This episode breaks down how to choose your niche the right way â and how to validate your membership idea before you build content. Youâll learn five practical steps to niche by problem, test demand quickly, and launch with confidence.
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Most creators overbuild before launching their membership. In this episode, I share the exact structure you need on day one: how many videos, what kind of lessons, what resources to include, and the one recurring experience that increases retention. If youâre thinking about launching soon, this is your blueprint.
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Wondering how to start a membership or whether your audience is big enough to launch? In this episode, we walk through a simple five-step process to validate your idea, build a minimum viable membership, and attract your first paying members â even with a small following. Youâll learn how top creators pre-sell their memberships, what type of content to include on day one, and the easiest way to tell if youâre ready to launch.
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This week on The Upload, Rob breaks down some of the most exciting creator-economy movesâfrom Tayla Cannonâs $1.1M creator-led product raise, to Electrify Video Partners launching a physical trivia game with Veritasium, to Rachelâs Fit Pilates dropping her new RFP App with Uscreen.
Plus: YouTube quietly testing a new in-app sharing and chat feature⊠and what that means for creators.
Rob also reflects on celebrating four years at Uscreen, and the bigger shift heâs witnessed firsthand: creators evolving from content to companies to products people can actually touch.
A quick, insight-packed episode for anyone building in the creator economy.
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In this episode of The Upload, Rob sits down with Caesar Hernandez, founder of Icon Funnels, whose clients range from globally known creators to iconic real-world entrepreneurs â including the minds behind Nashvilleâs skyline.
Caesar shares the real playbook behind building a sustainable creator business in 2025 and beyond, including:
âą Why traditional âcoachingâ is declining â and what replaces it
âą How AI is reshaping creator teams, copywriting, and operations
âą The surprising trend of offline business owners wanting to become creators
âą Why creators and entrepreneurs each want what the other has â and how to build partnerships that benefit both
âą The #1 skill creators must develop: making products for the audience, not for themselves
âą How he helps high-level creators transition into owning IP, memberships, and digital ecosystems
âą The mindset shift that changed everything for him â including shutting down a seven-figure gym and reinventing his path
Caesar also breaks down the business model behind Icon Funnels, the rise of strategic partnerships with creators, and why quieting the noise is essential to building a long-term career.
Whether youâre a creator, a coach, or an operator looking to scale, this episode is packed with grounded insights, hard-earned wisdom, and actionable strategies you wonât hear anywhere else.
Follow Caesar: @therealcaesarhernandez
Learn more: IconFunnels.com
Join the masterminds: IconicMasterminds.com
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Creators arenât just building audiences anymoreâtheyâre building leagues.
This episode breaks down how Jomboy Media partnered with MLB, hired TikTokâs former agency lead Brett Joss, and built a model for multi-year, league-style sponsorships.
We dive into what this means for creators, brands, and the future of sports mediaâand the lessons you can apply to your own creator business right now.
If youâve launched a membershipâor plan toâthis oneâs for you.
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Most creators think content is the product. But in memberships, content is just the start.
In this episode of The Upload, Rob breaks down a conversation with a former platform exec turned membership builderâand shares the âLadder of Deliverablesâ framework: the 5 key layers that turn casual subscribers into loyal members.
Why ad-free content isnât enough (except when it is)
How exclusivity creates perceived value
The overlooked power of smart content filtering
What âaccessâ really meansâand how to do it without burnout
Why community is your stickiest growth lever
If youâve launched a membershipâor plan toâthis oneâs for you.
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What do layoffs at Amazon Studios and Paramount have to do with YouTubers and membership platforms? A lot more than you might think.
In this episode, Rob Balasabas explores the unexpected but growing trend of TV and film pros pivoting into the creator economy â not as influencers, but as producers, editors, and creative talent behind the scenes. What does this mean for creators, brands, and the future of content production?
Rob shares insights from almost a decade in the space, patterns heâs seeing across Uscreen creators, and what this shift could mean for budgets, expectations, and the kinds of businesses creators are building next.
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I just got back from Adobe MAX 2025, and itâs clear â weâre entering a new era for creators.In this episode, I break down 8 powerful takeaways that will reshape how you create, grow, and monetize your content in 2025 and beyond. Weâll talk about:
Whether youâre a YouTuber, educator, or digital entrepreneur â this episode will help you think bigger, create smarter, and stay ahead of the curve.
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The creator economy is moving fast â from billion-dollar acquisitions to record-breaking payouts and new rules of the game for influencers. In this episode of The Upload, Rob Balasabas breaks down the weekâs biggest stories and shares lessons every creator needs right now.
Youâll hear about:
Vimeoâs $1.38B acquisition by Bending Spoons and what it signals for creators
The surge in mergers & acquisitions reshaping the creator landscape
Why brands are demanding better influencer marketing measurement
Plus: insights from Robâs recent LinkedIn posts on building real businesses, listening to customers, and creating systems that last
Whether youâre a full-time creator, a founder in the space, or just curious about where this industry is headed, this episode will give you the context â and the challenge â to think bigger than views and likes.
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In this episode, I sit down with Anabel Otero â yoga, pilates, and meditation teacher turned digital entrepreneur â to break down how she went from posting free content on YouTube to building a loyal audience of 1.3 million subscribers and a thriving paid membership business.
Anabel shares her exact journey, including:
The simple promotion strategy she uses that never feels âsalesyâ
Her mindset around pricing, scarcity, and creating long-term value
The lessons sheâs learned about building a sustainable creator business
Whether youâre a creator just getting started or a seasoned entrepreneur trying to scale, this conversation is loaded with practical, real-world insights.
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Itâs a stacked episodeâpress play and just into it!
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+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live
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Itâs a stacked episodeâpress play and just into it!
Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter
+ https://balasabas.substack.com
Thank you to our partners:
+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live
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Connect with me on LinkedIn
+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabas
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+ https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabas
Business + Partnership Inquiries: robert.balasabas@gmail.com
Itâs a stacked episodeâpress play and just into it!
Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter
+ https://balasabas.substack.com
Thank you to our partners:
+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live
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Business + Partnership Inquiries: robert.balasabas@gmail.com
Itâs a stacked episodeâpress play and just into it!
Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter
+ https://balasabas.substack.com
Thank you to our partners:
+ Ecamm http://ecamm.balasabas.live
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One of YouTubeâs most beloved outdoor creators just walked away from 15 million subscribers â but the story isnât as simple as it sounds. In this episode of The Upload, we dive into why Luke Nichols, creator of Outdoor Boys, is quitting YouTube to protect his kids⊠and why his next move might surprise you.
Plus, weâre talking Kai Cenatâs ambitious (and possibly final?) Streamer University, Joe Rogan getting knocked out of the top podcast spot on YouTube, and the Sidemen making creator history with a Netflix nod.
Itâs a stacked episodeâpress play and just into it!
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Austin Maddox has over 70K followers across Instagram and TikTok, a thriving online membership called Flow with Austin, and brand deals with major names like Aritzia.
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If youâve ever wondered âHow do I actually make money from this content thing?ââthis episode is for you. Iâm sharing the exact framework creators use to monetize smarter (without chasing the algorithm). Itâs short, packed with practical tips, and includes a free invite for a coaching session with me.
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The Sidemen just launched their own venture capital fund â UPSIDE VC â and itâs a massive move for the creator economy. In this episode, we break down what this means not just for the Sidemen, but for you as a creator, entrepreneur, or brand in the space.
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In todayâs episode of The Upload, weâre diving into three of the biggest headlines in the creator world:
- Meta just launched Edits, a standalone video app built specifically for creators â not just Instagram users
- Bluesky is rolling out a new blue check verification system with a unique twist you wonât find on X.
- And Roblox is giving creators more control with regional pricing for global monetization.
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