Meet Calen Otto | Freelance Writer, Author, Podcaster

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

Hi Calen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I first started the Unruly Travel & Alternative Living blog I wasn’t yet thinking of it as a business. I was a writer and saw it as a way to help make travel and alternative living more accessible to all. I also loved highlighting the do-gooders and change-makers that I was meeting during my travels.

Eventually I realized that I could support myself more while working on things that I loved in my own creative outlet. Ever since that realization I’ve been slowly building a following and supporter base that believes in my work, ethics, and community building. Working remotely and for yourself is a great way to make money while living an alternative or nomadic lifestyle.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a writer, podcaster, author, and blogger. What sets my work apart from others is the lens it’s coming from. I share from a queer, vegan, eco-minded and anti-speciesist perspective. Although my views are not the most widely accepted, I was able to gain a platform by building community in real life through activism, organizing, and traveling. Over time I kept those connections close online. Many people think that “success” happens in a blink on an eye, but building this community has taken me about a decade now.

I overcame challenges that come with starting your own thing by leaning on those who believe in me, looking back on message/words of encouragement and thanks, and staying true to my own ethics and message, even when it’s not popular.

I started my platform after biking across the USA with hardly any money at age 19, solo. I worked for everything I needed along the way, Couchsurfed, hitchhiked, and used Craigslist Rideshare to get by. It made me realize that I have a lot of grit and courage that was laying dormant inside me. I carry this into my business, writing, podcast, and work!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my best friends recently visited North Carolina and we didn’t have enough time to do everything that was on my prepared bucket list. We were able to hike to Rainbow & Turtleback falls during a thunderstorm, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, go down down Sliding Rock, marvel in the rush of swimming at the bottom of Looking Glass Falls, and soak in the pristine nature.

We ate at some of my favorite 100% plant-based spots: Rosetta’s Kitchen and Pulp + Sprout. For visitors wanting to come to North Carolina [link: https://wanderwoman.online/?s=asheville], here are some of my most favorite things to do [link: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/2022/08/05/queer-asheville-guide/].

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh gosh, where to start! Our accomplishments are usually never just ours alone. We’re all interconnected; humans, nature, and the beyond human world. But specifically I’d like to shout out my parents. Although my lifestyle and business is alternative, they’ve always supported me along the way, when they didn’t understand. I’ve also had friends (who are like family) who have always believed in me, shared my work, and encouraged me to keep going.

Website: https://wanderwoman.online

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unruly_traveller/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFEljaVxBODs9wlFUGhQVFw?view_as=subscriber

Other: https://www.patreon.com/unrulytravel

Image Credits
Daniel Turbert Photography
Photos by Wesley