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We break down how to grow on YouTube by thinking like a viewer, from using the collab feature without breaking the promise to designing for lean-back TV audiences. We also answer listener questions on mixed-format channels, browse vs search, accessibility, and naming your channel.

• why the algorithm serves viewers, not creators
• how to use the collab feature to meet expectations
• where collabs fit in your content mix
• TV viewing habits and lean-back packaging
• AI upscaling and higher-res thumbnails for TVs
• playlists and targeted end screens for binges
• browse vs search and “scary” analytics
• separating podcasts from produced videos
• accessibility cues that boost retention
• naming a channel for memorability and growth

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We dig into YouTube’s AI push, the underrated power of the new collaboration tool, and why understanding human behavior beats chasing algorithm lore. Listener questions take us from reptile care positioning to audio-only let’s plays to the collector mindset that turns variety into a focused channel.

• AI-enabled creation vs policy enforcement tension
• Collaboration tool benefits and onboarding friction
• Entertainment vs education packaging for animal niches
• On-camera energy: the 130 percent rule
• Audio-only let’s plays limits and visual repackaging
• Titles that trigger curiosity through specificity
• Collector through lines that enable channel variety
• Search intent, answer-first structure, and personality layering
• RPM realities for shorts and likely AI feeds
• Hype feature timing and practical CTAs

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We put YouTube’s new Collab feature through a real test and watched first-day impressions jump from 2,800 to 58,000 on a new channel. We dig into analytics, tradeoffs, and how smaller creators can partner smart without changing their format.

• How the Collab feature expands distribution into partner subscriptions and browse
• Why launch timing matters more than retroactive collabs
• What to expect when CTR and AVD dip but total watch time soars
• Practical steps for small-channel collaborations and shared analytics
• When to separate education from entertainment to avoid audience confusion
• Diagnosing big impression drops with traffic sources and seasonality
• Using AI to lift scripts, audio, and ideation without losing your voice
• Positioning in saturated niches and when identity should inform branding

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We grapple with AI’s blurry line between prompting and creating, then dig into practical, grounded tactics for pivots, thumbnails, and growth that hold up under pressure. Along the way, we unpack niche strategy, device behavior, and how to build repeatable “luck” on YouTube.

• creator vs prompter with AI ethics and friction
• pivoting a monetized reaction channel into parenting
• leveraging a unique life story as a moat
• why inconclusive A/B tests default and what to do instead
• when to stop testing and enforce visual consistency
• YouTube variance vs luck and how skill compounds
• packaging tiny niches for broader curiosity
• translations and auto-dubbing realities
• TV vs mobile: lean-back design and length experiments
• experiment scope: three to five videos before judging

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We break down why Sora 2 feels like a before-and-after moment for content creation and what it means for tools, creativity, copyright, and trust. We push past hype, share where lines get crossed, and map practical ways to adapt without losing your voice.

• what sora 2 is and why it matters
• prompting vs creating, and where tools end
• lowering barriers and rising competition
• “ai slop” definitions, intent, and quality
• accusations of ai use and proving human work
• likeness, consent, and ethical red lines
• copyright risk, parody limits, and safe uses
• practical workflows: b‑roll, editing, ideation
• misinformation loops and fact-check habits
• what platforms may restrict next and why
• how to futureproof with voice, trust, and series

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We dig into why subscribers don’t equal views, how to pivot without wrecking your channel, and why designing a bingeable path beats chasing a one-off hit. Tori shares a new-channel case study that hit 23k views in three uploads and the input goals that kept her sane.

• subscribers do not equal views and momentum matters
• burnout, niche boredom and the cost of a hard pivot
• wedging: mixing what works with where you’re going
• input goals over vanity metrics during pivots
• designing a viewer journey and target videos
• new fitness channel strategy and early monetization progress
• search vs browse, SEO for humans, and TV viewing growth
• building funnels for coaching and selling to the right viewers
• community, Discord stages and creator mindset
• the channel’s value proposition and long‑haul thinking

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YouTube's new restriction on Premium family plans requires all members to live in the same household, following similar moves by Amazon Prime and Netflix, drastically reducing the value proposition for subscribers who share with family members living elsewhere.

• YouTube now tracking IP addresses to verify household status with a 30-day verification system
• Family plan subscribers paying $22 monthly now limited to sharing only with people in their physical household
• Licensing agreements for music and movies likely pushing platforms to limit account sharing
• Two-person plan being tested in France, India, Taiwan and Hong Kong as a potential middle-ground solution
• The promote button on YouTube misleads creators into spending money for little subscriber or view returns
• Bot comments with identical text like "brilliant from start to finish" should be held for review to maintain authentic engagement
• Technical creators seeing retention drops during complex segments should consider creating separate channels for different audience needs
• Taking breaks from content creation helps generate better ideas and recharges creative energy

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YouTube creators experienced a mysterious drop in views around mid-August while their ad revenue remained surprisingly stable. The culprit was YouTube's battle with ad blockers causing desktop views to disappear from analytics while leaving monetization unaffected.

• Desktop viewers using ad blockers suddenly stopped being counted in view metrics
• Views dropped approximately 30% for many creators, particularly those with tech-savvy audiences
• Despite lower view counts, ad revenue remained stable since ad-blocked views never generated revenue anyway
• Engagement metrics like likes-per-view increased, suggesting core engaged audience remained
• Josh Strife Hayes collected data from 80+ channels to identify the desktop viewer correlation
• YouTube liaison Rene Ritchie confirmed ad blockers were affecting view count accuracy
• Tech channels were hit hardest while gaming channels with younger audiences saw minimal impact
• This appears to be just the beginning of YouTube's ongoing battle with ad blocking technology
• Creators don't need to change their content strategy as this is a platform-level analytics issue

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YouTube recently held its Made on YouTube event unveiling new creator features heavily focused on AI integration and tools for monetized channels. These updates showcase YouTube's evolution toward more sophisticated creator tools while raising questions about whether they truly address the needs of emerging creators.

• AI video generation allowing creators to type prompts and create videos with sound for free
• Image animation feature that puts static pictures into motion with predetermined movements
• AI editing for Shorts that transforms raw camera footage into polished content
• Simultaneous horizontal and vertical live streaming capabilities
• React Live Content allowing creators to react to other live events and streams
• Side-by-side ads during live streams designed to be less intrusive
• Public to members-only live stream transitions
• Title A/B testing expansion following thumbnail testing's 15 million uses
• Collaboration features allowing up to five creators to be tagged with content shared to their audiences
• Auto-dubbing with lip sync that matches speakers' lip movements to translated audio
• AI likeness detection to identify when creators' appearances are used without permission

Join us next episode where Dan and Travis will discuss why YouTube views are down and address the conspiracy theories around recent platform changes.

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We explore YouTube growth strategy through the lens of real creator experiences and algorithmic understanding, from Ludwig's experiment starting a new anonymous channel to handling viral success.

• 99% of viewers on successful videos are new people who don't know your channel history
• Ludwig's humbling experiment showed it took five hours for anyone to show up on his anonymous stream
• YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint—value every view as a real person choosing to watch
• Effective hooks in long-form content should be under 15 seconds and validate the thumbnail/title promise
• After a viral hit, double down on similar content rather than making random videos
• Creative sponsorship integration is crucial as YouTube makes it easier for viewers to skip sponsored segments
• Community posts, shorts, and thoughtful engagement are effective ways to maintain audience connection between uploads
• When starting out, celebrate small wins—50 people watching your video is 50 real people giving you their time

Text us your YouTube questions at the link in description or email [email protected]

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We explore the psychological aspects of content creation on YouTube, focusing on finding enjoyment in the process rather than obsessing over metrics, and discuss practical approaches to channel growth beyond subscriber counts.

• Subscriber counts don't necessarily correlate with viewership or channel success
• Finding content you genuinely enjoy creating is crucial for long-term sustainability 
• Brand deals are accessible for smaller creators who develop authentic connections with their audience
• YouTube's discovery system has evolved beyond traditional metadata like categories and tags
• A/B testing titles and thumbnails can help optimization but won't compensate for weak content ideas
• Small adjustments to metadata can sometimes dramatically increase impressions and visibility
• Creating connections with viewers is more valuable than accumulating vanity metrics
• Even small creators with under 10k subscribers can secure sponsorship opportunities

If you're enjoying the podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review. Your support helps us reach more creators with this valuable information.