Creating Aspirational Adventure with Escapod Trailers

When you combine X Games gold medals, restaurant dreams, and a DIY teardrop trailer built in a garage with hand tools from Home Depot—you get Escapod. In this episode, Tyler Jorgenson sits down with Jen and Chris Hudak, the powerhouse couple behind Escapod Trailers, to unpack their rugged road to success. From competitive ski slopes to the rocky startup terrain of entrepreneurship, Jen and Chris share how their unique talents (and willingness to sleep in tight quarters with two kids and a dog) helped them build a cult-followed adventure brand.

But don’t be fooled—this isn’t your average glamping origin story. We dive into their startup days launching in a mother-in-law’s garage, the art of risk-taking, and what it's like to find product-market fit by accident while racing mountain bikes. They share the real behind-the-scenes of growing a business as a married couple, evolving past founder mode, and how they’re scaling Escapod into a high-performance brand while keeping their marriage, sanity, and camping gear intact.

As they gear up to launch their new mountain bike-specific trailer at the Sea Otter Classic, Jen and Chris reflect on the highs, the whack-a-mole challenges of founder life, and why sometimes your customers know better than you do. Plus, find out who their dream brand ambassador is (hint: think cliffs, cameras, and killer calves). Whether you're an adrenaline junkie, gearhead, or weekend warrior dreaming of a side hustle—this one’s a wild ride.

Key Takeaways

• From X Games to Escapod: Jen’s competitive drive and Chris’s resourcefulness collided to create more than a company—it sparked an aspirational lifestyle brand for adventure seekers.
• Build it and They Will Ask Questions: Their original trailer wasn’t built to sell—but became a business idea after it attracted attention on mountain biking trips. Early validation came not from pitches, but from pure curiosity.
• Grow Together or Bust: As co-founders and spouses, balancing roles (and diapers) while scaling a company meant scheduling intentional family time, leaning into their opposite skillsets, and letting go of ego to evolve the brand.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Escapod Trailers

01:44 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

03:20 From Garage to Business

05:01 Identifying Market Gaps

07:20 Defining Roles in the Partnership

08:40 Realizing Business Potential

11:00 Overcoming Challenges as Founders

13:44 Unique Adventures with Escapod Trailers

16:30 Dream Collaborations and Future Plans

17:33 Innovations in Trailer Design

19:22 Listening to Customer Feedback

21:59 Balancing Business and Personal Life

26:31 Future Aspirations and Bucket Lists