Creator Science Episode #288: He gained 190K Instagram followers in 508 days…but wouldn’t do it again | Yoni Smolyar

Host: Jay Clouse
Guest: Yoni Smolyar
Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jay Clouse sits down with Yoni Smolyar, who gained over 190,000 Instagram followers by posting a video every single day for 508 days. They dive deep into Yoni’s motivations, what he learned from this marathon of content creation, and why—despite the numbers—he wouldn’t do it again. The conversation also explores the differences between Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), the launch of Yoni’s app “Brainrot,” strategies for content creation, and the broader impacts of short form video.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yoni’s Origin Story: From Zero to 190K Followers

• Yoni did not begin with the intention of posting for 508 days; it started as a personal challenge to overcome discomfort and fear of posting video content.
  • “It probably took me 10 years to make that one post. And then after that, it’s off to the races.” – Yoni (06:08)
• Early videos were simple, unedited, and often about “nothing”—the goal was to desensitize himself to posting online, not to go viral or tell grand stories at first.
  • “My first maybe 10 videos were about nothing. [...] I just wanted to do it more for that than for telling beautiful stories and for changing people’s lives.” – Yoni (06:46)
• The “volume game” of daily posting was a forcing function to build the habit and learn through repetition.
  • “If I waited till I was ready, it would have never happened.” – Yoni (03:53)

2. Evolution From Raw Posts to Storytelling

• Within weeks, positive feedback and viral moments pushed Yoni to try different content styles and experiment with production value (like using B-roll, storytelling, and a microphone).
  • “It was maybe three weeks in that I told a story of how I put an offer on a house…and this video went viral...the algorithm is funny in these ways.” – Yoni (08:55)
• Viral moments often resulted from randomness in the algorithm, highlighting the unpredictability of what connects.
• There was little correlation between time spent editing and views: “silly meme” videos could unexpectedly garner millions of views, while heavily edited, time-consuming videos might perform averagely.
  • “Very low correlation between the amount of time spent editing in my case and the views.” – Yoni (11:48)

3. Content Focus and Authenticity

• Yoni’s series evolved into a “build in public” story—sharing his entrepreneurial journey, ups and downs, in an authentic, often unscripted fashion.
  • “It was me telling the story of myself as a kind of scrappy entrepreneur and telling of my ups and my downs and my challenges.” – Yoni (12:35)
• He found approachable, unpolished content to be more relatable and effective than overproduced content.
  • “Anybody can do it...just like, what’s on your mind? Hit record and start talking.” – Yoni (14:07)

4. Instagram vs. X (Twitter): Audience and Platform Dynamics

• Dramatic difference in the nature of audience behavior:
  • Instagram: Fast “churn” with followers and unfollowers daily—growth is about “net” gain, and the connection usually feels ephemeral.
  • X: Audience feels more stable, deliberate, and aligned with Yoni’s actual tech/software interests.
  • “X feels a little bit more intentional...maybe there’s a little bit more thought goes into a tweet.” – Yoni (18:55)
  • “Instagram…I have 200 people unfollow me every day, but 300 people follow me every day.” – Yoni (18:55)

5. Building and Launching Brainrot: The Business Impact

• Yoni used his platform to launch Brainrot, a screen time tracking app, sharing the in-the-trenches development journey transparently.
  • Unfiltered storytelling about successes and failures—including the abrupt halt of a previous e-commerce business—drove genuine audience connection.
    • “People really relate to full transparency, where it’s like business has ups and downs and awesome things and ugly things.” – Yoni (20:02)
• Brainrot’s launch highlights:
  • Instagram announcement video: 1M views, ~$10K revenue in one weekend (23:29)
  • #1 Product Hunt launch the next day, ~$20-30K revenue
  • 100K+ users to date
    • “It was just a totally crazy moment that generated probably another 20, $30,000 of revenue in a day.” – Yoni (23:29)

6. Why Yoni Wouldn’t Do It Again

• The personal costs of the daily challenge:
  • “Every single day I sat in front of a camera, clicked record, I talked into it, and then I edited it and then I posted it, which over time began to eat into my ability to just be present in the world.” – Yoni (25:41)
  • The constant grind extinguished enjoyment and presence—eventually leading to diminishing returns, both emotionally and in terms of platform growth.
  • “At some point, there’s diminishing returns… The incremental thousand followers is less meaningful.” – Yoni (25:41)

7. Platform-Specific Insights: TikTok, YouTube & Instagram

• Short form content performs differently on each platform due to audience demographics and platform preferences:
  • YouTube Shorts caters to much younger audiences; his stories didn’t resonate there.
  • TikTok prefers less-edited, native-phone content.
  • Instagram became his best fit by a mix of style and algorithmic luck.
    • “There’s these kind of nuances of what the different platforms like…my content style seems to have found its niche [on Instagram].” – Yoni (29:09)

8. Starting From Scratch: Jay’s Hypothetical Challenge

• Yoni’s advice is to focus on “why” before starting. He encourages dropping expectations, equipment, and fear—returning to the origins of posting with nothing at stake.
  • “Ditch the mic, ditch the 4K camera, ditch the studio setup and just go back to what it feels like to FaceTime your friend.” – Yoni (33:10)
• Posting raw, unpolished experiments can be both fun and unexpectedly successful.
  • “Maybe more creators need to make accounts with zero followers and just play around in there.” – Yoni (35:57)

9. Yoni’s Rules for Short Form Video

• It doesn’t have to be deep or polished—realness and free-flowing storytelling win.
  • “Don’t take it too seriously. Don’t overthink it. I just spoke into the camera the same way that I’m speaking to you now... authentic storytelling. It resonates with people in a world where there’s more and more highly edited... crazy hooks.” – Yoni (37:30)
• Minimal editing, unscripted, authentic—let go of overly calculated formats.

10. The Dark Side: Short Form Video and Attention

• Yoni believes that, on the whole, short form content is likely a net negative for its consumers, shrinking attention spans and encouraging compulsive use.
  • “Short form video is likely a net negative on its consumers… It’s digital crack.” – Yoni (39:47)
  • Advocates for moderation and mindfulness about consumption: “Curb your consumption... you don’t feel good after consuming a lot of short form content.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming the Fear of Posting:
  • “The hardest thing by far is day one...it probably took me 10 years to make that one post.” – Yoni (06:08)
• On Authenticity:
  • “You reach this state, you overcome it, and you realize that it doesn’t matter...you become a much more strong, durable person.” – Yoni (25:41)
• On Platform Churn:
  • “In my case on Instagram I have 200 people unfollow me every day, but 300 people follow me every day. So there’s a net growth…” – Yoni (18:55)
• On Content Style:
  • “I posted 500 and something videos, of which probably 99% were unscripted.” – Yoni (37:30)
• On Short Form’s Impact:
  • “It’s digital crack. I mean, it is just so addicting and easy to scroll your life away.” – Yoni (39:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:57] — Yoni begins 508-day daily posting journey
• [05:08] — When daily posting became a real habit
• [08:55] — First viral video & experience with algorithm randomness
• [11:48] — No correlation between editing time and views
• [14:07] — “Build in public” storytelling style
• [18:55] — Differences between Instagram and X audiences
• [20:02] — Motivation and transparency in sharing business ups and downs
• [23:29] — Brainrot launch: revenue, virality, Product Hunt success
• [25:41] — Why Yoni stopped daily posting despite business success
• [29:09] — Why platform fit matters for content type
• [33:10] — Yoni’s advice on starting an account from zero
• [37:30] — Yoni’s “rules” for short form video
• [39:47] — Yoni on negative impacts of short form video

Summary Flow and Tone

Jay and Yoni’s conversation is candid, honest, and often self-deprecating. The tone is friendly, accessible, and refreshingly transparent—eschewing “guru” posturing for clear-eyed insights about the highs and lows of content creation. Yoni’s reflections challenge assumptions about what “success” really means for creators, providing practical and heartfelt advice for anyone considering their own challenge.

Final Thought

Despite meteoric growth and tangible business results, Yoni’s story is ultimately one of realignment—recognizing the value of authenticity, intentionality, and personal well-being over raw metrics. This episode is a must-listen for creators looking for grounded, evidence-based wisdom about building in public without burning out.