The Journey from City Life to Rural Homesteading

Jeremy and Melissa Souza, the dynamic duo behind the popular YouTube channel Good Simple Living, have captured the hearts of over 500,000 subscribers with their authentic portrayal of homesteading life in North Idaho ^[1]. Their channel, which has accumulated nearly 100 million views since its inception, documents the family's remarkable transition from conventional suburban living to building a self-sufficient homestead from the ground up ^[2]. The Souzas' story began in the Portland, Oregon area, where Jeremy worked as a police officer while Melissa managed their household as a stay-at-home mother to their four children ^[3]. Like many families, they found themselves caught in what they described as a cycle of working hard but never getting ahead financially. Their initial interest in self-sufficiency started modestly with gardening and raising meat rabbits, but this small passion project would eventually catalyze a complete lifestyle transformation ^[3].

The Leap of Faith to Idaho

In 2020, the Souza family made the bold decision to sell their Washington State home, leave Jeremy's stable career in law enforcement, and relocate to the remote mountains of North Idaho with their children ^[2]. What was originally planned as a 10 to 15-year retirement goal became an immediate reality when Melissa called Jeremy at work one day and suggested they should make the move and document their journey on YouTube ^[3]. The transition wasn't without its challenges. The family initially lived in a cramped camping trailer while constructing their homestead, facing harsh Idaho winters and significant lifestyle adjustments ^[3]. Despite these hardships, they found unexpected rewards in their new life, including their children thriving in a homeschooling environment and the development of a deeper sense of family unity ^[3].

Building an Online Community

What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a significant online presence. The Good Simple Living YouTube channel, established in 2010, began gaining substantial traction as the family documented their homesteading journey ^[4]. Current analytics indicate the channel maintains approximately 525,000 subscribers with over 128 million total views across nearly 400 videos ^[4]. The channel's content focuses on the family's ongoing construction projects, homesteading activities, and homeschooling experiences as they build their life in North Idaho ^[5]. Recent video performance shows consistent engagement, with individual videos regularly receiving between 200,000 to 400,000 views ^[6]. Analytics platforms estimate the channel generates monthly earnings ranging from $1,300 to $28,200, with yearly projections between $15,300 and $343,500 ^[4].

Expanding Their Digital Footprint

Beyond their main YouTube channel, the Souzas have diversified their content creation efforts. They launched a secondary channel called "New World Old Soul Podcast," which provides additional content for their audience ^[7]. The family has also maintained active social media presence across Facebook and Instagram platforms, connecting with their community through multiple touchpoints ^[7]. The channel has attracted various sponsorship opportunities from companies in the outdoor, food, and homesteading sectors. These partnerships have included collaborations with businesses like Good Chop, Wildgrain, and equipment suppliers, which analysts suggest could significantly supplement their YouTube ad revenue ^[2].

Community Impact and Charitable Efforts

The Souzas have leveraged their platform for philanthropic purposes, notably supporting the Childhood Cancer Coalition, which serves families across North Idaho, Eastern Washington, and Western Montana ^[1]. This private organization receives no federal funding, and the Good Simple Living channel has been instrumental in raising awareness and funds for this cause over multiple years ^[1]. Their charitable work extends beyond cancer support, as they have also organized Christmas toy drives and other community-focused initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to giving back to their local community ^[1].

Media Recognition and Industry Presence

The couple's inspiring story has attracted attention from various media outlets and podcast platforms. They have been featured guests on programs including the Granger Smith Podcast, where they shared details about their journey from conventional living to homesteading success ^[3]. Their story has been highlighted across multiple radio station websites and podcasting platforms, demonstrating the broad appeal of their lifestyle transformation narrative ^[8]. In 2022, the family received an offer to participate in a reality television show but declined the opportunity, citing that it didn't align with their goals and values ^[2]. This decision reflects their commitment to maintaining authenticity in their content creation rather than pursuing mainstream media exposure.

Current Status and Growth

As of 2025, the Good Simple Living channel continues to show steady growth, with recent subscriber increases and consistent video upload schedules ^[4]. The family, now consisting of seven members with the addition of a new baby, continues to document their homesteading journey while homeschooling their children ^[5]. Their content strategy focuses on practical homesteading advice, construction updates, family life documentation, and seasonal projects on their Idaho property ^[6]. The channel maintains regular upload schedules with videos consistently receiving strong engagement metrics from their dedicated subscriber base ^[6].