The Creator Spotlight Podcast

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

This week Francis is joined by Kofie Yeboah a versatile creator in the sports media landscape. Kofie does it all, social media, long-form, short-form, podcasts, research and writing. He's here to tell us how he does it all.Kofie's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KofieWhy00:00 Introducing Kofie Yeboah01:25 Kofie's early introduction to sports05:35 The evolution from long-form to short-form10:21 TikTok's endless opportunities and constant insecurity14:37 Balancing roles as a content creator and producer19:43 Successful strategies for repurposing content26:56 The best and the worst of social platforms29:57 Fostering a positive and engaged community32:23 Revenue reinvestment strategies43:24 Balancing a full-time job with content creation46:55 Kofie's relationship with different sports leagues48:33 The path to 100k subscribers

Jenna Stoeber, a video essayist and content creator with a master's in media, discusses her unique approach to creating engaging content. She reveals the secrets behind navigating YouTube’s algorithm and the importance of authenticity over optimization. Jenna shares her insights on balancing diverse revenue streams and maintaining creativity amidst pressures of social media. Additionally, she dives into the art of scripting video essays, emphasizing viewer engagement while pushing the boundaries of educational media.

This week, Francis is joined by Henry Winslow, founder and writer of Tricycle Day, a newsletter focused on psychedelics research, policy, and business. Francis interviewed Henry exactly one year ago, and this conversation is centred around Henry's growth over the past year. Tricycle Day Newsletter: https://www.tricycleday.com Tricycle Day Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricycleday 00:00 Sustaining a creator-led business following rapid growth 06:27 The key to growing your first 1000 subscribers 09:23 Understanding your audience and utilizing data 12:44 Hiring an successful team as a creator 16:47 Scaling to a $250k business in year two 18:53 The benefits of advertising to a niche audience 23:27 The struggles of operating in a controversial space 28:03 Building an audience around trust 35:21 Expanding your business beyond the newsletter 38:09 Community is a buzzword, but not this time 41:42 Goals for 2025

Matt McGarry, known as the Newsletter Guy, is the mastermind behind Growletter, an agency that helps creators build their subscriber lists. In this chat, he unveils the challenges of monetizing newsletter-only businesses and the importance of valuable content. Discover why newsletters are more of a strategic communication tool than a standalone business model. Matt also shares insights on effective subscriber acquisition strategies, the newsletter landscape's saturation, and emerging trends in B2B content. A must-listen for aspiring creators!