How I Became a National Geographic TV Star

In 2013, National Geographic filmed a single-episode TV show about my career as a travel blogger and Photographic Storyteller.

Get Lost in Korea features a mix of humor, tradition, adventure, and exotic locations as I teamed up with Jesse Day: a Canadian entertainer who lived in Seoul and raps in Korean.

Highlights include me catching an octopus with my bare hands, attending an exorcism, winning a traditional Ssireum wrestling match, and learning zen martial arts from monks.

I’ll be honest. Sometimes, I still pinch myself to make sure it wasn’t all a dream.

Here’s the full episode of Get Lost in Korea. Keep scrolling past the video for the incredible true story of how it came to be.

Like so many things in life, my TV show’s origins are steeped in human connection.

In 2012, I was hired by Samsung to present my work at Photokina: the world’s largest photo trade show.

While there, I became friends with Dahee, who worked for National Geographic Channel Korea. After getting to know each other, she told me about a program she might be filming in 2013 and asked if I wanted to be involved.

“Of course, I said. “Whatever it is, count me in.”

And that was that. No set plans … just my head full of hopes and dreams.

Four months later, while working in my home office in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I heard a dooop sound from Facebook messenger. Waiting behind the little red notification was a chat from Dahee saying:

“Just wanted to check if you still want to visit Korea in 2013. Without a map, 2 bloggers travel around 2-3 different provinces of Korea by bicycle. It will be an adventurous and authentic local journey.”

OH
MY
GOD
YES!!!!!!

Over the next few weeks, little bits of new information trickled in. Filming “might” start in April. The other blogger was gone and I would star in the show alone. Bike riding “might” be eliminated … However, specific details, including filming dates, what the story would be, and who would produce the show were still a mystery.

Local dancers perform a Pungmul during the Seohaean Baeyeonsingut gut

The Waiting Game …

After two glorious years living in Chiang Mai, Carrie and I were slated to leave by February. We had a ticket to the Philippines together. Then, Carrie was heading to India while I (in theory) went to Korea.

Fast forward a bit — after a month in the Philippines, I still had zero confirmation on our start date and Carrie was leaving for India. My visa expired in 3 days and I had no idea what I was going to do next. So, I hopped online and searched for the cheapest plane ticket I could find.

Turns out, my next destination was Taiwan.

My flight cost $31 … Including taxes and fees … On a really nice airline.

For the next month, I explored the contrast between modern and traditional Asia in what quickly became one of my favorite countries.

I rode the train everywhere.
Stayed in hostels
Attended a music festival
Explored cities
Hiked mountains
Got stitches
Befriended locals
Loved every minute of my life.

Meanwhile, like a 1950s teen waiting for a landline phone call, I also spent that month as close to my e-mail as possible.

Then, it arrived.

The message I had been waiting for. Filming was confirmed and would begin in two months. It was officially time to Get Lost in Korea.

My costar, Jesse Day, and I at Chulam Station

Carving a totem pole at the Hahoe Village in Andong, South Korea

The changing of the guards at Deoksugung Palace in Seoul, South Korea

Imae the Fool performs during a Pyolshin Gut performance in Hahoe Village - Andong, South Korea — Imae the Fool performs during a Pyolshin Gut performance in Hahoe Village – Andong, South Korea

Monks at the Golgul Zen Buddhist Temple are experts in the ancient martial art of Sunmudo

The Lost in Korea gang hard at work at eating — The Lost in Korea crew hard at work eating

Getting Lost in Korea

Over the course of filming, I got to know the “real” Korea.

I took the road less traveled, hung out with locals, and ate strange foods.

I found gratitude for myriad photographic and travel opportunities that I would never have had without NatGeo as my guide.

I created a lifelong friendship with Jesse: my costar … and together, we had countless laughs with the crew — reacting to whatever dramatic curveballs they threw our way.

Oh – and in the middle of filming, I even made time for a solo photo exhibition in Seoul.

In total, I spend a month exploring South Korea with the National Geographic cameras filming my every step. As the video was filmed in partnership with the Korean Tourism Department, I also was tasked with writing a blog post every day. You can find the entire archives here. Or, here are a few behind-the-scenes photo essays from filming: