How to Make VIRAL REACTION Reels That Get Views, Watch Time, and Engagement
How to Make VIRAL REACTION Reels That Get Views, Watch Time, and Engagement  
Podcast: School of Influence
Published On: Thu Apr 02 2026
Description: Want to learn how to make viral reaction reels that get more views, watch time, and engagement?In this powerful episode, we hear an emotional story from a content creator who shares his journey from a blue collar job to building a personal brand. He discusses how creating content changed my life, detailing his struggles with homelessness and his path to becoming a successful content creator. This candid conversation offers a glimpse into the realities behind the scenes and the dedication required to transition from a 9 to 5 to online success.Devin Schubert sits down with Leonard Firestone to break down how viral reels actually work, why reaction content can be so powerful, and what creators need to understand if they want to make content people genuinely want to watch, rewatch, share, and talk about.Leonard Firestone is a content creator, storyteller, and podcast host from Muskogee, Oklahoma. What started as a personal outlet during some of the hardest seasons of his life turned into a massive digital platform. In this conversation, Leonard shares how he went from working as a plumber and climbing out of dark seasons of life to building a large audience through reaction content, storytelling, authenticity, and consistency.This episode goes way deeper than “how to go viral.”Leonard breaks down why some reaction reels work and others fall flat, how to know if a clip is actually worth reacting to, how to improve your hook, how to create reactions that feel real instead of forced, and why watch time, replay value, and engagement matter so much if you want your content to spread.He also shares how he finds viral clips, what he avoids because of copyright risk, how he thinks about platform differences, how he handles hate comments, how monetization really works, and why many creators stay stuck because they are too focused on what they want to post instead of what actually serves the viewer.If you are a creator, coach, speaker, entrepreneur, or leader who wants to understand how to make stronger short form content, this episode is packed with practical strategy, honest insight, and real behind the scenes perspective from someone who has built massive reach through humor, relatability, and authentic reactions.In this episode, we cover:How Leonard got started in content creationWhy reaction videos can create more watch timeHow to find clips worth reacting toWhat makes people watch a reel more than onceHow to create stronger hooksWhy authenticity beats forcing trendsHow to use comments to improve your contentWhat to avoid with copyrights and repostingHow to respond to hate comments without losing your mindWhy engagement matters more than just viewsWhat newer creators should focus on firstHow to keep going when content feels hardConnect with Leonard:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1LFirestoneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/1lfirestone/Connect with Devin:Website: https://www.devinschubert.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/schubertdevinInfluence Academy: https://influenceacademyonline.com/Stories to Stages: https://www.storiestostages.com