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January 20, 2025 • 1hr 43min
#892 - Kyle Forgeard - The Rise Of NELK, Donald Trump & Global Chaos
Modern Wisdom
Kyle Forgeard is the co-founder of NELK, a massively successful content creation group known for their pranks, viral videos, and business ventures like Happy Dad seltzers. In this conversation, Kyle discusses his journey from Canadian YouTuber to global entrepreneur, sharing insights on content creation, business building, and maintaining motivation over a decade-long career.
#892 - Kyle Forgeard - The Rise Of NELK, Donald Trump & Global Chaos
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Key Takeaways
- Building a sustainable content business requires focusing on one thing initially to learn the fundamentals before expanding
- Leadership comes with unique challenges and sacrifices that most people don't see or understand
- Authenticity is crucial - you can't inauthentically try to be authentic as audiences can sense it
- Having a strong team and support system is essential for longevity in content creation
- Building hype and anticipation is a key skill that can be applied across different business ventures
- Moving slowly and carefully with business decisions is important, especially regarding partnerships and equity
Introduction
Kyle Forgeard is the co-founder of NELK, a massively successful content creation group known for their pranks, viral videos, and business ventures like Happy Dad seltzers. In this conversation, Kyle discusses his journey from Canadian YouTuber to global entrepreneur, sharing insights on content creation, business building, and maintaining motivation over a decade-long career.
Topics Discussed
Early Days and Canadian Roots (0:00)
Kyle opens up about his Canadian background and perspective on recent political changes:
- Moved to the US around age 20, has observed significant changes in Canada over the past decade
- Believes Canada has "lost its sense of identity" due to excessive political correctness
- Optimistic about Canada's future following Trudeau's departure
- "Canada's just lost its sense of identity a little bit...things that make us Canadian and little bits of Canadian culture are just getting lost"
The LA Content Creation Scene (13:04)
Kyle details NELK's early days in Los Angeles:
- First LA experience involved road-tripping from Toronto and staying at fans' houses
- Breakthrough moment came when FaZe Banks invited them to the Clout House
- Lived rent-free for 6 months with major YouTubers like Rice Gum and Summer Rae
- Eventually got their own house with "20 people living in an eight bedroom"
Business Growth and Revenue (28:28)
Discussion of NELK's business success:
- Largest single-day revenue: $30 million in 30 minutes during merch drop
- Had 350,000 people waiting on the website
- Revenue numbers can be misleading due to high costs and expenses
- "Revenue sounds great, and it's great to brag about, but...what me and Jesse were even able to pocket was nowhere even near that"
Building Hype and Anticipation (34:32)
Kyle shares insights on marketing strategy:
- Key principle: consistent reminders and engagement leading up to launch
- Sometimes surprise drops can be effective
- Understanding that anticipation often creates more pleasure than the actual event
- Building hype skills can be applied across different business ventures
Relationship with Dana White (42:41)
Kyle discusses his friendship with UFC President Dana White:
- First met during COVID in Abu Dhabi at Khabib's last fight
- Admires Dana's unwavering commitment and loyalty
- Learned about maintaining authenticity in business
- "He is just the most loyal f**king guy you will ever meet...he's always there for us no matter what"
YouTube Platform Changes (1:36:20)
Discussion of evolving YouTube landscape:
- Subscriber counts matter less than before due to algorithm changes
- Platform becoming more lenient with content restrictions
- Competition from other platforms like X (Twitter) pushing changes
- Need for YouTube to innovate and add new features
Team Dynamics and Leadership (1:25:30)
Kyle emphasizes the importance of having a strong team:
- Can't succeed alone in content creation at scale
- Values having friends as team members for authentic collaboration
- Importance of maintaining good energy and fun environment
- Balance between professionalism and maintaining creative freedom
Future Plans and Motivation (1:31:48)
Kyle shares his vision for the future:
- Focused on increasing NELK video output
- Continuing podcast growth with high-profile guests
- Building Happy Dad into a billion-dollar business
- Maintaining passion for both creative and business aspects
Conclusion
Kyle Forgeard's journey with NELK demonstrates the importance of authenticity, strategic growth, and building strong teams in content creation. His insights on leadership, business development, and maintaining motivation provide valuable lessons for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs. The conversation highlights how success in new media requires balancing creative freedom with business acumen while staying true to one's vision and values.