

A Brutally Honest Conversation with Smosh
5 snips Dec 18, 2023
Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, founders of Smosh, discuss their experiences running the company for over 20 years, the value of working as a creative duo, building platforms and making deals, hydration and audience perception, creating documentaries and elevating content quality, the early days of pre-YouTube video creators, the perception of content and forgiveness of mediocrity, joyful absurdity and influences, the impact of commercialization on industries, scripting and producing sketch comedy, diversifying a platform or brand, resentment, loss, and reconnecting, the internal struggle of leaving Smosh, and creating a fun and enjoyable space for creators.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Introduction
00:00 • 2min
The Value of Working as a Creative Duo
01:33 • 2min
Building Platforms and Making Deals
03:27 • 4min
Hydration, Sponsorships, and Audience Perception
07:34 • 2min
Creating Documentaries, Making Money, and Elevating Content Quality
09:31 • 2min
The Early Days: From Cyberspace Celebrities to User-Generated Content
11:50 • 6min
Perception of Content and Forgiveness of Mediocrity
18:02 • 2min
Joyful Absurdity and Influences
19:37 • 4min
The Impact of Commercialization on Industries
23:54 • 16min
Scripting and Producing Sketch Comedy
39:37 • 20min
Diversifying a Platform or Brand
59:35 • 24min
Resentment, Loss, and Reconnecting
01:23:44 • 9min
The Internal Struggle of Leaving Smosh
01:32:46 • 18min
Creating a Fun and Enjoyable Space
01:50:51 • 22min