This week, I’m joined once again by my friend and one of the most insightful voices in the YouTube space, Roberto Blake. This is his fourth time on the show — and easily the most thought-provoking yet.

We dive into:

• Why creators should rethink their obsession with going viral

• How Roberto’s 12-week “YouTube Night School” is empowering small creators

• The difference between attention and value — and why money doesn’t always follow views

• Evergreen vs. topical content: How to win long-term

• Why packaging (title, thumbnail, timing) is everything

• AI’s real impact on the creator economy — and what to do about it

Whether you’re just starting or deep in the YouTube trenches, this episode will sharpen your mindset and strategy.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

🔗 Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• 🎓 Awesome Creator Academy – Roberto’s coaching platform and home of the 12-week YouTube Night School

  👉 https://awesomecreatoracademy.com

• 📘 Roberto Blake’s Book – “Create Something Awesome”

  👉 https://geni.us/Jf3J

• 📹 Roberto Blake on YouTube

  👉 https://www.youtube.com/robertoblake2

• 🎙️ Roberto’s “How to Use Copyright Music on YouTube” Tutorial

  (referenced as a prime example of evergreen content)

  👉 https://youtu.be/lLFLu4r3wGM

  📥 The Creator’s Corner Membership

  👉 https://www.dustyporter.com/creatorcommunities

• 💡 YouTube Creators Hub Coaching Services

  👉 https://dustyporter.com/coaching

• 📨 Entrepreneur’s Minute Newsletter

  👉 https://entrepreneursminute.kit.com/13153e4946

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Roberto:

Roberto Blake is a creative entrepreneur, YouTube educator, and founder of Awesome Creator Academy. With over 600K subscribers and a bestselling book (Create Something Awesome), he helps creators grow their audience, monetize their content, and build sustainable online businesses.

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

In this week’s episode, Dusty is joined once again by Lloyd from the Lloyd & Mandy YouTube channel — and a lot has changed since their last appearance! From full-time travel vlogging across Southeast Asia and the U.S. to settling down in Thailand with their newborn baby, Lloyd shares how their channel evolved through seasons of life.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

Resources Mentioned During The Episode

• Lloyd & Mandy’s Community (Skoool Platform): https://www.skool.com/lloydandmandy 

• YouTube Tool Mentioned: VidIQ

• Creator Shoutout from Lloyd: Dry Creek Wrangler School YouTube Channel

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Lloyd and Mandy:

We're Lloyd and Mandy. We started full-time travel vlogging in November 2021, travelling all through East Asia and Sri Lanka, Mexico, and 6 months of RV life in the United States,

Fast-forward three and a half years, and a lot has changed! We’ve settled in Thailand, welcomed our baby daughter into the world, and continued growing our YouTube channel, which has now reached nearly 120,000 subscribers. Our content has evolved to focus more on family-oriented travel and lifestyle, and it's been an exciting transition.

Connect With Lloyd and Mandy Here:

YouTube Channel /// Instagram /// Creator Society

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

In this week’s episode, I sit down with full-time content creator Jenny Mitich, who turned a lifestyle vlog into a booming YouTube channel built around the carnivore diet. We dive into how she scaled her content, found her niche, landed brand sponsorships, and manages to juggle it all while raising twins! Whether you’re just starting or looking to monetize smarter, this one is packed with practical tips and inspiration.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

Resources Mentioned During The Episode

YTJobs.com – for hiring YouTube editors and freelancers

Sony A6400 – Jenny’s camera for high-quality video

RØDE Wireless Pro – for audio recording

Dropbox – file-sharing with her editor

Apple Notes – Jenny’s go-to for scripting and content planning

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Jenny:

Jenny Mitich used the Carnivore Diet to lose over 50 pounds and has passed along what shelearned to help thousands of people transition to the Carnivore lifestyle. She is a long-term Carnivore and full-time content creator who is passionate about helping people take charge of their metabolic health. She believes that people should know their numbers and empowers them to do so with her educational Carnivore content and engaging N of 1 experiments. Her new book Complete Carnivore will be released in September 2025. Jenny resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband, Goran, and twin sons, Max and Harry. She enjoys reading, traveling the world, and devouring ribeyes.

Connect With Jenny Here:

YouTube Channel /// Instagram /// TikTok

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

Join us for this week's episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast as Dusty interviews Forrest Baum, the creator of the Teach Me Personal Finance YouTube channel. Forrest shares his journey from transitioning out of the military to helping people better understand financial matters. Learn how he built his channel and website, monetizes his content, and how his simplistic approach to video production has resonated with his audience. Dusty and Forrest discuss website acquisition, the importance of knowing your audience, and future plans for growth.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Forrest:

Forrest Baumhover is a retired military officer, Certified Financial Planner, and tax professional.

Connect With Forrest Here:

Website /// YouTube Channel

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

In this episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast, host Dusty Porter interviews Sandra Di, known as Sandra Dee on YouTube. Sandra shares her journey from being a full-time engineer to a successful content creator, discussing the challenges she faced, her growth strategies, and the importance of community support. She emphasizes the significance of consistency and quality in content creation, explores various monetization strategies, and provides insights into approaching sponsorships. Sandra also reflects on her decision to pursue content creation full-time and her future goals, including launching a digital course to help others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Sandra:

I started my YouTube channel in 2020 sharing graphic design tutorials and tips on how to sell digital products. I was still working as a full-time engineer so this was more of a side hustle. In just over 1 year, I reached 100k subscribers and had my first brand deal. In just under 2 years, my YouTube channel was generating more income than my full-time job. I recently quit my job in January 2025 to officially pursue content creation full-time.

Connect With Sandra Here:

YouTube Channel /// Instagram

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

Key Takeaways From The Interview With Sandra

Started her YouTube channel during the pandemic in 2020. Faced challenges with camera presence and technical issues. Community support was crucial for her growth. Focused on less saturated topics for initial content. Emphasized the importance of analytics in content strategy. Quality of content is more important than quantity. Utilizes multiple revenue streams including AdSense and sponsorships. Approaches sponsorships by highlighting audience engagement. Transitioned to full-time content creation after proving income stability. Aims to help others leave unfulfilling jobs through her content.

In this episode of the YouTube Creators Hub Podcast, we dive deep into how YouTube’s algorithm actually works and what you need to do to get your videos in front of the right audience. Nate and Dusty discuss the common mistake many creators make—confusing the algorithm—and how it affects video reach. Plus, Dusty shares some big updates about the podcast and what’s next for the show!

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach:

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB E-commerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Nate:

I teach people how to grow their own food using ancient techniques that enrich the land instead of depleting it.

Connect With Nate Here:

YouTube Channel

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

Join us on this episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast where host Dusty Porter interviews Anthony Gallo, co-founder of ContentCreator.com. Anthony shares his journey from starting with zero audience in 2020 to building a thriving business with over 150,000 customers worldwide. Discover insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of niching down, and the strategies that helped Anthony's YouTube channel grow to 353,000 subscribers. Learn about the key tools and techniques for mobile filmmaking, monetization through digital products, and the value of focus in building a successful YouTube business.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB Ecommerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Anthony:

Anthony is the Co-founder of contentcreator.com - where they've built courses, tools, marketplaces, and software with over 150,000 customers worldwide. Having started with ZERO audience in 2020, Anthony grew the business through organic youtube content and highly converting paid ad funnels. Anthony loves helping beginner creators hone their skills and learn the most efficient and effective monetization strategies. Anthony is also the co-owner of a chain of car washes where they use content creation to market and grow the businesses extremely fast.

Connect With Anthony Here:

Instagram /// YouTube /// Website

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

In this episode of the YouTube Creators Hub podcast, host Dusty Porter speaks with Ryan Carey, CEO of Better On and one of YouTube's earliest team members. They discuss Ryan's journey from working at YouTube during its early days to founding Better On, a company focused on helping individuals enhance their presence and communication skills through video. The conversation delves into the importance of authenticity, building trust with audiences, and overcoming self-doubt as a creator. Ryan shares valuable insights on how to connect with audiences and the significance of self-awareness in the creative process.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides you access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB Ecommerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

About Ryan:

Ryan Carey is the CEO behind BetterOn, a company dedicated to helping leaders and professionals build authentic presence on video, in person, and across workplaces. A pioneer in the video space, he was one of YouTube’s earliest team members, witnessing firsthand the platform’s explosive growth and transformative power. After his own journey as a YouTube content creator, Ryan launched BetterOn in 2014, combining his unique insights into video with a mission to elevate workplace communication. Forward thinking companies like Google, IBM, Deloitte, and Red Hat use BetterOn to invest in their high potential people.

Connect With Ryan Here:

BetterOn /// LinkedIn /// Instagram

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

In this episode, Dusty Porter interviews Leroy, a YouTube strategist with extensive experience in helping creators grow their channels. They discuss the day-to-day responsibilities of a strategist, common challenges faced by creators, the importance of storytelling, viewer retention, and effective monetization strategies. Leroy emphasizes the need for a solid plan, an understanding of the audience, and the significance of branding and packaging in achieving success on YouTube.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides you access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

BEST TOOLS FOR CREATORS and ENTREPRENEURS: YouTube Optimization (Creative Fuel): https://geni.us/oPCt7Cf Hire Freelancers and Artists (Fiverr): https://geni.us/h4zMWAP Podcast Hosting (Libsyn): https://geni.us/TrpwY0 GeniusLink Link Shortener: https://geni.us/fHPAe Stock Assets For Creators (Envato): https://geni.us/rlEKkLB Ecommerce (Shopify): https://geni.us/m9ctWwe Podcast Recording and Editing (Riverside.FM) https://geni.us/PLlt1M

My YouTube Film Gear: 🎥 Camera: https://geni.us/B9eb5P 🎙️ Microphone: https://geni.us/QarC 🎤 Audio Interface: https://geni.us/kaosfB 🎧 Headphones: https://amzn.to/48YcHlB

About Leroy:

I'm Leroy, a YouTube Strategist. I've been doing YouTube since 2009, had my first success in 2012 and stopped focusing on my own channel full-time in 2019. By accident, I built a creative production agency off the back of the channel and worked with some awesome brands around the world from it.

I came back to YouTube in 2022 as a strategist when I saw that it became an actual role and said goodbye to my businesses fully.

Since then I have helped creators of all sizes monetize their channels with just one video, tripled subscriber counts in a matter of months, and garnered millions of views in the process.

Now I work with established creators, entrepreneurs and other fun clients and think about YouTube all day!

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

Connect With Leroy Here:

Website /// X

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!

00:00 Introduction to YouTube Metrics

00:31 Podcast Introduction and Sponsorship

01:16 Meet Leroy: YouTube Strategist

02:16 Day in the Life of a YouTube Strategist

03:47 Client Onboarding Process

05:53 Common Mistakes and Solutions for YouTube Creators

10:55 Success Stories and Case Studies

15:36 The Importance of Storytelling

19:48 Viewer Retention Strategies

20:28 Understanding YouTube Metrics

21:08 The Importance of Viewer Satisfaction

21:34 Home Feed and Subscriber Metrics

22:12 Knowing Your Ideal Viewer

22:57 Adapting Content to Viewer Preferences

24:04 Algorithm Evolution and Global Reach

25:34 Identifying and Refining Target Audience

27:28 Branding and Packaging Your Channel

32:13 Monetization Strategies for Creators

37:50 Passion-Driven Content Creation

39:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Dusty Porter interviews Rachel Allen, a middle school band teacher who transitioned from TikTok to YouTube, sharing her journey of content creation, community building, and the challenges of engaging with students and audiences online. Rachel discusses her rapid growth on TikTok, the importance of consistency in content creation, and her strategies for repurposing content across platforms. She also reflects on the impact of her work on her students and the music education community, as well as her future aspirations as a creator.

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides you access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE! 

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

About Rachel:

Rachel Allen is in her 20th year as a public school teacher, spending the majority of her career specializing in teaching middle school band. She started creating band content on in 2022 and has grown to almost 200K followers on Tiktok. In the fall of 2024, she started her YouTube channel specializing in short form content and has grown her subscriber count to just over 100K in just 4 months.

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

Connect With Rachel Here:

YouTube Channel /// TikTok

Request a Guest To Come On The Podcast:

🎙️ Share Your YouTube Journey on Our Podcast! 🌟 Click HERE to Submit Your Channel and Join the Conversation!