Jay Clouse

Sam Vander Wielen is an attorney turned entrepreneur who built the go-to legal template shop for online businesses. Her flagship product, the Ultimate Bundle, a package of fill-in-the-blank contracts and video trainings, has generated over $8 million in lifetime revenue and now earns close to $2 million per year with essentially one full-time employee. She published her first book with Hachette in April 2025, and she runs everything through a single evergreen webinar funnel that quietly generates six figures a month between launches. I met Sam at Craft and Commerce last year, and when I saw her post about 10,000+ webinar registrants and a $500,000 launch, I knew I had to talk to her. What blew me away wasn't the numbers; it was the simplicity. One product. One funnel. Two launches a year. Relentless customer research. She's the clearest example I've seen of someone who found the main thing and refused to let anything pull her off it. Sam Vander Wielen Sam's Sidebar Newsletter The Ultimate Bundle Book: When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy (Hachette, 2025) On Your Terms Podcast Sam on Barrett Brooks' podcast (referenced in intro) VideoAsk Growth in Reverse (Chenell Basilio) — referenced interview Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Jay introduces Sam and her $8M+ legal template business (02:27) What the Ultimate Bundle actually is — and why it hasn't changed much since 2017 (03:47) The Olive Garden effect: how Sam thinks about community and lifetime customer support (10:00) The $500K launch breakdown — what went right and why it wasn't an accident (13:28) Sam's full launch strategy: the teaser period, invite period, and treating registration like concert tickets (18:03) The on-webinar bonus that drove 128 purchases live — and why a book beat a $100 discount (22:56) How Sam uses VideoAsk to boost show-up rates and make 11,000 registrants feel personally seen (28:39) Voice of customer research: quarterly customer calls, AI transcript synthesis, and why Sam still reads the raw transcripts herself (33:14) Why working less keeps making the business better — and what the 'entrepreneurial gap year' actually means (36:04) What motivates Sam (honest answer: fear) — and what Jay relates to in that (42:00) Why AI isn't a threat to Sam's business — and how she reframed the 'doubt language' from Google to Claude *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE #292: Chenell Basilio — The state of email in 2026, growing your list without social media, and new predictions. *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Creator Science Newsletter 🚀 Get CreatorHQ 🧪 Join The Lab 🧞 Get a Personalized Offer *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter <a href="h

This episode is a little different. Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit , with over a million copies sold, reached out and offered to do something I didn't expect: a live coaching session, recorded, here on the podcast. The topic: my delegation issue. Not the tactics (I know the tactics). Something deeper has its foot on the brake. What unfolded was one of the most honest, vulnerable conversations I've had on this show. Michael walked me through the Immunity to Change framework, where we uncovered that I'm getting more out of the status quo than I realize. There are commitments I have to the way things are right now that I haven't even named. We named them. And then we ran small experiments to test whether the things I'm most afraid of would actually come true. The Coaching Habit (10th Anniversary Edition) MBS Works (Michael Bungay Stanier) Box of Crayons Immunity to Change (Kegan & Lahey) Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) The inner monologue: lack of courage (00:22) Introducing Michael Bungay Stanier — and why this episode is different (01:46) Michael's outreach: 'Your delegation issue is probably hard change, not easy change' (03:24) The setup: Jay's wife is the only other 'full time employee' (08:58) Easy change vs. hard change — and why more tactics won't solve hard change (14:24) Defining the real challenge: more time on the business, not in it (17:26) The embarrassing list: all the things Jay is doing (and not doing) contrary to his goal (22:48) Flipping the script: what would you be worried about if you actually delegated? (26:30) Competing commitments — the foot on the brake even while pumping the accelerator (28:42) 'I'm committed to not let anybody else work in the business' (34:15) The apocalypse: what if it all goes wrong? The deepest fear, named (39:09) Reframe: it's not a lack of courage, it's a protective system (40:15) Small experiments to test the fears, not just grit through them (42:28) Experiment #1: Give Izzy more autonomy and outcome ownership (45:10) Experiment #2: Lead sponsorship conversations, test revenue potential (47:01) Experiment #3: Protect morning time for on-the-business thinking (55:44) 'How fascinating' — shifting physical state to get out of anxiety (59:35) The insight: running toward something vs. running away from something *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → #82: Michael Bungay Stanier – How to Begin Setting a Worthy Goal *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 → Creator Science Newsletter 🚀 → Get CreatorHQ 🧪 → Join The Lab 🧞‍♂️ → Get a Personalized Offer *** CONNECT 🐦 → Connect on Twitter 📸 → Connect on Instagram 💼 → Connect on LinkedIn 📹 → Subscribe on YouTube *** SPONSORS 💼 → View all sponsors Learn more abo

Joy Sullivan is a Portland-based poet who quit her corporate job mid-pandemic and built a thriving creative business through writing carousels on Instagram (115K followers), her Substack "Necessary Salt" (23K subscribers), and a 250-member paid writing community called Sustenance on Circle. She's a former Lab member, and in 2024, she published her first book, Instructions for Traveling West, with Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. What makes her path genuinely unusual: she grew her Instagram predominantly through writing, not video, and she's proof that you can build a real creative business around poetry, which almost nobody does. In this conversation, we get into the tension between craft and platform—her two mantras ("be a poet, not a preacher" and "my vulnerability is not social currency"), her exact Instagram carousel workflow using Canva and ManyChat, why she deliberately walked away from $60K/year in Substack revenue to protect her second book, her controversial take on growing slowly, and what she'd do differently with her first published collection. Plus my own honest reflection on the creative reset I've been living through since my daughter was born. Joy Sullivan Poet Necessary Salt on Substack Sustenance Writing Community Instructions for Traveling West Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Opening quote: “There is no amount of followers worth the sacrifice” (02:08) How Jay describes Joy’s unique approach to building a creative business (02:49) The landscape for writers today — platform pressure meets craft demands (05:19) Why Instagram, not X or LinkedIn, is actually the friendliest platform for writers (08:21) Joy’s two mantras: “Be a poet, not a preacher” + “My vulnerability is not social currency” (11:38) Memorable vs. marketable — and why slow growth protects your art (12:25) Is creating art divorced from performance a privilege or a strategy for newcomers? (14:06) Jay’s biological hard reset after having a daughter — and cosplaying an old self (17:10) The Medusa metaphor: artists weren’t built to withstand this level of visibility (20:30) Reconciling “be a poet” with running a teaching business (22:53) Why certainty is a red flag in 2026 (24:52) Defining “poet” — a container to hold the unsayable (26:00) Instagram vs. Substack: which one she’d keep if forced to choose (27:22) The $60K Substack year — and why she deliberately walked away from it (29:34) How full-time writers actually pay their bills (hint: not book sales) (32:00) Why you should NOT turn on paid Substack subscriptions immediately (34:56) The Instagram carousel workflow: Substack → test → pull excerpts → Canva → ManyChat (39:48) The cat synchronicity moment — and the “scars not scabs” philosophy (44:50) What she’d do differently about her first book (47:31) What she’d change about Substack if she could (48:32) Final advice: fall in love with your craft before chasing an audience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world is changing faster than ever, and sometimes it feels like the old playbooks just aren't working anymore. In this solo episode, I share 12 opportunities I see for creators in 2026—ideas that range from the practical to the philosophical, from the obvious to the genuinely weird. These aren't predictions. They're possibilities. And you don't need to pursue all of them. But keeping a running list of where opportunity exists can help you find the direction that feels most right for you. Some of these ideas might surprise you. Long-form writing making a comeback? In 2026? But I think there's real evidence for it. Others might feel more intuitive—like the continued importance of community, or the value of live learning as self-paced courses lose their luster. And then there are the weirder ones: effortful art, doing the unscalable, being a "good hang." The through-line? In a world racing toward automation and optimization, the most human things are becoming the most valuable. X's Long-Form Writing Competition Substack jay.blog (Jay's Substack) Jay's Writing on Instagram Good Hang Podcast (Amy Poehler) The Lab Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction: Where the opportunities lie in 2026 (01:03) Idea #1: Long-form writing is making a comeback (04:46) Idea #2: Demonstrations and "show don't tell" content (06:37) Idea #3: Verifiable human experiences (why we still watch sports) (08:44) Idea #4: Online community is more important than ever (12:33) Idea #5: Live learning over self-paced courses (15:29) Idea #6: Local media and community building (17:47) Idea #7: AI for normies (niche-specific AI content) (19:41) Idea #8: Effortful art in an AI world (21:54) Idea #9: Being unapologetically yourself (be weirder) (24:29) Idea #10: Doing the unscalable (27:00) Idea #11: Fewer moves, bolder strokes (29:07) Idea #12: Being a good hang (32:03) Recap of all 12 ideas *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → #292: Chenell Basilio — The state of email in 2026, growing your list without social media, and new predictions. *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Creator Science Newsletter 🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system) 🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ Get a Personalized Offer *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SPONSORS 💼 View all sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I am sharing an episode between Josh hall and myself. Josh hall is a good friend of mine, a business owner, and a creator here in Columbus, Ohio. His business is all about web design and he has a podcast called Web Design Business with Josh Hall, and I was a recent guest. So this is a conversation with Josh as friends, talking about what I've learned over the last year. Plus as a new father, how that has impacted my work and why it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but definitely a choice I would make 10 times out of 10. Subscribe to Web Design Business with Josh Hall 2024 Year in Review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Jay Clouse: Creator Science Insights (06:37) Streamlined Video Content Creation (10:52) Balancing Work, Parenthood, and Time (20:42) Entrepreneurship: Survival and Uncertainty (25:37) Reflecting on Event Insights (28:28) Business Books vs. Viral Posts (34:53) Balancing Timeliness and Evergreen Content (37:59) Struggling with Content Switching (46:17) Balancing Priorities and Podcasts (51:55) Balancing Priorities and Passions (58:36) Low-Priced Offers Drive Sales (01:01:00) Scaling Success with Live Ads (01:06:32) Jay: Creator Science Highlights *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I want to take you behind the scenes in The Lab this week. Every month I do a retro where I look at the months that just passed, things that went well, things that didn't go well, things that I'm changing because of that. I wanted to share a version of that here on the channel and on the podcast feed, and hopefully by learning more about what's going on in my head, not only do you feel a little bit seen and understood, but maybe it gives you some insight and unlocks something for you in your own business as well. So in this episode, I'll be looking at the last quarter of the year. I want to look at my business, how it's performing so far, and where we're heading. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Quarterly Business Review Insights 06:26 Parenting, Priorities, and Adaptation 08:09 Lab and Book Priorities 11:51 Refocusing on Creator Priorities 15:41 Ambition on My Terms 19:40 Writing, Thinking, and Mimetic Desire 21:40 Content Repurposing Across Platforms 25:56 Content & Product Strategy Update 30:29 Lab Membership Updates & Features 31:54 Making the Book a Success 35:44 Balancing the Perfect Title 38:11 Struggling to Do Less *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. This week, I'm sharing with you a coaching conversation with John McBride. John is the co-founder of Fatherhood Unlocked, which offers digital products and group coaching programs to help high-performing dads level up as leaders, parents, and husbands. This is exactly my jam right now. John is a member of The Lab, and this call is what I refer to as a Hot Seat in The Lab. Hot seats are one-on-one conversations between me and a member. But we invite other members to join the call live and ask questions or share ideas in the chat. In this conversation, you'll hear me talk John through how I'd think about his different options, his ideas, and ultimately prioritize his path moving forward with Fatherhood Unlocked. Join The Lab Learn more about Fatherhood Unlocked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ John's ⁠Website⁠ / ⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Prioritizing Product Focus for Dads 04:17 Improving Fatherhood Course Conversion 07:26 Targeting Expecting Dads' Challenges 10:41 Fatherhood Readiness Quiz Initiative 13:56 Birth and Postpartum Partner Education 20:00 Post-Baby Relationship Journey Insights 24:01 Optimizing Product Strategy for Fathers 26:06 Simplicity Over Broad Product Suite 31:19 1:1 Coaching Boosts New Dad Program 33:11 Ideal Support for New Dads 37:38 Streamlined Marketing and Upselling Strategy 41:46 Bundle Upgrade Incentive Strategy 42:59 Defining Your Brand's Signature Product 48:09 Quiz-Driven Upselling Strategy 50:07 Help Us Reach 500 Ratings *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. We have a different type of episode this week. I recently shared some stories on my social media about being a dad, and my good friend Jay Acunzo reached out and said we should do an episode talking about being parents and creators. I thought that was a great idea because, as I have spent the last year as a father, it's become so much more obvious to me that the voices in the space we pay attention to are not parents and do not quite have the same constraints and priorities that parents do. If you are a parent and you're doing this creator thing and you feel crazy because it seems like everyone has more time and can do a lot more than you are, you might find this to be an enjoyable, relatable listen. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jay's Website / Instagram / LinkedIn / YouTube *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Parent-Creator Insights with Jay Acunzo 05:57 Life Sprinting: Parenting & Entrepreneurship 08:42 Distracted Parenting Moment 13:20 Transformational Life Experiences 14:46 From Creation to Management 20:12 Parenting and Career Amid Pandemic 23:58 Parenting Pioneers Among Peers 24:37 Blank Canvas vs. Paint By Numbers 28:25 Balancing Business and Relationship Priorities 32:22 Fatherhood and Social Connections 36:09 Balancing Work, Parenting, and Storytelling 37:47 Embracing Efficiency in Parenthood 43:32 Parenthood Deepens Understanding of Parents 46:31 Balancing Parenthood and Business Identity 47:47 Embracing Simplicity in Content Creation 52:18 Combining Friend Groups Dilemma 54:35 Balancing Public Persona and Family *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rev

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special “Offline Recap” episode, host Jay Clouse takes us behind the scenes of The Lab’s very first in-person event—now officially dubbed “Lab Offline.” After years of thriving as an online community, this was a bold experiment to bring members together face-to-face in Boise, Idaho. Jay walks us through every step—how he chose the event style based on direct member feedback, the unexpected venue logistics (including a nerve-wracking run-in with a $43,000 hotel contract), the financial ups and downs, and the nuts and bolts of thoughtful event design. He shares candid lessons on budgeting, planning, creating meaningful connections, and gathering feedback, with plenty of wins and a few honest hiccups along the way. You’ll hear what made the event unforgettable for attendees, the feedback that will shape future editions, and Jay’s vision for making these gatherings a cornerstone of the Creator Science community. Whether you’re curious about community building, event planning, or just want inspiration for creating deeper connections in your own work, you’ll find a treasure trove of insights in this episode. So sit back and enjoy this honest, insightful look inside the evolution of Creator Science’s Lab Offline experience! ⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Event Planning Success Breakdown 05:28 Event Duration and Attendance Insights 07:11 Understanding Event Cost Drivers 10:13 Negotiating Group Hotel Rates 16:21 Last-Minute Event Adjustments Summary 18:32 Learning from Event Expenses 21:31 Event Planning for Meaningful Gatherings 26:46 Business Event: Sharing & Mastermind Activities 28:06 Facilitating Collaborative Interactions 33:16 Event Preparation and Dietary Feedback 37:25 "Event Planning Improvements" 40:08 Event Planning: Duration and Logistics 42:38 Event Prep: Lessons Learned 45:53 International Community Event Plans *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #221: Ryan Hawk – Anatomy of a $12,500 membership earning $400,000+ per year → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ #232: Dan Andrews – Secrets of building a 1300-member, international community (with in-person events) → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ #248: Justin Moore - Lessons from hosting his first 3-day event *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (privat

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse pulls back the curtain on his business with a transparent look at his May Retro—an in-depth monthly review where he walks through key metrics, goals, wins, challenges, and behind-the-scenes decisions. You’ll get a firsthand listen to the kind of content usually reserved for The Lab community, as Jay shares real revenue numbers, growth strategies, creative experiments, and honest reflections about everything from team building to business structure to personal growth. Whether you’re curious about what drives Creator Science or looking for inspiration and practical insights to apply to your own creative journey, this episode delivers a candid, actionable tour through the ever-evolving world of modern content entrepreneurship. If you enjoy going behind the scenes, you’ll love this one—let’s dive in! ⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Event Planning Amid Illness 05:41 Course Sales Surge with Email Automation 09:26 "X Content Repurposing Success" 10:15 Shifting Focus: YouTube Over Social Media 15:50 Family Vacation & Home Updates 18:43 Over-Budget Event: Trust Seminar Dilemma 20:31 Crafting Trust: A Vital Skill 24:39 "Expanding Offline Community Effectively" 26:17 Tool Upgrades and Membership Strategy *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #258: Q&A: Goals for our YouTube videos, determining when a new offer is a distraction, validating a product idea, and more *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse takes listeners behind the scenes of the The Lab’s vibrant community. Fresh off organizing The Lab’s first-ever major in-person event in Boise, Jay shares a candid update about creating real-world connections among full-time creators and what these gatherings mean for the future of The Lab membership. But that’s just the beginning. This episode is a front-row seat to the magic that happens during The Lab’s monthly office hours. Jay and a panel of talented creators—including Tom Burden, Pat Gostek, Anna Reich, Travis Ference, Anais Cisneros, and David Fortin—engage in open, practical discussions about growing a creator business. They tackle real-world questions: how to think about the purpose behind each video, launching masterminds without losing focus, building community vs. courses vs. memberships, and the ever-elusive challenge of monetizing as a creator in today’s landscape. Plus, you’ll hear smart strategies for product validation, content creation during market research, and best practices for leveraging email marketing and CRM tools. Whether you’re a growing creator or an established entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest insights, actionable ideas, and a glimpse into the supportive space that makes the The Lab unique. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be part of this community—or how to take your creator business to the next level—you won’t want to miss this one. ⁠Join The Lab ⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Lab Membership Events and Opportunities 05:13 Tailoring Content for Specific Goals 06:47 YouTube Audience Engagement Strategy 11:08 Mastermind Group Pricing Dilemma 14:41 Done-for-You Video Expertise 17:55 Mastermind Group Launch Strategy 21:31 Pricing Strategy Gap Analysis 25:47 LinkedIn Posting Frequency Insights 29:17 Courses vs. Community: Balance Concerns 33:05 "Assessing Membership Value Elements" 36:28 Monetizing Creator Business Strategies 40:37 Marketing Community Value to Busy Clients 42:19 "Sell the Map Via Social Proof" 47:36 Email Marketing Tools Compared 49:40 Organizing Ideas with Purpose *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ #246: Planning for a recession, my approach to email, increasing customers, and finding your partner [Ask Creator Science] *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** <st

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special Strategy Hour episode, host Jay Clouse flips the script as a guest on Abagail Pumphrey’s acclaimed podcast, Strategy Hour. Abagail, the founder and CEO of The Boss Project, dives into Jay’s fascinating journey from startup founder to creative entrepreneur—exploring how he built a thriving newsletter business, fostered an engaged community, and navigated the ever-evolving creator landscape. Together, they break down what it really means to grow an audience with intention, why consistency trumps fleeting viral moments, and how creators can build businesses that last. Jay pulls back the curtain on his process, from his early days writing daily emails to building a sustainable business rooted in genuine connection and trust. You’ll also hear their takes on the future of courses, the role of AI and community in online business, and the importance of slow, steady growth. If you’re craving real talk about surviving (and thriving) as a creator—plus actionable tips on how to treat your newsletter as your most valuable product—this episode is for you. Stick around for an insightful conversation that’s both inspiring and refreshingly honest, and be sure to check the show notes to subscribe to Strategy Hour for more entrepreneurial wisdom! Subscribe to The Strategy Hour ⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 "Exploring Uncharted Podcast Territory" 04:44 "Insights on Becoming a Creator" 07:10 Promoting Newsletter via Events & Email 11:58 Audience vs. Crowd: Content Focus 15:38 Newsletter: Business Stability Anchor 16:36 Social Media Engagement Challenges 22:32 Slow Path to Sustainable Business 26:10 "Coping with Online Fame's Pressure" 30:04 Twelve-Week Group Pricing Plan 30:34 Pioneering Cohort-Based Learning 33:53 AI's Impact on Online Courses 38:48 Innovate or Strategize for Success 40:31 "Invaluable Insights and Connections" *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ #247: How you can plan for growth in 2025 *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices