The Think Media Podcast, Episode 462

Title: How She Got Monetized on YouTube Only Using Her Phone!
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Nathan Eswine (for Think Media)
Guest: Sally of Sally’s Garden Solutions

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive interview with Sally, a 68-year-old YouTuber who started her channel, "Sally’s Garden Solutions," upon retiring—and reached monetization in just nine months, all while using only her phone for filming and editing. Sally shares her inspiring journey, her straightforward workflow, and practical tips for aspiring creators, especially those who feel intimidated by technology or starting later in life. The conversation also explores maintaining consistency, finding confidence, leveraging basic tech, and the unique strengths of launching a YouTube channel with decades of lived experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Start YouTube in Your 60s?

• Sally’s inspiration stemmed from retirement, noticing a gap in YouTube content catering to her age group and decades of gardening knowledge.
• Quote:

  “I thought that I would throw my gardening hat into the ring and what the heck, what have I got to lose?” (01:30, Sally)

Gear, Workflow & Keeping It Simple

• Filming Device: iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB) – chosen to avoid storage issues and keep things simple.
  Editing App: CapCut—intuitive enough for beginners, even if you’re "not tech savvy."
  • Quote:

    “I do everything on my phone, right down to the editing.” (02:38, Sally)

• Microphone: DJI wireless mic setup for better sound outdoors, a game-changer for her workflow.
• Scheduling: She uploads once a week, typically after attending a Thursday "thumbnail class," showing the benefit of online learning communities.
  • Quote:

    “I go to the thumbnail class every Thursday... and then after my thumbnail class, I go ahead and upload.” (04:59, Sally)

Niche Focus & The Temptation to Pivot

• Sally’s core is gardening, but she experimented with a successful cottage tour video (40,000+ views).
• Ultimately, she remains centered on gardening, blending in related content occasionally for variety.
• Consistency is Key: “Posting consistently is incredibly... you got, that's just the way you got to go.” (07:01, Sally)
• Value of Experience: Sally’s decades as a Master Gardener provide depth and credibility.
  • Quote:

    “You have decades of experience in something... I would call that an asset... almost an unfair advantage to starting a YouTube channel later in life.” (11:06, Nathan)

Building Community & Leveraging Groups

• Huge value from joining offline gardening clubs and online coaching groups (like Think Media’s VRA).
• Groups provide support, inspiration, ongoing education, and even video ideas.
  • Quote:

    “Joining groups can really be beneficial... Plus, it's a great way to have a garden community right around you.” (10:04, Sally)

Beat Overwhelm With Old-School Organization

• Sally tracks her process with pen and paper—keeping it analog to avoid complexity.
• Lays out her week: research early, script and bullet points, thumbnails, class/learning, upload, and repeat.
  • Quote:

    “All I did was just write it down in a tablet. Old school...” (13:48, Sally)

Content Ideation: Blending AI and Instinct

• Uses VidIQ for research, YouTube’s autocomplete in the search bar, ChatGPT, and Claude for brainstorming ideas and getting unstuck.
• Free versions are sufficient for her needs.
  • Quote:

    “You can't just throw it a couple of sentences and take the first thing that comes back. You gotta prompt.” (19:02, Sally)

Recording & Editing Realities

• Sally records outdoors, adjusting for light, noise, and uneven ground, using two tripods (one with a "broken leg").
• Workflow: Prepares battery/settings, records in clips, assembles in CapCut, adds B-roll for interest, and improvises as needed.
• Editing Evolution:
  Started with daunting, picture-based videos and voiceovers, each taking 40+ hours a week to edit; now it’s more streamlined.
  • Quote:

    “I told myself, no matter how long it takes, I'm gonna do it... I just had to persevere and push through.” (28:09, Sally)

Lessons from Her Breakout Video (40,000+ Views)

• Title and thumbnail focus: curiosity (“What’s Inside”), uniqueness ("Enchanting Cottage Home Tour Reveal").
• Music mistakes taught her to use Epidemic Sound for copyright-safe tracks.
• Thumbnails are made with Canva, with input from coaches, always aiming for authenticity and experimenting with style.

Publishing & Consistency

• Exports final video from phone to MacBook, uploads via YouTube Studio, unlists first to check before publishing.
• Posts weekly, usually Thursday nights, but emphasizes that the important part is consistency and what works for the creator’s rhythm, not chasing a perfect posting time.

Monetization & Next Steps

• Monetized through AdSense after 9 months.
• Signed up for Amazon Affiliates but admits to forgetting CTAs; plans to diversify revenue further.
• Engages consistently with all comments, cultivating a supportive community.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Starting Later in Life:

  “It's never too late to start YouTube.” (02:13, Nathan)

• On Leaning into Experience:

  “What would you volunteer for if there was some big event that was going on in your area... What excites you?” (11:06, Nathan)

• On Hard Work:

  “There's no way around the hard work. There's no way around the eight hours deep into something, questioning things...” (28:48, Nathan)

• On Dealing with Struggles:

  “You're going to struggle, so you might as well struggle with other people.” (48:17, Nathan)

• Final Encouragement:

  “Believe in yourself and trust yourself... Not just with gardening, but, but with anything in life.” (46:41, Sally)

Key Timestamps

• 01:30 — Why Sally started YouTube in her 60s
• 02:38 — Sally’s tech gear: iPhone 16 Pro Max, CapCut, DJI mic
• 04:59 — Weekly upload schedule and learning from Think Media “thumbnail class”
• 07:01 — Remaining consistent and resisting the urge to pivot niches
• 10:04 — The benefits of joining gardening and creator groups
• 13:48 — Staying organized and productive (old-school style)
• 17:53 — How Sally generates content ideas using AI, YouTube search, and instinct
• 24:07 — Recording workflow: gear and environmental challenges
• 26:27 — Editing learning curve and initial time commitment
• 28:09 — Pushing through overwhelm with focus and determination
• 30:32 — Dissecting her viral video title/thumbnail strategy
• 36:35 — Thumbnail creation process (Canva)
• 37:56 — Uploading process & quality checks before publishing
• 41:25 — Beginning to monetize: AdSense, Amazon Affiliates, and learning CTAs
• 43:03 — Community engagement: responding to every comment
• 46:41 — Sally’s encouragement to new creators

Practical Takeaways & Encouragement

• Start with What You Know: Decades of real-world experience are powerful content assets.
• Keep Workflow Simple: Phone filming, intuitive apps, and analog planning can lead to success.
• Join a Community: Support, accountability, and new ideas come from connecting with others.
• Consistency Trumps Perfection: Regular uploads trump worrying about exact publish times.
• Hard Work is Unavoidable: Especially at the start, expect a steep, rewarding learning curve.
• Authenticity Wins: Be yourself—in video, thumbnails, and content direction.
• Engage with Your Audience: Replying to comments and asking for feedback fosters loyal viewership.
• Growth Never Stops: Even after monetization, always look for new ways to serve and connect with your audience.

Closing Thought

Sally’s journey is proof that age, gear, or tech anxiety are not barriers to YouTube success. By showing up consistently, leaning into her strengths, embracing a learning mindset, and connecting with supportive communities, she’s charted a relatable, achievable, and inspiring path for creators of all stripes.