What Happens When You Bet on Yourself?
Daren Wendell on Walking Away From a Six-Figure Career, Building a YouTube Business, and Finding Purpose Along the Way
Have you ever wondered what it would actually take to become a successful YouTube influencer? Could you really turn something you love into a career? And would you be willing to walk away from a $210,000-a-year job to find out?
Our longtime friend Daren Wendell did exactly that.
In this episode of Running Ahrens, Justin and Sarah sit down with Daren, the creator behind Wendell Fishing, for a funny, honest conversation about taking risks, building a business, raising a family, and figuring out what success really means.
And while you might know him for his fishing videos, that's only one chapter of a pretty remarkable life.
Before becoming a YouTube creator, Daren worked in youth ministry and nonprofit leadership, where his passion for helping others took him on adventures that most people wouldn't even consider. He biked across America, hiked the Appalachian Trail, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro three times, swam more than 50 miles across Lake Michigan, and completed 100 marathons in 100 days.
Yes, you read that correctly. One hundred marathons. In one hundred days.
Some of us are still recovering from the last time we ran through an airport.
But behind those extraordinary accomplishments is a much more personal story about faith, purpose, perseverance, and what happens when the work you've devoted your life to begins to change.
Eventually, Daren found himself at a professional crossroads. He had spent years helping organizations grow, raising money for important causes, and building a successful career. But a series of difficult experiences made him rethink what he wanted his life and work to look like.
And that's where fishing comes in.
What began as a lifelong hobby and a small YouTube experiment gradually became something he couldn't ignore. There were videos to make, an audience to build, a business to understand, and a growing question about whether he could actually make a living doing something he loved.
Today, Wendell Fishing has grown into a content business with roughly 200,000 followers across platforms and tens of millions of views.
But here's what makes his story especially interesting.
What does it actually take to build a business as a content creator? Where does the money come from? How do sponsorships work? How much content do you need to produce? And what happens when the hobby you love becomes the thing that pays your bills?
Daren gives us a fascinating look at an industry many of us watch every day but know surprisingly little about.
He also talks about the less glamorous side of being your own boss, the pressure of consistently creating something people want to watch, and the challenge of knowing when to take a financial risk.
Because when you're married and raising two daughters, betting on yourself isn't just about yourself.
We talk about the role his wife and family played in the decision, what they've learned through the transition, and how Daren thinks about being present while building a demanding business.
Of course, it's not all serious.
Justin and Daren revisit some ridiculous adventures, questionable nutritional choices involving Red Bull and Cool Ranch Doritos, and the fact that Daren's collection of fishing kayaks has apparently made parking in the garage a challenge.
There may also be a few lessons about what not to do on a cross-country adventure.
But what we appreciate most about Daren is that he's never been particularly interested in living a conventional life. He's willing to work incredibly hard, try something new, and occasionally look a little crazy in the process.
And that's what makes this conversation worth hearing.
You don't have to love fishing, dream about becoming an influencer, or want to quit your job to connect with Daren's story.
Maybe you're trying to grow a business. Maybe you're questioning your career. Maybe you're raising kids and wondering how much risk is too much. Or maybe you've spent years helping other people build their dreams and are beginning to wonder what it would look like to pursue one of your own.
This conversation is about all of that.
Takeaways & Talking Points
What Daren's childhood, family, and early adventures taught him about curiosity and taking risks
How ministry, faith, and nonprofit work shaped his understanding of purpose
The stories behind some extraordinary endurance challenges and what they taught him
What happens when a successful career stops feeling like the right fit
The surprising realities of becoming a YouTube creator and building an audience
How content creators actually make money and develop multiple revenue streams
The work, consistency, and business decisions behind Wendell Fishing
How marriage, parenting, and financial responsibility influence major career changes
Why building something yourself can change your relationship with work
What Daren is discovering about success, freedom, and the next chapter of life
Things We're Learning and Unlearning
Success and fulfillment aren't always the same thing. A great salary or impressive title doesn't automatically mean you're where you want to be.
Starting over doesn't erase everything that came before. Sometimes our most unexpected experiences prepare us for opportunities we never imagined.
Passion is a beginning, not a business plan. Doing something you love still requires discipline, consistency, and learning how to make it sustainable.
The internet doesn't show us the whole picture. Behind the videos, followers, and seemingly flexible lifestyle is often an incredible amount of work.
Taking risks is different when other people depend on you. Big decisions require conversations, trust, and a willingness to navigate uncertainty together.
We can change direction without abandoning our purpose. Sometimes the way we express what matters to us changes, even when the underlying values remain the same.
Watch Wendell Fishing
Want to see what Daren has built? His YouTube channel is full of kayak fishing adventures, tips, gear reviews, and practical advice. It's also a great example of how he's turned his knowledge and personality into a business.
One of the videos he highlights is 9 Beginner Kayak Fishing Mistakes I Made… And You Should Avoid!.
Connect With Daren
This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered whether they could turn a passion into a profession, whether it's too late to make a change, or what it really takes to create a business and life on their own terms.
It's about pursuing opportunities without losing sight of the people who matter most. Learning from what didn't work. Having the courage to make a change. And realizing that sometimes the next chapter of your life looks nothing like the one you expected.
And if you've ever watched someone making a living on YouTube and thought, "How hard could that be?" Daren might change your mind.
We hope you enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed catching up with him.
Thanks for listening,
Justin and Sarah
#RunningAhrens #WendellFishing #YouTubeCreator #Entrepreneurship #CareerChange #FindingPurpose #ContentCreation #FamilyAndBusiness #KayakFishing #PersonalGrowth #TakingRisks
Listen to the full episode: