YouTube Creators Hub Podcast Summary
Episode: A Conversation With One Of YouTube's First Employees Ryan Carey
Host: Dusty Porter
Release Date: February 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast, host Dusty Porter welcomes Ryan Carey, the CEO of BetterOn and one of YouTube's earliest team members. Ryan shares his unique journey from being an integral part of YouTube's foundational team to founding a company dedicated to enhancing video presence for leaders and creators.

Ryan Carey's Early Days at YouTube

Ryan Carey recounts his initial experience at YouTube before its acquisition by Google. He describes the small, tight-knit team and the diverse roles within the company.

• Early Team Structure: Ryan explains, “[...] we were all in an office in San Mateo, California and San Bruno, California. One big room. You had engineering over in that corner. You had privacy and safety in that corner. You had marketing over there. I was over here.” (05:09)

• Joining YouTube: Ryan narrates his entry into YouTube, motivated by his fascination with online video: “I found my way into the inbox of a hiring manager and was just like, I will sweep the floors to do whatever you need me to do.” (02:59)

• Google Acquisition: Three months after Ryan joined, Google acquired YouTube. His role shifted from sales to evangelizing YouTube within Google: “[...] my job went from trying to talk to Coca Cola and Toyota to run ads on YouTube to becoming an evangelist inside of Google.” (04:53)

Founding BetterOn

After seven impactful years at Google and YouTube, Ryan felt a need for personal growth and decided to pursue his passion for video presence more independently.

• Catalyst for Change: Observing the disconnect between personal fulfillment and corporate life, Ryan shares, “I was just maybe holding on is not worth it. Maybe I should explore something else.” (07:47)

• Journey into Content Creation: Ryan describes his transition from a corporate role to creating content: “[...] I decided to travel. And what I knew was that I knew enough about video to be effective.” (07:47)

• Creating Rycariously: Ryan launched his philanthropic YouTube channel, Rycariously, where he engaged his audience by fulfilling their requests in acts of kindness. He emphasizes the authenticity and community-driven nature of the channel: “I want to prove that there can be real, true, authentic human connection through this medium of YouTube.” (15:00)

Principles of Presence and Trust Currency

Ryan delves into the core principles that guide BetterOn’s training programs, focusing on presence and trust currency—crucial elements for creators aiming to build a loyal audience.

Presence

• Self-Connection: Ryan states, “It starts with you being your first audience member, you being your own audience and asking yourself, do I trust myself? Do I believe what I'm doing?” (18:35)

• Authentic Connection: Drawing inspiration from Mr. Rogers, Ryan highlights the importance of creating genuine connections: “I thought it's such the space between me and this camera and your screen and you or a screen and those audiences hearts and minds is like sacred space really.” (18:35)

• Personal Growth: He encourages creators to view the recording process as a tool for self-improvement: “Watching yourself even it gets less painful quickly. And usually a new level of confidence comes with that.” (27:48)

Trust Currency

• Imagination and Empathy: Ryan explains that understanding and imagining the audience's needs is vital: “You’ve got to tap into something inside of yourself. [...] what do you want to give that person? How do you want them to feel?” (22:15)

• Building Confidence: By overcoming personal insecurities, creators can project greater confidence and reliability: “If you are in this space and you're actively doing that, it’s going to affect your presence. It’s going to affect how you show up, how you come through.” (24:58)

Overcoming Personal Barriers as a Creator

The conversation shifts to the common challenges creators face, such as discomfort with their own image and voice.

• Self-Acceptance: Ryan addresses the struggle of creators with self-image: “Nobody sees what you feel. And when you realize that [...] it's a skill to get over yourself.” (25:55)

• Encouragement to Persist: He emphasizes that audience members are focused on the content, not the creator's insecurities: “No one sees how you feel and no one really cares because they're here to receive the gift of your presence.” (25:55)

Treating YouTube as a Job and The Power of Consistency

Ryan and Dusty discuss the importance of dedication and treating content creation with the same seriousness as a professional job.

• Professional Approach: Ryan reflects, “Maybe if I treated it more like a job [...] connecting the people through video is a labor of love.” (28:51)

• Consistency and Effort: Dusty reinforces the necessity of time and effort: “It takes time, it takes effort, it takes work. So it's really just being diligent about that.” (30:09)

• Competitive Advantage: Ryan highlights the advantage of being proactive in the creator space: “Like, you’re already ahead of the curve. [...] most people are sitting in the stands watching.” (32:03)

Closing Remarks

Dusty wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to take action and invest in their creator journey. He highlights the resources available through BetterOn and the podcast's community offerings.

• Final Advice: Dusty urges creators to commit fully: “Listen, stop sitting on the sidelines. [...] It's the power of what we do as creators.” (33:23)

• Resources and Connections: He directs listeners to BetterOn’s website and various social media platforms for further support.

Ryan expresses gratitude for the conversation, and Dusty concludes by promoting the podcast’s community and coaching services.

Notable Quotes

• Ryan Carey (02:59): “I was in it for the love of the game and rode the wave early on.”

• Ryan Carey (05:09): “It was just get involved. And it was really cool people. It was just a magical thing.”

• Ryan Carey (18:35): “The space between me and this camera and your screen is like sacred space really.”

• Dusty Porter (27:48): “No one cares as much as you think they do. [...] there's power in that.”

Key Takeaways

1. Authentic Presence is Crucial: Building a YouTube channel requires genuine self-connection and authenticity to resonate with audiences.

2. Overcoming Self-Doubt: Creators must work to overcome personal insecurities related to their image and voice to effectively connect with viewers.

3. Consistency and Professionalism: Treating content creation with dedication and professionalism can significantly enhance growth and success.

4. Community and Support: Leveraging communities like BetterOn and podcast networks can provide valuable support and resources for creators.

5. Labor of Love: Successful content creation is a result of passion, effort, and sustained commitment over time.

For more insights and resources, visit BetterOn’s Website and connect with Ryan Carey on LinkedIn and Instagram. Join the YouTube Creators Hub community on Discord for additional support and networking opportunities.