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AI makes it easier than ever to build apps, courses, and software, but will building more actually grow your business? In this episode, Jan shares big-picture takeaways from the Creator Empires mastermind in Tenerife, where 20 Langpreneurs spent five days discussing what’s changing in the world of online language businesse, and what hasn’t. The key idea: growth starts with identifying your biggest business constraint. For many creators, that’s traffic and audience, not another product or a new app. Jan explores why brand and trust matter more when everyone can build, why growth often becomes a marketing problem, and how “vibe marketing” can help creators reach more people. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why brand can matter more than having the “best” product - Why growth eventually becomes a marketing problem, not a product problem - How AI can help with marketing, but won’t automatically grow your business - Why creators are exploring communities, high-ticket programs, and software - How to focus on the transformation you deliver, rather than the technology behind it If you’re building an online language business, use these takeaways to focus on what will move your business forward, rather than getting distracted by the newest tools. Want to connect with other people building online language businesses and access the mastermind notes and resources? Visit https://creatorempires.com/inner-circle/

This episode is a little different. I sat down with Lucas Bighetti, one of my co-founders at Teacher AI. In this conversation, we go deep into language learning in 2026. What works, what doesn’t, and how things are changing. Lucas is one of the best polyglots in the world and really knows what he’s talking about. Enjoy! Create your own clone and offer your students unlimited speaking practice for FREE: https://yourteacher.ai/schools

This episode is a little different. I sat down with Lucas Bighetti, one of my co-founders at Teacher AI. In this conversation, we go deep into language learning in 2026. What works, what doesn’t, and how things are changing. Lucas is one of the best polyglots in the world and really knows what he’s talking about. Enjoy! Create your own clone and offer your students unlimited speaking practice for FREE: https://yourteacher.ai/schools In this conversation:• How Lucas went from failing languages at school to speaking Russian, Thai and Icelandic• The brick method: why "and" and "want" beat "nice to meet you"• How word origins and sound shifts help you recognize words you never studied• What makes a language hard, plus the easiest and hardest languages for English speakers• A live lesson: Spanish from zero, in a few minutes• Learning with AI: what it does well, and why human teachers still matter• How speaking Thai saved Lucas's life• Your questions: learning two languages at once, mixing them up, and getting past the intermediate plateauCreate your own clone and offer your students unlimited speaking practice for FREE: https://yourteacher.ai/schools

In this episode, Jan sits down with Tobias, co-founder of Tandem, to unpack the story behind one of the world’s biggest language exchange apps and what it takes to build a sustainable product in a crowded market. Tobias shares how Tandem grew from an early video chat concept into a global community with tens of millions of users, why the business needed capital to reach critical mass, and how the team has navigated the trade-offs between growth, monetization, retention, and user experience. Jan also opens up about the journey behind Teacher AI, from YouTube and online courses to building a product-first business around speaking practice, and the two compare notes on what really drives growth today. They discuss the shift from creator-led distribution to product-led value, the rise of partnerships, the limits of paid acquisition, and why schools, LLMs, and word of mouth are becoming increasingly important channels.The episode closes with a lively game of “Would you do it?” where Tobias pitches a series of language app ideas and Jan gives his honest verdict on what feels like a feature, a side project, or a truly exciting new company. Building in the language space? Join our events: www.creatorempires.com Tobias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickmeis/

In this episode, Brenda dives into the the strategies behind her success: how she built a sustainable YouTube channel that attracts thousands, developed a membership that creates loyal learners, and organized in-person immersion trips in Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Madrid that turn students into lifelong friends. You'll discover how to leverage AI to streamline video editing, the importance of niche focus in a crowded market, and the power of community in turning students into advocates. Brenda’s insights reveal how patience, authenticity, and community can transform your language business into a thriving empire, without sacrificing your sanity. Here’s what you'll learn: How Brenda grew a sustainable language business with patience and consistencyWhy niche focus helped her stand out in a crowded spaceHow community-building turned followers into loyal membersWhat goes into planning live events and immersion tripsHow to use AI and content systems to save time and stay consistentWhy testing ideas with an audience before launching mattersHow online content and in-person experiences can work together If you’re interested in live events and building community with other creators in the space, visit www.creatorempires.com.

Giovanna Carvalho from Teachable talks about how AI is changing online education, and what creators and app builders in the language space need to focus on now. The episode covers why human connection, trust, and community still matter, how creators are adapting their offers, and where new opportunities are opening up as AI makes content easier to produce. Are you building in the language space? Join our community and events: www.creatorempires.com

Join Xavier Anguera, co-founder of Elsa and senior VP at Babel, as he explores how AI is changing language learning. Discover how AI makes learning more personal and effective, and why it's not just about flashy features. Learn how AI tools are built and how they help people learn languages faster. Whether you're interested in tech or just curious about learning, this episode offers clear insights into the future of language education. Xavier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanguera/ Join our community and events for builders in the language space: https://creatorempires.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Timothy from LearnCraft Spanish. A langpreneur who built a 7-figure Spanish coaching business with just 17K YouTube subscribers and a non-active podcast. We dive deep into: How LearnCraft Spanish sells premium coaching programs from $400 to $1,000/monthWhy “serious learners” are willing to pay much more for language coachingHow Timothy generates high-quality leads with a relatively small audienceThe funnel behind their $1M+ businessWhy email lists still matter in 2026The future of online language businesses in the age of AIBut we also go deep into AI workflows, Claude Code, vibe coding, and how creators and course businesses can use LLMs to completely transform the way they work. We discuss: Using Claude Code to build landing pages and internal toolsTurning customer feedback into better products and sales pagesAI-powered flashcard generation and personalized learningBuilding SOPs, workflows, and systems with AIWhy AI is increasing productivity — not reducing ambitionHow one person can now do the work of an entire small teamIf you run an online education business, create language content, or want to understand how AI is changing the creator economy, this episode is packed with practical ideas and real-world examples. Guest: Timothy from LearnCraft Spanish Host: Jan van der Aa Enjoy! P.S.: Join our langpreneur community: www.creatorempires.com

We just got back from Amsterdam. This episode is the debrief. At our recent Langpreneurs mastermind, two talks stood out above everything else. One was a deep dive into Teachable's own student and creator data, surveying hundreds of buyers across price points and niches to find out what's actually driving course sales right now. The other was a masterclass from Olly Richards of Story Learning on how he's using AI to run what used to require an entire team. Together, they painted a picture of exactly where the course business is heading, and what separates the creators who are growing from those who are standing still. In this episode, we cover: Whether AI is actually replacing course sales (the data will surprise you)The #1 reason students don't finish your course — and it's not what you thinkWhat Elite creators ($1M+/year) are doing differently from everyone elseWhy 73% of your students have only ever bought from you once — and what that's costing youThe bundle and coaching pricing strategies that are driving the biggest revenue jumpsHow Olly Richards launched 7 masterclasses in 7 languages in a single day using Claude Code — with zero coding experienceIf you sell courses, coaching, or any kind of learning product online, this one is essential listening. Join our events: www.creatorempires.com

What does it take to build one of the most recognized IELTS brands on YouTube, and turn it into a seven-figure business? In this episode, Jan sits down with Chris, who went from being a lawyer in 2008 to teaching English in Asia, to building a YouTube channel with 4.5 million subscribers and tens of millions of monthly views across platforms. Chris shares the unfiltered lessons behind his success, including why he spends over $100,000 a year on his own education, how working with Alex Hormozi introduced him to the Theory of Constraints, and why long-form YouTube drives 10–20x more sales than short-form content despite getting a fraction of the views. In this episode: Why packaging (title, thumbnail, intro) matters more than the content itselfThe "spaghetti bolognese technique" for teaching people what they need while giving them what they wantHow a simple PDF lead magnet took email conversions from 0.5% to 20%The typical growth constraints every online education business faces — and how to diagnose yoursHis honest take on AI: useful tool, or just the latest excuse?Why the biggest barrier to scaling past 7 figures isn't your niche — it's you Join our events: www.creatorempires.com

Teacher Stefano has been teaching Italian online for over a decade, and in that time he's built a YouTube channel approaching 300,000 subscribers. But the most interesting part of his story isn't the subscriber count, it's what he figured out about turning views into an actual business.In this episode, Stefano shares why he stopped chasing views and started optimizing for leads, how he uses lead magnets to convert casual viewers into engaged learners, and the "content buckets" strategy that helped him identify what his audience actually wants to watch.We also get into how the YouTube algorithm has changed — and why, counterintuitively, getting fewer views might actually be a good sign for your business.What you'll learn:- Why view counts are less important than conversion rates- How to build lead magnets that feel like a natural extension of your video- The content buckets approach to planning a more strategic channel- How to keep your content relevant as your audience evolvesMore info about our events: www.creatorempires.com

In this conversation, Jan and Olly discuss the evolution of language education businesses over the past decade, focusing on the transition from blogging to video content and the impact of AI on the industry. They explore strategies for optimizing lead generation, the future of online courses, and the importance of building a strong personal brand and audience. Olly shares insights on how to adapt to changing market dynamics and the significance of community and high-ticket programs in the language learning space. Our events: www.creatorempires.com Join our Amsterdam Event March 19-20, 2026: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Em6jnf4HdUV_WvW3rXohw2Oa2qfGQ-mDf_ds1e3WcEs/edit?usp=sharing Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Language Education Businesses 15:48 Navigating AI in Language Learning 24:45 The Future of Online Courses and Business Models 27:30 The Future of Language Learning and AI 30:01 Building Trust and Community in Language Education 34:01 High-Ticket Programs and Personalized Learning 37:55 The Shift Back to One-on-One Teaching 40:06 The Importance of Knowledge and Marketing in Business 48:48 Closing the Knowledge Gap for Business Success

In this episode, Jan shares proven systems and real case studies for growing creator education businesses in 2026. Drawing from his experience building six and seven-figure education businesses and working with top content creators in the language education space, he breaks down actionable strategies across three core growth pillars: traffic, conversion, and lifetime value. What You'll Learn: Traffic & Lead Generation: - How to create YouTube content that generates clients, not just clicks (with a case study showing 37% revenue increase despite fewer views) - The "bucket system" for identifying which video types attract qualified leads- 10 proven tactics to turn YouTube views into leads (including QR codes, lead magnets, and community tab optimization) - When ads actually work (and when they don't) for creator businesses Conversion Optimization: - How to build a compelling flagship offer that sells results, not courses - The power of email marketing in 2026 (and why it still outperforms social media)- Using AI and custom GPTs to write email campaigns efficiently - Running monthly email promotions to stabilize revenueIncreasing Customer Lifetime Value: - Price testing strategies that can boost revenue by 30%+ without changing anything else - Building a "course ecosystem" instead of one massive course - The rise of high-ticket offers and why they're becoming essential - Using customer feedback and AI to identify business bottlenecks For all the recourses mentioned in this video: https://creatorempires.com/resources Join our events: https://creatorempires.com/

5 ways to keep your creator-led education business future-proof: 1. Your fans want to learn from YOU. Make your products as personal as possible. 2. People will always be happy to pay for transformation, not for information. Position your offer that way. 3. Sell access. Build a community, offer live co-horts, of offer one-on-one access to yourself. 4. Consider running in-person events. The need for belonging is higher than ever. It will strengthen your brand too. 5. Build software. This requires a new skillset, but launching software that fills a gap in the market can out grow your personal brand. I’m personally doubling down on our events and software (Teacher AI).

There are only 3 ways to grow your creator business: Get more views (traffic) 1. Turn more viewers into customers (conversion) 2. Get customers to spend more (product/offer) 3. The hard part? Knowing what to fix right now. Here’s a simple guide: 1. Optimize TRAFFIC first if: You’re not getting top views in your niche You haven’t fully committed to a YouTube strategy 2. Build a PRODUCT if: You’ve got significant traffic but nothing to sell You’ve maxed out short-term growth tactics 3. Optimize CONVERSION if: You have solid traffic and a product that people actually want But you don’t have proper sales systems in place