The Zack Arnold Podcast SUMMIT TOP 5: Jay Clouse on Creatives & Creators, The Future of Entertainment?
At its core, I organized my 5 day virtual summit about Navigating the Future of Entertainment to help us creatives, artists, and storytellers answer two key questions:
What the hell is happening to our beloved film industry? And how can we shape the future of cinema?
In this episode, I talk with Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science and one of the leading voices in the creator economy. Jay has helped thousands of independent creatives turn their passion into sustainable businesses—not through hacks, but by showing up authentically and building trust. We talk about creating real value, choosing the right platform, and embracing the messy truth of your process. Jay also breaks down the three types of creators, and why not being an “expert” might actually be your biggest strength. If you’re caught between being a creative and being a creator, this conversation will help you be both.
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→ Click here for lifetime access to all 15 interviews, bonus resources, and my 90 minute Masterclass to help you navigate the next act of your creative career.
Key Takeaways
- Serve before you sell. If you want to build a creative business, start by helping your audience. Content that provides clear value invites loyalty, trust, and opportunity.
- Focus your creative energy where you can be real. Skip the pressure to be everywhere. Your audience connects best when you're creating from a place of genuine interest and ease.
- Strengthen creative courage by failing where it’s safe. Use small, private experiments to test ideas, make mistakes, and learn so you're more resilient when it's time to show your work to the world.
Episode Highlights
- What’s the real difference between being creative and calling yourself a creative?
- The surprising way emotion travels from one brain to another through your work
- How creativity becomes a form of currency and what you’re actually trading
- Why picking the right platform might matter more than your talent
- What really happens when you stop curating perfection and start showing the mess
- The quiet reality of creators who thrive without chasing fame
- Which of the 3 creator types are you, and why it matters more than you think
- Why not being an expert might be the edge your content needs
- The human experience as your most powerful asset in an AI-saturated world
- Why creators and creatives are no longer optional allies—they’re essential to each other’s survival
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Useful Resources
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Guest Bio
Jay Clouse is the founder of Creator Science, a leading voice in the creator economy. Jay has helped thousands of creators turn their passion into sturdy businesses through observation, experimentation, and iteration. His work spans a newsletter, podcast, membership, and YouTube channel, reaching a global audience.
In 2023, Jay was named “Content Entrepreneur of the Year” by The Tilt, and the Creator Science podcast earned a 2022 Signal Award.
Jay has also invested in 10+ startups, including Kit, RightMessage, Maven, Carry, Kick, and Gumroad. Through the Creator Science Syndicate, he helps his audience invest in platforms that empower creators.
Before Creator Science, Jay built and sold a ticketing startup (Tixers) and later sold his community, Unreal Collective, to Pat Flynn and Smart Passive Income, where he designed membership and course programs.
Jay’s Youtube | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok
Jay’s Website
Jay’s Podcast
Show Credits
Edited by: Curtis Fritsch
Produced by: Debby Germino
Published by: Vim Pangantihon
Music by: Thomas Cepeda
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