Creator Economy Live

Send us a text In this special episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan are joined by not one but two powerhouse guests—Ali Kaltman and Janna Ninekin from Gruns, the brand that’s been taking over your social feed. They dive deep into how Gruns crafts scroll-stopping content, builds measurable impact through influencer marketing, and structures a high-performing team. Plus, the duo explores the evolving revenue models for creators, how community drives long-term success, and the creator-brand partnerships changing the game. And of course, don’t miss this week’s standout creators, brands, and follows. Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

Send us a textOn this episode of Creator Economy Live, we’re joined by the one and only Mike Diva—the creative powerhouse directing some of Saturday Night Live’s most unforgettable digital shorts. From viral YouTube hits to high-gloss SNL sketches, Mike has built a career on chaotic brilliance, razor-sharp satire, and mind-blowing VFX.Hosts Brendan Gahan and Keith Bendes chat with Mike about breaking into the industry, maintaining his distinct visual voice in mainstream media, how the SNL gig came to be, and what creators and brands alike can learn from sketch comedy’s golden formula.Plus: AI in the creator world, YouTube vs. TV, and why Chili’s deserves your respect.

Send us a textRecorded live at Shack15 in San Francisco, this episode of Creator Economy Live brings the heat with our very special guest, Marina Mogilko — co-founder of LinguaTrip.com and the creator behind Linguamarina and Silicon Valley Girl, with a combined digital audience of over 17 million.Hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan catch up on the latest news in the creator space — including the looming TikTok ban, new YouTube Shorts updates, and why Gen Z is leaning harder into creator content than traditional media.Then we dive deep with Marina:- How she built not one, but three 7-figure YouTube channels- Her journey from immigrant entrepreneur to edtech founder- Why Slow Ventures bet on her—and how she's now betting on herself again with a new snack brand for kids- Plus, her current revenue mix and what she sees coming nextStick around for our Creator & Brand of the Week segment, shoutouts to Will Smith's creator collab marathon and Saratoga Water’s viral moment, and a nod to political creator-turned-candidate Kat Abughazaleh.Don’t forget to subscribe and check the bio for links to our Creator Economy Insider newsletter and details on the next Creator Economy Live event in Vegas!

Send us a textJoin hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan on the latest episode of Creator Economy Live, where they dive into the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing. This week, they sit down with James Del, the visionary behind Passionfruit, a platform pushing boundaries in the creator space. With a career spanning Gawker, Tao Group, and numerous leadership roles, James shares his journey, marketing insights, and the key trends shaping the industry. From SXSW's creator palooza to the rise of Linkedfluencers and the $10 billion influencer marketing spend forecasted for 2025, this episode is packed with essential knowledge for anyone in the creator economy. Plus, don’t miss the Creator & Brand of the Week picks and a look at the latest industry buzz!

Send us a textWelcome back to Creator Economy Live, your go-to podcast for everything influencer marketing and the creator economy. Hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan are back with another exciting episode, bringing you the latest in the world of media, creators, and everything in between.First, a huge thank you to our incredible sponsors at Linqia and the amazing production team over at Creator Economy Live.In this episode, we’re joined by Foster Kamer, a long-time friend, writer, editor, photographer, and media strategist. Foster’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and more. He’s also an OG Gawker alum and now serves as Editorial Director at Futurism, where he’s shaping the future of media. He’s been anthologized in The Best American Food Writing and regularly shares his insights on his Substack, FosterTalk. If you’re a regular listener, you’ve probably heard us mention him before!Foster joins us to discuss the evolution of media, the intersection of traditional and emerging media, and what it’s like to navigate the changing landscape as a creator.

Send us a textIn this episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan catch up on the latest trends in influencer marketing and the creator economy. They dive into March Madness NIL deals, TikTok’s latest updates, and Amazon shutting down Inspire. Plus, they discuss Instagram's new ad format, YouTube’s AI Shorts integration, and more.The episode features a conversation with Adam Ornelas, Influencer Lead at DoorDash, who shares his experience working with major brands like Coinbase, Chipotle, and Whole Foods. Adam talks about his approach to influencer marketing, real-time partnerships, and the skyrocketing influencer rates. He also discusses his role in major brand activations like the Super Bowl and shares insights on the evolving creator economy landscape.Wrapping up with the Creator of the Week and Brand of the Week, Keith and Brendan highlight top creators and innovative brands shaping the space.

Send us a textWelcome back to Creator Economy Live, your go-to source for all things influencer marketing. This week in episode 54, Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan break down the latest trends, including record-breaking NIL deal spending, the rise of performance-driven influencer marketing, and how YouTube has overtaken mobile as the top way people watch content. We also celebrate 20 years of YouTube, exploring how it reshaped media and made creators more influential than traditional celebrities. Then, we’re joined by Kim Larson, Global MD & Head of YouTube Creators, who shares insights on why brands still prioritize Instagram and TikTok, the battle between long-form and short-form content, and where YouTube is headed next. To wrap up, we highlight Khaby Lame as our Creator of the Week and Dunkin’ as our Brand of the Week for their standout Super Bowl and Grammy campaigns.

Send us a textLive from Creator Economy Live 2025 in Las Vegas, Keith & Brendan are joined by Jon Youshaei — former Instagram & YouTube insider turned full-time creator. After spending nearly a decade building creator teams at the biggest platforms, Jon took the leap to go solo. In this episode, he reveals why he left his dream job, how he landed interviews with icons like MrBeast, Logan Paul, Marques Brownlee, and Charli D’Amelio, and why he doubled down on high-quality production in a world of raw content. We also dive into the brand-creator paradox—should companies invest deeply in a few influencers or spread their bets? Plus, Jon shares his take on the battle between short-form vs. long-form content, why brands are still spending more on TikTok & Instagram despite YouTube's superior monetization, and some juicy behind-the-scenes stories from his biggest interviews. 

Send us a textIn this episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with marketing executive Marissa Kraines, former VP of Social & Content Marketing at Salesforce. From her start in the music industry to shaping innovative B2B campaigns, Marissa shares insights on creativity, influencer marketing, and the future of the creator economy. Plus, we break down Meta’s latest push to lure creators, Instagram’s algorithm updates, and the launch of Linqia’s Creator Intelligence tool.

Send us a textIn this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with bestselling author and adventurer Michael Easter. From the secrets behind The Comfort Crisis to navigating the transition from traditional media to thriving as a modern creator, Michael shares how stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock extraordinary performance. Plus, we dive into the latest industry news, from TikTok bans to Meta's shifts, and highlight creators and brands making waves. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!Interested in attending Creator Economy Live? Join us this February 4-5 to see the podcast in action! Use code CELPOD20 at checkout to save 20% on your ticket price.