Social Soup

We’re joined by Matt Dorner, Economic Development Director for Milwaukee Downtown BID #21.  Matt and Michelle dive into the importance of social connections in cities, investing in our communities, and the science (and art!) of city planning. They also chat about where Milwaukee once was, and where it’s going. One of Matt’s projects is the MKE Dog Park—a much-needed public dog park in the heart of...

Today on Social Soup: Andrew Feller, Wisconsin-based commercial and editorial photographer! Andrew and Michelle tackle the subject of determining pricing for business projects. They discuss how they navigate the struggles of clients not understanding certain service costs. Andrew also talks about the power of saying no as a professional and why to highlight your favorite types of work in your port...

In this episode, we get deep with Colby Wegter, owner of Autonomy Agency, a firm that helps marketing agencies thrive. Colby and Michelle chat about authenticity, building genuine connections, and burnout. Colby shares his innovative method for reaching out and connecting with fellow professionals on and off digital platforms. He also talks about his experiences with burnout—and how he navigated t...

Today we chat with Michael Diettrich-Chastain, founder and CEO of Arc Integrated. Michael is a leadership coach, speaker, and author of CHANGES. He and Michelle talk about personal growth, change, and how approaches to mental wellness have evolved over the years. They dive into questions like…Do small towns create small thinking? Why should we question tradition? How do you find the right therapis...

Michelle chats with Jen Humayun, who is Executive Director of the Tony Hsieh Award and an extraordinary human being! They discuss how the Tony Hsieh Award came to be and what it’s all about. Jen also shares her incredible Indiana Jones-style adventures in life and business. Jen has literally dug into history as an archaeologist! The Tony Hsieh Award honors the late Tony Hsieh’s legacy of bringing...

Michelle chats with her daughter Sophia, an Early Childhood Education and Special Education major at NYU—and a member of Gen Z. Michelle picks Sophia’s brain about where and how Gen Z spend their time, and how they’re working to change the future of education. Sophia shares how she and her peers discover and interact with brands on social media, and why younger generations may be more keen with pr...

Today we chat with Tyler Williams, Development Officer for the City of Las Vegas. Tyler shares why Las Vegas is becoming the go-to hub for innovative remote work-based businesses. He and Michelle also tackle...Why are cities so important to the human narrative? What's needed to create community in a workplace, a city, or anywhere else? They also talk about the importance of optimizing the cust...

Matt McCoy joins Michelle to nerd out about all things tech! Matt is the founder and president of Lanex, LLC, a software development firm known for finding creative solutions to business problems and bringing ideas to life. Matt and Michelle discuss the evolution of the technology industry from the mid-80s up to today—and look toward what’s in store for the future. They also chat about retro compu...

Jill Baake, a leader of coaching and strategy at Northwestern Mutual, joins us for some deep talk on personal journeys and growth. She and Michelle discuss recognizing moments of pivotal change in life and how to get to the other side of struggles—and become a better person for them. They discuss questions like…Do you need to experience excruciating pain to evolve as a person? Is comfort the enemy...

Michelle and David Bowles talk cause marketing, getting diverse perspectives in your business strategy, and looking toward the future of marketing. David is the president of CMRignite, a social impact marketing agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. P.S., they’re hiring—link below! David shares examples of cause marketing campaigns his agency has created. Later, we dive spoon-first into big industry issu...

Today’s episode is a quick, hot take on influencers versus advocates…a grab ‘n go “quickcast.” What’s the difference between brand influencers and advocates? Michelle breaks down the ingredients of each, and the best serving options, depending on your marketing goals. Have you used influencers or advocates? What were the outcomes? Share your stories with us! If you can’t get enough Social Soup, ma...

When the Republican National Convention comes to her hometown of Milwaukee, Michelle gets reflective. She looks at the past 8 years and…how the heck the future’s gonna pan out. Whether you’re on the left, right, or in the middle, politics simmer up feelings. So, let’s grab a mug of soup and talk about it. To quote P!nk, respect is just a minimum! Get ready to do some introspection. Listener challe...

The team shoots the breeze, tackling questions like…Is anything too serious to joke about? Is it more okay to joke about tragedies that have long passed versus those the world is still reeling from? Does personal background and culture ever come into play? SO many questions. We hope your soup is packaged up securely to-go, because it’s a wild ride. Welcome back to the Social Soup Podcast! Ladle th...

Michelle gets real, really quickly, with Kevin Mann—the creative mind behind Campdesign and Unf*ck Your Feelings. They discuss how generative A.I. may affect the design climate in the future, along with deepfakes and the need to be aware as a society. Later, Kevin shares a campaign he’s been working on about connecting with men about the importance of their own mental health. They also chat about...

Michelle chats with Michael Drescher, founder of Vibrant Body Company—weaving real talk about fast fashion. No, it’s not a term for trends that come and go like lightning. Michael ladles the truth about cheap, rapid-production clothing, sharing why fast fashion is problematic for our bodies and planet, and what we can do to create a positive wardrobe change. Button up and grab a spoon. We’re servi...

Michelle geeks out with her cousin Jill Hurst Groebl, a fellow marketer and the owner of JCG Marketing. They spoon up their takes on integrated marketing, how to connect the dots between media channels, and more! Keep listening for intel on how Gen Alpha navigates social media these days. We’re nerding it up, so put on your glasses and grab a bowl. Welcome back to the Social Soup Podcast! Soup sho...

Michelle dives deep with Beth Ridley, Founder and CEO of the Ridley Consulting Group and an expert in workplace culture. We're adding spice to the soup, tackling tough topics like...is DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) dead? Why should Elon Musk shut up about it? Later, Michelle asks a vulnerable—and important—question about race and ethnicity. Ready to slurp some hot takes? Good: we'...

In today's episode, Michelle chats with Autumn Peterson and Maggie Golden, her sous chefs at sōsh! We're tackling rapid-fire questions about life, business, and the buyer's journey. Get to know the team, insights about their work, and sōsh's approach to meeting customers where they are. Welcome back to the Social Soup Podcast! Don't miss the secret ingredient takeaway! Savoring...

In today's episode, Michelle discusses core values and “why” statements—explaining what they are and their importance, and sharing her company sōsh’s values.  She also emphasizes why authenticity is such a big deal today for business success. Later, Michelle demystifies Corporate Social Responsibility—what is it, and why should brands care about it?  Enjoy the show? Please leave a five-star review...

We made it through Episode 1! Today Michelle reacts to team members’ thoughts about her. She dives deep into what it means to be authentic, explains the hero’s journey, and explores what dark moments teach us. Welcome back to the Social Soup Podcast! Enjoy the show? Please leave a five-star review and tell a friend! Those are the best ways to help. Interested in connecting with Michelle? Find her...

Hey everyone and welcome to the first episode! Typically we will have conversations around business and marketing, but today we’ll introduce our host, Michelle D’Attilio. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Michelle has kept a digital advertising and marketing agency open and thriving for 25 years. In today's episode of the podcast, Michelle introduces the show and herself! Welcome to the Social Sou...