Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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We sit down with @thinknoodles to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant as a gaming creator for nearly 15 years, from pivoting formats to building a team that can keep up. We dig into the unsexy truths behind growth, including why the job feels nonstop, why packaging matters, and how Shorts are changing viewer expectations.
• passion and work ethic as the real longevity engine
• early creator roots through websites, guides, and problem-solving
• how the MCN era shaped early gaming monetization
• adapting to algorithm shifts by studying peer outliers
• why in-real-life videos are harder than they look
• audience fit and aging out as a strategic constraint
• scripting the first 30 seconds to protect retention
• titles and thumbnails as make-or-break packaging
• the biggest myth about big channels and “easy money”
• team structure behind consistent uploads
• AdSense versus brand deals and why he turns sponsors down
• how GTA 6 could reshape the gaming creator landscape
• why streaming can drain energy and underperform after
• Shorts rules: original content, fast pacing, and sweet spot length
• the attention-span shift forcing long-form to speed up
If you're new here, feel free to hit that subscribe button.
If you think he should do a think noodles after dark, make sure you go over to his channel and just flood the comment section with Think Noodles after dark.
0:00 Cold Open
0:32 Welcome Justin from Think Noodles
1:11 14+ Years, 13M Subs, 5 BILLION Views
2:12 The Secret to Lasting on YouTube: Passion + Work Ethic
3:14 Life Before YouTube: Reselling Consoles & Webkinz
5:03 Starting on YouTube When MCNs Took All Your Money
6:32 Succeeding at Long Form AND Shorts (Most Can't)
7:27 Spotting Outliers: How Justin Uses vidIQ to Find Video Ideas
12:27 Knowing Your Audience Avatar (6-12 Year Olds... and Their Moms)
13:26 The First 30 Seconds: Always Scripted, Always Critical
16:01 The Biggest Misconception: "This Is Easy Money"
17:23 The Team Behind the Channel (7-8 People!)
17:59 Could He Retire Now? AdSense vs Brand Deals (90% AdSense)
19:33 Why He Turns Down Brand Deals
20:09 GTA 6 Announcement: Should He Start a Second Channel?
21:52 The UNs: A Channel with Dan TDM, Squid & Thnx
26:28 What Would Make Him Quit YouTube? (A Wild Dental Story)
29:35 Why He Rarely Live Streams
32:14 Shorts Strategy: Original Content Only, ~40 Second Sweet Spot
35:21 Long Form vs Shorts: Views, Revenue & 150K Subs From One Short
38:11 Vertical Live Streaming as a Growth Hack
39:29 Top 3 Tips for New YouTubers in 2026
43:02 Hottest Take on Shorts & Shortened Attention Spans
45:22 Wrap Up: Think Noodles After Dark?
Get vidIQ Boost for an exclusive price! vidiq.com/podcast
Check out our audio podcast! https://vidiq.ink/podcast
Auto-clip your long form into viral shorts- link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shorts
Want a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1
Join our Discord! vidiq.com/discord
We sit down with @thinknoodles to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant as a gaming creator for nearly 15 years, from pivoting formats to building a team that can keep up. We dig into the unsexy truths behind growth, including why the job feels nonstop, why packaging matters, and how Shorts are changing viewer expectations.
• passion and work ethic as the real longevity engine
• early creator roots through websites, guides, and problem-solving
• how the MCN era shaped early gaming monetization
• adapting to algorithm shifts by studying peer outliers
• why in-real-life videos are harder than they look
• audience fit and aging out as a strategic constraint
• scripting the first 30 seconds to protect retention
• titles and thumbnails as make-or-break packaging
• the biggest myth about big channels and “easy money”
• team structure behind consistent uploads
• AdSense versus brand deals and why he turns sponsors down
• how GTA 6 could reshape the gaming creator landscape
• why streaming can drain energy and underperform after
• Shorts rules: original content, fast pacing, and sweet spot length
• the attention-span shift forcing long-form to speed up
If you're new here, feel free to hit that subscribe button.
If you think he should do a think noodles after dark, make sure you go over to his channel and just flood the comment section with Think Noodles after dark.
0:00 Cold Open
0:32 Welcome Justin from Think Noodles
1:11 14+ Years, 13M Subs, 5 BILLION Views
2:12 The Secret to Lasting on YouTube: Passion + Work Ethic
3:14 Life Before YouTube: Reselling Consoles & Webkinz
5:03 Starting on YouTube When MCNs Took All Your Money
6:32 Succeeding at Long Form AND Shorts (Most Can't)
7:27 Spotting Outliers: How Justin Uses vidIQ to Find Video Ideas
12:27 Knowing Your Audience Avatar (6-12 Year Olds... and Their Moms)
13:26 The First 30 Seconds: Always Scripted, Always Critical
16:01 The Biggest Misconception: "This Is Easy Money"
17:23 The Team Behind the Channel (7-8 People!)
17:59 Could He Retire Now? AdSense vs Brand Deals (90% AdSense)
19:33 Why He Turns Down Brand Deals
20:09 GTA 6 Announcement: Should He Start a Second Channel?
21:52 The UNs: A Channel with Dan TDM, Squid & Thnx
26:28 What Would Make Him Quit YouTube? (A Wild Dental Story)
29:35 Why He Rarely Live Streams
32:14 Shorts Strategy: Original Content Only, ~40 Second Sweet Spot
35:21 Long Form vs Shorts: Views, Revenue & 150K Subs From One Short
38:11 Vertical Live Streaming as a Growth Hack
39:29 Top 3 Tips for New YouTubers in 2026
43:02 Hottest Take on Shorts & Shortened Attention Spans
45:22 Wrap Up: Think Noodles After Dark?
