Big Things Podcast

Welcome back to Big Things! This week we’re taking a deep dive into Nutter Butter’s social media strategy, celebrating human error, why college students aren’t reading, Amazon’s “Red Zone” (NHL’s Version) and how Snapchat thinks it’s the antidote to everything.

More from us:

• Mitzi Payne @mmmitziP 
• Mike Payne @mmmiiike

Timestamps:

• 04:00 – How the branding for Big Things came together. [clip]
• 05:00 – Personal shoot prep. 
• 08:30 – What we’ll be talking about this episode. 
• 09:30 – Giving feedback/working with your partner.
• 11:00 – Thing 1: Nutter Butter is the name on every marketer’s lips right now. 
• 24:00 – Gen alpha and snack brands. 
• 22:00 – Celebrating human error. 
• 25:00 – Thing 2: College students aren't reading.
• 29:00 – Thing 3: Amazon will debut an NHL version of the NFL Red Zone. 
• 35:00 – Signal shows streaming services are changing to second screen watching.
• 41:05 –Thing 4: Why do brands keep trying to make AR glasses happen?

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Welcome back to Big Things! This is our first official episode and we are ready to yap about all the big things happening in marketing, social media, pop culture and sports. From the new NFL season (and WAGS) to Chilis killing it on social media – these are the stories on our radar this week. 

More from us:

• Mitzi Payne @mmmitziP 
• Mike Payne @mmmiiike

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – What is Big Things?
• 04:30 – Entrepreneur guilt, taking time off and our fitness era
• 08:10 – The Big Things we’re talking about today, first up – NFL is back (and for Mitzi, it means it’s WAGS season).
• 16:00 – The WAGS of the NFL (who is who).
• 20:00 – Kendrick Lamar was confirmed as the Super Bowl Halftime performer and Lil Wayne is not happy. 
• 22:30 – Next: Why are clients asking us to be more like Chilis? 
• 26:15 – The pivot from original content, to following trends, to personalizing trends.
• 28:25 – The “unhinged” brand is feeling cringe. 
• 30:40 – SCAN CLUB: What are signals? Our secret trick to stay ahead of the curve on digital marketing trends. 
• 32:50 – Millennials and Gen Z would rather play bingo than go clubbing. Really. 
• 38:00 – Monopoly Go was not good for our marriage. 
• 40:00 – Signal 2: IKEA is entering the resale market. 

Show Notes:

1. NFL Jackets by Kristin Juszczyk: https://www.instagram.com/kristinjuszczyk/ 
2. Linkinbio Newsletter: https://www.milkkarten.net/p/theres-a-reason-chilis-is-all-over 

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Are you listening on a podcast app? Hop over to YouTube for the full video version: https://youtu.be/dnSC-WruYSA 

Welcome to Big Things! A weekly show where we talk about the big things happening in marketing, social media, pop culture and sports. You can catch the show every Friday on podcast players and YouTube, and be sure to follow us on Instagram for updates on every episode!

More from us:

• Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi 
• Mike Payne @mmmiiike

Timestamps:

• 00:10 – What is Big Things?
• 03:00 – Why we’re moving away from Waves and Tea for Lunch.
• 05:30 – Some of our favorite episodes of Waves and what we learned.  
• 11:00 – How Tea for Lunch helped our team think like content creators. 
• 12:30 – Our new era. 

Show Notes:

1. SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://scanclub.substack.com/ 
2. Lisette Calveiro – @lisettecalv – https://shorturl.at/d7fMi 
3. Karen Rosalie – @karen.rosalie – https://shorturl.at/82ctR 
4. Monday Girl – @joinmondaygirl – https://shorturl.at/J0spn 
5. Alyssa Yuhas – @alyssayuhas – https://shorturl.at/c6W4R 
6. Valentin Ozich – @valentinozich – https://shorturl.at/5duTd 
7. Franke Rodriguez – @frankeknucks – https://shorturl.at/H4kW0 

Thanks for tuning in. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Gaby Bayona is a force in the bridal and modeling industries. The humble entrepreneur has been building her empire since her teens and is now the owner of multiple businesses. After starting out as a seamstress in her mom’s bridal business, Gaby discovered a passion for the industry. By the time she graduated high-school she knew she wanted to own her own business. Now, she owns 3 bridal dress brands and a boutique with multiple locations in Canada, as well as a modeling agency based out of Vancouver, BC. We talk with Gaby about what inspired her to take on such an ambitious lifestyle and what moves she’s making next. Gaby shares her career journey, explains the strategic reason behind why she created multiple dress brands, how she manages it all and what she thinks is next for the bridal industry. 

Learn more about Gaby and her companies:

• Gaby’s Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/gabybayona/
• Gaby’s TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@gaby.bayona
• Truvelle Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/truvellebridal/
• Laudae Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laudaebride/
• Aesling Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/aeslingbride/
• Lovenote Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lovenotebride/
• Stranger Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/strangeragency/

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes - Gaby Bayona

1. 01:00 - Gaby’s story of growing up in the bridal industry.
2. 03:30 - Lessons Gaby learned from her mom’s business. 
3. 09:00 - The rundown on Gaby’s businesses: Why start multiple businesses?
4. 14:00 - How to keep a personal connection with your customers as your business scales. 
5. 15:50 - Advice for someone looking to start a bridal business in today’s noisy digital environment.
6. 17:40 - Digging in the branding and marketing side of Gaby’s businesses. How she was able to explode on Etsy and Pinterest early on and what is she doing now? 
7. 19:00 - Building publicly from a place of vulnerability. 
8. 26:40 - Has Gaby ever wanted to quit?
9. 30:00 - How does Gaby manage her time and energy between the multiple brands and companies?
10. 39:00 - Trends to watch for in the wedding and bridal industries. 
11. 41:15 - Who is making Waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode:

1. Sara Blakely, from Spanx: https://www.instagram.com/sarablakely/?hl=en 
2. Boheme Goods: https://www.bohemegoods.com/ 
3. Field & Social: https://www.fieldandsocial.com/ 
4. Mirror Palais: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorpalais/?hl=en 
5. House of CB: https://www.

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

This year, it seems like every company is trying to get involved in sports. It had us wondering, is there really an increased interest in sports or is this a perceived growth we’re seeing on our own feeds? We brought in sports marketing expert and Director of Content Strategy for William Raymond Communications, Shahob Mehr, to answer our questions. 

Shahob shares his journey from being a student, to getting a seat at the table in this incredibly competitive industry. He unveils the hidden layers of the sports industry, exploring topics like: the art of creating compelling social media pathways for athletes and how to build rock-solid relationships. And, he answers our big question: Do all companies need a sports partnership?

Learn more about Shahob:

1. Follow Shahob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahobmehr/ 
2. Follow Shahob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahobmehr/ 
3. William Raymond Communications: https://www.william-raymond.com/ 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes:

1. 02:50 - How Shahob got started in such a competitive industry. 
2. 06:28 - What it’s like being in the room with such elite athletes. 
3. 07:15 - Going from green in the industry to running the NFL’s Snapchat early in Shahob’s career. 
4. 08:30 - Getting the fear out of the way early in your career. 
5. 18:10 - Is Shahob noticing a growing interest in sports? What opportunities should marketers be paying attention to in 2024?
6. 20:22 - How Shahob and his larger team help athletes figure out what their digital footprint should be. 
7. 25:03 - What does the content cycle look like for athletes? How involved are they?
8. 26:30 - Why LinkedIs is one of Shahob’s favorite platforms right now.
9. 33:35 - Advice for brand managers looking to build relationships with athletes. 
10. 34:51 - Who is making waves and why?
11. 35:50 - Athletes that left a lasting impression on Shahob. 
12. 38:20 - How to connect with Shahob. 

Waves Podcast with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Mitzi and Mike are back with another solo episode. This week, they’re talking through the top 3 news stories (signals) that they’re following. We break down what each signal could mean for the future of digital marketing. First up, Chipotle renames one of their locations after a Travis Kelce tweet resurfaces. Then, we talk about the rise of print with NYLON relaunching their physical magazine for the first time since 2017. Last, we talk about Kendrick Lamar’s “anti-smart” phone and what it might mean. We wrap things up with a listener question about getting through the busy Q4 season as both a marketer and business owner. 

Show Notes:

1. 00:00 - We’re pivoting! 
2. 02:08 - How we’re prepping for December with a business and two kids. Plus, Mike learns a lesson about Elf on the Shelf. 
3. 05:13 - Diving into our first news story (signal): Chipotle made a hilarious move after Swifties dug through Travis Kelce’s old tweets. 
4. 09:33 - NYLON is bringing back print. They’ll be launching their inaugural issue spring of 2024. Is print making a real comeback, or is it a gimmick?
5. 13:06 - What other analog experiences we want to see come back (roller rinks, piano bars and award show parties).
6. 18:39 - How magazine culture influenced Arcade’s marketing agency name.
7. 21:03 - Kendrick Lamer’s “anti-smart” phone sold out in minutes. People are buying Nokia flip phones. Is there going to be a resurgence of simpler tech? Who is this a best fit for?
8. 25:44 - What games we’d wake up in the middle of the night to play on our old devices.
9. 28:35 - Listener question: How do you get through a busy Q4 season with your team? Both as business owners and marketers. 
10. 31:00 - How to change your perspective around feeling “busy.” 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Chipolte prank: https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/chipotle-kansas-city-changes-name-travis-kelce-rcna126238 
• NYLON is bringing back print: https://www.nylon.com/life/nylon-print-return-april-2024
• Kendrick Lamar’s “anti-smart” phone: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/11/07/kendrick-lamars-limited-edition-anti-smart-phone-sells-out-in-a-day 

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Marketers hold their breath and pray the Facebook pixel was installed correctly. Hopefully this episode will breathe some levity into your week. We’re shaking things up a bit this week–taking some time to have a catch-up and chat through some listener questions we’ve gotten. From handling tough client feedback and giving mistakes the attention they deserve, to our thoughts on sports brand collabs and sonic branding, this episode is a fun, light listen for marketers trying to finish Q4 strong. 

Show Notes:

1. 01:26 - A bit about today’s episode: we’re trying something a little different. 
2. 01:55 - What Mitzi and Mike have been up to lately: thoughts on Q4, live music and fantasy sports. 
3. 16:00 - What do we recommend if you have a social media client who keeps posting on their own? 
4. 21:28 - How do you handle tough client feedback? Or when a client is disappointed with something that you do?
5. 25:05 - Don’t rush through a mistake, give it your attention and care. 
6. 31:24 - How to handle feeling rejected when your ideas get shot down. 
7. 33:52 - About Scan Club and the signals we’ve been watching recently.
8. 36:51 - SKIMS x the NBA and the rise of sports in marketing culture. 
9. 40:27 - Gen Z’s sonic branding knowledge and cringing at the term “brand beats.”
10. 43:05 - Bringing artists & DJs into the sonic branding conversation.
11. 45:30 - Strong branded “sounds” and the stigma of jingles.

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Katarina (Kate) Terentieva went from studying International Relations, to building Tumblr blogs, to being a Partner and the Chief Creative Officer at Louder. Now, Louder invests in the world’s most competitive startups and helps them disrupt at scale. We break it down with Kate to learn about her story, how TikTok helped her grow her brand, her advice on discovering what you’re passionate about, what Gen Z wants from advertisers, and how to capture and revive moments past the trend cycle. Kate also explains the difference between becoming a creative or an art director and how to choose what’s right for you. 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

More from Kate:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katarinaterentieva
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katarinaterentieva
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateterentieva/

Show Notes:

1. 00:00 - Scan Club Ad + Intro
2. 01:20 - Meet Katarina (Kate)! Introducing her story and today’s topic. 
3. 03:15 - How Kate became a Creative Director. 
4. 04:25 - How Kate went from studying international relations and building Tumblr blogs to becoming a Creative Director.
5. 06:56 - How Kate started designing runway sets for bridal companies. 
6. 10:00 - The early start of Louder and making yourself a seat at the table. 
7. 12:05 - Discovering what you’re passionate about in your industry. 
8. 16:45 - The difference between being an Art Director and a Creative Director.
9. 21:55 - How Kate blew up on TikTok and how she used the platform to grow her business. 
10. 29:10 - Connecting with your target demographic by leveraging a relevant personal brand. 
11. 32:48 - What does Gen Z want from advertisers? 
12. 38:00 - Capturing and reviving trending moments past their trend cycle. The magic of nostalgia for brands. 
13. 42:18 - Can TikTok trends inform creative campaigns? And, are jingles back? 
14. 44:20 - Ask yourself these questions before pursuing a career in Creative Direction.  
15. 47:45  - Who is making waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode: Hugo Boss

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

When Lauren Meisner and Jordyn Christensen noticed a gap in the market for influencer news that actually felt relevant, they decided they would be the ones to fill it. Now co-founders of Gen Z media brand, Centennial World, and popular podcast, “infinite scroll,” they join Mike and Mitzi to talk about their journey. The duo shares advice about carving out space in a saturated media landscape for something new, the importance of staying in your lane and why they don’t sell to their online community group. They also talk about what media companies are getting wrong with Gen Z and how they’ve managed to cater their content to Gen Z’s distinct media consumption preferences. The episode ends with a discussion around the impact of internet drama on consumer behavior and if influencer marketing is losing its charm. 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

More from Lauren & Jordyn:

• Centennial World: https://centennialworld.com/ 
• infinite scroll: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/infinite-scroll/id1499785732 
• Find them on IG & TikTok: @centennialworld @infinitescrollpodcast
• Newsletter: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ 

Show Notes:

1. 2:00 - What content is everyone consuming right now?
2. 6:40 - How did Lauren and Jordyn meet and decide to become business partners?
3. 11:30 - The business before the podcast and the importance of longform content.
4. 13:45 - Why it’s important to stay consistent and in your lane while building a niche brand. 
5. 17:20 - Content direction and finding your niche.  
6. 18:47 - What is means to be a “Gen Z media brand.” 
7. 22:40 - What the future of internet casting might look like. 
8. 26:00 - The importance of forming a strong bond, without promotion, in a Geneva Group. 
9. 29:20 - Starting a “closed community” from a brand perspective. 
10. 30:50 - You don’t want to “sell” to Gen Z.
11. 33:57 - Internet drama and its impact on greater consumer behavior. 
12. 38:40 - Are these dramas “produced?”
13. 40:40 - Who’s making waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sunroom App: https://sunroom.so/ 

Waves Podcast with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of wins and losses. But what if we told you that viewing these losses as opportunities for growth could change everything? In this episode, we’re joined again by founder of I Love Ugly, Valentin Ozich, to have a candid conversation about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Valentin returns as a follow-up to our interview last year to explain the mindset shift that helped him continue to grow his brand, even when life got really hard. He explores the power of personal growth and self-care, the importance of celebrating life’s mundane moments and how to ease up on ourselves. 

We explore topics including the fascinating world of subconscious reprogramming, how to overcome obstacles, finding clarity in our goals and finding connection. This episode is motivating, uplifting and real. Join us on this inspiring journey of self-discovery and purpose. 

Learn more about Valentin:

1. I Love Ugly: https://www.iloveugly.com/ 
2. I Love Ugly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iloveugly/  
3. Valentin Ozich on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valentinozich 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes:

1. 00:15 - Catching up on I Love Ugly and how the past year has gone for the brand and Valentin. 
2. 01:20 - Big changes in Valentin’s life and thoughts on “The War of Art.”
3. 08:10 - Mindset, discipline and celebration. 
4. 12:30 - How to live in the moment as an entrepreneur and relieve the pressure of “the grind.”
5. 17:10 - Why you need to work harder on yourself than on your business.
6. 23:45 - Clarify what you want to accomplish and how to show up. 
7. 27:00 - How to achieve your goals through persistence. 
8. 31:00 - Thoughts on 15 years of I Love Ugly and what inspired Valentin to step out of the driver’s seat.
9. 38:00 Life will always intervene and force you to take breaks
10. 40:15 Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Remember to keep “wise council” around you.
11. 47:25 - How Valentin stays creative artistically while managing a business. 
12. 51:40 - How to use your subconscious mind to solve problems. 
13. 53:30 - Valentin’s art and future goals with helping others. 
14. 55:40 - Who is making waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Danny Morel https://www.instagram.com/dannymorel/?hl=en 

Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.