Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannon + Gerry Arner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shannon + Gerry, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?
The most important lesson we learned came from experiencing burnout in our previous business. We owned a business in the pet industry and were working around the clock, with no real work-life balance. It was draining both physically and mentally. We didn’t realize at the time, but we were stuck in a cycle of overwork that wasn’t sustainable. It wasn’t until we were completely burnt out that we realized the need for change.
While our decision isn’t ideal for everyone, we decided to sell everything, downsize, and move to the coast to start over. That decision was the turning point for us. We didn’t just want to build another business, we wanted to build a life that truly supported us—one that allowed us to pursue freedom, adventure, and self-care, not just profits.
The lesson? The importance of intentional living and work-life balance. As business owners now, we operate on the principle that we don’t work just for the sake of work, we work to create space for life. That means we take time to recharge, set boundaries, and ensure we are building a business that serves our lifestyle, not the other way around.
This shift in mindset has been the foundation for everything we do at Arner Adventures. We’ve learned that working smarter and with intention is more sustainable—and more rewarding—than working harder. If there’s one thing we’d hope others take away from our experience, it’s that burnout is real, and it’s a sign that it’s time to reassess, slow down, and make sure your business is aligned with the life you want to live.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
We’re Shannon and Gerry, the couple behind Arner Adventures. Our journey started when we experienced burnout from working 24/7 in our previous business. We realized we needed to change our lifestyle after our mental and physical health began to suffer, so we sold everything, downsized, and moved to the coast. This shift allowed us to embrace life in a new way, focused on living fully, intentionally, and with balance.
At Arner Adventures, we share the lessons we’ve learned along the way, offering practical insights and inspiration for those looking to live a life of adventure, freedom, and purpose.
Through our blog, podcast, and social media, we offer lifestyle guidance on topics like downsizing, minimalism, wellness, and living life with intention.
What sets us apart? We’re experts in living life to the fullest—not just through what we do but through how we do it. Our focus is on offering real, actionable advice for those who want to create meaningful lives, not just work endlessly toward more stuff or more status. We share stories of our own adventures, challenges, and triumphs to inspire others to embrace a life that feels true to them. We discuss the lessons we learn as we learn them and share them with our community.
We’ve worked with some amazing brands in wellness, travel, and sustainable lifestyle spaces, and we’re passionate about collaborations that align with our values. Whether it’s sharing tips on living with less or highlighting unique travel experiences, we aim to provide valuable content that encourages others to prioritize what matters most—well-being, experiences, and adventure.
What are we most proud of? We’re most proud of our ability to form a community by being honest about our struggles. At first, we thought people were tuning into our blog to watch a train go off the rails. By being open about our journey, we have been able to turn our journey of transformation into a resource for others.
Through Arner Adventures, we’ve been able to create a space where people can come to learn, grow, and live intentionally. Our work has allowed us to build a community of like-minded individuals who are eager to live life fully, and that’s something we’ll always be proud of.
For anyone considering working with us, here’s what you need to know: We’re not just about business growth—we’re about creating a life that supports your happiness and well-being. Whether you’re looking for social media strategy, content creation, or just some solid lifestyle advice, we’re here to help you make it happen in a way that’s intentional and fulfilling.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building an audience on social media is all about being authentic and showing up as your true self. For us, it wasn’t about jumping on every trend or curating content for what the algorithm wants—it was about sharing our stories and experiences in a real way. We’ve always believed that the key to connection is being genuine, so that’s how we’ve built our community. We’ve shared the highs, the lows, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and the real, raw moments that make up our journey.
The thing about social media is, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to please the algorithm or follow trends—but we’ve found that authenticity is what resonates most with our audience. People want to see the real you, not the perfect, curated version. We’ve always focused on telling our true story, even when it’s messy or imperfect. This is what has allowed us to build trust with our followers. They know they’re getting honest content, not something manufactured just for engagement.
For those just starting to build their social media presence, here’s our advice: Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be yourself, share what truly matters to you, and don’t get too caught up in what others are doing. The people who are meant to follow you will connect with you for your authentic voice and your unique perspective. Consistency matters, but don’t sacrifice your true story just to keep up with trends. Let the content evolve naturally, and be patient—it takes time to build an engaged community, but when you’re authentic, the connection is much stronger and more meaningful.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Yes, what started as a side hustle has definitely turned into our full-time business! Arner Adventures began as a way for us to share our journey of intentional living after leaving our previous business. It was a passion project at first—just a place for us to document our story, but we quickly realized that people were connecting with our experiences and the lessons we were learning along the way.
The first key milestone was when a post about our pet loss and grief went viral. We opened up about the experience of losing a pet, and the response was overwhelming. We started receiving emails and DMs from people all over the world who were so grateful we were talking about this difficult topic. Many of them were going through the same thing, and it was a reminder of the power of authenticity in content. That was the moment when we realized we could create real connections by sharing our true stories.
From there, we began to focus on creating more content that resonated with our audience—content that was helpful, real, and aligned with our lifestyle. We also leaned into SEO during COVID to ensure that people could actually find our content. It became clear that creating content that was both valuable to our audience and optimized for search engines was the key to growing our reach. Our blog became a space where people could find answers, inspiration, and support.
Along the way, we monetized our blog content and began partnering with brands that aligned with our values and lifestyle—wellness, travel, and sustainable living. These partnerships have allowed us to build a sustainable business that’s true to who we are without compromising on the authenticity that our audience values.
Today, Arner Adventures is our full-time business, and we’re proud of how we’ve been able to scale it without losing sight of the principles that started it all: living intentionally, prioritizing balance, and creating content that connects with people in a meaningful way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arneradventures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arneradventures
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Arneradventures/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arner-adventures
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/arneradventures
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-arner-adventures-podcast/id1600935456
Image Credits
Mady Noel Photo