Meet Justin Walter | Your Bucket List Guide

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Walter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what do you attribute your success to?
I have been pursuing my dreams of living a life guided by the top values – connection, adventure and travel as transformation. The result, a career in the travel and entertainment industries that combines my passion and profession through media storytelling and curating experiences as Your Bucket List Guide.

The most important factor behind building my brand is the ability to take bold, strategic risks while staying true to my passions and values. But success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes relentless hard work, persistence, and the courage to live authentically while pursuing those dreams at all costs.

At the heart of my brand is inspiration – helping others dream big, take action, and experience the world in a deeper way. I’ve built my career not only through vision and determination, but also by fostering genuine relationships and creating opportunities through collaboration. My strive to blend expertise, adventure, and entertainment combined with a foundation of passion and resilience, has shaped my journey and built a trusted brand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is rooted in storytelling, adventure, and inspiring others to chase their dreams just as I have relentlessly pursued mine. What sets me apart is my commitment to choosing the most authentic path, both personally and professionally, regardless of others’ expectations. There was no clear ladder to climb, so I built my own.

Has it been hard? Absolutely. Seventeen years of nonstop hustling, freelancing, and relationship-building in competitive industries. But what has made the journey incredible is the dreamers I’ve met along the way – people who uplift and inspire rather than compete. Those connections, along with persistence and passion, have helped me turn my vision into reality.

I’m most excited about how my journey has culminated in *Your Bucket List Guide*, my inspirational travel brand that blends media storytelling, travel, and experiences. Moving forward, I’m eager to push boundaries and create in new and innovative ways.

The biggest lesson? Dream big, work hard, and take risks because when you commit fully, you’ll live a version of your dream, even if it unfolds differently than you first imagined. Stay true to yourself, embrace the journey, and surround yourself with the right people. Success follows those who create their own path.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d show them the best of LA, mixing iconic spots with some hidden gems.

My hometown of Santa Monica is a must! We’d bike the beach path, hit up Muscle Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. We’d grab margaritas at Lula’s and omusubi from Sunny Blue on Main St. For a local workout, the Santa Monica Stairs.

On the Westside we’d definitely check out the Venice Canals and head to Marina del Rey for water sports. On the Eastside, we’d go to Griffith Park for a hike and stop at the Observatory. After, we’d grab lunch at The Alcove, Home, or Sidewalk Grille in Los Feliz. If we wanted to see the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, I’d make it a quick stop and also catch the Hollywood Sign.

And for something a little different, we’d explore Koreatown for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, karaoke, and the incredible spas like Wi Spa and Century Day & Night Spa. We’d also hit up a few of LA’s incredible escape rooms – the production value here is insane! We’d finish up with some stops to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

If I couldn’t fit everything in with my friend, I’d definitely recommend booking Airbnb Experiences. I love doing them on my travels around the world because they’re the best way to connect with locals and explore a city through their lens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to give a shoutout to one source of inspiration in my journey, it would be *Survivor.* At 15, I fell in love with the show, traveling the world in my imagination from my couch in Chicago. It sparked something deeper- a passion for adventure, storytelling, and pushing beyond my comfort zone. That passion led me to study abroad in Australia at 21, inspired by *Survivor: The Australian Outback.* When no one else wanted to venture into the Outback, I took a risk and embarked on my first-ever solo trip. That experience changed everything.

Under the starry skies of the Outback, journaling in my sleeping bag, I set an intention to build a career in media and entertainment while prioritizing experiences and travel. That dream became my blueprint.

Seventeen years later, I’ve built a career in media, travel, and storytelling appearing as a travel expert on *The Jennifer Hudson Show*, KTLA, and *Chicago Today*, hosting numerous travel programs, and producing content for major networks and brands. I’ve served as an Executive Producer for Discovery’s *Shark Week* and held high-level production roles at Travel Channel, NBC, FOX, Amazon, and Facebook. I even hosted seven seasons of the *Survivor After Show* and launched my own immersive game event company, Reality Rush.

My journey started with a TV show that inspired me to travel the world and today, I help others do the same through media storytelling, travel, and immersive experiences.

Website: http://yourbucketlistguide.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/yourbucketlistguide

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwalter

Facebook: http://facebook.com/yourbucketlistguide

Other: http://justinwalter.com

Image Credits
The photo appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show should be credited to the show (publicity image).