Ourselves Podcast

A $750,000 horror movie just beat Hollywood at its own game. In this episode, I break down how two creator-made films, Obsession and Backrooms, each crossed $200 million on micro budgets, and why that quietly rewrote the rules of the entire film industry. Curry Barker built an audience on YouTube first, then made Obsession for the fans he already had, and Kane Parsons turned an internet horror phenomenon into a real theatrical event before he was old enough to rent a car.

 

I use both to make the case that the old gatekept Hollywood pipeline is dying. You can prove the concept first, build the audience first, and let the audience tell the industry what to pay attention to. I get into why craft and taste beat budget, why horror is the great equalizer for new filmmakers, the honest reality that these breakout stories are rare, and the one move every creator still has to make. You don't need permission, a studio, or millions of dollars anymore. You need a good idea, taste, and the guts to go make your damn film.

 

00:00 Introduction

02:37 Two $200M Movies on Micro Budgets

03:23 Reintroducing Myself

04:04 Why Hollywood Might Be Better Now

05:35 Curry Barker and the YouTube Model

08:48 Stop Putting Pressure on One Idea

09:32 The Excuses We Make as Creators

12:03 The Insane Numbers Behind Obsession

13:34 We Spend Too Much Time Waiting

14:25 The Audience Doesn't Care How You Got There

16:11 Make Movies That Feel Alive

18:22 Kane Parsons and the Anti-AI Argument

20:11 The Hard Truth and the New Path

22:40 The Internet Is the New Film Festival

24:41 A New Pipeline and Horror as the Equalizer

26:26 Go Make Your Damn Film

 

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Sebastien built SLAPS, a creative agency for some of the biggest brands in the world, with no design degree, no advertising background, and no industry connections. He started by cold emailing strangers, Googling what a branding agency even does, and selling a $5K identity to a local Indian restaurant.

Now SLAPS works with brands like Nike, Oakley, Wingstop, and Under Armour. In this conversation, Sebastien breaks down the real agency game: why sales is an art form, why you should never sell services, and why brands pay more for vision. This is the story of building taste, selling ideas, and turning zero connections into a world-class creative agency.

This is Ourselves with Sebastien Vandecasteele.

 

00:00 Introduction

02:29 What SLAPS Does as a Creative Agency

03:54 The Wingstop Mango Habanero Campaign

06:35 How Social Media Rewrote the Agency Game

07:48 SLAPS vs Traditional Agencies (Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny)

12:36 Production: In-House vs Outsourcing

13:56 Starting With Zero Creative Background

16:00 Why Sales Is the Real Art Form

17:42 Lessons From a Year in a Call Center

18:10 Discovering Creative Direction by Accident

20:04 Cold Emailing Strangers to Land Brands

21:11 The First $5K Client (an Indian Restaurant)

23:28 Why You Sell Vision, Not Services

26:42 The Sales Exercise & Why Listeners Win

29:42 How to Actually Get a Brand's Attention

30:22 LinkedIn as a Creative Goldmine

32:07 Breaking Tension With GIFs in Cold Emails

37:33 The Brutal Reality of Unpaid Pitches

39:26 The 6-Month Music Video Pitch From Hell

42:08 Building a Voice So People Come to You

47:56 Inside the SLAPS Team

49:11 Working With His Wife at the Agency

50:46 How Creative Directors, Art Directors & Copywriters Work

53:15 Building a Global Agency Out of Barcelona

54:46 Running Ads for Brand Awareness

58:28 The Mistake of Trying to Do Everything

01:01:11 Handling High-Pressure Clients & Celebrities

01:04:31 What Big Budgets Actually Pay For

01:07:13 AI, Creative Jobs & the Renaissance of Craft

01:14:18 Pivoting SLAPS Into a Strategy-First Agency

01:16:08 Project 2027 & the AI Endgame

01:18:55 Favorite SLAPS Projects (HelloFresh, Wingstop, Oakley)

01:21:46 Living Between Amsterdam, New York & LA

01:24:18 Surfing Through Burnout

01:25:30 Building a Business With Your Wife

01:27:31 The Hustle Years vs The Balance Years

01:28:35 The DISC Sales Framework Every Creative Needs

01:32:48 Why Creative Is the Hardest Industry to Sell In

01:38:34 The Card Question: Most Meaningful Feedback

01:41:24 Closing Tradition

 

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Most of what you've been told about being a content creator is a lie. Sooraj Saxena spent years learning that the hard way.

In this conversation he reveals the testing pool TikTok uses before any video goes viral, why Mr. Beast openly admits his mental health is awful, why chasing another creator's blueprint guarantees you'll resent your own life, and the moment that made him walk away from a 5,000 person paying waitlist. If you're building anything online in 2026, this is required listening.

00:00 Content Is Science
01:51 Sooraj's biggest audience
03:21 His Original Chai videos
05:22 Brown Creator Representation
06:13 Childhood Performer Roots
10:47 Startup Videos Breakthrough
16:41 Sneaking Into Concerts
19:23 His Company Shakti And the TikTok Market Gap
32:58 Back to Brand Deals
33:22 Betting on a Portfolio
35:14 Being Ghosted From a Big Partnership
37:09 Gods Wake Up Call
40:24 His First Big 6 Figure Merch Year
48:20 How the Algorithm Can Penalize You
51:41 Why Brands Dont Reach Out
01:10:05 Creator Chaos Tradeoffs
01:14:01 Create for Joy Not Fame
01:16:12 Deinfluence Your Dreams
01:16:43 Having Four Million Followers But Broke
01:19:50 Stop Chasing Blueprints Like Mr Beast
01:23:48 No One Is Saving You
01:27:03 What To Do When Content Flops
01:30:49 AI and Human Resilience
01:35:49 Final Advice

 

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Matt Hansen did not wait for a record label to believe in him. He built his career himself. After posting a single TikTok covering Frank Ocean, Matt suddenly found millions of people listening. What started as a simple video turned into a full time music career built entirely outside the traditional music industry.

In this episode of Ourselves, Matt shares the real story behind that moment and what it actually takes to survive as an independent artist today. We talk about the reality of building an audience online, the pressure artists feel to chase algorithms, and why Matt refuses to let AI touch his music.

 

00:00 Beating the Scroll

02:19 Staying Independent

03:18 DistroKid and Fast Releases

05:11 Timing the Social Media Window

07:44 Do Artists Need Labels?

09:38 TikTok Mini Music Videos

16:28 The Frank Ocean video that changed his life

20:03 Handling Label Attention

30:40 Finding the Right Hooks For Your Videos

42:55 AI Emotion Theft

43:42 Beauty of Imperfection

49:20 Synesthesia and Billie Eilish

01:04:30 Touring Loneliness

01:07:10 How to Win Over a Festival Crowd

01:13:37 Relevance and TikTok Tips

 

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I sat down with Iranian rapper and activist Erfan Paydar to unpack what’s really happening in Iran right now and why the world isn’t paying enough attention. From the 1979 revolution to today’s protests, we break down the political history that led to the current regime and the massive nationwide uprising demanding change.

Erfan shares a deeply personal perspective shaped by growing up between Iran and the United States. We discuss the brutal crackdowns on protesters, the economic collapse inside the country, and why millions of Iranians believe the Islamic Republic has reached its breaking point. He explains the role of the IRGC, the influence of foreign powers, and why many Iranians are rallying behind Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a potential transitional leader.

Beyond politics, Erfan also reflects on his childhood in Iran, the beauty of Iranian culture, and how his experiences living in both worlds shaped his music and activism. From stories of growing up in Isfahan and Tehran to building a rap career that speaks for the Iranian diaspora, this conversation dives into identity, freedom, and the responsibility of using your voice.

This episode is an honest, emotional look at a nation at a crossroads and a reminder that behind every headline are real people fighting for their future.

01:59 Diaspora Connection to Iran

02:20 Growing Up Between Iran and USA

03:53 Iran’s 1979 Revolution to Today

05:16 Uprising and Brutal Crackdown

08:09 Corruption and the IRGC

12:13 1953 Coup and the Shah Era

18:17 Why the 1979 Revolution Happened

35:45 Free Iran vs Free Palestine Debate

36:40 Media Silence and Minimizing Deaths

38:40 False Comparisons to US Protests

39:45 Being Called a Zionist for Speaking Out

40:20 Hyperinflation and Daily Survival

41:26 Can the Regime Outlast Collapse?

44:11 US Sanctions Versus Corruption

46:41 Iranian Regime’s Children Living Lavish in Dubai

48:23 Erfan’s Childhood Memories of Iran

50:38 Hope of Returning Home

51:29 Trump Talks and Nuclear Standoff

54:33 How Strict Censorship is in Iran

01:01:13 How to Help Iran

 

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