Creator Playbooks

Callum Mcdonnell
  • 1.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Stories behind some of the world's best creators & entrepreneurs. Hosted by Callum McDonnell. Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQtecnleIYyODepmiC-c7PQ

  1. 1d ago

    Chris Williamson's Short Form Strategy Nobody Talks About | Ben Hancock

    Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with Callum: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson and ran content as the show grew to over 4 million YouTube subscribers. In this clip, he breaks down Modern Wisdom's short form strategy, from why they waited until around 1 million subscribers to take it seriously, to the faceless clip accounts that pushed their content out to millions more people. This is a short form masterclass. We get into: - Why Modern Wisdom held off on short form for so long - How 150 faceless clip accounts became a secret distribution channel - The exact posting schedule across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X - Why short form was never a conversion piece for Chris Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benhancock98 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forallthesaintspod Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Timestamps: 00:00 The 150 faceless accounts strategy 01:40 Waiting until 1 million subscribers 02:18 Why short form cannot save a weak podcast 03:01 How much content should a top podcast post? 03:55 The posting schedule across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X 05:18 Why short form was never a conversion piece

  2. 5d ago

    I Asked Steven Bartlett’s Team How To Build A $400M Podcast

    Get a FREE breakdown of the 11 DOAC growth rules in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4z4uoNw Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4zbvKq5 The Diary Of A CEO just hit 20 million YouTube subscribers and is a top 10 podcast globally. I’ve followed its journey and got to know the team behind it since the show had just 10,000 subscribers. In this episode, I break down the 11 rules Steven Bartlett’s team shared with me, with insights from Grace Andrews (former Marketing Director), Anthony Smith (the editor behind the trailers) and Tom Lewis (Steven’s paid media partner). This is a podcast growth masterclass. We get into: • The 10-second change that had a 300% impact on subscribers • Why DOAC tests up to 100 thumbnails before every episode • The clips experiment that backfired when they doubled output • Why their short form isn’t built to push people to the full episode • The four-part formula behind every DOAC trailer Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Rule 1: Have a really clear mission 03:38 Rule 2: Don’t copy other podcasts 06:10 Rule 3: The 10-second change behind 3x more subscribers 09:47 Rule 4: Make learning someone’s job 10:02 The clips experiment that backfired 12:21 Rule 5: Testing 100 thumbnails before every episode 14:32 Testing packaging on Meta ads before release 16:46 The golden rule of running experiments 17:32 Rule 6: The short form strategy 19:58 The biggest mistake short form editors make 22:47 Rule 7: The guest strategy 24:19 Rule 8: Win the first hour after publishing 27:47 Rule 9: Stop judging episodes on views 29:59 Rule 10: The secrets behind DOAC trailers 32:29 Rule 11: The podcast is not the product

  3. Oct 8 ·  Bonus

    Chris Williamson’s Producer Reveals His YouTube Strategy

    Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson as the show grew from 150,000 to 4.3 million YouTube subscribers. In this clip, he breaks down the YouTube strategy behind Modern Wisdom, including the mid-length clips that even people at YouTube hadn't seen before. This is a YouTube growth masterclass. We get into: • Why going from two to three episodes a week was massive • How mid-length clips released before each episode built anticipation • How Chris plans scroll-stopping moments into his interviews • The MrBeast reinvestment principle Chris brought to podcasting • Why Modern Wisdom keeps everything on one channel Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benhancock98  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forallthesaintspod  Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell  Timestamps: 00:00 The inflection points on Spotify and YouTube 01:06 The mid-length clips YouTube hadn't seen before 02:46 Planning scroll-stopping moments 04:05 MrBeast's reinvestment principle 06:28 The news doc Chris reads before big episodes 07:52 More shots on goal from every episode 09:39 One channel vs a separate clips channel 11:06 Why mid-length clips reach a new audience

  4. Sep 30

    Meet The Podcast Genius Behind Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom | Ben Hancock

    Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with Callum: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson as the show grew from 150,000 to 4.3 million YouTube subscribers. In this episode, he breaks down the 9 principles he learned from Chris, and the levers that took Modern Wisdom from a bedroom podcast to one of the biggest shows in the world. This is a podcast growth masterclass. We get into: • The Joe Rogan bump that kicked off the hockey stick growth • Why moving to Austin was the smartest growth move Chris made • How the show went from Chris's bedroom to a 100K+ cinema shoot with Matthew McConaughey • How mid-length clips released before each episode built anticipation • Why going from two to three episodes a week changed everything Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock/ Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Ben 02:23 The hockey stick inflection 04:56 Why Chris didn't quit and the Joe Rogan bump 08:29 The smartest growth move: moving to Austin 12:38 Data is useful, but don't compromise your tone of voice 17:28 The best will always rise to the top 18:43 The David Goggins cinema shoot (and the smoke alarm) 21:42 Should creators invest in sets? Why 95% of podcasts quit 25:12 Cultivate an audience you love creating for 33:05 Why no researcher can replace the host's preparation 35:36 How guests get booked and why 90% was outbound 42:51 Chris's obsession with the small details 52:26 Enjoyment first 54:25 Success is on the other side of cringe 56:30 Why the comments section beat every other metric 59:47 Create something beautiful 1:02:29 Why they waited so long to do short form 1:12:10 Three episodes a week and the volume inflection 1:13:33 Mid-length clips before the episode drops 1:21:37 One channel vs a separate clips channel 1:27:35 How Modern Wisdom makes money 1:37:51 Interviewing as a craft 1:42:52 Is podcasting still worth starting in 2026? 1:48:50 Why video-first shows are the blue ocean 1:52:29 Who Ben is watching right now

  5. Sep 28

    How to Get Ahead of 99% of Podcasts in 2026

    Get the full 2026 podcast growth playbook in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/4d5O9uN Apply to work with me: https://bit.ly/4uCJw2E In this episode, Callum breaks down his 21-step playbook for growing a podcast in 2026, based on years of working behind the scenes with some of the biggest shows in the world generating millions of views and listens every month. Most podcasts fail not because the host is bad, but because the show was never engineered for growth. He unpacks what actually moves the needle, from format and retention to the distribution stack that compounds attention across YouTube, Spotify, and social. Plus the volume, tracking, and double-down principles that separate podcasts that scale from podcasts that stall. If you're starting a show or trying to break through a growth ceiling, this is the episode to save and come back to. Connect with Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallumX: https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make and grow a podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps 0:00 Why 99% of podcasts fail in 2026 1:00 Know the goal of your show 1:30 The problem your show solves & your ICP 2:30 Format, signature segments & unfair advantage 6:00 Episode planning with proven topics & guests 7:30 Signature feeling & brand 8:00 Briefing & packaging every episode 9:30 Engineering a 5-star guest experience 10:30 Meta testing titles & thumbnails 12:30 Trailer structure & open loops 15:30 Distribution: YouTube first 16:00 Distribution: Spotify video 17:30 Native social content per platform 20:00 TikTok as a clip testing platform 21:30 YouTube mid-length clips channel 22:30 The guest launch plan 23:30 Fan accounts, theme pages & press 25:30 Calls to action that actually convert 27:30 The newsletter flywheel 30:30 Volume & posting frequency 32:00 Reactive & emergency episodes 33:30 Track your numbers every week 34:30 Double down on what works

  6. Sep 16

    PAW Patrol Founder: 11 Principles That Built a $2 Billion Empire | Ronnen Harary

    Get a FREE breakdown of Ronnen's frameworks in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4dosm2j Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4r1fhSi Ronnen Harary is the co-founder and chairman of Spin Master, the company behind PAW Patrol, Bakugan and the Rubik's Cube. In this episode, he breaks down how a toy company started making its own TV shows, and how that decision built some of the biggest kids' brands in the world. This is a brand-building masterclass. We get into:   • How a 4am drive to Detroit landed a 48,000-unit Kmart order two months in  • Why Spin Master started producing its own TV shows  • The Beyblade deal he passed on and what it taught him  • How Bakugan took sales from $450M to $1B, then back down again  • Why PAW Patrol was born at the lowest point in the company's history Ronnen also shares: • The birthday cake test he uses to spot a hit• How to expand a brand without losing its tone and tenor• Why he turned down a $100M live-action film (and still regrets it)• How he pitches without ever using a PowerPoint• Why Spin Master bought the Rubik's Cube Plus: YouTube vs Netflix, making money from content beyond merch, how fast you can tell a product has failed, no-blame culture, top grading, and building a company that outlives its founders. Follow Ronnen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnen-harary-99b13370/No Experience Necessary (book): https://www.ronnenharary.com/projects/no-experience-necessary Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Timestamps:00:00 The toy and TV playbook behind PAW Patrol01:21 Step one is deciding to bet on yourself04:20 Spotting a proven product in Israel and bringing it to Canada06:02 Driving to Detroit and pitching the wrong Kmart buyer09:30 The 19-year road to PAW Patrol11:43 Why 26% of toys come from TV and film12:40 Passing on Beyblade (a $3B miss)14:35 Bakugan and the $6M bet on a TV show17:23 Why the toys and the show launch on the same day18:32 How eight years at MIPCOM opened the door to TV deals20:05 The lowest point that produced PAW Patrol22:25 The birthday cake test for a hit24:40 Storytelling fundamentals for creators and brands27:16 YouTube, Netflix and why there's no clear path today30:17 No-blame culture and why doubt kills luck34:19 Why you can't replicate a hit36:13 Why Spin Master bought the Rubik's Cube43:10 Hatchimals and letting go of product development47:06 Turning down a $100M live-action film49:24 What makes a great pitch (and the Banana Boy story)54:43 Top grading and why culture is Spin Master's moat59:04 Quick-fire questions1:02:43 Where to find Ronnen + No Experience Necessary

  7. Sep 2

    Life Update: Hitting £1M A Year, Becoming A Dad & Selling My Business

    Get weekly content growth playbooks in my FREE newsletter: https://bit.ly/4iMG1DV Work with me: https://bit.ly/4cziyCu It's time for the mid-year update. So far, this has been one of the most challenging years of my life, but also one of the best for the business. I love it when founders do these transparent updates, and I try to do them every 3 to 6 months.I’m sharing how I crossed the £1M ARR mark. Turning down a serious conversation about selling the business. Hiring mistakes. Losing team members. Client partnerships I'm incredibly proud of. And preparing to become a dad! Follow Callum on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X: https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro: The Mid-Year Update 00:19 – Reflecting on a Tough But Rewarding Year 01:19 – Personal News: A Baby on the Way 02:42 – Business Update: Crossing £1M ARR 03:49 – Landing New Clients 04:25 – Growing Shows With US and Global Creators 05:40 – A Night at 10 Downing Street 07:01 – The Failures: Hiring Mistakes 08:09 – Losing Team Members 09:37 – The Biggest Lesson: Slowing Down My Own Development 11:01 – Talking Numbers: Revenue and Margins 13:19 – A Serious Acquisition Conversation 14:36 – Why I Turned It Down 16:14 – What I Learned About Founder Tax and Structuring 19:46 – Health and Fitness Check-In 21:29 – The Podcast: What's Working, What Isn't 26:44 – Priorities for the Rest of the Year 28:23 – Books, Podcasts, and What I'm Watching

  8. Jul 23

    Founder Vlog: 10 Downing Street, Private Jet Shoot & Podcast Strategy Day

    Get weekly content growth playbooks in my FREE newsletter: https://bit.ly/3T7VV13 Work with me: https://bit.ly/4hbeLhc A look inside a week running a content led business, from 10 Downing Street to a private jet shoot and a full team strategy day. In this vlog, I take you behind the scenes of a visit to 10 Downing Street, a private jet shoot for a new podcast, and a day spent with the team mapping out our next strategy moves. A real look at what it takes to build a content led business, from client work and recording sessions to networking and creative strategy. Follow Callum on socials: Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X, https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro: A Week in the Life 00:58 – Heading to London for the Private Jet Shoot 01:23 – On Set: Private Jet Business Interview 02:56 – Inside the Showroom: Building a Standout Business 03:32 – The LinkedIn Play: Meeting Lara Acosta 04:24 – Why Most People Get Their Market Wrong 05:15 – The Real Reason People Start a Podcast 05:57 – What C-Suite Clients Actually Want 06:23 – Team Day Begins 07:09 – Packaging Teardown: What Makes a Thumbnail Work 07:30 – CTR Benchmarks You Need to Hit 08:05 – From 100K to 14M Subscribers 08:44 – Rating Hooks and Trailers 09:43 – Heading to 10 Downing Street 10:35 – Walking Through the Corridors of Power 11:48 – Inside Number 10 12:36 – Meeting the Prime Minister's Wife (and the Cat) 13:26 – A Surreal Evening 14:26 – Wrapping the Week

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About

Stories behind some of the world's best creators & entrepreneurs. Hosted by Callum McDonnell. Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQtecnleIYyODepmiC-c7PQ

Information

  • Creator
    Callum Mcdonnell
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Callum Mcdonnell
  • Show Website
    Creator Playbooks

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