Personal branding isn't about visibility, it's about legacy and leadership. This week on That Digital Take, host Torri Webster sits down with Taylor Buckley, founder of Golden Hour Collective, a social-first consultancy built to elevate female founders and entrepreneurs. With over a decade in social media, PR, and brand strategy, and appearances on Breakfast Television and Style Canada, Taylor breaks down where personal branding and the creator economy are actually headed next.

We get into why the internet stopped rewarding perfection and started rewarding authenticity and storytelling, whether audiences really trust creators less than they used to, and why founders are becoming the face of their companies. Taylor unpacks the real litmus test for "community," what happens to your audience if Instagram disappears tomorrow, what becomes impossible to automate as AI floods the internet with average content, and the creator-economy shifts almost nobody is talking about yet.

Plus: the metrics that matter more than follower count, what creators overestimate (and underestimate) when they launch products, the internet-safety line between authentic and overexposed, and a rapid-fire round on overrated platforms, underrated skills, and 2027 predictions.

In this episode:
• Why authenticity and storytelling replaced perfection
• Whether creator trust is actually declining
• Founders as influencers (and influencers as the new agencies)
• The real test for whether you have a "community"
• What AI can't automate in content and branding
• Better success metrics than followers
• Internet safety, overexposure, and what women may regret posting
• The next shift in personal branding nobody's discussing

Guest: Taylor Buckley, Founder of Golden Hour Collective
Topics: creator economy, personal branding, female founders, social media strategy, community building, AI content, digital marketing, entrepreneurship

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PR insiders Megan Taylor (SVP, Faulhaber Communications) and Rob Loschiavo (Partner, Pomp & Circumstance) return for PR 101, Part 2: the no-hedging, behind-the-curtain conversation on where PR and the creator economy really stand in 2026.

This week they get into the stuff most brands won't say out loud — why your relationship with a brand matters more than your follower count, how "different levels of access" can be built on purpose without making anyone feel like a second-class guest, and what earned media actually means today. Megan and Rob also break down how to launch a creator career from a standing start with a test-and-learn mindset, and why management agencies can quietly inflate your costs (and where they genuinely earn their keep).

Plus: an inside look at the Footy Fade studio they built for FanDuel Canada during the World Cup, the ROI shift from awareness to performance, and the one thing AI still can't touch — the human element that keeps this whole industry running.

If you want the honest version of how brands, creators, and PR really work in 2026, this is it.

In this episode:

• (09:05) Have a relationship with the brand — why specificity beats "can I come to the party?"
• (14:04) What earned media actually means today
• (17:12) Different levels of access, on purpose — without a second-class baseline
• (21:12) Starting from zero: the test-and-learn playbook for new creators
• (26:25) Inside the Footy Fade studio for FanDuel Canada
• (35:05) Are management agencies worth it? Where they add value vs. inflate cost
• (38:39) The one thing AI can't replace

New here? Start with PR 101, Part 1. Follow the show so you don't miss what's next, and share this one with a creator or brand marketer who needs the honest version.

Before "content creator" was a real job, Nitsan Raiter was already building online. A decade later, she's grown an audience of hundreds of thousands, partnered with some of the world's biggest brands, founded the creator-education business Mind Your Business, and become one of Canada's most respected voices in the creator economy.

In this episode, Nitsan opens up about what it actually takes to build a sustainable creator career—and why followers alone were never the goal. We rewind to the early blogging days and her come-up alongside creators like Emma Leger and Sophie Suchan, then trace her evolution from creator to CEO: launching courses, products, and a planner, and learning the unglamorous realities behind the "girl boss" era.

She also gets honest about the next chapter—marriage, sharing her life online, and stepping into motherhood—and how becoming a mom to Estelle reshaped what success, ambition, and boundaries look like for her. From navigating mom guilt and rediscovering her creative voice, to the philosophy that "what's meant for you will never pass by you," this is a candid look at building a career and a life that lasts.

Whether you're a full-time creator, a founder, or just curious about the business behind the content, this conversation is packed with insight.

In this episode:
• Why endless scrolling won't tell you what to create next
• Figuring out your content after becoming a mom
• "What's meant for you will never pass by you"
• The power of scarcity—why being too available lowers your value
• A simple rule for hard decisions: if you can't decide, the answer is no
• Navigating mom guilt and letting go of who you used to be
• Why you have to make your own opportunities

Chapters

21:20 — Scrolling Doesn't Help
21:50 — Being a Content Mommy
27:55 — What's For You Is For You
29:26 — Be Exclusive
29:51 — Can't Decide? Don't Do It
37:09 — Content as a Mom & Mom Guilt
39:52 — Make the Opportunities You Want

Erica Hill rose to fame on Big Brother Canada, but in this episode of That Digital Take, she reveals how she turned reality TV exposure into a thriving full-time creator business, a loyal online community, and a sustainable career in the creator economy.

Erica gets refreshingly transparent about creator money, including why she publicly shared how much she earns as an influencer and content creator, the brands investing in queer creators, and the stigma around talking about income online. We dig into building a personal brand, navigating a public relationship, and her engagement to fiancée Cheyenne, plus what reality TV does (and doesn't) prepare you for as a full-time creator.

Whether you're an aspiring content creator, a fan of Big Brother Canada, or curious about the business behind influencer life in 2026, this conversation covers creator income, representation, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building a life online. Stay tuned for a rapid-fire This or That round to close the show.

Keywords: Erica Hill, Big Brother Canada, creator economy, influencer income, content creator business, queer creators, LGBTQ+ representation, social media entrepreneur, That Digital Take podcast.

This week on That Digital Take, Torri kicks things off with a Summer Favourites segment covering the return of Love Island UK Season 13. From first impressions of the Islanders to early villa predictions, she shares why the reality series continues to dominate internet culture every summer.

Then, Torri sits down with viral food creator and creator economy expert Pushpek Sidhu. Known for his viral food rankings, internet debates, and highly recognizable content style, Pushpek shares how he built one of Canada's most recognizable creator brands and turned content creation into a thriving business.

Together, they discuss:

• How Pushpek grew his audience across social media
• Building a personal brand that stands out online
• Creator burnout and maintaining consistency
• Sponsorships, brand partnerships, and monetization strategies
• Content formats that drive engagement and retention
• What brands still get wrong about influencer marketing
• The future of the creator economy and creator-led businesses

Pushpek also reflects on his journey from Sweden to Brampton, his background working in marketing, and the lessons that helped him transition from behind-the-scenes strategist to full-time creator.

If you're interested in content creation, influencer marketing, social media strategy, entrepreneurship, personal branding, audience growth, or the future of the creator economy, this episode is for you.

What actually separates an iconic personal brand from one that just goes viral? This week on That Digital Take, host Torri Webster sits down with Jennifer Leigh, founder and CEO of Becoming Iconic, Editor-in-Chief of Iconic Magazine, business coach, and the brand strategist behind nine figures in sales.

Jennifer has helped countless women go from invisible online to completely undeniable, and in this episode she breaks down exactly how she did it. We get into defining what "iconic" really means in the creator economy, why she doubled down on launching a digital magazine while the rest of the industry pivoted away from media, and the #1 mistake she sees women make when building a personal brand online.

We also dig into the line between authentic self-expression and strategic brand building, how to stand out in a saturated coaching and creator niche, rewiring your relationship with money and pricing your worth, and her honest day-one advice for anyone starting with zero following and zero budget. Plus a rapid-fire round, Instagram vs. LinkedIn, overrated business advice, best investment in her own brand and a custom "Iconic or Not Iconic" lightning round you'll want to hear.

If you're a founder, creator, coach, or marketer building a brand online, this one's a masterclass in visibility, personal branding, and turning attention into actual business growth.

🎙️ That Digital Take with Torri Webster, now on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. New episodes every Monday.

Topics covered: personal branding · building a brand online · creator economy · women entrepreneurs · digital magazine · business coaching · personal brand strategy · visibility · pricing your worth · Instagram vs LinkedIn · founder mindset · content strategy

We're on Crave! 🎉 This week kicks off in New York for the Dutton Ranch premiere and a stay at The Plaza, then it's off to San Francisco for a wedding, a trip into wine country, and an unforgettable F1 weekend in the Paddock Club — Disney-style. Behind all the glamour, though, this episode gets honest about something nobody warns you about when you go self-employed: how emotionally complicated business becomes when relationships are on the line.

The topic of the week is how to create win-wins in business, especially after conflict. The internet loves to romanticize "cutting people off," "protecting your peace," and "removing toxic people" — and there's truth there. But real business asks for something harder: negotiation, emotional regulation, compromise, and the ability to separate intent from impact. The strongest people aren't the ones who avoid conflict; they're the ones who navigate it without turning every disagreement into a war.

We also get into ego management (because most conflict escalates when both people just want to be right), why long-term thinking beats emotional reactivity in creator culture, and the personal vision exercise that's been reshaping how I lead and connect. My challenge to you this week: find one place in your life or business where you can create a win-win — and share it with a friend.

The Creator Economy's Quiet Architect: Adam "Riv" Rivietz on Building #paid, $50M in Creator Payouts, and What Brands Still Get Wrong

What does it actually take to build the infrastructure behind the creator economy, not just talk about it? This week, I sit down with Adam "Riv" Rivietz, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of #paid, one of North America's leading creator marketplaces, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree.

Riv has spent over a decade turning creator marketing from a "free product" side deal into a legitimate profession, with real payment terms, USD payouts, and tools built from the ground up. #paid has now paid over $50 million to creators, and Riv has been evangelizing the space globally since before most brands knew what an "influencer" was.

In this episode, we get into all of it: the difference between influencers and creators (and why it matters), the Virgin Voyages x TikTok creator cruise that generated 108 million views, the Creator Calendar and why brands are now "upfronting" life milestones like weddings and pregnancies, what the 2026 Creator Signals Report reveals about shifting content trends, and how AI is reshaping every layer of the industry.

We also talk about what it's like to be a founder who's not the CEO, why Riv is also an ordained minister and children's book author, and what he'd whisper to any founder entering this space today.

Topics covered: Creator economy infrastructure · Brand education · Creator-first payment models · Forbes 30 Under 30 · Creator Calendar · Swan Beauty viral moment · AI and synthetic influencers · First-party creator data · Founder life post-Series B · The future of #paid

Connect with Riv: [#paid / LinkedIn / Instagram @hashtagpaid]