Creator Playbooks (Callum Mcdonnell)

Gabriel Nussbaum is an entrepreneur and TikTok creator.

He has grown a following of 1million+ on the platform in the finance niche.

In this episode we get into Gabriel's journey as a content creator, how he cracked the TikTok algorithm, brand deals and his future plans.

You can find Gabriel:

https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriel.nussbaum

https://www.instagram.com/gabrielinussbaum/

You can find Callum:

https://mobile.twitter.com/McdonnellCallum

https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum

Meet Ben Kaluza, a full-time creator who has mastered the art of growing on Instagram. Ben shares practical tips and strategies, how he rapidly expanded his online presence, and the tactics he uses to stay ahead in 2025.

Get a free Breakdown Of Ben's strategy here: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Instagram Growth Strategies 01:18 How to Gain 200k Instagram Followers Fast 02:10 Overcoming Creator Burnout and Staying Motivated 03:15 Data-Driven Content Creation for Better Engagement 04:57 How to Find Your Instagram Niche 06:32 Balancing Original Content vs. Instagram Trends12:16 Why Instagram Hooks are Key for Growth15:15 Step-by-step Blueprint for Content Planning26:32 How to Track Instagram Performance Metrics 29:35 Understanding Instagram's Algorithm in 2024 33:06 Achieving Financial Freedom as a Content Creator 41:25 Balancing Work and Life as a Creator 43:06 How to Secure Brand Deals and Monetise Your Content 45:41 Daily Routine Tips for Productive Creators 46:55 Diversifying Your Content Across Multiple Platforms 47:42 Expanding Your Brand to Writing Platforms like LinkedIn, X, Threads, and BlueSky 53:05 Authenticity in Content Creation: Why It Matters 01:01:46 Challenges with Brand Partnerships 01:02:31 How to Optimise Brand Deals for Maximum ROI 01:03:40 Innovations in Influencer Marketing and Content Trends 01:10:10 Quickfire Questions

Callum Airey, better known as Calfreezy, is a prominent British YouTuber and content creator. He gained popularity through his YouTube channel, where he creates content related to gaming, challenges, and vlogs. He is also the co-founder of The Fellas Studios, the UK's fastest-growing podcast network acclaimed for its shows, including The Fellas, Saving Grace, Growing Paynes, and more. Notably, KSI and the Sidemen recently invested £1.5 million in the network, valuing the studio at £15 Million. In this episode, he shares: • His 1k to 4 Million Subscriber YouTube Strategy • How he's building the UK's fastest-growing podcast Network • What the Sidemen are really like • The anatomy of a viral video + loads more! You may know Calfreezy for his funny videos or the R-Rated jokes on his podcast, but he is undeniably one of today's smartest creators so trust me, you don't want to miss this. Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Calfreezy: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calfreezy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calfreezy/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calfreezy Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Calfreezy Is a Secret Genius 02:28 Start of Calfreezy's YouTube Career 03:28 Challenges of Starting on YouTube 05:14 Birth of The Fellas Podcast 09:01 Importance of Collaboration in Content Creation 13:32 Science of Creating Engaging Content 15:28 Impact of Authenticity in Content Creation 19:06 Role of Collaboration in Calfreezy's Success 20:05 What Is Calfreezy’s Content? 28:37 Relationship with the Sidemen 36:19 Calfreezy Proving Himself 38:53 Unexpected Turn of Events 39:28 Impact of COVID-19 39:52 The Fellas Backstory 40:24 Was It a Hit from Day One? 40:43 The Concept and Evolution of the Podcast 41:22 Drinking 41:50 Transition to Spotify 44:21 End of the Spotify Era 45:15 Expansion of The Fellas Studios 47:53 Strategy Behind Successful Podcasts 50:18 Importance of Building Brands 52:59 Challenges of Talent Management 01:05:42 Lowest Moment 01:09:35 Quick-fire Questions

Danny Buck is the CEO and Founder of CRAFTD London.

He runs the holding company Brandbuildr, which includes CRAFTD London, Circulr and Honu.

In this episode we get into Danny's origin story, his time building a 100 person e-commerce agency and how he thinks about building successful brands today.

You can find Danny:

https://www.instagram.com/thedannybuck

https://twitter.com/thedannybuck

You can find Callum:

https://mobile.twitter.com/McdonnellCallum

Podcasts are bigger than ever in 2025, and top creators use powerful strategies to grab your attention. In this video, I break down five genius podcast growth hacks that drive millions of views - so you can use them too.

Get a breakdown of this strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ 

Listen on your Podcast Player: 

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell

Follow Callum on socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ 

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum/

X - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ 

Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 The Thumbnail System

03:08 The Reactive Episode

04:33 Content Waterfall System

05:52 Trailers

07:35 Guest Selection and Collaboration

Grace Andrews is the Marketing Director for The Diary Of A CEO and Steven Bartlett. In this episode Grace gives us a Marketing Masterclass. She reveals: - How The Diary of a CEO became the world's fastest growing Podcast - What makes a great brand - Why your social media probably sucks - What it's live working with Steven Bartlett - What brands get wrong about Creators - Loads more! I really hope you get as much value as I did from this conversation. Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcd... Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Keep Up With Grace: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.socialc... LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-and...00:00 Intro 00:57 Getting the job with Steven Bartlett 09:40 Starting to post on Social Media 11:29 Setting Aspirations 13:16 Why Nobody Cares About Your Product 13:39 Why RedBull is so Successful 15:10 Socials vs Emails 15:56 Don't Publish Your What, Publish Your Why 16:08 DOAC’s Why 18:47 Delegating 20:29 Short Form Video Breakdown 21:47 Maisie Williams 23:55 Level Up Your Short Form 26:34 Secret to DOAC Trailers 28:44 How To Make Them Care 29:32 DOAC’s Trailer Editor 30:12 Alex Hormozi 31:32 Experimentation Manager 33:06 Keeping Steven on Track 34:00 Thumbnail Tests 36:01 DOAC Growth 37:12 How to Sell a Story 39:10 Lessons for Growth 42:56 Utilising Paid Spend 46:07 Book Strategy 48:48 Start NOW 49:36 Key to Successful Brand Partnerships 51:18 Death of Influencer Marketing? 53:10 More Than a Podcast 54:49 Relationship With Steven Bartlett 55:56 The Social Climber 58:40 Hiring 01:02:25 Quick-Fire Questions 01:03:26 Mo Gawdat

Meet Callum Church and Jack Whettingsteel, co-founders of HelpBnk and the content viral geniuses behind Simon Squibb's massive social media success. These young entrepreneurs have skyrocketed Simon's brand to over 200 million monthly views. Get Simon Squibb's Strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow HelpBnk on socials: Callum Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callumchurch15/ Jack Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jackwhettingsteel/ HelpBnk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/helpbnk/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HelpBnk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/helpbankapp/ Website - https://helpbnk.com/

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Simon Squibb and Content Creation 00:56 How to Stand Out Online 03:22 How Simon Squibb Mastered Short-Form Video Content 07:44 How to Create Videos People Actually Want to Watch 12:01 Simon Squibb’s Social Media Strategy 14:23 How to Make Money as a Content Creator 16:00 How to Pitch and Secure Brand Deals as a Content Creator 24:17 The Mindset You Need to Succeed Online 27:45 The Team and Systems Behind Simon Squibb’s Viral Videos 32:20 How to Craft the Perfect Hook for Your Videos 35:54 How to Grow Your YouTube Channel Fast 39:20 Top Strategies for Growing with YouTube Long-Form Content 46:37 How Simon Squibb Boosts Engagement on Video Content 49:11 Building a Mission-Driven YouTube Channel and Brand 51:15 Short-Form vs. Long-Form Content 56:39 The #1 Hack Every Content Creator Should Be Using 59:03 Viral Content Strategy: How to Go Viral More Often 01:04:23 The Power of Purpose and Ownership 01:06:06 How Equity and Incentives Can Grow Your Business 01:09:27 Quickfire Questions

Ash Jones is the founder of Great Influence, a personal branding agency that has worked with high-profile entrepreneurs and business leaders like Steven Bartlett, Gary Neville, and Sacha Lord to build their online presence and influence. Get a breakdown of Ash Jones' strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on your Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum/ X - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Ash on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_ashleybjones/ X - https://x.com/_ashleybjones/ Website - https://greatinfluence.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:19 Why Most People Get Personal Branding Wrong 04:48 How Social Media Fits Into Personal Branding 06:44 Building Social Chain's Marketing Strategy 09:52 Lessons from Working with Steven Bartlett 16:07 Finding Your Target Audience 24:41 Gary Neville's Brand Evolution 30:46 Key Elements of Personal Brand Success 36:57 The Early Days with Steven Bartlett 41:55 Building a Top Personal Branding Agency 45:03 Advice for Struggling Entrepreneurs 47:10 Do Social Media Tactics Actually Work? 49:23 Creating an Innovative Personal Brand 59:54 How Much to Share Online 01:01:18 Personal Growth Through Branding 01:01:52 Quick Fire Questions

Rob sells 11,000 books a year self publishing on Amazon.

At £12 a book that’s £144,000 a year.

We chatted about his self publishing journey.

This is the most realistic form of passive income I have come across.

#passiveincome #selfpublishing #amazonselfpublishing

The word community gets thrown around a lot in the social media world—but what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how do you create one that people truly care about? In this LIVE recording of Creator Playbooks hosted by Frankly Speaking, I’m joined by Daisy Morris, Kira Matthews, and Beth Thomas - creators, thought leaders, and experts in building thriving online communities. Together, we break down the strategies and mindset needed to foster genuine connections online, beyond just replying to comments or chasing followers. Get FREE email breakdown of the strategy from this Episode: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on your Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Daisy on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_self_hood/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-morris-the-selfhood/ Follow Kira on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kirathebold/ Website - https://www.kiramatthews.com/ Follow Beth on socials: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/betheleanorthomas/ Follow Frankly on socials: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearefrankly/ Website - https://wearefrank.ly/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Power of Community in 2024 02:31 The Importance of Real Conversations 04:47 Hosting and Human Connection 06:07 Leveraging Live Sessions 07:18 Authenticity in Community Building 08:30 Navigating Social Media Outages 09:18 Diary of a CEO's Telegram Group 10:37 Strategies for Authentic Engagement 18:09 Collaborating with Influencers and Creators 21:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Daisy Morris is the founder of The Self Hood, a successful social media consultancy and digital community. Under her leadership, The Selfhood has become a six-figure business with a vibrant community of over 30,000 creatives. As an expert in social media strategy, Daisy has worked with major brands such as Microsoft, Mind, the London College of Fashion, AllBright, Bill's, Vagabond Wines, and Candy Kittens. In this episode, she shares: - Her exact social media strategy that scored her partnerships with Apple, Gucci, and Adobe - How to build a profitable community in 2024 - The bad habit that's costing you millions + LOADS MORE! Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum FREE breakdown of Daisy's 10-step community-building strategy: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Follow Daisy on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_self_hood/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-morris-the-selfhood/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@the_self_hood/ The Self Hood - https://www.theselfhood.com/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Who Is Daisy Morris? 03:13 Why Is Community Important? 06:55 Step 1: Understanding Community 09:08 Step 2: Know Your Story 09:20 Step 3: Find Your People 11:20 Step 4: Make Your Mark 16:49 Step 5: Share Your Magic 17:02 Step 6: Establish a Content Creation Process 19:19 The REACH, ACT, CONVERT, ENGAGE Model 19:48 Step 7: Your Community Journey 20:01 Step 8: Collaborate With People 20:20 Step 9: Community Management 20:42 Step 10: Get Creative Off Screen 21:28 Is Community Building Profitable? 24:19 Community as the Future of Advertising 30:52 Balancing Personal and Professional Transparency 32:51 Mistakes to Avoid on Social Media 35:10 Quality or Quantity 39:34 Overcoming Social Anxiety and Networking 41:21 Starting and Growing a Business 45:52 Hosting and Attending Events 50:45 Pitching to Brands and Creating Opportunities 52:44 Brands Crushing It on Social Media 57:22 Quick-fire Questions

Gaby Mendes is a former teacher turned entrepreneur and CEO of the media brand 'Talk Twenties'.

'Talk Twenties' started as an event company but pivoted to an award winning Podcast during COVID and is now developing into a much bigger media brand.

In this episode we cover why Gaby left teaching for business, her plans for the brand and how anyone can start a media company on a budget.

You can find Gabby:

https://www.instagram.com/iamgabymendes/?hl=en

https://mobile.twitter.com/iamgabymendes

You can find Callum:

https://mobile.twitter.com/McdonnellCallum

Michael Corcoran is the mastermind who led RyanAir's game-changing social media strategy. With a knack for reshaping brand perception and driving organic reach, Michael has earned a reputation as a visionary leader in the digital marketing landscape. His innovative strategies and expertise continue to redefine the way brands engage with audiences in the ever-evolving realm of social media. In this episode, he shares: • How they built the WORLD's No1 corporate TikTok account • The EXACT social strategy that gave them 1 BILLION in organic reach • The LIES that make social media a pyramid scheme for most brands • Why 99% of social content is trash • The behind the scenes of RISKY tweets about Jadon Sancho and Prince William + loads more! This is an absolute marketing masterclass; if you care at all about social media, you’re not gonna wanna miss this. Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Michael: Twitter: https://twitter.com/lemachine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_machine/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrichardcorcoran/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Getting the Job at Ryanair 04:35 Challenges at Ryanair 06:16 Strategy Behind Ryanair's Social Media Success 09:25 Importance of Understanding Your Audience 10:33 Authenticity in Social Media 12:33 The Role of Strategy 17:01 The Impact of Ryanair's Social Media Strategy 22:35 Challenges of Reactive Content 24:55 Ryanair's Reactive Content 33:17 The Call From Kensington Palace 46:52 Red Circle 40:18 The Sancho/Bartlett Incident 44:47 Reality of Being a Brand on Social Media 45:16 Strategy of Disruption 46:09 Always-On Content 46:56 Social Media Pyramid Scheme 54:38 Social Media for Brands 01:06:48 Why Michael Left RyanAir 01:09:38 The Future

In this episode Callum sit’s down with Rob Dix, Co-Host of The Property Podcast & Sunday Times Bestselling Author.

We explore how he grew his podcast into a mid seven figures business, and his journey from lost PR Manager to fulfilled entrepreneur. 

Follow Rob on social:

https://twitter.com/robdix 

Follow Callum on social:
https://linktr.ee/heycallum

Anthony Smith is the creative mastermind behind the viral trailers for Steven Bartlett’s podcast, The Diary of a CEO, with over 7 million subscribers. Get Diary of a CEO's Strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Formerly a video editor for major film and TV franchises like James Bond and Marvel, Anthony has revolutionised podcast marketing by bringing cinematic storytelling to short-form social media content. Tune in to learn how his innovative podcast promotion strategies have significantly boosted The Diary of a CEO’s visibility, setting a new industry standard. Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Follow Anthony on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anthonyr.smith/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/antsmith93/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:01 How I Got a Job with Steven Bartlett 07:59 Evolution of Trailer Making 11:00 How to Measure Success 24:47 Diary of a CEO’s Blueprint for Creating Trailers 26:35 What Makes a Good Hook? 35:34 Which Metrics Matter Most? 37:42 Crafting the Moment of Value 41:47 The Defense Lawyer Narrative Structure 44:12 Diary of a CEO’s Weekly Workflow 49:51 Urgency in Social Media 58:11 Tips for Hiring and Managing Great Video Editors 01:05:18 What It’s Like to Work with Steven Bartlett 01:09:22 How Ownership and Purpose Drive Editing Success 01:17:30 Quickfire Questions

Growing on social media is now more difficult than ever. So, if I wanted to grow online in 2024, what would I do? Well, I've spent the last few months chatting with masterminds in social media and marketing, and here's what I learned. Tune in for expert advice from the likes of Grace Andrews (Head of Marketing at Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO), Calfreezy (The Fellas Studios), Michael Corcoran (Former Head of Social Media at Ryanair), Andrew Bloch (Lord Sugar's PR representative), Damien Jordan (DamienTalksMoney), Nathan Barry (ConvertKit, Billion Dollar Creator Podcast), and Angus Parker (Ali Abdaal's manager). Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Get FREE business breakdowns from Callum: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:44 - Understand your "why" 02:58 - Being authentic 05:04 - Banger Banks 08:21 - Disrupting the system 11:12 - Competing on brand 13:06 - Reactive content 16:52 - Answering your DMs 18:08 - Short form reels 22:38 - Ladders of Wealth Creation

Charlie Lawrance is one the smartest operators in social media.

In this episode Charlie reveals the social strategy that grew his TikTok to 300k, built a hugely valuable community and launched a talent agency.

He shares:
• How He Grew to 100k Followers in 18 Days
• The Anatomy of a Viral Video
• How To Succeed From Day 1 on Social

+ loads more!

The value shared in this conversation is incredible.

Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/

Listen on Podcast Player:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell

Follow Callum on socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum
Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/

Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Follow Charlie:
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlielawrance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlielawrance/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@charlie_lawrance

It’s been almost a year since I sent an update. 

My bad.

Good news - my little content agency just crossed £18,000 in monthly revenue. 

It took 365 days with zero experience and is nicely profitable.

These are the 12 steps of my wild & bumpy journey.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@callummcdonnell/about

Please note this is a video podcast :)

Steven Bartlett went from recording his first podcast in his bedroom with a duvet over his head to over 10 Million monthly downloads in just 4 years.
I estimate he makes around $2 million in direct revenue per year. He has a genius podcast strategy.
Here’s the 7 things The Diary Of A CEO is doing and what we can learn from them:
Follow me on my socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum
Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/
You can work with Callum here: https://www.7xcontent.com/
Thanks for listening!

An end of year update from me. I hope you enjoy and get some value! Let me know in the comments. 0:00 Biggest wins of the year 01:20 Agency Revenue Growth 03:15 Lessons from Hiring 04:50 Biggest failure 06:50 Removing Mediocrity 07:25 Moving at Pace 09:00 Content is a Superpower 12:00 Personal News 13:10 A message for YOU in 2024 Get FREE business breakdowns from Callum: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Nathan Barry is the founder of ConvertKit - a Creator business worth over $320 million. In this episode we break down the fundamentals that got him there. Nathan reveals: • His Monthly Revenue Growth from $1500/Month in 2013 to $3Million/Month in 2023 • His 4 Step System To Building Wealth On The Internet • The Flywheel Framework & How It Can Change The Trajectory Of Any Business • Spotify's offer to buy Convertkit • Loads more! I really hope you get as much value as I did from this conversation! Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Nathan: IG - https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry Twitter - https://twitter.com/nathanbarry YouTube - @nathanbarryshow

Angus Parker is the man behind Ali Abdaal's £5 Million business.
In this episode we deep dive in the business behind the YouTube channel.
Angus unveils:
- How one email changed his life
- How they managed the incredible growth from £2.27 in 2017 to £5million+ in 2023
- Their 3-step YouTube strategy
- Full revenue stream breakdown
- Loads more!
Get a free Email breakdown of this business:
https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/
Follow Callum on socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum
Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/
Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/
Follow Angus:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/apmparker?lang=en
Thanks for watching!

Daniel McMahon, known as Dodford, is a British creative making a name for himself on YouTube with his impressive filmmaking, VFX skills, and storytelling abilities. His collaborations with big names like Mr. Beast and the Sidemen speak volumes about his standing in the online creative world. In this episode, he shares: • His strategy for 6 million views (that actually works) • The harsh reality of being a YouTuber • The importance of timing content + LOADS MORE! This might be the first time he’s ever opened up about the true story behind Dodford. Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Get FREE business breakdowns from Callum: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Follow Dodford on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dodford/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dodford?lang=en YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DodfordYT Twitter - https://twitter.com/dannymcmahon Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Timestamps:

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Small Creator to YouTube Sensation 07:31 The Sidemen Documentary 14:30 Behind the Scenes: Crafting Viral Documentaries 28:45 Sustaining a YouTube Business Model 33:16 Revenue Streams 37:13 Innovating Content Through Elimination 40:02 YouTube Analytics 44:13 Finding Motivation 49:20 Highs and Lows of Content Creation 57:28 Strategic Content Planning and Future Goals 01:02:03 Closing Thoughts

Jo Franco has turned her passion for creating into a thriving career, transitioning from a travel vlogger to a Netflix host and successful entrepreneur. With over 2 million YouTube subscribers, she is also the author of Fluentish and CEO of JoClub, a global community focused on journaling and personal growth. Get Jo Franco's Content Business Strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Follow Jo on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jo_franco/ X - https://twitter.com/jofranco/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jo_franco/ Website: https://jofranco.world/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jo Franco’s YouTube Journey 01:04 Jo Franco’s Creator Journey: From Start to Success 04:46 The Power of Searchable Content for Growing Your Channel 08:00 Building a Global Audience 11:02 The Reality of Success in Content Creation 17:41 Exploring the Netflix Opportunity 23:52 The Birth of JoClub 29:05 Sustainable Business Building in the Creator Economy 34:09 Planning for the Future: Long-Term Success Strategies 37:48 Working with an Agent and Finding the Right Manager for You 40:27 How to Make a Good Pitch: Tips and Techniques 46:33 Jo’s Content Strategy and Planning Insights 53:37 Networking and Collaboration: Building Valuable Connections 56:43 What Getting Shot Taught Me About Entrepreneurship 01:01:53 Reflecting on Life 01:04:36 Quickfire Questions

Olly Richards is the owner of the $10Million online education business Storylearning.

Storylearning is a business built on content with millions of blog visits & Podcast downloads each month (plus 400,000 YouTube Subscribers!).

In this episode Olly shares so much value: • How to find your USP

• How grow a high value audience

• What makes great content • How to sell without discounting

• Why you should stop being so desperate & think long term

• How to design a life you ACTUALLY want to live

• Loads more!

Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business:
https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/

Follow Callum on socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum
Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/
Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/

Follow Olly:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OllyRichards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realollyrichards/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollyrichards/?originalSubdomain=uk

Charlie Light is an entrepreneur and the man behind the finance meme account John W Rich on Twitter.

He has grown a following of 140k+ on the platform which has quickly developed into a booming content agency.

In this episode we get into Charlie's plans to take his agency from $40k/month to $100k/month and how this all started as a bit of fun at the start of COVID.

You can find Charlie:

https://twitter.com/charliewrich

https://twitter.com/Cokedupoptions

You can find Callum:

https://mobile.twitter.com/McdonnellCallum

Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and international speaker who has built successful multi-million dollar businesses in Australia, the UK, and Singapore, starting with nothing. He co-founded Dent Global, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business leaders achieve significant success through strategic mentoring and networking. Get Daniel Priestley's Content Strategy (FREE): https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Follow Daniel on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielpriestley/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/danielpriestley Twitter - https://x.com/DanielPriestley/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpriestley/ Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Greatest Time to Be Alive 03:43 Key Person of Influence Framework 07:00 The Five P's 08:42 Guide to a Great Pitch 12:07 Published Content Strategy 14:02 7-11-4 Framework 16:45 Daniel’s Book Writing Process 18:59 Product Strategy 24:28 Building a Powerful Profile 26:59 Leveraging Podcasts 29:47 Effective Partnerships 36:22 Becoming a Key Person of Influence 39:00 Coaching My Business From £500k to £3M 44:43 Building a High-Performance Team Culture 45:55 Effective Team Models for Small Businesses 47:52 Creating Recurring Revenue Streams 49:17 Cookie Cutter Products 52:09 Negotiating Fair Partnerships 53:51 Challenges Faced by Top Creators 55:23 Diversifying Revenue Streams for Creators 59:22 Testing Business Ideas With Waiting Lists 01:04:05 Three Things That Drive a Sale 01:18:49 Importance of Lead Generation 01:20:33 Quick-Fire Questions

Andrew Bloch is the PR genius behind Lord Sugar (The Apprentice), and co-founder of one of the UK’s number one PR agencies, Frank. There, Andrew masterminded multiple world-famous campaigns with brands such as HP Sauce and Compare The Market. Andrew stepped back from running Frank in 2020 to launch Andrew Bloch & Associates which has just been awarded Boutique Marketing Consultancy of the Year 2024. In this episode, he shares: • The reality of working with Lord Sugar • How to go viral (using PR) • Behind the world’s best marketing campaigns + LOADS MORE! If you want to learn from one of the world’s best PR experts, you’re not going to want to miss this! Get a FREE Email breakdown of this business: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Andrew: Twitter - https://twitter.com/AndrewBloch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blochstagram/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbloch TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewbloch Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 02:10 What is PR? 05:14 Crafting Iconic Campaigns: The HP Sauce Story 11:28 Andrew’s Framework 18:49 Compare the Meerkat 25:44 Successful Agency-Client Relationships 29:27 Partnership with Lord Sugar 32:44 Challenges and Triumphs with Lord Sugar 34:42 Problems With Becoming Lord Sugar 38:54 What Makes Lord Sugar Special? 40:42 Mentoring ‘The Apprentice’ Winners 43:06 Favourite ‘The Apprentice’ Winners 45:18 Greatest PR Stunts 48:55 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Resilience 51:20 Agency Life to Consultancy 58:54 The Power of Networking and Future Ventures 01:01:02 Quick-Fire Questions

Damien Jordan, known online as DamienTalksMoney, is one of the UK's top content creators. Renowned for his trusted insights, he offers invaluable advice, tips, and strategies for mastering money management, investing wisely, and building wealth. However, what often goes unnoticed his how relentlessly committed he is to being a creative (not just a creator). In this episode, he shares: • How anyone can achieve YouTube fame • Behind the scenes of going viral in ONE DAY • His 1k to 200k social strategy + LOADS MORE! If you've ever considered becoming a content creator, you don't want to miss this! Tools I use: VidIQ - https://vidiq.com/creatorplaybooks/ Riverside - https://riverside.fm/?via=callum Get FREE business breakdowns from Callum: https://callummcdonnell.substack.com/ Listen on Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/callum-mcdonnell Follow Callum on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum Twitter - https://twitter.com/McdonnellCallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Work with Callum: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Follow Damien on socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/damientalksmoney YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DamienTalksMoney LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-jordan-7a7112159/?originalSubdomain=uk Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 How to Become a YouTuber 08:19 Viral Success 13:20 Creating Content for Long-term Success 19:21 Diversifying Income Streams Beyond YouTube 21:06 The Ethical Dilemma of Sponsorships 24:44 Expanding into B2B 29:55 Advice for New Creators 32:17 Long Form vs Short Form 33:41 Being an Education Creator 39:58 Navigating the Creator Economy 43:50 Critique (Is Mr. Beast Making The Best Videos?) 45:43 Authenticity in a Saturated Market 46:33 Quick Fire Questions