Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does it actually take to build a top-tier podcast or personal brand in 2025?
Jake Hurwitz is the founder of Thursday Labs — the engine behind 50+ viral shows — and in this no-fluff rapid-fire interview, he breaks down exactly what most creators get wrong, how to stand out, and why your content must stand for something if you want it to work.
We cover content strategy, going viral, burnout, building community, and the real ROI of podcasts — plus how Jake grew his own show, The Optimist, from crickets to 30k+ followers in weeks.
If you're building a personal brand, launching a pod, or trying to grow an audience — this one’s a masterclass.
📺 Loved this episode? Here’s some of our other favourites:
youtube.com/watch?v=Eqx00oiLLOQ&t=569s
youtube.com/watch?v=6S2wEWQKNag&t=3240s
youtube.com/watch?v=EfuCaISs7-s&t=1s
youtube.com/watch?v=dxXGqIL_AxA&t=9s
🔗 FOLLOW JAKE:
instagram.com/jakefromthursday/?hl=en
theoptimistpodcast.com
instagram.com/theoptimist.podcast/?hl=en
🕒 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship
05:51 Navigating Client Relationships
08:25 The Importance of Niche Markets
11:03 Quality vs. Quantity in Content
13:43 Lessons from Early Ventures
16:54 The Impact of Failure on Growth
19:32 Building a Sustainable Business
22:11 The Evolution of Podcasting
37:29 Marketing Strategies That Work
41:14 Shifting Focus from Self to Audience
51:17 Creating Meaningful Connections
55:18 Lessons from Failed Startups
01:00:18 The Transformative Power of Content Creation
01:05:12 Life Lessons for Entrepreneurs
✌🏼 SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY PURCHASING PRODUCTS WE LOVE:
💧 Vitadrop — Healthy Hydration & Vitamins (Sleep / Hydration / Focus & Collagen) — Use the code 'TOT' to get 25% off your purchase @ https://www.vitadrop.com.au/TOT
👟 Vivobarefoot — My favourite barefoot shoes that I wear everyday — Use the code ‘TOT’ for 20% off @ www.[vivobarefoot.com/](https://vivobarefoot.com/)
🥗 Blueprint — Longevity supplements and meal solutions by Bryan Johnson — Use the code ‘TOT’ for 10% off your purchase @ [friends.bryanjohnson.com/TOT](https://friends.bryanjohnson.com/TOT)
📖 5 Minute Journal — My favourite daily gratitude journal — Use the code ‘TOT10’ for 10% off @ intelligentchange.com/?rfsn=4732871.491170e&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=4732871.491170e
📝 Notion — My favourite note taking app I use for my business and personal life everyday — Use the code ‘TOT’ to support the podcast @ https://affiliate.notion.so/TOT
😴 Hostage Tape — A sleep mouth tape I use every night — Use code for 10% off @ hostagetape.com/products/buy?snowball=ADAM90598
🐄 Carnivore Aurelius Collagen — Collagen I use daily — Use code ‘TOT’ for 10% off @ carnivoreaurelius.com/TOT
👓 Blue Light Glasses — Glasses I wear every night — Use code ‘TOT’ for 10% off @ [www.blockbluelight.com.au/?ref=TOT](https://www.blockbluelight.com.au/?ref=TOT)
📵 Opal — Blocking iPhone app app I use daily - Follow the link to support the podcast @ www.[applink.opal.so/invite-friend?rc=EA66X&rId=AIriLLeGL0Nofh8MOpdNLEwgEF53&rNme=Admet](https://applink.opal.so/invite-friend?rc=EA66X&rId=AIriLLeGL0Nofh8MOpdNLEwgEF53&rNme=Admet)
GET IN TOUCH:
🌍 Our website: thatonetimepodcast.com
🌍 Advertise with us:
partnerships@thatonetimepodcast.com
🌍 Book us:
bookings@thatonetimepodcast.com
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCP62dkT4JUozGGlk7zT1afQ?sub_confirmation=1
🗣️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2CDS3KOgOSwmKCvK6BWS8B?si=e5916dc892c84387
🍎 Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/that-one-time-with-adam-metwally/id1657317674
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thatonetime_podcast
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/itsadammetwally
🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thatonetime_podcast
💭 ABOUT US:
Each week I’ll be deep diving into the lives, habits and lessons of some of the most successful and interesting people in the world - teasing out their curiosities and aiming to provide actionable insights for your day-to-day life.
The podcast focusses on the pillars of health, wealth, and wisdom - and each episode is an in-depth, vulnerable conversation with a unique individual taking on the world in their unique way.
Expect episodes on business, marketing, health, spirituality, biohacking, mindset, content creation and more!
Hosted by Adam Metwally - (instagram.com/meetwally/)
Produced by Joe Fowler (instagram.com/joeefowler/).
🎶 Music:
By — HNNY
youtube.com/watch?v=3r3Paw23_eQ
What does it actually take to build a top-tier podcast or personal brand in 2025?
Jake Hurwitz is the founder of Thursday Labs — the engine behind 50+ viral shows — and in this no-fluff rapid-fire interview, he breaks down exactly what most creators get wrong, how to stand out, and why your content must stand for something if you want it to work.
We cover content strategy, going viral, burnout, building community, and the real ROI of podcasts — plus how Jake grew his own show, The Optimist, from crickets to 30k+ followers in weeks.
If you're building a personal brand, launching a pod, or trying to grow an audience — this one’s a masterclass.
📺 Loved this episode? Here’s some of our other favourites:
youtube.com/watch?v=Eqx00oiLLOQ&t=569s
youtube.com/watch?v=6S2wEWQKNag&t=3240s
youtube.com/watch?v=EfuCaISs7-s&t=1s
youtube.com/watch?v=dxXGqIL_AxA&t=9s
🔗 FOLLOW JAKE:
instagram.com/jakefromthursday/?hl=en
theoptimistpodcast.com
instagram.com/theoptimist.podcast/?hl=en
🕒 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship
05:51 Navigating Client Relationships
08:25 The Importance of Niche Markets
11:03 Quality vs. Quantity in Content
13:43 Lessons from Early Ventures
16:54 The Impact of Failure on Growth
19:32 Building a Sustainable Business
22:11 The Evolution of Podcasting
37:29 Marketing Strategies That Work
41:14 Shifting Focus from Self to Audience
51:17 Creating Meaningful Connections
55:18 Lessons from Failed Startups
01:00:18 The Transformative Power of Content Creation
01:05:12 Life Lessons for Entrepreneurs
✌🏼 SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY PURCHASING PRODUCTS WE LOVE:
💧 Vitadrop — Healthy Hydration & Vitamins (Sleep / Hydration / Focus & Collagen) — Use the code 'TOT' to get 25% off your purchase @ https://www.vitadrop.com.au/TOT
👟 Vivobarefoot — My favourite barefoot shoes that I wear everyday — Use the code ‘TOT’ for 20% off @ www.[vivobarefoot.com/](https://vivobarefoot.com/)
🥗 Blueprint — Longevity supplements and meal solutions by Bryan Johnson — Use the code ‘TOT’ for 10% off your purchase @ [friends.bryanjohnson.com/TOT](https://friends.bryanjohnson.com/TOT)
📖 5 Minute Journal — My favourite daily gratitude journal — Use the code ‘TOT10’ for 10% off @ intelligentchange.com/?rfsn=4732871.491170e&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=4732871.491170e
📝 Notion — My favourite note taking app I use for my business and personal life everyday — Use the code ‘TOT’ to support the podcast @ https://affiliate.notion.so/TOT
😴 Hostage Tape — A sleep mouth tape I use every night — Use code for 10% off @ hostagetape.com/products/buy?snowball=ADAM90598
🐄 Carnivore Aurelius Collagen — Collagen I use daily — Use code ‘TOT’ for 10% off @ carnivoreaurelius.com/TOT
👓 Blue Light Glasses — Glasses I wear every night — Use code ‘TOT’ for 10% off @ [www.blockbluelight.com.au/?ref=TOT](https://www.blockbluelight.com.au/?ref=TOT)
📵 Opal — Blocking iPhone app app I use daily - Follow the link to support the podcast @ www.[applink.opal.so/invite-friend?rc=EA66X&rId=AIriLLeGL0Nofh8MOpdNLEwgEF53&rNme=Admet](https://applink.opal.so/invite-friend?rc=EA66X&rId=AIriLLeGL0Nofh8MOpdNLEwgEF53&rNme=Admet)
GET IN TOUCH:
🌍 Our website: thatonetimepodcast.com
🌍 Advertise with us:
partnerships@thatonetimepodcast.com
🌍 Book us:
bookings@thatonetimepodcast.com
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:
🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCP62dkT4JUozGGlk7zT1afQ?sub_confirmation=1
🗣️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2CDS3KOgOSwmKCvK6BWS8B?si=e5916dc892c84387
🍎 Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/that-one-time-with-adam-metwally/id1657317674
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thatonetime_podcast
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/itsadammetwally
🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thatonetime_podcast
💭 ABOUT US:
Each week I’ll be deep diving into the lives, habits and lessons of some of the most successful and interesting people in the world - teasing out their curiosities and aiming to provide actionable insights for your day-to-day life.
The podcast focusses on the pillars of health, wealth, and wisdom - and each episode is an in-depth, vulnerable conversation with a unique individual taking on the world in their unique way.
Expect episodes on business, marketing, health, spirituality, biohacking, mindset, content creation and more!
Hosted by Adam Metwally - (instagram.com/meetwally/)
Produced by Joe Fowler (instagram.com/joeefowler/).
🎶 Music:
By — HNNY
youtube.com/watch?v=3r3Paw23_eQ
