How Cleo Abram Dominated YouTube in 1 Year

[@CleoAbram]

Thanks for having me! I love this show and am so excited to be a part of it.

[@marksteven2716]

Thank YOU for creating such high-quality content! Especially your video on nuclear energy, that was awesome.

[@BackToTheBoomBap]

Excited to watch this interview. I enjoyed the last one and I'm sure this one will be no different. What you said about key visuals stuck out to me. I do something similar in my videos when it comes to things I know I want to show. I honestly probably found out about you from the last interview so I'm going to check out the channel now that I have more context. Also, I kept thinking to myself, she reminds me of a famous actress. But I couldn't think of who. Now I think I know who it is. Kiera Knightley. Has anyone ever told you that? 😂

[@Indiamaan]

Love your content. Love from India

[@The_T-Bone]

Cleo your PFP is off centered!

[@NoahFarber]

This episode is so good thank you for coming on Cleo 🐸

[@wildwedding]

Easy answer. She’s beautiful and extremely smart. Well researched. Terrific to listen to. A lot of work put into her vids. No gimmicks. Just good content.

[@DaveLansing-h2k]

Easy answer: men are horny.

[@fobbitoperator3620]

[mic drop]

[@RockyXu]

Treating KZbin as a TV show is the most underrated but effective strategy ever! Cleo is a living proof! 🎉

[@PelicanCanCancan]

I do wonder if larger media companies will start producing more content for KZbin. Waiting for scripted series to be exclusive to KZbin. The problem for most film makers would be the budget, which could be less of an issue with a media company. Could KZbin one day be more like a Spotify? Where lots of traditional TV shows and movies are uploaded to take advantage of the pay per view system?

[@MemesAndLs]

she's proving that YT is not for everyone anymore: 1. she's a pro, many years of hard work under her belt 2. she already had an audience from Vox/Netflix 3. She already had a network to connect to 4. Most likely paid to further an agenda (that technology is inherently good)

[@Sdot-od8jf]

Okay, I had no idea who this person was, but then remembered watching her video about the internet/cloud and teaching my sons using her video. She’s an excellent story teller and is a great communicator / educator.

[@Lonnwriting]

Cleo and the two others here you've got tears flowing from my eyed with your wisdom, clarity and interesting commentary. Thank you for your wisdom. And brightening the future. Love, Lonn

[@brentwildeboer9881]

this gotta be the most sensible collab I've ever seen. It just makes sense.

[@Bilionstime]

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@EpicSpaceman]

Thanks so much for the kind words about my channel at the end! So pleased you’re enjoying my videos and thank you for this fascinating chat with Cleo, it was full of wonderful insights.

[@sishita1809]

Love your channel EpicSpaceman!

[@EpicSpaceman]

@@sishita1809 Thank you!

[@gemgh420]

the slow zoom on Samir for the earthquake was hilarious, I thought he was struggling to follow what Cleo was saying! (I guess he was)

[@mihailstolz]

Same haha, I totally felt Samir's confusion at the moment

[@adityaagarwal130]

Even I was struggling to understand (watching at 1.5x), so I was relating to Samir. But, then I realised that oh, its just me who is dumb

[@DomoHomme]

this was an all time colin and samir moment. such a reflection of amazing editing decisions! priceless human moment.

[@SaltAndVi]

I remember seeing one of her videos a while back, and immediately noticed how well produced the entire video was. I just assumed she had been around for a while now on YT, but was never recommended her channel. Crazy how fast her growth has been!

[@WigganNuG]

Yea same; she came out of the gate super high quality production; I thought she had been around I was sleeping on or didn't get recommended which is odd considering half my watching on YT is science stuff.

[@AdamPhillipsGrowth]

I listened to this in segments and it's the first time I've actively sought out a youtube video I was previously watching just so I could finish it. Fantastic content!

[@tyrekewatson5144]

Great video, this channel is one of the best definitely. Growing channel from scratch is never about luck. You have to be ready to get popular as fast as possible. Trends are always the same, just give people some fun and knowledge in your content, and you are good to go. Of course, it can be tough to get to that point when you are noticed enough (that's why I am using a little bit of Famester for every video I post).

[@colorkannadis]

She is great! But the advantage of being a woman on KZbin can never be understated when talking about success.

[@francookie9353]

​@@colorkannadis *a beautiful woman.

[@noneofus007]

Cleo is a one of a kind National Treasure! She is in a class of her own and functions at a level that literally sets the bar in intelligence, content and production. When you watch her videos, you realize that she is genuinely excited about what she does. Her expressions are real, and she is sharing her actual experience in real time. The camera is simply following her around while she enthusiastically learns and teaches at the same time. She is so humble and brilliant, and her enthusiasm is contagious. I don't think she even realizes how great her contribution is.

[@swoozie]

33:39 is me every time someone starts talking. That aside - it was awesome to hear Cleo break down her animation cuz I’ve always wondered!

[@LkyHwk]

Damn Cleo. So well vocalized. Love the vision and how you approach it. Own it!

[@yehiatech]

Such an amazing and inspiring podcast! Thanks for your efforts!❤

[@macib7113]

dude i love the color coordination. nice touch with the yellow & blue seamless paper if it was intentional. the yellow curtain behind cleo is beautiful 10/10

[@AM2PMReviews]

She is a great communicator, she had a great topics, she edits videos very well, she is very attractive. She just checks all of the boxes!

[@-paulmp]

Cleo has an amazing ability to tell a story or convey a narrative, she is clearly very intelligent and curious, she asks the questions that occur to me and then asks experts for answers. It doesn't hurt that she "presents well", but more importantly she has the ability to break down complex ideas into simpler "bite size" pieces, so it makes the viewer feel smarter for having watched. What really blows me away is the production value in her videos... they don't feel like a "youtuber" video, they feel like professionally produced TV shows.

[@thatllwork_official]

This is the interview we have wanted for months 🙌

[@RayfuzuLearning]

I wish that I had more friends like her, who are genuinely curious and excited about learning new things. ❤

[@CloakDev]

Honestly watched every bit of it. Cleo is brilliant, love her videos, story telling and all the ways she peaks my curiosity, learned so much. Matched with Colin and Samir asking all the right questions going deep into Story telling and finding ways how Cleo was able to capture her audience makes this collab perfect. She's incredible.

[@tawsifakkas]

Cleo an absolute legend - been following her work since Vox and honestly her transition from being in a media company to becoming a full fledged creator has been so inspiring. Can't wait to get into this episode. It's gonna be big cause it's true.

[@Chemiolis]

Really enjoyed this interview, can see how thoughtful she is in transferring information even in her regular speech. Also very interesting to hear about how she structures her work and company! Made me inspirational around the intros part, might have to put some of the takeaways to work for myself ;). (This was perfect to listen to while doing mind-numbing clip cutting work)

[@mydogisbailey]

I have no interest in becoming a creator, but I still love watching Colin and Samir. They are such great communicators. And cleo is amazing!

[@shoopwoop3470]

For some reason i thought i had seen this before, Jon Youshaei's interview hit on the lot of the same stuff, but i always appreciate reminders/longer interviews

[@mariokartman10]

He had an amazing interview with her, stoked for this one as well

[@StrangerThanFictionSTF]

Cleo Abram's channel is the perfect example of why the story is always bigger than the person/personality. She has singlehandedly made science interesting for millions across the world. Massive respect!

[@GC-x1b]

💯

[@frankebbert7315]

1:47:35 this. There is a dearth of coverage on how we have improved our world. This was Hans Rosling’s battle too. There isn’t enough balance in our science and tech coverage. Thank you Colin and Samir - my first time watching, not my last. And Cloe, i am so glad you got that shot on Explained. I am so grateful, in ways that are too many to explain here, for your work.

[@ParkerFloris]

I just clicked and I already know this is going to be one of your best sit-downs yet!

[@orbitforcreators]

Probably the best episode this year

[@mikecambiano]

So many positive things to say about this channel but the color design here is just next level. Forever stoked on everything C&S do.

[@Finaius]

I loved her TikTok videos even before she started her yt channel. Cleo was among the inspirations for me to start as well! 🎉

[@danielking9930]

The Finaius!😮

[@orbitforcreators]

Thank you for having the conversation around journalism! It's something I've been thinking a lot about and hearing the three of you talk it our loud was very insightful.

[@DelShott]

I think she is competent, her video are entertaining, she is genuine, etc, But she also has part of the viewers thanks to her look.

[@lucky8057]

Colin and Samir, you should invite Vsauce. I'm sure you're aware what a legend he is in educational content. He has also addressed some of the most amazingly esoteric topics that seem like nobody would be interested in, but has gained tens of millions of views every single time! Could be an enlightening conversation! and views are guaranteed on that video :D

[@bryantlhoward]

She's articulate. She's beautiful. She addresses interesting topics. Mystery solved. End video.

[@BKsBullets]

Agreed. Show me an unattractive creator with that rise

[@OneOfTheRobs]

Colin and Samir should have said exactly that!

[@TheCebulon]

@bryantlhoward And she looks like a celebrity. I always think that celebrity has a KZbin channel.

[@kingslayer3365]

You're not supposed to say the second part out loud

[@OneOfTheRobs]

@@kingslayer3365 You can't say someone is beautiful ?!?!

[@nurgarciaterrassa8593]

Colin and Samir put so much effort into videos. You can appreciate all the details throughout the video!

[@willfreund3315]

A literal materclass in using curiosity to inform your work.

[@midicine2114]

She's got beauty and brains the channel is going to print money.

[@arigutman]

Always useful to see how other creators crushed it and the tactics they used... Thank you for sharing this... currently at 33.5K subs and looking to climb to 40K in the coming months!

[@angryconsultant]

A Vox journalist leaving Vox is the equivalent of an ML Engineer leaving ChatGPT. The money flows

[@Muhluri]

Honestly this works for any journalist on a large media KZbin channel (e.g. The Verge)

[@Sequaloid]

chatgpt is not a company

[@bourr4sque]

@@Sequaloid its called generalization. most people know openai as chatgpt, so to avoid confusion, we just say chatgpt --> we call this phenomenon social skills.

[@angryconsultant]

@@Sequaloid I don’t like you

[@kent5147]

eh, that's not how media works. There are no guarantees for YT success, no matter the past track record, and certainly there's not a lot of financial gain until (hopefully) you make it big.

[@csoto08]

Bring Johnny Harris next 👌🏽

[@SocPro]

Exactly!!!!

[@olivianelson5167]

And Izzy Harris!!

[@TuckerPearce]

No kidding, I feel like they’ve done a video with him but maybe I’m wrong.

[@alwayscreatingio]

super insightful convo!

[@dishycolleensite]

that was a wonderful detailed take! - 2 hrs and 22 mins WELL SPENT! - thanks Colin, Samir and Cloe!

[@derekkramer8223]

I actually appreciate that this is 2 hours and 22 min. Thank you. I have come back to this video many times in the last week

[@jjjccc728]

Here are 20 key ideas from your KZbin source, presented with additional explanations and context: 1. **Start With Curiosity**: Cleo Abram emphasizes that her videos are fueled by genuine curiosity. She is drawn to topics that fascinate her personally, believing that this passion translates into compelling content for her audience. 2. **The Power of Visual Storytelling**: Cleo prioritizes topics that lend themselves well to visual explanations. She understands that video is a visual medium and that strong visuals can make complex ideas more accessible and engaging. 3. **Three-Part Idea Checklist**: Cleo uses a three-question checklist to vet potential video ideas: Is it visually compelling? Does it offer a good explanation? Is it a genuinely optimistic story? This framework ensures that her videos are both informative and aligned with the overall tone of "Huge if True." 4. **Accessibility Is Key**: While Cleo covers complex scientific topics, she prioritizes making her content accessible to a broad audience. She avoids jargon, starts with basic questions, and uses relatable analogies to explain difficult concepts. 5. **The "Curiosity Gap"**: Cleo understands the importance of creating a "curiosity gap" in her videos to keep viewers engaged. She does this by presenting intriguing information upfront, then raising questions that she promises to answer throughout the video. 6. **Intros as Mini-Stories**: Cleo puts a lot of thought into the first minute of her videos. She treats them as self-contained narratives, packing them with captivating visuals, intriguing questions, and a clear sense of what the viewer will learn by watching the full episode. 7. **Collaboration Is Essential**: Cleo highlights the importance of working with a talented team. She acknowledges the contributions of her animator, producer, and editor in bringing her vision to life. 8. **Leveraging Short-Form Content**: Cleo recognizes the strategic value of short-form content on platforms like KZbin Shorts and Instagram. She uses shorts to repurpose segments from longer videos, test new ideas, and engage with sponsors creatively. 9. **The Power of "Why"**: Cleo is often drawn to the "why" behind scientific advancements. She finds that starting with questions like "Why did we build this?" or "Why is this important?" can make complex topics more relatable and interesting for viewers. 10. **Finding the Right Title and Thumbnail**: Cleo emphasizes that a compelling title and thumbnail are essential for attracting viewers on KZbin. She has learned to balance click-through optimization with maintaining a consistent brand identity. 11. **The Importance of Brand Consistency**: Cleo recognizes the importance of building a strong brand for "Huge if True." She strives for consistency in her visual style, storytelling approach, and overall tone to create a recognizable and trusted identity for her show. 12. **The Role of Personal Experience**: Cleo is willing to incorporate her personal experiences into her videos when relevant, recognizing that this vulnerability can make her explanations more impactful and relatable. 13. **The Value of a "Show, Don't Tell" Approach**: Cleo believes in demonstrating her thought process on camera rather than simply presenting herself as an expert. She shows herself grappling with ideas, asking questions, and making connections, which helps viewers feel like they are learning alongside her. 14. **The Importance of a Strong Niche**: Cleo's success with "Huge if True" highlights the power of focusing on a distinct niche. By consistently creating optimistic, science-focused content, she has built a loyal audience who appreciate her unique perspective. 15. **The Negativity Bias in Media**: Cleo observes a pervasive negativity bias in traditional media, where fear and catastrophic narratives often dominate. She sees "Huge if True" as a counterbalance, offering viewers a more hopeful and empowering perspective on the future. 16. **The Importance of Journalistic Ethics**: Despite her independent status, Cleo remains committed to journalistic ethics. She strives for accuracy in her reporting, cites her sources, and maintains editorial independence. 17. **The Evolving Definition of Journalism**: Cleo acknowledges that the lines between traditional journalism and online content creation are becoming increasingly blurred. She sees herself as part of a new generation of storytellers who are shaping public understanding of complex issues through engaging online content. 18. **Focus as a Guiding Principle**: Cleo emphasizes the importance of focus in building a successful KZbin channel. Rather than spreading herself too thin, she prioritizes creating high-quality content for "Huge if True" and avoids distractions like merch or side projects. 19. **Building a "Branded House"**: Cleo envisions expanding "Huge if True" into a "branded house," with multiple shows and formats united by a common mission of exploring optimistic possibilities for the future. This approach would allow her to reach new audiences while maintaining a consistent brand identity. 20. **Finding Personal Validation Through Mission**: Cleo finds deep personal fulfillment in the mission of "Huge if True." Her goal is to use storytelling to inspire hope, promote understanding, and potentially even influence positive change in the world. These 20 key ideas provide insight into Cleo Abram's creative process, her approach to content creation, and her vision for the future of "Huge if True."

[@sophiescotttv]

Thank you very helpful ❤

[@SantosChronicles]

I first wanted to say thank you for taking the time to speak with me during VidSummit. And this video was great. She is such a great storyteller. Earthquakes freak me out!

[@borbzaby]

Home sick. watching youtube in the background of coding. I usually only listen to Colin and Samir via the podcast app, but I am glad I clicked on this. It looks very interesting. Keep up the good work! You guys are one of my favourite creators.

[@MmMm-f2y7c]

Understand many people I'm sure like me watch it because of her. Cleo's passion and enthusiasm is infectious. The content matter is a bonus.

[@buildingpickleball]

This one, 100 thieves, and Tim Ferriss are the most under-viewed episodes. Thank you for doing these!

[@thatguy7085]

She is attractive, and knows how to present from professional training…. She is not a ‘start up’…

[@nurgarciaterrassa8593]

Came back on several different weekends just to be able to watch/hear this to the end

[@quinnmcdonald3763]

She's beautiful, smarter than everyone in any room she enters and jumps right into the mix of things. Cleo wins.

[@mihailstolz]

Having an earthquake during the interview is crazy! Really good conversation, thank you!

[@MikeGainsM]

Loved this episode! Y’all should get AJ from the Why Files if you can🙏🏽

[@rajmudumbai7434]

I started watching her short videos which were byte size and didn't consume much of my time. As an engineer and an avid science enthusiast, the subjects perfectly aligned with my interests. The presentation was too good and never boring. Even the long format videos don't have any slack with the editing and presentation simply superb. I enjoyed the video on CERN, having read many books about the science and engineering. Cleo has hit a truly winning formula and could go on forever. Way to go! 👏👏👏

[@Deepish-io]

I just happened to start a deeptech explainer channel like Cleo's and I've been studying her videos intensely. Great stuff!

[@helloryantanaka]

Excellent conversation, as always, as expected. Thanks you all.

[@hollycvlogs]

An educated, articulate, beautiful woman, who has a lot of connections, and a talented team has a successful KZbin channel... While most of this does not apply to the average KZbinr, I do appreciate the few nuggets about the importance of visuals.

[@ShawnRoss-art]

😂 Exactly!

[@leongeisberg294]

Thanks for showing how Cleo put her amazing show together.

[@Jaymationstudios]

Video idea: “An Unfiltered Conversation with GAWX Art”

[@sneakers_guy5488]

The secret sauce is Cleo's passion for the topics she's presenting in each video and short imo. Her energy is infectious and watching Huge If True makes me want to pursue things that will make for a better world and do what no one has done before. It sounds corny but I'm being sincere

[@patrickgowar2234]

I really love watching Cleo’s shows. That are so interesting and informative and presented with enthusiasm and energy I’m hooked and and subscribed

[@BigThreeChiu]

Wonderful conversation! love the vox journey story. can't wait to continue following along on all you incredible people's future

[@GiDS222]

Cleo is one of my favorites on youtube. brings back that OG mythbusters-esque vibe where its just based in curiosity, which is extremely relatable.

[@nurgarciaterrassa8593]

Congratulations on an amazing episode with an amazing guest!

[@rahileshanbi5551]

Cleo had this fresh view to the world that made listening to her videos actually enjoyable. Seeing that she had that in mind is not surprising, and I'm extremely happy for her and what she achieved. For some reason, people with this positive view are few and that's exactly why we need them.

[@TheFinalIllusion]

Pretty. Smart. It’s a deadly combo. She carries her weight!! Fantastic educator, well spoken, so dreamy. Need more people like her in the world.

[@hondasan6531]

Love her channel! She's just so positive and enthusiastic, it's contagious. 😊

[@matthewthompson0]

there's a book called Hidden Manifestation by Oliver Mercer, and it talks about how using some secret techniques you can attract almost everything in life it's not some bullshit law of attraction, it's the real deal

[@Ziffer777]

You literally just described the "law" of attraction

[@harrymiller3353]

Yeah mate let’s just believe everything one person has said cause they wrote a book

[@robbiejohnson6569]

Commented for this video roughly a year ago. Stoked to finally see it happen!

[@TheZigg]

I gotta say Colin and Samir, what a hook that was!

[@mr88cet]

Smart, beautiful, optimistic, speaks clearly, chooses great topics, and makes high-quality videos on those topics. That’ll get her lots of subscribers alright!

[@JosdinMadriz-eu6jw]

Quick suggestions about shorts for podcast could be like commercials, showing the most funny or interesting parts of your video podcast then small parts for intro and rolling the carpet for your guest! you keep also doing a very good and interesting show

[@NoahFarber]

Amazing video guys, thank you for sharing Cleos perspective!

[@HeyJared]

She's intelligent and persistent, she's personable (on camera, too), she's stunningly gorgeous -- it's no wonder Cleo is crushing it as a business woman and content creator.

[@chinchorrero]

She is great (I love the simple and clear way she explains things)

[@MayHe-z6r]

This episode makes me so optimistic about the future! I love Cleo

[@Nath.Heimberg]

Such a great conversation! Thanks guys

[@harishkashyap]

Loved her content since the Vox days. Witnessed her journey when she had about 35K subs to now in millions. She deserves all of this! ❤

[@nelsonzhang1369]

Posted 12 mins ago and I'm 12 mins in. Awesome interview as always.

[@TuckerPearce]

Wow, fantastic episode guys. I watched her Nike video a while back and this has me intrigued to watch more. Impressed with the questions and flow of these episodes.

[@ColinandSamir]

Thanks Tucker

[@TuckerPearce]

@@ColinandSamir I also appreciate that you guys still engage in the comments.

[@AshNair26]

Cleo's got the X-factor. She's nice to look at and is also an incredibly efficient communicator/storyteller. Besides the content ideas, ppl tune in for her.

[@androdid9249]

Interesting enough to see despite the incredible amount of advertisement cutting the video.

[@naikymen]

Cleo's content is fantastic: optimistic and rigourous. A sweet spot that perfectly matches the successful academic's vibe, and all of our need for hopeful news. The bitter part is coming back to reality after watching, which is harder if your work is a scientist's. Most people don't know much about the video's topics, and even less about how unrewarding and unfair the work can be. Mental health issues are common among young scientists, which get the most frustration, but get the least rewards out of it. If I could ask for something, it would be to see some disucssion of this topic, especially form an optimitsts view. ;) That being said, thanks for the videos. I hope the channel can keep growing and bringing more optimistic stories to everyone.

[@TheDetourDuo]

I agree. I click on cleo's videos with very little interest or knowledge of the subject matter, then she goes into such detail of explaining what it is and how many resources go into making it and the moment I ask "but why" is when she comes in asking the same question but then adding an even bigger question. Why did we build that. Wait why do we want to build an even bigger one?

[@DaleDoesItAll]

The CERN video is what made me realize her talent. Great job Cleo.

[@bruhaps_meme]

The video quality is amazing.

[@Adamkww]

It is, and she's very easy to look at.

[@bruhaps_meme]

@@Adamkww yes

[@makasii]

26:15 that's why we love her content more than yours (talking for myself at least), because she doesn't make people feel dumb, in the contrary, she awakes curiosity in such an enjoyable and friendly way, not pretentious, not arrogant, and fabulously well designed. the contrast of her saying: "i want to help people understand" to you saying "I want to see when (not even IF) she loses me"... says it all

[@DannyBoy443]

Ummm, not to be “that guy” but this is easy. 1. Look at her. 2. She’s super kind and fun. 3. She covers diverse topics that matter. 4. She has the best KZbin shorts game around.

[@danellis-jones1591]

I'm too old to actually fancy her, but if my adult kid came home and said, "This is Cleo, she my new gf," I'd think they couldn't do better.

[@brotendo]

I love that people either willingly ignore this or think that it's an insult. If you take everything else and turn her into a short, fat, ethnic girl, the results just won't be the same. People ignoring this or pretending like it's not a thing are delusional.

[@brotendo]

@@delaslight It's hilarious that you don't know how to spell "liar."

[@sagara4e]

Wow!! Amazing video, Cleo we love you

[@svenfeldmann6709]

The intellectual gradient between Colin/Samir and Cleo is astounding (up, that is).

[@AliexFolgueira]

Excellent interview, should have 1m views by now (under 300k as 10.18.24)

[@c97f]

The Cleo vs Huge is an interesting convo. I'd urge her to think about scalability, not because of money, but because of career. Eventually she will want to make more impact than the big impact she makes today. Not sure if Cleo or Huge is the more scalable brand but scalability should factor in to the choice of focus. As much as I love watching Cleo for her relatability, she's obviously brilliant about media and her heading a media group would make for a huge set of fascinating content.

[@TaylorBell]

ooooh excited for this one. Cleo is a beast

[@babuvlogs7312]

Hey I love your videos I am so lakcy me your videos love you so much

[@ariekoprasethio]

🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:00:00 *🎬 Introduction to Cleo Abram's Journey* - Introduction to Cleo Abram's independent KZbin journey after leaving Vox. - Her show "Huge If True" focuses on optimistic technology stories. - Collaboration with creators like MKBHD, CERN, and more. 00:02:08 *💡 Spotter Studio: KZbin Project Management Tool* - Explanation of Spotter Studio, an AI-powered software for KZbin creators. - Helps brainstorm titles, thumbnails, and manage production workflow. 00:03:20 *🧠 Cleo Abram's Approach to KZbin* - Cleo's rapid success on KZbin, gaining 3.5 million subscribers. - Her unique method of launching a show (not just a channel) with a clear brand identity. 00:05:12 *🎥 The Shift from Channels to Shows on KZbin* - Discussion of KZbin's evolution from channels with multiple shows to focused single-show channels. - Cleo's strategy with "Huge If True" reflects this industry trend. 00:07:04 *🌍 Creating a Show with Optimistic Vision* - Cleo's inspiration for "Huge If True" from her experience with a KZbin original show about important life decisions. - Her desire to counter pessimism with a positive outlook on the future of technology. 00:09:34 *🎨 Defining the Look and Feel of "Huge If True"* - Cleo's attention to detail in visual branding, using earthy, "solar punk" tones to convey optimism. - She built her show's unique style to stand out in the technology genre. 00:11:01 *💰 Balancing Creativity and Business on KZbin* - Cleo's confidence that audience success would naturally lead to business success. - Initial faith that monetization and advertisers would follow if the content resonated with viewers. 00:12:31 *🖋️ The Ideation Process Behind "Huge If True"* - The challenge of coming up with engaging ideas for complex topics like CERN and quantum computing. - Cleo's surprise at the wide interest in subjects that seem niche, yet manage to captivate millions. 20:39 *🎥 Storytelling and accessibility in Cleo Abram’s content* - Emphasis on relatable moments to create audience connection, - Maintaining simple, audience-friendly questions to guide explanations, 23:11 *🔬 Explanation quality and optimism in content* - Delivering satisfying and clear explanations, - Focusing on optimistic and inspiring stories about science and technology, 25:57 *📊 Addressing niche topics and maintaining simplicity* - Balancing complexity and audience interest in niche topics like geothermal energy, - Avoiding oversimplification while keeping content accessible to non-experts, 28:18 *🎯 Scripting for KZbin: Earning clicks and attention* - Crafting intros to capture audience attention within the first 30-50 seconds, - Layering visual storytelling with concise, engaging scripts, 32:06 *🎬 Visual storytelling through script collaboration* - Utilizing three-column scripts to map out audio, visuals, and sources, - Creating detailed visual sequences to break down complex scientific concepts, 41:36 *🗣️ *Importance of Personality in Content Creation** - Cleo discusses the balance between her role as a host and the primary content, focusing on how the host's personality creates trust and connection with the audience. - Personality-driven content in media attracts audiences more than purely concept-driven content. 45:05 *🎨 *The Role of Visuals in Competitive Advantage** - Visuals are a key competitive edge, with Cleo using high-quality visuals to explain complex topics. - Cleo’s team of four people, including an animator and science producer, contributes heavily to the storytelling. 49:01 *🧠 *Challenges in Team Building and Creative Collaboration** - Cleo discusses the difficulties in finding collaborators with shared or complementary creative taste. - Team members must align with her vision while contributing their expertise to improve the final product. 51:22 *🔄 *Short-form Content Strategy** - Cleo explains the strategy behind using short-form content as a testing ground for long-form ideas. - Short videos often take highlights from long-form content and have the potential to outperform the originals. 54:05 *🔍 *Deep Ocean Short Success** - Discussion of the success of a short about the ocean’s depth, which generated millions of views across platforms. - Highlighting audience fascination with specific topics like the deep ocean, which led to more exploration in that theme. 01:02:17 *🎬 Content alignment and shorts strategy* - Discusses the challenges of aligning short-form content with long-form podcasts. - Explains why the creator stopped relying on podcast clips for shorts, focusing instead on more original, engaging shorts. 01:03:27 *📈 Short-form videos' impact and creative flexibility* - The success of creating viral, fun-to-make sponsored content like the Ray-Ban Metas video. - Emphasizes the value of experimenting with tech-focused short-form videos that garnered millions of views on Instagram. 01:05:18 *⚙️ Testing ideas through short-form content* - How short-form videos serve as a testing ground for long-form video concepts. - A specific example of a video about sensors in World Cup balls sparking debate and leading to a full-length episode. 01:07:20 *🚀 Writer’s room and idea development* - The importance of having a team or "writer's room" to ideate and debate video topics. 01:08:58 *🎨 KZbin thumbnails and titles evolution* - Talks about the iterative process of improving KZbin thumbnails and titles over time. 01:12:22 *🤔 Balancing brand values with optimization* - The dilemma between optimizing content for performance and staying true to brand values. 01:14:12 *💡 Keys to rapid success on KZbin* - Discussion on whether it's still possible to "make it" on KZbin, with Cleo Abram as a case study of rapid success. 01:22:12 *💻 Media companies and creative freedom* - Creative constraints in media companies and lack of flexibility for individual ownership. 01:25:02 *🏢 The talent problem in media companies* - The fall of large media companies due to financial pressure and talent exodus. 01:27:21 *🛠️ Hybrid models for creators* - The idea of building infrastructure to support independent journalists while sharing resources like legal, ad sourcing, and creative support. 01:28:02 *🏃 Transition from business to creative side* - Transitioning from a marketing/business role to a creative role at Vox. 01:30:48 *🎬 Breaking into video production* - Learning editing and animation to contribute creatively despite no formal experience. 01:35:11 *🤔 Differences between KZbin and media companies* - Difference in creative freedom on personal topics when working for KZbin versus a media company. 01:42:53 *📢 Sponsored content and ad transparency* - Cleo discusses transparency in ads, emphasizing that she only promotes products truthfully, 01:45:09 *🧐 Optimistic journalism versus traditional views* - Cleo discusses her take on journalism, stating she focuses on potential futures while also exploring the challenges with technologies, 01:47:10 *🎓 Role of journalism in a democracy* - Cleo talks about the function of journalism in society, particularly in helping people understand the world clearly and form opinions, 01:50:08 *🤝 Identity as a journalist or storyteller* - Cleo reflects on her discomfort with being labeled a journalist, seeing herself more as a storyteller or creator, 01:53:10 *🖋️ Journalism ethics and responsibilities* - Cleo explains her adherence to journalistic ethics, including issuing corrections and maintaining transparency, 01:56:23 *📺 KZbin vs traditional media offers* - Cleo addresses whether she would consider a deal with platforms like Netflix, 02:02:52 *🎬 Fiction Content on KZbin and Future Prospects* - Discusses the potential for fiction content on KZbin, considering future trends. 02:03:45 *🤔 Optimism and Pessimism Toward AI and Tech* - Exploration of AI's future and humanity's relationship with it. 02:05:08 *💡 Cynicism in Storytelling and Evaluating Narratives* - The role of cynicism in assessing story topics and people’s motivations. 02:07:12 *🚀 Motivation and Incentives in Content Creation* - Highlights various incentives such as revenue, creativity, validation, and mission-driven work. 02:09:15 *💼 Handling Opportunities and Overload* - The challenges of managing numerous exciting opportunities that arise in a successful career. 02:10:38 *🌍 Representation and Support Structures* - The role of agents and lawyers in managing career opportunities, sponsorships, and legal negotiations. 02:13:50 *🛠️ Shared Infrastructure and Media Representation* - Comparison of media company structures with shared resources, like agents and legal teams. 02:14:42 *🛤️ Career Focus and Finding Direction* - The journey of discovering the right career path, with a sense of direction and fulfillment. 02:16:21 *🔮 Future of the Brand and Expanding Huge If True* - Vision for expanding the "Huge If True" brand into multiple formats (podcast, newsletter, series). Made with HARPA AI

[@Miniac]

I've been watching a bunch of videos on this channel to soak up as much info as possible about 'creator economy' as Samir likes to say! As I'm sure a lot of people do, I started with Mr. Beast as I felt his perspective would be invaluable given his position on the platform and while those conversations are cool and unique, I find his problems largely unrelatable. This episode, however, is much more in the weeds and interesting to me as a mid-level creator. I'm now more excited to check out some of the lower view count episodes that I've been skipping.

[@adam_flash]

Great interview. I also think it’s the first one in C&S history where they didn’t bring up MrBeast at some point. (Kind of a running game I have to see how fast he’ll get mentioned in their conversations).

[@Hermes-hy6hg]

Video idea: "How Ronaldo dominated KZbin in an hour"

[@ColinandSamir]

good title

[@Skillseboy1]

He was already famous and well-funded?

[@Alex-Escala-AÍ-c9p]

Because it was Years of work in every other media popular media?😅

[@serene-doll]

Boring, he's already famous enough to get millions in a famous, nothing much to do about it

[@TopperPenquin]

Is she the love child of Miss Jerusalem and a Football star ?

[@eleazaralmazan4089]

Cleo is just super passionate about STEM. It’s very contagious!

[@olivergilpin]

1:45:00 Thanks for such a straightforward question Colin, appreciate it

[@nithinmuraleedharan9367]

Great episode. Would love to see Johnny harris and Iz harris on your show.

[@theveteranagent]

This was so helpful. I’ve been racking my brain on how to make my home tour, videos and community videos so much more interesting and this gives me a better idea as to how I can approach and still build a great personal brand within something that’s kind of… boring. no better way to put it