Drew Binsky

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Drew Goldberg, known professionally as Drew Binsky, was born on May 24, 1991, in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona^[3]. The surname "Binsky" originated as a childhood nickname given to him by his family, stemming from German Jewish heritage^[3]. Growing up in the Arizona desert, he developed an early fascination with geography, memorizing countries and capitals from a globe his parents gave him for his tenth birthday.wikipedia youtube His first international experience came during a study abroad semester in Prague, Czech Republic, during his junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison^[3]. This transformative experience, which included visits to over 20 European countries, ignited his passion for travel and cultural exploration^[6]. He graduated in 2013 with dual degrees in economics and entrepreneurship^[3].drewbinsky+1

Teaching in South Korea and Blog Launch

Rather than pursuing a traditional corporate career, Binsky moved to South Korea in 2013 to teach English for 18 months^[3]. This decision proved pivotal, as it allowed him to explore Asia extensively while developing his content creation skills. During his time in Seoul, he visited 22 Asian countries and earned a black belt in Taekwondo^[3].wikipedia While teaching, Binsky launched his first travel blog called "The Hungry Partier" in 2014, dedicating over 40 hours per week to building his online presence. Through persistent effort, he grew the blog to 150,000 monthly readers and accumulated over 200,000 social media followers. In 2016, he rebranded himself as "Drew Binsky" to better reflect his professional identity^[6].gandemagazine+1

YouTube Channel and Video Production

Binsky's transition to video content began in 2017 when his girlfriend at the time, Deanna Sallao (now his wife), purchased him his first Canon video camera while they were living in Hanoi, Vietnam^[3]. This gift marked the beginning of his YouTube channel, initially focusing on Facebook video content before expanding to other platforms. youtubewikipedia His YouTube channel has experienced remarkable growth, currently boasting 5.87 million subscribers and over 1.2 billion total video views^[4]. The channel features long-form documentaries, with videos now averaging 45 minutes in length, focusing on cultural exploration and human interest stories^[1]. His content strategy prioritizes original storytelling over keyword research, relying on intuitive understanding of what audiences want to watch^[1].kajabi+1

Achieving the 197-Country Goal

On October 29, 2021, at 1:31 AM local time, Binsky achieved his decade-long goal by entering Saudi Arabia, his 197th and final country^[9]^[11]. This milestone placed him among fewer than 250 people who have visited every country in the world^[9]. His journey was documented extensively, including a viral video announcing his achievement that garnered millions of views^[11].mensjournal youtube The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted his timeline, as he had only six countries remaining when global travel restrictions began in 2020^[9]. This 18-month delay forced him to adapt his travel plans while continuing to create content in accessible destinations^[9].mensjournal

Record-Breaking Achievements

Binsky holds two official Guinness World Records, demonstrating his commitment to pushing travel boundaries^[2]^[10]. His first record involves visiting the most UNESCO World Heritage sites within a 24-hour period, achieving 12 sites in a single day. His second record is for the fastest suitcase packing^[10].andysworldjourneys+3

Content Strategy and Production Team

His approach to content creation emphasizes thumbnails as crucial elements, recommending that new creators spend 70% of their time on thumbnail design and 30% on actual content^[1]. He prioritizes movement and interesting characters over static presentations, ensuring his videos maintain viewer engagement throughout their extended runtime^[1].kajabi In 2022, Binsky expanded his production capabilities by hiring Michael, a cinematographer and editor from Ottawa, Canada, marking a 100% expansion of his team. This addition improved the technical quality of his videos while maintaining his established storytelling style. His current team also includes Gage Welch as lead editor and sound designer.world.drewbinsky+1

Publishing and Speaking Career

Binsky authored "Just Go: A Globe-Trotting Guide to Travel Like an Expert, Connect Like a Local, and Live the Adventure of a Lifetime," published by BenBella Books on May 21, 2024. The book achieved USA Today bestseller status and was recognized as a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist in the travel category.tulsabookreview+1 He has also developed a speaking career, delivering presentations about global travel and cultural understanding to corporate audiences and educational institutions^[5]. His speaking engagements focus on replacing fear with curiosity and disconnection with empathy through travel experiences^[5].drewbinsky

Personal Life and Marriage

Binsky married Deanna Sallao on February 14, 2023, in a destination wedding on Balesin Island in the Philippines. The couple first met at a travel convention in Bangkok in 2015 and began traveling together shortly after. Sallao has been instrumental in his career development, not only purchasing his first video camera but also supporting his travels to over 75 countries together. youtubelinkedin Their relationship culminated in a surprise proposal in May 2021 when Binsky turned 30 and moved into their new home. In March 2025, Sallao officially became a U.S. citizen. youtubeinstagram

Documentary and Media Projects

His travels have been documented in a feature-length documentary titled "Border 197," which chronicles his journey to visit every country. The project, initially announced in 2020, was filmed during his final countries and showcases behind-the-scenes aspects of extreme travel.imdb youtube His work has been featured by major media outlets including CNN, BBC, National Geographic, and The Washington Post. He has also launched additional content channels, including "Drew Binsky Golf," which combines his passion for golf with travel.youtube+2

Business Ventures and Revenue Streams

Beyond YouTube ad revenue, Binsky has diversified his income through multiple channels. He offers a "Mastermind Travel Hacking Course" sharing travel strategies and techniques. His business model includes affiliate marketing partnerships, particularly with travel-related companies, and sponsored content collaborations.world.drewbinsky+1 Monthly earnings estimates from YouTube alone range from $42,000 to $127,000^[4], though these figures don't account for his additional revenue streams from speaking engagements, book sales, and course offerings.vidiq+1

Social Media Presence and Audience

Across all platforms, Binsky has built a community of over 18 million followers^[5]. His content has generated more than 7 billion views across various social media channels^[5]. His audience primarily consists of young adults and middle-aged viewers aged 18-45 who are interested in travel, adventure, and cultural exploration.beacons+1 On Instagram, he maintains over 1 million followers, while his TikTok presence has grown to over 716,000 followers. His multi-platform approach allows him to reach diverse audiences with tailored content for each platform's unique characteristics.billo+1

Current Projects and Future Goals

Having completed his country-visiting challenge, Binsky has shifted focus to meeting world leaders and heads of state^[4]^[7]. This new goal represents an evolution from geographic exploration to diplomatic and political engagement^[8].instagram+2 He continues producing content that emphasizes human stories and cultural connections, moving away from purely geographic-based videos to deeper narrative exploration^[1]. His recent content includes extended documentaries featuring unique individuals and communities from around the world^[4].vidiq+1