From Transport Evolved.
Every week we get dozens of emails from companies wanting us to review their products. Oil drain pans for an EV channel. Tesla accessories. Toddler toys. And when we do find something that looks legitimate, they want script approval, three rounds of revisions, and a one-week turnaround. That’s not a review. That’s an ad.
In this video we’re pulling back the curtain on what it actually looks like trying to find ethical sponsorships as an independent channel in 2026 — and why we keep saying no.
We also talk about where the channel is financially, what YouTube’s algorithm is doing to creators like
us, and what you can do to help keep Transport Evolved independent.
Plus bonus dogs… and Nikki shares her Vent Dragon Progress (which actually got finished just before she hit publish!)
(Want to try the FCSP integration Nikki built? –
GitHub: https://github.com/aminorjourney/local-fcsp)
Vent Dragons: https://www.etsy.com/listing/752793425/vent-dragons?ref=share_v4_lx
—–
⏱️ Episode Timeline
00:00 – Introduction & a fair warning
01:36 – Nikki does not own a violin
02:20 – Vent dragons! (A work in progress… almost)
04:46 – We’re not being promoted — here’s how to find us
07:39 – On YouTube, ad blockers, and supporting us anyway
09:20 – Honest talk: money is tight right now
11:04 – Finding good sponsors is genuinely hard
12:15 – The sponsored review space on YouTube is corrupt
14:10 – AI pitch emails are something else entirely
16:44 – Our editorial policy and why it puts companies off
18:26 – Please stop offering us Tesla accessories
19:20 – This is exhausting. Genuinely.
23:48 – The local Ford Charge Station Pro integration Nikki built
26:07 – Ortegas is still in the shop
27:12 – The US is getting scary. We need to talk about it.
31:12 – Why we can’t just pack up and leave
—-
*👥 Today’s Sponsors*
🌱 Electric Vehicle Association – https://www.myeva.org
⚡ EnergySage – https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101290941-16952262
—
✊ Get Involved 🗳️ https://indivisible.org/town-hall-resources
❤️ Support the Show
📰 https://www.transportevolved.com
🔥 https://www.patreon.com/transportevolved
☕ https://ko-fi.com/transportevolved
📺 https://www.youtube.com/transportevolved
👕 https://www.redbubble.com/people/TransportEVd/
🛍️ https://amzn.to/40xOyjm
₿ 1QRZRGCCXUKPDZ2DZ9KX9JYJXMZDYHYGFZ0MN4WH
*💬 Join the Conversation*
🐘 https://mastodon.transportevolved.com/@show
💬 https://discord.gg/9WAjfQn
💬 https://fluxer.gg/mcj8aehg
🌀 https://bsky.app/profile/transportevolved.bsky.social
🔁 Subscribe to our 2nd channel – https://www.youtube.com/transportevolvedtake2
—
*🎙️ Credits:*
Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Color: Vi Horton
Art & Animation : Erin Carlie
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Music: via Artlist.io
