In this episode, I look at vertical drama as an emerging content format and business model shaped by shifting attention and declining commitment. I connect its fast, low-cost production economics to doomscrolling behavior, short-form distribution, and why this format has scaled in Asia but not yet in Western media.

This is a short Signals episode. Signals are brief directional pings where I talk through early patterns I’m noticing, not predictions.

→ DOWNLOAD THE 2026 TREND REPORT.

⁠⁠https://www.seanearley.com/trends/⁠⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

In this episode, I look at the lipstick effect, an economic concept that shows how certain behaviors tend to increase during periods of uncertainty. I connect that idea to recent developments around prediction markets and their growing presence in media and culture.

This is a short Signals episode. Signals are brief directional pings where I talk through early patterns I’m noticing, not predictions.

→ DOWNLOAD THE 2026 TREND REPORT.

⁠https://www.seanearley.com/trends/⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

If you’re feeling uncertain about the future, you’re not alone. A lot of highly skilled, intelligent people are sensing that something has shifted, but can’t quite put their finger on what or how to respond to it.In this episode, I walk through the key ideas from my 2026 Trend Report and talk about what’s actually changing across AI, work, media, and the creator economy and why so many people feel stuck or off-balance at the same time.→ DOWNLOAD THE 2026 TREND REPORT.https://www.seanearley.com/trends/

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠X (Twitter)⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

I recently had a real conversation with a friend who works at the unemployment office and what he told me shocked me. Tech companies aren’t hiring. AI is replacing roles faster than people realize.

This isn’t a warning for the future. The wave is already here.In this video, I break down:

• What’s really happening in the job market right now
• Why your career isn’t as safe as you think
• And why building a personal brand is the smartest move you can make in 2025

If you're feeling stuck, uncertain, or just watching your industry shrink - it's time to pivot. Your personal brand is your new resume.

→ Personal Brand Coaching - Want my help taking your personal brand to the next level? Book a Free Discovery Call:

⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/workwithme⁠⁠

→ Download the free One Hour AI Business Plan here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/one-hour-ai-business-plan⁠⁠⁠⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

Starting a personal brand can feel like a never-ending hamster wheel. You post content, chase clients, and trade time for money - until you burn out. Sound familiar?In this episode, I break down the real difference between funnels, value ladders, and flywheels - and why you need to stop treating them like separate strategies.

→ Personal Brand Coaching - Want my help taking your personal brand to the next level? Book a Free Discovery Call:

⁠https://seanearley.com/workwithme⁠

→ Download the free One Hour AI Business Plan here:

⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/one-hour-ai-business-plan⁠⁠⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

Germany’s economy is facing serious challenges but what if one of the biggest solutions isn’t about innovation, tech, politics, or spending... but something much more simple?In this episode, I share my personal take on how some simple improvements could have a dramatic impact on Germany’s economic recovery - especially for small businesses, creators, and B2B service providers.→ SHOW NOTESPeter Zeihan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmEhTFjQB1g&t=1s→ CONSULTING - Want my help taking your customer experience to the next step? Book a Strategy Session: https://seanearley.com/workwithme

→ Download the free One Hour AI Business Plan here: ⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/one-hour-ai-business-plan⁠⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.

Enough! I finally decided that I've had enough! If you are struggling to make the decision between having a general /umbrella style YouTube channel or to go niche, you'll definitely want to check out this episode. Guess which one I picked?

→ My Business Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@SeanEarleyBiz

→ My Music Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@SeanEarleyGuitar

→ Download the free One Hour AI Business Plan here: ⁠https://seanearley.com/one-hour-ai-business-plan⁠

→ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss all the weekly episodes. Currently on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support for more platforms on the way.

→ WEBSITE

Stay up to date on all the latest news on my website at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seanearley.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow me on all the relevant social media channels.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠

-------

Affiliate Disclaimer

In full disclosure, some links in this podcast may contain affiliate codes, which means, if you click on them and buy something there, the owner of this website can potentially receive a commission for items purchased there.