Kristi Cook, the content creator behind “Spill Sesh,” is stepping into a new chapter with investigative YouTuber Sloan Hooks, blending humor, insight, and behind-the-scenes storytelling in their new podcast, “Popity with Sloan Hooks & Kristi Cook.”

“We really wanted it to be something that was different from the videos we create every day,” she says. “Something where we could have people on, have fun, interview, go to events, and just be creative.”

Produced and distributed by Studio71, “POPITY” debuted in October with Trisha Paytas as its first guest. Recorded in Kristi’s car over fries and candid conversation, the episode signaled what the duo intends “POPITY” to be: irreverent, self-aware, and unfiltered, but grounded by the professional storytelling instincts that made “Spill Sesh” one of the most-watched commentary brands online.

From Anonymous Voice to Recognizable Creator

Long before “POPITY,” Kristi had already built a digital brand, one that started, as many YouTubers do, in a bedroom with a laptop. 

“I feel like I’ve been creating content forever,” she says, laughing at the memory of middle-school videos buried deep on her hard drive. Journalism was her first calling. After working briefly at USA Today in college and later at TMZ, she discovered that she wanted more creative freedom than the newsroom could offer.

By 2018, she began uploading commentary videos under the anonymous persona “Spill Sesh.” “At first it was just text on the screen,” she recalls. “Then I thought, I’ll just do a voice-over and pictures.” What started as a side project turned into one of YouTube’s most recognized “tea” channels, amassing more than 480 million views.

For five years, her identity remained a mystery until The New York Times revealed her name in 2023. That moment, she says, changed everything. “I definitely feel closer to my audience now,” Kristi explains. “They know who they’re getting their information from. I can be on camera at the beginning of my videos, get creative, and do way more than just pictures and a voice-over.”

Revealing herself, she adds, also relieved an unexpected pressure. “Honestly, I was more stressed when I was anonymous,” she admits. “I felt this fear that someone else might put it out there before I could.”

Building a Pop Culture Empire

Kristi’s fascination with internet fame stretches back to her teenage years. “In middle school I was obsessed with YouTubers,” she says. “It was that in-between phase of growing out of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon and discovering YouTube. I was so invested in these people’s lives.”

That early curiosity turned into a professional instinct: she realized there was an appetite for serious coverage of creators, long before “influencer” became mainstream vocabulary. “No one was covering them in the news because they weren’t seen as real celebrities yet,” she recalls. “Now people view influencers as celebrities, but back then it wasn’t the case.”

Over time, “Spill Sesh” became known not only for its sharp delivery but also for its restraint. Kristi rarely injected personal bias, preferring to give audiences the full story. “I’ve learned to be a more neutral space where people can hear all sides,” she says. “In the beginning it was all ‘my opinion this, my opinion that,’ but now I want people to decide for themselves.”

That balance between curiosity and care helped Kristi build trust in a genre often accused of sensationalism. It also paved the way for her next act.

The Making of ‘POPITY’

The idea for “POPITY” began in a car. “Sloan and I were just going shopping one day last January,” Kristi recalls. “We said, we should do something together. We wanted it to be different from our YouTube channels; something visual, with segments, more like a modern version of E! News living on the internet.”

Both creators shared the same management – Slash Management and UTA – and both wanted a professional partner before launching. “We didn’t want to start it without a partner because we really wanted some guidance, especially on editing,” she says. “But we’re still super hands-on. I’m there editing and sending notes. It feels like our baby.”

When a deal with Studio71 came through nearly a year later, the timing aligned perfectly. Kristi and Hooks had already filmed several episodes, knowing that guest schedules in Los Angeles can change overnight. “We’ll film it and figure it out later,” she says.

Today, they’ve recorded more than a dozen interviews, each designed to feel spontaneous yet tightly produced. “We just sit down and go,” she says. “Once the camera starts rolling, we’re on.”

Inside the Process

“POPITY” may sound like a studio-backed project, but its production remains DIY-like. “We film in my garage,” Kristi shares. “It’s literally just the two of us.” The intimacy shows: the show’s most viral moments often come from casual exchanges rather than scripted commentary.

Episodes drop every Thursday and feature recurring segments: “Who Wore It Better”, “Devil’s Advocate,” and “Gossip on the Go” that borrow from the nostalgia of early-2000s entertainment TV while updating it for short-form platforms. “We wanted to bring some of that back, play on nostalgia, but make it interactive,” Kristi notes. “People can comment and vote on what they think.”

The hosts handle creative planning over text, constantly swapping edits and thumbnail ideas. “We’re so in tune with one another,” Kristi says. “We’ll text, ‘Did you like this cut?’ or ‘Use this graphic here.’ It’s been easy and fun.”

The two met online years ago, bonded over shared interests, and eventually became close friends offline. “He had no idea what I even looked like because I was still anonymous,” Kristi says. “He just agreed to go to dinner, and it was such good vibes.”

A Business Built on Chemistry

Behind the banter lies a growing business model. Studio71 oversees distribution, marketing, and ad sales, while the co-hosts manage YouTube uploads and community engagement. “We just monetized the YouTube channel today,” Kristi reveals. “We’re definitely hoping for ad reads through Studio71 and seeing what else could come.”

Brand partnerships are on the wishlist, too. “I’d love a sponsor the way Barstool does: ‘brought to you by High Noon’ or something,” she says with a grin. “Or even a food place. Love it, would love it.”

Short-form clips drive most of their marketing. “We’re posting a ton of short-form,” she says. “That’s how everyone promotes now, whether it’s a show, a movie, or a song. Short-form is the way.”

Kristi’s strategy reflects a broader shift in the creator economy: commentary channels transforming into multi-platform media brands. “POPITY” is a hybrid of video, vlog, and variety show. Each week, Kristi and Hooks switch between celebrity interviews, light-hearted debates, and cultural commentary that feels conversational rather than combative. “On our channels, we talk about serious stuff,” she says. “With ‘POPITY,’ we just have fun with it.”

Commentary and Connection

For Kristi, the podcast isn’t just an expansion, but rather a recalibration. After years of being a voice behind a screen, she’s enjoying visibility on her own terms. 

“It’s exciting,” she says. “When I started, I was in my childhood bedroom making videos over Christmas break. Now I have a studio in my garage. It just feels unreal.”

That growth has also changed her relationship with her audience. On TikTok, she’s become more candid, sharing off-the-cuff thoughts and personal reactions. “I’ve become an open book over there,” she admits. “If someone can vent about a popsicle, I can vent about a popsicle too. Someone’s gonna relate.”

Still, she’s conscious of the responsibility that comes with influence. “People think we hate the people we talk about,” she says. “But that’s not true. Justin and Hailey [Bieber] could be in a drama and we’ll talk about it, but it doesn’t mean we hate them. It’s just the headlines.”

What Comes Next?

Three episodes in, Kristi is already thinking about expansion: more reality-TV guests, more on-the-go interviews, and maybe even a “POPITY” news network. “I’d love it if it became its own little news network,” she says. “We could do red carpets as ‘POPITY’ and include that in the show, to make it a fun, entertaining place to be.”

As for her broader career, she’s keeping her definition of success simple. “Doing what I love from home has been amazing,” she reflects. “I used to wake up at 4:30 in the morning and drive two hours to work. Now I can wake up, come up with an idea, and just do it.”

Her advice to other creators is equally straightforward: “People really want to hear from someone passionate about what they’re talking about. If you just made a video like you were talking to your friends about something you love, I really think it would work out.”

And when it comes to her plans, Kristi smiles. “Wherever the wind takes me,” she concludes. “I’m just super excited to see what else is to come.”

Photo credit: Hunter Cohen

Checkout Our Latest Podcast