Episodes

Sonia and Christina Garnett break down why 2026 might finally be the year marketing moves past rage bait and back toward empathy, craft, and emotional intelligence. They cover Grok's non-consensual AI image scandal, Polymarket's refusal to pay out on Venezuela invasion bets, Chevrolet's tear-jerking holiday ad that went viral, the Stranger Things finale conspiracy theories, and why Cadillac F1 is putting their drivers on Hot Ones instead of traditional press tours. The big thesis: attention-at-...

Every week on The Meme Team Podcast, we break down what worked, what didn't, and why people cared. This year had too many good campaigns to just list—so we're doing an awards show. In this episode, Sonia and the team cover: Marty Supreme / Timothée Chalamet (w/ Mark Stenberg) – The lookalike contest, the Statue of Liberty stunt, and meta-marketing done right. Stripe's Black Friday Mini City (w/ Kushaan Shah & Amanda Natividad) – A handmade, 8-foot miniature city with 15 buildings, live-streamed ...

Sonia sits down with Julie Fredrickson (managing partner at Chaotic Capital) to dissect the Advent calendar wars—and what Amazon's massive, perfectly-packaged K-beauty box says about the future of retail, beauty merchandising, and who's winning the tastemaker race. We're talking about: Why Amazon shipped a $99 Advent calendar in custom foam inserts (and what that signals about their beauty ambitions) The end of de minimis tax and how it's reshaping K-beauty imports, counterfeits, and brand tr...

Sonia Baschez sits down with Hailey Allen (creative strategist at neuemotion) to dissect the marketing wins and fails making waves right now—from AI slop ruining brand perception to why companies are suddenly hiring "chief storytellers." We're talking about: Why McDonald's pulled their AI ad in 24 hours (and why Disney chose the worst week to announce their OpenAI deal) "Slop" being named word of the year and what that says about 2025 Substack launching sponsorships after years of being ad-f...

This episode hits on five major marketing trends playing out rn. starts with F1's american takeover—Cadillac's super bowl livery reveal is perfectly timed with Apple's new broadcast deal to capture US audiences who've been waiting for a team that actually leans into being american. they also break down the wholesome carlos sainz unicorn helmet story that shows how user-generated content and ongoing storylines can build real fan engagement when you're not just extracting value from your audience....

This episode hits on five major marketing trends playing out rn. starts with F1's american takeover—Cadillac's super bowl livery reveal is perfectly timed with Apple's new broadcast deal to capture US audiences who've been waiting for a team that actually leans into being american. they also break down the wholesome carlos sainz unicorn helmet story that shows how user-generated content and ongoing storylines can build real fan engagement when you're not just extracting value from your audience....

Sonia, Amanda, and guest Kushaan Shah break down how Shopify and Stripe owned Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2025—not through traditional ads, but by spotlighting merchants, building miniature cities by hand, and proving B2B doesn't have to be boring. They unpack record-breaking consumer spending ($1 trillion+ for the first time), the dark side of buy-now-pay-later debt, mobile shopping's takeover of desktop, and why craft beats AI when you're trying to stand out. The episode dives deep into Shopify...

episode description: sonia and kaleigh break down why traditional marketing is dying and what's replacing it. they cover timothée chalamet's $250 jacket sellout, apple tv's continued failure to market good shows, hulu's genius grocery store hack, lionsgate listening to fans for hunger games casting, shopify's president crowdsourcing black friday recs, and why a luxury brand just said "fuck ai" with their new website. main thesis: communities beat celebrities, craft beats slop, and giving your a...

This episode covers five major marketing and media topics: ChatGPT's new group chat feature launching in Asian markets as a potential WhatsApp competitor; Timothée Chalamet's innovative meta-marketing campaign for A24's Marty Supreme that blurs satire and reality while creating memeable experiential moments; the breakdown of Steph Curry's 12-year Under Armour partnership and what it reveals about brands failing to read cultural shifts in athletic wear; Disney+'s controversial decision to allow A...

Sonia and Christina break down consumer brand marketing wins and fails across Apple's glass logo rebrand, Nike's LA murals, Sephora's tone-deaf holiday ad with Mariah Carey, the AI wars between Coca-Cola and Barbour's Wallace & Gromit collab, and the Starbucks bear cup chaos. They also dig into Apple TV's quality-over-quantity approach, consumerism culture, and how brands are staking claims on AI vs craft. Nike Dodgers Murals (00:18-01:53) Apple's Glass Logo Rebrand & Apple TV (01:54-11:03) S...

From The Office's Kevin trapped in a glass box for Ramp to Lionsgate finally embracing fan editors, this episode unpacks the biggest marketing moves of the week. We break down how a B2B fintech company created the most talked-about experiential campaign, dive into Twitter's game-changing link update, and expose a wild Reddit marketing takedown that cost one company 80% of their revenue. Plus: AMC x Netflix's theatrical partnership, Heineken trolling Friend AI, and why one movie is asking fans t...

In this episode of the Meme Team podcast, Amanda and Sonia discuss various marketing strategies and cultural phenomena, including Cracker Barrel's logo controversy, Williams F1's community engagement, Tame Impala's unique concert experience, Anthropic's pop-up in New York, Taylor Swift's influence on the wedding industry, and the marketing strategies behind K-Pop Demon Hunters. They also touch on Merriam-Webster's clever campaign related to AI language models, emphasizing the importance of adapt...

This week on Meme Team, Sonia and Amanda dive into four big culture-meets-marketing moments: Taylor Swift x KitchenAid? How brands are borrowing her orange aesthetic to drive hype — without her even collabing. OpenAI’s first brand campaign + "agentic commerce." What instant checkout inside ChatGPT means for small businesses, DTC, and the future of discovery. The unicorn that won F1. How a fan’s sticker turned into a viral, feel-good growth story. Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl. Why skipping a U...

Halloween re-releases, 3-day theater drops, and brand ads masquerading as short films. This week we unpack how "eventfication" is reshaping entertainment and marketing, why most "make it go viral" mandates miss the point, and what Oura's $875M raise (at an $11B valuation) says about wearables — especially for women.We cover:"Sinners" returns for Halloween and why timing + communal cosplay can revive the box office (and awards chatter).Central Perk Times Square: great IP, mid vibes — how theme bu...

This episode explores how major institutions are adapting their content strategies for new audiences. We start with Robert Redford's passing, discussing how his work with Sundance created a blueprint for using cultural capital to build new communities. This ties into modern marketing innovations like "The Long Walk's" treadmill screenings—where the medium literally becomes the message. Our guest Caitlin Rease (San Antonio Spurs' content creator) breaks down how sports teams are evolving their c...

Comms pro Cristin Culver joins Meme Team to dissect Austin, TX's universally-dragged logo rollout, Reese Witherspoon’s shallow AI talking points (and how to master the PR art of bridging), and the Builder.ai collapse (aka why your ship-to-yap ratio matters). We also hit Instagram’s long-awaited iPad app, Threads’ watermarking, HBO’s latest rename spree, and Apple’s just-announced iPhone Air — with a through-line on hype vs. product and why social media is now entertainment first. Chapters: 00:...

In this episode of Meme Team, we break down three major marketing moments: Sabrina Carpenter's masterclass in brand authenticity after her album cover controversy, YouTube's game-changing new "Hype" feature for small creators, and Lionsgate's wild treadmill theater experience for "The Long Walk." From handling haters to innovative marketing stunts, we explore how brands and creators are pushing boundaries in 2025. Key moments: 00:00 Intro 00:10 Lego's Tom Holland campaign 04:20 Sabrina Carpe...

Join Sonia Baschez and "F1 Guy" Vincenzo Landino as they dive into the exciting announcement of Cadillac's entry into the F1 world for the 2026 season. Discover the strategic marketing decisions behind choosing experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, and explore the marketing implications for Cadillac and the broader F1 community. The conversation also touches on the American identity of the new team compared to existing teams like Haas, and the potential for Cadillac to leverage i...

Join hosts Sonia Baschez and Amanda Natividad as we explore the cultural phenomena of Dubai chocolate and Labubu dolls, the impact of GLP-1 drugs on societal expectations, and the unique marketing strategies behind the film Weapons. We also quickly cover Zohran Mamdani's #zcavenger hunt, the viral success of Netflix's K-pop Demon Hunters, Sydney Sweeney's latest controversies, and the failed Cracker Barrel rebrand. 00:00 Introduction to the Meme Team Podcast 01:07 Zohran Mamdani's Innovative P...

In this episode of the Meme Team Podcast, hosts Amanda and Sonia explore the intersection of marketing, culture, and branding. They discuss the recent rebranding of MSNBC, the legacy of Duolingo's social media strategy, and the backlash against AI personalities. The conversation also touches on creative marketing campaigns, the cultural impact of Taylor Swift, and the importance of authenticity in brand engagement. Additionally, they delve into the evolution of Coach, the impact of tariffs on fa...

In this bonus episode, Amanda and Sonia discuss Taylor Swift's recent appearance on the New Heights podcast, highlighting her marketing genius, personal insights, and the impact of her presence on the podcast landscape. They explore how Swift's approach to announcing new music and engaging with fans sets a new standard for artists, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and connection in the digital age. Chapters 00:00 Taylor Swift's Impact on New Heights Podcast 02:09 The Power of Podcas...

Taylor Swift Easter eggs, the GPT-5 backlash, and why your website traffic is tanking — we’re breaking it all down. In this episode, Amanda Natividad and Sonia Baschez unpack how over-hyping products can backfire, why even the biggest sites are losing Google traffic, the surprising comeback of DVDs and VHS, and what Instagram’s newest features mean for creators.Topics covered:Swifties crack the code on Travis Kelce’s New Heights guestGPT-5’s big launch (and bigger disappointment)The decline of o...

Join Amanda, Sonia, and special guest Chi Thukral as they dive into the world of social media marketing and the logic behind viral content. The episode covers the cultural impact of K-pop, the challenges of bot-driven internet traffic, and the nuances of selling exclusivity in today's market.Key Topics:Introduction and Guest Introduction - Start to 5:00K-pop Demon Hunters and Cultural Impact - 5:01 to 20:00Bot-Driven Internet Traffic - 20:01 to 40:00Selling Exclusivity and Brand Allure - 40:01 t...

In this episode of the Meme Team podcast, Amanda and Sonia discuss the recent viral marketing strategies employed by companies like Astronomer and American Eagle, particularly in light of controversies surrounding their advertising campaigns. The conversation delves into the effectiveness of humor in addressing scandals, the implications of cultural sensitivity in marketing, and the evolving landscape of media influenced by AI. The hosts emphasize the importance of unique perspectives in content...