16 June 2026
Gary Vaynerchuk (VaynerX) on the Next Digital Gold Rush, AI, and Intellectual Property
Social Currency with Sammi Cohen
About
Twenty years after uploading his first YouTube video, Gary Vaynerchuk is still obsessed with where attention is going next. Today, he joins Sammi to talk about his predictions and why it’s not too late to get started on social media.
Gary explains why he believes social media has become “interest media,” how AI and authenticity are not mutually exclusive, and why quantity remains one of the biggest competitive advantages in content.
They also discuss the rise of live shopping, why Gary is betting big on IRL experiences, and the long-term vision behind VeeFriends—his modern intellectual property empire centered around optimism, accountability, and character development. Along the way, Gary shares his approach to mental health, whether he wants his kids to take over his business, and the one thing he still hasn’t done yet. Plus, they revisit one of Sammi’s favorite pieces of Gary’s content… and it’s a real tearjerker.
Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram
Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter
Follow Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends
Here’s What Sammi Covers with Gary:
00:00 Gary Vaynerchuk’s Social Currency
02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Business
03:37 Uploading His First YouTube Video 20 Years Ago
05:34 Why Gary Only Talks About What He Knows
07:22 Why Social Media Became “Interest Media”
09:35 The Platform Predictions That Made Gary Famous
12:13 Why Content Merit Matters More Than Followers
14:20 Partner Message: Rula
15:36 Partner Message: Bilt
16:36 AI, Authenticity, and the Creator Dilemma
17:57 Why Quantity Is a Competitive Advantage
19:00 The Power of “And” Instead of “Or”
20:25 Why Gary Is Betting Big on IRL Experiences
21:14 The Rise of Analog in a Digital World
22:24 What Gary Will Never Outsource to AI
24:20 Why Great Businesses Ignore Personal Preference
25:12 Will Humans Eventually Marry AI?
26:23 The Upside of AI That People Ignore
27:33 The Video That Best Captures Gary’s Philosophy
28:53 Why Gary Cares So Much About Underdogs
30:10 The Difference Between Positivity and Delusion32:20 Gary’s Approach to Mental Health
33:23 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal
34:37 Partner Message: Shopify
35:57 What Gary Wants for His Kids
37:50 Why VeeFriends Is His Most Important Project
39:34 Building an IP Empire Through Character-Based Storytelling
42:13 Why Live Shopping Is Finally Taking Off
44:10 Gary’s Advice for Sammi’s New Live Show
46:06 Why Creators Need More Content on More Platforms
46:29 Gary’s First Viral Video
47:33 Who Gets the Good News—and Who Gets the Bad News
48:08 Whether Gary Will Ever Take a Real Break
49:28 The 15/85 System That Runs His Career
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Mercury: mercury.com
Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency
Bilt: joinbilt.com/socialcurrency
Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gary explains why he believes social media has become “interest media,” how AI and authenticity are not mutually exclusive, and why quantity remains one of the biggest competitive advantages in content.
They also discuss the rise of live shopping, why Gary is betting big on IRL experiences, and the long-term vision behind VeeFriends—his modern intellectual property empire centered around optimism, accountability, and character development. Along the way, Gary shares his approach to mental health, whether he wants his kids to take over his business, and the one thing he still hasn’t done yet. Plus, they revisit one of Sammi’s favorite pieces of Gary’s content… and it’s a real tearjerker.
Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram
Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter
Follow Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends
Here’s What Sammi Covers with Gary:
00:00 Gary Vaynerchuk’s Social Currency
02:14 Partner Message: Mercury for Business
03:37 Uploading His First YouTube Video 20 Years Ago
05:34 Why Gary Only Talks About What He Knows
07:22 Why Social Media Became “Interest Media”
09:35 The Platform Predictions That Made Gary Famous
12:13 Why Content Merit Matters More Than Followers
14:20 Partner Message: Rula
15:36 Partner Message: Bilt
16:36 AI, Authenticity, and the Creator Dilemma
17:57 Why Quantity Is a Competitive Advantage
19:00 The Power of “And” Instead of “Or”
20:25 Why Gary Is Betting Big on IRL Experiences
21:14 The Rise of Analog in a Digital World
22:24 What Gary Will Never Outsource to AI
24:20 Why Great Businesses Ignore Personal Preference
25:12 Will Humans Eventually Marry AI?
26:23 The Upside of AI That People Ignore
27:33 The Video That Best Captures Gary’s Philosophy
28:53 Why Gary Cares So Much About Underdogs
30:10 The Difference Between Positivity and Delusion32:20 Gary’s Approach to Mental Health
33:23 Partner Message: Mercury for Personal
34:37 Partner Message: Shopify
35:57 What Gary Wants for His Kids
37:50 Why VeeFriends Is His Most Important Project
39:34 Building an IP Empire Through Character-Based Storytelling
42:13 Why Live Shopping Is Finally Taking Off
44:10 Gary’s Advice for Sammi’s New Live Show
46:06 Why Creators Need More Content on More Platforms
46:29 Gary’s First Viral Video
47:33 Who Gets the Good News—and Who Gets the Bad News
48:08 Whether Gary Will Ever Take a Real Break
49:28 The 15/85 System That Runs His Career
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Mercury: mercury.com
Rula: rula.com/socialcurrency
Bilt: joinbilt.com/socialcurrency
Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices