Future London Academy – Branding Now – Free Download Course

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Future London Academy – Branding Now – Free Download Course"

Podcast: Great New Courses – Online eLearning With The Best Coaches
Host: Eric Mega Download
Date: June 29, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode offers an entertaining and thorough reality check on viral online side hustle claims, specifically targeting a YouTube influencer named Joshua. The host sets out to test whether earning $500 in just 24 hours using only a phone is realistic, by actually attempting the recommended "side hustles" himself. The journey is full of practical evaluations, candid reactions, and sharp commentary on digital entrepreneurship.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The $500 Side Hustle Challenge (00:00–00:31)

• The host introduces the premise: attempting to replicate Joshua's bold claim of earning $500 in a day via phone-based side hustles.
• Stakes are set: If the host succeeds, he promises to eat an onion and give away all earned money to a random commenter.

2. Testing Popular Side Hustles

a. Human Microbes (00:31–00:57)

• Attempt to sell stool samples to Humanmicrobes.org.
• Not available for non-US/Canadian users.
  Quote:
  • "Side hustle one didn't work out for us Europeans." (A, 00:43)

b. Stock Photography via IAM (00:57–01:29)

• Uploads 150 travel photos to iam.com, hopeful for sales.
• No immediate earnings, but tracks progress through likes and followers.
  Quote:
  • "I've uploaded like 150 photos...let's revisit later." (A, 01:09)

c. Virtual Friendship on Papa.com (01:29–01:38)

• Applying to be a virtual friend for pay, but not possible without a US phone number.
• Frustration at inaccessible opportunities and intrusive ads.
  Quote:
  • "Your friendships with these random strangers...should be strictly conversational." (B, 01:29)
  • "Not a US phone number...next side hustle." (A, 01:38)

d. Cashback Apps – Upside (01:58–02:06)

• Host does not own a car, so cannot participate.

e. Field Agent / Be My Eye (02:13–04:44)

• Performs an assignment: auditing tomatoes in a grocery store for a $5 reward through "Be My Eye" (local Dutch alternative).
• Details the cumbersome process of photographing all varieties and surviving awkward human interactions with only 1% phone battery.
• Mission ultimately approved.
  Memorable Moment:
  • "There were so many different tomato products, I had to take like 50 photos. The employee approached me and asked... I told him, 'Oh, no, I'm just looking at the tomatoes.'" (A, 03:30)
  • "Officially, mission accomplished. Our first five bucks." (A, 05:18)

f. Selling Study Materials on Studypool (04:44–05:00)

• Not applicable—host is no longer a student.

g. Creating YouTube Thumbnails (05:00–05:13)

• Host dismisses this as he delegates thumbnails to a professional.
  Quote:
  • "I suck at making thumbnails. In fact, I have a thumbnail guy." (A, 05:05)

h. Lime/Lime Scooters (05:13–05:39)

• Not possible in Amsterdam due to local regulations.

i. Low-Content Books & Notion Templates (05:39–05:46)

• Attempts to piggyback on previous digital creations, counting sales from his Monk Mode Notion template as earnings.
• Blends creativity with entrepreneurial sleight of hand.

j. Additional Quick Side Hustles (05:46–end)

• Discovers and reviews three more legitimate micro-task sites:
  1. Toloka: Micro-tasks for AI training ($5/hr potential).
  2. Google Opinion Rewards: Short surveys, low earning ($1–2/week).
  3. Be My Eye / Field Agent: In-store photo/verifications, higher earning potential ($10–$20/hr).

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Insights & Conclusions

• Geographic limitations and niche requirements exclude many hyped side hustles for users outside the US or without specific credentials.
• Most viral “easy” side hustles lack substantial earning power or are gate-kept by eligibility.
• Micro-tasking yields real (but modest) payouts with higher hourly rates concentrated on in-person assignments.
• The host emphasizes transparency and realistic expectations:
  • Quote:
    • "Even though a lot of his side hustles don't work, are not available or just don't pay out, some side hustles actually do work." (A, 06:28)
    • "It is possible to earn about $180 in one day, which is the amount I'm giving away to someone random in the comments." (A, 06:42)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Uncomfortable Grocery Store Tasks:
  "The only thing I could think of was what the do I say when someone asked me, sir, why are you making all these photos of tomatoes?" (A, 03:15)
• Practical Takeaway:
  "Pro tip: To actually earn money instead of losing money, don't buy the tomatoes." (A/B, 06:11)
• Episode Wrap-up:
  "Leave something nice and you got to be subscribed obviously, and I'll see you in the next video. Cheers." (A, 06:50)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction of the $500 challenge and premise
• 00:31 – Testing Human Microbes
• 00:57 – Stock photo attempt (IAM.com)
• 01:29 – Attempt to earn as a virtual friend (Papa.com)
• 02:13 – Field Agent/Be My Eye tomato mission vignette
• 04:44 – Studypool (study note sales) rejection
• 05:39 – Digital product (Notion template) discussion
• 05:46 – Rundown of three legitimate micro-task side hustles and conclusion

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Tone & Style

The host delivers with dry humor, skepticism, and a relatable frustration at the “hacks” circulating in online business circles. He’s honest when things don’t work, celebrates small victories, and turns setbacks into teachable moments for the audience.

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Summary

This episode is both an exposé and a guide for anyone tempted by TikTok/YouTube side hustle sensations. The host’s hands-on testing dispels myths with wit and pragmatism—revealing where real money can be made, and where hype falls flat. Ultimately, while $500 in a day is unlikely for beginners, a determined hustler can earn up to $180 with grit and local luck. Listeners get a roadmap of genuinely accessible opportunities, and a fair share of laughs along the way.

Transcript

[A]

So this YouTuber posted a video viewed by millions claiming you can earn $500 in one day using nothing else but your phone. I think Joshua is full of bull, so I'm putting his claim to the test. Using Joshua's side Hustles, I'm gonna try and earn $500 in 24 hours. However, if I somehow do manage to actually earn $500 in 24 hours, then I'll eat this onion and I will give away all the money that I did earn up until then to someone random in the comments. All right, so first side Hustle.

[B]

Many of you are going to think that this first side Hustle is a joke. This company here, Human Microbes, will literally pay you for your stool, which is just a nice way of saying poop.

[A]

So let's see. Humanmicrobes.org focused on the USA and Canada. All right, so side hustle one didn't work out for us Europeans. Time for side hustle number two.

[B]

IAM is a stock photography website that prides itself on selling authentic imagery. But many of these images sell for close to $350 per image. All you have to do is just go to im.com Correct.

[A]

Let's try to upload some photos. Iam.com so, since I've traveled the world for a full year, I have some pretty dope photos. I'm just going to upload them to the app. Let's see what happens. All right, so I uploaded like 150 photos. Let's revisit later to see if someone actually wants to buy my photos. But first, the Next side Hustle Papa

[B]

will pay you to be a virtual friend for somebody who's lonely. Obviously. Guys, be safe and use common sense. Your friendships with these random strangers on the Internet should be strictly conversational.

[A]

I'll be the judge of that. Papa.com. so basically, I just have to be a friend for someone and I get paid for it. Not bad. Let's go. Enter your phone number to start your application. It's not a US Phone number. So again, next side Hustle. Fucking advertisement. Why would anyone put advertisements on there YouTube video?

[B]

Upside is an app that gives you money back for everyday purchases. Where this app really shines is the money back that it gives you on gas. As you can see, the I don't

[A]

even have a car. So not even one hour has passed with three side hustles in, and I've earned a total of $0.

[B]

Field agent is an app that's used by some of the largest companies in the world to have agents perform various tasks for their business. For example, using the app, you'll gather information for brands and retailers by taking photos, sharing opinions, and completing other tasks.

[A]

All right, so an app that lets you do TAs, like doing groceries or whatever, and you get paid for it. Field agent. Ta da. It's not available in Holland. Hey. But there is a Dutch version. Be my eye. Do short missions in stores around you. So let's give this a shot. So it's not exactly the app Joshua mentions in his video, but it's a Dutch alternative. Let's give it a try. In the meantime, I had a notification. Michael Warming likes your photo. Nice. Likes inked cash, son. Short missions, easy money. Let me get this straight. So the mission is simple. Go to the grocery store around the block and audit the tomatoes. Which means I have to make photos of all the tomatoes and answer some questions. If I succeed, I get $5. Sounds easy. Let's go. But little did I know that my phone battery is almost dead. So I'm away to the grocery store. The only thing I could think of was what the do I say when someone asked me, sir, why are you making all these photos of tomatoes? Anyways, My phone battery is almost dead, so that'll be probably fine. And also, I didn't realize there would be so many tomatoes. So for the mission to be successful, I had to make photos of the price tag, the barcode, and every side of the packaging. But since there were so many different tomato products, I had to take like 50 photos. And obviously, an employee saw me standing there for more than 30 minutes taking pictures of tomatoes. And after looking my way a couple of times, the employee approached me and asked me, sir, can I help you? And I told him, oh, no, I'm just looking at the tomatoes. And I got the hell out of there, since I also just had 1% battery left on my phone. All right, so mission accomplished. Kind of. And now I've submitted the mission as completed, and I'm waiting approval. There's a chance they might reject it. Let's see. But luckily, I did buy a lot of tomatoes. Why did I buy the tomatoes, you ask? I have no fucking idea. I was just supposed to make pictures, and I bought a friend who missed the onion. Now there's two of them again. I am so sure that I won't be able to make 500 bucks within 24 hours that I will eat both of these Vikings. And another update is that my photos that I've uploaded have not been bought yet, but I have received 17 likes and Diego started following me. So there's that. On to the next side hustle.

[B]

Studypool is a site where you can upload documents such as past notes that you've taken and sell them to tens of millions of students.

[A]

Another side hustle I cannot earn money with because I'm not a student. I don't. I'm not going to school anymore. I actually have a serious job, Joshua. I'm a full time YouTuber.

[B]

A lot of YouTubers will actually outsource their thumbnail creation to other people.

[A]

Again, this is not a side hustle that's going to work out for me because I suck at making thumbnails. In fact, I have a thumbnail guy who always edits my thumbnails for me.

[B]

If you live somewhere even remotely populated, you've likely seen these scooters on random corners of the street.

[A]

Companies like lime scooters are forbidden in Amsterdam because I don't know why. Because the mayor of Amsterdam is an idiot. Guys, I have an update for you. The tomato mission. Officially, mission accomplished. Our first five bucks. But we need to step it up because if we keep this space going on, we'll probably earn about 50 bucks and we need 500. Onto the next side hustle.

[B]

Low content books are an extraordinary way to make well over six figures per year. Think of things like journals, coloring books, word games.

[A]

All right, so I like this one because basically Joshua is saying that you can write low content books. It's not meant for reading, it's meant for filling out or doing exercise. Now, I don't have 24 hours to fucking design a whole book and write a book, but I do have a digital version of these kind of books because I've made notion templates in the past. And I'll drop a link right here to one of my best selling notion templates, which is the Monk mode notion template. So I'm going to cheat a little bit. I'm going to count the sales of the Monk Mode notion template towards the $500 I can add earn within 24 hours. So if you want to see me eat an onion, then make sure to download the monkload notion template. I'm just. You will see this video. All right, change of plans. I'm going to try every single site also I can find on YouTube and I will only show the ones that actually make me money. We're going into Monk mode after watching not just every single video that Joshua Mayo has ever made, but after searching the entire Internet for side hustles that are easy, quick, actually work and actually pay you money right away. I found the following three Toloka get paid for doing online micro tasks like labeling cars and photos for AI, comparing products, or simply saying which AI generated photos look better. You get paid just a couple of cents per task, but since they're so easy and fast to do, it can add up if you do a lot of tasks. Earning potential in my experience up to $5 per hour. Next site also that actually works. Google Opinion Rewards get paid. Fill out surveys, answer one to four questions and get paid between 10 to 50 cents. The only downside is the amount of available surveys, which means the earning potential per day is not that high, around one to two dollars per week. And then the best side hustle that works and pays the most in my experience is be my eye or field agent if you live in the us Pro tip To actually earn money instead of losing money, don't buy the tomatoes. Earning potential 10 to $20 per hour, which means potentially if you would work eight hours per day, you could earn up to 80 to $160 in one day. So is it impossible to earn $500 per day? Is Joshua Mayo lying? No. Even though a lot of his side hustles don't work, are not available or just don't pay out, Some side hustles actually do work. Plus Joshua talks about a lot of side hustles that can earn you a lot of money if you put in the time and effort beforehand. And as promised, even though I didn't make the $500, I realized it is possible to earn about $180 in one day, which is the amount I'm giving away to someone random in the comments. Leave something nice and you got to be subscribed obviously, and I'll see you in the next video. Cheers.