Rebel Dispatch

Rocky IV is the comeback manual, and this week I’m using it to talk about why nobody mounts a comeback from a mansion (or any life that’s gotten too comfortable). We get into paring things down, getting back in the fight, and how film lenses like Rocky can kickstart motivation and creativity, plus where to find the related Substack and what I want to do next with movie-based breakdowns. Read the S...

From the 1849 Gold Rush to today’s creator economy, this week’s Rebel Dispatch maps pioneers, superstardom, and the ones who got “shot” along the way, inspired by *The Age of Gold*. It’s feeling like there’s gold in them hills again, so check the Substack for the full write-up, and come back next week for a Rocky IV riff on comebacks and complacency.

Back in the airport, the host heads to Cannes Lions for the first time since 2018 and talks about how the festival has shifted from an ad conference into a creator conference. They reflect on the rise of independent, creator-led projects and why more creators across every profession will need tools like Rebel Audio. Plus, a quick note on big conversations coming up on the ground and the news that...

Fresh off a P.T. Barnum-style week in Nashville, the host recaps Rebel Audio’s launch, the chaos of raising money, shipping product, and marketing all at once, plus some hilarious street-mic feedback from CMA Fest on Broadway. Then it’s off to Cannes Lions, where creators are running the show, and Rebel’s taking its circus international.

Jingle Jared takes a cue from *The Color of Money* and makes the case for “staking yourself and hitting the road”, because fundraising doesn’t happen from Instagram posts and endless Zooms. He also gets real about confidence, rebrands, and focus, sharing lessons from raising money for Rebel Audio and the Jingle Punks earn-out (don’t let your dreams derail the goal in front of you).

A quick Rebel Dispatch from LAX as I head back to Nashville for the Rebel Audio launch at the Rebel Chateau. I’m also gearing up for a live taping of Meet the Drapers with Tim Draper, where Rebel Audio is competing for a $1M investment, plus an open invite to the launch and a CMA Fest barbecue (work like hell, always advertise).

The Vibe Code Cowboy, Jared Gutstadt, shares their Rebel Audio founder journey and why chasing funding outside Silicon Valley and New York can be a real edge, especially in less saturated markets. They break down what Launch TN taught them about backing unique startups and how “Silicon Country” is about standing out in a crowded media world while building a community (and a better day-to-day life)...

Jared tracks his creative reboot from “Jingle Jared” to the “vibe code cowboy,” after a Lovable hackathon win lit the fuse and rebuilt his confidence. It’s a fast, honest riff on learning new tools (even when you don’t want to), ditching gatekeeping, and building a personal brand that lets your ideas travel.

Jingle Jared (aka the Vibe Code Cowboy) riffs on how Podcast 1.0 turned into splashy, unsustainable mega-deals, and why that Hollywood-advance model was never built to last. He maps the music industry’s distributor wave to what’s coming next in podcasting: native basement-born creators, video everywhere, and platforms that help rebels ship without gatekeepers.