he feels when fully immersed in these magnificent places. His goal is to create videos that are not only entertaining but also useful in meaningful ways. He firmly believes that the best time spent in life is time spent outdoors, where timeless beauty, peace, and freedom can’t be found anywhere else.
Steve also believes that food simply tastes better when camping, and he takes full advantage of that by eating well in the wild. He brings top-quality ingredients and takes pride in preparing them properly, creating restaurant-quality meals surrounded by the ambiance of nature for the ultimate outdoor dining experience.
As expected, Steve is particular about his camp cooking gear. In fact, much of what he uses is of his own design, with a strong emphasis on reliability and performance. To him, camping kits should be built from the highest-quality materials and designed to be as simple as possible without sacrificing function. While he appreciates a few luxuries, he believes gear should be efficient to transport, easy to deploy, and enjoyable to use.
Chef Chad White
Teaching: Poc Chuc on the trail with Chad White
Chef Chad White is a James Beard Award–nominated chef, restaurateur, and outdoor culinary innovator known for blending refined technique with rugged, open-fire cooking. A former U.S. Navy cook and Top Chef Season 13 alum, Chad has built a career that spans acclaimed restaurants, Baja-inspired cuisine, and high-impact collaborations across the outdoor and automotive worlds.
He is the founder of Trail Feast, an immersive off-road dining experience that brings guests deep into the wilderness for multi-course meals cooked over live fire. Through Trail Feast, Chad creates “wildly sophisticated” experiences that fuse storytelling, adventure, and elevated cuisine under the stars. Trail Feast partners have Nitto Tire, Benchmade, Gozney, Yeti, Solo Stove, Subaru, Jeep Jamboree, Rhino Rack, ARB, and the Overland Expo to deliver unforgettable moments in some of the most remote landscapes in the country. Rooted in grit, precision, and a deep respect for the outdoors, Chad’s work lives at the intersection of fire, flavor, and the open trail.
Connor Scalbom
Teaching: Turning an Adventurous Lifestyle Into Your Career
Connor has traveled on the road out of his Tacoma full-time for the past two years now. He lives for the spirit of adventure and to create with his camera. He loves to tell stories, share his adventures, and capture the moment. His mission is to inspire others to live to the fullest and get out of their comfort zones. Connor has been a full-time photographer and videographer for nearly ten years now, with a lot of experience in different niches and finding ways to earn a living through his lens. He enjoys connecting with others and helping them find their path into an adventurous life!
Peter and Kathy Holcombe
Teaching: The Greatest Road Trip on Earth: Driving the PanAmerican Highway
When the Holcombes sold their home in 2014 and moved their (then) ten year old daughter and photography business into a 170 square foot Winnebago View for a year-long road trip, they had no idea of the impact that one fateful decision would have on, well…pretty much everything.
That first year on the road was a time of letting go: letting go of the house and mortgage, the photography studio, and all the trappings of life in the suburbs. Once they let go of the external pressures to “get ahead”, they found themselves with an abundance of time and freedom to pursue the projects and adventures that ultimately allowed the Holcombes to sculpt a lifestyle beyond their wildest dreams.
One year on the road became two, and then three…four…five…, and now there is no end in sight. In fact, the adventures just keep getting better. After eleven years of full-time life on the road, they have driven across 40 countries in North and South America, and Europe. They are on a mission to share their journey around the world in hopes of inspiring you to get outside, spend time with the people you love, and go on your own adventures. You can follow along on YouTube @Famagogo, or on Instagram @PeterHolcombe
Be sure to check back for future updates on Overland Expo West. We’ll have info on exclusive show discounts, new gear, and much more in the coming weeks.
