UGC 101 - Build Your Content Creation Business

Nate Flake - UGC Creator & Coach
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The podcast about all things User Generated Content! Whether you are a seasoned UGC pro or just starting UGC for the first time, this podcast is for you! You will learn from the best in the business as the guests are all UGC pros. 

  1. 1D AGO

    Why UGC Is the Most Lucrative Side Hustle for Full Time Professionals Right Now | EP 40

    Have you ever wondered if you could do UGC while working at a full-time job you actually love? Host Nate Flake sits down with his good friend Daniel Taylor, a full-time professional who started doing UGC completely under the radar. No UGC social accounts. No public announcement. He intentionally kept it separate from his day job. Dan came into this space cold, went through Nate’s early training before it was fully polished, and quietly built a repeat client base on Fiverr while showing up to his day job every morning like nothing changed.  He is the guy Nate points to when people ask if you really have to put yourself out there to make this work. The answer is no. Chapters: 04:20 – Quiet UGC While Working Full Time 11:45 – Getting Past the On-Camera Cringe 15:30 – Corporate Skills That Transfer Shockingly Well 19:10 – Overdelivering Without Burning Out 22:40 – Raising Rates the Right Way 26:30 – When Success Becomes Overwhelming 33:50 – Choosing Efficiency Over Volume 37:40 – Tying UGC Income to Real Life Goals 45:30 – The Long-Term Play for Quiet UGC Creators Learn how Dan pushed through the awkward early videos, how his corporate communication skills turned out to be a secret weapon with brands, and how he went from taking every gig he could get to being selective about what was actually worth his time. Nate and Dan also dig into the money side of things. When to raise your rates with repeat clients, why jumping your prices too fast on Fiverr can actually hurt your momentum, and how Dan landed more income by doing less but charging more. These are the kinds of tactical details that make a real difference when you are figuring this out on your own. And if you have ever felt weird about doing UGC because it seems too out there, too cringe, or just not something a serious professional would do, Dan has something to say about that too. Press play and learn Dan’s take on why the embarrassment fades fast and what you are really trading when you decide not to try is one of the most honest moments in this episode.  Connect with Guest: https://dantaylorugc.my.canva.site/ Dan's Utah Creator Studio: https://www.instagram.com/the_highland_studio?igsh=b2llYWNuanpxNnhl Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    49 min

  2. FEB 4

    From "I Can't Do This" to Brands Begging to Work With You with Kessa from @ContentByKessa, UGC Creator & Coach | EP 39

    Ever dreamed about making money with content but kept telling yourself you're not the right type? Host Nate welcomes Kessa, a full-time UGC creator from Canada who started chasing her content dreams in her early teens. She didn't get here because of a big following or a perfect plan. She got here because she refused to quit, and her story is proof that you don't need either one to make this work. They break down the moves that actually work, not the fluff you see everywhere else. They talk about how to handle rejection without flinching, why staying open to every niche will make you more money, and how to get brands coming to you instead of chasing them down. Kessa also shares her exact approach to pricing and whitelisting that keeps everything simple and profitable. Chapters: 04:30 – Grinding on Gifted Collabs With No Pay 07:55 – Betting on UGC and Making the First $2K 11:20 – Why Canada Is an Underrated UGC Market 14:30 – Turning DMs Into a Coaching Business 17:10 – The Biggest Fears New Creators Have 19:55 – Why Faceless UGC Doesn’t Scale 22:30 – Filming in Public Without Caring 25:10 – Embarrassing Brand Deals Everyone Starts With 28:20 – Niches, Acne, and Why Flaws Sell 31:40 – Posting to Attract Brands Not Followers 35:10 – Whitelisting, Usage Rights, and Real Money 39:00 – Negotiation Mistakes That Cost Creators Thousands This one hits different if you've been on the fence about starting. Kessa doesn't hide the hard parts. She talks about the goofy early gigs, the fear of hitting record, and why the things that feel scary right now are way smaller than they actually look.  Listen and learn the one thing Kessa says about being on camera that's so simple you'll wonder why nobody told you sooner. It completely flips the script on how you think about showing up.   Her UGC guide: https://stan.store/contentbykessa/p/ugc-guide-65j1b TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contentbykessa?_t=8ZNqcZif522&_r=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contentbykessa?igsh=MWVyb281dGx0amRnYw== YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Contentbykessa Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    45 min

  3. JAN 28

    The UGC Strategy to Turn Every Brand Into Long-Term Clients with Comedian Alex Gettlin | EP 38

    What if your "side hustle survival skills" were actually the exact training you needed to crush it in UGC? Host Nate Flake sits down with Alex Gettlin, a standup comedian and podcaster who went from touring comedy clubs and hustling through DoorDash shifts to building a thriving UGC business.  Alex didn't come from the typical nine-to-five burnout story. He came from a world where every gig was uncertain, every paycheck was inconsistent, and learning to perform under pressure was just part of the deal. That background turned out to be his secret weapon. Chapters: 04:45 – Losing Everything Overnight to COVID 07:10 – The Podcast That Changed Everything 09:30 – Discovering UGC Was a Real Business 11:55 – Why Most Creators Quit Too Early 14:10 – Spending Money to Make Money 16:25 – The Power of Creator Meetups 19:05 – Trading Free UGC for Real Opportunities 21:40 – Why Talking Head Videos Win 24:55 – When UGC Goes Wrong Fast 29:10 – Turning Small Gigs Into Big Retainers 34:20 – Comedy Skills as a UGC Superpower 41:15 – How Consistency Creates Long-Term Income If you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you'r If you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you're wondering how to turn your creative skills into steady income without losing your authenticity, Nate and Alex break it all down.  Alex shares how he built his first portfolio, why he treats every client like a long-term relationship, and the mindset shifts that helped him go from $100 gigs to retainer deals that actually pay the bills.  Plus, he gets real about the importance of community, why over-delivering early creates momentum, and how thinking like an entertainer (not just a creator) can set you apart. By the end, you'll understand why your first gig matters way more than the paycheck, how to find opportunities hiding in plain sight, and what it actually takes to build a UGC business that works for you, not the other way around.  Press play and learn how Alex landed his first podcast deal, turning a $100 Ball Buddy ad into a major retainer, and why he tells his students there's no "one right way" to do this. Alex's Atlanta Studio: https://www.skewedorbitstudios.com/ Alex's podcast Highly Unlikely: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iMdab3eZjUQNV2zyIPZe0?si=rjNW8iX8RT2jrFegBrtAQQ Alex's Portfolio: http://www.alexgettlin.com/ Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    53 min

  4. JAN 21

    From $20 to $20K Per Month: Her Fiverr Strategy with Musician Turned Creator @TheUGCCreatorOlivia (Olivia Castriota) | EP 37

    What if the skills you already have are exactly what you need to build a UGC business, you just haven't connected the dots yet? Host Nate Flake sits down with Olivia Castriota to break down how she went from being new to UGC to consistently making $20,000 a month by leveraging skills she already had. She didn't start as a UGC creator. She was a musician writing songs for TV shows, stuck in an industry where getting paid took eight months or longer.  When she saw a TikTok about UGC, she realized her years of making music videos had already taught her everything she needed: how to be comfortable on camera, understand lighting, and tell a story visually.  Within two weeks, she bought a course, set up her Fiverr gigs, and started landing clients at $20 a video. Chapters: 00:04:45 - The Fiverr Switch That Skyrocketed Orders 00:05:32 - 100 Reviews in 2 Months   00:06:00 - The $20 to $125 Rate Jump Panic 00:06:31 - Ad Fees Changed Everything 00:09:19 - The “Pitch 10 Brands” Myth Gets Called Out 00:15:34 - Fiverr’s Biggest Problem: Zero Search, Too Much Chaos 00:18:18 - Scam Reality Check and Why New Sellers Get Targeted 00:24:38 - Camera Confidence 00:34:05 - Why X Became Her Best Lead Source 00:42:19 - Worst Gig vs Best Gig  She doesn't sugarcoat it. She talks about doing a hundred videos in two months to build reviews, raising her rates even when it felt terrifying, and why your first three months are basically paid training.  Olivia shares the production secrets most creators never think about like how matching your clothing to both the product and your skin tone can make or break a video, or why breaking a script into single-line takes with action beats makes everything easier.  Press play and learn how tiny shifts that separate okay content from work that brands want to pay for again and again. Course she took (Use code OLIVIA for $100 off):  https://freelancebigsis.com/ugcfiverracademy-1220?am_id=olivia2330 Olivia's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VdTraeHBTaJhW9OZPnrPm?si=yXo-BLoORYCqP5snb-qOxg Olivia's portfolio: https://oliviacastriota.my.canva.site/ Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    50 min

  5. JAN 14

    UGC Sidehustle: How Triplet Mom Makes Over $3,000 a Month Working Full-Time with “House of jen UGC” - Jen Cochnauer | EP 36

    Ever wonder if your whole family could actually make money creating content together or if that's just internet hype? Nate sits down with Jen Cochnauer. She started UGC in July. She'd never even heard the term before. Five months later, she's pulling in $2-4k extra each month while working full-time in corporate healthcare and she's doing it with her husband and four kids, including triplets.  You'll hear how she navigated Fiverr gigs, convinced her skeptical husband, got her kids comfortable on camera, and started landing inbound work from brands who can't resist the triplet factor. Chapters: 04:02 - Family to a Fiverr   06:01 - Ditching the Teleprompter   08:30 - Landing the First Family Job with the Triplets 11:18 - Raising Rates  19:30 - How X Replies Turn Into Email Inbounds 20:50 - Working Full-Time While UGC Explodes 22:00 - When to Pause Outreach and Start Saying No 31:03 - The VA Problem: Follow-Ups Are Where Money Gets Lost 33:30 - The Dream Gig vs The Nightmare Client 41:30 - The 2026 UGC Family Expansion Plan Jen's approach is refreshingly honest, she prints scripts, overshoots B-roll, and still struggles with follow-up. She's figuring it out in real time, just like you. If you've ever hesitated to involve your partner or kids in UGC because it feels complicated, this episode breaks down the practicalities: how much to pay your kids, how to price family work, and why raw footage jobs beat full edits when you're juggling a day job.  You'll also get the uncomfortable truth about pricing, if brands aren't pushing back on your rates, you're leaving money on the table. Jen's story proves you don't need to be a content pro or quit your job to make this work. You just need to start, lean into what makes your family unique, and charge what you're actually worth.  Press play and learn exactly how to turn family time into paid work without sacrificing your sanity. Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/houseofjenugc/ Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    48 min

  6. JAN 7

    Zero Followers, Zero Experience - How I Built a Six Figure UGC Business Starting on Fiverr | EP 35

    Ever sat at your desk wondering if there's more to life than climbing the corporate ladder?  Host Nate Flake gets it. He spent 11 years in tech, earned an MBA, and worked his way up to positions at companies like Intuit - only to realize the golden handcuffs weren't worth it. Nate pulls back the curtain on his entire UGC journey. From that awkward first video to crossing $140,000 on Fiverr alone, he walks you through the messy middle that most coaches skip over.  Chapters: 04:55 – Feeling Invisible in Big Tech 06:28 – Side Projects as Survival 08:35 – The Corporate Breaking Point 09:43 – The Bed That Changed Everything 11:30 – First Steps Into UGC 13:23 – Landing the First Brand Deal 15:12 – Getting Comfortable on Camera 17:21 – Why Fiverr Was the Entry Point 20:30 – Raising Rates and Scaling Fast 24:28 – Why Followers Don’t Matter 31:30 – Buying Back Time With a Course 34:56 – Choosing Freedom Over Stability He talks about the moment his friend Tammy convinced him to try UGC, the nine days of radio silence before his first client, and how he juggled a demanding corporate job while building a side hustle that eventually replaced his income. If you're stuck in a job that pays well but drains your soul, this episode gives you a practical roadmap. Nate breaks down how he validated UGC could work before quitting, why he started on Fiverr instead of pitching brands, and how he manages being a present dad while running a full-time creator business.  He also challenges the myth that you need to match your corporate salary dollar-for-dollar - because freedom, flexibility, and unlimited PTO have real value too. The biggest shift happens when Nate explains what finally pushed him to quit. It wasn't just about money. It was about looking around at other UGC creators and realizing they had something he didn't: time with their families, control over their schedules, and genuine happiness.  Press play if you've been waiting for a sign to start UGC or take it seriously, this is it.  Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    57 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    How Stay-at-Home Parent with No Experience Built a Highly Successful UGC Business with Salha Aziz, UGC Creator & Coach | EP 34

    Can you really build a UGC business from your couch while your kids are screaming in the next room? Nate sits down with Salha to talk about what it's really like to balance chaos, creativity, and client work.  She's been creating UGC content since 2022, back when most people thought it was a scam, and she did it all as a stay-at-home mom with young kids running around. No fancy equipment. No quiet house. Just her phone, a window for light, and the willingness to figure it out one messy video at a time. Chapters: 00:07:00 - When UGC Was Barely a Hashtag 00:10:00 - The Honest Video That Changed Everything 00:14:30 - Prep With Chaos, Film In Silence 00:18:00 - The Backwards Workflow That Works 00:25:00 - Avoiding Burnout With Real Numbers 00:29:00 - The One-Breath Voiceover Mistake 00:34:10 - UGC Is Mostly Admin 00:38:30 - Best and Worst Brand Experiences 00:42:00 - Finding Your Real Rhythm 00:46:00 - Why Community Changes Everything Salha shares how she built a portfolio without a tripod, landed her first deals while documenting the whole thing on TikTok, and eventually charged over $1,000 per video, all while keeping her sanity intact.  If you're a parent who thinks you don't have time, space, or energy to start UGC, this episode breaks down how to work within your constraints instead of fighting them.  Salha talks about setting boundaries, avoiding overwhelm, and building a business that fits your life, not the other way around. She didn't do it the "right" way. She did it her way. And it worked. Listen and learn how Salha realized she could stop chasing low paid gigs and start focusing on premium brands.   Join Salha’s Skool Community: HERE   Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    51 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    First Month UGC: From Zero to $300 Deals in 7 Days with Jake Winters, Millennial Dad UGC Creator | EP 33

    What if you could go from losing your job to replacing your income with UGC in under 30 days?  Nate sits down with Jake Winters, a creator who went from zero UGC experience to booking consistent gigs in his first month. Jake lost his real estate job in January, binged Nate's course in 24 hours, made a scrappy 4-video portfolio in one day, and landed his first $300 deal within a week.  No prior video experience. No following. Just action. What makes Jake's story even better? He's a master negotiator who's not afraid to play hardball with brands even as a total beginner. Chapters: 04:30 - The First Real Doubt About UGC 06:10 - Losing a Job and Needing Cash Fast 07:29 - Why Being New Was an Advantage 08:16 - Building a Portfolio in One Afternoon 09:50 - Making Money With an “Ugly” Portfolio 12:25 - The Real Reason Creators Get Stuck 17:14 - Why UGC Is a Pure Numbers Game 19:37 - How Jake Learned to Negotiate Hard 23:12 - Discovering Creators Charging $1,000+ 31:00 - When to Walk Away From Low Budgets 40:03 - How TikTok Live Changed Everything If you've ever felt stuck because your portfolio isn't perfect, or you're too nervous to charge what you're worth, Jake’s story will shift how you think. Jake breaks down how he built confidence on camera fast, why TikTok Live became a secret weapon for landing deals, and how he consistently negotiates rates 2-3x higher than what brands initially offer.  Nate picks Jake's brain on how to walk away from low-ball offers, fake it till you make it, and treat UGC like a real business from day one. By the end, you'll understand that success in UGC doesn’t require perfection, but being bold, consistent, and willing to stand up for yourself. Jake proves that if you're willing to take messy action and negotiate like you mean it, you can turn UGC into real income faster than you think. Listen and learn how to make it work no matter where you're starting from. Connect with guest: Jake Winters Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with Nate Instagram: @nateflakecreates YouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on Youtube Contact / Collabs For guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries. https://ugcbynate.com/

    54 min
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The podcast about all things User Generated Content! Whether you are a seasoned UGC pro or just starting UGC for the first time, this podcast is for you! You will learn from the best in the business as the guests are all UGC pros. 

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