Is broad creator fandom changing? In this episode, former VidCon CEO Jim Louderback (Inside the Creator Economy) joins us to break down how niche creator conventions are thriving, why teen fandom is fracturing, and what went down at Open Sauce. Plus, Lauren and Josh analyze record-breaking Q2 earnings from YouTube and Netflix, France’s brand-new social media ban for kids under 15, and YouTube’s official rollout of its new "Shows" feature.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-- Why fandom is shifting from mega-conventions to hyper-focused communities

-- How YouTube’s $11B+ ad revenue rivals Netflix’s entire business

-- The real impact of international social media age bans on app usage

-- How to use YouTube's new "Shows" feature to format episodic playlists

00:00 Statue of Liberty & World Cup Craze

01:09 World Cup Stars Explode on Social

04:38 Netflix Q2 Earnings: View Hours vs. Quality

11:31 YouTube Ads Hit Record $11 Billion

14:14 Jim Louderback Joins the Show

15:12 What is Open Sauce?

17:18 How Creator Fandom is Changing

20:20 AI, Drones & Tech at Open Sauce

22:41 VidCon Fans vs. Modern Niche Fans

23:53 France Bans Social Media for Under-15s

26:00 Is Australia’s Teen Social Ban Working?

30:35 YouTube Launches New "Shows" Feature

32:38 Instagram History Feature Request

Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.

Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/

Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/

Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/

Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand