The Social Complex

In this “Headlines” episode of the Social Complex Podcast, hosts Hilary Applegate and Jacqueline Keidel Martinez discuss the evolving landscape of social media and technology in 2025. They reflect on the recent TikTok ban, its political implications, and the impact on content creators. The conversation shifts to the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI competitor, and the potential national securit...

When you think of social media, a few platforms likely come to mind—TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter—the list goes on. But each of these platforms operates separately, with individual logins, profiles, content, and communities. Now, imagine a new era of social interaction where all your interests, followers, and content exist in one unified world—not controlled by a single entity, but by a coll...

In this 'Headlines' episode of the Social Complex Podcast, Hillary Applegate and Jacqueline Keidel Martinez dive into the multifaceted impact of social media on brands and marketing strategies. They explore the potential TikTok ban in the U.S. and its implications for marketers, analyze recent industry layoffs and mergers, and discuss the mixed reception of this year’s Spotify Wrapped—espe...

When we talk about artificial intelligence, there’s no denying the many advantages it brings to the table. But, like anything great, there’s also a dark side to the moon. AI isn’t without its challenges—and that’s to be expected, especially given how rapidly the technology is evolving. So, what are the societal implications of this growth? Where do we stand with current technological advancements...

When you think of selling, you may think of HSN or QVC, but there's a new way of selling that is emerging in the form of social media selling on TikTok. Not only does TikTok allow an expansive audience reach, through its inherent platform, but it also brings forward a new way to shop through TikTok Shop by integrating both access to a wide array of audiences and easy to sell and buy products t...

In this Headlines episode of the Social Complex Podcast, Hilary Applegate and Jacqueline Keidel Martinez discuss the complex implications of social media on brands and individuals. They explore the recent advertising lawsuit involving X (formerly Twitter) and its impact on brand safety, the launch of Instagram's teen profiles aimed at protecting young users, and the challenges faced by millenn...

The question of whether TikTok will be around tomorrow has been swirling in the news cycle since before 2020—it’s been a topic for a long time. So, what happens if TikTok is banned tomorrow? How can brands protect themselves and the investments they’ve made in content on the platform? Joining us today to tackle these questions is Sam Kaufman. Sam is a social media marketing specialist and the Chie...

If you log on to any social media platform, it's hard not to come across some kind of mental health conversation. Whether it’s a positivity mantra, a buzzworthy term from a therapy session, or someone accusing another of gaslighting, therapy talk is everywhere online. On the positive side, it's great that mental health is finally getting the attention, understanding, and compassion it dese...

Welcome to a special edition of The Social Complex Podcast ! In this inaugural "Headlines" episode, host Hillary teams up with Digital HQ’s President and Chief Communications Officer Jacqueline Keidel Martinez, for a fresh monthly series. Together, they dive into trending topics in marketing, communications, and brand strategy, offering insights on how these areas intertwine and amplify fo...

When you think of social media, you may not immediately consider just how wrong things can go. But like any other platform, marketing avenue, or communication tool, there are always inherent risks when it comes to using, sharing content, or promoting on social media. While the law has historically lagged behind technology, it's catching up fast, and there's a lot of compliance that needs t...

When you hear 'virtual world,' what comes to mind? Headsets? The metaverse? Gaming? If any of those pop into your head, I'm here with a special guest to shift your perspective on what a virtual world is and what it could be. Daniel Liebeskind is the founder and CEO of Topia, a platform-as-a-service technology for real-time social interaction and spatial video chat within customizable v...

In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Digital HQ, the marketing agency behind the podcast. We're a modern agency that's backed by a network of contractors and one of those contractors was invited to come on the podcast today. Matthew Wolfe is a marketing creative with an engineer's logic. He holds two engineering degrees and started his career at Ford Motor Company bef...

Social media has added a complex new layer to how we interact and learn online. It has really offered the first opportunity for users to directly influence the outcome on the platform in front of them. So, what kind of implications does that have for kids? Today, I am joined by Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens. Kris most recently served as Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin New...

It's easy to crank out great content when you have an unlimited budget behind you. But what about nonprofits who are known for historically needing to create really impactful stories on very lean budgets and resources? Today, we are chatting with someone who knows a little bit about that and is an expert when it comes to supporting nonprofit marketing strategies, Daniel Francavilla.  Daniel is...

Ever wondered who really owns that last post you made on social media? Is it yours, or does the platform hold the rights? And what happens when influencers and content creators post on your behalf? The world of content ownership is more complex than ever, especially with the rise of AI in the marketing industry. To help us navigate these murky waters, we're joined by Sharon Toerek, Founder and...

Today's guest is Jeff Barrett, a modern PR professional who is thinking beyond the box of traditional PR and how it integrates into the content creator economy, media award shows, breaking through the attention economy, and how brand storytelling is happening on a grand scale. Jeff is a Shorty Award-winning content creator, Business Insider's #1 Ad Executive, and one of the Top 10 Most Sou...

Today's episode is all about the metaverse—what it is, what it isn't, and what it could become. When people hear 'metaverse' in everyday conversation, they might think of Meta with Facebook. Is it going to be a social platform? Or is it going to be something entirely different? In this episode, we're talking with Eugene Capon, the creative visionary and co-founder of Studio Cap...

Welcome to another engaging episode of the Social Complex Podcast! Today, we delve into the intricate world of alcohol marketing and advertising. From the echoes of prohibition to modern-day regulations, the landscape has evolved significantly, especially with emerging markets like cannabis making their mark. Join us as we unravel these complexities with our guest, Karen Locke, founder of High Pro...

Welcome to the third season of The Social Complex Podcast, where we delve into the ever-evolving world and complexities of social media. We're kicking off this season with an exciting announcement about Digital HQ, the modern agency that supports this podcast. In this premiere episode, Hillary Applegate sits down with Jacqueline Keidel Martinez, a seasoned PR pro, to unpack the transformation...

When we think of crisis communications, we often envision the worst-case scenarios portrayed on the internet and in our news cycles. However, crises don't solely occur on digital platforms. While digital media can exacerbate them, the concept of crisis is rooted in a more scientific framework that determines what constitutes a crisis and how it can be resolved by the company or individual at i...

We've all seen the level of impact that technology has on the way that we live our lives, do business, and communicate with one another. One of those advancements in technology that has swept the news cycle is artificial intelligence. And if you're anything like me, it has blown your mind. It's truly transformative. And as a marketer, I have seen the impact that it is having on my indu...

When's the last time that you bought something online? Was it something that you needed? Or something that you saw and you liked? Our ability to shop online has transformed drastically over the last two decades. Even the ads that we are targeted with today are vastly different than they were five years ago. And as a consumer, the way in which we shop and the access that we have at our fingerti...

In this episode, we discuss employee advocacy and its significance in social media marketing, an area that many companies overlook despite its potential to support growth. Employee networks are a valuable asset, acting as advocates and promoters who can enhance a brand's presence through their interactions and online networks. We're chatting with Brayden Cohen, who has extensive experience...

Social media is all around us, and it's all-consuming. Whether you have one platform, multiple platforms, a Finsta, or you're managing it for brands, it is everywhere. Have you ever felt so inclined to take a step back or feel like you're in need of a little bit of detox? Taking time away from social media usage has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and much of this...

The concept of harassment and bullying is not a new one. However, once the internet came into play, it completely changed the dynamic. In today's episode, I am chatting with Emily Vogels of Pew Research Center to talk about the studies that they have completed on cyberbullying, harassment, and online behaviors when it comes to interconnectivity and conflict online.  Emily Vogels is a research...