The $100M Entrepreneur Podcast

Episode: The Future of Social Media from Gary Vee

Host: Brad Sugars
Guest: Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)
Date: September 10, 2025

Overview

This episode sees Brad Sugars host marketing mogul Gary Vaynerchuk (“Gary Vee”) for a dynamic, fast-paced conversation about the evolving landscape of social media, practical approaches to business growth, and modern parenting for entrepreneurs. Gary shares big-picture predictions, under-the-hood insights, and the essential mindsets he believes will separate winners from the rest as the next decade of the social internet unfolds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Financial Freedom

• Living Within Your Means:
  Gary argues that “financial freedom” doesn’t require millionaire status.
  • Quote [00:00]:

    “I think you can have financial freedom making $60,000 a year. You just have to live within the means of 60,000… We know millionaires that work, that live paycheck to paycheck.”

• Mistaking Wealth for Freedom:
  More money often leads to more obligations, not necessarily more liberty.

2. The Social Media Horizon

Meta’s Next Move: The End of the Smartphone?

• Gary points to Meta's investment in smart glasses as a pivotal shift:
  • Quote [00:43]:

    “I think that Meta is making a hard push to these glasses. I think they’re going to pull it off… I think a lot of us over the next decade will no longer have the telephone.”

• Predicts a societal apex regarding attention on mobile—anticipates changes in regulation and cultural attitudes.

LinkedIn: The Biggest B2B Opportunity

• Underpriced Attention:
  LinkedIn is compared to Facebook in 2011-2012—with massive value for B2B, but limited creator competition.
  • Quote [01:35]:

    “There’s less [content] going on… so the equilibrium of the underpriced attention on LinkedIn is remarkable… For LinkedIn, you get one customer out of LinkedIn for a B2B company and it makes four years of investing in LinkedIn worth it.”

• Audience Quality:
  LinkedIn’s professional audience is more valuable for certain business models.

Live Social Shopping: The "QVCfication" of Commerce

• Social Shopping's Next Boom:
  Gary predicts social shopping—think livestream selling—will explode globally, following China’s lead.
  • Quote [02:34]:

    “Live social shopping, the QVCfication of social media is so real… What happened in China 10 years ago is now happening for the rest of the world.”

  • TikTok Shop, Whatnot, Meta, YouTube, and Twitter are all in the mix.
  • Applicable to DTC brands: “If you sell something—sneakers, perfume, ties, gummy bears—you need to start looking at live social shopping.”

YouTube: The Central Content Pillar

• Despite the buzz around short form, long-form content builds trust and is key for brand-building.
  • Quote [03:21]:

    “YouTube is… the most important platform… For long form content—an hour, 30 minutes, 10, 15, 20 minutes—it’s a requirement… It will only continue to get bigger.”

  • Cites MrBeast as an industry-defining creator.

3. Gary Vee’s Definition of Success

• Success = Freedom of Choice:
  Gary measures success by control over one’s daily schedule, not monetary figure.
  • Quote [03:57]:

    “I would define success as waking up in the morning and being in full control of what you do.”

• Nuance Over Dollars:
  Quote continued [03:57]:
  > “You can have financial freedom making $60,000 a year… you may not own your home… but you can have freedom.”
• Evolving With Purpose:
  As Gary matured, his view shifted to consider societal impact.
  • Quote [05:36]:

    “The only other nuance is I did not think about leaving a positive deposit on society at 25. I think about that very heavily now as Gary Vee.”

4. Entrepreneurial Parenting: Raising Great Kids

• Building Resilience, Avoiding Entitlement:
  — Stop giving financial support after early adulthood.
  • Quote [05:57]:

    “Stop giving them money after they’re 18 to 22… Those kids are so lucky… but they can’t see it at first.” — Embrace challenges rather than shield kids.

  • Quote [06:04]:

    “Don’t over-coddle children. They have to lose. I think it’s wonderful when kids get into fights in grade school. You have all these people talking so much shit on the Internet. You know why? When you talk shit on the Internet, nobody’s punching you in the face.”

• Consequences & Meritocracy:
  — Losing is necessary: “No 8th place trophies. Fuck a second place trophy. You lost, get into that.”
• Parents’ Self Esteem:
  — Don’t stake your pride on kids’ achievements.
  • Quote [08:21]:

    “The big mistake a lot of parents make is they push their kids to fancy universities… Parents… are using their children. I have my own self-esteem. I don’t need my children to provide it for me. And that actually is the healthiest prop out of all the things I do as a father.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “We know millionaires that work, that live paycheck to paycheck.” — Gary Vee [00:00]
• “Meta is making a hard push to these glasses… A lot of us over the next decade will no longer have the telephone.” — Gary Vee [00:43]
• “The equilibrium of the underpriced attention on LinkedIn is remarkable.” — Gary Vee [01:35]
• “Live social shopping… is so real.” — Gary Vee [02:34]
• “YouTube is… the most important platform.” — Gary Vee [03:21]
• “Success… is waking up in the morning and being in full control of what you do.” — Gary Vee [03:57]
• “The big mistake a lot of parents make is… they have their self esteem wrapped up in their child’s accomplishments.” — Gary Vee [08:21]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Financial freedom, money myths, and living below your means
• 00:43 — The future: Meta’s move beyond smartphones
• 01:27 — The LinkedIn opportunity for B2B
• 02:34 — Live social shopping’s global spread
• 03:21 — YouTube’s growing dominance
• 03:48 — Defining success and Gary Vee’s evolving philosophy
• 05:57 — Parenting: Raising resilient and grounded kids

Final Takeaways

• The social media landscape is maturing—new winners will capitalize on emerging formats (live commerce) and overlooked platforms (LinkedIn).
• Success isn’t a magic number; it’s autonomy and purpose.
• For entrepreneurial parents: Build grit in your kids, not just comfort, and let their journey be theirs—not your validation.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs navigating the shifting sands of online business and striving for genuine, lasting success.