Influencer Confidential

Sidewalker Daily

Welcome to Influencer Confidential, a podcast brought to you by Sidewalker Daily. In this podcast, we are dedicated to creating transparency in the Influencer Industry and showing what it takes to succeed in this new world. Sidewalker Daily is a consulting agency that works on both sides of the influencer industry. On one hand, Sidewalker Daily consults for brands and public relations firms on their influencer marketing initiatives and social media strategy and on the other, the company works with influencers and creators to help them build sustainable businesses online. Sidewalker Daily's unique position in the industry bridges the gap between brands and creators, to ensure every partnership is a win-win. Sidewalker has worked on campaigns for Jetsetter (A Tripadvisor Company), Four Seasons and the Costa Rica Tourism Board, to name a few. In this podcast, expect to learn about all things working with brands, being an influencer, influencer marketing, media kits, pitching to brands and much more! Meet Your Host, Nina Zadeh - Co-founder, Nina received her MBA in marketing from Fordham University and has a B.A. in Communications and Economics from Boston College.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    If You Make $50k As A Creator Watch This #288

    There’s a big difference between making money as a creator… and building a sustainable, scalable creator business. And once you hit that $50K mark, the strategy, mindset, and legal + financial structure need to shift - fast. In this episode, I’m breaking down what creators at this income level need to think about differently. How you position yourself and price your work, to the backend decisions that protect your growth as you scale. If you’re considering electing S-Corp status and need a simple payroll system, Gusto is our go-to: https://gusto.pxf.io/55XYOn If you want strategic support growing your creator business, book a call with our team: https://calendly.com/sidewalkerdailyteam/discovery 🧮 Gusto for Payroll: https://gusto.pxf.io/55XYOn 💻 Free Brand Deals Training: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/brand-deals-training/ 🤩 Ready To Level Up? Speak with Our Success Manager: https://calendly.com/sidewalkerdailyteam/discovery 👉 Book A Call: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/coaching-influencers-creators/ 🌟 Best-Selling Pitching to Brands Mastercourse: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/ptbm/ 🎁 Free Gift For Influencers & Creators: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/influencer-business-resources/ 🛒 Shop our Amazon Store 🛒: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sidewalkerdaily ⚡️Paid Creator Opportunities: https://thepaidcreator.substack.com/ This episode can also been seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b9m1Anh5iAc

    9 min
  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    From Micro Influencer to $500K+ | Kristen Bousquet on Creator Monetization [Creator Currency Ep. 24]

    You Can Follow Kristen Here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbousq/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kbousq YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KristenBousquet Website: https://www.yoursoulcialmate.com/ Podcast: https://www.yoursoulcialmate.com/podcast Join Soulcialmate: https://www.yoursoulcialmate.com/membership In this episode of Influence Confidential, I sat down with Kristen Bousquet — Creator Monetization Coach, founder of Your Soulcialmate, and Contributor at Forbes — to talk about what it really takes to build a profitable, sustainable Creator business. After generating over $500,000 as a micro-influencer and selling her first business at 25, Kristen brings real-life experience to the monetization conversation. We unpacked the difference between chasing money and building long-term sustainability, why great content alone isn’t enough anymore, and what brands are actually looking for today — authority, positioning, and a community that truly trusts you. Kristen also shared her perspective on burnout, the CEO vs. manager mindset shift, and how Creators can better evaluate the ROI of their time (especially when it comes to pitching). If you’re already monetizing but want to grow smarter — not just harder — this episode is your reminder that influence is a business, and sustainability should be the goal. Want to join our Inner Circle? Email: team@sidewalkerdaily.com to learn more! This episode can be seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y6Dpjc0ZFAw

    42 min
  3. 5 MAR

    What Brands Will and Will Not Pay Creators For #287

    I’ve been on both sides of the creator economy - I’ve managed influencer budgets on the brand side and I’ve helped creators negotiate paid partnerships from the creator side. In this episode, I’m breaking down what brands will and will not pay creators for, and where I see negotiations get messy (or unnecessary) because expectations weren’t clear from the start. We’re talking about what’s typically fair to charge for in brand deals, sponsorships, UGC, and influencer partnerships, etc. My goal is simple: help you create a win-win partnership where you get paid like a pro, and the brand feels confident investing in you again. If you’ve ever wondered, “Wait… should I charge for this?” This episode will give you a clearer framework. Work with me / Get support with pricing + packages + pitching: https://calendly.com/sidewalkerdailyteam/discovery 🎉 Read Our Success Stories Here: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/success-stories/ 💻 Free Brand Deals Training: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/brand-deals-training/ 🤩 Ready To Level Up? Speak with Our Success Manager: https://calendly.com/sidewalkerdailyteam/discovery 👉 Book A Call: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/coaching-influencers-creators/ 🌟 Best-Selling Pitching to Brands Mastercourse: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/ptbm/ 🎁 Free Gift For Influencers & Creators: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/influencer-business-resources/ 🛒 Shop our Amazon Store 🛒: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sidewalkerdaily ⚡️Paid Creator Opportunities: https://thepaidcreator.substack.com/ This episode can also been seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FS0pDWuZa6s

    14 min
  4. 24 FEB

    Influencer Taxes Explained in 2026 | CPA Laura Grajales Answers Creator Questions [Creator Currency Ep. 23]

    You Can Follow Laura Here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganacomobookkeeper/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-grajales-51b226152/ Website: https://www.paragonacct.com/ Portal del Cliente & Acceso a Recursos: https://www.paragonacct.com/recursos Client Portal & Access to Resources: https://www.paragonacct.com/en/recursos Tools Mentioned: Influencer Taxes 101 Masterclass: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/influencer-taxes-101/ Gusto: https://gusto.pxf.io/55XYOn Monarch Money: https://monarchmoney.sjv.io/DyjnDy QuickBooks: https://quickbooks.partnerlinks.io/poygo9t2u82p In today’s episode of Influencer Confidential, we did things a little differently. I invited my CPA, Laura Grajales, to join me for a live Q&A all about Influencer Taxes, where Creators from our Inner Circle community were able to ask their real questions in real time. This episode was all about breaking down the things Creators are most confused (and stressed) about when it comes to money and taxes, in a way that actually makes sense. We covered topics like how much Creators should be setting aside for taxes, paying quarterly estimates, understanding tax brackets, and when it makes sense to form an LLC or S-Corp. Laura also cleared up common misconceptions around brand trips, gifted collaborations, reimbursements, and what actually counts as taxable income. If you’re a Creator who wants to feel more confident managing your money and running this like a real business, without fear or overwhelm, this episode is a must-listen. Want to join our Inner Circle? Email: team@sidewalkerdaily.com to learn more! This episode can be seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bLpAfdV0NMc

    56 min
  5. 10 FEB

    Is Travel Blogging Still Profitable in 2026? Jessie Festa Spills the Truth [Creator Currency Ep. 22]

    You Can Follow Jessie Here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@jessieonajourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney Twitter/X: https://x.com/JessonaJourney Website: https://jessieonajourney.com/ Free Blogger Resource Library: 75+ Cheat Sheets, Templates & Tutorials To Grow Your Traffic, Email List & Income: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/ The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast: https://jessieonajourney.com/podcast-for-bloggers/ Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse In this episode of Influencer Confidential, I sit down with travel blogger and educator Jessie Festa, founder of Jessie On A Journey, to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable creator business beyond social media. Jesse shares how she’s grown multiple travel brands over the years and why being multi-passionate doesn’t mean you’re unfocused, it can actually be your biggest advantage when done strategically. We dive into why email lists and blogging are still incredibly powerful in 2026, how Jesse monetizes through ads, affiliates, brand partnerships, and press trips, and what creators should focus on if they want long-term, algorithm-proof income. If you’ve ever wondered whether blogging is “dead,” how to turn traffic into money, or how to stop relying solely on social platforms, this episode is for you. This episode can be seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3CGHgmOKCBs

    42 min

About

Welcome to Influencer Confidential, a podcast brought to you by Sidewalker Daily. In this podcast, we are dedicated to creating transparency in the Influencer Industry and showing what it takes to succeed in this new world. Sidewalker Daily is a consulting agency that works on both sides of the influencer industry. On one hand, Sidewalker Daily consults for brands and public relations firms on their influencer marketing initiatives and social media strategy and on the other, the company works with influencers and creators to help them build sustainable businesses online. Sidewalker Daily's unique position in the industry bridges the gap between brands and creators, to ensure every partnership is a win-win. Sidewalker has worked on campaigns for Jetsetter (A Tripadvisor Company), Four Seasons and the Costa Rica Tourism Board, to name a few. In this podcast, expect to learn about all things working with brands, being an influencer, influencer marketing, media kits, pitching to brands and much more! Meet Your Host, Nina Zadeh - Co-founder, Nina received her MBA in marketing from Fordham University and has a B.A. in Communications and Economics from Boston College.

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