Doin' The Thing w/ Dillan Taylor

Dillan interviews Mario Joos.Mario is the CEO of the Stokes Twins and founder of Brightrock, a research and consulting company helping creators grow strategically. He previously worked on the MrBeast team and now helps creators scale through data, systems, and hiring.They discuss: the controversy around the Stokes Twins, how creators should think about copying versus inspiration, building a team to scale faster, how the YouTube algorithm actually works, outsourcing and hiring globally, the future of AI in content, and much more.Mario's links...Website: https://brightrock.com/index.htmlTwitter / X: https://x.com/MarioJoossYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mariojoos/•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 intro1:13 why Mario became CEO of the Stokes Twins2:25 Stokes Twins controversy12:23 how to survive controversy15:31 growth, mistakes, and creator redemption20:23 running 2 companies at once24:26 10x is easier than 2x32:06 advice for creators hiring for the first time37:17 on paying less for overseas work41:37 the "algorithm" explained53:20 Mario's YouTube homepage55:40 new rules for AI & YouTube monetization1:00:12 music & sound effects1:02:22 changing your niche1:13:07 hooks1:15:25 outros1:18:00 stakes & storytelling1:21:45 attention span1:26:36 what's getting easier / harder?1:29:28 Mario's hottest take1:33:38 Mario's favorite creator1:34:56 what he sacrifices1:36:16 Mario's #1 piece of advice1:38:23 bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Josh Cirre.Josh is a software developer, content creator, and former actor who blends his creative background with his technical skills to help others navigate web development and creator life. His YouTube channel shares developer insights, Laravel tutorials, and his journey balancing creativity, fatherhood, and a full-time job.They discuss: combining creativity with tech, getting fired and starting a YouTube channel, building an audience around Laravel, how to balance ambition with reality, why repeatability matters more than perfection, niching too early, and much more.Josh's links...Website: https://www.joshcirre.com/Twitter / X: https://x.com/joshcirre/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshcirre•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 intro0:53 what "keep creating" means4:32 the start of Josh's creative career6:51 how tech entered his life9:27 figuring out what to do16:50 getting laid off with 2 kids26:04 Josh's first YouTube video36:00 asking for $139:59 what is work to others, but play to you?45:33 ambition vs. what is repeatable?56:05 to niche down or not to niche down?1:07:59 how Dillan & Josh met1:09:30 what's getting easier, what's getting harder?1:16:53 #1 lesson Josh learned the hard way1:19:09 a belief Josh has that most disagree with1:25:11 Josh's favorite creator1:27:37 what Josh has sacrificed & not sacrificed1:30:03 bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Bryan Ng.Bryan is the founder of Viral Bangers, a YouTube scriptwriting agency helping education creators make content that actually gets watched. His videos and newsletter break down viewer psychology, storytelling, ideal video structure, and virality.They discuss: how video games train you to win in business, building a life of total freedom, the mindset behind Bryan’s viral scriptwriting course, how to create content people trust, why good AI writing is still mid, and much more.Bryan's links...Website: https://www.viralbangers.com/Twitter / X: https://x.com/boomerrbryanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boomerrbryan•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:50 How video games teach business6:09 Designing a business for autonomy16:19 The downside of solo travel26:38 Can you get freedom without grinding?34:49 Writing vs idea generation38:20 AI can’t write great scripts42:59 The YouTube course that changed his life50:13 Advice for educators building a free course53:40 You only need 1,000 true fans56:22 How YouTube changed his business1:02:24 Good selling vs bad selling1:08:55 Breaking down Bryan's business1:13:41 Rapid-fire questions1:23:14 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Jon Barr.Jon is a travel and food content creator with nearly 600k subscribers on YouTube. His channel began as "Here Be Barr"—focused on New York guides—but has evolved into a personal brand built around food, storytelling, and high-quality production.They discuss: the transition from niche to personal brand, how he revamped his thumbnails, focus, and team, the revenue breakdown of his content business, why short-form sponsorships are outperforming long-form, how creators can stay present while filming, his advice for creators who want to pivot their content, and much more.•••Jon's links...YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HereBeBarrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/here.be.barr/•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:51 Why Jon changed his channel name3:53 How Jon's branding has improved7:02 Behind-the-scenes of Jon’s workflow13:30 How to pivot content successfully18:01 Getting comfortable on camera24:00 The power of telling your story27:10 Jon’s revenue breakdown38:07 Rapid fire Q&A48:21 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Chris Orzechowski.Chris runs The Email Copywriter. He's a world-class emailer, direct response marketer, and the #1 kielbasa salesman on the planet. He’s helped e-commerce brands, creators, and consultants generate millions through storytelling and email content writing.They discuss: how to sell to your audience without being sleazy, building an audience of buyers and #1 fans, the real reason most creators fail, what separates amateurs from pros, how to build systems that print money, and much more.•••Chris's links...Website: https://theemailcopywriter.com/Twitter / X: https://x.com/chrisorzyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chris-orzy•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:37 Being different vs being better7:17 Why most people give up14:18 Pros vs amateurs29:12 Be the architect of your life/business39:51 Why start an email list?49:00 How to get your first 100 email subscribers51:57 Using ads to get subscribers53:59 What makes a good vs crappy lead magnet?56:07 Common emailing mistakes1:03:14 What's getting easier / harder?1:05:59 #1 lesson Chris learned the hard way1:08:04 Chris’s hot take on content1:09:48 Chri's favorite creator1:13:35 What Chris sacrificed to grow his business1:16:50 Chris’s advice for new creators1:19:23 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Michelle Varghese.Michelle is a writing coach who helps creators express themselves online with more honesty, vulnerability, and soul. She’s worked with programs like Write of Passage and now coaches writers full-time.They discuss: how to spot (and avoid writing) AI slop, the rise of performative content on LinkedIn, why vulnerability in writing matters more than ever, how to know when you're ready to share a personal story, the difference between wounds and scars in creative work, the 5-step exercise to help your audience feel 10x more connected to you, and much more.•••Michelle's links...Substack: https://substack.com/@michellevargheseTwitter / X: https://x.com/mvarghooseWriting Coaching: https://michellevarghoose.gumroad.com/l/writingcoaching/•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:45 Best and worst things about AI writing7:57 The “dead internet theory”18:04 How AI fails to replicate human error29:40 Can you even tell when writing is AI?35:42 The power of stories in content39:35 Michelle’s advice for creating vulnerably52:30 Being human is the whole point55:31 A 5-finger framework for connection1:04:22 Michelle’s turn: her 5-finger reflection1:17:24 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews CPreds.CPreds is a full-time Call of Duty content creator with over 400,000 YouTube subscribers. He built his audience from scratch while working full-time as a middle school teacher, editing videos on NYC subways, and uploading daily.They discuss: the harsh realities of going full-time, how to build a sustainable content system, what still surprises him at 400k subs, evergreen content strategies, how to package viral videos, why copying won't get you far, and much more.CPreds’s links...Website: https://linktr.ee/cpredsTwitter / X: https://x.com/CPreds_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPreds•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:43 The CPreds tagline3:18 What's different & the same at 400K subs8:10 Evergreen content explained14:25 Looking back at his first videos20:36 The biggest mistake new creators make30:21 His early grind while teaching full-time34:29 His step-by-step plan to grow from 0 to 100k42:54 Behind his most viral long-form video51:29 Building connection with your audience 56:53 Breaking down the CPreds content business1:06:29 Rapid-fire questions1:12:54 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Jack Bly.Jack is a former online fitness coach who scaled his coaching business from zero to $100k/month. Now he runs Acquisition Pilot—a program that helps other coaches scale through client acquisition systems, pricing strategies, and no-BS sales tactics.They discuss: what keeps most coaches broke, how to start making real money online, why lead gen is the most important thing under $50k/month, how to build an offer people actually want, the five steps to landing high-ticket clients, the right way to give your coaching away for free, and much more.•••Jack's links...Website: https://www.acquisitionpilot.co/opt-in1747914755357Twitter / X: https://x.com/TheJackBlyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejackbly•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:46 Why Jack made $0 for 16 months5:05 The 2 big shifts that made money8:11 Jack’s 5-step client acquisition framework11:22 Cold outreach without being sleazy18:32 Pricing when you’re just starting out23:45 Building a high-ticket offer that sells30:00 How to NEVER get clients33:40 Finding a niche and a real problem to solve37:27 Why Jack pivoted to helping coaches41:09 Content vs. active lead gen46:01 How to identify your biggest business bottleneck50:08 How to build a killer course54:02 The pain of leadership and hiring59:24 What Jack has sacrificed (and won’t)1:02:08 Jack's #1 advice1:04:46 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Tyler Cook—aka TCaptainX, aka TFitX.Tyler is a full-time Call of Duty creator and former registered nurse turned personal trainer, who’s built thriving online businesses around gaming content and fitness coaching.They discuss: how storytelling made his basic gaming clips go viral, what creators can learn from his pivot into online personal training, how to turn your audience into clients, building a two-business flywheel, balancing burnout with well-being, creator-friendly health habits, and much more.•••TCaptainX's links...Website: https://pillar.io/tcaptainxTwitter / X: https://x.com/TCaptainX_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TCaptainX•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:38 From nurse to full-time COD creator3:38 Why his early content sucked7:20 Good storytelling = curiosity + stakes12:30 Pivoting from gaming to fitness20:35 Using content to grow a service business41:16 Creating "flywheel" content45:04 What creators can do to improve their health now1:03:38 Tyler's creator revenue streams1:16:04 Tyler's #1 creator advice1:18:36 Bye bye bye

Dillan interviews Katliente.Kat is a full-time creator known for her Twitch streams, viral TikToks, and YouTube channel where she shares candid creator advice and commentary. She’s built a loyal following by blending humor, hustle, and brutal honesty about life as a content creator.They discuss: how she grew from 0 to Twitch Partner, the harsh realities of being a female streamer, how to stop being boring on stream, what makes or breaks creators, how to pivot content without killing your channel, the business behind her $13k/month creator income, how to build real community, and much more.•••Katliente's links...Twitter / X: https://x.com/katlienteeeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katnchat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katliente.ttv/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katlienteTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/katlienteSponsor Guide: https://katliente.notion.site/SPONSORSHIP-GUIDE-v2-34073f2fec2644b1b83bd9df0e1b70c0•••Follow Dillan on the interwebs...Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor Newsletter: https://www.grindstone.coach/newsletterApply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/ Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ •••0:00 Intro0:39 Why “being a cute girl” didn’t grow Kat’s Twitch6:31 Specific improvements she made to stop being boring11:16 Why she pivoted from gaming to streaming advice15:43 How to pivot content without killing your channel22:29 What’s getting easier and harder?28:44 How Kat builds community and trust33:07 3 big mistakes streamers make 40:42 Dillan's coaching career44:57 Her most damaging vs. most valuable mistake51:40 How Kat makes $13k+/month as a creator1:11:18 How to get sponsors with a small audience1:15:50 Kat's systems for sponsors1:25:50 Talent agency vs. management agency1:28:49 Kat's #1 advice for a stuck creator1:32:01 Bye bye bye