Want to learn how to make viral reaction reels that get more views, watch time, and engagement?

In this powerful episode, we hear an emotional story from a content creator who shares his journey from a blue collar job to building a personal brand. He discusses how creating content changed my life, detailing his struggles with homelessness and his path to becoming a successful content creator. This candid conversation offers a glimpse into the realities behind the scenes and the dedication required to transition from a 9 to 5 to online success.

Devin Schubert sits down with Leonard Firestone to break down how viral reels actually work, why reaction content can be so powerful, and what creators need to understand if they want to make content people genuinely want to watch, rewatch, share, and talk about.

Leonard Firestone is a content creator, storyteller, and podcast host from Muskogee, Oklahoma. What started as a personal outlet during some of the hardest seasons of his life turned into a massive digital platform. In this conversation, Leonard shares how he went from working as a plumber and climbing out of dark seasons of life to building a large audience through reaction content, storytelling, authenticity, and consistency.

This episode goes way deeper than “how to go viral.”

Leonard breaks down why some reaction reels work and others fall flat, how to know if a clip is actually worth reacting to, how to improve your hook, how to create reactions that feel real instead of forced, and why watch time, replay value, and engagement matter so much if you want your content to spread.

He also shares how he finds viral clips, what he avoids because of copyright risk, how he thinks about platform differences, how he handles hate comments, how monetization really works, and why many creators stay stuck because they are too focused on what they want to post instead of what actually serves the viewer.

If you are a creator, coach, speaker, entrepreneur, or leader who wants to understand how to make stronger short form content, this episode is packed with practical strategy, honest insight, and real behind the scenes perspective from someone who has built massive reach through humor, relatability, and authentic reactions.

In this episode, we cover:

How Leonard got started in content creation

Why reaction videos can create more watch time

How to find clips worth reacting to

What makes people watch a reel more than once

How to create stronger hooks

Why authenticity beats forcing trends

How to use comments to improve your content

What to avoid with copyrights and reposting

How to respond to hate comments without losing your mind

Why engagement matters more than just views

What newer creators should focus on first

How to keep going when content feels hard

Connect with Leonard:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1LFirestone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1lfirestone/

Connect with Devin:

Website: https://www.devinschubert.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schubertdevin

Influence Academy: https://influenceacademyonline.com/

Stories to Stages: https://www.storiestostages.com

Connected church, Christian community, church leadership, discipleship, belonging, and real connection are at the center of this powerful conversation with pastor and author Dustin Dozier.

In this episode of The School of Influence, Devin Schubert sits down with Dustin to unpack why we live in the most connected generation in history, yet so many people still feel isolated. They break down the difference between attendance and belonging, the danger of building systems without shepherding, and why both churches and businesses must prioritize people over programs.

Dustin shares how his life was transformed through genuine community as a teenager and how that experience shaped his passion for helping churches create environments where people feel seen, known, and valued. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink influence, showing that platforms may gather crowds, but discipleship transforms lives.

If you are a pastor, leader, entrepreneur, or coach who wants to build real connection instead of shallow engagement, this episode will stretch your perspective and sharpen your leadership.

Get Your Story Published TODAY: https://www.storiestostages.com

Coupon Code: PODCAST1

What You’ll Learn:

– Why people can attend church and still feel disconnected

– The difference between building a platform and building people

– How to create real belonging instead of surface-level engagement

– Why discipleship matters more than attendance metrics

Guest Bio:

Dustin Dozier serves as a Teaching Pastor and Director of Next Steps at First Baptist Simpsonville | Upstate Church in South Carolina, helping lead connection and discipleship strategies across multiple campuses. He is the author of The Connected Church and founder of The Connected Church Co., where he equips pastors and leaders to build healthy, thriving churches centered on belonging, community, and transformation.

Guest Links & Resources:

– Website: https://dustindozier.com

– The Connected Church (Book on Amazon): https://a.co/d/0frxMN2O

– Resources for Leaders: https://theconnectedchurch.com

– Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dustindozier

or https://www.facebook.com/dustin.dozier.96

Connect with Devin (Host):

– Website: https://www.devinschubert.com

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schubertdevin

– Join the Influence Academy: https://influenceacademyonline.com/

– Get Your Story Published: https://storiestostages.com

– Grab Free Ebook: https://www.createbetterstories.com