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.
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33:34
Why Netflix Is Stealing Podcasts from YouTube
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 all signals about the next era of podcasting.
If Netflix wants to earn back our time, this is their first move. But is it the right one?
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39:29
How Instagram Became the Center of the Universe
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.
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How Extreme Birdwatching on YouTube could redefine Hollywood.
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.
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The Business of Email: How Substack Changed Everything
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.
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Hey, We’re Colin and Samir, YouTube creators and podcasters that break down the latest news in the creator economy from a creator's perspective. We have a long history building communities and brands through digital content. New episodes of The Colin and Samir show go live every Monday on Spotify and YouTube.com/ColinandSamir.
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