After Samantha Wilson sold her house, the 35-year-old creator moved into a tiny shed located in the Montana woods. It had no kitchen, no bathroom, and no running water. If she wanted to cook her own meals, it was going to have to happen outside.
“What started as a necessity eventually became something I genuinely fell in love with,” Wilson says. “Cooking outdoors allows me to combine my love of food and nature, and it brings a sense of peace, freedom, and adventure that you don’t get indoors.”
The full-time content creator has been building a following on Instagram (330K followers), YouTube (27.8K subscribers), and TikTok (104.8K followers) under the handle @samalouisaa, where she regularly posts cooking videos in her beloved outdoor kitchen. Wilson, who is Deaf, signs during all her videos and includes on-screen captions.
Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Samantha Wilson/Apple/SanDisk/Starlink/Neewer/CapCut/DJI
On any given day, the creator can be seen making her take on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, strawberry juice, and homemade vanilla coffee creamer. In 2025, a video of Wilson’s mom running from a Grizzly Bear went viral, racking up 8M views on Instagram.
We recently caught up with Wilson over email to learn more about her approach to content creation, the gear she relies on for filming outside, and her signature goofy grin.
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What is the overall vibe you are going for with your videos?
My content is about finding joy in simple things. I love cooking outdoors, being in nature, and showing that good food doesn’t have to be complicated. I try not to take myself too seriously, so there’s always a bit of humor and silliness mixed in with the cooking and nature. I want my videos to feel like you’re hanging out with a friend rather than watching a perfectly polished social media video.
Talk about where that silliness side comes from and what the response to that has been
I’ve always had a goofy personality, so the humor comes naturally. I can be pretty outspoken when it comes to food ingredients, misleading marketing, and products I don’t believe in, but humor helps me get those points across in a way that’s entertaining and memorable. People seem to appreciate the combination of honesty, education, and not taking life too seriously.
Any tips on cooking outside for someone who wants to try it?
Start simple and don’t overthink it. Begin with easy recipes and classic camping meals, then gradually challenge yourself with more creative dishes as your confidence grows. You don’t need a fancy outdoor kitchen to enjoy cooking outside — just a reliable cooking setup and a willingness to experiment. The more time you spend outdoors, the more you’ll learn to adapt and appreciate the experience. And somehow, food just tastes better outside.
What are the products you can’t live without for content creation?
Because I live in a rural area with very limited internet access, Starlink makes it possible for me to create, upload, and share content without interruption.
I film nearly all of my content on my iPhone because it’s always with me and ready when inspiration strikes. The 4K video quality is great and allows me to capture authentic moments without carrying bulky camera equipment.
My laptop helps me manage everything behind the scenes, from content planning and automations to partnerships, emails, and day-to-day running of my business.
I use it to store thousands of photos and videos directly from my iPhone, keeping my content safe, organized, and easy to repurpose for future content.
As a solo creator, this tripod allows me to capture content anywhere from outdoor cooking to spontaneous moments throughout the day.
I use this as a secondary camera to capture smooth, professional-looking footage. It’s compact, lightweight, and especially useful for YouTube videos.
Whether I’m traveling or spending the day filming outdoors, this power bank keeps my iPhone charged and my workflow uninterrupted.
This is my go-to editing app because it’s efficient and makes editing on the go easy. It allows me to quickly turn raw footage into videos that are ready to share.
Since I don’t have a traditional kitchen, this stove has become my kitchen. It’s the tool behind many of the recipes and outdoor cooking videos I share online.
I care about what’s in my food and I care just as much about what I cook in it. 360 cookware is durable, non-toxic, and a staple in my cooking videos.
As a Deaf creator, what do you wish there was more of on social media?
I’d love to see more authentic representations of Deaf people across all types of content. Too often, Deaf creators are expected to only talk about deafness or teach sign language, when many of us have a wide range of interests, careers, and passions. Social media has the power to show those full stories and help people see beyond a single label.
What do you love about being a content creator?
I absolutely love the freedom to build a life on my own terms. It allows me to share my passions, lifestyle, and ideas with people who genuinely connect with them while creating a career that aligns with the life I want to live. It’s truly rewarding to know that something I shared, whether it’s a recipe, perspective, or simple idea, has inspired someone to try something new, improve their health, or think differently about what’s possible.
What is most challenging about being a content creator?
One of the biggest challenges is that content creation never really turns off. There’s always another video to film, project to work on, or idea to pursue. I’m still learning how important it is to create boundaries and make time to simply enjoy life without feeling the need to document every moment.
From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet The Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.
