From Meme Illuminati to Media Empire: Building Original Comedy Brands -- Reid Hailey (Co-Founder & CEO, Doing Things Media)

All Things Video

Reid Hailey is the Co-Founder & CEO of Doing Things Media, the comedy-focused digital publisher behind meme accounts like ShitHeadSteve, MiddleClassFancy, and AnimalsDoingThings. Always entrepreneurial by nature, Reid shares how he applied his love of comedy to Instagram and launched one of the world’s most successful meme accounts from his parents’ basement. Fast forward to today, and Doing Things is expanding into consumer products, podcasting, and live streaming.

In this episode, Reid shares stories from his early days as a member of the “Meme Illuminati,” which included his future co-founder Derek Lucas and even some A-list celebrities like John Mayer. Reid and I also discuss the rampant joke stealing and content freebooting that were so prevalent on Facebook and Instagram in the past and how meme culture has changed after pages like FuckJerry and TheFatJewish were called out for being some of the worst offenders. Finally, Reid explains Doing Things’ decision to get into political advertising by promoting Mike Bloomberg’s Presidential campaign, and we debate the potential outcome of the recent political controversy surrounding TikTok.

Host: James Creech

LISTENER SUPPORT

If you’d like to make a small monthly donation to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/allthingsvideopodcast/support

ABOUT THE SHOW

All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.

Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates!

ABOUT THE HOST

James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for media companies, agencies, and brands.