This Gay Couple Shares Their Love of Life and Travel Together Online

Husbands Matthew Schueller and Michael Lindsay have a meet-cute straight out of a social media ad. Schueller came out on his YouTube channel in a video that went viral. A year later and 1,300 miles away, Lindsay was inspired by Schueller’s video to not only come out himself, but also record a video reply. Within months, the “love at first vlog” couple had moved in together.

Schueller says that his YouTube channel also led him to fall in love with travel. He recalls how he made friends from around the world who introduced him to different destinations and cultures. “I was fascinated by that,” Schueller recalls. “I naturally wanted to go and travel.... YouTube empowered me to go and visit a lot of different places. Every time that I would go somewhere, I wouldn’t just discover something about the world...I would discover something about myself.”

Micheal and Matt in Quintana Roo, Mexico

“I just love going to a place and getting proven wrong about what I thought,” says Lindsay. “You know, going somewhere and thinking this is how this is...and then just being flat out told, ‘No.’ Or going to a location that you never knew existed…like some random town in Mexico that you’ve never heard about before. It’s off the map for me; it doesn’t exist in what my conception of the world is. And then you go there and you can’t imagine the world without that place.” 

As queer travel content creators, best known as Michael & Matt, the couple bring their audience along on their adventures, which often revolve around eating and drinking on location.

“It’s just the act of coming around a table or a bar and meeting other people,” Schueller muses. “That’s where I make some of my most memorable memories. Tasting local flavors really allows us to experience place and culture,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot through trying different locations’ foods and beverages.”

Lindsay agrees, saying that even when you know a dish, tasting it where the recipe originated can be enlightening. “You really get a feel for that food that you’ve been eating.” The same could be said for drinks, from coffee to wine to tequila. “When you’re in Mexico, they are doing tequila tastings and they’re pairing it with food.” 

Married in 2018, the husbands pivoted during the pandemic from travel to lifestyle content, bringing fans further into their lives by sharing their nesting — as they bought and fixed up their first home. When Out Traveler spoke with them, Schueller had just graduated from nursing school and Lindsay had just left his full-time job as a dentist. In 2022 they hope to travel more, double down on content creation, and maybe build their family.

Here they share some of their most recent adventures. 

San Francisco Bay, September 2021

“We stayed at the Aloft hotel. We explored the Farmer’s Market in Pleasanton, and had brunch at Beer Baron Whiskey Bar and Kitchen and had the best chilaquiles of my life. We went on a bike tour to three different vineyards…and ate and drank our hearts out at Fish and Bird Izakaya, Passione on 5th, Maitre de Chai, CupCakin Bake Shop, and La Note. Then we went to Tiburon to explore the town, kayak on the bay, we went to Hippie Tree, ate at Sam’s Anchor and Salt & Pepper, had even more wine at a brand-new space called Squalo Vino, and just relaxed and enjoyed the views of the city.”

Taking the plunge in a Playa Del Carmen cenote

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, December 2021

“The best parts of Playa were learning about Mayan history and the area’s geography, including the thousands and thousands of cenotes (natural sinkholes), and obviously enjoying the perfect white sand on the beach. The area around Cancun and Tulum has so many activities and experiences it would take years to see it all. We were taken with the experience, the food, and the beautiful weather.”

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, January 2022

“Puerto Vallarta is a place that just wins our hearts every time. The LGBT-friendly town gives everyone a sense of belonging and comfort. There is amazing street food and endless places to try tequila. We love taking a boat or hiking to a secluded beach away from the city for a day trip. P.V. also has so many activities if you want to go explore. Our favorite part is just walking from taco stand to taco stand, ordering amazing food, and then watching sunsets from our condo or hotel.”

The mouthwatering fare at El Huerto Farm to Table

San Jose de Cabo, Mexico, January 2022

“We stayed at a private villa in a gated community with a private chef and butler service, explored the town of Cabo San Jose a little, and went to a few restaurants around the area. The most amazing experience was actually eating at a farm outside of the city, where we had one of my favorite meals of my life at El Huerto Farm to Table.”

Follow Michael & Mat on Instagram and YouTube.

This piece initially ran in Out Traveler print issue Spring 2022.