The Colin And Samir Podcast

Something big is happening in the creator world: creators are turning their online audiences into real-world destinations. From tours to immersive pop-ups, we’re entering the Experience Economy — a shift that resembles the early days of Disney. In this episode, we talk about why creators are moving offline, what it says about the volatility of digital media, and where the creator business model is heading next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix just made its biggest move yet against YouTube, and it is happening in podcasts. In this episode, we break down Netflix’s new partnership with Spotify, why they are licensing more than a dozen video podcasts from The Ringer, and what it means that these shows cannot appear in full on YouTube. We explain the real strategy behind the shift. Netflix wants to win back daily watch time, compete with YouTube’s 12.8% share of TV viewing, and build a pipeline of cheaper, more culturally relevant programming. But does any of this actually work? And why would a top creator take their show off YouTube in exchange for a one year Netflix deal under ten million dollars? We dig into the incentives for creators, why long form podcasts may already be past their cultural peak, how volatility on YouTube is shaping creator decisions, and what Netflix needs to do if it wants to become a real home for talk content. We also look at the TikTok and iHeart podcast network, whether exclusives still matter, and what this a

Today on The Colin and Samir Show we break down how Instagram became the center of the creator universe in 2025. We explain why Instagram is now the first app people open, how it “owns the phone screen,” and why the DM has become the most powerful way to share and grow. We also talk through revenue on Instagram and what we're seeing on the platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Colin and Samir Show we speak with filmmaker Owen Reiser. When he realized his work in nature documentaries was drying up, he decided to make his own. The result was Listers , a two-hour birdwatching documentary he made with his brother. It cost him $16,000 and he uploaded straight to YouTube with the ads turned off. It reached millions of people, built a community around his work, and created an interesting revenue model for films on YouTube. We talk with Owen about how he pulled it off, how much he made, why he turned down Hollywood offers, and what Listers says about the future of filmmaking on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably don’t think of your inbox as part of the creator economy, but email is a big business, and Substack is leading the charge. In this episode, Colin and Samir sit down with Rachel Karten, writer of the Substack newsletter Link in Bio, which covers the world of social media and has grown to more than 105,000 subscribers. Rachel left her role at Bon Appétit to build her own business as an independent creator, and today she earns income through paid subscriptions and brand partnerships on Substack. Colin, Samir and Rachel break down how email newsletters became one of the most powerful tools in the creator economy and why Substack’s model of direct audience ownership is changing how writers, journalists, and creators make a living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Faze is building what might be the first true TV studio for TikTok. His company, Gymnasium, develops short-form shows that reach millions of viewers — sometimes for less than the cost of a dinner out. In this episode, we talk about how he’s rethinking the studio model for the vertical video era, what it takes to turn a 90-second TikTok into an ongoing series, and why he believes TikTok is replacing the traditional TV pilot. We also get into how these shows make money, what Hollywood can learn from short-form creators, and how the next generation of entertainment will be developed on our phones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Colin and Samir break down the launch of OpenAI’s Sora 2 — and what it means for the creator economy. They explore how this new generation of AI video could change everything from audience expectations to the way creators produce content, and share their predictions for what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Download Premiere for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-premiere-video-editor/id6742757464 Casey Neistat unfiltered on the state of modern YouTube from our event Press Publish NYC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Press Publish NYC, Colin & Samir sat down with Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett to unpack how he built one of the world’s top podcasts by embracing failure as a strategy. Steven shared how his “failure team” runs rapid experiments to learn fast and improve, and how tools like pre-watch testing remove guesswork from creative decisions. Try out Copilot here: https://aka.ms/CopilotHome Check out the Copilot Recap of all sessions here: https://aka.ms/CopilotRecaps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Colin and Samir Show, we break down the microdramas, the 1-minute movies that are making billions. Check out Epidemic Sound: https://share.epidemicsound.com/colinandsamirSEP25 Use code COLINANDSAMIR for 50% your first two months Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YouTuber Michelle Khare and director Garrett Kennell join us to break down their most dangerous video yet: recreating Tom Cruise’s airplane stunt from Mission: Impossible. We get into how they pulled it off, the team behind the scenes, and what it’s like to build an independent media company from the ground up. Michelle also opens up about her failed Emmy campaign, the line between YouTube and Hollywood, and where creators fit into the future of entertainment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Download our Free 7-Point YouTube Checklist: http://colinandsamir.com/checklist We've asked 100s of professional YouTubers this question: How do you stand out on YouTube? We pulled out 37 minutes of the best advice from The Colin and Samir Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Josh Johnson is doing something almost no one else in stand-up is doing: releasing a new set every single week on YouTube. In this episode, we talk with Josh about how he’s built a 350M-view channel without Netflix or HBO, why stand-up comedians are some of the best observers of the human condition, and what creators can learn from the way he writes, performs, and publishes at such a relentless pace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come to Press Publish NYC: https://news.thepublishpress.com/press-publish-nyc In this solo episode, Samir breaks down the rise of Jubilee’s Surrounded series—and why the latest episode left him uneasy. He explores the line between conversation and spectacle, and what it means for the future of YouTube content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Colin and Samir sit down with Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and co-founder of DeepMind, for a conversation about the future of artificial intelligence and what it means for creators, culture, and the future of the internet. Mustafa shares how his journey from running a juice stand in Camden Market to building one of the world’s leading AI companies has shaped his view of technology and society. We dive into the emotional and creative potential of AI companions, the importance of trust and brand in the age of generative tools, and why the digital spaces we work in need more texture, personality, and "digital patina." Whether you're a creator, founder, or just trying to understand where the internet is going, this conversation will spark new ideas—and probably change the way you think about the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Try Spotter Studio: https://partner.spotterstudio.com/colinandsamir Nick DiGiovanni is one of the biggest food creators on the internet — and creators in every genre can learn a lot from his journey. On this episode of The Colin and Samir Show, we talk with Nick about how he went from studying at Harvard to building a global audience by making cooking fun, fast, and entertaining. We dive into how he approaches storytelling, scales his brand across platforms, and balances creativity with business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we catch up with Ryan Trahan midway through 50 States in 50 Days—his most ambitious YouTube series yet. Ryan breaks down how he's producing 20–30 minute daily videos while traveling to a new state every day, all to raise money for St. Jude (over $3.6M so far). We talk about building repeatable formats, interactive storytelling, and why this feels like YouTube’s version of “watercooler TV.” Plus, Ryan shares the discipline and intention behind the series—and what it’s taught him about impact, creativity, and generosity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Colin and Samir Show, we talk to Twitch CEO Dan Clancy about the platform’s unique place in internet culture, the creator economy, and the future of livestreaming. Dan shares why Twitch isn’t trying to compete with YouTube, how the platform supports community-driven creators, and what really happened with those exclusive Twitch contracts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out Epidemic Sound and get 50 in Five: https://share.epidemicsound.com/colinandsamirJUN25 YouTuber Anthony Potero aka Anthpo is one of the brightest minds when it comes to storytelling on the internet. He's responsible for the Timothee Chalamet Lookalike Contest, Cheeseball Man, and Kid with Crocs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We just got back from the most powerful week in advertising—and it wasn’t in New York or L.A., it was on the beaches of France. In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest takeaways from Cannes Lions 2025 that every YouTube creator needs to know. From why brands still struggle to measure creator impact, to the rise of deficit-financed YouTube series, to a major shift from the attention economy to the connection economy—this is what the future of the creator business looks like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices