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Creator Economy Live West is taking place 13 - 14 January 2026! Use code POD20 for 20% off your ticket price.

Join Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan for another episode of Creator Economy Live as they sit down with Ashwinn Krishnaswamy — Brand Expert, Partner at Forge Design, and content creator known for his smart takes on branding and business across TikTok and Instagram. Ashwinn shares his journey from agency life to social stardom, how he balances brand partnerships with running Forge, and what he’s learned about building brands that truly resonate online. 

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In this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith and Brendan sit down with Tom Goodwin, author of Digital Darwinism and founder of All We Have Is Now, to explore the shifting balance between creativity and performance in modern marketing.

Tom shares his take on how technology and creator culture are redefining the industry, why marketers lost sight of creativity, and what’s next for brands navigating the fast-changing landscape of content, AI, and consumer expectations.

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Keith and Brendan sit down for an iconic conversation with actress Jaimie Alexandar to discuss her journey from actress to creator, how she uses her social platforms to encourage positive change in her community, and how the depth within influencer marketing expands past sharing the latest lipstick.

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Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with Jennifer Brown, who has spent the past 6+ years leading influencer marketing and talent partnerships at fashion giant SHEIN. Jennifer pulls back the curtain on how SHEIN built one of the world’s most powerful creator-driven growth engines, the evolving role of short-form video, and how shopping behavior is shifting in a social-first era.

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For our 70th episode milestone, we’re joined by long-time friend and branded content pioneer Zach Blume, Co-Founder of Portal A. From the early days of viral YouTube hits to partnering with Jimmy Kimmel’s Wheelhouse Entertainment, Zach has spent 15+ years at the intersection of tech, entertainment, and influencer marketing. We dive into the evolution of “viral,” the highs and lows of YouTube Rewind, and how branded content has matured into today’s creator-driven economy. Plus, we break down the latest news—from creator tours outselling expectations to whether Bilt’s “Roomies” is genius or a flop.

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Live from New York at Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with Bodyarmor’s VP of Communications, Danielle Hughes, and Dude Perfect’s Chief Brand Officer, Chad Coleman, to unpack one of the most buzzed-about brand–creator collaborations in recent years. From limited-edition sports drink flavors to “always on” integrations, they reveal how this partnership started, evolved, and drove measurable results—plus the secrets to building a brand–creator collab that truly wins fans.

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 From hot dog hustler to media mogul, My First Million co-host Sam Parr joins Keith and Brendan for a no-filter conversation on marketing mastery, community building, and what top creators like MrBeast and Bryan Johnson get so right. They cover Sam's wild journey from The Hustle to Hampton, dissect the business of influence, and debate where the next big wave is coming. Plus, the guys unpack "artificial authenticity" on LinkedIn, YouTube’s monster quarter, and whether TikTok will go dark. 

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This week, we're joined by the one and only Ross Pomerantz—aka "Corporate Bro," now proudly "Corporate Dad." You know him for his razor-sharp satire of sales life and his viral videos, but there's a lot more to Ross. From earning an MBA at Stanford to playing pro baseball to getting his indie film SAD (Sales Are Dope) picked up by Amazon Prime, Ross breaks down his wild ride through the creator economy. We also dive into brand partnerships (the good, the bad, the cringeworthy), his content strategy, the early days of LinkedIn creation, and his thoughts on TikTok (brace yourself). Plus, we cover the latest creator economy news—from Google indexing Instagram to Time's first-ever Creators 100 list. Stick around for our COW/BOW picks and a hilarious, insightful chat with one of the sharpest minds in the biz. 

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Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

This week, we’re joined by none other than Christina Westley — a true insider in the influencer game. From her early days at VaynerMedia to running influencer marketing for Pepsi, and now striking out on her own, Christina’s seen the industry from every angle. She shares honest takes on agency vs. brand life, why influencer budgets still lag behind expectations, and how AI avatars could reshape creator content.

Before Christina joins, Keith and Brendan unpack VidCon, Cannes hot topics (hello, AI governance), and why the influencer world isn’t freaking out about TikTok’s 180-day extension. We also dive into the latest stats, studies, and product updates from YouTube, Instagram, Google, and TikTok — it’s a jam-packed news rundown.

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From the beaches of Cannes to your For You page, Keith and Brendan sit down with Kim Farrell - Head of Creators at TikTok, and dive into how TikTok is helping creators connect, create, and cash in. We explore why live events are becoming a core pillar of creator strategy, which underused monetization tools every creator should know about, and how to actually define "high quality" content in 2025. Plus, our Creator & Brand of the Week picks: Dhar Mann, Louis Butterfield, Dove’s bold new campaign, and the app that literally makes you put your phone down.