Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Episode: JustJules – 4.9M Subscribers at 16 | Why Your Videos Aren't Working
Date: December 2, 2025
Guest: JustJules (Jules) – Content Creator, Author

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Jules—widely known as "JustJules," the 16-year-old YouTuber with nearly 5 million subscribers. She shares her journey from a social media novice to building a vibrant online brand, offers insights on YouTube success (and why most people get it wrong), debunks myths about virality, and discusses navigating youth, ambition, faith, and mental health in the digital age.

The candid talk is packed with tactical advice for creators and parents alike, all told with Jules's signature honesty and wisdom far beyond her years.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jules’s Journey: From No Social Media to YouTube Stardom

• Background: Jules didn’t have a TV growing up and wasn’t allowed on social media. She only discovered YouTube after a shoulder surgery left her immobilized and bored.
  • [00:00] “We didn’t have a TV in our house. I had my surgery and I couldn't do anything... I started watching these YouTubers and I was like, this looks like a lot of fun. Maybe I should try it.”
• Start on YouTube: First video (a Taylor Swift edit) went viral, but she didn’t post consistently at first due to school priorities.
• Motivation: Early goals were about motivating others, not money or fame.
  • [04:17] “My goal when starting my YouTube channel was just to motivate other people to chase after their dreams.”

2. How to Grow on YouTube: Debunking Virality Myths

• Top Question: “How do I go viral?”
  • Jules gives the surprising answer: Consistency and Courage.
    • [00:25] “Consistency. You have to be very consistent and also very courageous. Just don’t overthink. Just post it.”
    • [01:31] “Aristotle once said that courage is the most important virtue, but you just have to be courageous and put yourself out there.”
• On Overthinking:
  • Many beginners worry about details (e.g., touching hair, adding hashtags), but Jules stresses not to get stuck.
    • [17:00] “You’re overthinking it. Just do it... you have to get yourself out there and don’t overthink it.”
• On Consistency in Practice:
  • Jules posts up to 7 Shorts daily, batch records, and ideates constantly.
    • [01:54] “Seven pieces. Like seven shorts a day.”
    • [18:46] “If I have a donut, I’ll record three videos of that donut because I feel guilty of eating a donut instead of like a salad... I’ll make five or six videos with that outfit.”

3. Handling Fear and Criticism

• Jules describes initial fear of being mocked by her gymnastics peers, but decided to move past it.
  • [02:28] "I knew that they were going to find my YouTube channel... you know how teenagers are these days. You know, they make fun of you... But then I left that gym and then I was like, you know what? I'm just going to start. If I don't start, I'm never going to be where I want to be."
• Recognizes the importance of resilience and being true to oneself throughout ups and downs.
  • [10:18] “In gymnastics, you’re always pushed to be perfect and good at everything. I think it just made me into the person I am today.”

4. Ambition, Balance, and Following Curiosity

• Jules is a multi-hyphenate: former high-level gymnast, sophomore in college at 16 (studying aviation), aspiring airline pilot, writer, photographer, archer, and baker.
  • [08:25] “My dad’s an airline pilot... I always grew up traveling and moving, so I loved flying... Content creation is just something that started out of boredom.”
• Encourages diverse interests: hobbies feed her creativity and content.
  • [15:43] “I think that’s why I have so many hobbies, because all these different things bring, like, inspiration to me... I loved gardening during the summer, so I made videos about gardening.”
• Uses deadlines and prioritization to manage time.
  • [14:41] “Deadlines... I have to prioritize that and then I can focus on all the other things.”

5. Systems and Workflow for Content Creation

• Batching, Brainstorming, Scheduling:
  • Keeps a notebook of ideas; slots creation into her day after schoolwork.
    • [17:38] “I have a schedule. I also have a book—a book full of ideas... and then throughout the day I’m like, oh, I have time to do this, so I just mark it off and I record the video.”
  • Records multiple videos from a single scenario (e.g., different outfits, meals).
  • Outsources long-form video editing only; does all short-form herself.
• On Trends:
  • Adds her own twist to trends rather than copying.
    • [19:59] “I add my own little twist to trends... So I added somebody’s comment and I was like, you’re in college. I thought you were 16. And I was like, probably because I am 16.”

6. Community, Connection, and Inspiration

• Audience resonates with authenticity; see through content that's not rooted in joy.
  • [27:42] “When I first started YouTube, I would only make cooking videos because those videos were the ones that did well. But because I hated cooking so much... my audience started to see that and then they started to leave.”
• Focuses on helping and uplifting viewers (especially around mental health and homeschooling).
  • [43:20] “I have people come up to me, like at church... Now they’re like, you’re the reason why I’m so close to the Lord. I’m like, what? That’s amazing.”
  • [45:34] “I homeschooled my kids because of you... because they are so much more confident because they are not being compared to their peers, and they’re not getting bullied.”

7. Mental Health, Social Media, and Faith

• Recognizes both the positive and negative impacts of social media.
• Brings faith into content, balancing authenticity with boundaries.
  • [40:39] “I bring my faith into my content... It’s not the fact that I’m trying to put my religion down their throats. It’s just like, I want to see you in heaven too, you know?”
  • [58:59] “I try to keep my channel as family friendly as possible.”
• Honest about what is and isn’t shared online—chooses positivity and strategic authenticity, avoids trauma dumping.
  • [61:19] “I think that being authentic doesn’t mean bringing everything into it and like, trauma dumping online.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Getting Started and Overthinking

• Jules (@00:25):
  “Consistency. You have to be very consistent and also very courageous. Just don't overthink. Just post it.”

On Resilience & Virality

• Jules (@00:51):
  "Most people think that they're going to go viral as soon as they start. No, it's a process. It's like a roller coaster. There are so many different people on social media, so you're bound to find your audience. Choose something that you love, because if you don't, you're going to be doing something you hate the rest of your career."

On Community and Content Burnout

• Jules (@27:42):
  "When I first started YouTube, I would only make cooking videos because those videos were the ones that did well. But because I hated cooking so much...my audience started to see that and then they started to leave...I started posting comedy skits and stuff that I actually like. And since then I haven't really been burnt out."

On Comparison and Social Media

• Jules (@49:56):
  "They're always comparing their 100% life to my 35%. But comparison is the thief of joy. And I think that's something that you really have to understand."

On Forgiveness as a Key to Life

• Jules (@77:31):
  "I learned to forgive myself, especially when I make mistakes...if you don't forgive yourself and you, and if you don't forgive other people, you're just going to lead a miserable life. You know, you're always going to be holding grudges and it's just going to...get heavier."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jules’s Origin Story & First Videos – 00:00–04:14
• Consistency, Courage & Not Overthinking – 00:25, 01:31, 17:00
• Batching, Scheduling & Content Systems – 17:38, 18:46, 24:12
• Authenticity, Joy, and Avoiding Burnout – 27:42, 43:20
• Homeschooling & Education Insights – 32:36–36:01
• Mental Health, Faith & Social Media Toxicity – 40:39, 44:41
• Community Feedback and Positive Impact – 45:34, 57:32
• Strategic Authenticity & Boundaries Online – 61:19, 61:38
• Advice for Young Creators & Parents – 70:55
• Life Lessons: The Importance of Forgiveness – 77:31

Takeaways for Listeners

• Don’t Chase Virality—Chase Consistency & Courage: Forget the hacks. Post frequently, learn as you go, and don’t worry about perfection.
• Be Authentically You: The internet will find your tribe. Avoid creating just-for-trends or mimicking others—audiences sense inauthenticity.
• Batch Create & Systematize: Use notebooks, batch recording concepts, and scheduling to maintain high output while balancing life.
• Diversify Inspiration—Hobbies Help: Life outside of content (hobbies, interests, travel, school) fuels creativity and broadens your audience.
• Impact > Numbers: Success isn’t just views—it's in the messages from followers, the personal stories of upliftment, and positive change.
• Set Boundaries: Family, romance, or trauma? Not everything belongs online. Be positive and intentional with your sharing.
• Faith and Values Matter: Staying grounded—whether via faith or personal values—can help creators navigate challenges and negative environments.
• Surround Yourself with a Supportive Peer Group: Collaborate, share ideas, set goals together, and remember: “No one is self-made.”
• For Parents: Support your kids’ passions, but don’t set unrealistic expectations. Guide, don’t pressure.
• For Young Creators: Pick what you love, post without overthinking, and don’t be afraid to pivot if an interest or niche is draining you.
• Forgive Yourself and Others: Perfectionism fuels success, but forgiveness is the key to happiness.

Connect with Jules:

• YouTube: [JustJules]
• TikTok: [JustJules]
• Instagram: [JustJules]
• Snapchat: [JustJules]

Book: Where Are My YouTubers? (Available wherever books are sold)

“If you want to change the world, you have to get a team. You have to make friends.”
– Jules (@69:10)