Welcome to Created, the newsletter that’s more valuable than your Notion. Well, almost. Here’s what we got today:
- Why Walmart is launching a podcast studio
- Lilly Singh’s sex-ed comedy lands theatrical distribution
- Outlier of the week
Walmart Launches Podcast Studio
Walmart has officially entered the podcast space.
Yes, the same place where you buy paper towels now offers a Dolby Atmos mixing suite and six professional-grade studios.
Earlier this month, the company opened its first-ever Create-it Studios — a full-blown creative production space located inside a Walmart supercenter in Franklin, Tennessee.
As of now it’s a pilot program — but if it works, Walmart plans to roll it out nationwide.
From Photo Prints to Pro Tools
Here’s what the new Franklin location includes:
- Six studios for podcasting, recording, video editing, and live production
- A Dolby Atmos room with 7.1–10.0 surround mixing capabilities
- A flexible event venue for performances, workshops, and creator showcases
- Hourly studio access starting at $60–$100 (with discounted day rates)
- Free and low-cost workshops led by industry experts
And to show they mean business, the launch featured guests like:
- Leslie Brathwaite: Grammy-winning mix engineer for Beyoncé and Jay-Z
- Bree Green: Harlem Globetrotter turned creator with 1M+ followers
- Stephen Beres: Emmy-winning producer of Succession and Game of Thrones
Our Take
In cities like Miami and L.A., the number of rentable podcast studios has exploded.
Small businesses are turning $200/hour studios into six-figure businesses.
Demand isn’t slowing — it’s scaling.
And while digital tools like AI editing and remote production are on the rise, there’s still something irreplaceable about creating in physical spaces.
That’s what Walmart is betting on.
If it succeeds, don’t be surprised if a Walmart creator studio pops up in your city next.
Lilly Singh’s Sex-Ed Comedy Heads to Theaters
Lilly Singh’s movie Doin’ It premiered last year at SXSW to big laughs. Now it’s headed to U.S. theaters on September 19, with Singh as lead actor, co-writer, and producer.
The premise?
A 30-year-old virgin (played by Singh) gets roped into teaching sex ed at a high school…despite having zero experience herself.
It’s Singh’s first leading role in a feature film — a sex-positive, South Asian comedy. And it’s the first major acquisition by a brand-new distributor, Aura Entertainment.
Backstory
- 2010: Singh starts on YouTube under the name IISuperwomanII
- 2016: Hits 10M subscribers
- 2017: NYT bestselling author of How to Be a Bawse
- 2019: Hosts NBC’s A Little Late with Lilly Singh — becoming the first Indian-origin host of a U.S. late-night show
- 2025: Aura Entertainment acquires Doin' It
“We laughed our asses off making it, and I can’t wait for audiences to see a comedy that puts brown girls, awkward moments, and cultural taboos front and center,” Singh said.
Why Aura Entertainment Picked It Up
Doin’ It is the debut acquisition of Aura Entertainment, a new U.S. distributor backed by Capstone Studios, Signature Entertainment, and Ascending Media Group.
“It’s wildly funny, sex-positive, and refreshingly honest,” said Aura CEO Marc Goldberg.
Our Take
Doin’ It could be a breakout moment for Singh, and for Hollywood’s next wave of creator films.
And Aura’s involvement signals a shift: newer distributors are betting on the bold stories legacy studios left behind.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
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- Soft pastel tones and back-facing figure instantly evoke a dreamy, cinematic vibe (Max Kent)
- Red Bull but 100x stronger? Instant scroll stopper (NileBlue)
- Giant blue teacup in front of Big Ben draws your attention (Harrison Webb)
- Visual jump from $10 to $100B shows the shocking scale of wealth (Memeable Data)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by The Philosophy Of Marketing has 1.1M views, which is 103 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:
- Big Brand, Bigger Reveal: Everyone knows Grey Goose. But few know it’s not Russian, not old, and not even made in a distillery.
- Luxury Without Legacy: The video reframes a $2B brand as a marketing illusion, exposing how perception, and not product, creates value.
- Masterclass Vibes: With crisp narration and actionable breakdowns, it feels like a business school lecture you actually want to finish.
💰 Job Board
- Simple Lucas is hiring a thumbnail designer
- Tim Yoon is hiring a YT & IG creative director
- Josh Toonen is hiring a video editor (Shorts)
🏆 The Created Referral Program
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Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
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👋 See You Inside
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– Jon
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