The Video Creatr Podcast

Nowadays, you have the freedom to choose what length of content to produce- short-form or long-form. The former is easier to edit and easier to get viral while the latter is better for building a dedicated niche and community. If you’re choosing between the two formats, MC Squared90 will help make up your mind!

In this episode, MC Squared90 shares how to determine whether long or short-form content is for you and how to niche down your content into a specific audience. MC talks about how he transitioned from working at a certain huge store into becoming a full-time drummer and content creator. 

By the end of this episode, you will learn why it’s important and how to take care of your mental health as a content creator. You will also learn why monetizing your content is very important while MC shares more about how he deals with brand sponsorships.

MC Squared90 has a Youtube Channel, @mcsquared90, but he collectively has 6M followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with 300M views at the very least. 

There’s no surefire way of getting success on YT and TikTok, it takes time and effort, sometimes luck. However, if you focus on your goal, enjoy the process, and keep sight of what you value the most, you might just get to where you want to be.

Episode Highlights
[2:00] Why MC loves producing short-form content such as YouTube Shorts and TikTok
[3:15] How does short-form compare to long-form videos
[7:30] What prompted MC to start creating videos, when it started, and where he uploaded
[11:15] Is there really a big payout with short-form videos
[15:05] From working in a big box store to being a musician and content creator
[17:49] How MC faces the challenges of being a content creator such as when videos don’t perform
[19:49] TikTok famous vs Public Figure
[28:15] How MC takes a break from creating videos and spends time with his family
[29:50] What are the coolest sponsorship MC had as a short-form content creator
[33:25] Sponsorship selection process for MC
[38:32] Difference between ad placements on YouTube and Tiktok
[42:00] How creative can a creator be in integrating sponsorships into the video

Resources Mentioned

Check out and Subscribe to mcsquared90 on Youtube and Tiktok: https://www.youtube.com/@mcsquared90/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mcsquared90

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

✅ If you want to take the burden of editing off your hands, head over to https://VidChops.com to add an expert video editor to your team in just a few clicks and you'll never have to edit again: https://VidChops.com

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

Creating a YouTube channel is a hit or miss because it doesn’t guarantee that it will succeed. Laurie Osterman was not expecting to get big on YouTube but what she realized was how important it is to just start creating.

 In this episode, Laurie Osterman, aka Travel Tips by Laurie, talks about how she runs her channel like a business after she quit her day job as a teacher. Laurie also shares how important it is for a YouTuber to create a community that supports by listening and talking to them.

 Travel Tips by Laurie stands at 180k subscribers as of this writing. Laurie, having traveled a lot for two decades, shares her expertise with packing and travel hacks among others.

Episode Highlights

2:03 How long did Laurie take to niche down her YouTube channel and settle with Travel Tips
7:24 Coming up with an idea for the next Travel video
10:04 Why Laurie feels it's important for people to see your face in your videos
11:21 How Laurie faces the criticisms other people throw at her
13:30 Maintaining the community that Laurie built through her channel
17:20 Revenue streams and monetization strategies
24:13 Day-to-day operations for Laurie’s channel
26:32 Why Laurie takes 20 hours to edit her videos
31:20 How short-form content affects Laurie’s channel
36:20 How YouTube changed Laurie’s life
39:20 Editing hacks when hiring an editor 

Resources Mentioned

Frame.io, Google Drive

Follow and subscribe on Laurie's Instagram @traveltipsbylaurie

Check out Travel Tips by Laurie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TravelTipsbyLaurie

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
 Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

✅ If you want to take the burden of editing off your hands, head over to https://VidChops.com to add an expert video editor to your team in just a few clicks and you'll never have to edit again: https://VidChops.com

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

Starting a fact-based journalism YouTube channel can be challenging at first if you have no funds to start with. It will be even harder to acquire funds and maintain neutral reporting simultaneously. However, for Faiz Shakir, being a balanced journalist, and serving the people will always be above profit.

In this episode, Faiz Shakir, Executive Director of the More Perfect Union, talks with Grant about their channel and how they strive for balanced journalism. The More Perfect Union channel tackles the American labor movement, economic policy, and corporate accountability. Aside from producing videos, Faiz is a political adviser for Bernie Sanders.

The More Perfect Union channel sits at 140k subscribers with 12M total channel views as of this writing. The channel traces its roots to Think Progress, a blog type website that focuses on fact-based research-based reporting and boots-on-the-ground journalism.

Episode Highlights

2:15 How the Bernie Sanders campaign inspired the creation of More Perfect Union
6:20 Difference of style between Think Progress and More Perfect Union
9:18 How does the More Perfect Union production team looks like
12:10 Why Faiz thinks that YouTUbe is more rewarding for their content genre
17:05 Advertising strategies Faiz uses for the channel
21:52 Sticking with your values as a creator
31:12 Faiz’s point of view on journalism
38:05 Populist right versus populist left
46:40 The challenge of getting funding when you are a journalism channel

Resources Mentioned

Subscribe to The More Perfect Union Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCehBVAPy-bxmnbNARF-_tvA

Visit their website at https://perfectunion.us/

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

✅ If you want to take the burden of editing off your hands, head over to https://VidChops.com to add an expert video editor to your team in just a few clicks and you'll never have to edit again: https://VidChops.com

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

Internet security has been an issue for quite some time from governments constantly surveilling their citizens to blocking Google and Twitter in some parts of the world. Luckily, there are channels you can get tips about tightening your privacy online.

In this episode, Josh Summers talks about his brainchild, The All Things Secured Channel, which was formed out of necessity for privacy and security. Josh shares how he started a vlogging channel about China eventually replaced by All Things Secured. He also mentioned why it’s essential to blend creativity with discipline.

The All Things Secured channel offers internet privacy and security tutorials. The channel has 150k subscribers and 12M total channel views as of this writing. 

Episode Highlights

2:15 Why is there an urgent need for privacy and security when Josh was living in China
6:10 Cringeworthy videos when the All Things Secured channel was new
8:27 How YouTube’s algorithm benefits evergreen content
11:30 The trap of scaling up your video production too quickly
14:02 How Josh started as a vlogger on YouTube documenting his stay in China
18:20 Josh’s process on creating videos- does he have editors
23:55 Utilizing the YouTube Partner Program and sponsorships
31:53 Affiliate revenue’s importance for All Things Secured
35:30 How Josh is utilizing the All Things Secured website for articles and services
42:14 Testing out YouTube Shorts

Resources Mentioned

Subscribe to Josh’s YouTube channel, the All Things Secured channel
Know more about Josh at www.allthingssecured.com

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

✅ If you want to take the burden of editing off your hands, head over to https://VidChops.com to add an expert video editor to your team in just a few clicks and you'll never have to edit again: https://VidChops.com

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

In recent years, the Nomad Lifestyle has been picking up its popularity and one of them is the van or RV Life. Patrick Botticelli, RV fan and salesman, started a YouTube channel showing what he’s passionate about for friends, family, and eventually the world.

In this episode, Patrick Botticelli of New Jersey Outdoor Adventures talks with Grant Ball about how he grew his YouTube channel to how it is today. Patrick shares how YouTube shorts and short-form videos are changing the landscape of content creation. A self-confessed madman, he talks about why posting content on every social media platform he could have helped him achieve success while working a day job at the same time.

The New Jersey Outdoor Adventures channel sits at almost 300k subscribers with a total of 71M views as of this writing. It was initially showing Biking and adventure videos until he decided to cover Van life camper vans and RV walk-throughs.

Episode Highlights

2:30 How his youtube journey when he bought his GoPro
5:25 Backlash of filming an abandoned house
7:10 Why Patrick took a 1-year break from youtube
10:15 How Patrick convinced people to give their time for a tour of their van
15:16 Why Patrick is so reluctant with brand sponsorship
20:14 How Patrick capitalizes on producing more YouTube shorts
28:30 Operating the channel alone plus having a day job
34:20 Getting the motivation to have consistent content
39:00 Creating connections and friendships through the channel
40:58 What’s keeping Patrick from going full-time on YouTube
51:15 How Patrick’s Airstream van became the icon for the New Jersey Outdoor Adventures channel

Resources Mentioned

Subscribe to Patrick’s YouTube channel, the New Jersey Outdoor Adventures

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

✅ If you want to take the burden of editing off your hands, head over to https://VidChops.com to add an expert video editor to your team in just a few clicks and you'll never have to edit again: https://VidChops.com

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

When passion and creativity come together it will surely be a train wreck! Thomas Nicholl’s love for trains goes way back until today where he works at a local train track. When Thomas started on YouTube, he f Air Raid sirens which eventually turned into trains.

Thomas Nicholl's brainchild, Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions, is home to the famous documentaries of train wrecks and tales from the railroads. Thomas Nicholl's fascination with trains is remarkable to the point that he might know everything to know about them. Know how Thomas built his channel to where it is today.

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions sits at 100k subs and over 34M total channel views and counting as of this writing.

Episode Highlights

4:03 How a tornado video kickstarted Thomas’ videos about trains
6:46 Why trains are appealing to a lot of viewers
9:40 What is rail fanning
14:21 Thomas’ process in the production of train videos and documentaries
22:36 How Thomas monetize his YouTube channel
28:57 How YouTube changed Thomas’ life
30:10 Working on 2 day jobs while doing videos
38:06 How Thomas sees the future of trains in America

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

How long does it take to get a silver or gold play button on YouTube? Because creating a channel is one thing and growing it to have a big following is another. For J. Williams of @smartphoneconversations, it took him a while.

In this episode, J. Williams talks with Grant, sharing how he built the online presence for his channel @smartphoneconversations. J. WIlliams talks about retiring from his former careers in the corporate world and as a uniformed personnel and how YouTube came in between. Listen to this episode and learn how J. Williams Made Smartphone Reviews a Lucrative Business on YouTube

J. Williams aka SmartphoneConversations has 130k subscribers and 57M total views and counting. He specializes in smartphone product reviews and other new and upcoming tech devices. 

 Episode Highlights

2:05 How J. Williams developed his fondness for technology and gadgets
4:56 Transitioning from having a day job as uniformed personnel to a full-time YouTuber
10:35 How having no editing team work well for J. Williams
15:20 Cashflow, monetization, and sponsorships
18:23 Why you need to be prepared to hear NO from sponsors
23:35 Importance of not chasing money when you’re on YouTube
26:19 How to deal with sponsorship contracts
34:10 How does J. Williams’ experience on YouTube compare to his past careers
35:55 What happened with the Podcast J. Williams started
46:05 Why reviewing tech gadgets is fun for J. Williams

Resources Mentioned
Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below: 

Grant Ball
Treesicle

 Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

Anime exponentially grew over recent years. It generally appeals to the younger audience, but it has the capacity also to capture the adult audience. From Dragon Ball Z to Naruto, the Anime niche on YouTube is so huge that it now transcends generations. One of the channels in that niche is Shonen Showdown.

In this episode, Robert Whitehorn III, creator of Shonen Showdown, talks with Grant about his journey as a YouTube creator. Robert shares the importance of connecting with his audience to create a supportive community. He gives us tips on how he manages a colossal task to maintain his channel while working a day job.

Shonen Showdown has more than 120k subscribers as of the publishing of this episode and it has accrued 19 Million views and counting.

Episode Highlights

2:10 Dragon ball Z as Robert's gateway anime
3:50 How Robert's love for sports gave him the idea for Shonen Showdown
5:40 Transitioning from the debate format into a solo content
6:47 Experimenting with different content topics
9:14 Primary motivation for creating and maintaining the Shonen Showdown
10:45 How Robert personally connects with his audience
13:43 Importance of having an income source that isn't youtube
17:00 How Shonen Showdown acquires channel sponsorships
19:56 How Anime has grown over the past 5 years
25:42 Choosing a manufacturer when you're starting a merch line
30:10 Working with friends

Resources Mentioned

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

How do you like your coffee? More and more people are becoming fond of coffee to the point that we like to learn how to brew our own. This is what makes coffee brewing and content creation a perfect blend if done right.

In this episode, Jay, aka @Jayyucoffee, shares how he started building his channel with his coffee brewing skills. He believes that people’s love for coffee makes them more interested in viewing caffeinated content. From the plain coffee we used to drink, coffee has been evolving and people’s innate curiosity to explore more things makes coffee more popular. Hear more of Jay’s posting strategy and future plans for his coffee-related content through this episode.

Jay is a barista at a university café in Australia. He showcases his skills in brewing coffee and posts videos of fun latte arts. Jay’s channel, Jay yu or @Jayyucoffee, has more than 200k subscribers and over 300k views.

Episode Highlights

07:20 - How Jay started his coffee brewing content
09:59 - Why coffee is so popular
11:20 - Jay’s content creation process and posting strategy
16:12 - Importance of being proactive in modifying and exploring content
20:12 - Challenges of getting sponsors as an Australia-based vlogger
23:54 - Tips for growing your content
27: 54 - What Jay does when running out of content ideas
29:56 - The good side of live streaming
37:32 - What are the things he learned as a content creator

Resources Mentioned

Check out Jay’s Channel here: https://youtube.com/@Jayyucoffee

Subscribe to the Video Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below: 

Grant Ball
Treesicle

 Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.

Starting your career as a YouTube creator is challenging because aside from conceptualizing your content, you need to make sure that the videos target your audience to help you get more views and land your video on the recommendation page. Chances are, you’ve searched for some YouTube tips content to help kickstart your channel.

In this episode, Nick Nimmin, a YouTube Tips content creator, talks about how he made his own channel and content stand out from the others and how it helped him earn more from content creation. Nick Nimmin shared that while aiming for search is helpful, as a content creator, you must also focus on tapping in on YouTube recommendations by picking a good thumbnail and title.

Nick Nimmin started as an editor for an established YouTube creator before he created his own YouTube tips channel after his name. Nick has grown his channel and now has 870k subscribers and counting.

Episode Highlights

 01:40 – How Nick made his channel grow to 870k
 06:47 – The difference between YouTube Search and YouTube Recommendation
 11:48 – The attitude a live streamer must posses
 17:50 – How Nick started his main YouTube Channel
 24:53 – How to think of content that will be impactful to others and fulfilling for you
 36:16 – Do your things differently and separate your content from others
 53:05  – What to consider when creating content that you can monetize
 56:40  – Why starting a channel is also starting a business
 01:05:51 –  How to earn money from both affiliates and sponsorships

Resources Mentioned

Check out Nick’s Channels here:https://tspnr.com/nicknimmin
Tuber Tools: https: https://tubertools.com/
Creator Mix.com:https://creatormix.com/

Subscribe to theVideo Creatr Youtube channel

Check out Grant and Augie’s Channels below:

Grant Ball
Treesicle

Augie Johnston
Vidchops
Baller Boot Camp

Get all your YouTube content done in 1 hour a week.