The Creative Juice Podcast

If you’ve ever shipped a UEFN map you genuinely believed in, but Discovery never gave it a real shot, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by Graeme Bull, one of the most trusted educators in the UEFN and Verse space, to break down what actually holds creators back long term. We talk about the biggest misconception new UEFN developers walk in with, why great games can sit “dead” for months and suddenly pop off, and how to think about...

In this episode of The Creative Juice Podcast, I sit down with GameDevMicah to break down what it actually takes to push Unreal Engine and UEFN beyond the obvious.

We dig into real world optimization mistakes, common performance traps creators fall into, and how systems like instancing, GPU workflows, and destruction can scale when used correctly. Micah also shares why building in public matters, how devlogs can accelerate...

Eddie Benson and Joel Bestart, Co-Founders of Team Gauntlet, join the podcast to share the real story behind Kraken and how a small team built one of Fortnite’s most successful long-form UEFN experiences.

We unpack what happened before Kraken broke through, how early community feedback shaped the game, and why progression and retention mattered more than chasing short-term Discovery spikes. Eddie and Joel also break down h...

Yu7a, CEO and Co Founder of Vysena Studios, joins me to break down the real story behind some of Fortnite’s most iconic creative projects. We talk about how Naruto and BTS came together in Creative 1.0, what brands still get wrong when entering Fortnite, and why Vysena just launched a new era focused on building long term player focused UEFN games.

He shares behind the scenes stories from the March Through Time project, early Creati...

Fortnite creators always talk about the Discovery system, but almost nobody understands how it actually works. In this episode, I sit down with Jon Hughes, founder of FCHQ and one of the leading analytic minds in Fortnite Creative and UEFN. Jon breaks down the real numbers behind map success, why certain genres explode, why others fade fast, and what the data shows about player behavior in 2025.

We talk about viral loops, live event...

Jim Ying, Managing Director & Founder of Mihada Capital, joins me to break down what it really takes to sell your studio or game. We dive into when to sell, what buyers actually look for, common mistakes creators make, and how acquisitions happen behind the scenes.

This episode is a masterclass for any creator or studio thinking about scaling, raising capital, or getting acquired.

Connect with Jim:
LinkedI...

From Tiffany & Co. to Hive Studio, Dummblond has built some of Fortnite’s most iconic Creative hubs and maps, with more than 100 million plays worldwide. In this episode, she shares how she transitioned from luxury retail to game development, her creative process inside Hive (the studio behind 1v1 With Every Gun), and what it takes to lead in Fortnite’s UGC space.

Connect with Dummblond:
X (Twitter): https://x.com/...

Philipp Batura, founder of Topcat, joins me to share how he went from failing at his first Roblox game to building a 7-figure digital fashion business featured in Forbes. We talk about the rise of Roblox UGC, scaling to over a million avatar items sold per month, why digital fashion matters more than ever, and how Topcat became one of the biggest names in virtual streetwear.

Connect with Philipp:
 X (Twitter): https://x.com/Topc...

Michael Herriger, co-founder of Atlas Creative, joins me to talk about building the OG Fortnite map with UEFN, working with brands like the NBA and Microsoft, and expanding into Roblox with hits like Arcade Basketball. We cover player-first design, pitching brands the right way, lessons from billions of plays, and what’s next for Atlas.

Connect with Michael:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelherriger/
Atlas Creat...

On this episode of The Creative Juice Podcast, Matt Zanazzo sits down with Ethan Guest, co-founder of Bloom Creative and one of the masterminds behind Zombie Escape, a Fortnite Creative map that exploded with millions of players.

We talk about:
 • The scariest moment of publishing their first map
 • How Zombie Escape became addictive and impossible to copy
 • What playtesting every single day taught Bloom Creative
 •...

Dylan “SirRifty” Benn is the 18-year-old CEO of Genesis Studios, the Fortnite UEFN team behind some of the platform’s most ambitious projects. From building Squid Game with over 1M players in a single day to recreating Fortnite’s iconic live events, Genesis is setting new standards for creative studios.

In this episode, we cover:
 • SirRifty’s journey from Roblox to Fortnite UEFN
 • How Genesis Studios scaled from a friend g...

Adam Starr is a video game lawyer helping UGC creators navigate the complex world of platform policies, contracts, mods, and IP rights across Fortnite, Roblox, and beyond.

In this episode, we cover:
 • Who actually owns your Fortnite/UEFN map
• Brand usage rules (LEGO, NFL, Nike, music, etc.) developers usually get wrong
• What types of mods and copyrighted assets can get you in trouble
• How to structure contract...

Zak Phelps helped the early evolution of Fortnite Creative while at Epic Games, shaping the tools and systems that now power millions of player-made maps.

In this episode, we cover:
 • How Fortnite’s most viral game modes started with broken tools
 • The real reason “Steal a Brain Rot” and “Grow a Garden” exploded
 • Why discovery is more math than magic
 • What brands get wrong when launching in Fortnite
 • How ...

Hannes Van der Haegen (aka UtaSmoota) went from full-time dad and software architect to building one of Fortnite's most successful studios: Team Unite.

In this episode, we cover:
 • How Hannes built a 10M-player Oral-B game
• Creating viral Fortnite maps for LEGO, Adidas, and Gillette
• The real strategy behind discovery, retention, and brand work in UEFN
• Why modular Verse code is the secret weapon for scal...

This week on Creative Juice, I’m going solo to share the full story of how I left a stable 6-figure job in the oil field to go all in on Fortnite Creative and content creation.
No guests, just raw truth about the risks, sacrifices, and wins along the way.

I talk about:

• Why I almost didn’t take the leap
• How I built 50+ games before one took off
• What it really takes to go full-time in UEFN
• The hardest part of being a Fortnite cre...

Curious how a Fortnite Creative game becomes a viral sensation? In this episode, Enrique Fuentes, CEO of Terravision and creator of Havoc Hotel, shares the secrets behind some of the most successful maps in Fortnite UEFN. Learn real strategies for player retention, sequels, brand collaborations like The Walking Dead, and what it takes to stand out in the competitive Fortnite Creative scene. Hear Enrique’s journey from launching a s...

Thanks to Epic Games for sponsoring this episode!
 #EpicPartner #StateofUnreal

How did Snoop Dogg, Creed III, and Rocket League end up in Fortnite? JJ Armstrong of Team 404 shares how to land major brand deals, integrate IP into your maps, and stand out as a creator. Get real tips, industry stories, and creative strategies in this can’t-miss episode.

Connect with JJ Armstrong:
 X (Twitter): https://x.com/yojj47
Website: ...

Get the inside scoop on the wildest brand collabs ever built in Fortnite! In this episode, Mack Jack breaks down how Alliance Studios brought Doritos, SpongeBob SquarePants, Prime Energy, and Kid Laroi to life inside Fortnite Creative. Hear the untold stories behind each map, the creative chaos, and what it’s really like working with global brands in the gaming space. Plus, Mack Jack shares advice for creators, her personal journey...

In Episode 4 of the Creative Juice Podcast, we sit down with MustardPlays to uncover the real story behind how the biggest Battle Royale in the world got its start — from a simple dinner table conversation to a 3-week prototype that changed gaming forever.

We dive into:
 🔹  How Fortnite + UEFN on iOS could spark a second boom for creators 
 🔹  Why building fast and testing early still drives his creative process 
 🔹  ...