The Creator Spotlight Podcast

Tomo Chien, the founder of 'Morning, Trojan,' shares his journey in local journalism focused on USC. He reveals how he disrupted the student media landscape by embracing originality over aggregation to attract over 10,000 subscribers. Tomo discusses the power of a controversial tone, using engagement tactics to convert interest into loyal readers. He shares insights on the importance of concise content and maintaining a strong team. As he prepares to close the newsletter post-graduation, he reflects on his future ambitions and the evolving nature of creator journalism.

Nicolas Cole, a digital writer and influential figure in online writing education, joins to share his journey from Quora to co-founding successful programs like Ship 30 for 30. He discusses the secrets to scaling a writing business to $600k+ a month and the importance of accountability in education. Nicolas highlights the growing demand for ghostwriting and explains why many online courses fail due to lack of authentic experience. He also explores how AI is increasing the value of writing, emphasizing the blend of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Lia Haberman, a social media strategist and creator-economy expert, shares insights on why creators typically struggle to last beyond three to four years. She discusses the importance of focusing on evergreen content, how to identify valuable platform features, and the shifting landscape of social media. Lia emphasizes the need for creators to build businesses beyond brand deals and critiques platforms like Instagram for their lack of support. She predicts trends for 2026, highlighting the rise of mid-form video and LinkedIn while advising creators to pivot with changing trends.

In this episode, Tyler Denk, Co-founder and CEO of beehiiv, dives into the future of the content economy. He discusses beehiiv's evolution into an operating system for creators and the importance of reducing third-party tools. Tyler emphasizes lowering barriers for creators with AI-driven website solutions and built-in analytics. He shares growth tactics from his newsletter, Big Desk Energy, and the significance of their ad network for monetization. This conversation illuminates innovative strategies for thriving in today's creator landscape.

Nastja Mohren is a content creator, designer, and sewing educator who’s built a community of more than half a million followers across platforms — all around her love of making things by hand. In this episode, she talks with Francis about turning creativity into a business, balancing authenticity with brand deals, and how she built a sustainable creator by diversifying her revenue into seven different streams.Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/profiles__Earn with Google AdSense: https://goo.gle/earnwithadsense__Follow NastjaYouTubeBlogInstagramTikTokFacebookPinterestFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timstamps00:00:00 Introducing Nastja Mohren00:01:37 Going full-time on YouTube00:06:08 The 7 revenue streams00:12:14 The art of integrating brand deals00:22:49 Which platform is most valuable?00:24:30 The value of a blog in 202500:32:27 Why choose Google AdSense?00:37:31 Building packages for advertisers00:40:57 Crafting a specific audience00:52:00 The 80/20 principle of video production01:00:08 Collaborating with the creator community

This week on Creator Spotlight, Francis is joined by former ESPN journalist Joon Lee. Joon shares how he turned a layoff into a creator career, breaking down his 22-month YouTube study, and how he is building an independent sports media brand that puts storytelling and trust first.Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/profiles__Follow JoonYouTubeTwitter/XInstagramTikTokWebsiteFollow FrancisLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Joon Lee01:15 From tech YouTuber to sports journalist06:49 Preparing to be a YouTuber13:02 Indie creator bootcamp17:05 What should new creators focus on?22:58 The process of making high-quality YouTube videos33:19 Making revenue and maintaining ethics40:56 The most valuable asset as a creator is trust44:55 Building relationships in the creator economy50:30 The hardest part of YouTube

This week on Creator Spotlight, Francis is joined by Ken Yarmosh, founder of The Remote Solopreneur. Ken is a creator who’s been building online businesses long before the creator economy had a name.Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/profiles__Earn with Google AdSense: https://goo.gle/earnwithadsense__Ken YarmoshYouTubeWebsiteLinkedInFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Ken Yarmosh01:16 Becoming The Remote Solopreneur04:29 Redefining 'creator'08:20 The creator to entrepreneur spectrum12:15 How Ken runs a solo business16:51 The importance of community in business22:13 The 4 C's of the creator economy29:42 Are all creators solopreneurs?34:50 DTA: The framework for all entrepreneurs41:58 Is the LinkedIn gold rush over?47:15 The best time to be a creator is now50:11 Advice for newsletter creators53:20 Creating a personal brand in 2025

Geoff Sharpe, founder of Lookout Media, discusses his journey in creating a network of local newsletters across Canada that generate nearly $500K annually. He emphasizes the importance of quality journalism in driving paid memberships over simple event listings. Geoff shares insights on maintaining trust through genuine content, the challenges of ad sales, and his team's structure. He also reveals strategies for pricing, sustainable growth, and effectively engaging local communities to retain loyal subscribers.

Kaelyn Grace Apple, founder of Accepted Society and successful educational YouTuber, shares her journey from a small study group to building a vibrant paid community of over 500 members. She discusses the importance of sustainable growth over aggressive scaling and the nuances of transitioning from a course model to a community-focused approach. Kaelyn reveals how working with Ali Abdaal shaped her business philosophy, and explains why her YouTube content now prioritizes personal expression over SEO. This insightful conversation highlights the evolving landscape of online education and community building.

Caspar Lee, a former YouTube sensation with 15 million followers, has pivoted to entrepreneurship and investment. He shares insights on why he left the platform, highlighting the challenges of balancing content creation with running companies. Caspar discusses the evolution of influencer marketing, emphasizing the shift toward smarter strategies. He outlines his ventures like Influencer.com and explains the importance of investing in creators. With thoughts on the risks of the creator economy, he emphasizes the need for financial stability and reputation management.