How Club 30 with Henrik Lundqvist Could Blow Up

Club 30 with Henrik Lundqvist is a podcast with everything going for it: high-quality production, a charismatic host in Henrik Lundqvist, and an A-list guest list featuring names like Rick Hoffman, Clint Eastwood, and more. Yet, when I checked out their YouTube channel, I was heartbroken to see the views didn’t match the caliber of the content. For example, an episode with Rick Hoffman—known for his role as Harvey Specter in Suits—only has 12,000 views. That’s not a failure; it’s an opportunity.

In this article, I’m breaking down what Club 30 could do to skyrocket their reach and views on YouTube. With a few simple tweaks—think better thumbnails, smarter segmentation, and clearer branding—they could double or even triple their numbers in the next three months. Here’s my take, based on what I’ve seen work on my own channel and across the platform.

The Thumbnail Trap: Why Club 30 Isn’t Clicking

Let’s start with the obvious: thumbnails are the gateway to views. When I looked at the Rick Hoffman episode, the thumbnail barely showed his face. Henrik and Rick’s faces were there, sure, but they were so small you’d need a magnifying glass to recognize them. That’s a missed chance.

The Fix: Bigger Faces, Bigger Results

YouTube’s algorithm thrives on click-through rates (CTR), and thumbnails are your first impression. If you can’t instantly tell who’s in the video, viewers scroll past. My suggestion? Zoom in so the celebrity’s face takes up a higher percentage of the frame—think 50-70%. Pair that with bold, contrasting colors and a text overlay that hooks curiosity.

For Rick’s episode, imagine a thumbnail with his face front and center, plus a quote like, “I Never Did This on a Show!” (a gem from the episode where he talks about using Play-Doh on set). That’s not clickbait—it’s what he actually said. I’d bet that tweak alone could double their CTR and, over three months, double their views per episode.

Take a cue from a related video I spotted: an interview tying Rick to his Suits character, Harvey Specter, with a close-up shot and a punchy quote. That video? 1.7 million views. Proof this works.

Club 30 Youtube channel

The Untapped Goldmine: Breaking Down Long Episodes

At 54 minutes, the Rick Hoffman episode is packed with stories—like him breaking a golden rule by using props on set. But Club 30 isn’t leveraging that content fully. One long video isn’t enough in 2025; YouTube rewards variety and specificity.

The Fix: Segments and Shorts

Here’s where they’re missing out: segments and shorts. From a one-hour episode, you can easily pull eight solid clips—think 5-10 minute segments or 60-second reels. On my channel, I took a single interview with Justin that got 350,000 views, then spun off clips that added another 82,000 and 583,000 views. Total? Nearly a million from one conversation.

For Club 30, picture a segment titled “Rick Hoffman Is NOT Who He Plays on TV” or a short with “Clint Eastwood’s Advice Changed My Life.” Each clip gets its own thumbnail and title, multiplying the chances of hooking viewers. They’ve got 150 videos already—apply this to half of them, and that’s 75 new chances to go viral.

Chapters: The Secret Weapon for Discoverability

Another low-hanging fruit? Chapters. Club 30 isn’t consistently breaking episodes into timestamped sections, which is a huge missed opportunity. On my channel, chapters turned one episode into a searchable goldmine.

The Fix: Index Every Moment

When I added chapters to Justin’s interview—like “His Biggest Career Mistake” or “The Day He Quit”—YouTube didn’t just show the full video in search results; it surfaced individual segments too. Search “Rick Hoffman” on Google, and you’ll see video results dominate. If Club 30 indexed their episodes (e.g., “Rick’s Play-Doh Story” at 1:46), those moments could rank independently, pulling in viewers who’d never find the full 54-minute upload.

Check their top video—78,000 views—with chapters like “Favorite Ranger Moments.” Retention data showed a spike there. Clip that out, give it a thumbnail like Henrik smiling with a hockey stick, and you’ve got a standalone hit. It’s not hard; it’s just intentional.

Club 30 Podcast top videos

Branding Confusion: Who Is Club 30 For?

Stepping back, the channel’s branding needs work. The “Club 30” icon is sleek but hard to read, and “Henrik Lundqvist” isn’t front and center. As a new viewer (say, a director like me who stumbled on the Rick Hoffman episode), I didn’t instantly get what the podcast offers. Hockey? Actors? Something else?

The Fix: Define the Content Pillars

Clarity converts subscribers. Right now, Club 30 feels like a mystery club—ironic, given the name. I’d revamp the banner with live images of Henrik and standout guests (athletes, actors, musicians) to signal the vibe. Add a tagline like “Where Sports, Stars, and Stories Collide” or list content buckets: “Sports Legends,” “Hollywood Insights,” “Life Lessons.”

Their top episodes—78K, 48K, 30K, 20K—hint at what works. Find guests who fit those molds and lean into that niche. It simplifies booking and targets a specific audience avatar, whether it’s sports fans or entertainment buffs.

Shorts That Pop: A Final Boost

Club 30 is dabbling in shorts, but they’re not hitting the mark. Take one with Rick Hoffman quoting Clint Eastwood: “Never let anybody tell me to not use my voice.” It’s good, but the pacing drags, and there’s no visual punch.

The Fix: Tighten and Visualize

Cut the pauses, add a quick shot of Clint Eastwood (public domain or licensed), and tweak the title to “Clint Eastwood Told Me This at 25.” Hooks matter—make it snappy and recognizable. Shorts are dominating social media; Club 30 could ride that wave with minimal effort.

The Big Picture: A Per-Video Game

Here’s the kicker: YouTube isn’t about subscribers anymore—it’s a per-video algorithm. Each upload gets judged on its own merits, matched to viewers based on psychographics. My Rick Hoffman video popped up because I’m into directing and actor interviews, not because I follow Club 30. With 150 videos, they’ve got a library ready to explode if they optimize each one.

The Prediction: Triple Views in Three Months

Add it up—better thumbnails, segmented clips, chapters, clear branding, and punchy shorts—and Club 30 could transform. I’d wager they’d double their views in three months, maybe triple if they hit a viral clip. They’ve got the content; they just need the strategy.

Axel Axe analyzing the interview with Rick Hoffman

Final Thoughts

Club 30 with Henrik Lundqvist is a sleeping giant on YouTube. The production’s there, the guests are stellar, and Henrik’s a natural. With these tweaks, they could turn 12,000-view episodes into six-figure hits and build a channel that matches their ambition.

What do you think—any other tricks they should try? Hit me up on social media; I’m always down to chat podcast growth!