What does it really take to build a profitable YouTube channel in a niche everyone says is "too small"? In this episode, Cody Moneymaker pulls back the curtain on how his bluegrass guitar channel, just 33,000 subscribers, generates right around $5,000 a month in course sales, with zero paid ads and barely any sponsorships.

We get into the exact pivot that changed everything (hint: it wasn't about playing better), why his thumbnails look like a newspaper on purpose, how he plans his entire year around sales seasonality, and the mindset shift that keeps him from burning out. If you've got a small channel and you're wondering if the numbers will ever add up — this one's for you.

About Cody:

Cody Moneymaker is a bluegrass guitarist and educator based in East Tennessee. A graduate of East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music program, he has performed everywhere from Knoxville to Vietnam. His YouTube channel, Cody M. Music, has over 32,000 subscribers, where he shares lessons and insights into bluegrass guitar, gear, and ups and downs of being a local musician.

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Tara Palmeri went from White House correspondent to building a YouTube channel with over 151,000 subscribers, in just one year. In this episode, she shares the hard lessons of going independent, why traditional media tactics failed her on YouTube, how she maintains a daily upload schedule, and the monetization strategies fueling her growth. Whether you're a journalist exploring the creator space or a YouTuber looking for growth tactics, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

About Tara:

Tara Palmeri is the host of The Tara Palmeri Show and author of The Red Letter, a hard-hitting newsletter about power, politics, and the people who shape both. One of the most feared and fearless reporters in Washington, she has spent more than 15 years covering national politics and foreign affairs. Tara has hosted multiple acclaimed podcasts, including Broken: Jeffrey Epstein and Power: The Maxwells, and previously hosted Somebody's Gotta Win for The Ringer while writing a politics column for Puck.

Connect With Tara:

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE!

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YouTube Channel Reviews (Audit): Get a 7-10 minute personalized video review of your YouTube channel with honest, actionable feedback for just $50.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

All Tools Mentioned On The Show: The Ultimate Entrepreneurs Resource. This is the spreadsheet where I keep all of the tools mentioned by all the guests on the podcast.

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Arthur Brassart lives in Monaco, wakes up at 5AM to work on his YouTube channel before his day job, and has quietly grown to over 25,000 subscribers making Apple tech content. In this conversation, Arthur shares the specific strategy that turned a random Casio watch unboxing into a real channel — including his 60/40 content framework, why he turns down most sponsorships, and how he handles the frustration when a video flops right after one nearly hits a million views.

About Arthur:

I launched my channel in 2017 by uploading a random unboxing video just for fun. But in 2020, I started taking it seriously, and since then, I grew my channel to 25,000 subscribers. I am making content about Apple, tech, unboxings, tips & tricks, and of course, tutorials. My channel is still small, but it's still day 1, as once said Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.

Connect With Arthur:

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE!

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

YouTube Channel Reviews (Audit): Get a 7-10 minute personalized video review of your YouTube channel with honest, actionable feedback for just $50.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

All Tools Mentioned On The Show: The Ultimate Entrepreneurs Resource. This is the spreadsheet where I keep all of the tools mentioned by all the guests on the podcast.

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram