Meet Kirsti Pope | Kirsti Out Wandering & VanGirl Productions

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

Hi Kirsti, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Good question. Looking back, I’ve always been a risk-taker.

Since I was a small child, I’ve been curious; I would ask questions about everything and touch all the proverbial buttons to see what they would do – always wanting to know more. For example, around age three, I bravely held my hand filled with corn out to a momma deer who ate it in a big sloppy mess (I still remember how enormous she seemed and how rough her tongue had been on my hand).

Today I am a creative resource for small businesses, a writer and a travel photographer who lives primarily from an RV van, exploring places and experiencing things “just because I’ve always wanted to see that.”

Reflecting on my journey, I realize it was very different from what may have been expected. I’ve taken many opportunities to experience life in ways that most people would not have dared. Never avoiding a challenge, I have been drawn to the unknown and to follow my curiosity when told it would be uncertain.

My blog, Kirsti Out Wandering, is a wayfinding tool for people looking for something different. The articles are about travel and exploring from my curious viewpoint. I aim to go below the first, second or third layer of a place or experience. I want to walk the less traveled street and discover more about the place’s culture. From the perspective of a wanderer, I seek the potential rather than the obvious.

To make the story better, I create images of what I see. Zooming in and out of where I happen to be, looking at the macro details, the middle ground and from a birds-eye view.

In one instance, once, I had been wandering around a small town in Southern California, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. As I made my way to the city’s edge, the sun was preparing to set, and the sky was lit up in vibrant oranges, reds and blues.

There was still a lingering warmth in the air, and the stars were starting to twinkle in the night sky. I noticed a small clearing cut back into the trees, with an opening that led to a wide-open field. I walked towards it, feeling the soft blades of grass brush against my bare feet as I went.

As I stepped onto the field, the landscape of beautiful gardens opened, a vast canvas inviting me to make images of it. I spread my arms wide and began to move my feet, panning around the space. Every few steps, I would pause to look more closely at something, zooming in and out on the details, the flowers, water features, bridges and paths, trying to take it all in. I could sense the grandness of the scenery, the interconnectedness of all the little details, and the world’s beauty beneath the sky.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Throughout my life, I have been in a supporting role. My career mainly provided help and assistance to others, from helping those who needed physical aid to working in corporate sales, where I assisted people in finding what they needed to do or improve their businesses.

I always have had a creative side hustle, however. Teaching yoga, photography and graphic design are my passions. Since leaving my corporate life in January of 2023 and opting for full-time travel, I turned my side job into my primary source of income.

Early in 2020, it started with a simple question: What would it take to make a living on my own terms? A few months later, I had my answer: VanGirl Productions.

The idea was simple: a mobile business supporting small businesses that just need a little help, not an entire marketing department. It was a massive leap of faith, and I spent the next two years planning and working toward its inception.

I poured my heart and soul into making this dream come to fruition – sometimes working 18-20 hours daily. When the day finally came to step out of my corporate job and into my own business, I felt a surge of pride, followed by excitement for my future (and fear of the unknown, if I am being honest). VanGirl was ready to go! I could fully work from the road, helping people along my way.

I now help businesses with their creative needs and website design. My side hustle is writing travel articles, which I plan to make the primary one day.

The most valuable lesson that I have learned is not to wait. The time we have left on this earth is so short, and to have regrets at the end of it is unacceptable. Never give up on your dreams.

And, if you need help getting there yourself, let me help you bring your vision to life. Get in touch today for a free quote! VanGirl Productions is here to help your small business with SEO, Website Design and Creative Content without hiring an entire marketing department.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Colorado has always been my go-to destination for exploration and adventure. I love it out here. The possibilities are endless: four national parks, fantastic skiing, stunning hikes, abundant wildlife, numerous museums, unique cultural experiences, and so much more.

If I had one week to explore, I would start in Loveland with some yoga at Resilient Soul Yoga, then, depending on the time of day, breakfast at Taste Local or dinner at Door 222. I would pop in and out of the downtown shops and definitely stop in for some chocolate at Loveland Chocolate or a cookie from Mary’s Mountain Cookies. Finishing the day, I would spend the night at the Loveland RV Resort or Boyd Lake.

An early morning start to photograph the sun as it casts its warm glow on the mountains, I would head up HWY 34 to Estes Park and have a cup of coffee at Kind Coffee before heading into Rocky Mountain National Park for a day of photography and hiking.

Day three will be in Denver—a walk through the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Beyond Light Show with lunch at Somebody People. Exploring Larimer Street in the afternoon, I would finish with dinner at Dio Mio.

For my fourth day exploring Colorado, I would travel south to Colorado Springs for lunch at Shuga’s with my brother and his wife, then to the Garden Of The Gods for a beautiful late afternoon hike.

I would finish this trip at the Great Sand Dune National Park and Zapata Falls for more hiking, exploring, and photographing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so grateful to have been supported by so many people throughout my life.

Here I dedicate this shoutout to my parents for holding space for me to be curious and ensuring that travel and exploring were an integral part of my childhood. A special shoutout to my dad, who gave me my first camera at 13 and the roots to grow my passion.

I’d also like to dedicate a shoutout to my son, who has been so willing to learn and try things with me as he was growing up.

To my sister and cherished friends (you know who you are!), thank you for being so supportive and encouraging in every way. You have been my confidants, supporters, encouragers, and reflections of myself. I am forever thankful!!

Website: www.kirstioutwandering.com

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirstioutwandering/

Youtube: @kirstioutwandering8369

Image Credits
Kirsti Pope | Kirsti Out Wandering