He Grew a Wildlife YouTube Channel to 80K Subs While Working Full-Time

Ben Zino started filming wildlife in his backyard at 15 years old — no car, no fancy gear, just a passion for conservation. Nearly a decade later, his channel The Wild Report has grown to 80,000 subscribers and 300 videos, all while working a full-time job. Whether you're a wildlife creator or not, Ben's approach to storytelling, packaging, and staying passionate will resonate with any creator building on the side.

About Ben:

Ben Zino is a conservation biologist and environmental educator with a passion for getting people excited about the amazing wildlife that we share this planet with! His content brand, The Wild Report, focuses on inspiring viewers to get outside and engage with local green spaces and conservation efforts.

Connect With Ben:

YouTube Channel

What We Offer Creators

Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE!

Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach

YouTube Channel Reviews (Audit): Get a 7-10 minute personalized video review of your YouTube channel with honest, actionable feedback for just $50.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more!

All Tools Mentioned On The Show: The Ultimate Entrepreneurs Resource. This is the spreadsheet where I keep all of the tools mentioned by all the guests on the podcast.

Follow The Show:

Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

Timestamps:

0:00 — The unpredictability of filming wildlife 0:30 — Intro: Meet Ben Zino from The Wild Report 2:00 — How The Wild Report started at age 15 4:00 — How the channel has evolved over a decade 6:30 — Planning trips & being sought out by researchers 8:00 — How YouTube has changed in the wildlife space 11:00 — On-location filming tips: always get more B-roll 13:00 — Time management as a part-time creator 15:30 — Improving storytelling: the thesis statement method 17:30 — Example: copperhead snake thesis statement 18:30 — Evolving on-camera presence: teacher vs. fact presenter 20:00 — Ben's minimal filming kit & tools 22:00 — Authenticity & transparency on YouTube in 2026 22:45 — Monetization: seasonal income & creative freedom 25:30 — What Ben wishes he learned sooner 27:00 — The importance of packaging & ethical thumbnails 29:30 — Final advice: keep your content ecosystem vibrant