The Story Behind Actuality Abroad
Our Journey to Connect Changemakers and Storytellers
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 2010, we launched what would become Actuality Abroad with one idea driving us forward: what if we could combine meaningful travel with stories that inspire hope? At the time, we didn’t know exactly what shape it would take, but we knew we wanted to build something that mattered.
WHO WE ARE
We’re Aubrie and Robin—two storytellers from very different paths who came together with a shared dream. Aubrie spent years in production for big-budget film feature films and advertising campaigns, while Robin built his career as a community journalist, focusing on the voices and stories of his hometown. Despite our different experiences, we both saw how powerful storytelling could be—and how much potential it had to inspire connection and change.
THE PEOPLE WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING
Early in our relationship, we started traveling the world together. What struck us most about our experiences wasn’t the sights we saw or the places we visited—it was the people we met. Everywhere we went, we encountered changemakers: individuals dedicating their lives to solving problems, building solutions, and lifting up their communities. These were the stories that stayed with us, long after our journeys ended.
THE DREAM THAT BECAME ACTUALITY ABROAD
At the same time, we couldn’t ignore how disconnected and uninspired many people felt in their daily lives—including us. We saw a world where people craved hope, connection, and a sense of purpose. We began to dream: what if we could bring others into these stories? What if traveling and engaging with changemakers could help people feel alive, capable, and deeply connected—not just to the world, but to themselves?
That dream became Actuality Media (now Actuality Abroad). Our first program, the Documentary Outreach, was designed to connect aspiring filmmakers with changemakers around the world. It was a month-long workshop where student crews worked together to create short documentary films about the people making a difference in their communities.
COLLABORATION AT THE HEART OF IT ALL
In those early days, we leaned into our strengths. Aubrie drew on her production background to design the program’s structure, while Robin’s ability to listen deeply and build authentic relationships shaped the way we connected with changemakers and crafted their stories. Over time, we realized that what we were building wasn’t just about filmmaking. It was about the process itself—the deep listening, the presence, the trust.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY
Documentary storytelling requires slowing down and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. It demands curiosity, humility, and attention to detail. And when you engage in that process, especially in a place far from home, something profound happens. You begin to notice patterns, make connections, and reflect on your place in the world.
Since those early days, we’ve mentored hundreds of storytellers and partnered with changemakers across the globe to produce over 100 short documentaries. Along the way, our vision has expanded. We’ve realized that storytelling is more than a tool—it’s a way of being. It’s a practice of connecting, reflecting, and growing.
WHAT WE ARE BUILDING TOGETHER
Today, Actuality Abroad is about more than documentary filmmaking. It’s about creating opportunities for travelers to connect with people, ideas, and themselves. We believe that through learning and practicing storytelling, anyone can deepen their experiences, challenge their perspectives, and walk away feeling more inspired and empowered.
BE PART OF THE STORY
This journey has been one of collaboration, growth, and discovery—not just for us, but for everyone who’s joined us along the way. And while our story began with a dream to connect changemakers and storytellers, it’s a story we’re still writing, with every traveler who chooses to be part of it.
Always looking forward,
Aubrie + Robin
