Ctrl Alt Ask
The advice show for creators that tells it like it is. Host Stephanie Woodin takes calls from web creators grappling with the big questions: burnout, branding, revenue, and keeping up with AI and SEO changes. Each episode, an expert guest or fellow creator joins Stephanie to answer your questions with research-backed, practical advice you can put to work in your own business. Brought to you by Raptive, the full-service creator media company that empowers creators to turn their passions into thriving, profitable brands. Do you have a question? Record yourself on video or audio, or write it up and email it to ctrlaltask@raptive.com. Anonymous questions are welcome!
Episodes
What actually works for web creators right now? Across this season of Ctrl Alt Ask, we spoke with SEO experts, ad strategists, branding pros, creator coaches, and founders navigating real traffic swings. In this episode, we’ve distilled the most important lessons into eight clear, actionable takeaways for independent publishers.
You’ll learn how to:
- Think about Google without letting it control your strategy
- Improve your ...
There’s a part of Google quietly driving millions of clicks to websites every day–and a lot of creators don’t even realize they’re publishing for it. In this episode, we ground the conversation in what Google Discover actually is, where it lives, and why it matters right now for creators navigating a shifting search landscape.
Guest Tim Konrad of Unofficial Networks shares what it’s been like riding the feature’s highs ...
How can smaller news and entertainment creators compete with giant publishers? Should creators chase breaking news, or focus on evergreen content? And what actually wins in today’s SEO and discovery ecosystem?
These are the questions facing creators like Jamie Broadnax of Black Girl Nerds and entertainment creators everywhere. With massive publishers dominating the space, how can high-quality independent sites break thr...
Substack is no longer just an email platform, it has grown into a fully fledged social media site. But does that mean you need to start one? Best-selling author, podcaster and Substack aficionado Jo Piazza joins to share how Substack fits into her larger creator and marketing ecosystem.
The question asker this week is Steve Snyder of Club Trader Joes. He’s started a free Substack and gained some traction, but how can h...
At the end of 2025, so many creators are telling us they’re feeling burnt out. And this phenomenon is more than tiredness or overwhelm: it’s a state of fight or flight, and it could be the thing zapping our creativity. So how do we get out of that state and tap back into our love of making content?
This week, our creator guest, food and lifestyle entrepreneur Laura Fuentes poses this question, and she confesses that cre...
In a crowded digital landscape, how do you get your brand to stand out? In our first-ever live episode, host Stephanie Woodin gets the lowdown from Emily Robinson, a top entertainment publicist who has launched countless TV shows, products and global brands. Together, they translate lessons from Hollywood publicity to the world of web creators.
Get Emily’s Hollywood insider tips on brand strategy from goal setting to execu...
AI crawlers are coming for your content: Should you block them, or let them in? In this episode of Ctrl Alt Ask, Raptive’s Chief Growth Officer, Marc McCollum, breaks down what every creator needs to know about AI scraping your site.
Our guest this week, Nate Hake, founder of Travel Lemming, shares why he’s already blocking AI bots, and why he thinks creators must unite to demand fair compensation from AI companies...
As a creator, your niche is your superpower for finding and retaining an audience. But is honing a super-specific category leaving advertising dollars on the table?
This week, Jess Coppom of Make & Do Crew, wonders if she should expand her crochet content to attract advertisers.
To give Jess the best advice, we pulled in MaryRay Lombardo, Raptive’s SVP of Advertising Partnerships. She explains why advertisers are dr...
What does YouTube really want? For years, it was long-form content, where more minutes meant more revenue. But after the TikTok takeover, YouTube abruptly pivoted to short-form, which is great for getting creators more eyeballs, but not as great for ad dollars.
This week’s creator, Aimee Page of the Crazy Craft Lady, has had success on YouTube with long-form content. But should she suddenly start creating short-form co...
Where did all my clicks go? This is a common question we’ve been hearing over the last few years as traffic has plummeted for creators across the board.
Our creator this week, Organically Addison, has noticed that Google is ranking Quora or Reddit forums above her gluten-free recipes. Is that where her traffic went?
Tom Critchlow, Raptive’s EVP of Audience Growth, joins Stephanie to explain what happened. As it tur...
The relationship between Google and creators has hit a rough patch. What was a match made in heaven–Google provided the platform, and creators provided the quality content searchers were looking for–has soured. With the rollout of AI Overviews and AI mode, creators are feeling left in the lurch, losing clicks and struggling to see a future with Google. The team behind the Inspired Taste website shares their story and asks:...
The advice show for web creators who are going through it. Each week, host Stephanie Woodin and an expert guest take calls from creators who are up against today’s challenges: AI updates, diversifying revenue streams, rebranding, or struggling with burnout – and we bring you actionable, data driven advice.
If you want to leave a question or an idea for a future episode, get in touch at ctrlaltask@raptive.com.
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.