On June 4, the IndieWire Honors Spring 2026 awards ceremony will honor the creators and stars behind the year's best television series. Selected by IndieWire's editorial team, the IndieWire Honors are a celebration of the creators, artists, and performers behind acclaimed shows. Ahead of the Los Angeles event, IndieWire is highlighting their work with new interviews and tributes from fellow creators.
When Michelle Hare picks up the phone, there's a good chance she's on her way to do something incredible. Ahead of the 2026 IndieWire Honors ceremony, our Pulse Award winner and incredibly cool host of the YouTube show "Challenge Accepted" made a call from her car on her way to taekwondo practice.
«"From the very beginning of creating content, I've always noticed that vulnerability is the very magic that makes people empathize with media," Hare said. "Even in TV series, it's why we connect with some of our favorite actors. There's a sense of empathy and willingness that opens the door to much, much more.", much deeper emotional perception.".
The national taekwondo competition Hare is currently training for is a continuation of the previous episode, "Challenge Accepted," in which she earned a black belt in just 90 days. Hare's next challenge, involving hand-to-hand combat and a potentially historic rope stunt (more on that later!), will add to the growing list of seemingly unattainable goals documented in Hare's groundbreaking series, which has spanned over 65 episodes.
Created by Hare and director Garrett Kennell, who is also Hare's husband, Challenge Accepted follows the 33-year-old superhero as she navigates extraordinary worlds, from the Secret Service and the emergency room to Olympic track and field. Since Challenge Accepted debuted on YouTube in 2018, Hare has steadily built a unique online following, boasting over 5 million subscribers who are regularly inspired by her accomplishments.
«"I replaced 'I need to “" to "Me such an opportunity arises “ she said. “I an opportunity arises to be the first, so I hope that someone after me will feel more comfortable in the same place.".
«Challenge Accepted on YouTube
Over the past year, Hare has attempted to replicate Harry Houdini's deadliest underwater escape, recreated an aerial stunt inspired by the Mission: Impossible films, and even run seven marathons… on seven continents… in just seven days (!!). Yet none of this makes her a truly remarkable figure in Hollywood.
In an era where the boundaries between the internet, television, and film are blurring, Hare has become one of the most vibrant figures in documentary storytelling. This is largely due to the indomitable energy she pours into her lifelong dedication to content creation. As this year's Pulse Award recipient, Hare represents a new generation of artists who are helping to fundamentally change what the entertainment industry can become.
But unlike conversations with some other online content creators discussing the future of media, discussions with Hare rarely touch on market upheavals or the longevity of platforms. Instead, this versatile and dynamic personality speaks with boundless joy about curiosity, perseverance, and the people who support her daily work.
«"My goal is to reach as many young people as possible and inspire them to step outside their comfort zone," Hare said. "What keeps me coming back to the show is the people who watch it. When I'm truly tested, I remember it's for them.".
«Challenge Accepted on YouTube
What began years ago as an attempt to overcome Hare's personal fears has since evolved into perhaps, most An ambitious independent project in the non-fiction entertainment space. Despite the growing scale of her challenges, Hare insists that Challenge Accepted was never a purely spectacle project. For example, discussing the recent "Great World Race," she noted not the feeling of crossing seven separate marathon finish lines (a total of 183.4 miles in one week), but the colossal uncertainty that preceded them.
«"Producer Michelle knows that struggle is important," Hare said with a laugh. "When you look at the comments on a lot of our episodes, people write entire essays about it. About vulnerability. About the dark night of the soul. About those deep moments of introspection when we're not sure if we can finish.".
These moments are important because they're real. Unlike journalists or media personalities who observe greatness from the sidelines, Hare immerses herself in the miracles she documents. She trains with the experts she profiles, suffers public failures, and then tries again—until she succeeds.
«"I think there's something special about being a host, especially the intimacy I get," Hare explained. "I don't host the show from a distance. I immerse myself in the lives, experiences, and worlds of the people whose communities we want to represent, to celebrate that spirit.".
«Challenge Accepted on YouTube
This fully immersive approach is becoming increasingly rare in an attention economy that emphasizes both instant gratification and before-and-after reactions. Challenge Accepted releases only a handful of episodes a year, and some take just as long to produce. The recent Great World Race expanded to a three-part series because the scale of the story required it, but what makes this narrative choice truly impressive is the scale at which it was executed.
Although Challenge Accepted utilizes a vast network of freelancers, the show's full-time team consists of just seven people. They include Hare and director/co-creator/chief creative officer Garrett Kennell. The team also includes production manager Nick Hurt, senior editors Ryan Forsythe and Ryan Gonzalez, assistant editor Max Carmona, and executive assistant Madi Keller. Together, they create YouTube videos so exceptional that they rival some major studio film releases.
«"From the very beginning of my channel, I've had the goal of creating longer-format content—half-hour, hour-long, and even feature-length films," Hare said. "And if something inspires us, we can immediately begin implementing it. We don't need to discuss our ideas on a whiteboard or hold a presentation.".
At the beginning of each year, Hare creates a list of her wildest episode concepts. Then she, Kennell, and the rest of the Challenge Accepted team get to work, turning the impossible into the possible. This freedom has allowed the show's protagonist to evolve alongside her audience. Hare says the first season is "significantly different" from the current eighth, but each episode of Challenge Accepted underscores the same core idea: incomprehensible triumphs are born from surprisingly ordinary acts.
«"The harsh reality is that many of the things we want to do that seem simple are actually quite difficult," Hare said with a laugh. "Persistence is the only thing we have the power to do.".
It's a deceptively simple idea, but it runs through every aspect of Hare's career and much of Hollywood. Whether it's attempting FBI training or participating in a unique sporting event, Hare always goes the extra mile. When asked how "Challenge Accepted" provides access to the more niche and exclusive organizations featured on the program, Hare didn't talk about connections or influence. Instead, she described cold calls, emails, and a willingness to Always try again.
«"Taking initiative is like exercising a muscle," she said. "It's a strong muscle that needs to be constantly flexed.".
It's this approach that underlies the appeal of Challenge Accepted today. Viewers don't just watch Hare perform complex or intricate challenges on her channel. They watch her preparation, her struggle, and, most importantly, how she continues Overcoming often superhuman obstacles—all the while knowing that many more amazing adventures await her, waiting for viewers in the background. Even as she contemplated seven marathons, stunts on military aircraft, and the World Taekwondo Championships, Hare was already eyeing her next big achievement: a possible history-making tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon.
«"Challenge Accepted" is about throwing down a challenge and seeing if anything comes of it," she said.
Hare's unwavering belief in herself has inspired countless people who support her on YouTube. The host recalls being approached by aspiring runners who signed up for their first 5K races after watching her marathons, while others signed up for martial arts classes. Indian-American families often turn to Hare, who is also a Dartmouth College graduate, to see a woman from their culture portrayed as physically strong and capable.
«"Ultimately, these stories are the driving force behind the show," Hare said. As the daughter of immigrants and a former professional cyclist who often found herself the only female athlete in the room, Hare is increasingly aware of the impact she has on others.
Michelle Hare on the red carpet at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards for "Challenge Accepted." David John @DAVIDJONPHOTOGRAPHY
The entertainment industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history, and as the boundaries between digital and traditional media collapse, creators like Hare are becoming influential figures in their own right. Last year, "Challenge Accepted" became one of the first independent YouTube series to be nominated for an Emmy Award, alongside projects backed by major networks, streaming services, and studios. For Hare, this achievement isn't just recognition, but an opportunity.
«"As the worlds between digital and traditional continue to converge, and the boundaries between them become increasingly blurred, I'm thrilled for a future where this is all-encompassing," she said. "Thanks to Challenge Accepted, we can learn from this experience and apply all these incredible lessons, while simultaneously innovating and evolving. We're incredibly fortunate to be able to do this.".
This is the perspective of a pioneering director who understands both the past and future of the entertainment industry. When asked how she would define the Pulse Award, Khare answered without hesitation: "Expect the unexpected," she joked before heading off to taekwondo training.
This answer captures the essence of Hare's series, but like most things in Challenge Accepted, it also speaks to something wiser and more timeless. In an era when so much of the world is shackled by cynicism, Hare remains steadfastly and unabashedly optimistic. Not because she believes difficult things are easy, but because her entire career has been built on the remarkable belief that even the wildest dreams are worth pursuing.
The video for “Challenge Accepted” is now available to watch on YouTube.
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