In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I sit down with YouTube strategist Josiah Swank to unpack what actually makes content go viral and why it is way more about strategy than random luck. I talk with Josiah about the biggest mistakes new creators make, like being too scared to hit upload, overthinking their niche, or trying to make content they do not even enjoy watching themselves. We walk through how I think about teaching creators to just post that first imperfect video, and Josiah shares how he helps people use their own watch history to find a niche that actually fits, then let the algorithm bring the right audience to them through consistent, relatable content.

Together we break down how creators like MrBeast, ARAC, Matthew Beam, Preston and Ryan Trahan engineer high retention videos, trend hack without straight copying, and build trust with viewers by repeatedly answering the same core psychological question in fresh ways. I share stories from my own world, from drag makeup campaigns with my wife’s music video to creative kids content with my daughter on Ailani’s Little World, to show how I balance creativity with sustainability so I do not burn out chasing views. Josiah goes deep on frameworks for trend hacking, audience psychology, and reverse engineering viral formats by studying top performing videos in your niche. We also get real about the YouTube industry being a revolving door, why you have to keep leveling up your skills, and how building a career as a contractor, strategist or producer can be more powerful than just chasing one “YouTuber” job.

If you want to grow on YouTube, go from zero to one million followers, and create viral-ready content that still feels authentic, this conversation is packed with first hand, actionable insight on content strategy, trend hacking, retention, and long term creator growth.