VIDEO MOJO with Jon Leland: Timeless marketing mixed with the bleeding edge of video & social media

Jon Leland

Video Mojo is a WebShow™ and podcast hosted by award-winning media innovator, Jon Leland. It combines timeless marketing principles with a playful exploration on the "bleeding edge" of digital video & social media strategies. Jon compliments his passion for the human side of social media and video with decades of experience as an award-winning video writer/producer/director as well as a digital marketing strategist. For more episodes and videos of these podcast episodes, please visit http://combridges.com/blog

  1. The Rise of Entrepreneurial Journalism: How Creators Are Reinventing Media

    10/14/2025

    The Rise of Entrepreneurial Journalism: How Creators Are Reinventing Media

    What happens when journalism, content creation, and entrepreneurship collide? In this episode of Video Mojo, host Jon Leland sits down with Alexa Phillips, whose viral TikTok about entrepreneurial journalism has sparked nearly a million views and a huge wave of conversation about the future of media. Alexa breaks down how creators are becoming trusted voices in their industries — blurring the lines between journalist, influencer, and entrepreneur. Together, we explore: 🎙️ How “entrepreneurial journalism” is changing the game for both journalists and creators 📈 What creators can learn from journalistic practices like fact-checking, storytelling, and trust-building 💡 What journalists can learn from the creator economy’s authenticity and personal branding 🤖 How AI is accelerating the shift toward knowledge-based media 🔥 Why this new era of independent media might be the most exciting — and empowering — yet Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Journalism 02:14 The Viral Experience and Its Impact 05:13 Trust in Media and the Rise of Creators 08:05 Learning from Each Other: Journalists and Creators 10:58 The Role of AI in Journalism 13:44 Owned vs. Rented Media 16:47 Building a Personal Brand 19:19 The Future of Content Creation 22:24 The Importance of Authenticity 25:13 Engagement and Community Building 27:54 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 🔗 Connect with Alexa: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexacphillips Newsletter: https://creativesanonymous.beehiiv.com/ Website: https://www.brighteyescreative.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-c-phillips/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighteyescreative/ 🔗 Connect with Jon, subscribe to AI Creativity Chronicles, or get free downloads: https://stan.store/joncombridges Affiliates: 🔗 Free Kit Email Marketing Account: https://www.combridges.com/email 🔗 The Best Way to Record High-Quality Video Interviews: https://www.combridges.com/record 🔗 Video Editing with AI & Avatars: https://www.combridges.com/edit 🔗 "Loom on Steriods": https://www.combridges.com/video 🔗 Recommended Platform for Community Building: https://www.combridges.com/community

    36 min
  2. How AI Is Changing Movie Making Forever! Video Mojo Pod with MoveFloAI's Mike Levine & Jon Leland

    08/20/2025

    How AI Is Changing Movie Making Forever! Video Mojo Pod with MoveFloAI's Mike Levine & Jon Leland

    Explore the power of ai tools in filmmaking as the future shifts from Hollywood to innovative AI software. Discover how AI can generate footage and storyboards, creating a new era of visual storytelling. This shift makes filmmaking more accessible and efficient, especially with advancements in AI video generation**. Also, this video offers insights into content creation using artificial intelligence.🔗 Get started with MovieFloAI here (affiliate link):https://combridges.com/aivideoChapters00:00 The Future of Filmmaking: AI Innovations02:08 Introducing MovieFlow.ai: Revolutionizing Storytelling04:42 The Human Element in AI Storytelling07:31 Streamlined Workflow: From Concept to Export10:04 Live Demo: Exploring MovieFlow's Features18:39 The Future of Video Storytelling: Predictions and Concerns🔗 Connect with Jon, subscribe to his AI Creativity Chronicles emails, check out "Prompted to Create: a breakthrough experiential approach to AI for marketers" or get free downloads:https://stan.store/joncombridgesGot a creative project that AI can help get done faster and with ease? Learn about Jon's AI Creativity Consulting: https://ai-creativity.carrd.co/Affiliates:🔗 Free Kit Email Marketing Account: https://www.combridges.com/email🔗 The Best Way to Record High-Quality Video Interviews: https://www.combridges.com/record🔗 Video Editing with AI & Avatars: https://www.combridges.com/edit🔗 "Loom on Steriods": https://www.combridges.com/video🔗 Recommended Platform for Community Building: https://www.combridges.com/community.

    33 min
  3. 04/29/2025

    How Google AI is Revolutionizing Documentary Filmmaking!

    What happens when you feed 20+ interview transcripts and vintage boat photos into Google Notebook LM and test-fly them through OpenAI Sora? 👉 A crystal-clear 3-act structure, funding-ready storyboards, and concept footage that actually looks like a sunset sail past the Golden Gate. In this episode of Video Mojo, I speak with filmmaker Vince Casalaina to demo the exact workflow we used to turn a hazy idea about San Francisco’s wooden sailing ships into a pitchable documentary package—without losing the romance of tall masts and hand-hewn hulls.Key takeaways: • Notebook LM = instant research room → outlines, sound-bites, and an AI-generated “podcast” overview that sells the story for you. • Sora is already good enough for concept shots—if you “embrace the jank” and know a sailor’s rigging. • A solid AI-backed structure gives you the confidence (and assets) to approach high-net-worth donors today. ⏱️ Chapters00:00 Intro & project overview00:33 Vince’s expectations vs. reality01:13 Why AI? First passes in Notebook LM02:56 Nailing the three-act story spine​​04:51 Pitching high-net-worth backers with confidence​​06:29 DEMO: AI-generated “audio overview” voices in Notebook LM​​07:42 Mining 20+ interview transcripts for golden sound-bites07:44 First experiments in Sora text-to-video (and embracing the jank)​​08:44 Our best AI boat shot — and a sailor’s verdict10:22 Funding call-out & how to contact Vince10:49 Jon’s “Prompted to Create” course teaser & wrap-up🔗 Connect with Jon Leland:https://stan.store/joncombridgesGot a creative project that AI can help get done faster and with ease? Learn about Jon's AI Creativity Consulting: https://ai-creativity.carrd.co/Affiliates:🔗 Free Kit Email Marketing Account: https://www.combridges.com/email 🔗 The Best Way to Record High-Quality Video Interviews: https://www.combridges.com/record 🔗 "Loom on Steriods" for screen share videos: https://www.combridges.com/video

    12 min
  4. Boost Your Creativity with AI: Exclusive Video Mojo Chat with Kyle Shannon of AI Salon

    04/08/2024

    Boost Your Creativity with AI: Exclusive Video Mojo Chat with Kyle Shannon of AI Salon

    Get ready for fun, play, and dramatically increased creativity! Join Jon Leland for this lively, informative, and inspiring episode of Video Mojo as we explore the limitless possibilities of Artificial Intelligence with Kyle Shannon, a visionary at the intersection of AI and creativity. Founder of AI Salon and known for his profound insights into the AI revolution, Kyle shares his expertise on how AI is not just changing the landscape of technology but also unlocking new realms of creativity for individuals and industries alike. 🎥 Key Highlights: - Dive into Kyle's journey and the genesis of AI Salon, a community for AI enthusiasts and creators. - Understand the impact of generative AI on creativity and how it can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing human ingenuity. - Explore the transformative potential of AI in various fields, from art and video production to software development and beyond. - Hear about the future of AI and its implications for content creation, storytelling, and personal expression. 🕒 Timecodes: 00:00 - Introduction and welcome Kyle Shannon 02:58 - Kyle's vision on AI and Creativity 06:37 - The rapid adoption of AI technologies and their societal impact 10:26 - Human creativity in the age of AI 15:15 - Playing beyond your core knowledge with AI 19:14 - Overcoming misconceptions about AI 24:14 - Storyvine: Automating video storytelling without losing authenticity 37:51 - The Authenticity Engine: Merging AI with human stories 44:32 - Embracing AI for a brighter, creative future 💡 Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of AI, this conversation is a treasure trove of insights on harnessing the power of AI to fuel your creative pursuits. 👉 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful conversations on Video Mojo. Your engagement helps us bring more thought leaders like Kyle Shannon into the spotlight. Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below! 🔗 Links Discussed: - AI Creativity Playshop with Kyle & Jon: https://videomojo.circle.so/c/creativity-squared-ai-playshop/ - AI Salon: https://aisalon.mn.co - AI Learning Lab on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ailearninglab - Storyvine: https://storyvine.com/ - AI Futures: An Anthology book: https://a.co/d/1geA7yh - Ideogram generative AI graphics: https://ideogram.ai/- Suno generative AI music program: https://www.suno.ai/- Pi personal human-like chatbot: https://pi.ai/- Sheri Dee on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sherideestudio- Shelly Boesch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelly_boesch_ai_art - Jon's email list & social links: https://play.combridges.com/ 🧰 TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS 🧰 Riverside for remote recording - https://combridges.com/record Descript for transcript-based, AI-assisted video editing - https://combridges.com/edit ConvertKit for email marketing - https://combridges.com/email Circle for community building & courses - https://combridges.com/community Tella for screen sharing & educational video production - https://combridges.com/video

    43 min
  5. How to Unleash Video Creativity: Leveraging AI, CapCut, and More with Judie Russell

    03/19/2024

    How to Unleash Video Creativity: Leveraging AI, CapCut, and More with Judie Russell

    Very few people understand modern video production the way that Judie Russell of https://thevidacademy.com does. From producing TV shows in Ireland, to training corporate executives to make authentic presentations, to teaching streamlined smartphone video production processes, to fearlessly exploring the creative opportunities offered AI, Judie fills this episode of Video Mojo with insights, tips, and actionable production strategies. Also included are examples of her creativity: The Celtic Goddess Guided Meditation Karol: The Full Season Timestamped Summary: 00:00 🎥 Judie shares tips on leveraging AI and playing multiple characters to make video production easier. 02:43 🎥 Embrace AI in video creation to enhance creativity and efficiency. 07:31 🎥 How to use AI and CapCut to create unique and engaging video content. 11:10 🎥 Why Adobe Podcast Enhance is an essential AI audio improvement tool. 15:25 🎥 Mobile phones can produce high-quality content and the importance of good audio and pre-production planning. 18:51 🎥 Judie uses a teleprompter and ChatGPT for efficiency in video creation. 21:11 🎥 AI can enhance creativity and make video editing easier, with CapCut simplifying tasks that used to take weeks in Premiere Pro. 25:18 🎥 AI and apps like CapCut can make video creation easier, while generating your own images with AI is more fun and avoids copyright issues, but there is a potential risk of AI claiming ownership of all images. More about Judie Russell: https://thevidacademy.com Or find her on the socials at  @TheVidacademy  CapCut, the free video editing tool that we discussed can be found here: https://www.capcut.com Information on Austin Kleon and his wonderful books about how to live a more creative life is here: https://austinkleon.com/ 🔗 JOIN JON'S EMAIL LIST or explore ALL his links: 🔗 https://play.combridges.com/ 🧰 TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS 🧰 Riverside for remote recording - https://combridges.com/record Descript for transcript-based, AI-assisted video editing - https://combridges.com/edit ConvertKit for email marketing - https://combridges.com/email Circle for community building & courses - https://combridges.com/community Tella for screen sharing & educational video production - https://combridges.com/video

    32 min
  6. Unlock Email Marketing Joy with Liz Wilcox's Secrets to Fun & Making Money with Email

    02/27/2024

    Unlock Email Marketing Joy with Liz Wilcox's Secrets to Fun & Making Money with Email

    Liz Wilcox, the "fresh princess of email marketing," and Jon Leland, media innovator since "71 and the host of "Video Mojo," delve into the power of email and video to spread joy and creativity in cultivating community and authentic relationships. - Wilcox emphasizes human-to-human connections, advocating for authenticity and vulnerability in email communication. - Hear recommendations to avoid the "YouTube SEO" approach in subject lines by writing as if reaching out to a friend, using a conversational tone and providing value. - Discover how storytelling in email doesn't necessitate elaborate narratives; simple personal updates can effectively connect with readers. - Wilcox promotes low-cost community offerings to foster inclusivity and allow more people access to her knowledge and expertise. - Concise and bite-sized emails are encouraged, with a focus on providing valuable information and prompting action from readers. - The framework for creating a successful email welcome sequence includes showcasing personality, sharing one's vision for clients, and communicating values. - A free guide with 52 subject lines, email templates, and examples for effective email marketing is offered. - Wilcox's emphasis on community, inclusivity, and value-driven pricing aligns with her long-term vision for her business. - She encourages finding creative outlets and embracing joy in the process of video and email creation. - Wilcox believes everyone has the right to learn, which influences her pricing strategy and commitment to inclusivity. **Timestamps:** * 0:01 - Welcome & Intros * 2:25 - The Power of Email and Video in Building Relationships * 4:15 - Liz's Focus on Inclusivity and Affordability * 4:45 - The Importance of Authenticity and Vulnerability * 5:44 - Avoiding the "YouTube SEO" Approach in Subject Lines * 7:15 - The Art of Storytelling in Email Marketing * 13:38 - How to Successful Email Welcome Sequence * 14:11 - Good Subject Lines * 16:55 - Welcome Sequences * 19:21 - Free Courses as Lead Magnets * 21:12 - Jon's Vision for Creativity Sandbox * 23:12 - Ethical Storytelling and Its Misunderstanding * 26:47 - The Challenge of Consistency * 27:16 - The Broken Refrigerator Story * 30:40 - Jon's Goal of Consistent TikToks * 31:46 - Welcome Sequence Templates * 32:26 - Liz's Generous Offer * 33:45 - Jon's Appreciation More from Liz: https://lizwilcox.com/ 🔗 JOIN JON'S EMAIL LIST and/or ALL his links: 🔗 https://play.combridges.com/ 🧰 TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS 🧰 Riverside for remote recording - https://combridges.com/record Descript for transcript-based, AI-assisted video editing - https://combridges.com/edit ConvertKit for email marketing - https://combridges.com/email Circle for community building & courses - https://combridges.com/community Tella for screen sharing & educational video production - https://combridges.com/video

    30 min
  7. Clicks Amid Conflict: YouTube Business Success Strategies from an Inspiring Ukrainian Expert

    12/21/2023

    Clicks Amid Conflict: YouTube Business Success Strategies from an Inspiring Ukrainian Expert

    This week's guest on Video Mojo shares his inspiring journey of rebuilding his life and business after the devastation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After he was forced to close his coffee business, he started a video editing company from scratch and grew it to a staff of six within a year, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship and success on YouTube. Ukrainian entrepreneur Anton Kosheliev exemplifies the importance of persevering in business, helping others, and creating valuable, educational content to achieve success on YouTube. He does all this despite facing the challenges of living in a war zone. Anton's courage and just-do-it attitude are an inspiration for those of us living in much less challenging circumstances. There's much that we can learn from him, including his insights about what works on YouTube. 🎥 00:00 Learn how this Ukrainian entrepreneur built a successful video business in less than a year despite conflict, starting a YouTube channel and growing a team of editors. 🚀 05:28 Rather than create a virtual team, Anton hired local editors and taught them YouTube skills so they could succeed. He also recommends creating educational videos to support audience goals in their industry. 🎥 09:32 Anton recommends consistently delivering value through educational videos and prioritizing starting and improving over time rather than thinking you can achieve instant success on YouTube. 📈 12:28 For most businesses, outsourcing video editing allows for more content creation and business growth, while creating evergreen content is more valuable for building a successful YouTube channel vs YouTube Shorts. 📈 17:36 Create valuable long-form content, prioritize thumbnails for high click-through rates, and avoid becoming a slave to the algorithm if you want sustainable YouTube success. 🚀 22:45 Be inspired by how Anton started small, put his ego aside, and focused on creating a name and recognition to achieve success on YouTube despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 💡 25:25 Despite conflict and economic challenges in Ukraine, Anton emphasizes the importance of persevering in business and helping people survive. 👍 28:37 Even for someone living in a war zone, YouTube adds value for Anton by showcasing this creator's intentions and reputation, leading to increased trust and business opportunities. Anton is an inspiration making a big difference in people's lives. 🔗 JOIN JON'S EMAIL LIST and/or ALL his links: 🔗 https://play.combridges.com/ 🧰 TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS (affiliate links) 🧰 Riverside for remote recording - https://combridges.com/record Descript for transcript-based, AI-assisted video editing ConvertKit for email marketing Circle for community building & courses Tella for screen sharing & educational video production

    31 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Video Mojo is a WebShow™ and podcast hosted by award-winning media innovator, Jon Leland. It combines timeless marketing principles with a playful exploration on the "bleeding edge" of digital video & social media strategies. Jon compliments his passion for the human side of social media and video with decades of experience as an award-winning video writer/producer/director as well as a digital marketing strategist. For more episodes and videos of these podcast episodes, please visit http://combridges.com/blog