In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I sit down with Eric Villa, a YouTube growth strategist who helps build major channels, including work connected to MKBHD and The Studio Channel.

We talk about what it actually takes to grow on YouTube in 2026, why trust is earned through real credibility, and how creators should think about content strategy like an efficient market. Eric breaks down the value of “weird” skill combinations, how options trading taught him risk, probability, and asymmetric upside, and why those ideas translate directly into YouTube packaging, audience building, and sustainable career moves in the creator economy. We also get into the college vs real-world learning debate, why traditional media education often feels outdated, and what it means to build a stable, normal-person career path inside the creator economy, not just chase viral success. Along the way, I share stories from teaching content creation, building Ailani’s Little World as an investment in my daughter’s future, and why the best content usually comes from specific, true stories instead of generic advice.

If you care about YouTube growth, creator careers, audience trust, content strategy, and building a real life around media without turning everything into a zero-sum hustle, this one hits.