Ryan Trahan
Ryan Trahan makes YouTube travel challenges, penny adventures and curious experiments, often bringing fans together to raise money for charity.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Ryan’s team an official invite.
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Latest
Ryan’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
YouTube
YouTube
YouTubeOverview
- From
- Texas, United States
- Work
- YouTube creator and entrepreneur
- Started with
- Running videos and the Neptune water-bottle business
- Signature series
- The Penny Series and 50 States in 50 Days
- Beyond YouTube
- JOYRIDE co-owner and chief creative officer
Mini bio
How it started.
Ryan began with running videos while building Neptune, a water-bottle brand. As a Texas A&M student athlete, he faced restrictions on earning money from content tied to his athletic identity. In 2017, he left college with about 30,000 YouTube subscribers to pursue creating full time.
Finding the story.
He moved beyond running into commentary, with a 2018 video about Loren Gray helping his channel grow. Later, challenges became a way to turn small ideas into longer stories. His 2022 Penny Series followed a journey from Los Angeles to MrBeast, starting with a single cent and raising money for Feeding America.
Fans make it bigger.
In 2025, Ryan and his wife, Haley Pham, visited 50 states in 50 days for St. Jude. Donations could trigger the Wheel of Doom and change their next episode. The campaign raised more than $11 million, and Ryan said he wanted the daily videos to feel like a comfort show families could watch together.
A business of his own.
Ryan is also a co-owner and chief creative officer of JOYRIDE. He and partner Tyler Merrick combine candy-making experience with Ryan’s storytelling and relationship with fans.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026I Visited the Top 10 Places in AmericaCreator and host
- 202550 States in 50 DaysCreator and co-host with Haley Pham
- 2022I Survived On $0.01 For 30 DaysCreator and host
Awards
Quotes
I love gamifying otherwise mundane scenarios. It makes everything more fun!Ryan Trahan, YouTube Official Blog, August 20, 2025
On inventing the Wheel of Doom for the 50-state trip. Source: https://blog.youtube/creator-and-artist-stories/ryan-trahan-50-states-50-days/
Trivia
- Ryan says he grew up without cable and watched YouTubers he hoped to become like one day.
- An early penny-video idea came while he was buying comic books at a garage sale to resell on eBay.
- He credits James Clear’s Atomic Habits with helping him focus on getting a little better each day.
- Ryan and Haley deliberately wore the same outfits through the 50-state series, like cartoon characters.
Find Ryan
Follow Ryan for the next challenge, everyday updates and JOYRIDE news.
Are you Ryan Trahan?
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