In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I sit down with Eric Villa, a YouTube growth strategist who helps build major channels, including work connected to MKBHD and The Studio Channel.

We talk about what it actually takes to grow on YouTube in 2026, why trust is earned through real credibility, and how creators should think about content strategy like an efficient market. Eric breaks down the value of “weird” skill combinations, how options trading taught him risk, probability, and asymmetric upside, and why those ideas translate directly into YouTube packaging, audience building, and sustainable career moves in the creator economy. We also get into the college vs real-world learning debate, why traditional media education often feels outdated, and what it means to build a stable, normal-person career path inside the creator economy, not just chase viral success. Along the way, I share stories from teaching content creation, building Ailani’s Little World as an investment in my daughter’s future, and why the best content usually comes from specific, true stories instead of generic advice.

If you care about YouTube growth, creator careers, audience trust, content strategy, and building a real life around media without turning everything into a zero-sum hustle, this one hits.

In this Full Battery Media Podcast episode, I sit down with Josh Romero from Chicago, co founder of Megastore Media, a social impact film and video production company focused on documentaries, nonprofit campaigns, and brand storytelling that actually helps communities.

We get real about what it is like wearing every hat in video production, directing, cinematography, editing, producing, and why the solo creator grind sounds cool until deadlines, client feedback, and bad audio punch you in the face. Josh walks me through the shift he made during the 2020 pandemic, moving from being a one man band to building a team, negotiating smarter, investing in a stronger portfolio, and learning to charge based on value, not just effort. We talk about the creative reality that whoever pays calls the shots, and how to fight for your vision while still being the kind of collaborator clients trust. I share my own lessons from production life, including why sound is the fastest way to ruin great footage, how ROI should guide gear purchases and hiring decisions, and why “good enough” quality can be the move if it keeps you consistent.

If you are a content creator, filmmaker, videographer, or creative entrepreneur trying to turn projects into a sustainable business, this conversation is a straight up playbook on client communication, resourcefulness, building a crew, avoiding beginner mistakes, finding mentors, and creating work that is both high quality and actually effective for the audience.

In this Full Battery Media Podcast episode, I sit down with digital marketing leader Saralynn Finn to talk about what content strategy looks like now that marketing is less about big-budget campaigns and more about trust, clarity, and real human connection.

We dig into why authenticity consistently beats polish, especially as AI content gets easier to create and audiences get better at spotting what feels fake. Saralynn shares a simple filter I love, if your content does not reduce confusion and help someone feel capable of taking a next step, it probably should not exist, and we connect that idea to social impact marketing, brand storytelling, and everyday creator growth. We talk about how to test ideas fast, how to learn from campaigns that do not pop immediately, and why operations and audience needs matter more than internal timelines when you are stuck at zero growth. We also get into practical formats like carousel posts, the bite snack meal framework, and how to design content that builds depth and loyalty without sacrificing reach.

If you are a creator, founder, or marketer trying to grow on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube, this conversation is a straight-up guide to building an authentic brand, creating shareable content, and making marketing that feels real, earns trust, and moves people to action.