YouTube Creators Hub Podcast Summary

Episode Title: He Grew a Wildlife YouTube Channel to 80K Subs While Working Full-Time
Host: Dusty Porter
Guest: Ben Zaino (The Wild Report)
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dusty Porter sits down with Ben Zaino, conservation biologist, environmental educator, and creator of The Wild Report YouTube channel. Ben talks about his journey growing a wildlife-focused YouTube channel to nearly 80,000 subscribers while working full-time, sharing insights on content creation, balancing time, storytelling, monetization, and the evolving platform landscape. The discussion offers practical advice, personal anecdotes, and inspiration for creators in any niche.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin Story & Evolution of The Wild Report

• Inspired by Childhood Fascination:

  • Ben's love for wildlife began early, fueled by his mother's dinosaur books.
  • Realized in high school he could channel his passion into a career and make a difference (01:51).

• Catalyst Moment:

  • Attending a Nat Geo Explorer event in 2015, Ben was influenced by conservationist Paula Kahumba, who challenged him to highlight conservation issues in his own backyard, not just distant wildlife stories (02:40).

• Early Content and Growth:

  • Began at 15, limited to animals in his own backyard until he got a driver's license.
  • As he advanced academically (wildlife biology undergrad, conservation biology master’s), his understanding of conservation deepened, and so did his content (04:15).

• Channel Focus Now:

  • Highlights overlooked species and untold stories of people conserving them.
  • Ben aims to help viewers connect with local conservation efforts (05:40).

2. Creating While Working Full-Time

• Logistics and Networking:

  • Now able to plan field trips, but needs to balance with a full-time job.
  • Community building with other researchers and students adds depth and collaboration opportunities (06:54).

• Managing Time & Motivation:

  • "If you don't love what you're doing, you're not going to make the time for it." (13:25, Ben Zaino)
  • Incorporating YouTube into his life by involving friends and peers keeps it enjoyable and sustainable.

3. Evolving YouTube Landscape

• Then vs. Now:

  • Early YouTube: Unsaturated wildlife niche, amateur production, easier to stand out.
  • Now: Far more competitive, professional standards, established media (Nat Geo, BBC) entering digital space (08:32).

• Community Among Wildlife Creators:

  • Growth in the wildlife conservation creator community—mutual support and collaboration (09:35).

4. On-Location Filming & Storytelling Tips

• Best Practices for Filming in the Field:

  • "Filming everything I can...that could even potentially be useful for the story." (11:21, Ben Zaino)
  • Always gather extra B-roll—location, animals, unexpected moments.
  • Wildlife filming demands adaptability: you might not find the animal you’re seeking, so be ready to pivot the story.

• Storytelling Enhancement:

  • Storytelling separates good content from great content: viewers resonate with compelling narratives more than mere facts (12:21).

• Improving Storytelling Skills:

  • Shifted from delivering “cool facts” to constructing clear narrative arcs—beginning, conflict, resolution.

  • Learned from Adrian Smith (Ant Lab, science storyteller): Start with a one-line thesis statement to anchor the video’s narrative (15:46).

    “If he can’t write a concise thesis statement for a video, he might not make it, because it’s probably not a good story if he can’t tell me in one line what the story is going to be about.”
    — Ben Zaino, (16:03)

    • Example Thesis Statement: “The copperhead snake is the most commonly encountered venomous snake in the southeast U.S. It bites the most people, but by using these three identification tips, you can stay safe.” (17:19)

5. Presentation & Teaching Style

• Teaching Over Fact-presenting:
  • Ben’s experience teaching in-person classes made him a better on-camera educator, focusing on encouraging viewers rather than just delivering information (18:42).
  • Goal: Inspire viewers to care and engage with wildlife, not just inform.

6. Technology & Workflow

• Minimalist Gear, Maximum Impact:

  • Uses mirrorless DSLR, phone, Zoom H1N audio recorder, tripod.

  • Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro and browser tools for thumbnails (20:20).

    “When people start to talk shop with their camera gear... I'm sure this is really exciting for you, but can we please go look for animals now?”
    — Ben Zaino (21:13)

• Emphasis on storytelling and subject, not fancy tech.

7. Monetization: Reality of Wildlife YouTube

• Seasonal Revenue:

  • Wildlife content, especially snake-focused, sees seasonal spikes (22:43).

  • Monthly earnings range from $250 (off season) to $1200+ (snake season).

    “You're not living on $250 in a month. But in the summertime maybe that's $1200.”
    — Ben Zaino (23:06)

• Maintaining Creative Freedom:

  • Prefers not being financially dependent on YouTube; allows for creative risks and non-trending content.

8. Packaging: Titles & Thumbnails

• Ethical Dilemmas:

  • Balancing attention-grabbing packaging with truthful and positive portrayals of animals is a challenge (27:19).

  • Avoiding “fear-based” thumbnails/titles that don’t align with the channel’s mission.

    “Does this packaging say something positive about this animal... or is this like a fear-based packaging?”
    — Ben Zaino (27:49)

• Strategy Example:

  • “Invasive Joro Spiders Have Arrived—Are They in Your Backyard?” (28:48 discussion)
    • Case study in honest, attention-grabbing packaging.

9. Advice for Aspiring Creators

• Just Start Creating:

  • “Get as many storytelling reps in as you can.” (25:56)
  • Avoid “decision making freeze”—perfectionism shouldn’t stop you from posting and improving.

• Packaging Matters:

  • The importance of thumbnails/titles has “skyrocketed.” Still, balance engagement with brand values.

• Final Words:

  “If you’re creating something that you love, don’t let anything stop you. You have a unique story to tell... The creator community continues to be a place where there’s this huge diversity of stories being told... I want to hear your story and I hope you want to hear mine.”
  — Ben Zaino (29:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Motivation and Time Management:

  “If you don't love what you're doing, you're not going to make the time for it.”
  (13:25, Ben Zaino)

• On Field Filming:

  “You always need more B roll... If you can film things you weren't expecting to, but you think you can tie them to the story, you've got to get those things on camera too.”
  (11:21, Ben Zaino)

• On Creative Freedom:

  “Since I'm not tied to making money from ad revenue... I get to make anything that I want to make.”
  (23:29, Ben Zaino)

• On Getting Started:

  “Just starting to create stories and upload them as often, as soon as you can is what I would tell myself.”
  (26:25, Ben Zaino)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Channel Origins & Influences – 01:51–03:55
• Evolution of Content – 04:15–06:12
• Filming & Field Tips – 11:21–12:21
• Storytelling & Thesis Statement – 15:46–17:19
• Teaching Style & Presentation Evolution – 18:42–19:54
• Tools & Workflow – 20:20–21:39
• Monetization Breakdown – 22:43–24:32
• Thumbnails & Titles Ethics – 27:19–28:45
• Advice for Creators / Final Thoughts – 25:56–29:58

Takeaways for Creators

• Niche authenticity and passion are vital for longevity and audience growth.
• Plan, but prioritize action and storytelling—improve with practice.
• Field creators should capture more footage than they think they'll need and stay adaptable.
• Build communities locally and online; relationships fuel opportunities and collaborative growth.
• Monetization isn’t always linear or sufficient—creative freedom can sometimes be more valuable than revenue.
• Ethical packaging (titles/thumbnails) in wildlife content is crucial for mission-driven creators.

If you seek a model for authentic, purpose-driven YouTube growth—especially as a part-timer balancing a career—Ben Zaino’s Wild Report journey is essential listening (and watching). His practical wisdom and reflective candor offer powerful lessons for creators in any field.