Episode 102: Building One of YouTube's Most Influential Media Brands with Jason Y. Lee

Keith and Brendan welcome Jason Y. Lee, founder and CEO of Jubilee Media, the company behind viral series including Middle Ground, Surrounded, and Spectrum. What started as a nonprofit focused on human connection has grown into one of YouTube's most recognizable media brands, generating billions of views and nearly 11 million subscribers.

Jason shares the story behind Jubilee's rise, the key moments that fueled its growth, and why the company has succeeded by leaning into conversations most brands would rather avoid. The discussion also explores the blurred lines between creators and media companies, what brands can learn from great long-form content, the power of episodic storytelling, and how to balance provocative content with meaningful conversation.

Keith and Brendan also break down the growing creator presence at the US Open, Sephora's move into TikTok Shop, Amazon joining YouTube's affiliate program, TikTok's expanded comment features, and what the latest developments in Meta's youth safety settlement could mean for the creator economy.