Building Value with Jason Nellis

Jason Nellis

Welcome to Building Value - I’m Jason Nellis, and I am obsessed with the Creative Economy. I’ve spent my career at the intersection of Creativity and Technology, building products at companies like Hulu and Facebook, all trying to make it easier and more valuable for artists to do what they love. Whether they’re content creators themselves, or the people building products that creators use, every one of them offer compelling ideas how to create something of lasting value. Thanks in advance for watching and listening. If you like what you hear and want to get more, please - subscribe on YouTube or wherever you consume fine podcasts products. And if you really love what you hear, leave a review. read less

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

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The Value of Listening to Data, Not People [Lauren Huttner]

The Value of Listening to Data, Not People [Lauren Huttner]

Leave feedback for Jason directly: https://watch.jogg.co/r/K1Nr "At the same time, I'm in this investment banking club. I was constantly told I wasn't good enough. I was constantly told I was never gonna get a job, I was never going to be able to pursue my dreams." Lauren Huttner, recent Northwestern graduate and founder of Pebble Community Labs, thumbed her nose at what "everyone else" was supposed to do, and found her own path throughout college. Convinced that the creator economy was her calling, she's built strategies for major creators, digesting mountains of data and testing so they can find the pixel-perfect edits and get their audiences get engaged. She contributed to a marketing company's acquisition, built her own agency from the ground up, and she's just getting started. Lauren and I chatted about her experience in college with those who doubted her, how she's launched Pebble into a scalable, profitable business, and where she's headed next. We touched on the different ways creators can use data - freely available in every platform they're publishing - to optimize their content and grow their audience. And we discussed how hard it is to grow a podcast audience (whoops!). The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

Episodes

The Value of Listening to Data, Not People [Lauren Huttner]

The Value of Listening to Data, Not People [Lauren Huttner]

Leave feedback for Jason directly: https://watch.jogg.co/r/K1Nr "At the same time, I'm in this investment banking club. I was constantly told I wasn't good enough. I was constantly told I was never gonna get a job, I was never going to be able to pursue my dreams." Lauren Huttner, recent Northwestern graduate and founder of Pebble Community Labs, thumbed her nose at what "everyone else" was supposed to do, and found her own path throughout college. Convinced that the creator economy was her calling, she's built strategies for major creators, digesting mountains of data and testing so they can find the pixel-perfect edits and get their audiences get engaged. She contributed to a marketing company's acquisition, built her own agency from the ground up, and she's just getting started. Lauren and I chatted about her experience in college with those who doubted her, how she's launched Pebble into a scalable, profitable business, and where she's headed next. We touched on the different ways creators can use data - freely available in every platform they're publishing - to optimize their content and grow their audience. And we discussed how hard it is to grow a podcast audience (whoops!). The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

The Value of Going Viral [Ryan Crowe]

The Value of Going Viral [Ryan Crowe]

Leave feedback for Jason directly: https://watch.jogg.co/r/K1Nr Until recently, Ryan Crowe was leading marketing and community building for Shortboxed, a startup with an online marketplace for verified and authenticated comic books. But after being let go due to cutbacks, he took to LinkedIn to announce his departure and ask for some help from his followers. What followed was a massive, explosive post that generated over 800K impressions and nearly 5,000 likes - a huge leap for someone with a few thousand connections. On today's podcast, we discuss how he handled that sudden leap in attention, blowback he experienced from commenters, and what he's doing with all the new social momentum. See the post for yourself: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7211832216098603009 The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

The Value of Not Giving Up [Pearl Gabel]

The Value of Not Giving Up [Pearl Gabel]

"I've been asked to speak to groups to try to explain [the voice of @NJGov]. I tie in the personality to a sort of bullied kid. A lot of people have this experience... And New Jersey is a bullied kid." Leading up to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, many different US government agencies took to social media to assuage, educate, and help constituents cut through the noise and deliver direct, meaningful help during trying times. @NJGov was a large part of that... along with a heaping side of Jersey personality. Chief architect of this unique voice was Pearl Gabel, former digital director for the State of New Jersey, and a former journalist/videographer turned marketing strategist. Pearl generously sat down with me to discuss her passion for all things Jersey, her post-government career path, and the challenges of building your own brand name when you've spent so much time doing it for others. You can find Pearl on social media platforms @PearlGabel, and reach out to her directly through her current agency, http://moxie-strategies.com

The Value of Doing the Work

The Value of Doing the Work

Leave feedback for Jason directly: https://watch.jogg.co/r/K1Nr Bad News - I don't have a guest this week. Good News - I have lots of information to share about my experience! In lieu of an interview this week, I'm looking back on what's worked in the first two dozen episodes of this podcast, what isn't, and what I'm doing differently in the future. The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

The Value of Keeping it Weird [Nathan Allebach]

The Value of Keeping it Weird [Nathan Allebach]

If you were a person on the internet - especially Twitter - between 2017-2021, you've likely read Nathan's tweets. As the marketing lead on Steak-umm (yes, the frozen beef sheets), Nathan was responsible for taking a tiny food company most folks had never heard of and turning them into a genuine internet celebrity. Not with a spokesperson, but as a brand, offering a buffet of memes, reactions to other companies like Wendy's and Arby's, and philosophical musings usually reserved for college campuses. Nathan and I chatted about how he came to be responsible for the account, the quirk of timing with the Joe Rogan podcast that helped launch the account, and the peculiar tone set by a previous social media lead that helped pave the way to "Steak-umm Bless". We also discuss how brands in the modern era could (or could not) replicate the success of yesteryear, and how changing platforms have made it more challenging for his work.

The Value of Moving Forward [Rachel Rhee]

The Value of Moving Forward [Rachel Rhee]

Rachel Rhee is no stranger to making something good out of something terrible. As a survivor of kidney cancer, she's taken her experiences of fear and doubt and turned them into a beautiful, creative output - a podcast where she explores how others have processed their grief into something wonderful. Rachel and I sat down to discuss how she formulated her podcast, the ways in which her guests offer their stories to a larger audience, and how she has moved through her own trauma. We chatted about what I could do to improve my own output as well - after all, I'm always asking for feedback! Listen to Rachel's podcast "You Are Here": Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-are-here/id1704790802 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67hOdm0GcduYWtPuE1KieE Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lODA4ODcyOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

The Value of Learning by Doing [Brett Dashevsky]

The Value of Learning by Doing [Brett Dashevsky]

Brett Dashevsky is at the heart of the New York creator world. As host and founder of Creator Economy NYC, he and his team build a monthly program of engaging speakers from all across the ecosystem. He's also the Head of Content Creators for Kickstarter, working to help demonstrate income alternatives to merch stores and subscription plans. Between these two amazing endeavors, he took time out of his busy schedule to share some of what he's learned from interviewing and partnering with some of the top creator talent in the US. He shares his advice for growing your audience ("just take the work seriously!"), what Kickstarter can offer creators who want to fundraise, and what to do when an advertiser wants to take over a conversation with a creator (spoiler: don't let them!).

The Value of Creating Opportunities [Jerome Rand]

The Value of Creating Opportunities [Jerome Rand]

Like what you hear? Leave a review and let us know what you think! Jerome Rand is a remarkable being. His upbeat attitude and constant smile belies the experience of being totally alone for most of a year, sailing around the world and being totally exposed to the elements. Having turned that time in his life into a public speaking career and podcast, Jerome has spent the last 3.5 years using his story to inspire people to seek their own voyages. Jerome and I sat down again (virtually) to get an update on his progress, to discuss how we're supporting one another's work, and to dissect one another's strategies for publishing and growth.

The Value of Hard Work [Jacklyn Dallas]

The Value of Hard Work [Jacklyn Dallas]

"Working hard and being kind is a great legacy to leave behind. Hopefully, it would be like always showing up and trying to be a really good person and making people feel better, like at the end of the interaction that they felt at the beginning." Since starting her YouTube career at the age of 13, Jacklyn Dallas has amassed a sizable audience across multiple social media platforms. That, by itself, would be interesting enough; but when you look closer at her work ethic, her ability to move past projects that don't work, and her incredible positive attitude, you come to understand that the success she's experiencing isn't luck or timing. It's perseverance. Less an interview and more a conversation, my chat with Jacklyn revealed a great deal about her approach to work (if it's not fun, why do it?), her shift towards interviews (including her recent interview with Google CEO Sundar Pichai), and what she'd want to be remembered for through her work.

The Value of Play [Christopher Chapman]

The Value of Play [Christopher Chapman]

Ever looked at the piles of work on your desk and thought "there's got to be a way to make this fun - or at least less boring?" Then you've summarized the thesis of my guest's entire career. Chris Chapman is the former Global Creativity & Innovation Director at Disney, and the founder of Imaginology —a global innovation agency established in 2019 that specializes in creative collaboration workshops, design sprints, and development projects. His interactive and entertaining approach and kind yet rebellious attitude drive real change for companies and individuals. His recent partnerships span a diverse range of professionals, from Oscar-winning producers and animation directors to Fortune 500 leaders, academic researchers, psychologists, even surgeons and the Sesame Workshop. During our chat, we looked the trajectory of Chris's career - how he climbed the ranks at Disney, started his own work, explores how AI can be a positive force for creativity, and how solo creators/entrepreneurs can employ the modalities he teaches for their own use.

The Value of Musical Mayhem [Loren DiGiorgi]

The Value of Musical Mayhem [Loren DiGiorgi]

Never take yourself too seriously - that's the advice to take away from this interview with Loren DiGiorgi. As a comedic musician (slash musical comedian), Loren's short-form videos are a throwback to the dad jokes and eye-roll punch lines many of us got from our parents and grandparents. But underneath that silly veneer is a serious musician with a lot to say about the changing musical landscape. From AI and its effects on the broader musical population, to the joys and value of EDM, Loren offers a positive view on how the modern age enables more and more people to access music - even young kids - which can only benefit everyone.

The Value of Active Listening [Michael Fisher | Mr. Mobile]

The Value of Active Listening [Michael Fisher | Mr. Mobile]

Michael Fisher, known sometimes as @TheMrMobile and others as @Captain2Phones, has been a consistent and valuable voice in the tech review community for the better part of a decade. But when you go from being one of a few voices in an industry to one of hundreds, how do you stand out? The answer, according to Michael, is consistent quality and innovative scripting. We discussed a number of different aspects of his illustrious career, from the beginnings of the Mr. Mobile brand (and a reminder that, no, Michael's not an independent creator, but is in fact part of a larger company), how his approach to reporting has changed over the years, and most recently, his experiences co-founding a physical product company that harkens back to the days of that satisfying Blackberry clicks, bringing the experience to a modern touch screen audience. (Also we nerded out about theatre stuff, but that's because we're giant theatre nerds.)

The Value of Love is Blind [Grace McCarrick]

The Value of Love is Blind [Grace McCarrick]

Grace McCarrick is one of those rare interviews where the subject is funny, interesting, and compelling - all at the same time. Grace is a self-titled Culture Coach, as she works with established businesses to improve and develop their existing company culture into something greater than the sum of its parts. She's also a keen social media content creator, having recently unlocked a strong strategy to go from 3-10K followers on TikTok in less than 3 months, with no signs of slowing down. Grace and I chatted about a number of topics, including discussions of her TikTok strategy, her ability to disconnect from comments on the internet, and how the Netflix show Love is Blind applies to work (yes, really).

Gadgets, Golf, and Growth: The Tech Ninja Tell-All [Kevin Nether]

Gadgets, Golf, and Growth: The Tech Ninja Tell-All [Kevin Nether]

Kevin Nether ( @Techninjaspeaks ) is one of YouTube’s best voices for product reviews. His videos range from the typical fare you’d expect, like TVs and Gaming Devices, to the less obvious but still important, like refrigerators and vacuum cleaners. His grounded, straightforward approach to talking about tech has earned him hundreds of thousands of followers, and his ten plus years in the review space has earned him the respect and collaboration of brands like Samsung, Sony, TLC, Google, and more. We discussed how his work has shifted in the last year, such as leaving his 9 to 5 and committing to YouTube as his primary income. We looked at how he edits his work these days, leaving behind the fad of retention editing and focusing on simple, effective storytelling. And we compared notes on what it’s like to work from home with a kid running around trying to get your attention. The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

Matchmaking on YouTube [Gordon Saft]

Matchmaking on YouTube [Gordon Saft]

Making new friends. It’s one of the hardest things to do as an adult. Building a connection and keeping it going can be a lot of work, even when you have lots of interests in common. For creators who are looking to collaborate on new videos, it can be 10x even more difficult. But today’s guest is here to help you solve that problem. Today, I’m chatting with Gordon Saft, founder and CEO of Artnership. His mission: to enable individuals around the world creating media to work better together, and to create new possibilities for collaboration. Gordon and I chatted about the upcoming launch of Artnership’s app on mobile devices, on his experiences at Google and Meta working with creators in the worlds of News, Podcasts, and the Metaverse, and about the challenges of building a two sided marketplace from scratch. He offers a compelling perspective that, despite how difficult it is to forge real connections on social media, technology can still be an important tool for building and networking between creators, leading to new creative and business opportunities. Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

Navigating VidCon in a Pandemic [Jim Louderback]

Navigating VidCon in a Pandemic [Jim Louderback]

The term “influencer” gets thrown around a lot these days, and it’s not hard to understand why. The creator economy continues to grow and grow, enabling independent artists and thinkers to express themselves and make money doing it. But like all trends, there were those at the beginning who saw sparks of potential, and thought “what if I could do something with this?” One of those early thinkers - perhaps one of the very first - was Jim Louderback. Jim generously chatted with me about how he started as a product tester at Ziff-Davis Publishing, building a YouTube-centric network in Revision3, then leading the influencer convention VidCon through acquisition - and later, the Pandemic. He shares his philosophies in how to experiment as a creator, how to make teams that can address new challenges, and his thoughts on how to keep the work of building fun, even when it’s not.

Hulu's First PM [Betina Chan-Martin]

Hulu's First PM [Betina Chan-Martin]

She was an early Amazon engineer. She helped build Hulu from the ground up. And she made Joseph Gordon-Levitt's dreams of creator collaboration a reality. She's Betina Chan-Martin, and her career has been nothing short of remarkable. Betina and I chatted about how she found her footing early as an engineer, but pivoted to being a PM; what her experience of working with JGL on HitRecord taught her about blending product vision;. and how she's using poker as a method of education for women in tech. Like what you see/hear? Subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you consume the finest of podcast products. The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

Sailing Into Oblivion [Jerome Rand]

Sailing Into Oblivion [Jerome Rand]

Jerome Rand ( @SailingIntoOblivion ) is a professional sailor. (Yes, that's very much a real job still, not just on reality shows.) Having spent decades sailing both as part of a crew and solo across the world, he's gathered incredible experiences of beauty, loneliness, and adventure. Jerome sat down with me to talk about how he's taken his experiences and turned them into a growing podcast following, with an Instagram and Patreon following to boot. We talk about the impact of modern technology on sailing (Starlink, anyone?), the isolation and mental health challenges of spending so much time alone, and what he hopes to see on his 80th birthday. The JN Show Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

How to Make Fans and Influence People [Arianna Tong]

How to Make Fans and Influence People [Arianna Tong]

Arianna (Ari) Tong is a relationship influencer on TikTok whose sole goal is to help people identify and break bad habits with their partners. During our interview, we talk about what systems she uses to keep her content growing, how she feels about changing platform trends, and asks Jason a personal question! The JN Show Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too [Jamie Li]

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too [Jamie Li]

Jamie Li, a home baker turned business owner, discusses her journey from her kitchen to her successful baking business. In addition to discussing how she won on HBO Max's show Baketopia (hosted by @RosannaPansino ), she shares how she transitioned from amateur baking to launching her own baking company, and the role Instagram played in growing her business and getting on the show. You can find Jamie on Instagram at http://instagram.com/jamiecakesf The Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUjBzgS9MfQ4arXwyeKwo2ehifKp-8Hi