How to Deal With Hate Comments as a Creator (Handling Trolls, Online Criticism & Going Viral): The reality of being a creator
Release Date: 02/14/2026
5 Types of Content You're Already Creating That Brands Will Pay For (Season 2 Premiere)
Accidentally Influential
You're Already Doing Brand Deal Work for Free (Here's How to Get Paid for It) Welcome to Season 2 of Accidentally Influential. We're calling this season Land It — because every episode this season is built around one goal: helping you land your first and ongoing paid brand partnerships. And we're starting with the episode we wish existed before we ever landed our first deal. Here's the thing nobody tells you: you are probably already creating content that brands would pay for. Right now. Without knowing it. You're just not getting paid for it yet. This episode is about changing that —...
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Season 2 of Accidentally Influential: LAND IT
Accidentally Influential
Season 2 of Accidentally Influential is here — and we're calling it: Land It. Season 1 was the wake-up call. Season 2 is the plan. If you're an educator, course creator, coach, or digital product seller who's been building an audience and wondering how to monetize it beyond your own offers — this season was made for you. Because brand deals aren't just for lifestyle influencers with half a million followers. They're for you. And this season, we're showing you exactly how to land them. Hosted by Tea and Kate — two content creators who've built nearly 500,000 followers and secured...
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TikTok Content Strategy for Business Owners: Hooks, Structure & Brand Deals ft. Sarah Weiss (& bonus - LIVE pricing a brand deal)
Accidentally Influential
If your videos aren't stopping the scroll, this episode is for you. We brought on Sarah Weiss — speech therapist turned TikTok content and marketing expert, creator of Online Business Talk, and the woman we're officially crowning the Hook Queen — to break down exactly how educational content creators and online business owners can use TikTok to grow, sell, and attract brand deals without ever chasing virality. Sarah has been on TikTok since 2021, built an audience of 77K on her business account, and accidentally built a second income stream through brand partnerships on her personal...
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5 Ways to Make Money as a Content Creator (That Actually Work) ft. Real Numbers
Accidentally Influential
We're pulling back the curtain on every income stream we've built through content creation — from brand deals and affiliate income to UGC, digital products, and consulting. This is the episode we wish existed when we were starting out. Fair warning: Kate got her tax return the day before we recorded this and it sent us both into a spiral. In the best way. This is also episode 24, which means we've officially recorded more than three times the number of episodes most podcasts ever make. So if you've been here since the beginning — thank you. Now let's talk about money. What We Cover: ...
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UGC Pricing, Retainer Clients & Why You Don't Need Followers to Make Money as a Creator ft. Leslie Cole
Accidentally Influential
We brought on Leslie of Evolushein — UGC creator, creative director, and creator coach — because she has figured out something most creators never do: how to turn content creation into a predictable, scalable business with retainer clients, UGC income, and $130K+ in recurring revenue every year. If you've been wondering how to become a UGC creator, how to land your first client, or how to stop trading one-off brand deals for actual consistent income — this is the episode. What We Cover: What UGC actually is in 2025 and why brands are paying more for it than ever How Leslie was doing...
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What Brands Actually Look for in Creators & Why You're Not Getting Brand Deals (Straight From an Influencer Manager)
Accidentally Influential
We've talked a lot on this podcast about how to pitch brands, how to price yourself, and how to show up like a partner. This episode? We went straight to the source. Noam Giras is the Head of Media Partnerships at Tailor Brands — with seven years of experience and hundreds of influencer deals under her belt. She's also one of the influencer managers Kate and Tea personally work with, which made this conversation as real as it gets. If you've ever wondered why a brand ghosted your pitch, what actually makes a creator stand out, or what brands wish creators understood — this...
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Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Prove Your Value & Pitch Like a Partner (Part 2 of 2)
Accidentally Influential
If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back to last week's episode first — this won't make sense without it. This is the conclusion of our First Brand Deal Blueprint: a four-step system for landing your first paid brand partnership as an EDUcreator. In part one we covered creating content brands would actually pay for and getting crystal clear on who your audience is. Now we're getting into the part most creators never figure out — how to use data to prove your value, and how to pitch in a way that positions you as a strategic partner, not a creator asking for a favor. The Full...
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Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Create Content Brands Actually Pay For (Part 1 of 2)
Accidentally Influential
We made this episode to be your home base. If you're just getting started with brand partnerships — or you've been trying to land deals and nothing's clicking — this is where it starts. In part one of our First Brand Deal Blueprint, we're walking you through the first two phases of our four-step framework. And here's the thing: neither of them involve pitching a single brand. Most creators skip straight to the pitch and wonder why they keep getting ignored or lowballed. These two steps are why. The Full Blueprint (Across Both Episodes): Step 1: Post content a brand would actually pay...
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How to Respond to Brand Deal Inbounds, Spot Scams & Stop Undercharging: The Reality of Working with Brands
Accidentally Influential
We showed up late, hadn't washed our hair, and had 696 unread emails between us. Welcome to Q&A day. In this episode, we're answering the questions we see most from creators trying to land brand deals and sponsored content — and being fully honest about what's actually happening in our own businesses right now. We break down a real UGC inbound Kate received from a brand she loves — why the offer was way off, why she said no even after they doubled the rate, and what the face association risk in UGC deals actually means for your personal brand. We also get into Tea's current $30K...
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How to Grow on Instagram & Turn Followers Into Paying Clients (Even If You’re Stuck Under 2K)
Accidentally Influential
How to Grow on Instagram & Turn Followers Into Paying Clients (Even If You’re Stuck Under 2K) - w/ Jenna from @jennaspaige If you’re posting consistently on Instagram but not getting clients… If you’re stuck at 1K–2K followers and growth feels slow… If you’re growing an audience but not making money… This episode is for you. Today we’re joined by Jenna Harding, marketing coach and host of the Shiny New Clients podcast, to break down how to grow on Instagram in a way that actually leads to sales — not just likes. Because here’s the truth: Growing your Instagram...
info_outlineLet’s talk about the part of content creation no one prepares you for:
The hate.
In this episode of Accidentally Influential, we’re getting honest about:
- Hate comments on Instagram and TikTok
- Trolls after going viral
- Mean DMs
- Public criticism
- And the emotional toll of being visible online
If you’ve ever:
- Posted something that blew up… and the comments turned ugly
- Felt sick reading negative comments
- Questioned your business because of trolls
- Wanted to quit after one viral backlash moment
- Wondered how other influencers handle hate
This episode is for you.
In This Episode We Cover:
- Why hate comments increase as you grow
- The psychology behind internet trolls
- What happens when your content reaches the wrong audience
- How to emotionally detach from negative comments
- When to delete, block, or ignore
- When criticism is helpful vs. just noise
- Building thicker skin without losing your humanity
- Protecting your mental health as a content creator
We also talk about the difference between:
✨ Feedback
⚡ Projection
🚨 Straight-up trolling
Because they are not the same thing.
The Truth About Visibility
The bigger your platform gets, the more exposure you have. And exposure doesn’t just bring opportunity. It brings opinions. We break down how to:
- Stay grounded when strangers critique your business
- Not let negative comments control your content
- Continue showing up confidently after backlash
- Build resilience as an online entrepreneur
Because you can’t build influence without visibility.
And you can’t have visibility without some noise.