About Shawn Gossman
I’m Shawn Gossman. My mission in life is to enjoy nature, be active, and live for now.
I get around a lot. I go on hiking, cycling, or kayaking adventures every chance I get. I occasionally go camping and even caving.
I was born and raised, and I still live in Southern Illinois. I do online projects like blogs and forums, travel to various hiking trails and destinations, and I get into many different things online and offline.
Travel
I do a lot of traveling. Most of it is locally in my region of Southern Illinois. However, I do like to get outside of Illinois and visit other destinations. I mainly travel for hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, camping, rock hunting, and caving. I like to document my travels and share them with the world. I specifically travel to see the natural beauty of the destinations I visit. I’m an outdoorsman who loves nature. I don’t do this alone. I travel to these places with friends, family, and most often with my wife, Michelle.
Projects
I have been creating websites since the 1990s. Back then, they were static HTML websites about various things I was into at the time. Fast-forward to modern times, and I mainly create blogs, online communities, mailing lists, passive income websites, and various social media communities. I’ve always been a creator and digital creations have always helped fill my creative needs.
Life
I work full-time in a great profession that centers around surveillance operations and investigations. I’ve worked in construction, manufacturing, coal mining, and security throughout the years. I dropped out of high school only to later become a double-master. I hold an MBA and a Master’s in Homeland Security that concentrates on Counterintelligence and Anti-Terrorism. I’m an avid hiker, cyclist, and outdoorsman. I’m in my 40s and a happily married man.
Hiking with Shawn
A lot of people know me as Hiking with Shawn. In December of 2016, I started creating hiking videos on YouTube to show my friends and family where I hiked. It turned into something bigger, and I started developing a fanbase of people I didn’t even know. I started taking it seriously and turned it into a brand. Nearly eight years later, it’s a monetized brand that has saved my life. I met my wife because of it. I have uploaded around 1,800 videos on YouTube, which have been seen almost 1.5 million times. I have accumulated around 50,000 followers through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X combined. I’m locally known and have been featured in magazines, news stories, and radio interviews.
Press, Podcasts, and Shows
The following links lead to my appearances in the media, podcasts, and other public sources.
Podcasts:
Radio:
News:
- Building a Business One Step at a Time – The Southern
- Trail Moments – Rail-to-Trails Conservancy
- On The Trail: Little Grand Canyon – WSILTV 3
- On The Trail: Pomona Natural Bridge – WSILTV 3
- Great Escape to the Illinois Ozarks – KSDK St. Louis
- Heron Pond Hike with Senator Dale Fowler
Interviews:
If you’re interested in interviewing me or writing a story about me, please use the menu below to contact me.