John Shahidi: The Social Media Mastermind You've Never Heard Of - IMPAULSIVE EP. 234

IMPAULSIVE

Opening Banter and Introductions

Discussion about Mindy app (M-I-N-D-I-E) - described as original TikTok that was literally musically cloned
Mindy became TikTok but they "had the original"
Wardrobe commentary - Johnny compared to Fred from Scooby-Doo
Logan mentions knowing Johnny for 7+ years, initially wouldn't give him time of day
Johnny pitched Logan on Airplane Mode 7 years ago, Logan spent $2.5 million on the movie

Johnny discusses philosophy: "inexperience turns into bad decisions, bad decisions turn into experience"
Had app with 8.5 million users, raised $15 million (Shots app)
Believes learning from setbacks equates to success
Version 1 of any product will be different than version 10

Johnny admits to being on psilocybin during previous Impulsive appearance
Views psychedelics as antidepressant, especially helpful during COVID/quarantine
Helps creative people feeling trapped, provides escape and connects with subconscious
Microdosing approximately 1/10th of a gram
Discussion of Silicon Valley executives using psilocybin for 5-10 years
Places like Denver, Oregon decriminalizing/legalizing psilocybin
Johnny did LSD at age 15, still gets flashbacks in sleep 20+ years later

Alexis Ohanian quote: "ideas are worthless" unless executed
Johnny agrees - can have 5 hours of ideas at dinner but means nothing without execution
Logan argues ideas are valuable in group settings for collaborative snowball effect
Debate about seed analogy - idea as seed vs imagination of tree

Shots app had 8.5 million users, raised $15 million
First platform without likes/validation data
Essentially Instagram Stories before Instagram had stories
Failed because Snapchat (100+ million users) added Stories feature when Shots only had 8 million
Twitter acquisition rumors - $150 million price tag mentioned in media
Twitter CFO accidentally tweeted about potential acquisition
Transitioned from failed app to talent management (Shot Studios)

"Life is not short, life is long" - relationships built now may be needed in 15 years
Example: reconnected with someone after 10 years for current business
Treats everyone with respect - never know when cameraman becomes CEO
"Escobar mentality" - taking care of people in the streets
Mike still listed as "Mike from Livestack" in Johnny's phone

Kevin Wong transitioned from A-list paparazzi to influencer/TikTok paparazzi
COVID changed dynamic - traditional celebrities staying home, TikTok stars going out
Traditional stars have studios/employers to answer to
Young social media stars are self-employed, care less about image
Kevin Wong is described as "nice guy" who apologized through Johnny to Jake Paul

Importance of building products/brands beyond YouTube revenue
Merch market oversaturated - only few creators can do $50 million annually
Question about helping creators without emotional connection build products
No universal answer - sometimes hits randomly (Dr. Dre headphones, 50 Cent Vitamin Water)

Johnny is ideas person, Sam executes and provides reality checks
Sam works boots-on-the-ground, goes out networking
Sam is anti-relationship, Johnny in committed relationship
Grandfather was Kurdish army general who would run army at night, party till 6 AM

1.5 million YouTube subscribers
Puppet show allows saying things they can't normally say
Featured interviews with Floyd Mayweather (first post-McGregor fight), celebrities
Considering expansion to long-form content, movie scripts written pre-COVID
Getting 1+ million views per video

Started managing Jake Paul, first day FBI raided his house
Jake portrayed as "internet's villain" but privately very generous
Would immediately ask "how can I help" if friend was struggling
Similar to Floyd Mayweather's off-camera generosity
Boxing strategy: balance between villain persona and complete reformation
Pacquiao example - nice family man didn't sell as many fights as controversial fighters

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