All Things Video

Taryn Southern is a comedian, actress, video blogger, and digital media consultant. She has three YouTube channels with more than 500,000 cumulative subscribers and 70M views, in addition to thousands of other fans across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Taryn began her career in traditional entertainment, selling two TV shows based on digital concepts as well as acting and hosting for major outlets like FOX, G4, TVGuide, VH1, and more. We cover a lot of ground in this episode – from Taryn’s initial reluctance to start a YouTube channel to her experience with MCNs, talent agencies, and influencer marketing platforms. We discuss her skepticism about SVOD, surprise that more creators don’t take advantage of affiliate marketing to maximize audience monetization, and her predictions about the future of VR, AR, and vertical video. Finally, we debate the stratification of the video creator elite, with Taryn unsure what will happen to middle-class creators and Luke calling for an “Occupy YouTube” movemen

Kelly Day is the Chief Digital Officer at next-generation studio and teen content powerhouse AwesomenessTV. Kelly has held marketing and consulting roles at Fortune 500 companies, led e-commerce growth at AOL and Discovery, and built several successful brands in the digital video space. From 2012 to 2013, she led Blip through a turnaround and eventual sale to Maker Studios, before joining the leadership team at AwesomenessTV. In this episode, we dive into Kelly’s role building the AwesomenessTV brand, leading the company’s international expansion, and brokering distribution partnerships with SVOD and OTT platforms. We also discuss AwesomenessTV’s hub channel approach in comparison with other MCN and next-gen publisher business models, and we debate why brands rushed to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter but initially struggled to understand and invest in YouTube. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the onlin

Sarah Penna is the Head of Awestruck, a network and lifestyle brand for millennial moms. Sarah started her career at CurrentTV and then made her way into the YouTube space, working early on with Philip DeFranco. In 2011, Sarah founded talent management company Big Frame with Steve Raymond, which was acquired by AwesomenessTV in April 2014 for $15M. In this episode, Sarah talks about Al Gore’s “rockstar” moments at CurrentTV, her first encounter with popular YouTube personalities, and what motivated her to launch Big Frame, one of the first talent management firms for digital influencers. We also hear about Sarah’s journey as an entrepreneur, from picking the right co-founder to dealing with the “trough of sorrow” and ultimately going through diligence to sell the company. Hosts: Jackie Koppell and James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought le

Fabienne Fourquet is the Co-Founder & CEO of 2btube, one of the fastest growing multi-channel networks for Spanish language creators. Prior to launching 2btube, Fabienne spent 10 years atA&E and then 4 years at Canal+ Groupe, helping both companies grow their digital business. In this episode, Fabienne explains her transition from digital roles at traditional entertainment companies to her first entrepreneurial endeavor. Here’s the surprising part: Fabienne didn’t even speak Spanish when she launched 2btube. She teamed up with co-founder Bastian Manintveld to build one of the preeminentSpanish language MCNs while also learning the language for herself.This willingness to do whatever it takes is reflected in 2btube’s mission to be the “most ambitious network” for Spanish language creators. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the pastand charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen tointerviews with founders, executives, and thought

Mike Pusateri is the Founder & CEO of Bent Pixels, a global media company serving creators and brands. As a top 25 MCN with over 24,000 creators and one billion monthly views, Bent Pixels represents celebrities like Kevin Hart and Joe Rogan as well as online video creators in the gaming and comedy verticals. Bent Pixels also offers content claiming and audience development services for brands, including FUNimation, RLJ Entertainment, Live Nation, and more. James Creech is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin Software, the premier technology provider for MCNs and next-generation media companies, including Maker Studios, AwesomenessTV, Studio71, DEFY Media, Frederator Networks, and more. The Paladin platform helps digital video networks streamline processes, increase efficiency, and grow revenue. In this episode, we discuss the humble beginnings of Bent Pixels, the growth of its software licensing business, and the launch of Paladin Software as an independent technology company. Mike and James explain how bo

Shira Lazar is the Co-Founder & Host of What’s Trending, a 24/7 news hub and eponymous daily live show that covers shareable content across the social web. Prior to launching What’s Trending, Shira worked as a contributor and on-air personality for several digital and traditional outlets, including CBS News, Huffington Post, DirectTV, Fox News, and more. In this episode, Shira shares her experience working with and educating traditional publishers and brands in the digital space. She explains the origins of What’s Trending, offers advice for those interested in the online video industry, and mentions live streaming and 360 video trends that her team is exploring. We also debate how online influencers aren’t just talent but are the new networks, building their own brands and exercising much more control over the content creation, distribution, and monetization processes. Hosts: James Creech and Luke Wang ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the fu

Jonathan Skogmo is the Founder & CEO of Jukin Media, a global entertainment company powered by user-generated video content. Jukin receives more than one billion monthly views across digital platforms and is the leader in discovering, acquiring, and curating the web's most compelling UGC videos for brands and media companies to license for commercial use. In this episode, Jonathan shares the pain points in traditional rights clearance and clip licensing that motivated him to look for easier content acquisition methods online. In 2005, he came across a nascent video site called YouTube and began contacting channel owners to license their content. At one point, he began buying a few videos on his own to make some extra money – a part-time project that evolved into his first venture: ChiWay Entertainment. Eventually, he transitioned into the business full time, building Jukin Video as a scrappy startup out of his 2-bedroom apartment. Hosts: James Creech and Luke Wang ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is

John Holdridge is VP of Channel+, the brand strategy and services group at Fullscreen. John was an early addition to the next-gen media company’s team, coming aboard after StackHouse Media, a full-service multimedia agency he founded, was acquired in February 2012. In this episode, we examine how brands approach YouTube and engage digital audiences. John shares his experience working with some of the world’s largest brands and media companies and his approach to building a comprehensive service-based business. We also consider the trend toward brands becoming content creators and, in some cases, full-fledged media companies. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking debates about the key issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-for

Charles Segars is the CEO of Ovation TV, America’s premier arts network, reaching over 50M homes through broadcast TV and millions more through its digital presence. Charles is also the Founder of Segars Media, a content production company best known for the Disney blockbuster franchise National Treasure, which Charles co-created, wrote, and executive produced. Segars Media also advises DreamWorks Animation, Machinima, Levity Entertainment Group, and Source Interlink. In this episode, we discuss how to harness superfan communities to build a successful online business. We also debate the future of immersive video, and Charles shares his “bucket list” approach to life, passion for cultural travel, and some exciting previews into the upcoming National Treasure 3 film. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading vi

Roopak Saluja is the Founder & CEO of The 120 Media Collective, a Mumbai-based media company that produces, distributes, and monetizes content across multiple platforms. He is also the Founder & CEO of Sooperfly, a joint venture with Diagonal View that empowers digital video creators in Asia and beyond. In this episode, Roopak shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way. We also consider the hotly contested term “multi-channel network;” has the MCN moniker run its course? Is it accurate? And is it even worth debating in the first place? Finally, Roopak encourages listeners not to be digital isolationists but to engage with and learn from the traditional entertainment industry. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking deba

Paola Marinone (Founder & CEO) and Bengu Atamer (Co-Founder & Director) are the brilliant minds behind BuzzMyVideos, one of the fastest growing European MCNs that represents over 5,000 creators worldwide. In this episode, we learn more about the European video market and discuss the evolution of casual video creation and UGC monetization. We also dig into Paola and Bengu’s experience at Google prior to starting BuzzMyVideos and the lessons they’ve learned along the way: from emphasizing local support for creator communities to the importance of hiring a culturally diverse team, especially when building a global business. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking debates about the key issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form

Jackie Koppell (former Head of Talent at AwesomenessTV) and Jordan Worona (Talent Manager at Studio71, formerly Collective Digital Studio) join the All Things Video podcast for a discussion about talent management in the world of digital influencers. This episode serves as an introduction to talent management and highlights the differences between working with talent in the traditional and digital worlds. We dig into the business of talent management to understand the key players involved and the various revenue streams available to online influencers. Finally, we reflect on the evolution of the digital influencer space and share some predictions for what’s coming next. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking debates about the key issues shaping the next g

Luke Wang (former VP of Business Operations at Omnia Media), Chadwick Turner (Founder & CEO of Circle VR), and Jon Kroopf (Director of Customer Growth at Tubular Labs) join the All Things Video podcast for a discussion about the future of online video. In this episode, we look ahead to emerging video trends and offer predictions about what’s next. The initial conversation centers on immersive media, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 360 video. From there, we discuss the rising popularity of live-streaming platforms and evaluate various online video business models. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking debates about the key issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the rise of m

Gregory Strompolos is the Director of Business Development at live streaming giant YouNow. He previously spent 4 years at Fullscreen, where he launched the Channel Plus brand services division and managed the company’s international expansion. We cover a wide range of topics in this episode, from Gregory’s first job out of college at a company that famously angered Steve Jobs to the growth of Fullscreen’s international business and Gregory’s diverse personal interests. The majority of our conversation focuses on the rapid globalization of the online video industry; we highlight key growth markets (BRIC and Southeast Asia), major US players’ international strategies, and predictions for future global video trends. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading video networks and engage in thought-provoking deb

Rian Bosak is the VP, Network Operations at Fullscreen. He began his career in television before transitioning into digital via a job at Machinima and later as the first employee at StyleHaul. Over the past five years, Rian has managed the YouTube content management system (CMS) and overseen digital rights management for three of the world’s top MCNs. In this episode, we provide a detailed explanation of digital rights management, that is, the protection and monetization of intellectual property (IP), on online video platforms. We describe the complexities of YouTube’s ContentID system for content claiming and anti-piracy enforcement, including the use of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notifications to remove pirated content from video-sharing sites. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s le

James McFadden is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Collab, a digital content studio and creator network that reaches over 230M followers and generates roughly 7B Vine loops per month. Prior to Collab, he and his brothers Tyler and Will started GoPotato TV, which created the original comedy series Eli’s Dirty Jokes. In this episode, we explore James and his brothers’ initial foray into digital with GoPotato TV and their decision to start the Collab creator network in 2012. James shares insight into a partnership with Next New Networks before and after its acquisition by Google, what he learned from a failed attempt to launch a video discovery site, and Collab’s early adoption of new platforms like Vine and Snapchat. Finally, he shares his perspective on bootstrapping a business and the vitality of execution in any startup. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders,

Ryan Born is the Founder and former CEO of AudioMicro, which operates a network of digital content licensing marketplaces, including YouTube rights management service AdRev. AudioMicro has been repeatedly named to the Inc. 500’s list of the fastest growing American media companies and was acquired by Zealot Networks in December 2014 for more than $20M. Ryan is also a talented painter, sculptor, and photographer and an active angel investor. In this episode, Ryan shares his experience creating and managing a scrappy startup, from funding and perpetual hustle to eventual exit. Ryan recounts a pivotal meeting with YouTube where he had the idea for the AdRev content protection and monetization business, which became the company’s breakout success. Finally, we discuss the Zealot acquisition and what’s next for both Ryan and AudioMicro. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with fou

Adam Rymer is the President of Legendary Digital Networks, which includes the Nerdist, Geek & Sundry, and Smart Girls digital properties. Prior to joining LDN, Adam worked in management consulting and then took digital roles at Universal Music and Universal Pictures before co-founding an independent film finance and production company. He’s a proud father, an avid poker player, and a self-professed nerd at heart. In this episode, we discuss LDN’s efforts to build a business around what started as YouTube-funded channels from the platform’s original content initiative. Adam also shares his excitement for live streaming technology and the opportunity for audiences to shape content decisions. He also predicts the creation of virtual MVPDs that would allow multiple digital channels to exist side by side and allow viewers to curate their subscriptions and programming preferences. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the onli

Oscar Hoglund is the Co-Founder & CEO of Epidemic Sound, which provides production music licensing to more than 85,000 customers across 200 countries. He also co-founded the Scandinavian MCN United Screens and serves on the board of children’s entertainment company Toca Boca. In this episode, we explore Oscar’s path to entrepreneurship, the importance of tactics in addition to strategy, and the Scandinavian startup scene. Oscar offers insight into the launch of United Screens and its recent investment round, and we look extensively at Epidemic’s involvement in the evolution of the digital music space. They may be known as the “bad boys” of the music industry for creating a music ownership model that eliminates middlemen and royalty reporting (what Oscar calls a “Spotify for business”), but Epidemic Sound makes no apologies. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with

Alejandro Burato is the Co-Founder & CEO of FAV! Network, one of the fastest growing Latin American MCNs. Alejandro worked in management consulting and venture capital for many years, so he has great perspective on many different industries. Now in his first startup operational role, Alejandro is mastering new skills and working with a great team to create the future of entertainment for Latino audiences. We recorded this episode at Streamcon 2015 in New York City, so please forgive the background noise. Our conversation explores several fascinating topics, including scaled vs. boutique MCNs, how to help brands and traditional media companies on YouTube, and the opportunity for technology companies in the online video space. We also dive deep into the LatAm video market, debating the success of American networks’ efforts in the region, how the digital revolution has allowed content to cross cultural borders, and much more. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicate