About Robin Esrock

It Started With an Accident...

Robin Esrock's success as a global adventurer, travel writer, TV producer and international TV personality was no accident, although it did start with one. Struck down on his bike at a Vancouver intersection, Robin hobbled away with a broken kneecap, and one year later, a modest $20,000 insurance settlement. It was just enough for him pack up his things, quit his job, and set off on a one-year solo round-the-world backpacking adventure to 24 countries. Committed to record his year of living dangerously, he named his journey Modern Gonzo, uploading weekly reports, photography, videos, reviews, and interviews with every person he met. In doing so, he pioneered a new era of multi-platform, switched-on and wired-in travel journalism, leading to adventures beyond his wildest dreams.

Robin could look back on several careers before stumbling upon this exciting new one. He rode the new media boom in the late 90's, working in London for the Sunday Times, BBC, Reuters and FilmFour. In Canada, he founded a record label before working in a music agency with clients including Coldplay, Norah Jones and Bryan Adams. Once he discovered travel writing, his own star took the spotlight.

Robin's stories have been published in over a dozen major newspapers worldwide, including The Globe & Mail, The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, Sydney Morning Herald and South China Morning Post. Forbes Travel, MSNBC and Travel+Leisure magazine named him amongst the top adventure writers in North America.

Noticing the fascination and misconceptions surrounding the profession of travel writing, Robin conceived the idea that became the first TV series to show the truth behind the byline. Word Travels took Robin and co-host Julia Dimon to 36 countries on 6 continents, filming 40 action-packed half hour episodes. In addition to hosting, Robin developed, wrote, and co-produced the show. Nominated for a Best Documentary Series Gemini Award, the show airs on Travel Channel International and National Geographic International in over 100 countries and 21 languages. In Canada, it has become a popular fixture on OLN, FX, CityTV, airing on TVB in China, Outside TV and the Halogen Network in the USA.

Robin created the adventure-culinary show Get Stuffed (OLN/CityTV), has produced multimedia projects for the Canadian Tourism Commission, and written creative copy for clients including Toyota, Cossette and Bell. He has recently finished writing his first book, The Great Canadian Bucket List. Published by Thomas Allen & Son, his wild adventure across Canada hits the shelves in fall 2013. Robin also sits as Vice President for the Travel Media Association of Canada (BC).

Heli-yoga in the Rockies, racing supercars in Italy, volcano boarding in Nicaragua - it's all in a day's work. Having visited over 100 countries on 6 continents, Robin continues to write, blog, tweet, and film his ongoing adventures (his visit to China's Death Hike has over 875,000 views on Youtube). Living proof that sometimes, life is just an accident waiting to happen.

It Started With an Accident...

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