Creator Science with Jay Clouse

Jay Clouse

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What 16 Years Behind YouTube's Biggest Channels Taught Josh Mattingly About Hiring And The Current State of YouTube

5/26/2026 • 70 min

Josh is the founder of Upright Media, an operating partner for content creators handling operations, consulting, recruiting, and post-production. His clients include some of YouTube's biggest channels — Erak, Smosh, Emma Chamberlain, Dude Perfect, Matthew Beam, and Chris Williamson. He runs 11 full-time staff and about 40 contractors worldwide. He describes himself as a creator without a channel. This conversation also took a turn into what YouTube actually rewards right now, why "companionship content" is quietly eating the internet, and the concept of the "s****y flow state" — that experience where you put down your phone 35 minutes after opening Instagram and can't name a single thing you saw. Upright Media Brad Stulberg — The Way of Excellence Monday.com (project management tool Josh uses) Topper Guild (YouTube channel) Speeed (James Pumphrey + Jesse Wood) Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Josh's opening: don't lose sight of the big goals that motivate your team (00:26) Who Josh Mattingly is and what Upright Media does (08:16) Excitement vs. panic — how much of working 80 hours a week is actually anxiety (12:49) Why most creators hire from panic — and how Josh reframes it around a goal (22:35) Build the team around what you're doing well, not where you think you're going (24:36) The positioning exercise: what is your channel, actually — and why it drives every hire (20:36) Speeed channel case study: lean team, clear mission, "GQ for this generation" (27:02) What YouTube is biased toward right now: real connection over spectacle (30:02) The content spectrum: entertainment → education → companionship content (40:01) The "s****y flow state" — why most of what we consume doesn't satisfy (55:52) Hiring mistake: moving too fast — interview 10 more after you find "the one" (56:56) Building a hiring committee as a solopreneur using peers and friends *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE #175: Angus Parker – Ali Abdaal’s right-hand man shares a YouTuber’s guide to hiring. *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Creator Science Newsletter 🚀 Get CreatorHQ 🧪 Join The Lab 🧞‍♂️ Get a Personalized Offer *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SPONSORS 💼 View all sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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