JNora, the internet's got a new main character, and he's a Navy SEAL who tells scary stories.
NMrBallen. I know exactly who that is.
JWell, he just signed a huge deal to take his podcast beyond YouTube, and the details are actually interesting.
NAnother YouTuber chasing a streaming deal. We've seen this movie before.
JNot exactly. SiriusXM is giving him a multi-year deal for exclusive ad sales rights to his podcast AND his YouTube channel.
NWait, so a radio company is buying the ad space on a YouTube channel?
JThat's the play. His show, "Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories," will be distributed on their podcast network.
NSmart move. If SiriusXM is looking for younger listeners, MrBallen's audience is a big, loyal one.
JAnd here's my favorite part: this is a former Navy SEAL who started telling campfire stories on YouTube and built an empire.
NNo Hollywood meetings, no network executives. Just a guy who knew how to tell a story.
JThen the algorithm found him, and suddenly he's being called one of the biggest names in true crime podcasting.
NBut I want to push back. Is this actually 'beyond YouTube,' or is YouTube still doing the heavy lifting?
JWhat do you mean? He's getting paid by a major media company now!
NThey're selling ads on his YouTube channel. The content is still on YouTube. It's a distribution partnership.
JSo he's finding a way to make more money from the same content. I don't see the downside.
NI'm not saying it's bad. I'm just saying 'beyond YouTube' oversells it.
JFair point. But for a guy who used to be in special operations, this is a pretty good second act.
NSpeaking of second acts, Eric Spracklen posted something about Vivek memes that has everyone crying.
JVivek Ramaswamy memes are hitting a level I have never seen before.
NEric says he can't stop laughing. And honestly, looking at some of these, I get it.
JThe internet decided Vivek is the gift that keeps on giving. He's become the human equivalent of a fidget spinner.
NThat's mean. But true. He keeps showing up everywhere, saying the same three things, and people keep meme-ing him.
JHere's what I love: he ran for president, got his moment in the sun, and now he's a meme. That's the full internet lifecycle.
NAnd the memes aren't even cruel. They're just... absurd. Out of context clips, weird facial expressions, the whole package.