James Frost, creative strategist and director, returns to Personable as a two-time guest. From photographing for Complex and Hypebeast to relaunching his own app Buzz - which hit 30,000 downloads in 50 days and 2.6 million social impressions - James is shaping the future of culture at the intersection of fashion, music, and tech.
With experience across media, brand campaigns for Adidas and Jägermeister, and mentoring 1,700+ young creatives worldwide, James blends creativity with sharp digital strategy. He’s grown TikTok accounts past 4 million views, Instagram projects past 1 million impressions, and even scaled a client from 250 to 13K followers in eight weeks. In this episode, James shares his social media blueprint for 2025, why community beats algorithms, and how to build something that people want to talk about.
In this episode, James Frost discusses:
◽️ Social media hacks for 2025: hooks, algorithms & repeatable content
◽️ Building Buzz from guerrilla marketing to App Store top charts
◽️ Lessons from working with Complex, Hypebeast, Wonderland, and Clash
◽️ Mentorship: helping 1,700+ creatives break into the industry
◽️ Defining success, happiness, and legacy at 23
00:00 Intro
00:32 Meeting James Frost: From Creative Director to Entrepreneur
02:11 What is Buzz and Why Relaunch It?
04:12 App Store Strategy: 30K Downloads in 50 Days
06:39 Working with Developers & the Role of AI
08:36 Funding Yourself Without Investors
11:47 Breaking Into the Creative Industry
12:57 Mentorship: 27 Cohorts, 1700+ Students
16:10 Outreach & Networking Hacks
19:40 Pressure to Take a Traditional Path?
21:37 Reverse Engineering Goals
23:16 Social Media Blueprint: Hooks, Editing & Retention
29:37 Case Study: Turning Events Into Viral TikToks
32:49 Community Impact: Opening Doors for Others
38:40 Evergreen vs. Expiring Content
42:56 Editing Workflow: From Idea to TikTok in 20 Minutes
50:28 Overcoming Fear of Filming in Public
53:35 Scaling Content Production Efficiently
59:31 Camera Presence & Authentic Charisma
1:01:22 Building Buzz as a Brand, Not Just a Tech Tool
1:05:21 Monetization: Placements & Partnerships
1:07:27 Legacy: Tech x Culture at Scale
1:08:49 What’s Next: Expanding Beyond London
1:11:22 One Takeaway for Creators
📌 Resources
James Frost:
◽️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesfrost02/?hl=en
◽️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shotbyjames
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-frost-9251851a2/
Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): x.com/harveybsmith_
Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111
Additional:
◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io
◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn
Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

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