We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christian De la Torre. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christian below.
Hi Christian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
“Christian, it’s time to settle down and start building your career. You know people here, you are established, connected, and comfortable.” This is what some of my friends and colleagues said when I quit my job in Colorado, left a great little house, and many of the friends I made in the military. My friends had settled down or were settling into “9-5” job routines, getting married,and having children. Although I had a good job and could have stayed, something was tugging at me to do more, be more. I’ve always pushed the envelope – never settling into a comfort zone. I grew up playing hockey, and always striving – taking risks to go farther and be better. I did the same in the military, rising in the officer ranks, deploying across the world – and in the process, sustaining injuries that may have stopped others – but I kept going. I knew I wanted more – more adventure, more “life!”
So in the midst of the pandemic, I left – a little risky! I decided to leave all of that behind, and head for California – and a new life! I really did not know what I wanted to do. I just wanted to pursue my childhood dream of living on the west coast. As I traveled, I created content related to and reflecting on the places I visited and the experiences I had. I was thrilled that people were eager to follow me and learn about my adventures. I learned through athletics and then further in the military that I could always manage the risks involved as I moved forward. I believe high risk equals high rewards – and in my experience, that has always been true. I have learned that planning and preparation helps to reduce the risks, and typically results in higher rewards. However, as you will see, it does not eliminate the risks!
My travels and my eventual move to the west coast went relatively smooth as I had an RV that I could travel and live in quite comfortably. I had a friend in Los Angeles who invited me to his neighborhood. I liked it and stayed. I secured an apartment that I was going to sublet as part of my income while I continued to create content while partnering with various organizations and companies. Well – it didn’t quite work out that way. Within a short time of getting “settled” in an apartment – I was “unsettled” as my RV was broken into, vandalized, and stolen! My plan to travel in my RV and sublet my apartment quickly went out the window. I was committed to continuing my adventures and content creation and making the best of a bad situation. After a short time, I took the risk of pursuing my dream. I found my dream vehicle – “Frank the Tank” a 1984 vintage Westfalia van camper in Oregon. Funny how things come together when it looks like everything is falling apart.
I realized that my original plan of traveling and subletting my apartment for income would not be enough for life in LA. Friends encouraged me to start auditioning for roles as an “extra” as there is always space for new faces. I understood that many others were doing this and I thought – sure, I’ll give this a shot. I have always been comfortable in new and unpredictable situations and the military taught me – “adapt and overcome!” Once I got my first “gig” I was hooked, and got to meet an idol, Al Pacino! What a thrill for me when he talked to me and positively commented on my curly hair! I was hooked and more opportunities started coming my way. I had never taken an acting class – and still haven’t. I realized this provided me with excellent opportunities to network, pursue more acting, and actually make a living in LA.
Fast forward two years, and I can hardly believe all that has transpired. I have been booked as the lead in various roles, a documentary co-produced by Samira Wiley and featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, signed by an agency, and traveled to Scotland to be one of the originals in a new reality show, the Traitors (streaming on Peacock). In addition to my acting, content creation, and traveling, I’m developing a television show, and an environmentally focused non-profitt.
Taking risks has been working out for me. If I hadn’t taken the risks – I may be leading a life that may have been much easier and more predictable – but it certainly would not have the adventure I have experienced. I love this life and I know there is more to come! Again – high risk means high reward and I’m loving the rewards my life is offering! And oh yes, I have still not taken any acting classes!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
What sets me apart? I bring unique skills and perspective as I am part of less than 1% of people in the United States who have military experience, including deployments to different regions of the world, some that most people would not visit. As a military officer, I had the distinctive opportunity to work with numerous, diverse groups of people from all over the world, and all parts of society. I was fortunate to work with folks in NATO – offering me perspectives that many folks would not have. These opportunities have helped me to develop a greater appreciation for cultures and values that were different from those that I, and often others, grew up with. This also expanded how I view activities through different lenses.
Based on my lifestyle and career choices I have traveled across the United States and throughout the world. I love traveling and adventure, and I take great pride in giving back to the communities I live in and enjoy. I want to use my diverse skill set to help others develop their adventurous spirit, well being, and in the process support their community and the environment. This is why I am developing the non-profit “TRACE.”
As I explored the Los Angeles area more, I became more aware of the great care our environment needs and how we could help to educate followers on what we could all do to support the environment while exploring great places. We can all give back – in little and big ways. This realization also influenced me to develop a non-profit “TRACE.” We focus on engaging people with each other, their communities, and the environment. I’ve become more involved with my local community and am finding ways to contribute. I want to inspire others to do the same.
TRACE will be a non profit organization that is dedicated to creating a fun, exciting, and educational experience that connects people back to the earth and fosters partnerships within our diverse community. We aim to promote sustainable awareness and goal-oriented practices that benefit individuals, the earth, and our local community.
I can help my followers in multiple ways. Based on my experience, and through my non-profit, I can provide guidance on how individuals can get involved in giving back to their community through environmentally friendly ways. There are numerous opportunities for individuals to build their physical and mental wellness while improving the environment and learning about their community. If individuals can’t join me in person, I’m developing avenues to share the adventures via videos, streaming, a documentary, or other formats.
TRACE is based on the following principles:
Sustainable living: TRACE is committed to promoting sustainable living practices through programs and initiatives. We believe in reducing waste, conserving resources, and protecting the environment for future generations.
Outdoor education: TRACE values the benefits of spending time in nature and the importance of outdoor education. We provide opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the natural world, learn new skills, and develop a sense of stewardship for the environment.
Community involvement: TRACE is dedicated to fostering a sense of community and promoting civic engagement. We believe that everyone has something to contribute and that together we can make a positive impact in our communities.
Inclusivity: TRACE values diversity and inclusivity. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or identity.
Fun and excitement: TRACE believes in the power of fun and excitement to engage people and make a lasting impact. We strive to create programs and initiatives that are both educational and enjoyable, encouraging people to connect with nature and each other in meaningful ways.
Research informs us that the activities TRACE supports have countless benefits for the environment, our communities, and our own well being. Being in nature is beneficial on its own – but we are also advocating being involved in physical activities such as simple hiking, climbing, and picking up trash along the way, creating and maintaining trails, planting native species (some of the simplest ways to support our goals).
We know that every activity we are involved in has an impact and leaves a “trace.” We want the trace we leave to be a positive one that leaves the community and the earth in a better place.
You asked how we are solving problems. For individuals, we are hoping to contribute to their health and wellness and support outdoor experiences. We also hope to educate them on the areas we are exploring. For our communities and the environment, we are planning to actively improve the local environment which ultimately supports the global environment. This will benefit a larger group of people who use the areas for a variety of activities. It will also support the local economies to make areas more attractive and useful to locals and visitors.
Our primary focus is supporting the principles for TRACE. I will continue to pursue my passion to travel and use my creative energy in developing a travel documentary series to share with a wider audience. My desire is to inspire more individuals to push themselves beyond their comfort zones to learn about and explore the heart and sould of the United States. I want to generate individuals’ enthusiasm to go beyond their current boundaries and learn more about our country. It may be a short weekend trip to a state park, or a cross country trip to the East Coast. I’m eager to share the excitement of exploring all that our country has to offer. I want others to experience that Life Rips!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Society can do much to support creativity – starting with our youngest citizens. The formal education system in the United States needs to dedicate more time, energy, and funding to support creativity, particularly in the arts – all of the arts (music, visual arts, writing, movement, dramatic arts, etc.). We have become overly focused on math and standardized testing, reducing or eliminating opportunities for creativity. Artistic efforts need to be valued equally with the more objective activities like math. In most traditional school systems, students have to dedicate time and their own money in before or after school programs to develop their creativity. Students who want to pursue artistic endeavors like photography, set design, visual arts, furniture design, or jazz, have to find these opportunities outside of the traditional school system. When these opportunities are offered – they are “electives” and not requirements. In our local communities, we should support local artisans, whether they are farm to food markets, independent jewelry makers, homespun fabrics, and more. Communities should continue to actively promote and find ways to support creativity among their citizenry. It is only with the combined efforts of individuals, groups and government that we are going to further a creative ecosystem.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being involved in the creative arts is the satisfaction my team and I receive from inspiring others. Being involved in the powerful collaboration process that is behind the creative results makes me grateful to learn from and about others. I am inspired by the input and feedback my colleagues and my followers provide me. It is difficult to explain how rewarding this opportunity is. Being involved in the journeys of others and helping them achieve their goals is one of the best parts of my life. Having the opportunity to be involved in multiple, diverse creative projects has allowed me to experience first hand how creative artists continually support each other. Each situation allows me to learn something new from a new group of people. The combination of all of these contributions is fulfilling. It is the realization that everyone is lifting each other up. At the end of the day, it is about everyone pursuing their passion and loving what they do. This energizes me! 
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @christiandelatorre_
Image Credits
Jamal – Akil Marshall, and Jaden Schmeissr