Podcast
The Creator Spotlight Podcast
Hosted by Creator Spotlight · EN
Every week we spend an hour in conversation with a notable creator, discussing their approach to audience growth, monetization, and content production. Hosted by Francis Zierer (Twitter and LinkedIn). New episodes every Tuesday. This podcast is part of our newsletter, Creator Spotlight.
52episodes
Episodes
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Ep. 98 How he perfected short form content ft. Grant Beene
Feb 1701:18:00Tap to summarizeGrant Beene is a short-form video creator known for crafting wild, story-driven skits that have generated hundreds of millions of views across TikTok and Instagram. In this episode, we break down how he writes and produces viral short films, structures brand deals without compromising creative integrity, and why he believes short-form is the training ground for becoming a world-class director.Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/p/grant-beene __Get 10,000 free monthly credits at Eleven Labs: https://elevenlabs.io/__Grant BeeneTikTokInstagramFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00:00 Introducing Grant Beene00:02:34 The process behind a 120M view video 00:07:32 Limitations creating uniqueness 00:10:47 Early TikTok growth 00:22:41 Pushing short form content to the extreme 00:26:22 Difficulties monetizing as a short form creator 00:34:45 The value of collaborating in the creative process 00:41:03 From short form creator to artist 00:48:11 The role of faith in drive and discipline 00:52:47 How the creative process changes with long form 00:59:10 Unlocking the creativity 01:05:45 Inspirations in art and film 01:12:29 Make art and it will take you to your goal
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Ep. 98 How he perfected short form content ft. Grant Beene
Feb 1701:18:00Tap to summarizeGrant Beene is a short-form video creator known for crafting wild, story-driven skits that have generated hundreds of millions of views across TikTok and Instagram. In this episode, we break down how he writes and produces viral short films, structures brand deals without compromising creative integrity, and why he believes short-form is the training ground for becoming a world-class director. Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/p/grant-beene __ Get 10,000 free monthly credits at Eleven Labs: https://elevenlabs.io/ __ Grant Beene TikTok Instagram Francis Zierer LinkedIn Twitter/X __ Timestamps 00:00:00 Introducing Grant Beene 00:02:34 The process behind a 120M view video 00:07:32 Limitations creating uniqueness 00:10:47 Early TikTok growth 00:22:41 Pushing short form content to the extreme 00:26:22 Difficulties monetizing as a short form creator 00:34:45 The value of collaborating in the creative process 00:41:03 From short form creator to artist 00:48:11 The role of faith in drive and discipline 00:52:47 How the creative process changes with long form 00:59:10 Unlocking the creativity 01:05:45 Inspirations in art and film 01:12:29 Make art and it will take you to your goal
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Ep. 97: “I’m not an influencer. I’m an artist.” ft. Lucie Fink
Feb 1000:58:27Tap to summarizeLucie Fink is a creator and entrepreneur who’s built a successful personal media company across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, and newsletters. In this episode, we break down how she actually makes money as a creator, dealing with and confronting online trolls, and pivoting from lifestyle influencer to artist.Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/profiles__Lucie Fink — All my Income Sources Revealed__Lucie FinkYouTubeInstagramTikTokWebsitePodcastFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Lucie Fink01:10 Confronting an online troll08:57 I’m an artist, not an influencer12:59 Building a personal brand while at Refinery2917:02 First year challenges going solo20:58 Making over $100k as a creator32:30 Learning from previous course mistakes39:52 Making $50k from one video45:46 Adapting content to a shifting audience48:20 Maternal burst of creative energy51:53 Aspirations of a Netflix show
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Ep. 97: “I’m not an influencer. I’m an artist.” ft. Lucie Fink
Feb 1000:58:27Tap to summarizeLucie Fink is a creator and entrepreneur who’s built a successful personal media company across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, and newsletters. In this episode, we break down how she actually makes money as a creator, dealing with and confronting online trolls, and pivoting from lifestyle influencer to artist. Read the newsletter: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/profiles __ Lucie Fink — All my Income Sources Revealed __ Lucie Fink YouTube Instagram TikTok Website Podcast Francis Zierer LinkedIn Twitter/X __ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Lucie Fink 01:10 Confronting an online troll 08:57 I’m an artist, not an influencer 12:59 Building a personal brand while at Refinery29 17:02 First year challenges going solo 20:58 Making over $100k as a creator 32:30 Learning from previous course mistakes 39:52 Making $50k from one video 45:46 Adapting content to a shifting audience 48:20 Maternal burst of creative energy 51:53 Aspirations of a Netflix show
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Ep. 96: How a local newsletter became a $100k+ business ft. Marissa Lovell
Feb 301:01:10Tap to summarizeMarissa Lovell is the founder and operator of From Boise, a local newsletter business generating over $100k in annual revenue. In this episode, she breaks down how she built it, what nearly made her quit, and the decisions that finally made it work.__Get 10,000 free monthly credits at Eleven Labs: https://elevenlabs.io/__Marissa LovellLinkedInTwitter/XFrom BoiseFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Marissa from Boise01:00 From nearly quitting to $100k+ revenue06:18 The once-a-month growth strategy09:34 Early stage experimentation12:15 Accidentally growing a “personal brand”17:56 Zero to 10k subscribers in one year23:20 How big can a local newsletter be?24:18 How to monetize a local newsletter30:37 Investing in a website that feels right33:27 Why a discount card for the community didn’t work38:14 Connecting a community with dinner clubs42:15 Building in public and empowering female entrepreneurs46:58 Creating in way that suits you52:35 Becoming a six-figure solopreneur55:09 Doubling revenue for 2026
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Ep. 96: How a local newsletter became a $100k+ business ft. Marissa Lovell
Feb 301:01:10Tap to summarizeMarissa Lovell is the founder and operator of From Boise, a local newsletter business generating over $100k in annual revenue. In this episode, she breaks down how she built it, what nearly made her quit, and the decisions that finally made it work. __ Get 10,000 free monthly credits at Eleven Labs: https://elevenlabs.io/ __ Marissa Lovell LinkedIn Twitter/X From Boise Francis Zierer LinkedIn Twitter/X __ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Marissa from Boise 01:00 From nearly quitting to $100k+ revenue 06:18 The once-a-month growth strategy 09:34 Early stage experimentation 12:15 Accidentally growing a “personal brand” 17:56 Zero to 10k subscribers in one year 23:20 How big can a local newsletter be? 24:18 How to monetize a local newsletter 30:37 Investing in a website that feels right 33:27 Why a discount card for the community didn’t work 38:14 Connecting a community with dinner clubs 42:15 Building in public and empowering female entrepreneurs 46:58 Creating in way that suits you 52:35 Becoming a six-figure solopreneur 55:09 Doubling revenue for 2026
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Ep. 95: He quit NBC to make YouTube videos ft. Fernando Hurtado
Jan 2700:55:40Tap to summarizeFernando Hurtado is a former NBC Telemundo journalist who walked away from a six-figure media career to build on YouTube from scratch. In this episode, Fernando breaks down how he got monetized in days, landed (and lost) brand deals early, priced himself wrong, and rebuilt with a repeatable system for publishing high-quality videos without burning out. We talk risk, leverage, time-boxing creative work, and what journalists actually need to know before betting on themselves.__Watch Fernando’s AAPI Latino’s video __Fernando HurtadoYouTubeTwitter/XInstagramTikTokLinkedInFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Fernando Hurtado01:06 The hardest part of full-time YouTube04:40 How to land (and lose) brand deals09:30 Transitioning from NBC to YouTube16:02 Four reasons to become a YouTuber21:00 Learning the business side of journalism28:59 Diversify your revenue streams30:41 Building a sustainable upload schedule — without burnout35:09 Creating videos for the algorithm and the culture40:48 Showing the journalistic process43:27 Creating a video that inspires discussion45:50 Successes from one year as a YouTuber51:36 Advice for going all in on YouTube
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Ep. 95: He quit NBC to make YouTube videos ft. Fernando Hurtado
Jan 2700:55:40Tap to summarizeFernando Hurtado is a former NBC Telemundo journalist who walked away from a six-figure media career to build on YouTube from scratch. In this episode, Fernando breaks down how he got monetized in days, landed (and lost) brand deals early, priced himself wrong, and rebuilt with a repeatable system for publishing high-quality videos without burning out. We talk risk, leverage, time-boxing creative work, and what journalists actually need to know before betting on themselves. __ Watch Fernando’s AAPI Latino’s video __ Fernando Hurtado YouTube Twitter/X Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Francis Zierer LinkedIn Twitter/X __ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Fernando Hurtado 01:06 The hardest part of full-time YouTube 04:40 How to land (and lose) brand deals 09:30 Transitioning from NBC to YouTube 16:02 Four reasons to become a YouTuber 21:00 Learning the business side of journalism 28:59 Diversify your revenue streams 30:41 Building a sustainable upload schedule — without burnout 35:09 Creating videos for the algorithm and the culture 40:48 Showing the journalistic process 43:27 Creating a video that inspires discussion 45:50 Successes from one year as a YouTuber 51:36 Advice for going all in on YouTube
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Ep. 94: 15 years of social media strategy advice in one hour ft. Jack Appleby
Jan 2000:58:28Tap to summarizeJack Appleby is a marketing strategist and creator with over 15 years in the industry. In this episode, we break down why most brand content fails, why trends don’t matter, and how creators can build audiences people actually root for.__Get started for free at https://taplio.comUse code: CREATOR1X1__Jack ApplebyNewsletterLinkedInTwitter/XInstagramHow to Hoop ForeverYouTubeInstagramTikTokFrancis ZiererLinkedInTwitter/X__Timestamp00:00 Introducing Jack Appleby01:05 Social media is not marketing05:30 Making $9,500 in a month on TikTok09:36 Investing in a series that loses money13:13 You don’t need production quality, you need story15:31 Revenue streams as a marketer18:16 The need for strong opinions online26:21 Creating a story through short form video30:49 Building a newsletter to 80k subscribers36:05 Hiring a manager44:42 How to make a $50k course51:40 The need for better content in 2026
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Ep. 93: He’s building a $10M+ creator business ft. Kallaway
Jan 1300:51:29Tap to summarizeThis week we’re joined by Kallaway, a creator and operator building a profitable media business by treating content like a system. In this episode, we break down how he thinks about distribution, YouTube packaging, short-form frameworks, and turning attention into a scalable, $1M-per-month business.__KallawaySandcastlesYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInWebsite__Timestamps00:00 Introducing Kallaway01:05 The $1M/month content machine10:01 Bringing a consultant mindset to content creation15:09 Treating content like a science20:29 Long form video production process26:22 Replicating your past successes34:02 How rapping helps you be a better YouTube38:05 Short form video production process41:24 De-risking your failure in short form video47:43 Creating content without being a creator
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