What I actually use

Tools from the work, not a shopping list.

These are the things that earned a permanent place in my workspace, gear bag, or truck while I built Derek Unscripted.

The short version

My Current Everyday Setup

The six pieces at the center of the work right now.

In the gear bag

Camera & Audio

A compact setup that can move from the truck to the water without turning filming into a production.

Branded placeholder for GoPro HERO10 product photoCamera

GoPro HERO10

This camera has documented hundreds of hours of my journey—from early morning fishing trips to late-night gig work while building Derek Unscripted. I originally wanted something small enough to carry everywhere, and I still use it because it has stayed reliable through Florida weather and constant travel. It fits anyone who values getting the shot without hauling a full camera bag.

This has survived hundreds of filming sessions.

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Branded placeholder for GoPro Media Mod product photoCamera accessory

GoPro Media Mod

I bought the Media Mod because the basic GoPro needed better audio and mounting options. I still use it because lights and microphones attach without rebuilding the rig. It turns the HERO10 into a practical everyday filming tool and suits anyone trying to keep a mobile setup simple.

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Branded placeholder for ULANZI Super Clamp product photoMount

ULANZI Super Clamp

I needed a mount that was not limited to a tripod or dashboard. This inexpensive clamp now gets used almost every day inside the truck and in unusual filming positions. It is especially useful for anyone who needs one mount to adapt to changing locations.

This has become part of my everyday setup.

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Branded placeholder for GoPro charger and Enduro batteries product photoPower

GoPro Dual Charger + Enduro Batteries

I bought extra batteries because filming stops quickly when the only battery dies. The Enduro batteries last longer in demanding conditions, while the dual charger keeps the next pair ready. This is most useful for creators recording long days away from an outlet.

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Branded placeholder for ULANZI ST-02S Phone Mount product photoPhone mount

ULANZI ST-02S Phone Mount

I bought this when my phone started becoming part of the filming setup. I still use it because the aluminum body does not flex like cheaper mounts and the cold shoe leaves room for another accessory. It makes sense for anyone regularly mixing phone footage into a larger setup.

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Branded placeholder for RØDE Wireless GO product photoAudio

RØDE Wireless GO

Clean audio matters more than perfect video. I bought this so I could speak naturally while walking, driving, or filming outdoors without a cable attached to me. It remains part of the everyday kit because it removes friction, especially for solo creators who move while they record.

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Branded placeholder for ULANZI VL120 RGB Light product photoLighting

ULANZI VL120 RGB Light

I needed a light that could live in the gear bag instead of requiring a studio. This is usually the first one I grab after sunset because it is compact, rechargeable, and makes an immediate difference. It works well for creators filming indoors, in vehicles, or in changing locations.

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Branded placeholder for ULANZI VL49 RGB Light product photoLighting

ULANZI VL49 RGB Light

I bought this smaller light for places where the larger VL120 was more than I needed. It stays in the bag because it is light, easy to position, and good for filling a shadow without complicating the setup. It is a useful first light for someone filming in tight spaces.

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Branded placeholder for SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSD product photoStorage

SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSD

Every video starts here. I bought these cards for the speed and capacity the GoPro needed, and I still use them because they have been dependable through long recording sessions. They fit creators who would rather concentrate on the story than wonder whether the card kept up.

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At the desk

Creator Software

DaVinci Resolve

I use Resolve to edit and finish Derek Unscripted. It gives me the editing, audio, and color tools I need in one place without forcing the workflow into several programs.

Official website

Creator OS

This is the system behind the work: projects, episodes, transcripts, content ideas, finances, and the daily operating loop. I use it because the journey produces too much useful information to leave scattered across apps and conversations.

Built and maintained internally

Where the work lives

Publishing Platforms

YT

YouTube

The permanent home of Funding the Dream and the place where each daily chapter becomes part of the larger archive.

Visit the channel
IG

Instagram

I use Instagram to share the shorter, visual moments from the journey and keep the daily story moving between full episodes.

Visit Instagram

In the truck

Truck & Road Kit

Unglamorous tools that quietly make thousands of deliveries and hours of filming easier.

Branded placeholder for Scosche MagicMount product photoTruck mount

Scosche MagicMount Vent Mount

If you've watched Funding the Dream, you've probably already seen this mount in action. I bought it to keep navigation visible and the phone secure during deliveries. It remains in the truck because it is simple and dependable—exactly what a driver needs from a mount.

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Branded placeholder for JSAUX USB-C Cable product photoCharging

JSAUX USB-C Cable

Not exciting—but one of those things I use every day. I bought these after going through too many cheap cables, and they stayed because they have simply proven reliable. Anyone depending on a phone for work knows that reliability matters more than novelty.

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Branded placeholder for insulated delivery bag product photoDelivery

Insulated Food Delivery Bag

I bought a proper bag because keeping food hot is part of doing the job well. After thousands of deliveries it is still part of every shift, protecting the order and helping with ratings and tips. It is basic equipment for anyone taking delivery work seriously.

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Branded placeholder for PEASUG delivery bags product photoDelivery

PEASUG Insulated Delivery Bags

I added these for larger orders that would not fit the primary bag. I keep using them because they are durable, easy to clean, and flexible enough for everything from pizza to groceries. They are useful when one rigid bag cannot cover every kind of order.

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The working machine

Computer & Storage

Branded placeholder for Samsung 990 PRO SSD product photoActive storage

Samsung 990 PRO SSD

I bought fast storage to remove one more delay from editing. This is where active projects live because quick transfers and responsive timelines mean more time creating and less time waiting. It benefits anyone working regularly with large video files.

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Branded placeholder for Seagate FireCuda 2TB SSHD product photoArchive storage

Seagate FireCuda 2TB SSHD

I bought this drive to stop completed projects from filling the main SSD. It now holds finished videos, Creator OS files, and older work in one organized archive. It suits anyone who needs practical capacity more than their fastest drive for files they still want close by.

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Branded placeholder for Razer BlackShark V3 product photoHeadset

Razer BlackShark V3

I spend hours in a headset while editing, streaming, and working inside Creator OS. I bought this for sound, but I kept using it because comfort became just as important. It fits anyone whose headset is a work tool rather than an occasional accessory.

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Custom-built Desktop

I built this computer for editing and streaming, and it still carries the daily workload. The components are past their prime, so I am documenting the role it plays rather than recommending an outdated build. A new parts list can come when the hardware is replaced.

Documented, not recommended

Behind the scenes

Business Tools

The services holding the sites, stores, files, and operating system together.

IO

IONOS

Why I use it: It hosts DerekUnscripted.com and the other sites while keeping the setup straightforward enough to manage directly.

Official website
FW

Fourthwall

Why I use it: It gives me a practical storefront for testing and eventually selling merchandise without building commerce infrastructure from scratch.

Official website
N

Notion

Why I use it: It is the working interface for Creator OS, connecting projects, content, finances, analytics, and the daily record.

Official website
GH

GitHub

Why I use it: It preserves the websites, project documents, transcripts, and their history so the work does not disappear into scattered folders.

Official website
GD

Google Drive

Why I use it: It keeps working files and backups accessible while the permanent structure remains organized through Creator OS.

Official website

Earned recommendations only

Books & learning

I am leaving this shelf intentionally selective. A book will appear here only after it has genuinely influenced how I think, work, tell stories, or build this next chapter—not because a list of books makes a Resources page look complete.

Still being documented

Future Additions

Fishing and livestream gear will be added as exact models, real use, and firsthand descriptions are confirmed. Original product photos will replace the temporary branded artwork as I photograph the equipment already in use.