How Creators Make Money

The Super Bowl looks like a football game — but it’s really a business event. In this episode, Grace and Justin break down how the Super Bowl became one of the most powerful money-making machines in the world, and what that means for creators, brands, and anyone paying attention to where attention actually flows. This turns into a broader conversation about scarcity, spectacle, and why the biggest...

Here is a link to the 350 page 2025 social trends deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/0/d/1aSrP4Pojh7EZde8EZL5kTOH_DAY0SoXzEWF6o2RmFg4/ In this episode, Grace and Justin react to a massive deck that shares social trends of 2025, where the industry is headed, and what most people still don’t understand about social media. This turns into a real conversation about creator income, incentives...

In this episode, Justin and Grace sit down with JC Rodriguez to break down how creators should be thinking about building multiple income streams to thinking about cash flow, taxes, and long-term financial stability as a creator. Inside: Revenue vs. profit — why many creators get this wrong How creators should think about taxes, savings, and reinvesting income Common financial mistakes creators ma...

This episode breaks down the real world of UGC. How creators with tiny audiences are making six figures, why most creator panels are useless, and how brands actually manufacture viral moments on TikTok. Grace also dives into portfolio mistakes, agency vs. direct pricing, and what Handshake looks for when hiring UGC creators. Inside: How small creators quietly earn 6 figures with UGC Why most creat...

Inside This Episode: This one goes deep into the  creator × career  crossroads — how personal branding actually impacts job offers, whether “dream jobs” are real or a scam, and what Grace & our guest learned from breaking into tech, navigating identity shifts, and growing online while working full-time. Plus… the Lucy Guo saga, getting into VC-backed startups, and the real game behind “prestig...

Most creators think you need a massive audience to make real money. Phil Pallen is proof you don’t. He will finish 2025 close to 7-figures in revenue — while barely having 6-figures in followers across platforms. In this episode, Justin and Grace break down how Phil built a highly profitable creator-consultant business by positioning himself correctly, charging like a strategist, and letting his c...

From affiliate YouTube empires to billion-dollar creator platforms, this episode dives into how creators are turning strategy into scale. Justin and Grace break down the  real  business behind money-making on the internet — from finance creators earning millions off links to brands like Adobe rebuilding their image around creators. Inside: 💸 The truth about OF and the “1%” income curve 🎯 Why vic...

From Reddit money threads to Wall Street creators, this episode breaks down the  real  side of personal finance. Justin and Grace unpack the creator money game, what actually matters when building wealth, and why increasing your income beats budgeting every time. Inside: 💸 Why “saving $3 a day” advice doesn’t work for creators 📈 How to actually increase your income (before worrying about taxes)...

From Ryan Trahan’s $1M YouTube sprint to Crocs pulling 64M views in a single campaign, brands and creators are rewriting the rules of influence. In this episode, Justin and Grace break down the money, the strategy, and the clout hacks behind some of the biggest creator-brand plays today. Inside: 💰 How Ryan Trahan made $1M+ in 50 days from one YouTube series 🎮 Why gaming companies spend $800K+ on...

From near-death travel stories to $600K journals, this episode dives into how creators are monetizing in surprising ways. Justin and Grace unpack the risks, niches, and products that actually scale in today’s creator economy. Inside: 🌍 Justin’s wild Guatemala trip & the risks creators take IRL 🪵 The rise of niche creators - woodworking, gardening, golf & beyond 📈 The journal creator mak...

What happens when creators stop being the face of their own businesses? In this episode, we dive into the new wave of creator-led companies, how investors think about exits, and why the strongest creators build cults instead of just audiences. Inside: 🏗️ Building creator brands that can outlast the founder’s face 📈 VC vs. cash-flow businesses — what investors really want 🔥 Measuring “cult-like”...

From vegan popcorn to TikTok beauty brands, creators are finding new ways to launch products that feel more like movements than businesses. In this episode, Justin and Grace unpack the strategies behind viral CPG plays, scam-exposing influencers, and the health trends shaping what people buy next. Inside: 🍿 Daddy Snacks - the vegan popcorn brand born from satire 🕵️ Baller Busters, Coffeezilla &am...

Description:From intermittent fasting experiments to vegan cults, this episode dives deep into how creators turn extreme lifestyles into cash. We cover:🥗 Justin’s 3-day fast gone wrong + why he’s trying intermittent fasting now💸 How mukbangs, thumbnails, and even Cameo gigs can stack six figures🎬 Why Supersize Me would’ve killed on YouTube today👕 The $800K streetwear drop from Mai Pham and how...

From Big Tech to burnout to building a million-dollar creator business, Zach Wilson has seen it all. After stints at Netflix, Meta, and Airbnb (earning $600K+ a year), Zach left it behind to go all-in on content, education, and his own platform. We dive deep into what it  really  takes to transition from employee to full-time creator, and the business models that actually work. Inside: 💻 How Zach...

Run clubs are blowing up, not just for fitness, but as the new way Gen Z is meeting people IRL. Grace shares her experience running with groups from LA to SF (and even almost making the Olympic team), while Justin breaks down how sponsorships are turning these clubs into real businesses. We also dive into: 🏃 How college athletes went from banned to banking big with NIL deals 💸 Why pro runners st...

Followers don’t always equal influence. Some creators with millions can’t sell a thing, while others with smaller audiences spark entire movements. In this episode, Grace and Justin talk through the messy business of being an influencer today: culture, money, and what “influence” really means in 2025. Inside: 📉 Why follower count ≠ influence (and why some launches flop) 🏙️ L.A. vs. Austin creator...

We looked into how much money Morning Brew brings in by just sending emails... it's insane. In this episode, Grace and Justin break down: 📰 How Morning Brew makes millions from newsletter ads 👤 The “identity crisis” creators face when building a personal brand 💳 Why designer credit cards are as much about persona as perks 🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen 📍  How Creators Make Mon...

In this episode of How Creators Make Money , Justin breaks down how he's used credit card rewards to travel the world in business class. But that’s just the start. We also dig into creator monetization strategies, growing authentic communities, and share some more LinkedIn viral content hacks. Inside: ✈️ Turning credit card points into luxury trips 📈 Community growth strategies that actually...

Oba’s story is equal parts hustle and adventure. After leaving a private equity career in New York, he’s been traveling across Eastern Europe. From Hungary (where locals dubbed him “the Hungarian Fortnite”) to spending Romanian Robox he has found a way to build his brand while traveling the world. You can check out Oba's content here:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@obatriedInstagram: https://w...

What happens when your Discord admin accidentally deletes 20,000 members overnight? In this episode, Grace and Justin unpack the chaos of losing an entire year of community growth in one click and how to turn Grace's crash-out moment into a growth hack advice. Inside:⚡ The “Great Discord Purge” and what actually happened📈 Grace’s plan to rebuild 20K members🛠 Why creators should share their f...

What happens when your favorite design tool goes public? In this episode, we talk through the chaos of Figma’s IPO and how Grace tried to throw $10K into it at $33. We also unpack: 🧃 Prime’s brand hype and sudden sales collapse 🚫 Whether creators can ever really get canceled 📉 When a single TikTok shuts down a restaurant 🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen 📍  How Creators Make Money  —...

Private equity is moving into the creator economy in a big way. In this episode, we break down: 💰 What PE actually is (and how it’s different from VC) 📉 How PE can supercharge or completely wreck a creator business 🏀 Real examples: Dude Perfect, Blippi, Cocomelon & more 🕹 The “rise of the nerds” - how nostalgia-fueled creators like Quinton Reviews are making millions deep-diving Nickelodeon...

If you're hot in NY, you should never have to pay for food...Well at least thats what this startup, Neon Coats, thinks. They match influencers to restaurants, pilates classes, and more based on your following. Inside:😍 What it takes to get free meals💰 Creators who are making BANK selling Notion templates🤝 How to stop being awkward while networkingWhether you're hot or not, this episode...

It's time to get smarter about how to play the game of brand deals as a creator. In this episode, we break down the behind-the-scenes of brand negotiations, how to think more strategically about your positioning, and dive deep into some of their biggest deals that we've closed. Inside: 🤝 Transparent about the mistakes we've made 🧠 How to unlock bigger budgets 💼 When it's the rig...

Xander built a following of 2 million, then walked away because he was bored Now? He makes a $100,000 a month posting TikTok Shop. In this episode, we break down: 🛒 The TikTok Shop strategy that’s making creators life changing money 📉 Getting over the hump of feeling "stuck" 🧠 The mindset shift from “influencer” to business operator This conversation will flip your thinking on how to...