Why You Don’t Need Legacy Media to Build Legacy-Level Influence
Brian Tyler Cohen, his brand, personality, and production.
Like the other posts, I am new to consuming alternative news and news with a view online. The other week I looked at The Megyn Kelly Show now Brian Tyler Cohen.
Clearly I have been living under a rock, as I had no idea who
was or is until he was mentioned by a show team. Then I saw he was a guest on SUBSTACK show.
ATTENTION TV NEWS PRODUCERS: Look for experts on TikTok and YouTube. Tap into their point of view! It could help you revive your show and reconnect with your audience!
Want to Be Seen as an Expert? Don’t Wait for the Media to Call.
Traditional TV news still loves familiar names—those already quoted in articles, writing op-eds, or sitting atop the A-list of go-to guests. But that’s not where all the influence lives anymore.
I’m drawn to shows that are elevating alternative voices:
✔️ Journalists with strong points of view
✔️ Experts who show up to serve their audience
✔️ Public-facing personalities who are deeply engaged online
One example? Brian Tyler Cohen.
His YouTube Channel description is clear and states his promise: He “is one of the most viewed independent progressive political hosts on YouTube. Subscribe for daily breaking news clips followed by in-depth commentary; interviews with top figures (including President Biden, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, AOC, Elizabeth Warren, Jamie Raskin, Pete Buttigieg, Mark Cuban, Jen Psaki, Rachel Maddow, Nancy Pelosi, and many more); weekly video podcasts for a deep-dive into the week's most important stories; legal analysis on ‘The Legal Breakdown’ with Glenn Kirschner and voting rights news on ‘Democracy Watch’ with Marc Elias; and livestreams of major events, from debates to election results.”
BTC is unfiltered, opinionated, and undeniably curious. His set is simple yet sharp. He shows up in casual-professional attire—not your traditional “TV anchor” look—and still commands authority.
Because here’s the thing:
Suits don’t equal authority anymore. Subscribers do.
With 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, Cohen is the authority to his audience. Whether you agree with him or not, the platform—and the people—have made their decision.
Legacy-level influence used to mean being booked on cable news or published in major outlets. Today, it can mean hosting a YouTube show with millions of subscribers and driving real conversation on your terms.
Brian Tyler Cohen is not gaining credibility from a mainstream network. He’s built it by showing up consistently, delivering value, and speaking directly to his community.
This isn’t a review of his show’s content—this is a reminder: Authority is built, not assigned.
If you want to be seen as an expert in your space:
Share tips.
Weigh in on headlines.
Create b-roll reels with text on screen.
(I’ll break that down another day.)
Just start.
Brian Tyler Cohen didn’t become “Brian Tyler Cohen” without a system, a strategy, and a first post.
Start showing up like an expert before the press ever calls. Build your platform, and the platform will start building your authority.
To select the next show I spun the Wheel of Names which includes the current list of top 100 YouTube Podcasts. I landed on…
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