We Went to SoCom 2026 (and Saw the Future of Social Shopping)

Today: a new era of "creator TV" and the rising trend of short-form "kidslop" content. Lauren and Josh Cohen break down Spotter's new pitch to media buyers, and dive into a new report from the Influencer Marketing Factory revealing the harsh realities of the creator middle class. Plus, Tubefilter's Sam Gutelle joins the show to explain the wild world of "kidslop" content -- IP soup, Roblox inspiration, and why Brazilian funk music is dominating the Gen Alpha algorithm. Finally, the hosts discuss Instagram's controversial new AI shopping feature and National Geographic's new creator cohort.What you’ll learn:-- How Spotter is defining the new "Creator TV" -- The staggering stats behind creator earnings in 2026 -- Why "kidslop" channels are getting billions of views on Shorts -- Why creators are angry about Instagram's "Shop the Look" test00:00 Introduction & IRL encounters00:52 Spotter Showcase & Creator TV03:17 The stats behind Creator TV06:52 How Spotter connects creators & brands11:07 2026 Creator Economy Report13:17 The truth about the creator middle class17:51 Sam Gutelle explains "kidslop"20:57 Funk music & the Gen Alpha algorithm23:31 Opportunities for IP holders27:48 Instagram's controversial AI shopping test30:22 NatGeo's new creator cohortCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Discover the future of social commerce directly from the experts at LTK, YouTube Shopping, and Gap Inc. Live from SoCom in sunny Venice, Lauren and Josh break down the shift from relevance to revenue in the creator economy. In this episode, we explore why follower counts are losing their weight, how affiliate marketing is evolving, and the ways legacy brands integrate social platforms into retail experiences.What you'll learn:-- Why social followers and subscribers don't matter anymore.-- How LTK's new brand platform is democratizing creator marketing.-- The massive impact of YouTube Shopping timestamps and auto-tagging.-- Gap Inc.'s omnichannel approach to capturing consumer demand.00:00 Intro: Live from SoCom05:13 Interview: Amber Venz Box (LTK)09:08 Why Followers Don't Matter Anymore16:41 Democratizing the Creator Ecosystem20:26 AI Chatbots and Trust in Creators25:46 Interview: Lauren Celinski (YouTube Shopping)28:25 Maximizing YouTube Shopping Features36:05 Interview: Damon Berger (Gap Inc.)38:59 Gap’s Social Commerce Strategy44:50 Final Thoughts and OutroCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Is live shopping the future of e-commerce? We sit down with Whatnot's VP of Categories and Expansion, Armand Wilson, to find out.You can see Whatnot's 2026 State of Live Selling Report here.We dive into the $10 billion live shopping phenomenon, exploring how the app generated over $8 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025.Plus, we break down the watershed social media addiction trial involving Meta and Google, and discuss Apple's huge move into video podcasts.What you’ll learn:-- How 1 in 8 Whatnot sellers are now operating on the platform full-time.-- The surprising details from Mark Zuckerberg's testimony regarding Instagram's age limits.-- Why Apple is finally bringing a video experience to its native podcast app.-- The latest on Snap creator subscriptions and Night's massive $70 million funding round.00:00 Welcome & SoCom04:08 The Live Shopping Boom07:55 Why Buyers Love Whatnot11:55 Full-Time Whatnot Sellers14:30 $8 Billion in Gross Sales17:37 The Community of Commerce20:03 The Future of Live Shopping22:23 Meta & Google Addiction Trial28:30 TikTok & Snap Settle Out32:44 Apple Launches Video Podcasts38:00 Snap Creator Subscriptions39:15 OpenAI Hires Charles Porch40:02 Night Raises $70 MillionCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

In a historic creator economy move, a digital-first company has acquired a legacy cable network. We sit down with Rachel Stockman, President of Law & Crime, to break down their massive acquisition of Court TV and what it means for the future of media.What we cover in this episode:-- Why Law & Crime bought their biggest rival (and how they buried the hatchet).-- The strategy behind unlocking 3,000+ trials from the archives.-- Adam Mosseri’s testimony on social media addiction and his “TV show” comparison.-- New data: Why 120-minute videos are out-earning shorter content.-- MrBeast’s move into financial services.00:00 Intro & The “Fake” Sky01:04 Why 120-Minute Videos Earn More02:06 Law & Crime Buys Court TV03:24 Digital Media Flips the Script04:52 Keeping the Brands Separate05:52 The YouTube-First Strategy07:07 From Rivals to Partners09:21 Unlocking the Trial Archives11:42 Social Media Addiction Lawsuits12:48 Mosseri: “It’s Like a TV Show”15:37 Meta’s New Navy SEAL Motto16:24 The Global Push for Bans17:11 Safety Ratings for Social Apps18:59 MrBeast’s Financial Move19:32 OutroCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

In this episode, we break down YouTube’s massive $60 billion revenue reveal and what it signals for the future of the creator economy. Plus, we dive into Markiplier’s Iron Lung shocking the box office. Plus, why Google and certain TV measurement agencies are quarreling.Tune in for:-- The $60 Billion Stat: Breaking down YouTube’s first-ever total revenue report.-- Markiplier vs. Hollywood: How Iron Lung pulled $18M+ on a $3M budget.-- TV Ratings Drama: Why Google sent a cease-and-desist to a major ratings agency.-- Big Creator Deals: Inside Dhar Mann’s Old Navy series and Salish Matter’s Netflix partnership.00:00 Intro and Weather Chat02:26 YouTube’s Massive $60 Billion Year05:52 Why Shorts Ads Are Booming10:28 The Google vs. TV Ratings Fight15:16 Markiplier’s Historic Box Office Win19:05 Can Any Creator Do This?23:03 Dhar Mann’s Old Navy Deal25:25 Salish Matter Heads to Netflix26:45 Final ThoughtsCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

It might be the biggest week in Dhar Mann’s history.From signing a massive 40-film deal with Fox to partnering with the NFL as their Chief Kindness Officer, Dhar Mann is rewriting the rules of the creator economy. In this episode, we sit down with Ross Habif, Chief Strategy Officer at Dhar Mann Studios, to break down exactly how these deals happened and what they mean for the future of vertical cinema.We also cover the other massive headlines from the week including the sale of TikTok’s US operations to Oracle, Khaby Lame's exit, and how creators are taking over off Broadway.What we cover:-- The "Crazy Week" Explained: Inside the 40-film deal with Fox & Holywater.-- NFL x Dhar Mann: What a "Chief Kindness Officer" actually does.-- Strategy Deep Dive: Why Dhar Mann chose Fox-- TikTok’s New Owner: What the Oracle sale means for your algorithm.-- The Creator (on) Stage: Madison Weaver on bringing creators to Broadway.00:00 Intro: Super Bowl Plans & Football Banter 01:20 MrBeast x Salesforce: The "Build in Public" Super Bowl Ad 03:59 The Evolution of "Making Of" Content (Project Greenlight to YouTube) 07:47 Breaking: TikTok US Operations Sold to Oracle 10:53 What Beijing Still Controls (Algorithms & Ads) 11:52 Is the New "US TikTok" Suppressing Content? 17:00 Google & Meta Go on Trial for Child Safety 18:25 Interview: Ross Habif (Dhar Mann Studios) 18:43 Inside the 40-Film Deal with Fox & Holywater 24:44 Retaining 100% Creative Autonomy 25:04 Dhar Mann: The NFL's "Chief Kindness Officer" 26:47 Interview: Madison Weaver (The Creator Society) 27:25 From TikTok to Off-Broadway: The Story of "11 to Midnight" 34:11 Khaby Lame's $975 Million Business MoveCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Lauren and Josh sit down with Fixated co-founders Zach Katz and Jason Wilhelm to break down their massive $50 million raise from Eldridge. They discuss why the traditional management model is broken, how they are applying music industry tactics to creator content, and their recent acquisition of Ellify.Plus, we look at the latest earnings from Netflix and why they finally admit YouTube is their biggest competitor.What you’ll learn:-- The Netflix vs. YouTube War: Why Ted Sarandos is finally taking YouTube seriously as a "first screen" competitor.-- The Fixated Strategy: How Zach and Jason convinced Todd Boehly to invest $50 million-- Content vs. Brand Deals: Why management needs to help creators build hits, not just sell ads.-- From Creator to Exec: Jason Wilhelm’s advice on pivoting from on-camera talent to business mogul.-- Creator News: Highlights from the Slow Ventures event and Neil Mohan’s letter to creators, featuring "slop."Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Interview starts at 10:48.Check out The Ultimate 2026 YouTube Creator Marketing Playbook here.In this episode, Lauren and Josh break down the "carcinization" of media (why Disney and others are turning into TikTok) and discuss YouTube’s strict new parental controls. Then, Arthur Leopold, CEO of Agentio, joins us to reveal The Ultimate 2026 YouTube Creator Marketing Playbook. He explains how they are automating creator integrations to finally unlock massive paid media budgets.What you’ll learn:-- Why everything is evolving into vertical video-- How Agentio automates buying creator ads like Facebook ads-- Why micro creators often convert better than macro stars-- How the gap between influencer budgets and paid media budgets is closing-- Kai Cenat's "retirement"-- Fixated's acquisition of the world's largest Roblox creator rep firm00:00 Introduction00:25 The Carcinization of Media02:13 Disney & Others Copy TikTok06:38 YouTube’s New Parental Controls10:48 Arthur Leopold & Agentio12:01 Automating Creator Ad Buys15:25 The Impact of Long-Term Deals18:25 Why YouTube Ads Last Longer20:02 Micro vs. Macro Creators23:14 Unlocking Paid Media Budgets28:30 Fixated Acquires Ellify32:00 Kai Cenat "Quits" the Grind33:40 Golden Globes & Final ThoughtsCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Newman, Spotify’s Head of Content Partnerships, to break down the massive updates to the Spotify Partner Program. From lowered eligibility thresholds to video consumption payments that are beating advertising rates, Jordan explains how creators can stabilize their income in 2026.Plus, we dive into Adam Mosseri’s controversial take on why the "aesthetic" Instagram feed is dead and how AI is forcing a return to raw authenticity.It's 2026, so lean in and let's go.What you’ll learn:-- How to qualify for Spotify’s expanded monetization program.-- Why Spotify's "consumption-based" payouts are higher than traditional ads.-- The truth about the "AI vs. Authenticity" debate on social media.-- New tools for managing baked-in sponsorships on Spotify.00:00 Teaser00:26 It's 2026!01:44 Stranger Things Theatrical Release04:40 Is Hollywood Dying?06:33 The End of the Perfect Feed09:21 AI vs. Authenticity13:41 Jordan Newman Interview14:40 Spotify Partner Program Updates16:57 New Eligibility Thresholds18:15 How Consumption Payments Work21:05 Solving Baked-In Ads22:02 Breaking the Walled Garden24:16 Spotify’s New Video Studio25:38 Are Spotify RPMs Higher?30:04 Video vs. Audio Advertising35:06 Golden Globes Predictions39:06 MrBeast x StarbucksCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

AUDIENCE SURVEY: https://bit.ly/creatoruploadsurveyThe Oscars are leaving ABC for YouTube. Here is what that means for the future of Hollywood and the creator economy.In our final episode of 2025, Lauren and Josh break down the massive news that the Academy Awards are moving to YouTube in 2029. We analyze why this shift is happening, the history of the broadcast, and whether creators will finally get their moment on the red carpet.We discuss:-- Why the Oscars left ABC for YouTube -- Instagram Reels coming to your living room TV -- Our biggest predictions for the creator economy in 2026 -- New creator programs from Home Depot and Markiplier’s movie debut00:00 Intro & 6th Anniversary Survey01:09 Hanukkah Sweatshirts & Hannah Hart02:57 Tyler Oakley & VidCon Story05:35 Breaking News: Oscars Move to YouTube08:24 The History of Oscars Distribution12:49 Will Creators Take Over the Oscars?16:15 YouTube VP’s Statement17:22 Instagram Reels on Amazon Fire TV20:40 Prediction: Brand Spend in 202622:51 Prediction: Media M&A Madness24:10 Upload: Home Depot’s "Crew of Doers"25:07 Upload: Markiplier’s Iron Lung Movie26:00 2025 Sign OffCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand