Kristi Cook On Building Spill Sesh And Her Popity Podcast

Photo Credit: Hunter Moreno

Kristi Cook has made her mark on internet culture as the creator of Spill Sesh—YouTube’s biggest “tea” channel with over 827K subscribers and 477M views. What began as anonymous commentary on influencer drama and Hollywood gossip has evolved into one of the most-watched pop culture channels online.

Now co-hosting Popity, her new Studio71 podcast with fellow creator Sloan Hooks, Kristi continues to blend humor, insight, and internet-savvy storytelling. With features in The New York Times, NBC, and Vulture, and collaborations with @creators and @threads, she’s become a standout voice in the digital space.

Photo Credit: Hunter Moreno

We chatted with Kristi to discuss the inspiration behind Spill Sesh, the evolution of internet culture, and what’s next for her.

Haute Living: What was the inspiration behind Tea? What made you start it?

Kristi Cook: The inspiration behind Tea really came from my obsession with internet culture. I’ve always loved watching YouTube and found a community there where people were talking about influencers at a time when mainstream media wasn’t really covering that world. It felt like this whole new space where conversations about online creators were finally happening and I wanted to be part of it. So, I started making my own videos, and from there it just grew into something bigger than I ever expected.

HL: What is the current “tea”?

KC: The world of online creators moves fast. Right now, people are buzzing about everything from Taylor Swift’s new album and the hidden meanings fans are dissecting, to the Kardashians’ new season and all the family drama that’s coming with it. There’s Oscar buzz starting to build, new dating rumors popping up every day, and a few breakups that have everyone talking.

HL: Now that the channel is no longer anonymous, how has your life changed?

KC: I was always a little paranoid about it getting out before I was ready. I think a lot of people were nervous for me too, like they thought revealing who I was would open me up to lawsuits or something. But that really wasn’t the case. I’ve always tried to make my videos fair and give all sides to a story or internet opinion, so once I did come out, it was actually fine.

Photo Credit: Hunter Moreno

It’s honestly been really nice being more personal and open. It’s allowed me to build real relationships in the creator space and connect with people in a way I couldn’t when I was anonymous. It’s definitely changed things, but in the best way.

HL: Where do you hope to see the channel in 5 years?

KC: In five years, I really want to see the channel evolve beyond just commentary and become a full storytelling platform still rooted in pop culture, but with more depth. I’d love to create more long-form pieces, interviews, and maybe even projects that take people behind the scenes of the internet world in a bigger way.

At the same time, I always want to keep that original vibe and make sure people are getting what they originally came for the feeling of catching up with a friend who’s just as obsessed with this world as you are.

HL: What can we expect from your new podcast Popity?

KC: Popity is where I want to have more fun and get experimental with the content. It’s not just going to be your typical podcast. Sloan and I want to mix in vlogs, interviews, and moments that really show the behind-the-scenes side of pop culture. It’s going to be a space to try new things, have real conversations, and just have a good time with it. I’m really excited about it.