It’s easy to feel “on top of the world” when things are going well in life. Inevitably, we all come across challenges and hardships. My guest today, used his hardships as inspiration to create one of the most popular podcasts of the time.
Bilal Zaidi is the host of Creator Lab. Bilal interviews world-class entrepreneurs in hopes to learn the skills, tips, and strategies that he can apply to his own business.
Of of the things I like most about Bilal’s podcast is his curiosity. When Bilal interviews guests, you can truly feel the curiosity and eagerness to learn, which is why he has booked guests such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Daymond John, Erika Alexander, Feresteh Forough, Dru Riley, and more.
I loved this conversation. Bilal has a great personality and he was so generous with his experience and knowledge. You will level up by listening to this episode.
Please help me welcome, Bilal Zaidi.
You can learn more about Bilal at https://linktr.ee/creatorlabfm

How Curiosity and a Low Point in Life Helped Create a Global Podcast with Bilal Zaidi

The HeyCreator Show is for building your creator business.

Each week, hosts Matt Ragland and Tim Forkin talk through all stages of the creator journey, intentionally designing each conversation to meet you where you’re at along the way. We’re sharing lessons from over a decade of helping digital creators launch and scale courses, communities, and coaching services — along with building newsletters, YouTube channels, and podcasts to millions of subscribers and downloads for our clients.

For more about our show, company, and community go to heycreator.com.

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Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

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Entrepreneurship

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Nat Eliason (@nateliason) jam about what it actually takes to be a creator. Topics include Nat’s take on niching down, the main ways creators become replaceable, choosing between money and passion, why consistency alone isn’t enough, and much more.
(3:18) — Nat’s article Be Yourself, Not a Niche
(7:23) — The #1 way creators fail
(16:10) — Nat’s article When the Money’s Just Too Damn Good
(25:28) — Do you care enough to make your content great?
(32:25) — The illusion that success comes quickly as a creator
(40:17) — Balancing ambition, productivity, and parenting
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006: Nat Eliason on What It Actually Takes To Be a Creator

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) discuss equity for creators — more specifically, how and why creators should think about owning pieces of others’ businesses.
Stories include MKBHD’s deal with Ridge, the launch of Authors Equity, Blenders X Coach Prime, Pop Daddy Snacks and more.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(1:45) — Rundown of today’s show
(2:40) — MKBHD’s deal with Ridge
(10:48) — Authors Equity, backed by Tim Ferriss, James Clear and Louise Penny
(16:31) — James Clear’s new app, Atoms
(20:41) — The two ways creators can get equity in businesses
(21:41) — How John Barchard negotiated a deal to own part of an English soccer club in exchange for content
(25:45) — How Pop Daddy Snacks scaled their business by becoming a creator
(29:19) — How Blenders landed Deion Sanders to be their flagship “creator”
(36:33) — The creator skills you have are enough to own someone else’s business
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005: How Creators Can Get Equity In Their Favorite Companies

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) push through initial feelings of not wanting to record. The conversation evolves into how creators can make the most of their limited time — both in what they spend their time on and the quality of what they create.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(1:43) — Rundown of today’s show
(2:45) — Doing the work when you don’t feel like it
(7:45) — Managing capacity when you have limited time to create
(20:11) — Managing quality when you have limited time to create
(26:48) — How consistent writers can succeed on YouTube with little time
(30:32) — Are you prioritizing production value quality or message quality?
(36:45) — The middle is not where you want to be
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004: We Didn't Want To Record This Episode

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside.fm — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) talk about the value of niching down as a creator and what it can do for your business. 
After, we’re sharing the highlights from Justin Welsh’s (@thejustinwelsh) session at the HeyCreator Summit. Justin dives deep on why creators need to focus on outcomes, being unique, and defining their voice.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside.fm
(1:43) — Rundown of today’s show
(4:39) — Become someone other people recommend
(10:10) — Being specific allows you to be broad
(19:30) — Justin Welsh from HeyCreator Summit 2024
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003: The Real Reason To Niche Down + Justin Welsh on Building Your Creator Business

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside.fm — get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) center in on the common ways creators overthink their work — highlighting a clip from Darrell Vesterfelt (@dvest) in which he talked about the importance of picking one niche to build your content and business around.
After, Matt & Tim reveal their Mount Rushmore of Content That Inspired Us — the books, movies, frameworks and pieces of content that has resonated on their creator journey.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside.fm
(3:40) — Darrell Vesterfelt on picking a focused niche for your creator business
(9:10) — Common ways creators overthink their work
(32:40) — Mount Rushmore of Content That Inspired Us
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How Curiosity and a Low Point in Life Helped Create a Global Podcast with Bilal Zaidi

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