The Profitable Creative

Christian Brim, CPA/CMA
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Hey, Creative! Are you ready to discuss profits, the money, the ways to make it happen? The profitable creative podcast is for you, the creative, how you define it. Videographers, photographers, entrepreneurs, marketing agencies. You get it. CEO of Core Group and author Christian Brim interviews industry experts, creative entrepreneurs and professionals alike who strive to be creative and make money at the same time. Sound like you?Tune in now. It's time for profit.

  1. 1d ago

    Why Human Creativity Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI | Nic Taylor

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim interviews Nic Taylor, Head of Product & Growth at Livid, an emerging ad-free video hosting platform positioned as an alternative to Vimeo. The conversation explores why creators choose platforms like Vimeo over YouTube, the market disruption caused by Vimeo’s acquisition by Bending Spoons, and how Livid plans to serve creators and small businesses with a leaner, creator-focused approach. Christian and Nic also dive deep into the broader creative economy, discussing shrinking marketing budgets, changing agency dynamics, the rise of AI-generated content, and why authentic human creativity is becoming even more valuable in a world flooded with automated media.  PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS... Creators want more control over their video content than platforms like YouTube provide Livid was built as a creator-focused alternative to Vimeo Vimeo’s acquisition is creating uncertainty and rising costs for users Video content demand continues to grow despite shrinking marketing budgets  Businesses are prioritizing ROI and authenticity over high production volume AI can enhance creative workflows, but it cannot replace genuine human creativity The creators who succeed will be the ones who use AI without losing originality Audiences are already pushing back against obvious AI-generated content Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    37 min

  2. 3d ago

    Should Entrepreneurs Scale Their Business Forever? | Michael Keenan

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim sits down with Michael Keenan, founder of Peak Content, to discuss the rapidly changing world of content marketing, entrepreneurship, and designing a business around the life you actually want. Michael shares his unconventional path from freelancing out of a van and writing $25 articles to building a lean content agency serving major software companies. The conversation dives deep into AI’s impact on SEO and content creation, the realities of scaling a business, lessons learned from failed ventures and angel investing, and why intentional business design matters more than endless growth. If you’re an entrepreneur, agency owner, freelancer, or creative trying to navigate the chaos of modern business while protecting your sanity, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS... AI is rapidly changing content marketing and SEO, forcing businesses to adapt in real time. The best content is still written for humans first, even when optimizing for search engines and AI. Building a business intentionally around your desired lifestyle is more important than chasing endless growth. Strong relationships and trust are critical when building teams and scaling a business. Entrepreneurs must learn to stay calm and solve problems under constant uncertainty. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing — focus on the work that aligns with your strengths and goals. Financial success means little if the business creates stress and destroys quality of life. Designing a business with the end goal in mind leads to healthier systems and better long-term outcomes.Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    45 min

  3. May 21

    Why Most Marketing Fails for Service Businesses | Ryan Chute

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim sits down with Ryan Chute of Wizard of Ads to unpack the psychology behind “externally triggered grudge purchases” — the unavoidable services customers don’t want to buy but absolutely need. Ryan shares his journey from working in his family’s furniture business to becoming a partner at Wizard of Ads, where he now leads an eight-figure agency helping service-based businesses grow through relational marketing, strategic messaging, and value alignment. This episode is packed with practical insight for accountants, contractors, consultants, and any business owner selling services people have to buy rather than want to buy. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS...  Why most marketing fails to connect emotionally  The difference between transactional vs. relational businesses  How fear, trust, and timing influence purchasing decisions  Why service businesses must market differently than lifestyle brands  The hidden role fulfillment and operations play in marketing success  How to align business values with customer values  The importance of empathy and competence in service industries  Why “brand vs. lead generation” is the wrong framework Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    38 min

  4. May 19

    Will AI Replace Voice Actors and Authors? | Aaron Ryan

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim sits down with author and voice actor Aaron Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, storytelling, voice acting, AI disruption, unions, intellectual property, and the mindset required to turn artistic passion into sustainable income. Aaron shares how Lord of the Rings, childhood writing clubs, and a second-grade novella sparked his love of storytelling, eventually leading him into a career as both a published author and professional voice actor. The two also dive deep into the economics of creative work, including investments vs. expenses, audition discipline, the impact of AI on voice acting, and why creators shouldn’t feel guilty about making money from their art. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS... Creativity is a long-game business  Discipline matters more than inspiration  Great storytelling creates lasting emotional connection  There’s a difference between spending money and investing in growth  AI is disrupting creative industries and increasing trust issues  Creators shouldn’t feel guilty about making money from their work  Persistence is often the difference between quitting and succeeding  Self-employment means building your own dream  Authenticity is becoming more valuable in a world flooded with AI  Storytelling is ultimately about legacy Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    47 min

  5. May 14

    Why Creators Need to Own Their Audience | Jim Fuhs

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode, Christian sits down with Jim Fuhs of Fusion Marketing to talk about Substack, creator-owned audiences, video marketing, AI, entrepreneurship, and the importance of building a business that actually supports the life you want. Jim shares how he transitioned from government contracting into content creation and video strategy, why he believes creators need to stop relying entirely on platforms like Facebook, and how Substack is emerging as a powerful “direct-to-creator” platform. The conversation also explores the growing flood of AI-generated content, the increasing importance of trust and community, and why wisdom—not just access to tools—is becoming the real differentiator in business. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS...  Substack as a creator-owned platform  Building direct relationships through email lists  Repurposing video content into written content  Community vs. algorithm-driven audiences  The reality behind “passive income”  AI-generated content and authenticity  Trust as the future competitive advantage  Why creators should teach openly  Using video to educate customers  Entrepreneurship and intentional business design  Avoiding trend-chasing in business  The importance of mentors and masterminds  Creating a business around lifestyle freedom  Wisdom vs. access to technology  Why simple video content still worksJoin our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    43 min

  6. May 12

    How Do Creatives Charge What They’re Worth? | Matt Morse

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim sits down with Matt Morse, founder of 1851 Creative, to talk about entrepreneurship, ministry, branding, and the realities of building a profitable creative business. Matt shares his unconventional path from pastoral ministry into running a creative agency, the lessons he learned from turning down his father’s agency business, and why small businesses are often the most rewarding clients to serve. Christian and Matt also explore faith, vocation, accountability, and the importance of understanding your “why” as a business owner. If you’re a creative entrepreneur, agency owner, freelancer, or small business operator trying to grow sustainably while staying true to your mission, this episode is packed with practical insights. PROFITABLE TALKS...  Why many creatives struggle with profitability  The danger of “free-to-fee” thinking  How agency owners can better qualify clients  Why most businesses misunderstand branding  The connection between purpose, identity, and business growth  The emotional realities of entrepreneurship and marketing Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    51 min

  7. May 7

    How Do You Build a Profitable Marketing Agency? | Lorraine Ball

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... In this episode of The Profitable Creative, Christian Brim sits down with marketing veteran Lorraine Ball to talk about the evolution of digital marketing, the realities of running an agency, and why most podcasts fail before episode five. Lorraine shares her journey from accounting and computer programming into marketing, building and selling a successful agency, and reinventing herself as a consultant and educator for other agencies. Along the way, she and Christian dive into pricing strategy, client retention, scaling challenges, and how podcasts actually fit into a modern marketing ecosystem. Whether you run an agency, create content, or are trying to grow a business sustainably, this conversation is packed with practical insights. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS... Why good marketing is rooted in numbers, not guesswork  Lorraine’s transition from corporate marketing to agency ownership  Early social media marketing lessons from the FBML era  Why podcasts should support your sales process—not replace it  The hidden downside of scaling too fast  How raising prices can be smarter than hiring more staff  The “squirrels, deer, moose, elephants & whales” framework for clients  Why client retention matters more than top-line revenue  The danger of letting one client dominate your business  How to identify your ideal customer  Why many businesses fail to define their real competition  The importance of saying “no” to bad-fit clients Join our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    49 min

  8. May 5

    Creators Gone CAB

    Send us Fan Mail PROFITABLE TALKS... On this episode of The Profitable Creative, host Christian Brim brings you inside a live, in-person client event recorded in Oklahoma City—featuring a panel of creatives and entrepreneurs including Dustin Pead, Daniel Noriega, Scott Halverson, Nick Turske, Kyle Thomas, and Randy Kemp.  Together, they share real, unfiltered insights on business, relationships, and the future of AI. From sales strategies to client retention, and from personal growth to mental health, this conversation dives deep into what actually drives success in today’s creative economy. One theme rises above the rest: the human factor. In a world increasingly shaped by automation and AI, this group explores why connection, intuition, and genuine relationships are becoming more valuable—not less. PROFITABLE TAKEAWAYS... Human connection is the ultimate differentiator  Curiosity and asking questions make you more engaging  AI lacks context, judgment, and intuition  Experience builds intuition that AI can’t replicate  Client retention comes from thoughtful, personal actions  Your presence and energy matter as much as your skills  Business growth is tied to personal growth  Community helps overcome isolation and imposter syndrome  The human experience is at the core of everythingJoin our community of creative entrepreneurs and get a free copy of our No-BS Guide To Making Your Creative Business Actually Profitable delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll share smart, simple tips to help you keep more of what you earn—no boring accountant talk, we promise.   https://bit.ly/4uCmlX2

    34 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Hey, Creative! Are you ready to discuss profits, the money, the ways to make it happen? The profitable creative podcast is for you, the creative, how you define it. Videographers, photographers, entrepreneurs, marketing agencies. You get it. CEO of Core Group and author Christian Brim interviews industry experts, creative entrepreneurs and professionals alike who strive to be creative and make money at the same time. Sound like you?Tune in now. It's time for profit.

Information

  • Creator
    Christian Brim, CPA/CMA
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    176
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Christian Brim
  • Show Website
    The Profitable Creative