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Videos

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YouTube's Secret War on Ad Blockers is Destroying Creator Analytics

YouTube creators were in panic mode over mysterious view drops, but the real story isn't what you think. This week we expose the truth behind the YouTube drama that had major channels like Linus Tech Tips and Markiplier reporting massive analytics drops, plus reveal the game-changing platform updates you need to know about.
What You'll Discover: The restricted mode myth that spread like wildfire across YouTube turned out to be completely wrong. We break down the actual cause behind the view count chaos, analyze real data from affected creators, and explain how YouTube's ongoing battle with ad blockers created the perfect storm of confusion.
Major YouTube Updates Covered: YouTube just dropped significant live streaming improvements including dual format streaming capabilities, AI-powered highlight generation, new monetization options with side-by-side ads, and seamless member-only stream transitions. We dive deep into what these changes mean for content creators and how you can leverage them.
Alternative Platforms Discussion: Feeling overwhelmed by YouTube's constant changes? We explore viable alternatives including PeerTube, Makerspace, and TilVids for creators seeking different platforms and audiences.
Key Topics: YouTube algorithm changes, creator analytics, ad blocker issues, live streaming updates, AI content tools, platform alternatives, creator monetization, YouTube drama 2025 Whether you're a seasoned YouTuber or exploring content creation, this episode separates fact from fiction in the ever-evolving creator economy landscape.

JoshB

Platform Responsibility in the Digital Age

This episode of the Independent Creator Podcast examines the troubling rise of exploitation-based content on live streaming platforms, sparked by the recent death of French streamer Jean Pormanove during a live broadcast on Kick. Host Josh explores what he calls the "digital colosseum economy," where audiences pay to watch creators suffer for entertainment.
The discussion centers on the growing phenomenon of IRL (In Real Life) shock content, where streamers endure physical and psychological abuse in exchange for donations, bits, and subscriptions. Josh draws parallels between modern streaming and historical entertainment forms, comparing today's platforms to Roman coliseums where audiences paid to watch gladiators fight to the death.
Key topics covered include the transformation of Kick platform from its "Wild West" reputation to attempted cleanup efforts, high-profile cases like Johnny Somali's international incidents leading to imprisonment, and the paintball gun attack on an innocent bystander during a livestream. The episode examines how creators view the general public as "NPCs" in their content rather than real people with feelings and consequences.
The mental health crisis among streamers receives significant attention, with Josh discussing how chat communities push creators toward increasingly extreme behavior for financial gain. He explores the psychological pressure that leads to "crashing out" incidents where streamers destroy their careers and personal lives.
A major focus involves the French government's response to Pormanove's death, including opening investigations into Kick platform and threatening court action. The platform has pushed back, claiming authorities are "politicizing" the tragedy rather than addressing genuine safety concerns.
Josh analyzes the complex position of streaming platforms, caught between safe harbor protections and growing pressure for content moderation. He discusses how platforms can only react to reported content rather than proactively monitoring all streams, using examples of mass shooting incidents broadcast on Facebook and Twitch.
The episode concludes with a call for creators engaged in shock content to reflect on the long-term consequences of their actions, both for their own wellbeing and the safety of others. Josh emphasizes that while the money and attention may seem worthwhile in the moment, the physical and psychological toll often becomes apparent only after irreversible damage has occurred.
Throughout the discussion, Josh maintains that IRL streaming itself is not inherently problematic, but rather a small minority of creators are giving the entire category a negative reputation through increasingly dangerous and exploitative content practices.
JoshB

The Elitism Problem Killing Open Source Communities

Hey everyone! Wanted to share something that's been bugging me about our open source communities lately. The Problem: You know that moment when someone escapes big tech, tries Linux or other FOSS alternatives, asks a simple question in forums, and gets hit with "RTFM" or "let me Google that for you"? That's the elitism I'm talking about. My Wake-Up Call: Recently tried Fedora 42, had some gaming issues (Secret World Legends was a slideshow, Marvel Rivals wouldn't work), so I posted "Linux gaming is almost there." Got called a "Microsoft shill" by some troll who apparently patrols social media telling people with Linux problems to "go back to Windows." Here's someone claiming to love Linux while actively pushing newcomers away. Make it make sense. The Real Impact: This vocal minority is gatekeeping who they think "deserves" to use Linux/FOSS. But here's the thing: open source is for EVERYONE. If we want more passionate contributors making these projects better, we need to stop the elitist attitude. What Good Communities Do: The best helpers are like gardening mentors: "Here are seeds and tools. You'll make mistakes, that's fine. We've got your back, but we won't plant your garden for you." Gaming Reality Check: Yes, some games don't work on Linux (thanks kernel-level anti-cheat), but that's publisher decisions, not Linux failures. Steam Deck and Proton have made huge progress, but we can't play Fortnite or Valorant. That's just reality. Moving Forward: We need to understand average users better. Stop the "everyone knows that" mentality. Put yourself in newcomers' shoes. Your perfect install experience isn't everyone's experience. Bottom Line: The door to open source should actually be welcoming, not just technically open. We're betraying FOSS principles when we create barriers through elitism. What's your experience? Encountered gatekeepers or found welcoming communities? Let's discuss how we make open source truly open for everyone.
JoshB

Gen Z is Still Crushing the Podcast Game (And Spotify is Dominating)

Hey creators! Just dropped some thoughts on podcast stats and honestly, the numbers are wild. The Big Takeaway: 55.9% of Gen Z listens to podcasts via Spotify. That's MASSIVE when everyone keeps saying podcasts are dying because of TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Spoiler alert: they're not. Platform Breakdown: • Spotify: 55.9% (Gen Z powerhouse) • YouTube: 20.6% (climbing fast) • Apple Podcasts: Under 10% • Everything else: Small slices What's interesting: The 12-34 age group is glued to Spotify, while 35-54 splits between Spotify and YouTube Music. Makes you wonder what'll happen when Gen Z ages out of that bracket. The Spotify Dilemma: Yeah, they're kind of gentrifying podcasting with all these exclusives (Joe Rogan, Call Her Daddy, etc.). You can't get these shows anywhere else, which is both genius business and kinda frustrating for creators who want broader distribution. Video Podcasting Rise: More people are watching podcasts on TV now. Wild, right? YouTube's pushing hard into this space, and honestly, having video gives you access to 5 billion potential eyeballs. Hot Take: You don't NEED video to succeed, but it helps. Good audio is still king. Most people listen passively anyway (driving, doing chores, background noise). Bottom Line: Whether you're Team Audio or Team Video, just get your content out there. Gen Z is hungry for quality content across all these platforms. Any Gen Z folks here? Drop your podcast listening habits below! What platform do you use most? Are you team passive listening or active watching?
JoshB

Stop Renting Your Digital Space - Own Your Content Home Instead

Hey creators! Quick reality check: what happens when the algorithm changes overnight and your content just disappears? Most of us post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter thinking our content lives there forever. Wrong. You're posting to rented space that you have ZERO control over. It's at the whims of corporations that don't care about you or your content. The Apartment Problem Take Substack for example. Your URL is substack.com/yourname, not yourname.com. When people think of your content, they think "oh that blog on Substack" not "that person's website." You're living in an apartment, not your own house. And just like apartments, you can get evicted when management decides to change things up. Why This Matters Remember when people had AOL email addresses? Now when you see someone with an @aol.com email on their business card, what do you think? Same thing applies to your content. If you're serious about building a brand, people associating you with a platform instead of YOUR domain is a problem. The Professional Factor I recently saw someone from a multimillion dollar firm using a @gmail.com email professionally. That screams unprofessional in corporate settings. Your email should be yourname@yourdomain.com, not yourname@gmail.com. The Solution
Buy your domain,
Create your website,
Post content there FIRST,
Share links to YOUR site on social platforms,
Yes, platforms like Substack give you distribution and it's "free." But you're trading ownership for convenience. If you're just starting out and don't know technical stuff, platforms are fine temporarily. But if you want to build a real brand, you need your own digital real estate. Video Exception Video hosting is crazy expensive, so YouTube/PeerTube makes sense for that content type. Bottom Line Your digital space is all you really have as a creator. Take care of it. Own it. Build on a foundation YOU control instead of being at the mercy of platform changes and corporate decisions. What's your take? Are you team "own your space" or team "platforms are fine"?
JoshB

Getting My Digital Life Together: Organization Overhaul for Content Creators

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my recent journey completely rebuilding my content creation workflow and file organization. Maybe this will help some of you who are struggling with the same mess I was in. The Breaking Point I spent years with a chaotic system of hard drives, random folder structures, and broken links everywhere. I finally hit the wall and decided to burn it all down and start fresh (well, moved everything to archives, but you get the idea). What I Tried: The PARA Method Started looking into Tiago Forte's PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives). Great concept, but I got lost in the weeds overthinking it. Do videos go in Projects if they have end dates? What about ongoing series? If I move completed projects to Archives, all my task links break. My Solution Kept the PARA structure but made it work for content creation: • Projects: Everything stays here, no moving to archives • Naming Convention: Prefix + Year/Month/Date + Title
F2H = First Two Hours series
ICH = Independent Creator Hub,
etc.,
,
Project Folder Template Each project gets these subfolders:
A-Roll (talking head footage),
B-Roll (gameplay/supplementary),
Audio Assets,
Image Assets (promos, banners),
Thumbnail Assets (screenshots, elements),
Video Assets (raw files),
Thumbnail Final,
Final Render,
Documents (transcripts, subtitles),
Task Management Integration Using Notion to track everything. Each task has a direct link to its project folder on my NAS. No more hunting through folders or broken links when projects move around. Future-Proofing Spent hours renaming all my assets with consistent naming:
"icon-Discord-Blurple" instead of random filenames,
"logo-TwoTonWaffle-v02" with version numbers,
Easy searching: just type "logo" and get everything,
Smart Organization Using macOS smart folders and planning to try Hazel or Raycast for even better searching. Instead of clicking through folder hierarchies, just search by prefix or date. The Reality Check I've been creating content for 10+ years and I spend more time tweaking organization systems than actually creating. Had to stop the perfectionism and just pick something that works. You're not alone if your digital life is a mess. I probably had one of the worst systems out there, but this rebuild is actually working. What organization systems do you use? Any tools or workflows that have been game-changers for you?
JoshB

Looking for Twitch/YouTube Alternatives? Here Are 5 Live Streaming Platforms Worth Checking Out

Hey everyone! With all the recent changes on Twitch and YouTube, I thought it'd be helpful to share some alternative live streaming platforms that might work better for your content creation journey. The Big Names Have Issues Twitch's new "monetization for all" sounds great, but let's be real - most streamers don't have the viewer numbers to make it profitable. Plus, discoverability on Twitch is practically nonexistent. YouTube Live has a better video player, but it's still not ideal for many creators. My Top Picks:
Owncast (Free & Open Source),
This is my personal favorite. You install it on your own server and have complete control. People have run it successfully on Raspberry Pis! It's free, connects to the Fediverse, and gives you total ownership of your streaming experience.
Beam ($4/month or sponsored),
Great multi-streaming capabilities - you can stream to 30+ platforms simultaneously. Think of it as a free alternative to Restream. I use it myself with Logitech G sponsorship. The studio interface is clean and streamlined.
Moonbeam (Coming Soon),
Currently in alpha, but they're building something interesting - Discord + live streaming done right. Should be public sometime this year.
PeerTube (Free),
Good for video hosting, but live streaming can be temperamental depending on server hardware. Still worth considering if you want Fediverse integration.
SharePlay,
Honestly, this one's struggling. Tiny community, not much development lately. Only mention it for completeness. Why This Matters Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Remember what happened with Mixer and Glimish? Having backup platforms isn't paranoia - it's smart planning. I'd rank them: Owncast > Beam > PeerTube > SharePlay Anyone else tried these platforms? What's been your experience? Always curious to hear other creators' thoughts on alternatives to the big platforms. Would love to discuss pros/cons of each if anyone's interested!
JoshB

Being Patient with Fediverse Migration

Hey everyone! Wanted to share some thoughts on bringing people over to Mastodon, PeerTube, and other Fediverse platforms without burning bridges. The Reality Check Remember when Elon took over Twitter and we saw that massive influx to Mastodon? Servers crashed, people got frustrated asking "Why do I need to pick a server?" Most folks were so used to centralized platforms that the Fediverse felt alien, even though they'd been using similar federated systems (like email) for years. Start Small, Start Smart Don't try converting everyone at once. Begin with your tech-savvy family members first. They can help bridge the gap with less technical relatives later. Create simple one-page guides with screenshots, and recommend specific instances based on interests (sci-fi server for sci-fi fans, etc.). Make the Transition Smooth
Help them set up accounts personally,
Show them how to find friends already on the platform,
Teach basics gradually (boosting vs starring),
Let them cross-post during transition,
Use tools like Buffer or MoaParty for syncing,
For Content Creators If you're streaming, don't abandon Twitch overnight. Multi-stream to platforms like Owncast, YouTube, and Beam. Your audience won't all migrate immediately, and that's okay. Offer exclusive content on alternative platforms as incentives. Avoid the Toxicity Trap Stop attacking people still on X/Meta/etc. That tribal "we're better than them" mentality pushes potential migrants away. Be positive advocates instead. Show don't tell why the Fediverse offers better long-term mental health and community. Remember: It's a Marathon There's no race to beat mainstream platforms by 2025. Focus on quality over quantity. Take 1-2 people under your wing and show them what's possible rather than trying to convert everyone. The goal isn't to shame people off corporate platforms but to demonstrate viable alternatives. Some will stay on Twitch/Twitter forever, and that's their choice. Our job is patient advocacy, not forced conversion. What's been your experience migrating friends/family? Any tips that worked particularly well?
JoshB

The AI Deluge: What It Means for Independent Creators

Hey everyone! Wanted to start a discussion about something that's been on my mind lately. AI is absolutely everywhere now, and it's wild how we went from almost nothing to this complete monsoon of AI in just a couple years. The Good, Bad, and Ugly We've seen some major fails recently. Remember that Coca-Cola holiday ad? Instead of paying actual artists, videographers, and designers, they went the cheap AI route. The result was terrible - six-fingered people, mangled logos, misspelled words. People were rightfully furious. Same thing happened with Disney's Secret Invasion opening. Like, you're Disney. You can afford real artists! The Arms Race Artists are fighting back with "poison pills" to mess with AI scrapers, but AI is getting smart enough to detect and bypass them. It's becoming this endless back-and-forth that's eating up more time than actual creating. Shoutout to platforms like Cara that are standing up for human artists and actually blocking AI-generated content. Finding Balance Here's where I might get some hate, but I'll be honest about my AI use. I write my articles first, then use AI to clean up grammar and structure before going back to edit and make sure it's still "me." For transcripts and subtitles, AI saves me hours of work I literally don't have. I still create all my thumbnails and content myself. The key is using AI as a tool to enhance human work, not replace it. The DeepSeek Disruption That Chinese company just proved you can do what ChatGPT does for way less money. Watching the stock market crash and recover in days was wild. Really showed how inflated this whole AI bubble might be. Bottom Line AI isn't going anywhere. The genie's out of the bottle. Instead of treating it like a boogeyman, we need to figure out how to work with it while protecting human creativity. What are your thoughts? Are you using AI in your creative process? Completely against it? Let's discuss!
JoshB

LiveSpace Shutdown: What This Means for Content Creators

Hey everyone, wanted to share some thoughts on the LiveSpace shutdown that just happened. This one hit different. What Actually Happened LiveSpace basically flipped a switch overnight. One day we got a notification saying they're shutting down, and boom - no more streaming. The writing was on the wall though. The past few weeks had been radio silent from their team, which was weird since they were usually super communicative. Why They Really Shut Down From what I'm hearing in their Discord, it came down to funding. VCs were willing to invest BUT only if LiveSpace added AI integrations. The team said no (honestly, good for them), so the VCs walked. That was it. The Bigger Problem This is becoming a pattern. Mixer, Glimmish, now LiveSpace. We're getting hardened to these shutdowns as creators, and it's making us less willing to try new platforms. Why invest time building a community somewhere that might vanish in 30 days? This creates a brutal cycle: new platforms struggle to get creators because we've been burned so many times. Even platforms doing everything right face massive trust issues. What Made LiveSpace Special They actually nailed the social + streaming combo. The focus on creatives (art, music, crafting) was refreshing. It wasn't just another gaming platform. Plus the community features felt natural, not tacked on. Where Do We Go From Here? Honestly? Diversification is key. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Whether that's multi-streaming, building email lists, or maintaining presence on multiple platforms - spread that risk. Some solid alternatives to check out:
SharePlay (multi-streaming focus),
Owncast (more control over your setup),
PeerTube (decentralized, has live streaming),
Or stick with the big players - nothing wrong with that,
Final Thoughts The streaming landscape keeps evolving. Platforms will come and go. Our job is staying informed about options while building communities that can weather these changes. What platforms are you all using now? Anyone else feeling platform fatigue? This is adapted from my latest podcast episode diving deeper into this topic
JoshB

What Do YOU Want From Streaming Platforms? Let's Talk About It

Hey everyone! Just finished recording another episode of the Independent Creator Podcast and wanted to bring this discussion here too. We spend so much time talking about what platforms can do for us, but here's the thing: most platforms don't actually care about us. We're just the product being sold to advertisers. It's a one-way street where we give everything and get almost nothing back except content to consume. The Algorithm Problem Places like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook force-feed us content they think we want based on our data. You can't tell them "I want THIS, not THAT" and actually get what you asked for. Meanwhile, you're constantly bombarded with ads that interrupt the experience. Decentralized Platforms Are Different This is why I'm so excited about places like Mastodon, PeerTube, and PixelFed. No algorithms! YOU are the algorithm. You tell these platforms exactly what you want to see by choosing who to follow and what hashtags to track. It's actually a two-way street. The Twitch Ad Nightmare Don't get me started on Twitch ads during live streams. Nothing ruins the flow like being mid-conversation with a streamer, asking a question, then getting hit with 3 minutes of ads and missing their answer. YouTube at least lets creators control when ads run. What I Want to Know As creators and viewers, what do YOU actually want from platforms? Better discovery? Less intrusive ads? More creator control? Different monetization options? I've been experimenting with alternatives like Owncast (completely ad-free) and multi-streaming to give people options. The majority of us creators are doing this for free anyway, often losing money on production costs. The Real Question Should we keep accepting the status quo, or is it time to seriously explore platforms that actually serve creators and communities instead of just advertisers? What features would your ideal platform have? Drop your thoughts below! PS: If you want to check out more of these discussions, we've got a newsletter and community at indiecreator.community
JoshB

AI for Content Creators: Stop Fearing the Future and Start Using the Tools

Hey creators! Just wanted to share some thoughts on AI since everyone's either terrified of it or completely dismissing it. Here's the reality: AI isn't going to steal your job, but it can absolutely save you hours of boring work. Video Editing Game Changers:
Descript lets you edit video like a Word doc. Upload your content, it removes ums and silence automatically. Yes, the AI voice cloning is creepy, but the time savings are real.,
CapCut and upcoming tools like River.com pull highlight clips from streams automatically,
Even DaVinci Resolve and Premiere have text-based editing now,
Podcast Production Made Simple: Tools like Podium and Cast Magic will:
Generate transcripts in 10-15 minutes,
Create show notes in multiple styles,
Add chapter markers automatically,
Pull keywords for YouTube,
Yeah, they cost $20-50/month, but consider this: manually transcribing and creating show notes for one hour-long episode takes 3-4 hours. AI does it in 30 minutes while you work on other stuff. Browser-Based Solutions: Riverside FM is perfect if you don't have powerful hardware. $30/month gets you:
15 hours of recording with AI transcription,
Automatic silence removal,
Clip generation for social media,
Works with just a laptop camera and $30 USB mic,
Writing Assistant: Magic AI handles title ideas, descriptions, and content generation with built-in personas (YouTube creator, copywriter, etc.). Way better than manually prompting ChatGPT every time. Real Talk: Stop thinking you need $2,500 cameras and $400 mics to start. You need consistency and good content. AI handles the tedious editing while you focus on creating. Will AI get better? Absolutely. Should you be scared? No. Should you mark AI-generated content per YouTube's new rules? Yes. I use AI for transcripts, keywords, and show notes constantly. It makes mistakes, so you still need to edit, but it cuts production time in half. The bottom line: AI is a tool, like a hammer or saw. You can hurt yourself if you use it wrong, but when used correctly, it makes the job way easier. Anyone else using AI in their workflow? What tools are working for you? From the Independent Creator Podcast - check out indiecreator.community for more content creation tips!
JoshB

Guilded vs Discord: Why This Free Alternative Might Surprise You

Hey everyone! I've been exploring alternatives to Discord and wanted to share my experience with Guilded. Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. What Makes Guilded Different Guilded is essentially Discord's feature-rich cousin. Same concept (servers, channels, voice chat) but with some major differences that caught my attention. The biggest shock? Everything is FREE. No nitro equivalent, no server boosts needed, no member requirements. You get:
Custom server banners and avatars immediately,
Unlimited emotes (static and animated),
10 different channel types including forums, calendars, documents, and media channels,
Built-in bots for Twitch/YouTube notifications, welcome messages, and XP systems,
The "Groups" Feature Instead of endless category scrolling, Guilded uses "Groups" to organize content. Think of it like having mini-servers within your main server. Way cleaner organization. Built-in Functionality This is where Guilded shines. Remember paying for bots to get going-live notifications? Guilded has flows (basically IFTTT) built right in. Setting up Twitch notifications takes 2 minutes with zero coding. The Reality Check Discord still wins on adoption. Getting people to try something new is tough, especially when they hear "Roblox owns it" and immediately dismiss it. The bot ecosystem is also much smaller, so if you rely heavily on specific Discord bots, you might struggle. My Take If you're starting fresh, definitely try Guilded. Existing communities will be harder to move since people resist change. But the feature set for $0 vs Discord's $10/month nitro is pretty compelling. The platform isn't perfect, but neither is Discord. Competition is good for everyone, and Guilded offers legitimate advantages that are worth exploring. Anyone else tried it? What was your experience? TLDR: Guilded = Discord features without the paywall. Worth trying for new communities, harder sell for established ones.
JoshB

FourthWall: The Ultimate Monetization Platform for Content Creators

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my thoughts on FourthWall after diving deep into this platform. With Twitch raising sub prices globally (and likely coming to the US soon), it's time to consider third-party monetization alternatives. What makes FourthWall special? Unlike Ko-fi or Patreon where your data stays locked in their ecosystem, FourthWall gives you actual ownership. You get:
Custom domains (mine is shop.twotonwaffle.com),
9 customizable themes with hundreds of combinations,
Full website builder if you don't want to use their themes,
The pricing is creator-friendly:
FREE to use, no monthly fees,
0% on physical products,
3% on digital products,
5% on memberships (you keep 95%),
What you can sell:
Print-on-demand merch (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers),
Custom handcrafted items,
Digital products (MP3s, PDFs, overlays),
Plushies and specialty items (300+ minimum orders),
Membership tiers are game-changing: Set up custom subscription tiers with perks like:
Discord role automation,
Members-only discounts (20% off merch),
Exclusive products,
Private RSS feeds,
Behind-the-scenes content,
Platform integrations:
YouTube product shelf,
TikTok shop,
Twitch gifting,
Stream alerts (StreamLabs/StreamElements),
Instagram checkout,
Giveaways and gifting: Your viewers can gift merch to each other directly through your shop. Perfect for community building and engagement. Analytics included: Track profit margins, churn rate, average order value, sales by country, and top-performing tiers. The product designer is super easy to use, and they handle all shipping, taxes, and customer service. You literally just upload designs and collect profits. I've been using it and love how it integrates everything into one platform. Way better than juggling multiple services. Anyone else tried FourthWall? Would love to hear your experiences!
JoshB

The Hard Reality of Building Creator Communities - Lessons Learned

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share some honest thoughts about the struggles we all face trying to build communities around our projects. The Self-Promotion Struggle Anyone else terrible at promoting their own work? I'm really bad at going "Hey, come check out my stuff!" It's just not in my personality. The problem is we end up spread super thin trying to be jack-of-all-trades instead of focusing on what we do best. Generic Advice Doesn't Work for Everyone You've probably heard the "just post on TikTok daily and you'll blow up" advice. Reality check: this works for some people, but not everyone will see the same results. TikTok especially feels like a hellscape where amazing content gets 6 views while lazy copies get millions. Set Your Expectations Low Here's the tough truth: expect your content to fall flat most of the time. Set the bar low so when something does well, it's a pleasant surprise instead of constant disappointment. You WILL have dips and valleys in your numbers, and that doesn't make you a failure. Give Things Time Stop giving up after 2 weeks! If you're trying a new platform or content style, give it at least 3-6 months. Six streams isn't enough data to decide if something works. I've seen creators try YouTube streaming 3 times then say "it's not for me" without really understanding how different it is from Twitch. Avoid the "Grinding" Trap Don't get stuck on the wheel of pain, doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. If you're streaming to zero viewers for months, something needs to change. Constantly experiment and try new approaches. The One Person Rule If you help just ONE person, you're succeeding. That person might help two others, who help four more, and it snowballs. I helped someone find LiveSpace as an alternative to Twitch, and seeing them thrive there makes all the struggle worth it. Stop Comparing Yourself Quit comparing your community to more successful ones. You'll just give yourself anxiety and self-doubt. Focus on your own growth and the people you ARE helping. What struggles are you facing with community building? Let's support each other through this journey!
JoshB

Why Your Community Deserves Better Than Discord (Sorry, Discord!)

Hey everyone! 👋" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":wave:" alt="👋" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/82c4e269c8f910a4.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> I know we're literally ON Discord right now, but hear me out. As someone who's been in the community building space for years, I've got some thoughts about why forums might be the missing piece in your creator toolkit. The Discord Dilemma Don't get me wrong, Discord is amazing for real-time chat and hanging out. But here's the thing: all those brilliant conversations, tutorials, and community wisdom? It's trapped in a black hole. Try finding that awesome guide someone posted 3 months ago. Good luck with that search function! Forums: The Unsung Heroes Forums are like the libraries of the internet. Everything is organized, searchable, and actually discoverable by people outside your server. When someone Googles your niche topic, they can find your community's knowledge. Free Options That Actually Rock:
Discourse: Modern, clean interface that puts conversations front and center. Big companies like Unreal Engine use it.,
Simple Machines Forum: Been around forever, super reliable, tons of themes,
MyBB: Easy to work with, great plugin community,
PHPBB: The classic choice, available on most hosting plans,
Paid Options for Serious Communities:
Xenforo: Professional grade, great for larger communities,
Invision Community: What I use for my own site, has blogs, galleries, everything,
WoltLab: Solid European option with good pricing,
My Hot Take: Start free with Discourse if you want modern, or SMF if you like classic forums. Build your community, then upgrade if needed. The software matters way less than the value you provide. Your community's knowledge deserves to live forever on the open web, not disappear into chat history. Forums aren't "boomer tech," they're community archives. What do you think? Anyone else feeling the forum renaissance? 🤔" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":thinking:" alt="🤔" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/d5d18f9c17a19de2.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> P.S. Yes, I see the irony of posting this in Discord. Sometimes you gotta meet people where they are! 😅" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":sweat_smile:" alt="😅" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/5134d215343b97ef.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;">
JoshB

New Live Streaming Platforms: SharePlay & LiveSpace Beta Review

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my thoughts on two promising new streaming platforms that are shaking up the Twitch/YouTube duopoly. SharePlay (shareplay.tv)
Just entered beta about a month ago,
Really clean interface with game graphics as backgrounds for channel sections,
Solid analytics dashboard right from the start (followers, watch time, revenue tracking),
Uses Stripe for payments,
Small dev team but very responsive on Discord,
Some stability issues (especially with non-OBS software like Ecamm),
Beta invites go out every couple weeks via their Discord,
LiveSpace (live.space)
Been in beta for about 6 months, more stable than SharePlay,
Has a Twitter-like social feed integrated into the platform,
Subscriber-only posts feature,
Custom VOD thumbnails (huge plus!),
Emotes available from day one (no affiliate requirements like Twitch),
Fourth Wall integration for merch/memberships,
Shop tab built directly into channels,
Why This Matters With Twitch pushing more ads (3+ minutes per hour for decent revenue) and recent layoffs of 35% of staff, creators need alternatives. Both platforms offer that community feel of multi-channel streaming without the corporate baggage. LiveSpace feels more stable right now if you want to jump in immediately. SharePlay has a nicer dashboard but expect some bugs since it's newer. Bottom Line Not saying ditch your main platform, but definitely worth checking out as backup options. The streaming landscape needs more competition, and these platforms are actually listening to creator feedback. Anyone else tried these platforms? Would love to hear your experiences! Links and Discord invites available if interested
JoshB

2023 Wrap-Up: The Year Alternative Platforms Took Off

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share some thoughts on what an incredible year 2023 has been for alternative platforms and indie creators. OwnCast Had a Breakthrough Year The 0.1.0 update was honestly a game changer. We got appearance customization (no more needing to know CSS!), custom emoji, chat colors, and external action buttons. Plus they removed Twitter integration since, well, we all know how that's going. The latest 0.1.2 version even added chat user leave events and better IP logging. PeerTube 6.0 Dropped Some Amazing Features Password protected videos, video storyboards, and the ability to REPLACE video files without losing your URL (something YouTube only gives Partner Program members). Video chapters and a much better player too. It's becoming a real YouTube alternative. The Great Migration Continues More people are fleeing X/Twitter for Mastodon and BlueSky. I personally ditched Threads when they started demanding phone numbers. The Fediverse is growing but we need to be patient with newcomers who are used to algorithmic feeds. Twitch is Struggling They want streamers running 7 minutes of ads per hour now. That's insane for live content! No wonder people are moving to OwnCast, LiveSpace, and SharePlay. I've basically stopped using Twitch entirely. Why This Matters We're seeing a real shift toward creator ownership. Whether it's hosting your own OwnCast server, uploading to PeerTube instances like TILVids, or just building your own website, indie creators are taking back control. The software is free and open source. You just need hosting (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, etc.) or your own hardware. No more being at the mercy of corporate algorithm changes or arbitrary monetization rules. Looking Forward 2024 is going to be huge for alternative platforms. More people are waking up to the benefits of decentralized, creator-owned content distribution. If you're interested in OwnCast, join the rocket.chat community and check out directory.owncast.online to see live streams. For broader indie creator discussions, visit thisindiecreator.com. The future is federated, and it's looking bright! 🚀" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":rocket:" alt="🚀" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/2a419df364f6817c.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> What platforms are you most excited about for 2024?
JoshB

Holiday Gift Guide for Content Creators: Budget to Premium Options

Hey creators! With the holidays coming up, thought I'd share some gift ideas for streamers/creators (or their loved ones who ask "what do they even need?") Audio First (Most Important!) Your mic matters more than your camera. Good audio = happy viewers. Budget tier: • Fifine TC777 ($26-30) - Perfect starter USB mic • Rode PodMic ($100) - Solid upgrade option Premium tier: • Beacon mics ($300) • Shure SM7B ($400 + $100+ audio interface) Video OptionsBudget: • Logitech C920/C922 ($60) - The classic webcam choice • Struggles in low light but great for beginners Mid-range: • Elgato Facecam ($150) - What I'm using right now • Elgato Facecam Pro 4K ($300) - If you want the premium webcam experience SoftwareFree: • OBS - Works on everything, super capable • Open source, tons of plugins Paid: • XSplit ($60/year) - Good OBS alternative • Ecamm Live (Mac only) - What I use for my setup Real Talk About Gear Don't fall into GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)! I see people dropping $600+ on audio alone before they even know if they like creating content. Start cheap. A $30 Fifine mic will sound WAY better than a $10,000 mic that's set up wrong. Learn your gear, experiment, upgrade later when you know what you actually need. The Truth About Success This isn't a "buy gear = instant success" thing. 98% of new streamers won't hit 1000 viewers in their first months. It takes time, consistency, and finding your audience. Better to start with budget gear and focus on content than blow your budget on equipment you might not even use. Some of the most successful creators use "scuffed" setups because their personality and content carry the show, not their $2000 camera setup. Bottom Line If you're gifting to a creator or starting yourself: Fifine USB mic + C920 webcam + OBS = solid starter setup for under $100. Everything else is nice-to-have, not need-to-have. Start creating, upgrade later! 🎤" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":microphone:" alt="🎤" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/19577f9dd903b439.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;">📹" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":video_camera:" alt="📹" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/d1612a30f6f75120.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;">
JoshB

Why Independent Creators Should Consider Owncast for Live Streaming

Hey everyone! 👋" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":wave:" alt="👋" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/82c4e269c8f910a4.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> Just wanted to share some thoughts on Owncast - an open-source, self-hosted streaming platform that's been gaining traction in the indie creator community. What is Owncast? Think of it as your own personal Twitch server. It's completely free (you just pay for hosting), takes about 10 minutes to set up, and gives you full control over your streaming experience. No algorithm, no sudden policy changes, no revenue splits. Why It Matters With YouTube's recent ad-blocker wars and constant platform policy changes, owning your content infrastructure is becoming more important. Owncast lets you:
Stream on YOUR terms,
Customize everything (themes, colors, layout),
Integrate with Mastodon/Fediverse,
Keep your audience even if other platforms change,
Community Initiative There's a new community channel in the Owncast Rocket Chat focused on:
Monthly creator showcases,
Theme sharing and development,
Cross-promotion between streamers,
Building a supportive ecosystem,
Getting Started
Many hosts offer one-click installs (Hetzner, Linode, DigitalOcean),
Can run on a $5/month server (though more CPU helps),
Built-in customization tools (no coding required),
CSS customization available for advanced users,
My Experience I've been using Owncast alongside traditional platforms and honestly get better engagement there. People actually chat and stick around rather than just scrolling past. It's refreshing to have real conversations with viewers. The goal isn't to replace Twitch/YouTube but to have your own space where you control the experience. You can still multistream to other platforms for discovery. Want to Learn More? Check out the Owncast community at owncast.online or browse live streams at directory.owncast.online Anyone else here using alternative platforms for content creation? Would love to hear your experiences! Posted from someone who's tired of platform dependency and loves the indie creator movement 🎮" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":video_game:" alt="🎮" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/ead2e50d2e62546a.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;">
JoshB

MAJOR CHANGES Coming to Independent Creator Podcast!

Hey everyone! Just wrapped up episode 11 and wanted to share some exciting updates about where we're headed. What's New: • Bi-weekly schedule instead of weekly (Tuesdays 9:30 PM ET, audio drops Wednesdays) • No more pre-show fluff - straight into content after 5-min countdown • Audience integration - your chat questions/comments become part of the episode! • Streamlined production - faster episode releases, better flow Why the changes? Honestly, 52 weeks is A LOT of content. Alternative platforms like Owncast, Mastodon, Blue Sky, and Gilded don't have the rapid news cycles of YouTube/Twitch. This gives me time to collect better stories and maintain quality without burning through ideas too fast. Expanding beyond the podcast: While scaling down episode frequency, I'm scaling UP everywhere else: • More dedicated tutorial videos (Owncast setup, Gilded bots, etc.) • Forum software deep-dives (SMF 3.0 development is HUGE news!) • Joined TilVids PeerTube ecosystem for our video content Interview plans: Looking to bring in people from the alt-platform space for special episodes. Pre-recorded due to time zones, but integrated into regular shows. Community stuff: • Our forum at thisindiecreator.com keeps growing • Left X/Twitter completely - find me on Mastodon, Blue Sky, Threads • Have Blue Sky invites if anyone needs them The bigger picture: This is all natural evolution. Every successful podcast looks completely different from their early episodes. We're still in the experimental phase, and that's exactly where we should be as independent creators. The goal stays the same: informative content about alternative platforms and indie creation. Whether it's new Owncast features, forum software, or the next great mainstream alternative, we're continuing this journey together. Next up: Episode 12 in two weeks with this new format! Anyone else making big changes to their content lately? Would love to hear what's working for you all! 👇" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":point_down:" alt="👇" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/c10d683f5634e571.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> P.S. - Seriously, check out thisindiecreator.com if you haven't yet. Unlike Discord, everything there is searchable and builds the broader conversation.
JoshB

My Content Creation Journey: Platforms, Tools & Hard-Learned Lessons

Hey creators! Wanted to share my wild ride through the content creation world and maybe help some of you avoid my mistakes. The Platform Graveyard Started on Twitch years ago as "Schroedembert" (yeah, terrible name). Moved to Mixer when Microsoft bought Beam and honestly? It was amazing. Sub-second chat response vs Twitch's 8-10 seconds made real interaction possible. But the Twitch cult mentality killed it before mismanagement did. Then came the platform hopping: Trovo (death by over-gamification), Glimmish (obvious mismanagement), and now SharePlay (announced beta "in a few weeks" a month ago, crickets since). Current Setup Multi-streaming to LiveSpace, Twitch, and YouTube. LiveSpace is solid with 85% revenue split and instant sub buttons, but they need better promotion. Twitch is still king despite its issues. Diversification is key. Tools That Actually Work
OBS: Still the best free option. No monthly fees, incredibly capable,
Ecamm: Game-changer for Mac users. Built-in overlay creation, interview mode for up to 10 people, integrated chat from multiple platforms,
Two-PC setup: Windows + M1 Mac Mini (base model works fine for 3-4 people),
Hard-Learned Lessons
Give strategies 3-6 months, not weeks,
You don't need AAA games (indie market is wide open),
Start with free tools (OBS is amazing),
Platform loyalty will burn you,
Experiment but give things time,
What I'm Doing Now Running "The First Two Hours" series - diving into my 300+ game Steam backlog, playing unplayed games for exactly 2 hours and reviewing them. Sundays 9:30 PM ET. Also co-host Zero Point Report podcast covering Secret World Legends using Ecamm's interview mode. Bottom Line Platforms will come and go. Tools will evolve. The key is staying flexible and not getting married to any single approach. Focus on creating good content and building genuine connections. What's your platform/tool experience been like? Any hidden gems I should check out? Links:
Indie Creator Hub (YouTube),
Community: thisindiecreator.com,
Live recordings: Tuesdays 9:30 PM ET,
Keep creating! 🎮" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":video_game:" alt="🎮" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/ead2e50d2e62546a.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;">
JoshB

The Streaming Game-Changer You're Probably Not Using: Chatbots

Hey creators! Tired of manually typing the same responses in chat? Let's talk chatbots. What Are Chatbots? Think of them as your 24/7 streaming assistant. They handle commands (!discord), trigger walk-on music for regulars, manage channel points, and run mini-games. This frees you up to focus on actual content creation instead of repetitive tasks. Cloud vs Local: Which Path? Cloud-Based (Easy Start)
Lives on remote servers,
Perfect for beginners,
Handles basic commands and automations,
Can't deeply integrate with OBS,
Locally Installed (Power User)
Runs on your computer,
Auto-switches OBS scenes when you change games,
Plays local audio files,
More complex but way more powerful,
Three Solid Options: BeatBot (Cloud)
Free with optional pro features,
"IF this BEEP that" automation system,
Supports Twitch, Trovo, Kick + Discord,
No YouTube support yet (API limitations),
Atom (Local - $5/month)
Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux),
Auto-detects game switches,
Updates scenes/channel points automatically,
Limited YouTube integration,
30-day free trial,
Mix It Up (Local - Free)
Started on Mixer, now supports Twitch/YouTube/Trovo,
Massive feature set: mini-games, currency, avatars,
Supports OBS, Streamlabs, XSplit,
Translation services for international viewers,
Bottom Line Start simple if you're new (BeatBot), then level up as you grow. Most bots let you export settings, so you're not locked in. The key is starting somewhere. Your viewers get a smoother experience, you feel less overwhelmed, and you have more energy for the creative stuff that actually builds community. Which chatbot are you using, or thinking about trying?
JoshB

Beyond Platform Revenue: Alternative Monetization for Creators

Hey everyone! I've been diving deep into monetization options lately and wanted to share what I've discovered. We all know the traditional routes, but there's a whole world of alternatives that offer better revenue splits than the usual suspects. The Platform Tax Problem Twitch takes 50% of sub revenue. YouTube has similar cuts. Even worse, Twitch drops your ad revenue from 55% to 33% if you don't use their scheduler. That's a 20% penalty just for wanting control over your content! Better Alternatives I've Found: Streamloots - Gamified donations through card packs. Your audience buys cards that trigger fun interactions during your stream (close your eyes for 2 minutes, play sound effects, etc.). 85% revenue split and tons of pre-built card collections for popular games. Ko-fi - Simple tip jar with subscription options. Clean interface, easy integration, though limited to Twitch/YouTube for chat features. Fourth Wall - My current favorite. Combines memberships, donations, and merch stores. Great for building exclusive Discord communities and offering member perks. Stream Elements - One-stop shop with alerts, chatbots, loyalty programs, and merch integration. The Real Challenge Getting your audience to move from familiar platform features to third-party services isn't easy. I've found transparency works best. Don't discourage platform subs, but mention alternatives: "Thanks for the sub! I also have a merch store for anyone interested in supporting the stream more directly." Personal Reality Check Let's be honest - asking for money feels uncomfortable, especially if you're introverted. I used to feel like a used car salesperson. The reframe that helped: you're not begging, you're offering supporters more ways to help with content they already enjoy. Implementation Tips
Start with 1-2 platforms max,
Give them time to develop (months, not weeks),
Mention options during natural breaks, not every 5 minutes,
Make it feel like enhancement, not replacement,
Community Building What excites me most is how these platforms strengthen communities. Streamloots cards create shared hilarious moments. Merch alerts inspire others to check out your store. It turns monetization into community building. Bottom Line The creator economy is evolving. While traditional revenue streams have their place, alternatives give you more control and better splits. Your audience wants to support you - just give them multiple ways to do it while staying authentic. Anyone else experimenting with alternative monetization? Would love to hear your experiences!
JoshB

DMCA-Free Music for Streamers: Don't Nuke Your Channel

Hey creators! Let's talk about something that could save your entire channel: DMCA-free music. Why This Actually Matters Three copyright strikes on YouTube = your channel is gone. Forever. All that work, all that content, just vaporized. As smaller creators, we have zero recourse to get it back. Free Options That Work: Stream Beats (Harris Heller) - Hundreds of tracks, completely free. No credit required. Best part? He gives you sync licenses and copyright forms to fight false claims. BackTrack (PostboxPat) - Rock/metal focus if lo-fi isn't your thing. Also completely free. NCS (No Copyright Sounds) - Electronic/drum & bass. Solid library, all free to use. ⚠️" class="emoji" data-type="emoji" data-name=":warning:" alt="⚠️" draggable="false" src="https://discord.com/assets/fb6fd920c79bd504.svg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; height: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); object-fit: contain; width: var(--custom-emoji-size-emoji); text-indent: -9999px;"> PLAYLIST WARNING Don't trust random "no copyright" playlists on YouTube/Spotify. People throw together fake compilations with copyrighted tracks mixed in. Always use official accounts and do your homework. Paid Options: Epidemic Sound (~$18/month) - Massive library, every genre, plus sound effects. 30-day free trial where you keep usage rights even after canceling. Monstercat Gold ($7.49/month) - Cheaper but some tracks still can't be used for streaming. Confusing but decent value. Pretzel Rocks ($5.99-25/month) - Twitch-focused with curated stations. Limited YouTube-safe options. Bottom Line: Stop gambling with copyrighted music. These services exist for a reason. Whether you go free or paid, protect yourself and your content. Don't be the streamer playing top 40 hits hoping for the best. That's not strategy, that's channel suicide. What music services are you using? Any horror stories with copyright strikes?
JoshB

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