Trashy Educational Celebrity News
Who doesn’t love to learn AND be entertained?
On Making the Brand, Brianne shares unforgettable marketing lessons behind music, TV, movies, and trending topics that you can apply to your own brand!
Episodes
Season Six
Episode 12: From Fan to Author — How Karah-Leigh Hancock Built the BSB Fangirls Community
Episode 11: Taylor Swift's Genius Writing Categories & Easier Content Creation
Episode 10: Get Your Newsletter *NSYNC with Liz Wilcox
Episode 9: Brands are Swifties Too w/ Nicole Tabak
Episode 8: When Passion Meets Purpose – ESLLA Luxury Vegan Leather w/ Leigh Dorough and Charlotte Wienckoski
Episode 7: Growing Up on Teen Magazines: Where are they Now? w/ Angel Martinez
From Seventeen to Tiger Beat, YM, J-14 and more, an entire generation of teen girls grew up reading magazines. I spoke with Angel Martinez, who wrote an incredible article on this subject for Vice. She shares the history of teen magazines, how brands started targeting teenagers, and how they’ve evolved over the years.
Episode 6: How to Have a Ball on Social Media w/ Kevin Graham
Episode 5: Turn Your Leads into Believers, Inspired by Ted Lasso
Episode 4: Let's go the Mall! Celebrating @OviedoMall, the Most Underrated Twitter Account
My favorite brand on Twitter isn’t a Fortune 500 company… it’s the Oviedo Mall. I’m chatting with the mastermind behind the witty account, Josh Gunderson. His approach to social media is something both big and small brands can learn from.
Follow @OviedoMall on Twitter!
Follow @JoshGunderson
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Episode 3: MMMBop Your Marketing and Fundraising
Is Hanson a boy band? Maybe, maybe not… but one thing is for sure, nonprofits are always looking for creative ways to fundraise! In this episode, I’m sharing a story about the genius way my classmates raised money with a little help from MMMBop, along with some other nuggets of marketing wisdom for those working in the nonprofit world.
Episode 2: Get Your Marketing On: Learning From Missy Elliott's Genius w/ Codi Dantu-Johnson
In this episode, social media pro Codi Dantu-Johnson shares five marketing lessons we can learn from Missy Elliott… and these lessons are so great that even Missy Elliott herself agreed! Codi also shares some the hard truths about social media right now.
Episode 1: Becoming Iconic — How the Backstreet Boys Stand the Test of Time w/ Danielle Spurge-Swavely
This episode is over three years in the making! I get the chance to interview my BSB BFF, Danielle Spurge-Swavely. We met online in a BSB fan group and now she is my go-to concert sidekick. And honestly, Danielle is the reason this podcast exists. In this episode, we discuss how the Backstreet Boys became the best-selling boy band of all time.
Season Five
Episode 13: How to Be Extremely Online Like Lizzo
Who would you consider to be the most engaged celebrity on social media? I can’t help but notice that Lizzo is everywhere! How does she do it?! Here’s how you can become a more efficient content creator so you can build your own community.
Episode 12: Kelly Clarkson Proves Karaoke is Your Key for Better Social Media Content
Kelly Clarkson is more than just one of the greatest voices of our generation. She is also an Emmy-award winning talkshow host. A big part of the show’s promotional strategy is their daily #Kellyoke segment where she does her own rendition of a popular song. Listen to this episode to hear how karaoke may be a game-changer for your own social media content.
Episode 11: How to Repurpose Content Like Jerry Seinfeld
As marketers, there are SO many channels to keep up with, it can be exhausting. Do you need fresh ideas EVERY single day? Take it from a comedian as successful as Jerry Seinfeld… the answer is no! In this episode, we talk about how to repurpose content to make you a more efficient and strategic content creator.
Episode 10: How the Boy Band Wars Can Boost Your Social Media Engagement
Declaring your side of the boy band wars was one of the main ways millennial girls around the world expressed themselves. The question of ‘Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC’ sparked impassioned debates at every slumber party.
Episode 9: It's Gonna be a MEME w/ Kianna Davis
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 Kianna on Instagram at @astro_kianna
Episode 8: Taking Marketing on Tour with Jess of Roadie Social
Check out Roadie Social at roadiesocial.com
Twitter and IG: @roadiesocial
Episode 7: Want to Get Hired? T-Pain Says You Need a Personal Website
In the age of social media, do you need a personal website to showcase your work? According to T-Pain, the answer is yes.
Episode 6: All The Small Things Content Creators Have to Do
Episode 5: Romy & Michele's High School Reunion is the Perfect Personal Branding Metaphor
Episode 4: How Did MTV Collect UGC in the Year 2000? Tips to Make the Most of User-Generated Content
Sharing user-generated content in the age of social media is simple! But what was it like in the year 2000? How did brands hold contests or gather earned media?
In this episode, we go down memory lane to hear how MTV’s Total Request Live collected UGC. We’ll also share some tips on how to make the most of your UGC. Spoiler alert: some UGC is good, but not good enough.
Episode 3: Does Madonna Have a Last Name? How to Finally Land on the Right Name for Your Brand
If you’re anything like me, you’ve put off launching a blog, podcast, or business idea for far too long because you couldn’t land on the perfect name for it. Well, it’s a beautiful day to stop overthinking and just do the damn thing!
Here’s my best advice on how to pick a name for your brand that not only works, but helps you get going!
Episode 2: The Social Phenomenon Every Marketer Should Know, Thanks to Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand’s music legacy is undeniable! But she is also credited with helping create a social phenomenon every marketer should know: The Streisand Effect.
According to The Economist, The Streisand Effect occurs when “efforts to suppress a juicy piece of online information can backfire and end up making things worse for the would-be censor.”
We’ve seen countless examples of this in pop culture, but also surrounding important public service announcements.
Are your communication efforts backfiring on you? Learn more in this episode!
Episode 1: The Content Idea That Always Works, Inspired by Gracie Lou Freebush
OMG, we’re back again with season 5! I’m sharing a content idea that works every time and will take the guesswork out of content creation. Thanks to Miss Congeniality for the inspiration on this one!
Season Four
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SEASON FINALE: Interview with Backstreet Boy, AJ McLean about Ava Dean Beauty
Am I dreaming?!!? I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special episode where my friends and I INTERVIEW A BACKSTREET BOY!
Long story short, I also co-host a live stream show called Fangirls’ Night Out with my friends Danielle, Britt, and Kelsey. Between the four of us and the fangirl powers that be, we made our way to AJ McLean.
In this episode, we talk with AJ and his business partner, Josh Naranjo, about what they learned building a beauty brand.
Episode 13: How Your Personal Brand Empowers You - Inspired by Britney Spears & Meghan Markle
If you watched the Framing Britney Spears documentary and Oprah’s interview with Meghan Markle, you learned how the tabloids destroyed their mental health. They were powerless to the narrative the press was building.
The tabloids wouldn’t have stood a chance if Britney and Meghan were empowered with social media and an online presence.
In this episode, you’ll hear the importance of using the platforms at your fingertips to amplify your voice and shape your narrative.
Episode 12: Crashing the Party: How to Leverage Trending Topics without Getting Canceled
Brands want to be where the people are — that’s where trending topics come in! Trending topics are a huge opportunity for brands to humanize themselves and create visibility, but insert themselves into the conversation the wrong way.
In this episode, we break down some brands who have done it right, along with some examples of what NOT to do.
BONUS EPISODE: We Want It That Way — How BSB Can Transform their Website w/ Britt Hyatt
My friend Britt and I got so caught up talking about the Backstreet Boys, I had enough content to break it out into a mini bonus episode!
We do a deeper dive on BackstreetBoys.com and all the potential the band could tap into to bring more excitement to their site. Enjoy!
Check out Britt online here:
Episode 11: Why You and Your Favorite Musician Should Focus on a Personal Website
We love to follow our favorite musicians on social media, but very few have us following their websites. Why do they lack consistency, updates, and great content?!
Social media is nice, but your website is your brand’s (or band’s!) biggest opportunity. In this episode, I chat with my friend, fellow fangirl, and web designer Britt Hyatt about how you AND celebrities can transform your online presence and grow your brand with your website.
Check out Britt online here:
Episode 10: What the Spice Girls Teach Us About Brand Purpose
If you were a young girl growing up in the ’90s, you pretty much had no choice but to love the Spice Girls. They were absolutely EVERYWHERE.
As part of their legacy, they taught us the importance of friendship. But if you look a little closer, they also taught us about brand purpose.
In this episode, I break down how the Spice Girls’ mantra of ‘Girl Power’ can inspire your brand to do something bigger than sell, sell, sell.
Episode 8: The Marketing Wizardry of Harry Potter w/ Jake Zachariah
In this episode, we dive into the wizarding world of Harry Potter’s marketing. I chatted with Jake ‘JZ’ Zachariah — a marketer and total Potterhead.
From the books, to the movies, merch, and experiences, there’s so much we can learn from HP.
Episode 7: Peloton's Pop Culture Brilliance w/ Christina Garnett & Adam Pierno
In this episode, I chatted with passionate Peloton rider and marketing strategist, Christina Garnett, as well as Adam Pierno — an author, podcast host, and strategist.
We discussed how Peloton brilliantly builds community while leveraging pop culture, and what other brands can learn from their lead.
Episode 6: How to Be a Content Superhero: Inspiration from Comics w/ Jon-Stephen Stansel
The comic book industry began sparking imaginations and building memories for audiences as early as the 1960s, and its magic isn’t slowing down anytime soon
In this episode, I chat with social media marketer, Jon-Stephen Stansel, about why comics have stood the test of time, and what brands can learn from their success.
We dig into specifics like brand voice and other takeaways for content creators.
Follow Jon-Stephen on Twitter at @jsstansel
Website: https://www.jsstansel.com/
Podcast: ThoughtFeeder
Episode 5: How Social Media Shapes an Athlete's Influence w/ Anthony Yepez
In the ’90s, everyone wanted to be ‘Like Mike’. Michael Jordan was an extraordinary athlete with immeasurable influence from TV commercials, magazine covers, and brand partnerships.
But how has this landscape changed for the modern athlete in the age of social media? Or more specifically, how has this changed for young athletes?
In this episode, I chatted with Anthony Yepez — a digital and social media strategy professional with a passion for basketball. We discussed how a media company like Overtime helps young athletes get to the next phase of their careers thanks to the power of content.
Episode 4: Why ‘Ava Dean Beauty’ by AJ McLean is Marketing Gold
Episode 3: How Harry Styles Stans Do His Marketing for Him
In this episode, I interview business owner / Harry Styles fangirl, Kelsey Anderson. She shares how Harry Styles (formerly of boy brand, One Direction) activated his fans to promote his album and make him a solo superstar.
We break down these marketing efforts with takeaways that any business owner or brand can apply when marketing their own company.
Follow Kelsey on Twitter here!
Also, check out the fangirl thesis she mentions in the episode.
Episode 2: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Brand Storytelling
Episode 1: The Gaming Community - Past, Present, & Future
Today, the gaming community is still strong, but it’s playing out in bigger ways thanks to the live-streaming platform, Twitch.
In this episode, I interview gaming and streaming expert, Joechuck aka the Fighting Wordsmith. He shares how to build a community both on and off Twitch, and some predictions about this platform that EVERYONE needs to watch.
Season Three
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Episode 12: TRL's Formula for Raving Fans
If you grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, long before Spotify, TikTok, and YouTube, Carson Daly was your gateway to new music.
On September 14, 1998, a little show called Total Request Live premiered on MTV. It was a driving force that helped launch the career of a few blonde bombshell likes Britney and Christina, boy bands like BSB and *NSYNC, and rappers like Eminem and Ludacris.
But TRL really wasn’t about the music. It was about the fans.
In this episode, we do a deep dive on how you can better engage with your audience and involve them in your brand on a deeper level.
Episode 11: A Brand That Pops! Marketing Inspiration from Dr. Pimple Popper
Episode 10: Learn New Vocabulary Words with Mariah Carey
Who says you have to read the dictionary to expand your vocabulary?
A 2015 study indicated that Mariah Carey has the “smartest lyrics” of any musician.
In this episode, I recap some of the million dollar words Mariah has brilliantly written into her songs. I hope they inspire you to use them in your own writing!
Episode 9: The Problem with the MTV Video Music Awards
Episode 8: Pop-Up Video’s Lesson for Content Creators
The mark of any interesting piece of content is that it serves a purpose. Whether it be to entertain, inspire, connect, or educate, you want to publish content that feeds your audience.
Episode 7: Whatever! Your Personal Brand Doesn't Need a Makeover
We celebrate the 25th anniversary of Clueless by breaking down some of the movies main themes and relating them back to personal branding.
It turns out, your personal brand doesn’t need reinvention — your authentic self is enough!
Follow Julia:
Episode 6: Marketing and Business Lessons from the Raddest Decade
- Twitter: @80spopculture
- Instagram: @chrisclews80s
- Website: chrisclews.com
- Books: Read here
Episode 5: How Pro Wrestlers Flex their Branding Muscles
The Rock and countless other wrestlers have built powerful brands. From their memorable catchphrases, unforgettable outfits, and electrifying stage presence, they each use their platform to create loyal fans.
In this episode, I talk with Dustin Stout, an entrepreneur, social media expert, speaker, digital marketing consultant, and wrestling fan.
Episode 4: Marketers, Put Your Brand Voice on Autotune
If there’s any artist whose known for standing out with autotune, it’s T-Pain.
T-Pain wasn’t necessarily better than other hip-hop artists of his era, but he found a way to stand out with his unique voice.
And brands can too. We cover it all on this episode, along with the new 3 P’s of marketing!
Episode 3: Confessions of a Shopaholic: Marketing Takeaways from Sneakerhead Culture
On this episode, we hear from my from Azad Yakatally about how Nike built a tribe of customers who don’t just want their shoes, they NEED them.
We discuss:
- Sneakerhead culture and marketing power
- The impact of scarcity on product sales
- Enthusiast brands like Nike and Fender
- The effects of nostalgia in marketing
Be sure to follow Azad on Twitter fore more marketing wisdom: @ayakatally.
Episode 2: How to Tell Your Story – Inspired by Black Musicians Who are Part of Mine
Just like the rest of the world, I’ve been doing some reflection on the people of color who have made an impact on my life.
Aside from the incredible people I’ve come to know personally, there are a number of famous Black people who sparked my interest in music.
On this episode, I get personal and share some stories from my childhood, while offering some tips to help you dig deep and tell your own stories.
As we fight for racial equality, we need stories more than ever. Stories help us understand each other, which is a critical part of effecting change.
Episode 1: Is Michael Jordan the Meme King?
In this episode, I chatted with Jared Gaon, the creator of one of the hottest new meme accounts, @JordanJamming.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build on a pop culture moment and run your own meme account, you have to tune in to this episode! Jared shares how he got the idea for the meme, how he’s built a following, and some of the opportunities that have come his way.
Season Two
Episode 12: Beyoncé's Loyal Tribe and Unbreakable Brand
Beyoncé is a force of incredible branding. In fact, she’s built such a strong brand, that the queen hardly has to do any branding anymore. Her loyal tribe, the #BeyHive, does all of her marketing for her.
For this episode, I chatted with my resident Beyoncé superfan, Kimberly Gordon, to talk about what we can learn from the brand and empire Beyoncé has built throughout her career.
Episode 11: This Storytelling Strategy Explains Why "All Too Well" is Taylor Swift's Best Song
Even if you don’t love Taylor Swift, you have to listen to her song “All Too Well”. There’s one big storytelling lesson that will help you improve your writing!
Episode 10: Songwriting & Brand Storytelling: What Marketers Can Learn from NBC's Songland
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Wes Gay, a copywriter and owner of the Wayfinder agency, about a show we both love: Songland.
If you’re unfamiliar with Songland, it’s a songwriting competition where four unknown songwriters present their original songs to superstar artists. The artist then chooses three of the songwriters to move on to the next round, where they work with professional songwriters to tweak and improve their songs based on their expertise. Then, the artist picks his or her favorite, and turns it into one of their singles.
We often forget that more often than not, songs are STORIES! Here’s how your favorite songs can inspire your own marketing and content.
Episode 9: Celebrity Fashion Statements are Part of Their Brand Identity
Personal branding doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just in what you wear!
Here are some fashion statements that have become signature identifiers for these celebrities.
Episode 8: Oh. My. GOD! Janice from Friends is a Personal Branding Muse
It’s no secret that Janice from Friends wasn’t everyone’s favorite person to be around, but she certainly was a fan favorite!
From her nasally voice, to her unpleasant cackle, and signature catchphrase (OH. MY. GOD), Janice was always unapolegetically herself.
Here are some things about Janice that make her a shining example of how to build a personal brand.
Episode 7: How Boy Meets World Will Help Your Brand Stay On-Message
I’m pretty sure anyone growing up in the ’90s adored the sitcom, Boy Meets World. The show was such a hit that it was later rebooted in 2014 on Disney with Girl Meets World.
In this episode, I’m talking with my friend and fellow copywriter, Terry Schilling, about what content creators can learn from Boy Meets World. He shares helpful advice on how to build a strong brand foundation, leverage nostalgia, and write stronger content that is always on-brand.
Follow Terry online at www.terryschillingwrites.com
Episode 6: Jessica Simpson's Brilliant Tips to Build Your Online Presence
In the marketing and social media field, we always hear the term “authenticity.” This speaks to presenting your true self with your audience, rather than portraying a facade.
Jessica Simpson exemplifies authenticity in her new memoir, Open Book. She lets herself be vulnerable and bravely puts everything out there. No topic is too personal or humiliating to address.
Whether you simply want to improve your mental health or find the courage to share more of who you are online, there are many takeaways inspired by Jessica Simpson and Open Book.
Episode 5: Aviation Gin's Pop Culture Mastery
In February 2018, Ryan Reynolds acquired a stake in the liquor brand, Aviation American Gin. Along with a small but mighty marketing team, he has helped take the company to new heights with some of the most clever marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a long time.
Who could forget their incredibly swift move when they hired the infamous Peloton wife for a commercial?
But the brilliant marketing hasn’t stopped there. Fast Company named the Aviation Gin one of the most innovative brands of 2020, in large part to their quick responses to pop culture moments.
On the latest episode of the Making the Brand podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Adrian Molina, the senior brand manager behind Aviation Gin, and social media expert and professor, Dr. Karen Freberg.
It turns out that other companies should be taking notes on what Aviation Gin is doing. Pour yourself a negroni (Ryan’s favorite drink!) and listen in to hear the method to their madness.
Episode 4: How Pop Culture Transforms Your Marketing
Incorporating pop culture into your marketing strategy is one of the best ways to get your audience to resonate with your content. Here’s how to do it!
Episode 3: How to Turn Ordinary Customers into Brand Superfans
Cultivating your audience to become passionate superfans will grow your company faster than chasing down leads.
Here are six steps to turn ordinary customers into passionate groupies.
Episode 2: What Makes TikTok Tick?
Well, kids these days are making dances, posting them on TikTok and becoming viral sensations.
But why? Is it really that simple?
In this episode, we break down why TikTok is such a huge success and what makes it different than every other social media platform we’ve known to date.
Episode 1: Every Social Media Platform Explained as a Friends Character
And by friends, I mean Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler.
Here’s every social media platform explained as Friends character.
Season One
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Episode 12: The Small Business Instagram Lesson Inspired by You've Got Mail
I consider this a public service announcement!
Every time I see another small business in my community shut its doors, I think about the 1998 modern classic, You’ve Got Mail. Remember when Meg Ryan’s character, Kathleen Kelly, was forced to close The Shop Around the Corner because of corporate takeover?
Well, Instagram wasn’t around in 1998 and small business owners have the power of Instagram to reach potential customers. But many brands are doing it wrong!
Take a listen for some amazing tips small businesses can apply to grow on Instagram.
Episode 11: This Christmas Card Trend Can Help Your Marketing
In this episode, we discuss break down the Christmas card trend and why it’s effective. You can apply the same learnings to your marketing message.
Episode 10: Why Instagram Boomerangs are the Worst
Look, I’m not here to rain on anyone’s parade — if you’re on social media to have fun and cheers to living your best life, I support that. But if you are a person or brand that actually wants to be compelling, Boomerangs aren’t doing you any favors.
Here’s why Boomerangs are failing your audience, plus what to post instead.
Episode 9: How to Market Yourself Like Elle Woods
If you’re trying to advance in your company, position yourself as a thought leader, start a business, land a new job, or even change careers, listen to this episode for five things you can learn from Elle Woods.
Episode 8: The Science Behind Red Bottom Shoes
Episode 7: Carrie Bradshaw's Blogging Lessons
I sat down with my good friend Gina to discuss Carrie and Sex and the City’s influence on marketing, blogging, and social media. By the end of this episode, I hope you’re inspired to start your own blog!
Episode 6: Dancing and Branding with the Stars
Episode 5: Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life
In this episode, we discuss the pumpkin phenomenon and how brands can create a frenzy of their own.
Episode 4: NBC's This Is Us & Storytelling
This episode also features tips from the book called Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall.
Episode 3: This BSB Song is Actually About Marketing
But sometimes, songs can even help us navigate challenges in the workplace.
At first listen, you might think “As Long As You Love Me” by the Backstreet Boys is about a romantic relationship, but if you listen closely, you’ll learn that it actually offers advice about your marketing strategy.
Take a listen to hear the advice for yourself.
Episode 2: Phoebe Buffay Says You Need an Email List
But Phoebe’s true passion is her music, and although she never reached superstar status, she still understood the importance of marketing herself.
In this episode, we go over why your email list is your biggest marketing asset, yes, even in the age of social media.