Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers.
Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com
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Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers.
Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com
Jo Franco: From YouTube Star to National Geographic TV Host
CREATOR: The Podcast
30 minutes
2 months ago
Jo Franco: From YouTube Star to National Geographic TV Host
Multilingual travel creator Jo Franco (@jo_franco) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to discuss being an immigrant kid who didn’t speak English to a global polyglot television host for Netflix and National Geographic. Host Ross Borden explores Jo's journey from her three-year grind of uploading consistently to YouTube while working night shifts, the moment she chose risk over a corporate salary, and her recent accomplishment of learning Dutch as her seventh language. Jo offers candid insights about the emotional toll of being a creator where "if a video fails, it's like I failed," plus her philosophy that confidence comes from putting yourself in moments of true discomfort. Whether you're a content creator looking to level up or someone fascinated by the courage required to reinvent yourself multiple times, this conversation delivers a valuable perspective on turning obstacles into opportunities and never settling for "young travel will never sell."
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 - Introduction to Jo Franco
01:30 - Getting Started: From Immigrant Kid to Content Creator
03:28 - The TV Pitch Rejection That Changed Everything
04:28 - Building Damon and Jo: Three Years of Grinding
06:11 - The Bathroom Meeting That Launched a Career
08:49 - Going Full-Time: The Leap of Faith Moment
10:30 - Building Confidence and Sales Skills as a Creator
13:13 - Language Learning: From Portuguese to Polyglot
16:06 - Tips for Learning Languages Fast
18:08 - YouTube Strategy: Playing the Long Game
20:32 - National Geographic's Big Little Italy
22:11 - Creators vs. Hollywood: The Industry Shift
24:59 - Balancing Traditional Production with Creator Content
28:12 - How the Nat Geo Opportunity Came Together
29:47 - Closing Thoughts
CREATOR: The Podcast
Join Matador Network CEO Ross Borden as he uncovers how top content creators turned their passions into thriving businesses. Each episode delves into creators' origin stories and biggest obstacles—from early setbacks to breakthrough moments—while revealing their strategies for growing audiences, monetizing content, and building brands while traveling the world. Perfect for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to launch their own creative careers.
Learn more at creatorthepodcast.com