Discover IT Yourself: Curated Self Guided Adventures in Las Vegas

Welcome to Howard Fox's Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast. In this episode, the conversation focused on self-guided adventures in Las Vegas with special guest Jacob Landry, founder of Discover IT Yourself—The Ultimate Self Guided Adventures in Las Vegas. The discussion explored Jacob’s journey from a Las Vegas native with a thirst for travel and adventure to launching a business that empowers individuals, families, and groups to discover curated outdoor experiences in Nevada and beyond.  Listeners will hear about Jacob’s adventurous upbringing, the lessons learned from his travels around the world, and how a life-changing injury inspired him to shift from nightlife promotion to facilitating meaningful connections with nature. This episode highlights the evolving landscape of outdoor tourism, the importance of responsible stewardship, and the innovative ways Discover IT Yourself is making adventure more accessible—while maintaining the intimacy and secrecy of Nevada’s hidden gems. Whether you’re a local, a tourist, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation promises insights into building a life and business around bold exploration. DISCUSSION 1. Introduction and Guest Background and Personal Journey Jake's upbringing in Las Vegas, childhood experiences outdoors with his family Influence of parents: adventurous father and more resort-oriented mother Limited access to outdoor infrastructure in early Las Vegas Participation in Royal Rangers (similar to Boy Scouts) Transition from introvert to more extroverted roles on the Las Vegas Strip Impact of family dynamics and personal challenges 2. Early Career and Shift Toward Adventure Work as a street performer and involvement in the Las Vegas nightlife industry Self-reflection through literature and philosophy The deciding event: a serious climbing accident at Red Rock 3. The Turning Point: From Nightlife to Outdoor Adventures Details of the climbing accident and rescue Recovery period leading to opening home to travelers and acting as a local guide informally Realization of Las Vegas as a transient city and opportunity to serve as a local ambassador Increased passion for showing visitors the outdoors 4. Travel Experiences and Global Exploration Taking time to travel internationally (Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, India) Pursuing unique adventures abroad (e.g., Everest, motorcycle journey in Vietnam) Gaining perspective and inspiration for a new venture upon returning 5. Founding and Evolution of the Business Launch of first hiking tour company, Adventurers Anonymous, in late 2019 Initial offerings: guided hikes (including night hikes), experimentation with business model Challenges scaling a guide-dependent business Desire to empower people to have adventures independently 6. Birth and Structure of Discover IT Yourself (DIY) DIY’s focus on self-guided, curated outdoor adventure packages Transition from “doing for” to “enabling” customers Lessons from guiding people and scaling experiences without personal involvement in every trip 7. Business Model, Audience, and Experience Curation Use of online travel agencies (OTAs) to grow customer base Typical clients: travelers aged 40–65 seeking off-Strip, personalized experiences Emphasis on autonomy, convenience, and curated adventure kits (e.g., for stargazing, mountain picnics) Highlighting partnerships with hotels and amenities 8. Impact and Support for Local Communities Supporting rural Nevada towns by directing visitors and curating activities Balancing accessibility with preserving natural spaces (e.g., keeping some locations secret until booking) Efforts to prevent overtourism and environmental degradation (e.g., trash at popular sites) Promoting local businesses and unique regional attractions 9. Integration with the Travel Nevada Adventure Center-Boulder City The role and vision of the new Travel Nevada Adventure Center in Boulder City DIY’s involvement: offering 5–6 hour adventures and optional overnights Logistics: grab-and-go adventure models and quick setup for clients Plans for scalable, autonomous operation and possible shuttle systems 10. Website Overview and Customer Experience Tour and organization of the Discover IT Yourself website Approach to presenting information: simplicity, ambiguity to preserve secret locations Range of offerings: movie nights, seasonal events, standard and customized packages Highlighting intimacy, exclusivity, and “secret adventure” appeal 11. Serving Different Customer Groups and Scaling Accommodating couples, families, and corporate/convention groups Examples of group adventures: desert dinner parties, team building, art/cultural collaborations Engagement with local vendors, caterers, and cultural organizations 12. Operations, Team, and Growth Approach Initial solo management, followed by gradual team expansion Ensuring quality and authenticity as the business scales Balancing growth with personal involvement and maintaining high standards 13. Reflections and Personal Meaning Recognition of how far the business and personal journey have come Appreciation for creating meaningful, life-changing experiences for customers Balancing entrepreneurial ambition with humility and creativity NEXT STEPS To learn more about Discover IT Yourself, visit their website at https://discoverityourself.com or on these social sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094683998864 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoverityourself/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@discoverityourself Visit the Travel Nevada Adventure Center-Boulder City website at https://adventure.travelnevada.com/boulder-city/ Visit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes. KEYWORDS Jake Landry, Discover IT Yourself, Las Vegas Adventure, Off Road Experience, Nevada Outdoors, Travel Nevade Adventure Center Boulder City, Howard Fox, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview #DiscoverItYourself #LasVegasAdventure #OffRoadExperience #NevadaOutdoors #TravelNevadaAdventureCenterBoulderCity #HowardFox #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools:   Production by Descript Hosting Buzzsprout Show Notes by Castmagic Website powered by Podpage Be a Podcast Guest by PodMatch Banner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva