Ryan Trahan and Haley Pham just finished one of the biggest YouTube series of the year: 50 States in 50 Days.
A new state, new Airbnb, new video — every single day.
The goal? Raising $1M for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
50 days later, turns out $1M was just a warm up:
All filmed on an iPhone. Here’s how they did it and why it’s a masterclass for creators and brands alike.
On Repeat
Each episode built on repeatable segments like: House Rankings (rating each Airbnb), Wheel of Doom (challenge unlocked by $50K+ donations) or Jammy Time (yes, wearing pajamas).
They wore the same outfit every day. They read donor messages every night.
The daily rhythm turned YT into appointment viewing — where viewers anticipated each upload instead of being recommended videos by the algorithm.
That said, you could miss a few episodes and still jump back in without confusion. And the challenges added just enough chaos to make it unpredictable.
It Became A Movement
The series felt like anyone could participate:
People were emotionally invested: "50 days ago, it felt like just another YouTube series. Today, it feels like saying goodbye to family. Thanks for making our hearts bigger!"
Even YouTubers like Dr. Mike and Nick DiGiovanni joined in for surprise cameos.
Brands Took A Different Role
Instead of selling ad slots, brands were invited to donate.
$5K got you a shoutout. $50K+ triggered the “Wheel of Doom” that would send Ryan and Haley on a chaotic side quest.
Airbnb, Kia, Staple Games, and Lectric eBikes all joined in.
Dollar Shave Club even paid for Ryan keep his beard.
The New Creator Playbook
Trahan’s series made a case for a different kind of content:
- Built around consistency, not trends
- Funded by impact, not sponsorships
- Designed for daily viewing, not algorithmic hacks
For $5K, a brand got seen by millions and became part of something people actually cared about. For once, nobody skipped past a brand integration. Instead they cheered.
Even Ryan’s own candy brand, Joyride, showed up — not with a discount code, but as a challenge to find it in all 50 states.
As one fan put it: "I have bought from many of the stores that have donated, but I almost never buy from sponsored segments."
That’s not just ROI. That’s earned trust.