Arrad

Director IG: @Arrad. "Woman, life, freedom."

Watch “Lioness” below:

[Arrad @TheArrad]

The price of being a top creator is your sanity. Mr. Beast said it on camera. His mental health is awful and he refuses to think about it. Because if he did, he wouldn't keep going. You trade your privacy. Your physical health. Your relationships. For a glorified title. Sooraj broke down what nobody in the creator economy wants to admit.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

@saxenasooraj built a dream creator career and still thinks about getting a normal job. A brutally honest conversation about creator burnout, unstable income, and why success online still doesn’t feel secure.
If you’re building something creative, this one will hit hard.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Comment BRAND for the full video 👇 

Followers do not equal money. Sooraj said it on camera. Brands know your followers don't even see your posts anymore. What brands actually pay for is engagement, niche, and adaptability.

Creators with 50K to 150K followers in the right niche are earning 300K to 500K a year. Big accounts with no niche? Crickets.The creator economy isn't what you think it is.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Sooraj broke down how the TikTok and Instagram algorithm actually works. It tests you with 200 to 500 people first. If they don't watch 50%+ of your video? You don't get the next pool. You don't get the FYP. You don't get to grow. It's not about followers. It's not about likes. It's watch time. And almost no one is talking about it.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Most creators think more followers means more money. Sooraj Saxena will tell you that's a lie.

He has a million followers and almost no inbound brand deals. He's still thinking about getting a 9 to 5. He shut down a 5,000 person paying waitlist because his soul wanted to make films instead. In this conversation he exposes the brutal economics nobody in the creator industry wants to admit, the hidden algorithm pool that decides every viral video, and why Mr. Beast openly says his mental health is awful.

Full episode out on all platforms!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Most creators think more followers means more money. Sooraj Saxena will tell you that's a lie.

He has a million followers and almost no inbound brand deals. He's still thinking about getting a 9 to 5. He shut down a 5,000 person paying waitlist because his soul wanted to make films instead. In this conversation he exposes the brutal economics nobody in the creator industry wants to admit, the hidden algorithm pool that decides every viral video, and why Mr. Beast openly says his mental health is awful.

Full episode out on all platforms!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Stop waiting for a label! In this episode, @matthansenmusic breaks down a 30-day plan to build for any artist to build their own fan base from scratch. Full episode is available on all platforms!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

When AI starts tugging at people's heartstrings, you know things are getting weird. In this clip, @matthansenmusic and I discuss what makes AI so strange in today's day and age, and how we're entering an era where it’s getting harder to tell what’s human and what’s just a clever copy

[Arrad @TheArrad]

MOMENTUM IS EVERYTHING. Stop waiting to release your music! In this clip from our conversation, @matthansenmusic talks about how valuable it is to capitalize off of momentum. When a song is bubbling on social media, you need to strike the iron while it's hot and get it out there. Great advice for any up and coming artist.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Matt Hansen didn’t wait for a label. After a single TikTok covering Frank Ocean went viral, he turned that moment into a full time music career. In this episode of Ourselves, we talk independence, authenticity, and what it really takes to build an audience today.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Did you know that rap music is illegal in Iran? In this segment from our episode, @Erfanmusic explains why rap is forbidden and how any form of the arts need to be approved by a special ministry in Iran.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Anthony Bourdain (RIP) said Iran was one of his favorite countries to visit. In his episode with @erfanmusic, we explore why!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

A big concern about U.S. intervention in Iran is that the country could be devastated the way Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya were after foreign intervention. In this episode, @Erfanmusic explains why Iran’s situation is fundamentally different and why he believes that outcome is unlikely.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

In this episode, @Erfanmusic and I discuss how Iran is a rich and incredibly educated country. It has all the pieces to be a world power, but an oppressive and corrupt regime is taking everything and pocketing it for themselves instead of reinvesting in the people.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

What is really happening in Iran right now? I sat down with Iranian rapper and activist @Erfanmusic to unpack the reality behind the headlines, from the 1979 revolution to today’s nationwide protests and why millions believe the Islamic Republic has reached a breaking point.

We also talk about the brutal crackdowns, economic collapse, the power of the IRGC, growing support for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, and Erfan’s personal journey from growing up in Isfahan and Tehran to becoming a voice for the Iranian diaspora through music and activism.

Full episode out now on ALL PLATFORMS!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

If you want to pitch your project to a streamer, you'll need a sizzle reel.
A sizzle reel is an extended trailer for a film you haven't made yet. In this episode, Oscar nominated director Matt Ogens breaks down how to make one and what is needed!

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Matt has worked with many of today's top streamers. According to him, selling to a streamer to Netflix requires a pitch deck or "bible" that is written and visual, detailing the story, characters, and narrative arc. You will also need a "sizzle reel" or presentation tape, usually three to five minutes long, which showcases the project's character, story, and look and feel.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

Instead of judging the guy who held up Matt in New Orleans, he curious about his life. That moment became my initiation and my "film school," inspiring a documentary on violent crime in America.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

What is the best gear to use in 2026?! Long story short: It really does not matter.

[Arrad @TheArrad]

We all want to pay our crew their full rates, and yet sometimes the budget simply does not allow for it. In these instances, you need to choose your favors wisely but also don't fear asking for the favor. As long as you don't ask all the time and pay it forward in the future, this could be a great way to grow and build with a creative collaborator.