Making the Brand | Marketing with a Pop Culture Twist

In a world where nostalgia once reigned supreme in marketing, there's a shift happening. Join us in this episode as we sit down with Ted Harrison, founder of neuemotion, to explore how nostalgia as we know it is evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities for marketers. We'll Cover: Millennial vs. Gen Z Nostalgia: We dive in on how our shared experiences differ. We also reminisce...

Would you ever consider yourself an influencer? Spoiler alert: you are one. In this episode, we discuss everyone's power to influence and make an impact in your community, with a little inspiration from Dave Portnoy's One Pizza Bite Reviews. Dave is the controversial founder of the multimedia company and pop culture website, Barstool Sports — and it turns out, people either love him or hat...

In this episode, we explore the intersection of PR and social media education with Kate Stewart, an assistant professor at Jacksonville State University! Kate shares insights into her courses, preparing students for diverse job roles in PR and social media. She discusses her innovative teaching style, which incorporates pop culture references to engage students effectively. We delve into the power...

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots amp up fan excitement both on and off the field. In this episode, we sit down with Kassie Epstein and Abbey Thistle from Gillette Stadium's social media and fan engagement team. They reveal the innovative strategies and creative tactics they use to connect with fans, from leveraging social medi...

In this episode, I chat with Ben Chase the Director of NIL Strategy for the Florida Gators. We discuss the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college sports. Ben shares insights into his journey to his current role, a brief history of NIL, and the initial goals of UF's NIL strategy. We discuss why universities have an interest in student-athletes as brands and what they s...

In this episode of Making the Brand, we dive deep into the world of social media storytelling with Jenn Crim, the Social Media Manager at Opry Entertainment Group in Nashville, Tennessee. Jenn shares her journey, strategies, and creative insights behind managing the social media presence for iconic music venues like the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, ACL Live, and Ole Red. From reaching 1 milli...

It's the year of friendship bracelets! In this episode, Mariah Grippo, Director of VIP Relations at Little Words Project, offers insights into the brand's 10-year journey and the power of "beads on a string." Taylor Swift Sparks Trend: Explore how Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ignited the friendship bracelet trend, setting the stage for Little Words Project's decade-long commi...

In this episode, I chat with Beth Booker, founder of Gracie PR. We reflect on scandals, backlashes, and celebrity apologies in 2023 and beyond. Beth shares the strategic aspects of public relations behind these apologies, exploring the delicate balance between reputation management and genuine remorse. In our conversation, we also touch on cancel culture, emphasizing the challenges public figures...

In this episode, we do a deep dive into the celebrity divorces of 2023 — the good, the bad, and the messy! Kara Francis, a seasoned divorce lawyer turned coach, discusses and the challenges that come with ending a relationship in the age of social media. What to Expect: Celebrity Divorces Unveiled: We dive into the high-profile divorces of the past year, dissecting headlines and discussing the uni...

In this episode, I chat with Brent McCreary, the teenage visionary behind the go-to Beanie Baby information site in the late '90s. Brent takes us on a nostalgic journey, recounting the Beanie Baby mania and sharing insights into the tech stack that powered the site during that era (Geocities, anyone?) We also discuss why we love to collect things, and the sense of community among Beanie Baby e...

From 'girl boss' to 'hot girl walk' and the latest phenomenon, 'girl math'... girl trends are taking over. Is this good or bad? In this episode, we discuss a thought-provoking Vox article by Rebecca Jennings called "Girl trends and the repackaging of womanhood" Why are these trends taking off and what can we learn from them? Are they problematic these days (isn&#3...

It's been a weird week — I went viral on Twitter (X?) and beyond! In this episode, I share the backstory behind the tweet and what happened next. Hear why trolls are calling me a bitch, and what I said after being approached by the @FuckJerry meme account. This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠VNYL⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a vinyl record membership club that syncs with your Spotify so you can get new music sent to yo...

In this episode of Making the Brand, we talk about the TikTok sensation, Matt Rife. The comedian who's breaking records and making millions laugh on social media. What makes Matt Rife different from most comedians? He doesn't make his act about him. His jokes are about people in his audience. We discuss why involving your followers is the key to creating a thriving community. From hilariou...

Get ready to experience the ultimate Barbie takeover in this episode! s I sit down with the brand strategist, Moshe Isaacian, whose tweet about the 100+ marketing activations for the upcoming Barbie movie went mega viral From being an astronaut to a veterinarian, Barbie already does it all, but now she's everywhere, and we mean EVERYWHERE! In this podcast, we'll discuss Barbie's histor...

When they heard Taylor Swift was coming to town on her Eras Tour, the City of Las Vegas went all-in. In this episode, I chat with Jennifer Davies and Kira Siqueiros from the city's digital team to discuss how they celebrated Taylor Swift's arrival and engaged with her fanbase on social media and beyond. We cover topics like: How the digital team prepped their Taylor Swift Eras Tour campaig...

Imagine if the musicians you once idolized became your clients. That's the case for Cassie Petrey, the co-founder of Crowd Surf . Crowd Surf is a digital marketing company with a roster of massive stars including Guns N Roses, Backstreet Boys, Ed Sheeran, and Britney Spears. In this episode, we discover how Cassie went from running the Backstreet Boys newsletter at age 12 to becoming a marketi...

Every millennial got started social networking thanks to MySpace, but there's another platform that deserves some love: LinkedIn. In this episode, I chat with Joe Ray, a marketing and experience manager who shares how LinkedIn can fuel your career growth: In this episode, we discuss: Misconceptions people may have about LinkedIn Joe's experiences on LinkedIn and why he prioritizes the plat...

Boy bands and memes are colliding on this episode! I had the chance to interview Kianna Davis, the original creator behind a meme we all know and love, the IT'S GONNA BE MAY meme featuring Justin Timberlake. Hear the story about how she came up with this meme in 2012, and the cool things that have happened since. We also touch on the importance of giving credit to creators like her.  ⁠Follow K...

Get ready to explore the exciting world of celebrity branding! I chat with Dhruv Patel, founder of CelebrityPackagedGoods.com . His website is a detailed directory of celebrity brands and latest news! In this episode, we discuss Dhruv's passion for celebrity branding and what inspired him to create Celebrity Packaged Goods The differences between marketing a celebrity brand versus a non-celebr...

Get ready to be inspired by this episode! We're taking a cue from celebrities and their audition stories to explore how we can apply their tenacity to job hunting. We're diving into the similarities between auditions and job searches, and uncovering practical tips that can help you stand out in a crowded job market. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, this episode is pa...

We're watching TV like it's 2002! In this episode, we delve into the world of American Idol auditions to explore the role of storytelling in the competition. From heartwarming personal anecdotes to inspiring journeys of overcoming adversity, we discover how contestants use their stories to capture the hearts and attention of both the judges and the audience. We explore how the power of sto...

Get ready to discuss the true stories of seven strangers, picked to live in a house. I'm joined by my friend Dana Bowling - a former casting director, pop culture enthusiast, and video and personal branding coach. In this episode, Dana shares her insights on the enduring influence of MTV's The Real World and its impact on pop culture and marketing.  We discussed the following: Memories of...

We're celebrating Women's History Month the best way we know how - with the Spice Girls... the best-selling girl group of all time! In this episode, we explore: The marketing and strategy that propelled the Spice Girls to worldwide fame The iconic merchandise that helped solidify their image Ginger Spice's unforgettable Union Jack dress and its coverage in the press The lasting impact...

Does your company have a dedicated influencer marketing team? Despite being one of the most influential people on the planet, Kim Kardashian is investing in influencer marketing for her shapewear brand, SKIMS. On today's episode, I chat with Ngozi Musa, a Harvard grad and influencer marketing manager about sociology and social media, the latest trends in the creator economy, and why bigger influen...

Is there anything Swifties can't do? In this episode, I chat with Victoria Morton — a marketer by day and Taylor Swift dance party host by night. She co-founded TSwift Dance Party CA and offers a safe space for Swifties to scream the lyrics on the dance floor. Hear the story of how Victoria turned her passion for Taylor's discography into a community of fellow fans. Learn more about TSwift...