Good morning. We’ve had our sleeves rolled up on a big project over the past few months—and it’s finally here. Keep an eye out in your inbox tomorrow for a special send. We can’t wait for you to read it.

–Hannah Doyle

TikTok Is the New Textbook

TikTok is often considered more of a distraction than a study aid, but thanks to some unexpected teachers, transformation is coming for education—and we think Bill Nye would approve.

Consider science teacher Big Manny, who demonstrates chemistry lessons with endearing candor, ending explanations with “you get me?” And wildlife educator Mamadou Ndiaye, a TikTok version of Jeff Corwin, who teaches 15 million followers about lesser-known species like okapi. Or college prep guide Gohar Khan, who uses props and metaphors to teach essay-writing and studying methods.

Why they work:

Structure: TikToks have to be short, and the time constraints necessitate simplicity. Plus, TikToks automatically repeat, and we all know how useful repetition is for committing things to memory.

Personality: The educators above use entertainment—inside jokes and visuals, for example—to make complex concepts more accessible.

Customization: Every student learns differently—and every creator has a different strategy for teaching. The breadth of choice on TikTok gives students the power to find what works for them. 

Big picture: TikTok is a platform ripe for people interested in learning, be it academic or otherwise—#LearnOnTikTok is among the fastest-growing hashtags on the app with 412 billion views so far. And academia is paying attention:

• The educational publisher McGraw Hill just launched a new TikTok-inspired app designed to provide education without misinformation. 

• And a French startup recently launched a similar app, Revyze. 

Our Take

For creators who hope to help their audiences #LearnOnTikTok, it’s important to remember that the how is as important as the what. The best education meets students where they are—and in 2022, that’s on TikTok, making good on what’s turning out to be a proven formula for both building an audience—and making an impact.

Markiplier's On His Way To an OnlyFans

The gaming creator is looking to release “tasteful nudes”—on a few conditions.

We’ll explain: Last week, Markiplier made a video saying he’d create an OnlyFans if his audience could bring his two podcasts, Distractible and Go! My Favorite Sports Team, to the top of the charts on Spotify and Apple. Two days later, Markiplier smashed the Spotify goal, surpassing Joe Rogan and Call Her Daddy to reach the No. 1 spot. Apple proved a bit tougher—Distractible jumped from 137th to 6th overnight (an impressive feat) but hasn’t budged since.

By the Numbers:

6.4 million: how many views Markiplier’s CTA video received.

6 days: how long his podcasts have remained #1 on Spotify.

Now: Mark’s amended the terms. Instead of getting his pods to the top of the Apple charts, he’ll follow through with OnlyFans if people buy tickets (cost: $15) to stream his upcoming documentary Markiplier from North Korea, set to premiere November 13.

Our Take

Markiplier’s 33 million followers are more than a number—they’re a force. The amount of active listening it takes for a podcast to leapfrog so many major shows in such a short time is enormous. 

But it’s worth exploring motives—while Markiplier’s OnlyFans earnings will be donated to charity, nothing jumpstarts your monthly download metrics like the promise of “tasteful nudes.”

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Along with the features that made Descript a game-changer for podcasters, Storyboard adds otherworldly features for video creation, like:

• Scenes: Edit video the same way you’d arrange visuals in a slide deck.

• AI green screen: Automatically remove your background and put the subjects of your videos in any setting you can imagine. 

Storyboard also comes with a multitrack screen recorder as well as access to millions of premium stock videos, images, sound effects, and music.

Ready to simplify the way you edit video? Sign up today to get early access to the future of video editing.

Creators Cozy Up To Trademarks

That awkward moment when a creator has the exact same brand name as yours…

Enter beauty creator Jaclyn Hill and yoga instructor Kalyn Nicholson.

Hill just released a line of loungewear and blankets called Koze, which will sell on her online marketplace Iminit alongside her beauty line Jaclyn Roxanne. The only problem? Since 2017, Nicholson has marketed a merch and yoga line of the same name—Koze.

Our Take

Launching merch or products is becoming a popular means for creators to diversify their revenue streams, and trademark is a key part of that—especially if you want to protect your business from copycats. With that, we’d like to introduce any would-be entrepreneurs to the U.S. Trademark Database.

👀 Creator Moves

• Michelle Khare is looking for a video editor who specializes in documentary-style videos. Must be based in LA.

• MJ2KALLDAY is hiring a scriptwriter who is passionate about the NBA. Can be remote.

• TBNR Productions is looking for a YouTube video editor who loves gaming and is an expert in Adobe CC.

🔥 Press Worthy

• Cloak and Mythical collaborate on a merch line.

• Lyrical Lemonade goes on Hot Ones.

• BTS takes a break to participate in military service.

• Viral Trends is the blueprint for going viral. Unlock hundreds of vetted content formats to grow like never before.*

• TikTok is hosting its first global gaming event.

• Anita Sarkeesian launches a web series.

• YouTube Premium ups its price by $5 to $22.99/month.

*This is sponsored advertising content.