Lucie Fink on Real Life vs Social Media, Building a Brand Without Selling Out & The Truth About Influencer Success | Screw The Clout

In this episode: Hope Giselle's journey before social media recognition Why her first career goal was becoming a professional makeup artist The unexpected path from beauty to activism The moment she realized people genuinely cared about her message Building influence through authenticity rather than trends The responsibility that comes with a public platform Creating a personal brand with purpose Why meaningful conversations matter more than chasing clout Lessons from public speaking and advocacy Staying true to yourself while growing an audience Guest: Hope GiselleHost: Steve StanulisPodcast: Screw The Clout This episode explores how purpose, authenticity, and finding your voice can build a lasting brand in today's digital world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lauren's journey from insecurity to self-confidence Growing up in a traditional Italian family The impact of childhood trauma on adulthood Why limiting beliefs keep people stuck Understanding somatic healing and nervous system regulation The connection between trauma and financial success Breaking through "wealth blocks" Learning to trust your intuition The importance of slowing down and being present Cannabis, mindfulness, and authentic conversations Why silence is essential for personal growth Advice for anyone at a major crossroads in life How to reconnect with your true purpose Lauren's Somatic Wealth Recoding Technique The mission behind The World Needs Your Medicine podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why building a brand is more important than chasing clout The realities of starting and growing a fashion business How authenticity creates long-term success The biggest challenges entrepreneurs face The importance of consistency and resilience Lessons learned from building a brand from the ground up Marketing strategies that focus on longevity instead of trends How personal branding influences business growth Balancing creativity with the demands of entrepreneurship Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs entering the fashion and beauty industry Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Aiesha's journey from blogging and Tumblr to becoming a full-time content creator • How COVID accelerated the creator economy and opened new opportunities for influencers • Why many creators struggle to monetize their audience despite having large followings • The difference between going viral and building a sustainable personal brand • Social media's impact on attention spans, productivity, and mental health • The business strategy behind successful content creation • Dating and relationships while living in the public eye • Recognizing and dealing with "clout chasers" • Building a strong content strategy and attracting the right audience • Managing online criticism, negative comments, and public perception • Unexpected and unusual brand partnership offers • Why authenticity remains one of the most valuable assets online • Understanding content pillars versus choosing a single niche • Actionable advice for aspiring influencers, entrepreneurs, and creators • Rapid-fire questions covering social media trends, influencer culture, and personal insights Hosted by Steve Stanulis. Subscribe to Screw The Clout for candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, influencers, and industry leaders sharing the realities behind success in the digital age. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Karena Dawn's journey from fitness enthusiast to successful entrepreneur Building the Tone It Up community and wellness brand The importance of mindset in achieving personal and professional goals Lessons learned through entrepreneurship and business growth Creating a meaningful impact through health and wellness The connection between physical fitness and mental well-being Developing confidence through consistency and self-care Navigating challenges, setbacks, and personal growth Finding purpose beyond external success Building healthy habits that last The role of community and support in long-term wellness Balancing career ambitions with personal fulfillment Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and creators Living authentically in a world driven by social media and external validation Practical strategies for maintaining motivation and resilience Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Siri Lindley’s early life experiences and how they shaped her mindset Navigating self-doubt and building personal confidence The impact of family challenges and emotional experiences Overcoming anxiety and developing mental resilience Embracing identity and choosing authenticity over external expectations Transition from athlete to world champion despite early struggles Lessons learned from setbacks, failures, and long-term persistence The reality behind success vs what people see on the surface Facing serious health challenges and redefining strength The importance of purpose, mindset, and personal responsibility How challenges can build character and long-term growth Siri’s current mission, including her work helping others and animal rescue initiatives Advice for anyone pursuing goals despite obstacles Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1. Real Life Should Not Be Public Lucie shares only around 10% of her life online 90% of life is intentionally private and offline Boundaries protect mental health and relationships Audiences often think they know creators fully, but they don’t 2. Marriage & Balance Married to her high school sweetheart Husband is private and camera-shy Opposite personalities create balance He grounds her in real life while she pushes him outside comfort zones 3. From Creator to Business Owner Lucie approaches content as a business, not attention-seeking Long-term sustainability over viral moments Clean, intentional branding matters more than noise 4. How She First Grew Former host/producer at Refinery29 Built major YouTube series including challenge content Helped grow channel massively Used niche content first, then expanded personal brand later 5. Why She Refuses Certain Brand Deals Turned down five-figure deals that didn’t fit her lifestyle Example: kitchen appliance partnership she didn’t actually use Refuses fake endorsements Chooses trust over short-term cash 6. Followers Don’t Equal Money Many creators with more followers earn less Brands pay for trust, positioning, conversion, and professionalism Representation and negotiation matter greatly 7. Viral vs Sustainable Growth Viral moments help Long-term brand wins Better to build loyal fans than random followers 8. TikTok, Instagram & YouTube Lucie says YouTube is strongest for real fans TikTok feels less community-driven Short-form hooks people in Long-form builds loyalty 9. AI & Future of Influencers AI tools help editing, SEO, captions, clipping content But real human storytelling still wins Human connection remains valuable 10. Advice for New Creators Starting From Zero Social media is not “too late” Every year people say it’s saturated — they’re wrong Pick one niche and dominate it first Post across all platforms Let audience evolve with you over time 11. Advice For Anyone Ready to Quit Don’t rely on passion project income too early Build while stable financially Let it remain passion during growth phase Jump full-time only when numbers make sense 12. Definition of Real Success Designing a life you enjoy daily Not making money while miserable Freedom, time, purpose, peace > status Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1. Early Beginnings – From Kitchen to Concept Building the product from scratch at home Early struggles and limited traction Why most people would’ve quit at this stage 2. Deciding to Go on Shark Tank Why she applied despite low numbers Expectations going in (and why they were low) What she actually wanted from the experience 3. Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank The size and setup of the room vs what viewers see Cameras being hidden and the real environment The sharks being far more approachable than portrayed “TV personalities” vs real people 4. The Pressure of the Pitch Fear of looking unprepared or failing publicly Handling nerves in a high-stakes environment Staying composed under scrutiny 5. Landing the Deal Why she didn’t expect to get one Choosing the right shark based on values The difference between what’s agreed on TV vs reality 6. After the Show – The Real Impact Surge in attention and brand visibility Increase in product sales How exposure alone can change a business 7. Lessons Most Founders Get Wrong You don’t need perfect numbers to take big shots Exposure vs investment—what matters more The importance of positioning and storytelling 8. Reality vs Illusion What people misunderstand about startup success Why “overnight success” is usually years in the making The gap between perception and truth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Suzanne Blew Up Online Started posting consistently around the 2024 election Went from ~50K to 500K followers in months Viral moment came from saying what others wouldn’t Took a risk instead of waiting to be “ready” Why Most People Never Start Fear of judgment > desire to succeed People overthink content instead of posting Waiting for perfection kills momentum If hate comments scare you → this path isn’t for you The Reality of Going Viral It only takes ONE video — but you can’t predict it Viral content often comes from authenticity, not strategy Acting on ideas immediately matters more than planning Controversy: Growth Tool or Trap? Algorithms reward conflict, debate, and strong opinions Controversy builds attention fast But it locks you into that identity long-term Don’t chase controversy unless it’s real to you “Fuck It” Energy & Confidence Confidence comes from action, not validation You must post without caring about reactions The more you do it, the easier it becomes Detachment from outcomes = creative freedom Hate Comments & Online Criticism Hate is worse than you expect — accept it early If someone comments, you’re already in their head Dedicated haters = hidden fans You don’t need to win everyone over Why Influencers Fail Trying to please the algorithm instead of leading Overthinking “content pillars” and branding Copying trends instead of building identity Lack of consistency and resilience Stand-Up Comedy vs Social Media Stand-up is harder than going viral Immediate feedback vs delayed validation Bombing builds real confidence Fearlessness is required in both Fake Influencer Culture Many creators curate unrealistic lifestyles “Day in the life” content is often staged Authenticity stands out more than perfection Advice for Beginners Talk about what you’re obsessed with Stop waiting — just start posting Be ready for criticism from day one If quitting feels wrong deep down → don’t quit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The addiction to visibility and social media validation Why attention can feel powerful — but empty The modeling industry and performative identity When public attention becomes a liability The difference between visibility and value Rebranding yourself from image-driven to identity-driven Choosing connection over clout Building a platform rooted in authenticity Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.