Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy

Welcome to Earned, a podcast by CreatorIQ. In this series, we explore the transformative power of creator marketing by sitting down with the industry leaders who do it best. Tune in to learn the tried-and-true marketing philosophies and strategies behind today's top brands and agencies, best practices for building impactful communities online and off, and powerful career advice to inspire industry newbies and veterans alike. We hope you enjoy!

Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 220 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy, a business show with 220 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #201

  From Audience to Fandom: Sharon Mussalli on Building Media Brands People Love

  Aug 19, 202632 min

  In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ Chief Customer Officer Jennifer Cho sits down with Sharon Mussalli, CEO of NowThis, to explore what it takes to build a sustainable media business in an era shaped by social platforms, creators, and rapidly changing audience behaviors. Drawing on more than two decades of experience across media, entertainment, and technology, Sharon shares why enduring brands turn audience affinity into genuine fandom, how NowThis is building recurring shows and original IP designed to grow with their communities, and why great content and compelling personalities remain at the heart of media even as distribution evolves. Together, Jennifer and Sharon unpack the growing relationship between media, creators, and communities, offering a look at how social-first storytelling can turn content into franchises people truly love. In this episode, you'll learn: What traditional media companies can learn from creators—and what creators can learn from established media businesses. How to build content that stays relevant as consumer behavior and platforms continue to change. Why data, experimentation, and audience insights are essential for staying relevant as the future of media continues to evolve. Connect with the Guest: Sharon's LinkedIn - @sharonmussalli Connect with Jen Cho & CreatorIQ: Jen's LinkedIn - @jencho CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #200

  200 Episodes Later, Earned Enters Its Next Chapter

  Aug 5, 20261 min

  In this special 200th episode of Earned, CreatorIQ celebrates a major milestone with the official introduction of its four new hosts: Ashley Waxman, Vice President of Brand Marketing; Jennifer Cho, Chief Customer Officer; Joy Osinloye, Vice President of Customer Success, Americas; and Tim Sovay, Chief Partnerships Officer. Together, they share the unique perspectives they'll bring to the podcast—from brand strategy and creator partnerships to measurement, platform innovation, and scaling creator marketing inside global organizations. As Earned enters its next chapter, listeners can expect deeper conversations with the leaders, marketers, creators, and innovators shaping the future of the creator economy. #Earned #CreatorMarketing #CreatorEconomy Connect with the CreatorIQ Hosts: Ashley's Linkedin - @ashleywaxman Jen's LinkedIn - @jencho Joy's Linkedin - @joy-osinloye Tim's LinkedIn - @timsovay CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #198

  What Heritage Brands Can Learn From the Creator Economy, According to Gap Inc.'s Damon Berger

  Jun 24, 202629 min

  In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ Chief Partnerships Officer Tim Sovay sits down with Damon Berger, SVP of Shared Marketing Services at Gap Inc., to discuss the evolution of digital storytelling and the growing role creators play in shaping culture. With a career spanning Disney, What's Trending, Fullscreen, Mattel, and Gap Inc., Berger brings a unique perspective on how audiences, platforms, and brands have evolved over the past two decades. Tim and Damon explore why creators have become the conduit to culture, how iconic brands can stay relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape, and what marketers can learn from the rise of creator-led communities. They also discuss the importance of authenticity in creator partnerships, the future of long-form content, why YouTube remains one of the industry's biggest opportunities, and how brands can move beyond campaigns to build lasting cultural relevance. In this episode, you'll learn: Inside Gap's earned media strategy, they're working with creators to stay relevant inside internet culture instead of relying on traditional advertising What it looks like to scale an influencer program strategy from a few partnerships to tens of thousands of creators Where attention is shifting next, including YouTube, gaming communities, and other emerging digital spaces Connect with the Guest: Damon's LinkedIn - @damonberger Connect with Tim Sovay & CreatorIQ: Tim's LinkedIn - @timsovay CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #197

  Why Lived Experience Is Every Creator's Competitive Advantage With Fola Amudipe

  Jun 10, 202627 min

  In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ VP of Customer Success Joy Osinloye sits down with creator and storyteller Fola Amudipe to explore what it takes to build a meaningful community in today's creator economy. Known for her beauty, lifestyle, and travel content, Fola shares how she evolved from an educational creator into a storyteller focused on connection, purpose, and lived experience—and why that shift has transformed both her audience relationships and her career. Joy and Fola discuss the power of authenticity, the lessons learned from sharing her viral hair journey, and how creators can balance aspiration with accessibility. They also dive into brand partnerships, representation in the beauty industry, creator community, and why personal perspective matters more than ever in a world where information is increasingly available through AI, search, and social platforms. In this episode, you'll learn: How authentic storytelling can strengthen audience trust and create deeper community connections. Why sharing challenges and setbacks can sometimes have a greater impact than sharing successes. How to create aspirational content that still feels accessible, relatable, and valuable to your audience. Connect with the Guest: Fola's LinkedIn - @folaamudipe Connect with Joy Osinloye & CreatorIQ: Joy's LinkedIn - @joy-osinloye CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #196

  Chase Fitzgerald on the Evolution of Creator Relations, Measurement, and Modern PR

  May 27, 202627 min

  In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ VP of Brand Marketing Ashley Waxman sits down with Archetype SVP of Strategy Chase Fitzgerald to explore how creator relationships are reshaping earned media, PR, and modern communications strategy. Drawing on experience across agency leadership, creator strategy, and large-scale programs like CES, Chase shares why brands need to stop thinking transactionally about creators and start building long-term partnerships rooted in trust, collaboration, and shared value. Ashley and Chase unpack the evolution of independent journalism and creator-led media, why measurement needs to move beyond impressions and vanity metrics, and how agencies are adapting to a world where creators influence everything from storytelling to event strategy. They also dive into creator collaboration at CES, the growing importance of infrastructure inside PR agencies, and why the future of earned media will depend less on placements — and more on human relationships. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to treat creators to build meaningful partnerships and maximize impact • Strategies for measuring both quantitative and qualitative success in creator marketing • Best practices for integrating creators into events, campaigns, and PR initiatives for authentic audience engagement Connect with the Guest: Chase's LinkedIn - @chasefitzgerald Connect with Ashley Waxman & CreatorIQ: Ashley's LinkedIn - @ashleywaxman CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.