The Upload

👉 Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter: https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

• Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob
• Streamyard: https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive
• Uscreen: https://www.uscreen.tv
• Ecamm: http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with Rob:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

What does it really take to grow on YouTube in 2026?

In this full interview, YouTube growth expert Derral Eves shares his playbook for building successful, sustainable YouTube channels in today's creator economy.

Derral has advised some of the world's top creators and brands, and in this conversation we break down how YouTube actually works — beyond the surface-level tips.

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 – Introduction & why YouTube growth looks different in 2026

02:10 – Derral Eves' background and what he's learned from top creators

06:15 – The fundamentals of sustainable YouTube growth

11:40 – Why most creators stall (and how to avoid it)

16:10 – How the YouTube algorithm actually works

20:45 – What creators misunderstand about views vs. audience

25:25 – The real role of retention and watch time

30:10 – Strategy vs. tactics: thinking long-term on YouTube

35:05 – Building a real business on top of YouTube

40:20 – Mistakes creators make when chasing growth

45:00 – Where YouTube is heading next

49:10 – Final advice for creators serious about 2026 and beyond

Whether you're an aspiring creator, an established YouTuber, or a business using YouTube to grow an audience, this conversation will help you think more clearly and strategically about your content.

🎙️ Guest: Derral Eves🎧 Host: Rob Balasabas

If you're serious about YouTube growth in 2026 and beyond, this is a must-watch.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

👉 Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter: https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

• Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob
• Streamyard: https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive
• Uscreen: https://www.uscreen.tv
• Ecamm: http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with Rob:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

This episode breaks down how to choose your niche the right way — and how to validate your membership idea before you build content. You’ll learn five practical steps to niche by problem, test demand quickly, and launch with confidence.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Most creators overbuild before launching their membership. In this episode, I share the exact structure you need on day one: how many videos, what kind of lessons, what resources to include, and the one recurring experience that increases retention. If you’re thinking about launching soon, this is your blueprint.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Wondering how to start a membership or whether your audience is big enough to launch? In this episode, we walk through a simple five-step process to validate your idea, build a minimum viable membership, and attract your first paying members — even with a small following. You’ll learn how top creators pre-sell their memberships, what type of content to include on day one, and the easiest way to tell if you’re ready to launch.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

This week on The Upload, Rob breaks down some of the most exciting creator-economy moves—from Tayla Cannon’s $1.1M creator-led product raise, to Electrify Video Partners launching a physical trivia game with Veritasium, to Rachel’s Fit Pilates dropping her new RFP App with Uscreen.

Plus: YouTube quietly testing a new in-app sharing and chat feature… and what that means for creators.

Rob also reflects on celebrating four years at Uscreen, and the bigger shift he’s witnessed firsthand: creators evolving from content to companies to products people can actually touch.

A quick, insight-packed episode for anyone building in the creator economy.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

In this episode of The Upload, Rob sits down with Caesar Hernandez, founder of Icon Funnels, whose clients range from globally known creators to iconic real-world entrepreneurs — including the minds behind Nashville’s skyline.

Caesar shares the real playbook behind building a sustainable creator business in 2025 and beyond, including:

• Why traditional “coaching” is declining — and what replaces it

• How AI is reshaping creator teams, copywriting, and operations

• The surprising trend of offline business owners wanting to become creators

• Why creators and entrepreneurs each want what the other has — and how to build partnerships that benefit both

• The #1 skill creators must develop: making products for the audience, not for themselves

• How he helps high-level creators transition into owning IP, memberships, and digital ecosystems

• The mindset shift that changed everything for him — including shutting down a seven-figure gym and reinventing his path

Caesar also breaks down the business model behind Icon Funnels, the rise of strategic partnerships with creators, and why quieting the noise is essential to building a long-term career.

Whether you’re a creator, a coach, or an operator looking to scale, this episode is packed with grounded insights, hard-earned wisdom, and actionable strategies you won’t hear anywhere else.

Follow Caesar: @therealcaesarhernandez

Learn more: IconFunnels.com

Join the masterminds: IconicMasterminds.com

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Creators aren’t just building audiences anymore—they’re building leagues.

This episode breaks down how Jomboy Media partnered with MLB, hired TikTok’s former agency lead Brett Joss, and built a model for multi-year, league-style sponsorships.

We dive into what this means for creators, brands, and the future of sports media—and the lessons you can apply to your own creator business right now.

If you’ve launched a membership—or plan to—this one’s for you.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

Most creators think content is the product. But in memberships, content is just the start.

In this episode of The Upload, Rob breaks down a conversation with a former platform exec turned membership builder—and shares the “Ladder of Deliverables” framework: the 5 key layers that turn casual subscribers into loyal members.

• Why ad-free content isn’t enough (except when it is)

• How exclusivity creates perceived value

• The overlooked power of smart content filtering

• What “access” really means—and how to do it without burnout

• Why community is your stickiest growth lever

If you’ve launched a membership—or plan to—this one’s for you.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]

What do layoffs at Amazon Studios and Paramount have to do with YouTubers and membership platforms? A lot more than you might think.

In this episode, Rob Balasabas explores the unexpected but growing trend of TV and film pros pivoting into the creator economy — not as influencers, but as producers, editors, and creative talent behind the scenes. What does this mean for creators, brands, and the future of content production?

Rob shares insights from almost a decade in the space, patterns he’s seeing across Uscreen creators, and what this shift could mean for budgets, expectations, and the kinds of businesses creators are building next.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss future episodes!

Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter

+ https://balasabas.substack.com

Thank you to our partners:

+ Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/?via=rob

+ Streamyard https://streamyard.com/?fpr=golive

+ Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv

+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live

Connect with me on LinkedIn

+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas

Follow me on Instagram

+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas

Business + Partnership Inquiries: [email protected]