From Rage Bait to Real Feelings: Grok, Polymarket, Chevrolet & Stranger Things
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-any-cost marketing is dying. Rage bait burns goodwill (see: Cluely, Friend AI). Empathy wins. Nostalgia works. Craft beats AI slop. And brands that give audiences a voice—not just content to scroll past—are the ones building lasting equity.
We're talking about:
Grok's AI image scandal: non-consensual deepfakes of women and children, Elon's tone-deaf response, and why the UK government had to step in
Polymarket refusing to pay users who bet on Venezuela invasion—and what it reveals about who gets to decide "truth"
Chevrolet's "Memory Lane" holiday ad: 778K YouTube views, organic TikTok reactions, and why nostalgia + empathy = sustainable brand love
Stranger Things finale backlash: Duffer Brothers leaving plot holes, fans writing their own endings, and the Game of Thrones-level risk of letting down your community
Cadillac F1's Hot Ones strategy: using YouTube influencers over traditional press to reach younger American audiences (5-10M views per episode)
Why gambling proliferation is a societal red flag: athletes getting harassed, people betting on recessions, and dopamine addiction replacing empathy
The pendulum swing coming in 2026: analog, craft, experiential, and emotional marketing replacing AI slop and Machiavellian tactics
Monsters Inc as a marketing metaphor: laughter (positive emotion) generates more sustainable energy than screams (rage bait)
Plus: Why Netflix theatrical windows matter, how Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme campaign proved experiential beats traditional ads, and Christina's plea for Budweiser Clydesdales at the Super Bowl.
guest: Christina Garnett – Author of Transforming Customer Brand Relationships, community strategist, fandom marketing expert (@ThatChristinaG on Twitter/LinkedIn/Threads)
guest perspective: Christina brings deep fandom + community lens—talks Stranger Things conspiracy theories, why rage bait conditions audiences for the worst behavior, gambling as dopamine farming, and the sociological shift from treating humans as NPCs to rebuilding empathy. She's bullish on analog, nostalgic, and emotionally intelligent marketing and wants brands to stop rewarding bad actors.
marketing takeaways:
Empathy beats rage bait for long-term brand equity (Chevy's nostalgia ad vs. Clueless burning goodwill)
Positive emotions are more sustainable than negative ones (Monsters Inc laughter is better than screams)
Create annual traditions people look forward to (Chevy holiday ads, Budweiser Clydesdales, Stripe activations)
Go where your audience is—not where you want them to be (Hot Ones, podcasts, YouTube over the traditional press)
Personality beats credentials (Cadillac letting Bottas wear American Speedos, F1 drivers on Hot Ones)
Fandom is co-creation—give your audience a voice or risk losing them (Stranger Things fan theories, AO3 rewrites)
Craft, analog, and experiential marketing cut through AI slop (theatrical experiences, merch drops, breadcrumb campaigns)
Don't let the loudest voices pivot your whole product—but listen enough to build buy-in
Month-long campaigns beat one-day launches (movie promo playbook applies to tech: teasers, influencers, premieres, method dressing)
00:00-06:38 — Yellow Card x Good Charlotte collab, millennial nostalgia, 21 Pilots TikTok lore, analog comeback
06:38-23:35 — Grok AI scandal: non-consensual deepfakes, child exploitation, Elon's bikini response, UK government intervention
23:35-32:26 — Polymarket refusing Venezuela invasion payouts, who decides truth, gambling as recession indicator
32:26-44:10 — Chevrolet \"Memory Lane\" ad: 778K views, nostalgia + empathy, annual traditions, McDonald's vs. Chevy
44:10-55:25 — Stranger Things finale backlash: Duffer Brothers leaving plot holes, Vecna Lives conspiracy, fandom co-creation risks
55:25-end — Cadillac F1 Hot Ones strategy, Leonardo DiCaprio on New Heights, month-long campaigns, takeaways + where to find Christina
