From affiliate YouTube empires to billion-dollar creator platforms, this episode dives into how creators are turning strategy into scale.

Justin and Grace break down the real business behind money-making on the internet — from finance creators earning millions off links to brands like Adobe rebuilding their image around creators.

Inside:
💸 The truth about OF and the “1%” income curve
🎯 Why vice-based content (betting, thirst traps, alcohol) always wins attention
🏙 SF vs. LA creator culture — how environment shapes identity
🎨 Adobe Max’s rebrand into creator-first marketing
🤝 How to get into the right invite-only brand rooms
📈 Charlie Chang’s $4M/year YouTube machine and affiliate strategy
🔁 Recurring revenue from affiliate deals (and how creators can copy it)

Timestamps:
00:00 – The economics of OF and vice-based content
07:28 – SF vs. LA culture and how it shapes creator identity
13:42 – Adobe Max: how Adobe is reinventing for creators
20:30 – Creator-first branding and event strategy
27:03 – Inside the “real” brand parties and how to get invited
29:46 – Charlie Chang’s $4M affiliate empire
38:02 – How to actually make YouTube affiliate content work
41:24 – ChatGPT affiliate ideas + AI product monetization
43:20 – Closing thoughts

🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen
📍 How Creators Make Money — the podcast where we unpack the real strategies behind today’s smartest creators.