07/30/2025
I just finished watching Ryan Trahan’s 50 States in 50 Days series, and honestly, it might be the best thing ever uploaded to YouTube. No contest. They raised over $11 million for St. Jude while creating daily content that was wholesome, entertaining for all ages, and somehow so simple yet powerful that it’s bound to inspire an entire generation of creators.
People talk about the “Beastification” of YouTube, but Ryan is the complete opposite of that. Don’t get me wrong—I love MrBeast—but I have zero aspirations to do what he does. Ryan’s approach is far more inspiring to me. He never shied away from his faith, he led with kindness and sacrifice, and he delivered incredible quality with just a tiny team, filming the entire journey on an iPhone.
What a phenomenal achievement. If you haven’t watched it yet, start at episode one and binge the whole series. By the time all donations are counted, I wouldn’t be surprised if the total hits $20 million.