The Truth Behind Creator Burnout and Bad Hiring

In this episode of The Daily Creator, Eric Farber sits down with digital media strategist and creator economy veteran Leslie Morgan to explore how the creator landscape has evolved over the last 15 years. 

Leslie shares behind-the-scenes stories from working with early YouTube icons like Michelle Phan, to managing major brand partnerships with Unilever and launching viral children's content. She reveals how platforms like YouTube play favorites, how creators struggle to convert across channels, and why gut instinct often leads the way when data is unclear. 

Whether you're a creator, marketer, or brand strategist, this episode is packed with sharp insights on what it really takes to grow, adapt, and win in today's creator economy. 

 

Time Stamps 

00:03 – Intro
00:40 – Leslie's story
02:00 – Early creator economy
05:00 – Big brands & deals
08:00 – Evaluating creators
11:00 – Growth & mistakes
14:00 – Teams & systems
17:00 – Burnout & leadership
20:00 – Creator middle class
23:00 – Fair pay & equity
26:00 – Retention & behind-the-scenes
29:00 – Leadership & regrets
32:00 – Decision-making
35:00 – Playing it safe
38:00 – Future of creators
41:00 – Sports & content
44:00 – Final thoughts

 

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