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I talk to Neil Waller about identifying which talent can go the distance and deploying his huge new war chest of cash: ‘We just have a lot more firepower’ IT’S LIT Whalar Group co-CEOs Neil Waller, left, and James Street at the Venice campus of their creative co-working space The Lighthouse, one of two core businesses Waller says they are focused on growing now.

The brand chief tells me how the Mouse House is moving digital stars beyond marketing and into development, programming and more.

Plus: who’s behind Jimmy Fallon’s hit Peacock microdrama and my exclusive on Lemonada’s deal with pop-politics show ‘The Moment LIVE’ DRAMA & POLITICS From left: The Why Files’ A.J. Gentile, Jimmy Fallon in Peacock’s Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire and The Moment LIVE’s Meredith Lynch.

Giggly Squad’s SiriusXM deal Disney’s podcast offensive YouTube’s scramble to fend off Netflix Jeremy Zimmer’s new Twitch show Fox Creator Studios’ bet on Josh Richards natalie@theankler.com Over lunch in L.A. last week, Jake Paul told me the secret to his next act: “If you own the attention and you own the distribution, then the rest is history.” Paul, 29, is now trying to prove that thesis in venture capital.

SQUAD GOALS Hannah Berner, left, and Paige DeSorbo have a rich new deal for their Giggly Squad podcast at SiriusXM. (Like & Subscribe illustration; Ashley Osborn/Bravo via Getty Images) I wrote about Disney’s podcast offensive, YouTube’s scramble to fend off Netflix in the talent wars, ex-UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer’s new Twitch show, Fox Creator Studios’ bet on Josh Richards and creators launching scripted series on Instagram.

(Like & Subscribe illustration; Yana Iskayeva/Getty Images, Walt Disney Television/courtesy Everett Collection) I wrote about YouTube’s scramble to fend off Netflix in the talent wars, ex-UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer’s new Twitch show, Fox Creator Studios’ bet on Josh Richards and creators launching scripted series on Instagram.

ROOM TO GROWRead the Room creator Josh Richards tells me social media “is how we’re going to find our next Workaholics or Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” (Like & Subscribe illustration; screenshots) I wrote about ex-UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer’s new Twitch show, YouTube’s scramble to fend off Netflix in the talent wars, creators launching scripted series on Instagram and Spotify partnering with Twitch to challenge YouTube’s podcast dominance.

GIG WORKER “I have a perspective to give, from the point of view of having worked with so many young people over the years,” says Jeremy Zimmer of 877unmplyd, the career advice show he co-hosts on Twitch. (Like & Subscribe illustration; screenshots) I wrote about YouTube’s scramble to fend off Netflix in the talent wars, creators launching scripted series on Instagram, Spotify partnering with Twitch to challenge YouTube’s podcast dominance and LinkedIn’s creator boom.

(Like & Subscribe illustration; Jorg Greuel/Getty Images) I wrote about Sony’s search for a $500k-a-year YouTube whisperer, creators launching scripted series on Instagram, Spotify partnering with Twitch to challenge YouTube’s podcast dominance and LinkedIn’s creator boom. I’m natalie@theankler.com In recent months, top executives at YouTube began conferring about a very big problem: how to stop Netflix from raiding their platform for creator talent. At first, the deals weren’t much of a threat.

NEWSMAKERS Clockwise from top left: Sony is hiring a YouTube expert, Alex Cooper is making big moves, Travon Free (right) is producing an indie TV series and Marie Faustin is hosting a new show from First We Feast.