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 are the future of creator success.

Ian Shepherd also speaks with Kajabi’s Allie Fernando, who unpacks exclusive data behind their $10 billion milestone — and what it really takes to scale from six to seven figures as a creator.

Topics Discussed:
- Dominique Broadway’s path from Wall Street to creator CEO
- How Kajabi creators are making money without millions of followers
- The power of communities, memberships, and bundling
- Building a lean business that earns more and works less
- What AI is changing behind the scenes of creator tech

Key Takeaways:
- How to price your digital products based on real-world value
- Why moving your audience from social to email is essential for revenue
- The difference between creators who earn six figures and those who hit seven
- How to simplify your tech stack without losing performance
- What every creator should focus on before launching their first product

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 massive Kickstarter success.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Hacksmith use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc11

Hillier shares the full journey — from failed prototypes and risky investments to building a scalable product line and transitioning off the content treadmill. If you’re a creator thinking about launching your own product, this is a must-watch.

Topics Discussed:
- How Hacksmith’s multi-tool became a $6.5M Kickstarter hit
- The difference between white-labeled vs. built-from-scratch products
- The mindset shift from sponsorships to self-sustaining product sales
- Lessons from manufacturing, design, and community feedback
- Why premium products win in the creator economy

Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to validate and scale a physical product with your audience
- Discover the real costs and timelines behind high-quality product development
- Understand why custom, premium products outperform generic ones
- Hear the strategies Hacksmith used to build hype without paid ads
- Get actionable advice for launching a product that actually sells

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 — and Billy Parks from Slow Ventures to reveal the mindset, strategies, and partnerships that fueled Jonathan’s explosive growth. From surviving a life-changing attack to launching patented tools that dominate the woodworking niche, Jonathan shares how resilience, innovation, and community have powered his journey.

Topics Discussed:
- Jonathan’s remarkable backstory and leap into full-time making
- Bootstrapping a creator-led product business to scale
- Turning audience feedback into best-selling inventions
- Partnering with investors without losing control
- How collaborations with other creators lead to breakthrough products

What You’ll Learn If You Listen:
- How to identify the right moment to seek investment for your creator business
- A proven framework for using your audience to guide product development
- How to protect your creative independence when working with investors
- The real process (and timeline) behind creating innovative, patented products
- Why strategic collaborations can unlock new revenue streams and brand growth

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 content to premium storytelling on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Zach shares lessons from building one of the longest-running independent creator studios and why the next frontier in the creator economy isn’t about virality — it’s about ownership, brand-building, and big creative bets.

Topics Discussed:
- The rise of premium content in the creator economy
- What brands are getting right (and wrong) in creator partnerships
- Why short-form episodic content is taking over social
- How investing in creative R&D leads to breakout talent
- Lessons from navigating 15+ years in digital media

Key Takeaways:
- Learn why creators who treat their channels like studios are set to win
- Discover how to attract brand deals that go beyond simple sponsorships
- Understand how trends like "social TV" are opening new creative lanes
- Get insight into how top studios think about longevity, team culture, and staying ahead of the curve

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc10

Ian Shepherd sits down with Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze, to unpack how creators are using AI, data, and community to launch products that actually sell. From NBA stars to crab-loving YouTubers, Aaron shares what separates the creators making real money from those spinning their wheels.

Topics Discussed:
- The evolution of creator-led product launches in 2025
- How creators are using audience data and AI to drive smarter decisions
- Key differences between micro-creators and large creators when it comes to success
- What really makes a creator brand “authentic” and sticky
- Behind-the-scenes stories from high-performing creator campaigns

Key Takeaways:
- Why creators who collaborate with their audience during product development see massive conversion rates
- What makes creators like Katie Shoger and Alex Caruso stand out — and how they keep their products selling
- How TikTok Shop has reshaped creator attitudes toward “selling” without being salesy
- Why access to capital is the hidden bottleneck behind pre-sales — and what needs to change
- How integrating product stores with platforms like YouTube can 7X your revenue

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc9

In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Ronak Trivedi and Tala Akhavan, co-founders of Pietra, to explore how their new AI assistant is revolutionizing e-commerce. They dive into the powerful potential of AI-powered digital workers and how this new tech is helping solo creators build and scale brands like never before.

Topics Discussed:
- The launch of Pietra’s AI assistant for e-commerce operations
- How AI can automate 80–90% of a business’s backend processes
- Real-world use cases from creators and brand owners using Pietra
- Ethical and creative implications of AI in entrepreneurship
- The duo’s early days at Uber and their approach to tech-driven problem solving

Key Takeaways:
- Learn how Pietra’s AI assistants automate the most time-consuming parts of running a business — from sourcing to fulfillment to marketing
- Discover how solo entrepreneurs can now scale brands faster than ever, with minimal overhead
- Understand the real-world impact of AI on creativity, brand authenticity, and founder focus
- Hear behind-the-scenes stories from Pietra’s early days at Uber and how those lessons shaped their tech
- Get inspired by real case studies of creators and celebrities using Pietra to bring product ideas to life in just hours

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc8

In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Jim to explore how CrunchLabs transformed from a kitchen-table idea with Mark Rober into a multimillion-dollar creator brand redefining STEM education. From high-tech toy kits to school curriculums and viral collaborations, Jim shares the blueprint behind building a purpose-driven creator business that’s both wildly fun and deeply educational.

Topics Discussed:
- How CrunchLabs launched and scaled with Mark Rober
- Building and testing subscription products like BuildBox and HackPack
- Using content and physical products to spark interest in STEM
- Collaborations with Dude Perfect, chess.com, and more
- The future of CrunchLabs in the classroom

What You’ll Learn:
- The behind-the-scenes story of a top creator brand's launch and growth
- How to pair content with products to create powerful engagement
- What it takes to keep kids (and adults) excited about STEM
- How creators can expand into education without losing their brand magic
- Practical advice on testing, partnerships, and authentic storytelling

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 candy brand launched with FaZe Rug. From rapid product innovation to landing Walmart distribution in months, they share how they’re building a Gen Z-first CPG company with creators at the core.

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc7

Topics Discussed:
- The origin and growth strategy behind 1UP Candy
- How FaZe Rug became an authentic co-founder — not just a face
- Equity, royalties, and what creator partnerships really look like
- Navigating retail launches and the power of viral product experiences
- Future product categories in protein and kids’ nutrition

Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to structure meaningful creator partnerships beyond sponsorships
- Discover how to use consumer insights and social trends to build breakout products
- Understand what retailers really want from creator-led brands
- See how a lean team used speed, testing, and authenticity to win shelf space
- Get inspired by how to turn creator influence into long-term brand equity

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

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 creator-friendly platforms in 2025 — with a strong focus on authenticity, monetization and deep audience engagement.

Topics Discussed:
- What Varshini’s team does to elevate creators inside Snapchat
- How Snap identifies top creators through both data and culture
- Best practices for content strategy and posting cadence on Snap
- New monetization tools and easier eligibility for creators
- The future of AR, dual-camera content, and Snap’s unified content feed

Key Takeaways:
- Learn exactly how to grow and monetize your content on Snapchat in 2025
- Discover why copying your TikTok or Instagram strategy won’t work on Snap
- Find out how to balance Stories and Spotlight for faster audience growth
- Understand what Snapchat’s new monetization requirements are — and how to meet them
- Get inspired by creator success stories and practical tips to stand out on the platform

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc6

What if your next big payday didn’t come from AdSense or brand deals—but from a product your audience actually wants to buy? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd dives deep with Miles Sellyn, VP of Creator Partnerships at Rare Days, to explore how top creators are turning their audiences into thriving digital product businesses.

Topics Discussed:
- The rise of memberships and subscriptions in the creator economy
- Real examples of million-dollar product launches
- How to validate product ideas using your DMs and comments
- Frameworks for pricing and ongoing marketing
- The future of creator-led software products

What You’ll Learn If You Listen:
- How to spot the right product for your audience (hint: it’s hiding in your DMs)
- The step-by-step process top creators use to launch and scale products
- Proven strategies to price, market, and grow your digital offerings
- How to shift from “posting and hoping” to building a long-term business
- Tools and mindset shifts to overcome the fear of selling to your audience

Listen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!