Creator Unplugged

Jun Yuh

Everyone has a platform now. Whether you’re a creator, founder, or just someone with a point of view, your decisions and identity are increasingly shaped in front of an audience.

Hosted by Jun Yuh, Creator Unplugged explores what it means to live and build in public. Each episode aims to unpack the deeper forces shaping our lives today: success, discipline, money, relationships, the psychology of being seen and more. Expect bold ideas, unconventional thinking and a willingness to sit in nuance.

Find us on Youtube, Instagram and TikTok @creatorunplugged

Contact: aceel@creatorcollege.com

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Monday · 45 min
How To Build A $100M Creator Business, Even If You’re Just Starting | Tyler Chou
Turn “I don’t know what to post” into a daily habit that grows your audience. Join the Storytelling Challenge ⁠HERE⁠. Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Tyler Chou is the attorney behind some of the biggest deals in the creator industry. She's in the middle of brokering a $100 million exit for one of her clients right now. And she'll tell you most creators are building their entire livelihood on rented land. Jun sits down with Tyler to talk about what it actually takes to turn a following into a business you can own and one day sell. They get into the first product every creator needs to build, the channels that are literally worthless to buyers, the contract clauses that unintentionally rob you, and the exact AI prompt to protect yourself before you sign anything. If you’re a creator with a dream of building a business (and not continuing to chase brand deals), this episode is for you. Chapters: 02:53 From Hollywood lawyer to creator attorney 06:37 The power of a personal brand (and being job-proof) 08:37 Owning assets vs. the brand-deal hamster wheel 11:59 What buyers actually want 12:32 When you should NOT sell your business 18:00 Your first product: ask your audience 20:28 The channels no one will ever buy 25:36 The biggest contract mistakes creators make 28:49 Partnerships, trademarks & when to hire a lawyer 34:44 Burnout & the boundaries she set after 39:33 The psychology of a creator who can exit for $100M 42:06 The lawsuits big creators might face & how to avoid them Don't forget to follow to the podcast! It takes 2 seconds and makes sure you never miss any of our upcoming episodes. Stay connected: ⁠⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram
August 17 · 57 min
"I Don't Have Time" Is A Lie: How A Doctor Built A Personal Brand In Med School | Dr. Sasha Haddad
Turn “I don’t know what to post” into a daily habit that grows your audience. Join the Storytelling Challenge HERE. Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Dr. Sasha Haddad became one of the internet's first doctor-creators almost by accident, filming lighthearted skits in her scrubs between shifts while the world was stuck at home during the pandemic. What started as a study break turned into a personal brand with millions of followers, even though nearly everyone around her told her it was a waste of time. Jun talks with Sasha about what it takes for a professional to put themselves online, the time she was told to choose between her platform and a job offer, and why she treated her following as an advantage to her career rather than a red flag, even when her mentors saw it the other way. This one's for those who’ve been told a personal brand isn't for someone like them, and experts who are sitting on knowledge they can't figure out how to share. Chapters: 01:24 Getting shunned by immigrant parents 03:06 The billboard test for what to post 07:00 Posting through med school 08:11 Why pressure made her most creative 12:55 The post-residency creative roadblock 16:19 "Once Upon a Doctor" & growing with your audience 18:20 Evolve or get left behind 21:56 Overcoming the cringe-factor of being a professional online 30:32 When she was told to choose between her platform and the job 36:06 How to stop overthinking getting started 42:02 How to package expertise into short form content 47:10 How platforms have changed 54:16 The mindset that kills the fear of posting Don't forget to follow to the podcast! It takes 2 seconds and makes sure you never miss any of our upcoming episodes. Stay connected: ⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram
August 10 · 54 min
Molly McAdam: The Main Reason 96% Of Content Creators Stay Broke
Learn how to shape, tell, and share your story. Sign up for Jun's 3-day FREE live storytelling webinar ⁠HERE⁠ Join the Storytelling Content Challenge⁠ and be the first to know when it launches ⁠HERE⁠ Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com After creating content for nearly a decade, Molly McAdam decided to reinvent her online presence completely, pivoting from fashion and lifestyle content to what she now calls "the science of well-being." She has mastered the art of the pivot, and she's got the receipts. Jun talks with Molly about how to evolve your content without losing yourself, why every serious creator has to pivot eventually (plus why it's terrifying every time), and why losing followers can actually be a sign you're building the right audience. Then, they get into the nitty-gritty: Her full research-to-edit workflow, why perfecting yapping to camera means you can master anything, the brand-deal contract that still haunts her, and how she uses AI to pressure-test her own blind spots. This episode is for anyone who’s exploring switching up their content, be it a novice or a pro! Chapters: 01:56 The art of the pivot 03:54 The three layers of well-being 05:27 The fear behind every pivot 07:48 The weekly list of things that scare you 09:14 Losing followers to gain the right audience 12:22 Well-being beyond the screen 14:59 Inside Molly's content workflow 19:45 The optimal number of friends 20:54 Setting boundaries with social media 22:26 How she uses AI (research, not scripts) 24:07 Getting comfortable talking to camera 28:07 Brand-deal mistakes & the contract that still haunts her 30:18 Owning your income: Substack, email & digital products 31:35 Using AI to price yourself 34:31 Why scripted brand deals don't work 36:41 The first step & the regret of inaction 39:47 Burnout & why she stopped filming her whole life 46:00 The carousel comeback & "why would someone save this?" 49:29 What's next 51:29 What she wants to be known for Make are you follow Creator Unplugged wherever you're listening right now so you never miss an episode! Stay connected: ⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram ⁠ ⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠ ⁠Jun’s Instagram
August 3 · 1 hr 3 min
Mark Manson: Anyone Can Go Viral. Here’s How You Stay Relevant For Decades
Learn how to shape, tell, and share your story. Sign up for Jun's 3-day FREE live storytelling webinar HERE Join the waitlist for ⁠the Storytelling Content Challenge⁠ to be the first to know when it launches HERE Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Mark Manson has been creating content for 16 years, which makes him one of the last people standing from the early internet. Jun talks with Mark, author, podcast host, and founder, about what it actually takes to last, when the "suck" is worth pushing through, why "I am the niche" should be your mantra, and how chasing virality is a recipe for disaster. Then it gets tactical: They get into how Mark surveys his audience, why equity and distribution are becoming the biggest plays in the creator industry, and how he uses AI to benefit his business (and where it's still useless). Chapters: 02:02 The sacrifices behind being a creator 04:56 The moral weight of influence 08:00 How he knows his audience 12:50 "You are the niche" 18:28 AI & hope for the next generation 21:25 Why live audiences matter now 23:36 Trust is your only real currency 27:15 How he uses AI in his workflow 30:52 Building & structuring a team around platforms 42:07 Online identity, how to pivot & avoiding burnout 51:50 Why he built the Purpose app 58:10 Distribution is the new moat 1:00:47 Longevity advice for the next 10 years Make sure you follow the show and leave a review! It takes 2 seconds and helps us bring you more episodes like this. Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram Creator Unplugged on TikTok Jun’s Instagram
July 27 · 45 min
Travis Mills: Posting Your Wins Won't Build An Audience. This Is What Works
For years, Travis Mills hated opening Instagram. Every time he did, he felt like a failure - watching his likes fall from 150,000 to 2,000 and tying his self-worth to metrics. Then he started telling the truth. In the span of about 50 days of posting vulnerable, honest stories, his following grew for the first time in six years, and his DMs filled with people saying he'd changed their lives. Jun talks with Travis - rapper, singer and Apple Music podcast host - about the shift that changed everything, and why the stories he was most afraid to share, like addiction, sobriety, and mental health, became the ones that connected the deepest. If you’re struggling to connect with your “why” and having a hard time telling stories from your lived experiences, tune in and take notes. Chapters: 02:42 What posting content daily has done for him 06:56 Getting sick of labels & his "ego death" 14:32 Finding his "why" & the power of vulnerability in content 19:02 Comparison is the thief of joy 23:01 "Be a creator, not a perfectionist" 27:11 Silent-film storytelling & reframing the past 29:11 Why storytelling feels like meditation 35:52 Your "mundane" life matters 42:00 What he'd tell his 19-year-old self Make sure you follow the show so you never miss any of our upcoming episodes. Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Sign up for the Storytelling Content Challenge. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when it launches. Stay connected: ⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram This episode touches on addiction and mental health. If you need emotional support, please call or text 988.
July 20 · 41 min
Lavendaire Founder: The Truth You Didn't Know About Making Money As A Creator
Aileen Xu has been a creator for 12 years, which is long enough to try just about every way there is to make money online - and to learn which ones are actually worth it. In this episode, Aileen, the creator behind Lavendaire, goes through everything she’s tried: brand deals, affiliates, digital products, courses, a membership, a physical workbook she's run for 10 years, and now a meditation app called Resonance. She breaks down the pros and cons of each, what she’s prioritized and scaled vs. what she’s let go of, and the mindset shift that changed everything for her: creating for impact and joy instead of validation. If you’re curious about what it takes to build true longevity as a creator-operator, you’re going to want to tune into this episode. Chapters: 01:11 Starting with an affirmation 03:32 How to reset a stuck mind 07:41 What her schedule looks like & beating burnout by flowing with your energy 11:41 Her healing journey & the slowdown 14:05 Significance vs. impact 18:40 Building in public without being salesy 23:02 Trying every way to make money 26:11 Why she built the Resonance app 31:29 The pain of physical products 32:40 The pros and cons of building an app 34:38 Turning followers into paying users 39:25 A mantra for creators Make sure you're following wherever you're listening right now so you never miss an episode. Sign up to the Storytelling Content Challenge. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when it launches! Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠ Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram
July 16 · 48 min
Senada Greca: Building Discipline, Businesses & A Brand That Lasts
You may have seen Senada Greca's workouts on your feed. What you might not know is that behind them is an MBA and the founder of We Rise. And she built it all by doing the opposite of what most creators do: for a full year, she posted free workouts every single day and never asked her audience for a thing. Jun talks with Senada about the long game that made it work. They touch on why discipline is something you build, how she thinks like a creator-operator, and why she left millions on the table in brand deals to protect the trust she'd spent years earning. Then they get into where her content ideas come from, why listening to your audience beats your own good ideas, how fitness reshaped her life, and how she made friends with the imposter syndrome that still shows up daily. If you feel behind, unqualified, or convinced you have no story worth sharing, this episode will definitely change your perspective. Chapters: 01:41 What drives her 06:55 Growing up in Albania and overcoming struggle 12:50 Earning her MBA in a year 14:30 How fitness improved her mental health 21:20 Where her content ideas come from 24:10 Listening to your audience to inform content and business decisions 29:50 Advice for new creator-founders 36:14 Long-term partnerships over quick money 40:31 Imposter syndrome as a companion 47:15 What she'd tell her younger self The next episode drops on Monday. Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss it. See you then! Subscribe to our YouTube channel⁠ to watch your favorite episodes. Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠ ⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠ ⁠Jun’s Instagram Senada’s Instagram
#7
July 13 · 50 min
Gabriel DeSanti: I Built The World's Longest Resume
Gabriel DeSanti got arrested filming inside an abandoned building. He'll tell you it's the best thing that ever happened to him. Because getting locked up made him miss a trip, which left him free to be in New York the next day for the opportunity that changed his entire life. In this episode, Jun and Gabriel trace the unlikely path that led him to becoming the creator building “the world's longest resume" and now founder of Staj. They talk about the grit, grind and work ethic it takes to becoming a creator, how Gabriel engineers a two-minute video from three hours of raw footage, the story arc he uses to make people actually feel something, and a first-ever Creator Unplugged exclusive: exactly how much he makes (and where it comes from). This episode is for builders, creators and anyone who's ever been told they'd never make it. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:33 How building the “world’s longest resume” was a total accident 06:11 The DM that changed his life 08:59 Starting Youtube at 13 14:51 The coworker who showed him a future he didn't want 18:44 Working for free & commuting 4 hours a day 22:58 What others saw in him 28:42 Inside the production & the art of the interview 32:46 The story arc that makes people feel something 34:30 How much he actually makes 37:53 Building Staj 49:09 What he'd tell anyone scared to start Make sure you follow the show wherever you're listening right now so you never miss an episode. The next one drops this Thursday. See you then. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch your favorite episodes. Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram Creator Unplugged on TikTok Jun’s Instagram Gabriel’s Instagram Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com
#6
July 9 · 54 min
Maggie Sellers Reum: I Was Tired of Being Told "NO", So I Became Hot, Smart, & Rich
Maggie Sellers Reum was the number one BDR at Salesforce when her boss pulled her into a room and told her she was "smarter than she looks," and that she'd need to change the sound of her own voice to get ahead. That moment set her on her mission. Jun sits down with Maggie - founder of Hot Smart Rich, investor, startup advisor, and creator - to talk about turning rejection into fuel, why she teaches women to never settle, and why she refuses to niche down with her content. She also gets tactical about what makes a business sellable and why ownership beats the brand-deal hamster wheel. Jun and Maggie then get into hiring, delegating, and how they both use AI every single day to optimize their workflows. This conversation is for builders, creators, and anyone who’s curious about turning their content into equity. Chapters: 01:53 The moment that led her to where she is today 05:28 What investing taught her about ownership 08:52 The viral TikTok video she was forced to take down 14:43 How she uses Claude every day 24:10 How Hot Smart Rich came to be & why she refuses to niche down 31:44 Ownership vs. the brand-deal hamster wheel 36:35 The biggest mistakes founders make 39:40 Learning to delegate & finding your opposite 50:50 How she defines confidence Follow wherever you're listening to this so you don't miss any of our upcoming episodes! Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com Stay connected: ⁠⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram⁠ Maggie's Instagram
#5
July 6 · 1 hr 5 min
Scott Clary: Job Security is Dead, Here’s How You Protect Your Future
Everyone told you the safe path was a degree, a steady job, and a pension. Scott Clary thinks that's now the riskiest bet you can make. Jun sits down with Scott - founder and host of the Success Story Podcast - to flip the whole risk vs. safe conversation on its head. They talk about why betting on yourself, building a personal brand, and continuously developing new skills have become essential forms of security in a world shaped by layoffs, AI, and rapidly changing career paths. Scott then shares his hacks to longevity as a podcaster and entrepreneur, beating imposter syndrome, and how you can also build a future that is more resilient, intentional, and self-directed. If you're building something right now, or even thinking about how to start, this episode's for you. Chapters: 01:27 What's actually risky now 04:46 Escaping the golden handcuffs 11:06 The story you tell yourself 16:38 Building a personal brand from zero 24:42 The biggest podcasting mistakes 32:12 Treating social media like a funnel & Jun's content system 40:28 Why your story is your superpower 48:17 How to overcome imposter syndrome 1:01:09 Finding joy vs. pushing through Stay connected: ⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Jun’s Instagram⁠ Scott's Instagram Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com
#4
July 2 · 1 hr 14 min
Natalie Ellis: How To Build A Business That Gives You The Life You Want
Natalie Ellis built Bossbabe into a movement that reached millions. From the outside, she'd made it. Then one day, she sat on a Zoom call and said five words she'd never planned, "I quit. Buy me out." In this episode, Natalie shares why financial freedom never felt like enough, how growing up in chaos activated her nervous system, and how she had to rewire that to build differently. Jun and Natalie also get into the messiness of being a founder, hitting rock bottom and navigating uncertainty, and rebuilding Bossbabe brick by brick until it made $2.2M in the 12 weeks Natalie was offline. Don’t worry, she breaks down how she got there too. Whether you’re a founder or someone trying to build something and don’t know where to start, don’t miss this episode. Chapters: 01:39 How her definition of freedom changed 04:22 External success vs. internal chaos 07:42 Why she hid the struggle 12:31 How Bossbabe started as a membership 16:32 Retention, churn & thinking in CAC/LTV 20:15 The green card saga that wiped out her savings 25:35 Buying out her partner & burning it all down 28:06 "Saying no is a deeper yes" 33:45 Growing up in chaos & rewiring her nervous system 42:46 Becoming her family's breadwinner & money-mindset 55:58 What a freedom-based business really is 1:05:58 How she uses AI (and what she won't give it) 1:11:33 What she'd tell her daughter not to do New episode drops on Monday! Make sure you're following the show so you don’t miss it. See you then. Stay connected: ⁠Creator Unplugged on YouTube⁠ ⁠Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠ ⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠ ⁠Jun’s Instagram⁠ Natalie's Instagram Inquiries/Partnerships: aceel@creatorcollege.com
#3
June 27 · 54 min
Leana Deeb: I Refused to Stay in One Box (And My Audience Grew)
Leana Deeb built an audience of 10M followers in 14 months. Then, she made the kind of pivot most creators are terrified of: she deleted everything. In this episode, Leana - creator, podcast host, and entrepreneur - talks about why she walked away from the identity everyone knew her for, how starting with a blank slate was the greatest thing that has ever happened to her career, and how staying true to her faith grew her audience instead of shrinking it. Jun and Leana also get into the parts people don’t see: watching your numbers drop, mastering detachment, staying disciplined when life gets heavy, becoming “the niche”, and the pressure of becoming successful young while taking care of your family. This one is for the creators who know they’re ready for a shift but are too scared of what they might lose. Chapters: 01:29 What alignment means to her 03:03 Journaling, meditation & prayer 05:15 The content pivot that risked everything 11:55 Building the Gymshark modest line 15:29 What drives her 18:02 From 8M likes to 20K & detaching from the numbers 26:25 Is discipline born or built? 33:04 Identity & the creator vision 41:17 Everyone has a story 44:29 Becoming the provider for your family 49:26 Relationship with money 51:46 What she'd tell her younger self Follow Creator Unplugged wherever you’re listening to this and subscribe on YouTube to watch the whole thing. Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram⁠ Creator Unplugged on YouTube ⁠Creator Unplugged on TikTok⁠ ⁠Jun’s Instagram⁠ Leana’s Instagram
#2
June 23 · 1 hr 12 min
Chris Do: I Stopped Creating For My Followers. They Showed Up Anyway
Step one to building a personal brand? Go see a therapist. That's where Chris Do starts: the inner work. Jun sits down with Chris - designer, teacher, the one who's been building in the personal branding space for over a decade - and they go deep. They riff about why most personal branding advice is just a sales pitch in disguise, why Chris stopped creating for his audience and they showed up anyway, and how caring less about what other people thought made him more respected. Then, Chris runs a personal branding masterclass, starting with how to find your origin story, breaking everything you know into 5 pillars, never running out of content, and his take on pricing that'll change how you charge. Whether you’re years into building a personal brand or don’t even know where to start, you don’t want to skip this episode. Chapters: 01:45 The key to building a personal brand 05:54 Three prompts to find your story 09:50 Self-expression vs. performance 11:47 Stop creating for your audience 14:45 How to pivot 19:53 Turn your expertise into a year of content 27:42 Personal brand vs. business 31:42 Jun's first product 33:42 Burnout, a sabbatical, and teaching 40:42 Identity & breaking stereotypes 50:14 Chris’s lowest point 56:46 Pricing and charging for value, not time 1:04:06 Buying an art school & fixing higher-education 1:08:48 Don't believe your own hype The next episode drops later this week. Make sure you follow Creator Unplugged so you don’t miss it. See you soon! Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on Instagram Creator Unplugged on Youtube Jun’s Instagram Jun’s TikTok Chris Do’s Instagram
#1
June 18 · 1 hr 9 min
AskCatGPT: How I Use Claude For My Content And $1M Business
In the first episode of Creator Unplugged, Jun sits down with Cat Goetze (aka AskCatGPT) to pick her brain about building in public and using AI for both content and business. Here's the thing: most creators are using AI wrong. Cat uses it to find her blind spots, poke holes in her own thinking, and tell her why she's wrong - and she explains how you can do the same. She also gets into the messy behind-the-scenes of building her business "Physical Phones", the systems holding the content and the operation together, and how that first launch did $120K in pre-sales in 3 days. She then gets really tactical on her content strategy: Where her ideas come from, how she scripts and films, and why she only sells products that look good on camera. Jun and Cat also talk about how they each use Claude as creator-operators, and the parts of their work they’d never hand over to AI. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:00 What building in public really means 04:05 Where Physical Phones came from 08:57 The pressure behind a $100K launch 14:03 Sourcing, 3PLs & the first hires 18:45 Separating the brand from the business 23:40 Customer trust, weekly "cat calls" & email updates 28:41 Ideating content that converts 33:38 Starting on camera at age 13 40:01 Taking intentional phone breaks 48:04 Using AI to expose your blind spots 56:43 AI on the operations side 1:05:07 How creating changed her personally If you’re looking to level-up your AI game in your content or business, this episode is for you. Episode 2 drops next week. Follow Creator Unplugged wherever you’re listening to this! Stay connected: Creator Unplugged on YouTube Creator Unplugged on Instagram Creator Unplugged on TikTok Jun’s Instagram Jun’s TikTok Cat’s Instagram Cat’s TikTok
June 11 · 51 sec
Introducing: Creator Unplugged
Creator Unplugged is a space for honest conversations with creators, founders, and operators about what it takes to build a meaningful career and business in front of an audience. Join Jun Yuh and his guests as they go beyond the polished version of success to unpack the parts people rarely talk about. The first episode drops June 18th! Follow Creator Unplugged on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe on YouTube so you do not miss it.

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