Podcasts
Roo Smith is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, director, and outdoor storyteller.
His work spans continents and communities - from capturing raw human moments on remote expeditions to creating branded films for companies like Patagonia, La Sportiva, the North Face and many others .
Here, you'll find a collection of podcast interviews he’s been invited to participate in over the years - conversations about filmmaking, creativity, the outdoor industry, building a career on your own terms, and what it really takes to tell stories that stick.
The Backcountry MARKETING Podcast - the Power of Stories
Storytelling is an age-old art form that has captivated hearts and minds for generations. It has the power to transport us to distant lands, inspire us, and connect us on a deeper level.
Roo shares his insights on the Backcountry Marketing Podcast, a leading platform in the outdoor industry, where they delved into the art of storytelling, its profound significance, and how to become a better storyteller.
Visual Revolutionary - Roo Smith / Adventure filmmaker
Adventure and documentary filmmaker Roo Smith joins the podcast to talk about his new series "The Goat Surf Club"shot with Outside Magazine, and how a kid growing up in Orcas Island with dreams of one day becoming a diplomat would end up taking a political science degree and turning it into a creative career as a filmmaker right out of college, working on everything from Netflix shows to his own personal projects.
During our conversation, Roo shares about how he used his free time in college to create a visual portfolio, what young shooters can learn from veterans and vice versa, how he went about pitching a personal project to Outside Magazine, the positive power of telling uplifting stories, his goals of finding balance between his work life and personal life, how he's trying to set himself up for longevity, why he chose Boulder, CO as his new home, and the advice he gives to others chasing their own creative dreams.
How to Build an adventure Photo Business - Bokeh Photography Podcast
In this episode, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and outdoor storyteller Roo Smith joins the Bokeh Podcast to dive deep into what it takes to build a thriving adventure photography business. Roo shares the core principles that have allowed him to design a career filled with freedom, flexibility, and purpose.
We talk about the two key elements that make adventure photography such a compelling genre, the most common misconceptions newcomers have when entering the industry, and the five foundational principles every photographer should know when building a successful adventure brand.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your creative business to the next level, this conversation is packed with hard-earned insights, mindset shifts, and real talk from someone who’s walked the path.
The Backcountry Marketing Podcasts - Future of Storytelling
Episode Description
In this special bonus episode, host Cole Heilborn takes us behind the scenes of the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, for a conversation about the power of storytelling in a rapidly shifting creative landscape.
Joined by filmmakers Roo Smith, Greg Balkin, and Biz Young, the Global Media Director at The North Face, this episode explores big questions like:
What role does storytelling play in marketing today — especially in 2024?
How are shrinking budgets and economic shifts influencing how brands approach creative work?
And what does it take to keep storytelling both impactful and sustainable amidst all the change?
Whether you're a filmmaker, marketer, or brand trying to connect more deeply with your audience, this episode offers real, grounded insight from some of the industry’s most thoughtful voices.
Balancing your ENTREPRENEURIAL Lifestyle with Roo Smith - The local domination show
In this thoughtful and candid conversation, creative entrepreneur Roo Smith shares his personal approach to navigating the often messy intersection of work, passion, and personal life.
Roo opens up about what it’s really like to build a creative career from the ground up - including the hustle, the burnout, and the intentional boundaries he’s learned to set along the way.
Let’s Connect
Roo is a Emmy nominated documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in the outdoor industry for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.