In this episode of Entertainment, podcast contributor Celina Landero Valenzuela sits with Chad Johnson, a hard content creator, athlete and sign language educator with over 1.6 million Tiktok followers. Chad opens up about how his friends encouraged him to share ASL online, how he got viral on the seemingly overnight, and what it's like to represent the US deaf men's national soccer team. From dispelling myths about the identity of the deaf person, to dreaming big in the Los Angeles modeling scene, Chad brings insight, humor and heart to this broad conversation.
Mia Fernandez:hello everyone. Today, podcast contributor Celina Landero Valenzuela is joined by content creator Chad Johnson, who teaches sign language on social media platforms. They discuss Chad's experience as a public figure and his goals for the future.
Celina Landero Valenzuela:Welcome, Chad! How are you?
Chad Johnson:I'm fine, thank you for having me.
CLV: Tell me a little about yourself.
CJ: Yeah! My name is Chad Johnson. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but I haven't heard of it. I can't hear. I wear two hearing aids on my ears.
CLV: Understood. I'd like to ask you, what made you start writing content on Tiktok and other platforms?
CJ:Yeah, so I teach sign language on all platforms. It was my friend Shaheem who put me in it. He kept pushing me, but I was blowing it off at first. One day I just made a video and the next thing I know, I started to get all these followers and cautions I wasn't used to. I hit a million followers in two weeks – that was insane.
I never imagined posting sign language content as my niche. I actually learned sign language. I studied Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Anyone who goes there and doesn't know the sign yet must learn it.
Before that, I grew up and spoke in the world of hearing. It was my first time interacting with other deaf and listeners like me.
CLV: How old were you at that time?
CJ: I was 20 years old.
CLV: And is that when you start making content?
CJ:No, that came later. We started creating content around 22 or 23.
CLV: So, did that happen a bit out of nowhere?
CJ: Yeah! Someone requested the video and I made it, it exploded – and people continued to request more in the comments. So I ran with that. I've been doing it ever since.
CLV: So you're one of the creators who didn't seem to be going viral.
CJ: that's right. It went viral and I just stayed consistent. It's something people like – not people who post randomly, but people who show up every day. They learn something every day, have a laugh, and the comments are always authentic. Such feedback really makes my day.
CLV: We met on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube. Where else can you find you?
CJ: I'm also on Twitter and Facebook.
CLV: Which platform is your favorite?
CJ: It's true. That's where I started and there are all sorts of videos that you won't see anywhere else. Edit everything there. That's definitely number one for me.
CLV: And the Tiktok you have the most followers, right?
CJ:Yeah, 1.6 million.
CLV:Do you get lots of DMs?
CJ:Oh, every day. Some are very authentic – they are now able to communicate better to the deaf and listen, so I appreciate it. Others are just people shooting their shots… sometimes they say some wild things. That's really different!
CLV: You're a soccer player too, right?
CJ:Yeah – I play for the US national soccer team for the deaf. It's just like a normal national team, but for the deaf and deaf of the athletes who are deaf and meet the criteria. We compete internationally.
CLV:Is one of your teammates creating content?
CJ:No, it's just me. But they call me “Mr. Famous” or “King Chat.” I will include them in some of my videos – teach soccer signs and share our language with the public and soccer fans.
CLV: What is the biggest misconception of the deaf community?
CJ: One big thing is people who assume that deaf people cannot speak. Also, the term “deaf” – many people don't like it. It frames hearing loss as a disorder in a negative way. I personally don't offend you, but that's what I'm trying to educate people.
CLV:Where do you think you'll be in a few years?
CJ:I didn't think that long before, but I definitely want to take part in modeling and acting.
CLV: You're in LA – that's where you do it!
CJ: that's right. So I build my pages, network and come out there.
CLV: Have you reached out to the producers or brands?
CJ: There are a few, but many. I have to embrace more initiatives and sell myself. It's difficult in LA – not free, there's a lot of competition. But I'm going to keep it up.
CLV: Did you just mention that you are heading to Tokyo?
CJ: Yeah! He has qualified for the Olympics for the Deaf. Last year we went to Brazil and now we are heading to Tokyo for about three weeks. Before that, there are five training camps. The goal is to win money.
CLV: What happened when Tiktok was almost banned?
CJ:I was panicked! People were telling me to move on to other apps like I liked, but that wasn't the same vibe. I was in a hurry to post everything in the draft. I didn't want to lose all of that job.
CLV: Do you still create content while traveling?
CJ: of course. I make videos with my teammates, show my soccer signs, and do video blogs. This is a day of life like a national team of hearing impaired people.
CLV: Are you editing your own videos?
CJ: Yeah. Editing is easy for me now.
CLV: How many videos do you make per day?
CJ: When I first exploded, I made 20 videos a day and posted three times a day. Now I post once a day to save energy and content.
CLV: Is there a best day to post?
CJ: It depends on the content, but it is called Friday or Saturday. But some people like Mondays – that's not the case.
CLV: Have you ever adjusted your content to a specific country or culture based on your followers?
CJ: not much. I post any atmosphere. But my audience is very loyal and diverse – all ages in the world. It's wild.
CLV: This is very wonderful. Thank you for coming here and sharing your story with us and UCLA.
CJ: of course! Thank you for welcoming me.
