Creator Juice

How do you build a personal brand that stays valuable when AI can create more content than ever?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with personal branding expert and creator Phil Pallen to talk about building a creative career around the skills people actually need—and why being human may be one of your biggest advantages in the age of AI.

Phil’s career didn’t go according to plan. He originally wanted to become a TV host, moved to Los Angeles, struggled to break into the industry, and eventually started a personal branding business almost by accident. That business went on to serve hundreds of clients around the world. Years later, Phil started making YouTube videos to promote his agency, and content creation eventually became the majority of his business.

Today, Phil works with dozens of brands, runs a branding agency, creates content, and teaches small businesses how to use AI without losing the human qualities that make their brands worth following.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Phil’s unexpected journey from TV hosting to entrepreneurship
• Starting a personal branding business without planning to
• How one YouTube video generated 500,000 views and 20,000 email subscribers
• Why practical skills matter more than simply talking about your dreams
• How to figure out what you should become known for
• Why personal and corporate brands are becoming more similar
• Building a niche around something people will actually pay for
• Why Phil focuses on what he can control instead of virality
• The surprising skill behind Phil’s incredibly efficient video workflow
• How he records batches of long-form YouTube videos
• Working with dozens of brands every year
• Building a location-independent creative business
• How Phil thinks about delegation and scaling
• Using AI to increase capacity without replacing yourself
• What small business owners should—and shouldn’t—automate
• Why AI should help us work less, not simply produce more
• Building trust with your audience in the AI era
• Why imperfection may actually make content more valuable
• AI influencers and the future of human creators
• Why human creativity still matters

Phil’s approach to personal branding comes back to a simple idea: build around something useful.

Instead of beginning with what you want people to care about, identify the practical skills you have that solve a real problem for someone else. From there, your personality, perspective, experience, and reputation compound over time.

And as AI makes polished content easier to create, Phil argues that creators need to be especially careful not to remove the humanity that made people trust them in the first place.

🎙 Creator Juice is the podcast where creators share the real stories behind building creative careers and turning creativity into opportunity.

Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Follow Phil:

Instagram: @philpallen

Follow Creator Juice:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@creatorjuicepodcast⁠

What if building a creative career doesn't mean quitting your 9–5?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with Katrina Torrijos to talk about her unconventional path from studying sociology and working in food service, to juggling multiple startup jobs, creating content on the side, and eventually building a seven-year career at Adobe.

Katrina didn't have a traditional design background. Much of what she knew was self-taught, and her path into the creative industry was anything but linear. She sought out creative communities, took on internships to gain experience, worked multiple jobs at once, and eventually found her first opportunity at Adobe through a connection she'd made along the way.

Today, she balances her career at Adobe with her own creative interests—including Twitch streaming, YouTube, and building a personal brand that shows more than just her professional life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Building a creative career without a traditional background

• How networking and creative communities can change your career

• Working multiple jobs while building your experience

• Getting your foot in the door at a major creative company

• Why you don't necessarily need to quit your 9–5 to be a creator

• Balancing a corporate career with personal creative projects

• Finding your identity outside of your job

• What Twitch actually is and why creators should pay attention

• Why authenticity matters even more when you're live

• Building a genuine online community

• Starting a Twitch stream before everything is perfect

• How Twitch creators make money

• What it's like streaming when nobody is watching

• Why community matters more than follower count

• Staying safe as a livestreamer

• Why creators need to stop researching and start making

Whether you're trying to break into the creative industry, build something alongside your full-time job, or you've spent months researching your next creative project without actually starting it, this episode is for you.

🎙 Creator Juice is the podcast where creators share the real stories behind building creative careers and turning creativity into opportunity.

Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Follow Katrina:

Instagram: @thekatcafe_ or ⁠@thekatcafe.ttv

Follow Creator Juice:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@creatorjuicepodcast⁠

How do you turn something you love making into an actual business?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with Angie Chua, founder of Bobo Design Studio, to talk about what it really takes to build a creative, product-based business from scratch.

Angie didn't start with a business degree, formal art training, or some perfectly mapped-out entrepreneurial plan. She started by teaching herself how to sew so she could make Christmas gifts when money was tight. Friends told her she should sell what she was making, and that small side hustle eventually grew into Bobo Design Studio.

Today, Angie designs stationery, creates the Wanderlust Passport travel journal, and runs a brick-and-mortar stationery store in Palm Springs.

In this episode, we get into the entire journey: building a business while working a demanding corporate job, finding product ideas by solving your own problems, putting money behind physical inventory before you know whether it'll sell, quitting a successful career, developing a loyal niche audience, opening a retail store, and figuring out how to keep going when entrepreneurship gets hard.

We also talk about why perfection can easily become procrastination, why your first product should be something you genuinely want yourself, and why grit might ultimately matter more than talent.

In this episode:

• How Angie accidentally became an entrepreneur
• Building a side hustle while working a 9-to-5
• Knowing when it's time to leave your corporate career
• How the Wanderlust Passport was created
• Finding product ideas by solving your own problems
• Sharing your creative process online
• The financial risk of launching physical products
• Why perfection can become procrastination
• Creating a minimum viable product
• Building for a small, loyal audience instead of everyone
• Staying focused when you have too many creative interests
• Why analog creativity still matters
• Finding mentors and peers who understand your journey
• Going from artist to business owner
• Building a brand around a real person
• What artists get wrong when designing products for retail
• Choosing your first physical product
• Why creative entrepreneurs need grit
• Angie's advice for anyone building something creative

If you're an artist, designer, creator, or entrepreneur who has ever thought, "Could I actually turn what I make into a business?" — this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Creator Juice for more conversations about creativity, content, entrepreneurship, and building a career around the work you actually want to do.

Follow Angie:

Instagram: @bobodesignstudio

Follow Creator Juice:

Instagram: ⁠@creatorjuicepodcast⁠

What does it actually cost to keep showing up online, every single day, for years?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with Adam Bosley — the Toronto-based illustrator known online as Adam, the Illustrator, whose bold, feel-good artwork celebrating friendship, mental health, and creative exploration has built a following of more than 800,000 people.

Adam built his signature style out of a pandemic-era habit of illustrated "how-to guides," and turned it into six years of showing up, two to three times a week, without fail. In this episode, we get into the real cost of showing up online every single day, what it's like watching the algorithm work against you, and Adam's brutally honest take on AI.

We talk about:

• Why he almost made a bitter, cynical guide to 2020, and switched the tone at the last minute
• How a pandemic hobby of illustrated "how-to guides" became Adam, the Illustrator
• Why he still thinks of himself as an artist and designer before a content creator
• What it's really like watching the algorithm work against you
• Why he's gone to therapy to deal with the pressure of showing up online
• The crayon drawing from his six-year-old niece that made him want to retire
• Adam's honest, unfiltered take on AI as a working illustrator
• How to protect your creative career in the AI era
• Why "happy mistakes" matter more than perfection
• Building in-person community through his Toronto doodle sessions
• Turning his characters into physical toys
• His dream of throwing a full art show
• Why he believes it all comes down to just stacking days

Whether you're building a creative career of your own, feeling the weight of the algorithm, curious about where AI fits into creative work, or just need a reminder that consistency pays off, this episode is packed with practical advice and heart.

🎙 Creator Juice is the podcast where creators share the real stories behind building careers, brands, and opportunities through creativity.
Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Follow Adam:

Instagram: @adam_theillustrator

Follow Creator Juice:Instagram: @creatorjuicepodcast

How do you build a personal brand when you’re not naturally the loudest person in the room?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with Goldie Chan — author of Personal Branding for Introverts and the creator famously dubbed the “Oprah of LinkedIn.”

Goldie was one of the earliest creators to bet big on LinkedIn video, publishing more than 800 consecutive daily videos starting back in 2017. In this episode, she shares what that experience taught her about consistency, confidence, finding your point of view, and becoming known for something online.

We talk about:

• Why you should start messy instead of waiting for perfection
• How Goldie became known as the “Oprah of LinkedIn”
• Why you should focus on one social platform first
• How to post on LinkedIn while working a 9–5
• The difference between confidence and ego
• How to find your unique point of view
• Why expertise comes from both depth and time
• Personal branding for introverts
• How to become known for something online
• Why generosity is one of the best personal branding strategies
• Building a human brand in the age of AI
• Networking when you’re an introvert
• Why people increasingly crave imperfect, human content

Whether you're building a personal brand, trying to grow on LinkedIn, looking for your next career opportunity, or simply trying to get more comfortable putting yourself out there, this episode is packed with practical advice.

🎙 Creator Juice is the podcast where creators share the real stories behind building careers, brands, and opportunities through creativity.

Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Follow Goldie Chan:

Instagram: ⁠@goldiecylon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goldie/

Website: https://www.goldiechan.com/

Follow Creator Juice:

Instagram: ⁠@creatorjuicepodcast

How do you build a creative career that actually lasts?

This week on Creator Juice, we sit down with illustrator, art director, and founder of The Creative Pain, Tyler Pate.

From working on iconic brands like SpongeBob, TMNT, Garfield, and Nickelodeon to creating projects for Paul McCartney, Tyler shares what really happens behind the scenes of a successful creative career.

More importantly, he explains why none of it happened overnight.

In this episode we talk about:

• Finding your creative style (without forcing it)
• Why "trust the process" matters more than talent
• Building a passion project while working a 9–5
• Creating a brand people actually remember
• Working with major brands like Nickelodeon
• Art direction and creative careers
• Balancing freelance work, social media, and personal projects
• Why consistency has nothing to do with posting every day
• How to avoid creative burnout
• Advice for new designers and illustrators entering the industry

Whether you're an illustrator, designer, freelancer, content creator, or simply someone trying to build something meaningful alongside your day job, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest stories.

🎙 Creator Juice is the podcast where creators share the real stories behind building careers online and turning creativity into opportunity.

Subscribe for new episodes every week.

Follow Tyler Pate:
Instagram: @thecreativepain
Website: https://thecreativepain.com

Follow Creator Juice:
Instagram: @creatorjuicepodcast

Have you ever wanted to start creating YouTube content but don't know whereto start? Are you sick of short videos like Instagram Reels and TikTok videos only lasting 24 hours before they stop being shown to your audience?

Well YouTube could be the answer! Or other long form content formats like podcasting and writing.

In this episode, Lucas and VJ break down what works on YouTube and how they would approach starting a new YouTube channel right now.

And leave us a note with your frequent problems you're dealing with as a content creator so we can answer it on the next episode.

We would love to hear from you!

👇Clickable Links start here👇

☎️ Contact us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Juice Official⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤙If you would like to suggest the topic for our next episode:

Drop your question in the Q&A!!

( You could also DM us on Instagram or leave us a voice note)

Being a content creator or a creative person has its own marathons to run! That's because it's a long game, not a quick sprint. We often forget this due to the fast nature of social media, which pressures us to show up and post something every single day.

This isn't sustainable or realistic and breaks are important! In this episode, Lucas and VJ talk about how to take a break from content creation, how to return from one, and how to preserve the momentum you've built online even when taking a break.

And leave us a note with your frequent problems you're dealing with as a content creator so we can answer it on the next episode.

We would love to hear from you!

👇Clickable Links start here👇

☎️ Contact us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Juice Official⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤙If you would like to suggest the topic for our next episode:

Drop your question in the Q&A!!

( You could also DM us on Instagram or leave us a voice note)

Does being a content creator make you vulnerable to "losing your creativity" or burn out? This happens to all of us and in this episode Lucas and VJ discuss ways to return to your creative form.

The best way? Being creative for the sake of being creative NOT for creating more content.

If you're looking to feel inspired again, this could be the episode for you.

And leave us a note with your frequent problems you're dealing with as a content creator so we can answer it on the next episode.

We would love to hear from you!

👇Clickable Links start here👇

☎️ Contact us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Juice Official⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤙If you would like to suggest the topic for our next episode:

Drop your question in the Q&A!!

( You could also DM us on Instagram or leave us a voice note)

Everyone knows that "good" content should be the main focus of your social media and content strategy. But what IS good content actually? What does it look like? How can we figure it out and make our own content worth consuming?

If you're looking for an answer to any of those questions, then this is the episode for you!

And leave us a note with your frequent problems you're dealing with as a content creator so we can answer it on the next episode.

We would love to hear from you!

👇Clickable Links start here👇

☎️ Contact us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Juice Official⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤙If you would like to suggest the topic for our next episode:

Drop your question in the Q&A!!

( You could also DM us on Instagram or leave us a voice note)