Former eCommerce powerhouse Mike Jackness went from owning multiple 7-figure Amazon brands to running one of the fastest-growing YouTube gambling channels in Las Vegas. In this episode of Marketing Misfits, hosts Norm Farrar and Kevin King unpack how Mike turned his decades of Amazon and affiliate marketing experience into a completely new media business and how it’s already breaking even in just six months.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why Mike sold all his Amazon brands and what he saw coming before tariffs hit again

✅ How he built a content machine that posts daily long-form videos + multiple Shorts

✅ The monetization math behind YouTube RPMs, merch sales, and sponsorships

✅ What it really takes to build a loyal community (and why women over 50 are driving his views)

✅ Why owning your audience email, community, and content is the ultimate business asset

Featuring:

🎙️ Mike Jackness – Former eCommerce CEO, creator of Desert Degens

🎙️ Hosts: Norm Farrar & Kevin King

00:00 The Pivot No One Expected

01:40 Meet Mike Jackness

03:52 Million-Dollar Affiliate Days

05:43 From Affiliates to Amazon

08:14 Amazon Reality Check

16:23 Building Superfans Online

26:44 Gambling on YouTube

39:11 Selling for Freedom

39:34 What YouTube Really Pays

42:08 Daily Grind of Creation

43:49 Personality Over Perfection

45:12 Who’s Actually Watching

47:24 Expanding Beyond YouTube

53:20 Turning Fans Into Buyers

58:18 What’s Next for Degens

01:04:09 Lessons for Every Creator

This episode is brought to you by:

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