MatPat and Stephanie Patrick, creators of The Game Theorists, discuss their company, retirement from YouTube, and emotional impact of saying goodbye. They also explore work-life balance challenges, hiring process, evaluating the company, understanding revenue multiples and EBITDA, and the changing landscape of YouTube content creation.
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Quick takeaways
MatPat and Stephanie Patrick discuss their decision to retire from YouTube while keeping their channels alive and the excitement of transitioning to new projects.
The importance of authenticity and building a bond with the audience, delivering trustworthy and entertaining content.
Their approach to team building and responsibility towards team members in terms of professional development and growth opportunities.
Building a sustainable business model by balancing revenue and expenses to ensure long-term success.
The meticulous process of launching new YouTube channels, including research, audience study, and content planning.
Building a brand that can expand into different verticals while maintaining a cohesive identity and utilizing a shared pool of talented individuals.
Deep dives
The origins and evolution of the Game Theory channel
Matt Pat and Stephanie started their YouTube journey over a decade ago, creating low-fi video essays about video games. Today, they have multiple successful channels and over 41 million subscribers.
The decision to retire from YouTube
Matt Pat and Stephanie discuss their decision to retire from YouTube while keeping their channels alive. They explain the desire for new challenges and opportunities to learn, as well as the excitement of transitioning to new projects.
The importance of authenticity and the bond with the audience
Matt Pat and Stephanie highlight the importance of authenticity and building a bond with the audience. They discuss the responsibility they feel towards their viewers and how they aim to deliver content that is trustworthy, entertaining, and made with enthusiasm.
Growing the business and the challenges of team building
The podcast episode explores the growth of their business and the challenges they faced in team building. They explain their approach to hiring, including auditioning writers, and the responsibility they feel towards their team members in terms of their professional development and opportunities for growth.
The importance of a sustainable business model
The podcast highlights the significance of building a sustainable business model, emphasizing the need to balance revenue and expenses to ensure long-term success. They discuss the importance of profitability and managing overhead costs to withstand the volatility of the industry.
Launching new channels with strategic planning
The podcast explores the meticulous process of launching new YouTube channels, emphasizing the significance of thorough research and planning. They discuss the need to analyze the target vertical, study audience preferences, and develop a year's worth of content ideas and titles in advance.
Building a brand with translatable skills and cross-channel collaboration
The podcast discusses the importance of building a brand that can expand into different verticals while maintaining a cohesive identity. They highlight the value of having a team with translatable skills, allowing for cross-collaboration and the ability to launch new channels with a shared pool of talented individuals.
The role of data in decision-making and channel growth
The podcast emphasizes the role of data in decision-making and channel growth, discussing the importance of analyzing audience response and engagement to shape content strategy. They highlight the significance of launching channels with multiple videos to provide a comprehensive view of the channel's value proposition and gather insights on audience preferences.
Celebrating the Last 13 Years
The podcast episode explores the celebration of the last 13 years of hosting the YouTube channels and the upcoming sign off video.
Analyzing YouTube's Shifts
The podcast discusses the shifts in YouTube's algorithm, the rise of shorts, and the importance of understanding different metrics for success.
The Future of Creator Advocacy
The podcast delves into the future of creator advocacy and the potential for creators to become advocates for the industry, pushing for better rights and recognition.
Understanding the Importance of Data
The podcast emphasizes the importance of data for creators, highlighting the need to set clear goals and KPIs for each video and to analyze the data in the wider context of the channel's programming and audience engagement.
Today on the Colin and Samir Show, we're interviewing MatPat and Stephanie Patrick, the creators of The Game Theorists. In the conversation, we cover how they built their company, and why they're retiring from YouTube.
Check out Spotter: http://spotter.com/colinandsamir
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