As Told by Zink

This week on As Told by Zink , I sat down with Hope Williams to talk all things fashion, body positivity and New York Fashion Week! We dive into the importance of body positivity and representation in the fashion industry, what it really takes to break into the NYFW scene and how creators can position themselves to land coveted invites. With February Fashion Week right around the corner, Hope shar...

This week, I sat down with Aubrey Istnick, an influencer marketing expert who works at a leading agency and shares valuable industry insights and creator strategies on TikTok. We’re breaking down what brands are actually looking for when choosing creators, how influencer marketing budgets work, and how to craft the perfect pitch to land more partnerships. We also dive into how lifestyle creators c...

What happens when you graduate college, move to LA, and realize you have no idea what's next? This week, I sit down with content creator Mia Holland to talk about navigating your 20s, the ebbs and flows of being a content creator, and figuring out life after college. After eight years of creating content, Mia opens up about the realities of being a full time influencer, dealing with burnout,...

This week I sat down with Harvard student and content creator Jenny Ng to talk about balancing college life with building a career online. Jenny shares how she grew her platform through relatable college, food, lifestyle, and study content, what it’s really like creating while attending Harvard, and how she turned everyday moments into content people actually want to watch. We get into finding you...

Ever wonder what brands and agencies are actually looking for from creators? This week I’m joined by Morgan Lee who has 8+ years in influencer marketing to break down the influencer industry from the brand and agency perspective. We chat about how to build real relationships that lead to brand deals, how to stand out at events, why Q4 isn’t always the money maker creators think it is, and the bigg...

This episode is PACKED with everything you need to know to break into the beauty creator space -or take your career to the next level. Kilee and I chat all things becoming a successful beauty creator: how to stand out, make money, avoid burnout, prep for holiday campaigns, and what to do if you’re just getting started. Whether you’re trying to turn your content into a career or already in the spac...

I saw another gap in the market: creators who have strong, high-quality content but have no idea how to monetize, attract brand deals, pitch themselves or set their rates. So, I launched a new division within Zink Volt where I personally work with creators through a growth program designed to turn their content and passion into a real business within the influencer industry. From positioning and p...

Haley Konopka started creating content in college during the pandemic, sharing what she loved and eventually finding her niche in beauty and skincare. After opening up about her struggles with acne, she quickly built a loyal community of people who connected with her honesty and content. Several years later, Haley has turned her platform into a full-time career and reached a place where management...

I sat down with Camryn Faulkner, University of Alabama student and content creator, to chat about what it’s really like building a platform while still in school. We get into starting social media in high school, navigating sorority life, balancing content creation with classes and a social life, and why so many creators are choosing not to pursue social media full-time after graduation. We also t...

I manifested my company back in 2017/2018, and it was a wild experience watching something I had envisioned actually come to life. It showed me how powerful our thoughts and intentions can be when they're paired with a lot of hard work. But as I became more successful and settled into a life I was happy with, both personally and professionally, my spiritual practices slowly took a back seat....

I know you all would love to work with ALDO on their next campaign, so I sat down with Amanda Amar, VP of Global Brand Strategy, PR + Social Media, and Ellen Molina, Influencer Campaign Lead, to get the inside scoop. We dive into their roles at ALDO, what they look for when casting influencers, how to land a long term partnership with the brand, and why it’s so important to treat your socials like...

What if the opportunities meant for you are already on their way? In this episode, I sit down with Peloton instructor Aditi Shah to talk about the unexpected path that led her to launch Peloton's yoga and meditation programming in 2018 and how one Instagram DM changed everything. We dive into the power of divine timing, trusting your intuition, and why meditation isn't just about sitting...

Everyone wants a talent manager, but the truth is not every creator is ready for one. In this solo episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the biggest misconceptions in the influencer industry. From missed deadlines and ignoring campaign briefs to disappearing when it's time to communicate, I'm sharing the behind-the-scenes challenges that talent managers face every day and...

Scarlett Leung [Founder of Pretty Tasty Tea] was given the opportunity to launch a beverage brand and turned it into something personally connected by honoring her grandmother, who always reminds her of the importance of collagen. The result is Alas, a collagen infused iced tea designed to support healthy skin, hair, and nails while delivering results you can actually see. In this episode, we talk...

We love a Gen Z female founder, especially in the food space. Kiki Couchman is definitely one to watch. After co founding Sourmilk, a probiotic yogurt brand, with her best friend, she helped turn it into a standout business through creative self marketing, social media, and grassroots street activations. In this episode, we dive into how they built the brand from the ground up, the marketing strat...

Lindsey Hyams, who leads influencer marketing at Wellbel, joins the podcast to share what brands are really looking for from creators. We dive into how influencers can build long term brand partnerships, make the most of platforms like ShopMy, and the common mistakes that hold creators back. Lindsey also shares where she sees the influencer industry heading and offers practical advice for anyone h...

Samantha Miller joined Zink Talent just a year and a half ago and has quickly built an incredible career as a micro lifestyle creator over the past 5 years, earning six figures in just the first two quarters of this year. In this episode, she shares how she found success without niching down, why treating content creation like a real business has been the key to her growth, and the strategies that...

Amanda made a spontaneous move from Boston to Paris and never looked back. Her journey is proof that when you truly want something, you'll find a way to make it happen. Along the way, she unexpectedly fell into content creation and built a career by creating opportunities for herself rather than following a traditional 9 to 5 path. In this episode, we talk about taking risks, building a busin...

Ginger Rose shares her inspiring story of starting out in influencer marketing, deciding to give social media a shot herself, and ultimately betting on herself by taking it on full time and signing with management. Soon after, she launched her own brand, Le Favorite. We chat through why she chose the lifestyle creator path, how she got started, the pros and cons of management, and the exact step b...

Can you really glow up in 30 days? I put it to the test. In this episode, I'm sharing every product, treatment, appointment, and habit that made a noticeable difference. These are my tried and true favorites, the things that actually worked and are worth the investment.

In this episode, I sit down with creator Kelsey Martinez to talk about what it really takes to land top brand trips, build relationships with your dream brands, and create long term success as a content creator. Kelsey shares her experience navigating the creator industry, the strategies that helped her stand out to brands, and why some creators consistently get opportunities while others don&apos...

Victoria Engasser was one of the very first creators to sign with Friends of Zink. Less than a month after working with her within the non exclusive division, we signed her exclusively. While her audience was still considered micro, we saw something special: an incredible work ethic, a clear content strategy, and consistently high quality content. At the time, we weren't sure how brands would...

I came across Karin Hadadan on social media and was immediately drawn to everything she's building. She's a three-time published author, has gone through her own spiritual awakening, and has turned her healing journey into a platform that helps others do the same. In this episode, we get into all of it: how she started writing poetry at 16, the health crisis that led to her spiritual awa...

This episode was such a full circle moment for me. Back in 2017, when I first started my spiritual and “girl boss” journey, I discovered Krista’s podcast Almost 30 and instantly became obsessed. This was before spirituality became mainstream and before podcasts were everywhere. I felt like I was following a very similar path to Krista, just a few steps behind, and I consumed every episode and gues...

From content creation to personal growth, Rudi Berry opens up about life behind the camera and the realities of being an influencer today. Tune in for an honest conversation about creativity, challenges, community, and the future of digital influence. Rudi Berry // IG, TikTok