Screw The Clout

Guest

Maria Jade — Adult Entertainment Performer
Host

Steve Stanulis
Podcast

Screw The Clout
Episode Overview

Maria Jade joins Steve Stanulis for a candid discussion about her experience in adult entertainment, her identity as a performer, and the realities of working in an industry often misunderstood by the public.
Key Discussion Points

Maria Jade's identity: How she describes herself as a nonconformist and why individuality matters to her.

Authenticity versus performance: The difference between someone's real personality and the character or role they portray on camera.

Entering the industry: Maria reflects on her career journey and the decisions that led her into adult entertainment.

Improvisation and creativity: How performers use spontaneity, personality, and creativity in their work.

Understanding audience preferences: A discussion about audience interests and the psychology behind recurring viewing habits.

The person behind the persona: How a professional identity can differ from someone's private life.

Mindset and self-awareness: Maria's perspective on being present, understanding yourself, and approaching work with confidence.

Motherhood and career: Maria discusses aspects of her life as a mother alongside her professional experiences.

The business of adult entertainment: Building a career, developing professional opportunities, and creating additional income through education and guidance.

Advice for newcomers: Maria shares how people interested in entering the industry can learn more through her one-on-one educational courses.

Closing Takeaway

Maria's story offers a personal look at adult entertainment beyond the finished product, exploring the balance between performance, individuality, business, and personal identity.
Suggested Audience

Listeners interested in entertainment, creator businesses, unconventional careers, personal branding, and candid conversations about industries that are often misunderstood.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host: Steve Stanulis · Guest: Ethan Steele · Podcast: Screw The Clout

Topics Covered


Ethan Steele's background in competitive judo and his ambition to join the police.


How a friend inspired him to start making comedy content.


His first viral video and the excitement of reaching millions of viewers.


Building a following through repeatable comedy and POV videos.


The reality of being recognized by strangers and connecting with fans.


His first brand deal and how he got into influencer management.


Why he turned down certain opportunities instead of chasing quick money.


How much he has earned from a single sponsored post.


Advice for creators starting with zero followers.


Why consistency and originality matter more than waiting for the perfect moment.


The pressure of monitoring views and comparing video performance.


How social media can affect confidence and mood.


Brand partnerships, sponsorship decisions, and staying authentic.


Ethan's views on cancellation, online relevance, and the reality of influencer lifestyles.


His plans to expand into long-form YouTube content.


Why staying approachable and responding to followers matters.

Episode Timestamps

Timestamps are approximate and based on the supplied transcript.

Timestamp
Topic

00:00
Introduction to Ethan Steele

01:40
From competitive judo to content creation

05:30
Finding his style of comedy content

07:10
Posting his first videos

09:50
The experience of going viral

14:00
Growing an audience and handling attention

17:00
Competition, confidence, and staying focused

24:20
Getting recognized by fans

28:00
Early brand deals and influencer income

30:00
Brand management and choosing partnerships

33:00
Advice for aspiring content creators

36:30
Consistency, views, and the pressure to perform

39:00
Rapid-fire questions about influencer life

40:00
Earnings from a single post

41:00
Brand deals Ethan would refuse

42:25
Cancellation versus becoming irrelevant

43:35
The reality behind influencer lifestyles

44:00
Ethan's future plans and long-form YouTube

46:00
Closing conversation

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Background & Immigrant Experience


Origins & Relocation: Dhawani moved from India to Edmonton, Canada, at age 12 or 13, experiencing significant culture shock around diversity, food, clothing, and accents before eventually settling in Toronto.


Social Media in India: She noted how platforms like Instagram give women in India freedom and financial independence.

Personal Growth & Authenticity


Overcoming High School Bullying: Dhawani shared that she was bullied in junior high/high school for not fitting conventional beauty norms (e.g., loud clothes, not shaving).


Authenticity as a Brand: Embracing her authentic self and showing unedited, makeup-free, or natural looks ultimately helped her connect deeply with her female audience.

Career Pivot & Viral Breakthrough


The Pivot from Comedy to Fashion: She spent five years creating comedy skits before taking a year-long break to transition into combining fashion with comedic elements.


Breakthrough Content: Her highest-performing video series showcased "hijabi versions" of her outfits, promoting inclusivity and inspiring a trend among other creators.

Creator Strategy & Advice


Consistency Over Algorithms: Dhawani emphasizes that consistency is the most important factor for growth—creators shouldn't get attached to immediate view counts or base their entire career on a single video.


Dealing with Hate Comments: She manages negative comments by maintaining perspective, recognizing that online vitriol often comes from miserable or anonymous accounts.


Monetization & Pitching: She notes that fashion brands often prefer gifting over cash payments initially, and creators must proactively pitch to brands rather than waiting for deals to come to them.

AI & Content Creation


Authenticity vs. AI: Dhawani views AI as a tool for brainstorming and overcoming creative slumps, but believes human authenticity, intuition, and real connection can never be fully replaced.

Rapid-Fire Q&A


Platform Preference: Instagram


Dream Celebrity to Style: Zendaya


Dream Brand Collaboration: SKIMS


Favorite City: Toronto


Ultimate Bucket List Goal: New York Fashion Week


Backup Career Plan: Professional Boxing

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cherie DeVille's story begins long before adult entertainment.

She was already a licensed physical therapist with a successful career when she began exploring modeling. She was also a professional swing dancer and participated in 1940s-style pinup modeling.

A photographer introduced her to Model Mayhem, where she began taking modeling work on the weekends. What started as a way to earn some extra money eventually led to an opportunity to travel to Los Angeles and shoot an adult film.

Cherie describes the decision as less of a career move and more of a bucket-list experience. She wanted to be able to look back on her life and know she had taken unusual opportunities rather than wondering what might have happened.

But after her first film, something unexpected happened: she loved it.

The work, the production environment, the people, and the creative side appealed to her personality. What she initially considered an experiment gradually became a legitimate career.

From Performer to Business Owner

One of the most interesting parts of the episode is Cherie's explanation of how the economics of the industry have changed.

When she began, performers largely worked for production companies. Those companies controlled the production, including the crew, wardrobe, makeup, locations, distribution, and marketing.

Today, the barrier to becoming an independent creator is dramatically lower.

Cherie explains that creators can now produce and distribute their own material with minimal equipment and infrastructure. The result is an industry where performers can increasingly operate as their own companies rather than simply working for someone else's production.

How OnlyFans Changed the Game

Cherie believes OnlyFans fundamentally changed the relationship between creators and audiences.

The important innovation wasn't simply selling videos online. It was creating a system where fans could interact directly with performers.

That created a new business model based around content + personal interaction + audience relationships.

Cherie explains that she can earn more through direct fan interaction even while selling more traditional content elsewhere. Custom content and personal communication allow fans to feel much closer to the creator they follow.

The New Creator Economy

Steve asks whether someone starting an OnlyFans account today has already missed the opportunity.

Cherie's answer is no—but with an important qualification.

She argues that modern adult entertainment is increasingly a marketing business.

Building an audience on platforms such as Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch, or other social platforms can be more important than simply being a talented performer.

In other words:

Build the audience first. Then monetize the attention.

That idea fits directly into the philosophy of Screw the Clout: understanding attention, personal branding, entrepreneurship, and what happens when you turn an audience into a business.

Cherie vs. The Character

Perhaps the biggest misconception about Cherie is that her on-screen personality represents who she is privately.

She explains that “Cherie DeVille” is essentially a brand and character designed around a particular fantasy and audience expectation.

Off camera, she's much more introverted and nerdy than people might expect.

She enjoys:

Video games

Dungeons & Dragons

Puzzles

Books

Tea

Spending time at home

Her cat

That contrast between the public persona and the private individual is one of the most revealing parts of the conversation.

Fame or Money?

During the rapid-fire segment, Cherie chooses money over fame.

Her reasoning is surprisingly practical: money can create security and generational wealth, while excessive fame can eliminate the ability to live a normal life.

She says she would actually prefer maintaining enough anonymity to be able to go grocery shopping without constantly being recognized.

The Final Message

The episode ends with one of Cherie's strongest answers.

When Steve asks what she would say to someone who is ready to quit pursuing their dream, Cherie argues that people shouldn't abandon their passions simply because those passions aren't immediately profitable.

You may need a conventional job to pay the bills, but that doesn't mean you have to stop creating, performing, painting, dancing, making music, doing comedy, or pursuing whatever genuinely gives you purpose.

Her underlying message is simple:

Money is necessary, but passion is necessary too.

And you don't need anyone else's validation to keep pursuing something that matters to you.

Guest

Cherie DeVille

Adult entertainer, creator, entrepreneur, and social-media personality.

Find Cherie

Cherie directs listeners to cheritaville.com, where she says fans can find her writing, blogs, social media, and links to her various creator platforms.

Podcast

Screw the Clout with Steve Stanulis

A podcast about fame, influence, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the people behind the public image.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:

Hope Giselle's journey before social media recognition

Why her first career goal was becoming a professional makeup artist

The unexpected path from beauty to activism

The moment she realized people genuinely cared about her message

Building influence through authenticity rather than trends

The responsibility that comes with a public platform

Creating a personal brand with purpose

Why meaningful conversations matter more than chasing clout

Lessons from public speaking and advocacy

Staying true to yourself while growing an audience

Guest: Hope Giselle
Host: Steve Stanulis
Podcast: Screw The Clout

This episode explores how purpose, authenticity, and finding your voice can build a lasting brand in today's digital world.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.