In today's episode, Matt and Kolby dig into what's actually working in audience building right now — fandom vs. impressions, the channels that actually build real community, and why frameworks are the ultimate cheat code for creator brands. Chenell Basilio (Growth in Reverse) joins to talk pop-up newsletters, cross-promotion strategy, and what's next after email. Plus, the guys debate whether Mr. Beast is the next BuzzFeed and what the rise of AI slop means for creators who actually give a damn about their craft.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Stardew Valley and the Indie Creator Model

05:31 Fandom vs. Impressions: What Actually Builds an Audience

10:52 Cross-Promotion Strategy with Chenell Basilio

16:09 Pop-Up Newsletters and Re-engaging Churned Subscribers

30:01 Why Every Creator Needs a Framework

41:17 What's Next: SMS, Live Events, and YouTube

46:55 The Case for Live Streaming in B2B Media

01:02:05 Is Mr. Beast the Next BuzzFeed?

01:12:15 Betting on Emerging Creators

01:17:32 The Culturalist and the Future of Thoughtful Content

🔗 Connect with Chenell:

https://growthinreverse.com/

Chenell's Podcast

30 Days of Growth

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Is Mr. Beast The Next BuzzFeed?, SMS Is The New Email, Durable Creator Businesses

New Media