The Creator Spotlight Podcast

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.

Rachel Kisela, a six-figure YouTube editor previously at MrBeast and founder of EditHers, shares her insights on the evolving art of editing. She dives into balancing personal taste with algorithmic demands and her workflow for creating compelling videos. Rachel also discusses the business side, revealing strategies for making over $100k as an editor and the importance of building long-term client relationships. Additionally, she highlights the need for a supportive community for female editors and addresses the undervaluation of editing in the industry.

Sophia Smith Galer is an award-winning journalist, author, and creator with nearly a million followers across TikTok and Instagram. After roles at the BBC and VICE, she went independent to pioneer new ways of telling stories through short-form video. In this episode, she shares why traditional media is struggling to adapt, and what creators and journalists need to know about the future of vertical video. Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/p/sophia-smith-galer __ Sophia Smith Galer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sophiasmithgaler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiasgaler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiasmithgaler Twitter/X: https://x.com/sophiasgaler Viralect: https://www.viralect.com Sophiana (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/sophiana-script-video-maker/id6742998989 __ Francis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-zierer/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/FZierer __ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Sophia Smith Galer 01:50 How to present on short form video 07:15 Defining ‘journalism’ in the age of the creator 13:26 Traditional media’s problem with short form content 18:25 The one thing most short form creators get wrong 24:38 The best platform for short form content 31:02 Short form bootcamps 34:25 Sophiana: Your short form assistant 41:34 Why everyone should be making content 44:05 The hardest part of building an app 49:47 US vs. UK creator economy difficulties 52:46 Revenue breakdown 57:58 Sophia’s future plans and goals

Jordan DiPietro, former Motley Fool exec and CEO of Hampton, shares insightful wisdom about the creator economy. He emphasizes that community is more valuable than a mere audience, urging creators to prioritize relationships and trust. DiPietro outlines three key moves for long-term success and explores emerging trends, such as community engine optimization. He also reflects on his journey with the Signal//Noise newsletter and the necessity for collaboration in business. The discussion is packed with valuable strategies for creators in an evolving landscape.