This Could Go Viral

Hannah Williams went from discovering she was underpaid to building one of the internet’s most recognizable platforms for salary transparency.After finding out that she was underpaid by $30,000, Hannah started talking openly about pay. That experience eventually led her to launch **Salary Transparent Street**, a social media platform that brought salary conversations out into the open.What started with a blank TikTok account, inexpensive microphones, and a $25 logo on Fiverr turned into a business with more than 3 million followers and seven-figure annual revenue.In this episode of *This Could Go Viral*, Hannah shares how one viral video changed everything, how she turned a social media account into a media business, and what it really takes to build a career in the creator economy.We also get into the realities behind the success: negotiating your salary, the business of brand partnerships, advocating for pay transparency, building a community, and the burnout that ultimately led Hannah to sell the business and step away.**In this conversation:**- How Hannah discovered she was being underpaid and negotiated a $115K salary- The story behind launching Salary Transparent Street- How her first video reached 1 million views and 50,000 followers- Turning a social media platform into a seven-figure business- Why community matters more than viral views- The realities of brand partnerships and building a creator business- The personal cost of being the talent, producer, editor, and business operator- Why Hannah ultimately decided to walk away*This Could Go Viral* explores the people, businesses, and ideas shaping the internet and the future of work.Subscribe for more conversations about the internet, culture, creators, and the business behind going viral.

I used to reorganize spoons in the Funny or Die kitchen just to strike up conversations with executives. Years later, I’d produced for some of the biggest names in entertainment and built a meme account with more than 300,000 followers. But putting my own face—and opinions—on the internet? That was a different kind of uncomfortable.For my first solo episode of This Could Go Viral, I’m sharing the career pivots, layoffs, unlikely opportunities, and personal growing pains that brought me here. From a red blazer at CBS to Funny or Die, music videos, the Golden Globes, and launching my own production company, this is the less-than-linear story behind the show.I get into:How a parking-lot conversation helped me land my dream internship at Funny Or die.Building Basic Betch Problem—and realizing I’d outgrown the identity that built my audience.Leaving a full-time job in LA, moving to New York, and betting on freelance work.Going back to school at 30, trying consulting, and finding my way back to producing.Why being comfortable behind the camera didn’t mean I was ready to be in front of it.Why I’m finally making the podcast I’ve been thinking about for years.If you’ve ever outgrown the thing people know you for—or felt ready for a new chapter without knowing exactly what it looks like—this one’s for you.Follow This Could Go Viral for candid conversations about internet careers, creative reinvention, and what happens beyond the feed.

What does it take to stay relevant—and financially sustainable—after more than a decade of full-time content creation?This week, Libby sits down with Jeremy Jacobowitz, the Brooklyn-based food and travel creator behind @BrunchBoys and host of What Is Your Bagel Order?Jeremy shares his complete journey through the evolution of digital video: getting his start in sports TV and working as a production assistant for Bobby Flay, pioneering food video before modern algorithms took over, and ultimately making the high-stakes decision to ditch his catchy brand handle to build long-term personal equity under his own name.They dive deep into the unfiltered realities of creator life in 2026:The daily mental toll of hostile comment sections and bad-faith reviewsWhy viral lottery tickets are overrated compared to consistent, repeatable formatsHow food creators navigate political discourse, White House invitations, and brand partnershipsHis full tech stack, gear recommendations, and the 360° content distribution playbookConnect with Jeremy:Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @jeremyjacobowitzFull episode of This Could Go Viral featuring Jeremy Jacobowitz is LIVE!

I think ordering bread is dumb.” One line turned Sydney Yorkshire’s food video into a viral moment—and accidentally made her a master of rage bait.In this TLDR version, Sydney—aka @whatcouldbebutter—shares how she went from food PR and Coachella social media to building her own restaurant content business. She breaks down the viral bread video, the reality of hospitality PR, and how Instagram transformed the way restaurants reach customers.You’ll hear:Why her “ordering bread is dumb” video blew up—and what people missedHow food PR works, from pitching the LA Times to promoting restaurant openingsWhat it was like running influencer and food marketing at CoachellaHow she launched an egg salad sandwich business during COVIDHer advice for food creators: post consistently, diversify your income, and work with people you genuinely loveIf you’re into food content, restaurant marketing, Instagram strategy, hospitality PR, or creator entrepreneurship, this one’s for you.Follow Sydney: @whatcouldbebutterListen to the full episode for the complete conversation.

Sydney Yorkshire is known on Instagram as @whatcouldbebutter. In today's episode, Sydney and I discuss how she went from a food PR assistant sending 100 pitch emails a day to running social media for some of LA’s best restaurants. Along the way, she helped shape the food scene at Coachella, started an egg salad sandwich business out of her Brentwood apartment during COVID, and landed in the LA Times.I’ve known Sydney for 17 years, since college, and I’ve been wanting to interview her forever. In this episode, we cover:⬛ Growing up digital native: AIM screen names, T9 texting, flip phone disasters, and the red Solo cup blur⬛ Why she started What Could Be Butter, and how it began with a gluten-free grilled cheese⬛ Working in food PR, and how “new media” became a job title⬛ The early days of influencer marketing at Coachella (including sleeping in a trailer)⬛ Starting Egg Salad Sando in 2020 and handing sandwiches through car windows with a grabber⬛ How restaurants adapted during COVID, and how her work changed with them⬛ The story behind her most viral video, and why rage bait works⬛ Losing a client that was 95% of her income, and rebuilding with dream clients⬛ Advice for anyone who wants to build a career in content creationFollow SydneyInstagram / TikTok: @whatcouldbebutterFollow This Could Go Viral:TikTok & Instagram - @ThisCouldGoViralPodcastAbout This Could Go Viral:The internet created a completely new category of work. This Could Go Viral explores the people building careers, businesses and entire industries because of it — and what actually happens behind the posts, podcasts, platforms and viral moments.

Only have a few minutes? Here's the TLDR from Marcos Gonzalez's episode of This Could Go Viral.Marcos Gonzalez wrote on Jury Duty (Peabody Award winner, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee), but he’s still writing on spec and building projects from scratch. In this TL;DR cut, he breaks down his wild path through Hollywood.In this episode:🎭 How a dumb college sketch led to a Funny or Die internship📱 Going viral with Jorge Ortiz and landing a Comedy Central deal✍️ What a writers’ room is really like (Saved by the Bell, Jury Duty)🎬 How SNL auditions work: 10 characters in 5 minutes🐰 The Bad Bunny character that blew up on TikTok, and why he took a huge break🏈 The Super Bowl / Lady Gaga coincidence that had everyone thinking Bad Bunny messaged him💰 His best financial year, with real numbers on what “high six figures” actually means after taxes and debt💡 Why he keeps going

Bad Bunny made him go viral. But Marcos González was already a TV writer.Marcos González is a writer, comedian, actor and creator who has written for shows including Saved by the Bell and Jury Duty, which won a Peabody Award. He built his career through characters, comedy and the internet before a Bad Bunny impression he posted on TikTok unexpectedly took off.In this episode, we talk about what happens when the internet gives you an audience for something you never expected to become known for, and what it means to build a career when your biggest opportunities don't always come from the traditional entertainment industry.