The Colin and Samir Show

We recorded this episode from Big Sky, Montana at the annual Spotter Creator Summit - four days with some of the top creators in the world talking about where this industry is actually headed. And one idea kept coming up over and over again: We’ve officially entered the era of abundance. There is more good content, more creators, and more competition for attention than ever before. Streamers are courting creators. AI is accelerating production. And brands have more options than they know what to do with. So the real question going into 2026 isn’t “How do I grow?” It’s: How do I become memorable? In this episode, we break down what we’re hearing directly from creators, platforms, and brands—including insights from Issa Rae, conversations happening inside the summit, and Adam Mosseri’s New Year’s post about authenticity and AI. We talk about: Why “just making good videos” isn’t enough anymore How creators need to start telling the story of the story What’s changing in brand deals (and why short-form and long-form are diverging) Why streamers are suddenly paying closer attention to creators How AI changes the meaning of authenticity And what it takes to make something that can’t be summarized This episode is about the next phase of the creator economy—and the shift from chasing views to building something people actually remember. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we break down our 2026 creator economy predictions and debate what we’re in and out on. From video podcasts and AI-generated content to creators working with streamers, the rise of IRL events, and how attention is changing online. We talk about why loyalty to creators is breaking, why summarization and AI tools are reshaping how people consume content, and why entertainment and perspective now matter more than information alone. Plus, our biggest predictions for how platforms like YouTube and Netflix will evolve in the next year and what it all means for creators building long-term careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Instagram is coming to your TV. YouTube creators are showing up on Netflix and Hulu. And Disney just invested $1 billion into OpenAI. In this episode, we break down three headlines that point to the same shift: the living room is becoming the most important screen in the creator economy. We unpack what Instagram’s new TV app actually signals, why creator content is increasingly being syndicated to streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Tubi, and how Disney licensing its characters to AI models could change the future of IP, entertainment, and creators themselves. The big takeaway? Platforms are changing—but the creators who win are the ones building shows, not just content. To close, we run through a rapid-fire “ins and outs” of creator economy trends heading into 2026—and ask you what trends you’d buy or sell next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something strange is happening in media: you can now bet on everything. News events. Celebrity relationships. Short-form views. Even what MrBeast might say in his next video. In this episode, we unpack the rise of prediction markets like Kalshi and why they’re suddenly being plugged into major media companies, and into creator culture. We explore how this shift changes incentives, rewrites the rules of attention, and pushes creators into a new era where content isn’t just content… it’s a financial asset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something big is happening in the creator world: creators are turning their online audiences into real-world destinations. From tours to immersive pop-ups, we’re entering the Experience Economy — a shift that resembles the early days of Disney. In this episode, we talk about why creators are moving offline, what it says about the volatility of digital media, and where the creator business model is heading next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices