Creator News Live: Discussing the latest social media tools, tips, and tactics with industry experts, innovators, creators, and storytellers

What if the biggest opportunity with AI isn't creating more content, it's getting your time back? ---------------------- Jennifer Bennett believes most creators are using AI in the wrong place. Instead of replacing your creativity, she shows how AI can become the back office that quietly handles the repetitive work, keeping you from doing your best work. In this episode, Jennifer shares her Human-...

What separates a memorable interview from one people forget the moment it ends? ------------- Matt Stagliano believes it isn't about asking better questions; it's about learning when to stop talking. Drawing from more than 25 years of interviewing and his new book, Speak Less, Get More , Matt shares a simple framework for leading conversations that create trust, reveal better stories, and leave a...

What happens when AI can write posts, create images, and sound increasingly human? What's left that truly belongs to you? In this AMA-style episode, Paul Gowder and I take the hot seat to explore two creator advantages that technology can't replicate: your story and your community . We discuss why personal experiences, unique perspectives, and genuine human connection are becoming even more valuab...

What happens when YouTube starts answering questions instead of just serving up videos? ---------------------- In this episode, Jerry Potter joins us to break down one of the biggest waves of YouTube updates creators have seen in years. From the new Ask YouTube AI search experience to major changes in how Shorts are evaluated and monetized, Jerry explains what these updates actually mean for creat...

If your Facebook profile disappeared tomorrow, what would happen to your business? In this episode, Facebook community expert Paul Gowder joins us to break down the biggest account security threats creators and business owners are facing right now. From sophisticated phishing scams and account takeovers to unexpected comment restrictions, Paul shares the practical steps you can take today to prote...

What if the biggest mistake creators are making with AI isn’t using the wrong tool… it’s using the right tool the wrong way? ---------------------- In this episode, Mike Allton , host of The AI Hat Podcast and one of the leading voices in practical AI for business, explains why most creators and solopreneurs are leaving the majority of AI’s value on the table. Instead of treating AI like a smarter...

Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Zac Brown , host of The Zac Brown Show, as we unpack what storytelling still means in an AI-driven creator world. Instead of chasing algorithms or trying to post more than everyone else, Zac believes the best creators build worlds and emotional experiences, not just publish content. Zac shares stories from his childhood obsession with VHS tapes, homemade...

Can you really build multiple side hustles while working a full-time corporate job… without completely burning yourself out? This week, we flipped the script and put my usual co-host, Conor Brown , in the guest chair to close out our Side Hustle Secrets series . Conor shares how he built Vacation Kingdoms and grew into a leadership role at Keys to the Castle Travel, all while continuing to work a...

Can a niche be too specific… or is that exactly what makes it work? Stephen Cabebe joins the show to share how focusing on one very specific audience, Disney park travelers dealing with pain and fatigue, helped him build a brand that now includes a book, podcast, course, and coaching program. Stephen shares how a painful Walt Disney World trip sparked the idea for Fit for the Magic, combining his...

What does it really take to turn livestreaming into a long-term, sustainable income? In this episode, Tanya Smith shares what she’s learned from over 20 years of building a side hustle, and how livestreaming became a core part of that. She walks through how she went from avoiding the camera entirely to committing to a year-long live video experiment, and how that decision changed everything for he...

If you’ve ever tried to build something on the side while working a full-time job, you know how quickly things can get overwhelming. In this episode,  Sean “Tater” Roberson,  the creator behind  But Mostly Disney , shares how...

If you’ve been wondering whether Facebook is still worth your time as a creator… this episode answers that pretty clearly. Paul Gowder  breaks down exactly how Facebook monetization works right now, including what’s actually paying,&nb...

AI can write your captions, generate your images, and even help script your videos. So where does that leave you? That’s exactly what I explored in this episode with  Ryan Koral. Ryan has spent years helping creators, filmmak...

What happens when you stop learning alone and start building alongside other creators who actually get it? Business growth, accountability, friendship… the list goes on. That’s exactly what I’ve experienced in my weekly meetings with fellow solopreneurs Paul Gowder, Rich Watts, Jim Fuhs, Kira Pogge Brewka, and Amy Kehs , where we talk through what’s actually working, what’s not, and where we’re st...

What books actually change the way you think? In this episode, Conor Brown and I share ten books that have shaped how we approach business, creativity, and life. We each brought our top picks, a mix of fiction and nonfiction, and talked about why these stories and ideas stuck with us long after we finished reading them. From leadership and creativity to storytelling and personal growth, these book...

Monetizing content is something a lot of creators talk about, but not everyone actually figures out how to do it without burning out or chasing every new trend that pops up. In this episode, we sit down with Lou Mongello , the creator behind the award-winning WDW Radio podcast, to talk about what sustainable monetization actually looks like when you build a brand around community, trust, and long-...

Everyone says you should build an email list. Fewer people can tell you how to actually grow one. In this episode, we sit down with Chenell Basilio , founder of Growth in Reverse, to talk about what’s really working right now when it comes to newsletter growth. Chenell studies fast-growing newsletters for a living, and what she shares isn’t theory. It’s patterns she sees over and over again across...

If you’ve ever thought, “I just need to make more money, and everything will be fine,” this episode might surprise you. I sat down with licensed accountant, Ralph Estep Jr. to talk about why most creators struggle financially, and why the issue usually isn’t taxes, write-offs, or some secret loophole they’re missing. Ralph explains that the real challenge for creators is often mindset, structure,...

A lot of creators think writing a book is something you do after you’ve “made it.” In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Vassallo to talk about why that mindset is backwards, and why a book can still be one of the most powerful credibility tools a content creator can have. We get into how books build authority, open doors, and help people take you seriously long before you have a massive audienc...

If you’ve ever thought, “We’re doing good work… so why is nobody paying attention?” this episode is going to hit close to home. I sat down with Amy Kehs , who’s spent decades helping museums, including the Smithsonian, go from overlooked to deeply loved. And while her background is in museums, everything we talk about applies directly to creators, solopreneurs, and small businesses. We dig into wh...

There’s a lot of noise right now about AI replacing creators, automating everything, and turning content into something fast, polished, and forgettable. In this episode, I sit down with Paul Gowder to talk about why the opposite shift is happening, creators are leaning more human, more personal, and more real, not less. Paul has spent decades building community online, long before algorithms and A...

A lot of content creators talk about monetization, but very few explain what it actually looks like. In this episode, we chat with Billy Thorpe , who’s built a real business around brand deals, shoppable videos, and live selling without relying on a massive audience or viral hits. Billy breaks down why most creators misunderstand brand deals, especially the idea that you need big follower counts t...

If design has ever felt overwhelming, especially with AI tools popping up every five minutes, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m joined by Maliha Khan , founder of Khanect the Dots, to talk about what’s really happening at the intersection of AI, Canva, and modern design workflows, and how creators can use these tools without spiraling into chaos. Maliha has a great way of describing where man...

If you’ve noticed your content isn’t getting found the way it used to, you’re not imagining things. Search is changing fast, and AI is right in the middle of it. This week, I’m joined by my friend Rich Brooks , digital marketing veteran, agency owner, and host of the Agents of Change podcast, to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes with search and what creators need to do next. W...

If you’ve ever wondered why your YouTube channel seems stuck (fewer views, flat growth, confused analytics), you’re not alone. In this episode, Jerry Potter joins us to break down what’s actually changed inside YouTube’s ecosystem in 2025 and why creators who “used to do everything right” are now struggling. Jerry has grown multiple successful channels and now teaches business owners how to build...