The Business of Creators
The Business of Creators podcast is for content creators and professionals in the creator economy. Each week we speak to the businesses supporting the creator economy with new tools and effective means of monetisation. Subscribe to the show to learn more about the people powering this amazing new industry. The origin of the show is actually a network I set up in 2017 called The Business of Influencers, back when everyone was talking about influencers and not creators. I built the network to bring people together and it grew to more than 500 people as the creator economy boomed. But I've never liked the word influencer.Having spent more than 20 years in the media industry, I am deeply passionate about supporting creative talent. Today I am the co-founder of a business called Electrify Video Partners which invests in creators. And I created this show to raise awareness of this great industry.
Episodes
84 episodes
How Anyone Can Create a Hit Series with AI (No Experience Needed)
Now anyone can now build a binge-worthy series from scratch.In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Angela Yu to explore how AI is revolutionizing storytelling—and unlocking a new era where anyone can cr...
Why Most AI Content Is Useless for Brands (And How to Fix It)
Most AI-generated content looks impressive — but almost none of it is actually usable for real brands.In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Simon Davis, founder of SecretSauce, to explore how his AI-na...
Why Brands Are Missing Out on YouTube (And What It’s Costing Them) with Larray and Andrew Graham
Are brands making a massive mistake by overlooking YouTube?In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with creator Larray and CAA talent agent Andrew Graham to unpack why Fortune 500 brands have shifted budgets ...
How Smart Creators Are Turning Influence Into Equity with Jeff Frommer from OWM
What if the creators promoting your brand didn’t just get paid, but actually owned a piece of it?In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Jeff Frommer, founder of OWM, to break down why the future of the ...
From YouTube Channel to Media Company: Inside Smosh’s Business with CEO Alessandra Catanese
Smosh didn’t just survive two decades on YouTube, it rebuilt itself into a premium comedy company, and this episode breaks down exactly how they did it. In this episode of The Business of Creators, host Ian Shepherd sits down with Alessandra Ca...
Steven Bartlett Just Invested in This Creator Brand — Here’s How Maggie Sellers Reum Made It Happen
You won’t believe how a $2,500 angel investment and a WhatsApp group turned into one of the most powerful female-led creator brands today. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd talks with Maggie Sellers Reum, founder of Hot ...
How Steven Bartlett's FlightStory are building billion-dollar creator brands with CEO Georgie Holt
What if your podcast could be the next billion-dollar media company? Georgie Holt is already building them with Steven Bartlett and she reveals exactly how.In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Georgie...
How Beehiiv Is Helping Creators Monetize Faster Than Ever with CEO Tyler Denk
If you want to understand where the creator economy is heading — and how to build a real business in it — this episode is a must-listen.Ian Shepherd sits down with Beehiiv CEO and co-founder Tyler Denk to break down the company’s massiv...
How Amy Madison Luo Is Building Blueberry Into the LVMH of Digital Fashion on Roblox
In this episode Ian Shepherd sits down with Amy Madison Luo, CEO of Blueberry, to explore how digital fashion is exploding across platforms like Roblox and Snapchat. They break down how Blueberry creates culture native to gaming, why this momen...
Why Podcasting Is the Next Big Gold Rush for Creators with Acast CEO Greg Glenday
Podcasting isn’t just a side hustle anymore, it’s becoming the next major media industry. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Greg Glenday, CEO at Acast, to reveal how the world’s biggest podcas...
How AI and Video Are Fuelling a 1.1 Billion Creator Future with Ben Woods from MiDiA
1.1 billion people will be creators by 2032 — but who are they, and what does that future look like? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd dives deep with Ben Woods from MiDiA to explore the eye-opening findings from their l...
James Watt built BrewDog.. Now he's coming for the Creator Economy
What if your customers could become your most powerful influencers — and you paid them less than Facebook ads? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog and now founder of Social ...
Learning AI Will Be Lead by Creators | How to Get Ahead with ThriveCart CEO Ismael Wrixen
If you're a creator and not making six figures yet — this might be why. ThriveCart CEO Ismael Wrixen reveals what actually works in the creator economy after processing over $2 billion in sales — and shares the blueprint behind today’s top-earn...
How Halo’s Co-Creator Alex Seropian Is Building the Future of Gaming with Look North World
What if the next Halo wasn’t built by a massive studio, but by a teenager on Roblox? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd talks with Alex Seropian, co-creator of Halo and founder of Look North World, about how the gaming in...
Epidemic Sound's CEO reveals the strategy behind new AI tool - with Oscar Höglund and Steve Wright
What happens when AI meets creativity and respects the people behind it?In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Oscar Höglund, CEO & Co-founder of Epidemic Sound, to dive into how AI is transforming ...
How Katie Feeney Became ESPN’s First Sports & Lifestyle Creator
What happens when a 23-year-old creator lands a groundbreaking role at ESPN? Katie Feeney is living the dream — and changing the game. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd talks with Katie about her rise from Musically to b...
Kajabi's 10bn Milestone + Dominique Broadway’s Secrets to Building a 7-Figure Creator Business
She turned finance advice into a multimillion-dollar digital empire. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Dominique Broadway shares how she built her business on Kajabi, what she’d do differently today, and why community and ownership a...
How Hacksmith Turned a $1M Gamble into More Than $6.5M on Kickstarter with COO Ian Hillier
This is how a YouTube channel turned one tool into over $6.5 million with no paid ads. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd talks to Ian Hillier, COO of Hacksmith Industries, about how they transformed a side project into a...
The Secret Behind Jonathan Katz-Moses Sold-Out Product Line + Slow Ventures Investment
What does it take to turn a 120-square-foot shed into a thriving multi-million dollar creator brand? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Jonathan Katz-Moses — master woodworker, inventor, and YouTube creator...
Short-form social is becoming the new TV! With Zach Blume from Portal A
Creators Are Becoming Studios — Here’s What That Means for You. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Zach Blume — a 15-year veteran of the digital content space — to break down the shift from snackable conten...
Why Most Creator Brands Fail (And How to Fix It) with Aaron Day of Amaze | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E10
Think selling merch is just about slapping your logo on a t-shirt? Think again — this episode reveals what really drives sales in 2025. This episode is packed with surprising, actionable insights on what actually works in creator commerce today...
How Pietra Is Enabling Solo Entrepreneurs to Build $100M Brands with AI | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E9
What if one person could build a $100 million brand — without a team? Pietra’s new AI assistant is making that future possible right now.Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect an...
You Won’t Believe What Happens Inside CrunchLabs - with President Jim Lee | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E8
What if your kid’s favorite YouTuber could also make them fall in love with science? That’s exactly what CrunchLabs is doing — and today, Jim Lee, the company’s President and COO, reveals how.Launching products for sale? Start with a .st...
The Secret Behind 1UP Candy’s Explosive Success (And FaZe Rug’s Role) | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E7
What happens when you combine a viral creator with a disruptive candy brand? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd dives into the story of 1UP with co-founders Michael Schenker, and Chris Koch — the team behind the bold new ...
How to Make Money on Snapchat in 2025 (From a Snap Insider!)
Want to know the secret to going viral and getting paid on Snapchat? This episode breaks it all down. Ian Shepherd sits down with Varshini Satish, Talent Partnerships Lead at Snapchat, to explore how Snap is rapidly becoming one of the most cre...