Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Havird.
Hi Jonathan , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
About a year ago, we embarked on a journey that would shape a whole new chapter of our live, we became YouTubers. It started with our love for travel and exploration, especially around Florida. We spent countless weekends adventuring through the state, soaking up the sun, discovering hidden gems, and making unforgettable memories. But one place stood out more than any other: Universal Studios. It quickly became our second home, and the inspiration behind our original channel name, Universally Free. We wanted to capture and share the magic we felt with others who craved adventure just like we did.
As we documented our experiences, we realized we weren’t just showing off cool rides or fun destination, we were telling stories. Our passion for theme parks naturally blended with our growing interest in history and the culture behind each place we visited. Whether it was uncovering the background of iconic attractions, exploring local legends, or simply sharing tips to make every trip better, we found ourselves creating a unique niche that mixed travel, theme park fun, and meaningful storytelling. That’s when it hit us: we were no longer just visitors. We were storytellers with a purpose.
With that evolution, it felt right to change our name to Spin the Compass, a name that better reflected the direction we were headed. It symbolizes our curiosity, the excitement of not knowing where the compass will land next, and the freedom to explore beyond the gates of any single theme park. We’re still deeply connected to our roots at Universal Studios, but now we aim to cover a broader map across cities, parks, and timelines. Our journey as YouTubers continues to grow, and we’re excited to spin the compass with everyone who joins us for the ride.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While the adventure has been incredibly rewarding, the journey hasn’t come without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was navigating creative differences. As a team, we each had our own vision for the channel, some days it was about high energy theme park vlogs, other days we leaned into historical storytelling or cinematic travel montages. Finding a balance between those creative ideas took time, patience, and plenty of late-night planning sessions. We learned to communicate better, compromise when needed, and stay focused on our shared goal: making content that felt both meaningful and fun.
On top of that, managing our time was its own challenge. Since we both work full-time jobs, scheduling PTO to align with filming days wasn’t always easy. We had to be strategic about when and where to travel, often planning weeks in advance just to squeeze in a single day of shooting. Then came the gear, figuring out what camera to use, how to get good audio in a noisy park, and how to edit it all into something we were proud of. We made mistakes, upgraded equipment, and watched hours of tutorials just to improve one shot or one soundbite. Behind every five minute video was a mountain of effort, but through all of it, we grew stronger, both as creators and as a team.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Outside of YouTube, we both work full-time in demanding IT roles that keep us on our toes. Jonathan works as an IT specialist at a law firm, where attention to detail, data security, and fast paced problem solving are part of daily life. Whether it’s managing secure communications or ensuring systems stay compliant with legal standards, his role is critical in keeping the firm running smoothly. Madison, on the other hand, works in IT at a hospital, where the stakes are just as high. Her days often involve supporting life saving technology, troubleshooting clinical systems, and maintaining reliable networks in a fast moving healthcare environment. Balancing our professional responsibilities with our creative passions hasn’t always been easy, but our backgrounds in IT have definitely helped us stay organized, tech savvy, and ready to tackle the technical side of content creation.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We’re always excited to connect with fellow creators, brands, and supporters who share our passion for travel, theme parks, and storytelling. Whether you’re a fellow YouTuber looking to collaborate on a video, a business interested in sponsorship opportunities, or a viewer who simply wants to support what we do, there are so many ways to get involved. You can reach out to us directly through our social media or email for collabs and partnerships, or support us by subscribing, liking, and sharing our content to help us grow. We also welcome suggestions and ideas from our audience this channel is as much about community as it is about adventure, and we’d love to have you be part of our journey as we continue to Spin the Compass.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Spin_The_Compass_Vlogs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568424808991
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@SpinTheCompassVlogs
