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Creator Science

Creator Science
Author: Jay Clouse
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© Creator Science® 2024
Description
Creating content has never been easier – but breaking through the noise has gotten harder. The only reliable way to grow as a creator is through observation, experimentation, and iteration.
This podcast is your weekly guide to evidence-backed strategies and experiments you can apply to your business. Each episode features candid conversations with today’s top creators—like James Clear, Ali Abdaal, Tim Urban, and Codie Sanchez—sharing actionable insights to help you grow your audience, build trust, and boost your income.
This isn’t just an interview podcast—it’s a deep dive into the business of content, hosted by Signal Award-winner Jay Clouse.
It's growth for creators, down to a science.
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Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. I'm back home now, fresh off a trip to Cleveland for the fourth annual CEX, Content Entrepreneur Expo.
While I was there, I caught up with my good friend Justin Moore. Justin is the founder of Creator Wizard, the author of Sponsor Magnet, and the creator of Sponsor Games. He is the sponsorship guy.
In this conversation, you'll hear us discuss his book experience. He published his book Sponsor Magnet in January, and I wanted to hear how things are going now, midway through the year. And we talk about my book progress and why I'm thinking so much about writing.
Full transcript and show notes
Justin's Website / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube / TikTok
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Creator Science with Justin Moore
06:15 Pursuing Book Reviews Diligently
07:59 Strategizing Review Acquisition Campaign
11:00 Navigating Publishing Industry Nuances
13:42 Loss Leader Book Marketing Strategy
18:11 Unexpected Audience Insight
20:25 Book-Based Marketing Strategy Experiment
24:57 Embracing Optimization Over Novelty
29:12 Future Book Strategies and Ideas
32:52 Exploring Traditional Publishing Process
34:06 Seeking Audience Expansion & Flexibility
38:19 Balancing Book Writing Challenges
42:23 Books' Unique Impact on Readers
46:05 AI-Enriched Responses for Business
48:39 Exploring Publishing Opportunities Now
51:09 Talk Next Week
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #239: Justin Moore – What if feels like launching a book and an in-person event at the same time
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. This week, I'm sharing with you a coaching conversation with John McBride. John is the co-founder of Fatherhood Unlocked, which offers digital products and group coaching programs to help high-performing dads level up as leaders, parents, and husbands. This is exactly my jam right now.
John is a member of The Lab, and this call is what I refer to as a Hot Seat in The Lab. Hot seats are one-on-one conversations between me and a member. But we invite other members to join the call live and ask questions or share ideas in the chat.
In this conversation, you'll hear me talk John through how I'd think about his different options, his ideas, and ultimately prioritize his path moving forward with Fatherhood Unlocked.
Join The Lab
Learn more about Fatherhood Unlocked
Full transcript and show notes
John's Website / Instagram / LinkedIn
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Prioritizing Product Focus for Dads
04:17 Improving Fatherhood Course Conversion
07:26 Targeting Expecting Dads' Challenges
10:41 Fatherhood Readiness Quiz Initiative
13:56 Birth and Postpartum Partner Education
20:00 Post-Baby Relationship Journey Insights
24:01 Optimizing Product Strategy for Fathers
26:06 Simplicity Over Broad Product Suite
31:19 1:1 Coaching Boosts New Dad Program
33:11 Ideal Support for New Dads
37:38 Streamlined Marketing and Upselling Strategy
41:46 Bundle Upgrade Incentive Strategy
42:59 Defining Your Brand's Signature Product
48:09 Quiz-Driven Upselling Strategy
50:07 Help Us Reach 500 Ratings
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. We have a different type of episode this week. I recently shared some stories on my social media about being a dad, and my good friend Jay Acunzo reached out and said we should do an episode talking about being parents and creators. I thought that was a great idea because, as I have spent the last year as a father, it's become so much more obvious to me that the voices in the space we pay attention to are not parents and do not quite have the same constraints and priorities that parents do.
If you are a parent and you're doing this creator thing and you feel crazy because it seems like everyone has more time and can do a lot more than you are, you might find this to be an enjoyable, relatable listen.
Full transcript and show notes
Jay's Website / Instagram / LinkedIn / YouTube
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Parent-Creator Insights with Jay Acunzo
05:57 Life Sprinting: Parenting & Entrepreneurship
08:42 Distracted Parenting Moment
13:20 Transformational Life Experiences
14:46 From Creation to Management
20:12 Parenting and Career Amid Pandemic
23:58 Parenting Pioneers Among Peers
24:37 Blank Canvas vs. Paint By Numbers
28:25 Balancing Business and Relationship Priorities
32:22 Fatherhood and Social Connections
36:09 Balancing Work, Parenting, and Storytelling
37:47 Embracing Efficiency in Parenthood
43:32 Parenthood Deepens Understanding of Parents
46:31 Balancing Parenthood and Business Identity
47:47 Embracing Simplicity in Content Creation
52:18 Combining Friend Groups Dilemma
54:35 Balancing Public Persona and Family
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. This is part two of our July edition of Ask Creator Science. I asked for your questions about your business or mine on all of our different social platforms. Here in part two, we're going to answer all of the LinkedIn questions. We had several dozen, so I'm going to get through as many as I possibly can. They are insightful, they're quirky, they're into the nitty gritty, and I'm excited to share all of those answers with you.
Full transcript and show notes
#267: When to use low-ticket offers, refund policies, how much I earned in the last 12 months, and my 5-year vision [Ask CS Pt. 1]
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Optimizing LinkedIn Posts for Success
08:58 From Freelance to Productization
15:23 Evolving from Content to Business
19:52 Identify and Build Signature Product
23:54 Reflective Business Planning Insights
30:47 Content Investment Strategy Concerns
36:17 Boosting Podcast Retention with Titles
40:34 AI's Impact on Creative Process
44:28 Reluctance to Clone for Chat
50:28 Creating Niche Interest Communities
56:55 Exploring Solo Content for Growth
01:02:31 AI-Proofing: Prioritize Exclusivity and Community
01:06:07 Balancing Work, Exercise, and Social Media
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #267: When to use low-ticket offers, refund policies, how much I earned in the last 12 months, and my 5-year vision [Ask CS Pt. 1]
→ #260: Detailed Breakdown: Our First Offline Event (And What We’ll Do Differently Next Time)
→ #192: I coached Ali Abdaal on building a membership.
→ #188: Richard van der Blom – How the man behind the LinkedIn Algorithm Report uses LinkedIn.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Ben Schlichter is no ordinary YouTuber. He doesn’t do challenges or video essays. He talks about appliances and makes a LOT of money doing it, but not in the way you think.
In this episode, we talk about, what you’re missing out on by not using YouTube Shop, how to effectively use your videos to sell products, and when you should start making your own products.
Full transcript and show notes
Benjamin's Website / Twitter / YouTube / Instagram
***
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) The Appliance Repairman Making Millions
(01:16) The Economics of an Appliance Channel
(04:20) The YouTube Shopping Program
(13:33) How to Use Affiliate Links to Sell
(19:33) Ideation Strategy to Sell More Effectively
(21:46) What Content Converts the Best?
(23:58) Secret to Getting People to Click Links
(27:19) SEO Oriented Packaging and Descriptions
(29:12) Creators Are the Distributors of Attention
(32:25) Traffic Source Data and Chapter Title Importance
(35:09) The Maytag Uniform
(38:05) When to Start Diversifying Your Channel
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #179: Justin Moore – A step-by-step strategy to get anyone sponsored, regardless of audience size.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. I am here in the home studio, and I figured we are overdue for an episode of Ask Creator Science, where I dive into your questions from different social media platforms.
We have several dozen questions, and I'll do my best to cover as many as I can. We have product questions, content questions, business strategy questions, and personal questions.
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Content Strategy and Audience Growth
03:36 Email Focus and Personal Well-being Practices
06:47 Tiered Lab Strategy Explained
10:46 Three-Tier Educational System Overview
13:51 Effective Membership Launch Strategies
17:01 Boost Newsletter Signups with Signatures
22:49 Early Stage Creator Strategies
25:32 Effective Pricing and Sponsorship Strategy
26:44 Sponsorship Value vs. Refund Policies
29:45 Importance of Refund Policies
35:31 Start Luxury, Then Expand Downmarket
40:07 Value-Driven YouTube Strategy
41:16 Audience Engagement Over Growth
44:56 Conference Networking: Make One New Friend
50:26 Focus on Membership Growth
51:17 Future Marketing: Master One Medium
54:37 Master One Platform for Success
59:24 LinkedIn Q&A Part Two
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #259: My numbers from May 2025 [From The Lab]
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
→ Watch my episode with Nathan Barry
→ Subscribe to the Nathan Barry Show
→ Subscribe to the newsletter
→ Join The Lab
Welcome to a bonus episode of Creator Science. I was recently interviewed on the Niche Pursuits podcast hosted by Jared Bauman. He wanted to get into the nitty-gritty about how we built The Lab, our membership community, and how that 200-member community became a $400,000+ property in the business.
In this episode, they asked great questions and I was able to get really specific. So, if you're considering a community or membership, this will certainly help you think about how to design it and build something that becomes a great little engine for your business, as it has for mine.
Subscribe to Niche Pursuits
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Building a $400K Community
03:23 Evolving Entrepreneurship Perspectives
06:26 "Pioneering Mastermind Communities Online"
10:04 Sustainable Small Creator Community
14:43 Success Through Consistent Visibility
17:41 "Embrace Accountability, Achieve Goals"
20:35 "Strategic Attention and Revenue Alignment"
24:58 "Content's Role: Passing the Regret Test"
27:36 "Building Valuable Peer Relationships"
30:02 Capped Membership Growth Strategy
35:57 Evaluating Recurring Revenue Viability
36:48 Sustaining Membership Engagement
42:29 Reducing Churn with Annual Memberships
45:04 "Importance of Valuing Membership Renewals"
46:41 "Creating Value Beyond Entry"
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #192: I coached Ali Abdaal on building a membership
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts!
→ Watch the tour of my basement studio
→ Subscribe to the newsletter
→ Join The Lab
I interviewed YouTube legends, Colin and Samir. They are the most influential duo in the creator economy. Today, they talk about how to build a channel that stands the test of time.
In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of formats in building a strong brand, how to set your channel up for financial success, and we vent about miscellaneous gripes we all have.
Full transcript and show notes
Colin and Samir's Website / Twitter / YouTube / Instagram
***
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) The Most Influential Duo on YouTube
(01:08) What Are Successful YouTubers Doing Right Now
(03:47) Relationship Between Consistency and a Strong Brand
(12:38) What Consistency Looks Like in the C&S Brand
(16:27) Don’t Commercialize Your Passion
(18:51) Turning Your Channel Into a Business
(25:52) The Future of Monetization
(29:41) YouTubers Are Underselling Themselves to Brands
(39:02) Merch as a Revenue Driver Vs Brand Loyalty
(41:12) Future of Shorts
(44:07) What Happens When Thumbnails Become Less Important
(46:41) What’s the Deal with Livestreaming
(50:23) Venting to Each Other About the World Around Us
(55:46) Learn How to Secure High Paying Brand Deals
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #209: Paddy Galloway – How he makes any niche go viral
→ #164: Jon Youshaei – Ex-YouTube employee shares the best growth advice (that you’ve probably never heard)
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts!
→ Subscribe to the newsletter
→ Join The Lab
If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts!
→ Subscribe to the newsletter
→ Join The Lab
Mike Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, which is used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit – Creator Science is one of those companies. Profit First has helped me develop sound financials for my business.
He’s also the author of Clockwork, a powerful method to make any business run on automatic, and seven other books as well.
With more than 500,000 book sales, all of Mike’s books have the same goal – to help small business owners and eliminate what he calls “entrepreneurial poverty.” Simon Sinek has called Mike “…the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs.”
This conversation is divided into halves:
The first half explores Mike’s unique model as an author. For each book Mike writes, he partners with a third party to license the frameworks from his books and serve as the done-for-you service provider. This is super uncommon and part of why he’s been so prolific while running a very lean team. So we dig into how that works (and what he’d do differently if he were starting over today).
The second half of the conversation is all about writing books. Mike has published nine books since 2008 – including 7 in the last 8 years. So we dig into how he determines what ideas to turn into books and how to write them so quickly.
Full transcript and show notes
Mike's Website / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #176: April Dunford – How self-publishing a book exploded her client service business.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special “Offline Recap” episode, host Jay Clouse takes us behind the scenes of The Lab’s very first in-person event—now officially dubbed “Lab Offline.” After years of thriving as an online community, this was a bold experiment to bring members together face-to-face in Boise, Idaho.
Jay walks us through every step—how he chose the event style based on direct member feedback, the unexpected venue logistics (including a nerve-wracking run-in with a $43,000 hotel contract), the financial ups and downs, and the nuts and bolts of thoughtful event design. He shares candid lessons on budgeting, planning, creating meaningful connections, and gathering feedback, with plenty of wins and a few honest hiccups along the way.
You’ll hear what made the event unforgettable for attendees, the feedback that will shape future editions, and Jay’s vision for making these gatherings a cornerstone of the Creator Science community. Whether you’re curious about community building, event planning, or just want inspiration for creating deeper connections in your own work, you’ll find a treasure trove of insights in this episode. So sit back and enjoy this honest, insightful look inside the evolution of Creator Science’s Lab Offline experience!
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Event Planning Success Breakdown
05:28 Event Duration and Attendance Insights
07:11 Understanding Event Cost Drivers
10:13 Negotiating Group Hotel Rates
16:21 Last-Minute Event Adjustments Summary
18:32 Learning from Event Expenses
21:31 Event Planning for Meaningful Gatherings
26:46 Business Event: Sharing & Mastermind Activities
28:06 Facilitating Collaborative Interactions
33:16 Event Preparation and Dietary Feedback
37:25 "Event Planning Improvements"
40:08 Event Planning: Duration and Logistics
42:38 Event Prep: Lessons Learned
45:53 International Community Event Plans
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #221: Ryan Hawk – Anatomy of a $12,500 membership earning $400,000+ per year
→ #232: Dan Andrews – Secrets of building a 1300-member, international community (with in-person events)
→ #248: Justin Moore - Lessons from hosting his first 3-day event
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse pulls back the curtain on his business with a transparent look at his May Retro—an in-depth monthly review where he walks through key metrics, goals, wins, challenges, and behind-the-scenes decisions. You’ll get a firsthand listen to the kind of content usually reserved for The Lab community, as Jay shares real revenue numbers, growth strategies, creative experiments, and honest reflections about everything from team building to business structure to personal growth.
Whether you’re curious about what drives Creator Science or looking for inspiration and practical insights to apply to your own creative journey, this episode delivers a candid, actionable tour through the ever-evolving world of modern content entrepreneurship. If you enjoy going behind the scenes, you’ll love this one—let’s dive in!
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Event Planning Amid Illness
05:41 Course Sales Surge with Email Automation
09:26 "X Content Repurposing Success"
10:15 Shifting Focus: YouTube Over Social Media
15:50 Family Vacation & Home Updates
18:43 Over-Budget Event: Trust Seminar Dilemma
20:31 Crafting Trust: A Vital Skill
24:39 "Expanding Offline Community Effectively"
26:17 Tool Upgrades and Membership Strategy
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #258: Q&A: Goals for our YouTube videos, determining when a new offer is a distraction, validating a product idea, and more
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse takes listeners behind the scenes of the The Lab’s vibrant community. Fresh off organizing The Lab’s first-ever major in-person event in Boise, Jay shares a candid update about creating real-world connections among full-time creators and what these gatherings mean for the future of The Lab membership.
But that’s just the beginning. This episode is a front-row seat to the magic that happens during The Lab’s monthly office hours. Jay and a panel of talented creators—including Tom Burden, Pat Gostek, Anna Reich, Travis Ference, Anais Cisneros, and David Fortin—engage in open, practical discussions about growing a creator business. They tackle real-world questions: how to think about the purpose behind each video, launching masterminds without losing focus, building community vs. courses vs. memberships, and the ever-elusive challenge of monetizing as a creator in today’s landscape. Plus, you’ll hear smart strategies for product validation, content creation during market research, and best practices for leveraging email marketing and CRM tools.
Whether you’re a growing creator or an established entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest insights, actionable ideas, and a glimpse into the supportive space that makes the The Lab unique. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be part of this community—or how to take your creator business to the next level—you won’t want to miss this one.
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Lab Membership Events and Opportunities
05:13 Tailoring Content for Specific Goals
06:47 YouTube Audience Engagement Strategy
11:08 Mastermind Group Pricing Dilemma
14:41 Done-for-You Video Expertise
17:55 Mastermind Group Launch Strategy
21:31 Pricing Strategy Gap Analysis
25:47 LinkedIn Posting Frequency Insights
29:17 Courses vs. Community: Balance Concerns
33:05 "Assessing Membership Value Elements"
36:28 Monetizing Creator Business Strategies
40:37 Marketing Community Value to Busy Clients
42:19 "Sell the Map Via Social Proof"
47:36 Email Marketing Tools Compared
49:40 Organizing Ideas with Purpose
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #246: Planning for a recession, my approach to email, increasing customers, and finding your partner [Ask Creator Science]
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special Strategy Hour episode, host Jay Clouse flips the script as a guest on Abagail Pumphrey’s acclaimed podcast, Strategy Hour. Abagail, the founder and CEO of The Boss Project, dives into Jay’s fascinating journey from startup founder to creative entrepreneur—exploring how he built a thriving newsletter business, fostered an engaged community, and navigated the ever-evolving creator landscape.
Together, they break down what it really means to grow an audience with intention, why consistency trumps fleeting viral moments, and how creators can build businesses that last. Jay pulls back the curtain on his process, from his early days writing daily emails to building a sustainable business rooted in genuine connection and trust. You’ll also hear their takes on the future of courses, the role of AI and community in online business, and the importance of slow, steady growth.
If you’re craving real talk about surviving (and thriving) as a creator—plus actionable tips on how to treat your newsletter as your most valuable product—this episode is for you. Stick around for an insightful conversation that’s both inspiring and refreshingly honest, and be sure to check the show notes to subscribe to Strategy Hour for more entrepreneurial wisdom!
Subscribe to The Strategy Hour
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 "Exploring Uncharted Podcast Territory"
04:44 "Insights on Becoming a Creator"
07:10 Promoting Newsletter via Events & Email
11:58 Audience vs. Crowd: Content Focus
15:38 Newsletter: Business Stability Anchor
16:36 Social Media Engagement Challenges
22:32 Slow Path to Sustainable Business
26:10 "Coping with Online Fame's Pressure"
30:04 Twelve-Week Group Pricing Plan
30:34 Pioneering Cohort-Based Learning
33:53 AI's Impact on Online Courses
38:48 Innovate or Strategize for Success
40:31 "Invaluable Insights and Connections"
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #247: How you can plan for growth in 2025
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Mark Manson is an entrepreneur and author of the best-selling book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.
Mark's entrepreneur-first approach has enabled him to speed-run his YouTube success, gaining 2,600,000 subscribers in just two years.
In this episode, we break down Mark's approach to YouTube, from content strategy to setting up his channel for long-term success.
Full transcript and show notes
Mark's Website / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn / TikTok
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) YouTubers and Business
(01:13) Why Do YouTubers Suck at Business?
(10:14) Make Brainstorming Ideas Easy with 1of10
(11:50) How to Turn Your Channel into a Business
(15:55) When to Make the Transition
(24:43) When Maximizing Views is Bad
(27:31) The Case For Not Taking Brand Deals
(35:33) 1st Step to Take
(37:48) Futureproofing Your Channel
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RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #179: Justin Moore – A step-by-step strategy to get anyone sponsored, regardless of audience size
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WHEN YOU'RE READY
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🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
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CONNECT
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Welcome back to Creator Science! In this solo episode, I’m inviting you directly into the whirlwind that is my mind these days. From the outside, it might look like I’ve got things under control—but as I share straight from my journal, the reality is a constant tug-of-war between where my energy wants to go and where my time needs to be spent.
I open up about the challenges of juggling my main business, the demands of being a new dad, and my excitement (and uncertainty) around a big experiment: writing a book proposal. You’ll hear my unfiltered reflections on feeling pulled toward deep, meaningful work—like research, writing, and evolving my community—while also handling the business operations that keep everything running.
In this episode, I walk through the practical framework I’ve developed—concentrate, eliminate, consolidate, automate, and delegate—that’s helping me re-evaluate how I spend my time and create space for what feels truly alive for me right now. I’ll break down the tough choices, the things I’m letting go of (goodbye, social media expectations!), and my vision for building a stronger, more connected Creator Science community.
If you’re grappling with too many competing priorities or searching for ways to prioritize your highest-energy projects, this episode is for you. Join me as I process all of this in real time—because I suspect, as creators, you might be feeling some of these same tensions too.
Full transcript and show notes
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Uncertain Book Proposal Journey
04:05 Balancing Book Project and Business
07:26 Balancing Time for Book and Lab
11:10 Follow Your Passion and Fitness
13:55 Focus on In-Person Experiences
19:24 "Reevaluating Social Media Dependency"
20:23 Rethinking Social Media Strategy
26:37 Community Coaching Sessions Live
27:32 "Hot Seat Podcasts Introduction"
31:06 Selective Sponsorship Criteria
35:52 Delegating Community Management Tasks
37:43 Sponsorship Strategy and Event Planning
40:53 "Embrace Trade-Offs and Compromises"
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
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SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
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Dan Koe, Justin Welsh, and I joined Substack in the last couple of weeks.
In this episode, I explain what’s going on, my own motives, and why you should (or shouldn’t) consider making the same move.
→ Read Why I Joined Substack
→ Subscribe to my Substack
Full transcript and show notes
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
very informative, thank you
Great insights from James! Very refreshing, outside of the usual topic that he talks about.
q .
No battle
Great content!
it was great to listen!
excellent episode!