JJ Yosh: Backpacking Kitty's Journey from Local Hikes to International Summits

JJ Yosh, the creator behind viral TikTok sensation, Backpacking Kitty, 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. Follow JJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjyosh/ Follow Backpacking Kitty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backpackingkitty/ To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit https://creatorthepodcast.com/ Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-the-podcast/id1788987273 Subscribe to CREATOR: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aHdngxWvkUbpDlmmCq8Z6?si=zQjPxLneRaOUIwP-y5BmyA 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 Check out GuideGeek, Your New Personal AI Travel Assistant! http://bit.ly/3LKpHTj More From Matador Network Website: http://matadornetwork.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matadornetwork TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matadornetwork Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matadornetwork Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/matadornetworktravel Join Our Newsletter: https://matadornetwork.com/content/newsletter For Epic Hotels & Airbnbs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@epic.stays Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicstays_ For Beautiful Travel Content TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@visit About Matador Network Matador is the world’s largest independent travel publisher. Since 2006, we’ve redefined travel media by developing a global network of editors, writers, photographers, and filmmakers who’ve pushed the limits of what’s possible as travel storytellers. At Matador, we envision a world where travel is a transformative experience that enables us to find humanity in each other everywhere.