The Creator Spotlight Podcast

Join Jesse Feister, Executive Director of the Webby Media Group and former Global Head of Creator Marketing at Twitch, as he dives into the creator economy. He shares insights on the evolution of the Webby Awards and the crucial skills creators need for entrepreneurship. Jesse discusses how musicians transitioned to live streaming during the pandemic and the importance of audience engagement. He also highlights the impact of technology on the creative landscape and the delicacy of balancing audience feedback with artistic expression.

This week, Grace Ling, founder of Design Buddies, shares her journey in building a massive online community of over 150,000 designers. She discusses the secret to maintaining a healthy, engaged community while generating $1 million annually. Grace highlights the untapped potential of LinkedIn for growth and explores innovative networking strategies using 'Riz.' The conversation also dives into monetization methods, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections in the creator economy. Tune in for insights on community dynamics and effective revenue diversification!

In this conversation, Amanda McLoughlin, CEO of Multitude and podcasting expert, shares her journey from YouTube vlogger to a successful podcaster. She discusses building a strong community and navigating the evolving podcast landscape over the past decade. Amanda emphasizes the need for creators to diversify their income streams and maintain authenticity with sponsors. She offers insights on saying no to opportunities that don’t align with your brand and highlights that a podcast's value isn't solely measured by profitability. Ultimately, she champions creators as businesses that should prioritize their independence.

Thomas Yeum, a dynamic video-first creator and expert in social media, shares his inspiring shift from software engineering to content creation. He discusses his viral series, '125 days to make $10k/month', revealing the ups and downs of the creator economy. Thomas emphasizes the need for innovative strategies and personal values in achieving success. He also delves into crafting compelling video content, balancing creativity with business acumen, and navigating social media's complex landscape to forge a path for aspiring creators.

Kyle Sheldon, founder and CEO of Name and Number, shares insights from his two-decades-long journey in U.S. soccer. He discusses the evolving marketing landscape and the immense potential for growth in American soccer. Kyle emphasizes the importance of mentorship through his Pathway initiative. He explores the intersection of soccer and fashion, highlighting recent collaborations. The conversation also touches on the shifting power dynamics between creators and traditional media, revealing how creators are reshaping fan engagement ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

This week Francis is joined by award winning financial reporter, Phil Rosen. Last year Phil left his role as Senior Markets Reporter at Business Insider to pursue his independent newsletter-first media company, Opening Bell Daily. His flagship newsletter Opening Bell Daily, now has over 190k subscribers within its first year of operation. Opening Bell Daily: https://www.openingbelldailynews.com Phil's X: https://x.com/philrosenn 00:00 Introducing Phil Rosen and Opening Bell Daily 02:00 Building the foundation of a successful writer 05:27 Independent journalism's rise over established media 13:49 Navigating the business side of journalism 18:22 The freedom of building a new business model 21:40 Phil's ambitions to NOT scale the business 24:32 The death of objectivity in journalism 30:48 The untapped market for valuable growth 33:40 Overcoming the fear of posting video 39:30 Paywalls: The necessary evils of the media business 44:36 Advice for aspiring writers and creators

Leigh Stein, a six-time author and cultural critic, shares her insights on navigating the modern writing landscape. She argues that now is the best time to be a writer, emphasizing the need to view art as a product. Stein discusses the impact of platforms like TikTok and BookTok on the literary world and advocates for destroying the stigma around self-publishing. She also delves into creating shareable content, the evolving dynamics of the creator economy, and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers.

This time, Eric Silver joins the conversation. Eric is a seasoned podcaster and head of development at Multitude, a prominent podcast studio. They delve into podcasting techniques, emphasizing audio storytelling over video. Eric shares insights on crafting a unique interview style and the rise of Actual Play podcasts. The discussion also highlights the ethical considerations in creator businesses and the importance of fresh perspectives in interviews. Listeners gain valuable tips on what makes a great podcast guest and the future of independent media.

In this discussion, Matt Brown, an independent sports journalist and creator of the newsletter Extra Points, dives into the importance of high-quality content and audience engagement. He shares his unique journey of acquiring and reacquiring his publication during the pandemic. Matt emphasizes making the internet a better place through integrity in journalism and understanding community needs. He also explores the balance between creativity and business in the creator economy, revealing how diverse audiences impact college sports coverage.

This week Francis is joined by essayist and culture critic, Alicia Kennedy. Alicia is primarily a food writer, however also has many refined takes on writing, the algorithm, and the attention economy.Alicia's Newsletter: https://www.aliciakennedy.news/00:00:00 Introducing Alicia Kennedy00:01:38 Rejecting the idea of the creator00:07:06 Declining media literacy in the digital age00:12:36 The fragmentation of public intellectualism00:17:09 Attaching value to greatest achievements00:19:32 The creator economy tradeoff of freedom and instability00:29:33 The need for publications that challenge food writing norms00:35:08 The blurred line between influencers and creators00:40:13 Building a like-minded diverse community00:43:58 The key to consistent organic growth00:47:10 The need for a more horizontal media ecosystem00:52:32 Navigating platforms with limited audience engagement control00:57:51 Experience of writing a book vs newsletters