Internet Empires with Ish Verduzco
Ish Verduzco interviews the best internet entrepreneurs unpacking how they built their empires (and how you can too).
Episodes
What if your fans could support you without ever losing money? In this episode, brothers Justin and Michael Blau break down how they're rethinking creator monetization with Bond, a platform where fans bond money to creators, get instant refunds anytime, and creators earn interest on that support. Justin has generated 6 billion streams and sold over 1 million tickets as a musician, yet he doesn't own any data on his fans. ...
Naomi Metzger of Afrochicks, a former Adidas-sponsored triple jump athlete, shares how she transitioned from athletics to crypto content creation after losing her sponsorship. Naomi discusses how she used NFTs to fund her career and how decentralized platforms like Farcaster and Zora enable creators to earn from day one. She also explains her AfroChicks coin and how it allows fans to invest in her growth.
Where to Find Naomi:
Tibo discusses how he sold his startups for $8M, emphasizing his approach of shipping one product per week, avoiding VC funding, and focusing on validation. He reflects on his journey with Tweet Hunter and Taplio, and shares his current challenge of growing five apps to $100K in monthly revenue. He stresses that distribution is more important than building in today’s competitive market.
Where to Find Tibo
In this episode, Roberto Nickson shares his journey from building apps to becoming a creator and educator with a multi-million dollar media business. He dives into how brand partnerships, content creation, and business strategy helped him scale his career. Plus, we explore how family life, long-term vision, and content formats play into his business growth.
Where to Find Roberto
https://www.instagram.com/rpn/?hl=en
2025 has been the year of distribution as the new moat. This episode is a recap of what we've covered on the show so far. It explores how creators win by owning their audience, building trust, and showing up consistently. You’ll hear stories of small podcasts landing major brand deals, newsletters that scale through reliability, and niche businesses that thrive because of who they reach, not just what they sell. These lessons ...
Chris Bakke is a 3x founder whose latest startup, Laskie, was acquired by Elon Musk just 90 days after a viral tweet. He’s worked at the intersection of recruiting, SaaS, and media—and even helped build the X Hiring platform from inside Twitter. In this episode, Chris shares the full unfiltered story of building, selling, and walking away.
You’ll Learn:
- How Chris Bakke shares how one viral tweet led to a DM from Elon Musk and the...
Ish sits down with Car Dealership Guy (CDG) — the anonymous Twitter account turned media mogul of the auto industry. What started as a pseudonymous experiment to blow off steam has evolved into a trusted, fast-scaling content empire serving 50,000+ car dealers and generating millions in sponsorship and service revenue. From bootstrapped marketing stunts to becoming the most trusted voice in auto — this is a masterclass in audience-...
Andrew Yeung is a former Google PM turned event powerhouse who built a $1M+ business by hosting curated IRL experiences. After quitting Google with $0 in income and a visa that required him to earn fast, Andrew went all-in on community-building through tech events, dinners, and conferences.
You’ll learn:
- How Andrew made $400K in just two months post-Google
- The exact playbook that gets sponsors to pay him to host events
- How he runs ...
Zach Yadegari, the founder of Cal AI, a groundbreaking app that simplifies calorie tracking with AI technology. Zach shares his journey from a fitness enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur, discussing how Cal AI allows users to track calories by taking pictures of their food. Discover insights into Zach's entrepreneurial path, the app's rapid growth, and his innovative approach to influencer marketing.
https://www.calai...
Justin Moore is a Sponsorship Coach, author, and the founder of Creator Wizard, a school & community that teaches you how to find & negotiate your dream brand partnerships so that you stop leaving thousands on the table.
In this episode, you'll hear how Justin Moore helps creators land big sponsorships:
- Breaks down his frameworks: ROPE, ARC, and DO Rule
- Explains why psychographic data beats follower count
- Live walkthr...
Brett Dashevsky is a leading voice in the creator economy as the founder of Creator Economy NYC, the industry’s leading network and knowledge hub, connecting thousands of content creators and industry professionals through in-person events and insightful media.
Brett Explains:
- His transition to becoming a full-time creator
- The significance of building a community within the creator economy
- Creator monet...
In this conversation, Andrew Gazdecki shares insights on the B2B SaaS landscape, detailing the steps involved in buying and selling businesses, the importance of due diligence, and common pitfalls to avoid. He discusses valuation multiples for various business types and emphasizes the importance of preparation and flexibility in the selling process. The conversation also explores the impact of no-code tools on product trust and hig...
In this engaging conversation, Eric Zhu shares his unconventional journey from high school to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges of taking investor calls in the bathroom, the evolution of his startup Aviado, and the unique marketing strategies that led to his viral fame. Eric also delves into his latest venture, sperm racing, and offers insights on navigating the startup world as a young founder. Throug...
In this conversation, Manny Reyes, founder of Boletin Growth, discusses the significance of newsletters in the digital landscape, emphasizing the importance of owning an audience rather than relying on social media platforms. He shares insights into his process of helping creators grow their newsletters through paid ads, the strategies for effective ad creation, and the importance of simple landing pages. Manny also provides a cost...
In this conversation, Kyle Reidhead shares his journey from a corporate job in Toronto to becoming a successful entrepreneur living in Bali. He discusses the freedom and opportunities of being a digital nomad, the strategic acquisition of the Milk Road newsletter, and the importance of building an audience before launching products. Kyle also delves into the operational changes post-acquisition, the role of AI in automating content...
In this conversation, Jay Yang shares his philosophy on life and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of taking initiative and not waiting for permission. He discusses his new book, which outlines a permissionless approach to creating opportunities and introduces the TAG method for effective outreach. Jay reflects on his journey as a young entrepreneur, the lessons from failures, and the significance of networking and data-...
In this conversation, Ish and Lia Haberman discuss the importance of building relationships and mentorship in career growth, the value of networking, and how creativity often arises from constraints. They explore the evolving creator economy, the transition from employee to creator, and the significance of lifelong learning and adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape.
Where to Find Lia
h5P9epTU...
In this conversation, Molly shares her journey into the world of venture capital and media, detailing her experiences from college to building a successful newsletter and podcast. She discusses the importance of mentorship, the evolution of her career, and how she balances multiple roles while maintaining a unique personality in the investing space.
In this conversation, Ben Rubin, the founder of Meerkat, Houseparty, and Towns, shares his insights on building social apps, the importance of meaningful connections, and the lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey. He discusses the role of architecture in creating digital spaces, the significance of first experiences in startups, and how to navigate anxiety while fostering a fun and engaging user experience
Where to Find B...
In this conversation, Jason shares his journey as the founder of MemeLord Technologies, a unique software that combines meme creation with marketing strategies. He discusses his transition from ghostwriting to entrepreneurship, the innovative features of his software, and the integration of a SaaS model with an agency approach. Caleb also highlights success stories from clients who have leveraged memes for business growth and share...
Popular Podcasts
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.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @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.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
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