Advertise on podcast: Internet Empires with Ish Verduzco

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. Michael spent years at A16Z Crypto seeing every creator economy experiment fail due to extraction and speculation. Together, they're building something different. https://www.instagram.com/justinblau/?hl=en linkedin.com/in/3lau https://x.com/blauyourmind https://www.instagram.com/michael.blau/?hl=en Need Help Building Your Empire? Click Below 👇 https://www.internetempires.com/

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:  https://zora.co/@afrochicks https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-metzger-147b5012a/ https://x.com/AfroChicksNFT https://share.google/7e5uc4gMl6v6JdEH6 Need Help Building Your Empire? Click Below 👇 https://www.internetempires.com/

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 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tibo-the-maker/ https://x.com/tibo_maker?lang=en Need Help Building Your Empire? Click Below 👇 https://www.internetempires.com/

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 https://x.com/rpnickson Need Help Building Your Empire? Click Below 👇 https://www.internetempires.com/

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 reveal why distribution beats product every time, and how creators can leverage it to build sustainable businesses. Kevin Espiritu:  https://x.com/KevinEspiritu https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinespiritu/ Justin Moore:  https://x.com/justinmooretfam https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnmoore/ Brett Dashevsky:  https://x.com/brettdash_?lang=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettdash/ Andrew Yeung:  https://x.com/andruyeung https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyeung/ Need Help Building Your Empire? Click Below 👇 https://www.internetempires.com/

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 eventual acquisition of his company, Laskie.The Behind the scenes of how he built a $5M ARR business with just 9 employees.What it was like scaling X Hiring inside Twitter, including launching 1M+ job listings in under a year.Chaos and culture clash: working with Tesla and SpaceX engineers inside Twitter HQ.Why Chris ultimately walked away from Elon’s company to reclaim his time and freedom.Tactical gems on startup exits, newsletters, deal-making, and audience building.Lessons from selling 3 companies and why he says: “Most startups don’t need to raise money.” Where to find Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakk3/ https://x.com/chrisjbakke?lang=en https://intro.co/ChrisBakke?source=intro https://www.chrisbakke.com/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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-first building, owning a niche, and turning trust into a business moat. In this episode, you’ll learn: - How CDG went from tweeting car-buying tips to owning one of the most influential media platforms in auto retail - The $1M+ business model behind newsletters, podcasts, live shows, and service partnerships - Why content velocity and quality matter more than ever in the AI era - His exact strategy for turning followers into customers and sponsors - How his small 6-person full-time team runs 14+ content channels - The real advice car buyers need to know before hitting the dealership - How to scale from creator → media company without losing your voice or vision Where to Find Yossi:  https://www.dealershipguy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy https://x.com/GuyDealership https://www.youtube.com/@CarDealershipGuy Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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-GoogleThe exact playbook that gets sponsors to pay him to host eventsHow he runs 100+ events a year for 20,000+ people with a lean teamWhy IRL is outperforming digital in the AI ageHis underrated growth channels: Luma, email, and word-of-mouthHow to turn your network and curiosity into a real businessWhere to Find Andrew https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyeung/ https://www.instagram.com/andrew.today/?hl=en https://www.andrewyeung.co/ https://x.com/andruyeung?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor https://www.instagram.com/andrewsmixers/?hl=en https://www.andrew.today/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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.app/ Where to Find Zach https://www.instagram.com/zachyadegari/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachyadegari/ https://x.com/zach_yadegari?lang=en https://zachyadegari.com/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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 RuleExplains why psychographic data beats follower countLive walkthrough of how to pitch brands like RampReal-world pricing tips for licensing, exclusivity, and content rightsCreative sponsorship ideas: books, courses, and community grantsWhy most creators don’t need agents — and what to do insteadIn his latest book, "Sponsor Magnet," Justin offers a succinct distillation of his ideas and frameworks for securing successful brand collaborations.  Order Now: https://www.sponsormagnet.com/ Where to Find Justin Newsletter: https://pages.creatorwizard.com/join Website: https://www.creatorwizard.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/creatorwizard Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@creatordebates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorwizard/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creatorwizard? Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinmooretfam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnmoore/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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 monetization strategies - The role of personal branding in establishing credibility  - Emerging trends in the creator economy  Where to Find Brett https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettdash/ https://x.com/brettdash_?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/brettdash_/?hl=en https://mail.creatoreconomynyc.com/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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 highlights podcasts as an effective distribution channel for startups. Where to Find Andrew:  https://x.com/acquiredotcom https://x.com/agazdecki https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquiredotcom/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/agazdecki/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of community, controversy, and continuous learning in the entrepreneurial journey. Where to Find Eric https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericzhu105/ https://www.instagram.com/ericzhu105/?hl=en https://x.com/ericzhu105?lang=en Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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 analysis of subscriber acquisition and explains why Meta ads are currently the most effective platform for newsletter growth. Where to Find Manny  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannyreyesm/ https://x.com/mannyyreyyes https://www.boletingrowth.com/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube

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 creation, and the enduring value of human creativity in the age of AI.  Where to Find Kyle:  https://x.com/KyleReidhead https://www.instagram.com/kyle.reidhead/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylereidhead/?originalSubdomain=ca https://milkroad.com/ Follow Ish Instagram X Linkedin Website Subscribe to Internet Empires on YouTube