Click Tease: Weekly Digest of Branding, Marketing & Content that Converts

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What happens when TikTok’s magic algorithm gets rewritten in the U.S.—and Jimmy Kimmel gets yanked off air for poking fun at politicians? This week, we unpack how censorship, content, and creator strategy collide.

What You’ll Learn:

• What TikTok’s U.S. algorithm split could mean for your reach, engagement, and sales
• How the Jimmy Kimmel vs. Disney fallout reveals bigger branding and censorship lessons
• A practical framework for choosing when (and how) to engage with cultural conversations in your content

Update: After filming this episode, ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel would be back on air starting September 23rd. This goes to show that we can vote with our wallets to effect the change we want to see in the world. 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
 04:00 – TikTok’s U.S. takeover: what the algorithm shake-up means
 08:30 – Jimmy Kimmel pulled: censorship, Disney backlash & brand trust
 13:00 – Ethics in marketing: propaganda, press, and personal branding
 19:00 – Diversifying platforms: protecting your business beyond TikTok
 27:00 – Core values + content pillars: deciding when to join the conversation
 34:00 – Playing to your strengths: finding the right content medium for growth

References & Resources:

• TikTok
• Disney / Hulu / Disney+
• Jimmy Kimmel
• Ted Cruz
• Saturday Night Live (SNL)

EOS model / Traction (book)

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

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Not all traffic equals profit — and not all business models lead to freedom. Discover why choosing the wrong model can stall your growth (and sanity) and how to pivot with intention.

What You’ll Learn:

• What you’ll learn about the hidden pitfalls of one-to-one, time-for-money business models
• What you’ll learn about how content creators and coaches must approach marketing differently
• What you’ll learn about navigating national conversations without derailing your brand
  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
 04:00 – The hidden cost of too many client calls
 07:00 – Choosing a business model that matches your lifestyle
 13:00 – Why complexity kills clarity (and sales)
 19:00 – Views vs. conversions: the monetization gap
 25:00 – Content creators vs. coaches: why your model matters
 31:00 – When national conversations overshadow your launch

References & Resources:

• Kauffman Training Program
• James Wedmore
• Taylor Swift
• Charlie Kirk

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

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What happens when pumpkin spice, reality TV, and psychographics collide? This episode dishes out spicy takes on positioning, brand triggers, and why authenticity converts faster than any “perfect” product launch.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to use seasonal or cultural triggers (like pumpkin spice) to drive product demand
• Why psychographics beat demographics when building a brand that converts
• The role of authenticity and reality TV energy in creating trust and audience growth
  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
 02:15 – Pumpkin spice as a marketing masterclass
 06:45 – Caramel macchiato & the power of positioning
 10:20 – Using external triggers to fuel sales
 15:30 – Selling emotion vs. selling the product
 18:40 – Psychographics vs. demographics in funnels
 28:10 – Reality TV & influencer branding lessons
 33:45 – Kevin Ashton, TikTok sorority chef & authenticity in content
 41:20 – Building in public vs. perfectionism in marketing

References & Resources:

• Starbucks
• Love Island (reality TV)
• Kardashians / Keeping Up with the Kardashians
• Lisa Vanderpump (Vanderpump Rules, Wolf restaurant)
• Kevin Ashton (TikTok sorority chef)
• ManyChat
  
  

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

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When Taylor and Travis broke the internet, brands couldn’t resist — but should they have? Plus: what “The Summer I Turned Pretty” teaches about episodic hype, and why AI still can’t kill your creativity.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why brands win (or lose) when they jump on cultural moments
• What “The Summer I Turned Pretty” nailed about community engagement and content pacing
• How AI shifts marketing jobs — and why your creativity still matters more than code

Timestamps:
 05:45 – Taylor + Travis engagement: brand reactions and backlash
 12:30 – Should every brand jump on viral trends?
 18:15 – The Summer I Turned Pretty: Easter eggs, episodic release, and fan frenzy
 22:40 – Competition marketing: Team Jeremiah vs. Team Conrad
 27:15 – Why AI can’t replace creativity (yet)
 32:45 – OpenAI’s $300K job post and what it signals for marketers

References & Resources:

• Taylor Swift
• Travis Kelce
• Jenny Han
• The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
• Motion App
• OpenAI / ChatGPT

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
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📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
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Update: Since filming this episode, Cracker Barrel has decided to revert back to it’s original logo.

What happens when a heritage brand strips away its soul? The Cracker Barrel rebrand sparks outrage, proving why listening to your audience is the ultimate marketing play.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why rebrands flop when businesses ignore nostalgia and audience identity
• How to test brand messaging before launching a risky change
• The simple, no-funnel strategy for creators to grow with just one core offer

Timestamps:

 04:15 – The Cracker Barrel controversy explained
 07:45 – Why audiences revolt when nostalgia gets erased
 13:20 – Politics, branding, and why context matters more than ever
 18:45 – The power of audience testing in avoiding PR disasters
 30:10 – The curse of “new shiny ideas” vs. doubling down on what works
 43:30 – The bare minimum you actually need to launch a digital offer

References & Resources:

• Cracker Barrel
• Bud Light backlash
• Poppy (acquired by Pepsi)
• Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point
• Jonah Berger, Contagious
• BossBabe

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
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What do Taco Bell, banana bread TikTok, and Alex Hormozi’s $150M book launch have in common? A masterclass in creating demand and turning “oops” moments into cultural buzz.

What You’ll Learn:

• What you’ll learn from Taco Bell, KFC, and McDonald’s about creating product demand (without new products)
  
  
• What you’ll learn from Alex Hormozi’s record-breaking book launch about turning an audience into participants
  
  
• What you’ll learn from LinkedIn and TikTok trends about staying relevant without selling out
  
  

Timestamps:
 03:15 – Why LinkedIn is the last untapped growth channel
 09:45 – Sweet Loren’s “Ryan” TikTok fail turned campaign
 17:00 – Alex Hormozi’s world record book launch strategy
 20:50 – Behind the scenes of Taco Bell’s social team
 28:30 – Fast food demand gen: McRib, KFC potato wedges & nostalgia marketing
 33:15 – Listening to your audience: from PopFlex to startup pivots
 36:00 – Banana bread TikTok & how to ride trends without bandwagoning

Meet our Guest Co-Host

Alexis is a social media pro who’s been helping brands not flop online since before TikTok was even a thing. She’s worked with Taco Bell, TRX, and Kajabi, and when she’s not breaking down trends, she’s busy wrangling content ideas and her two kids.

Connect with Alexis here 👇

https://www.Instagram.com/alexiscarrportfolio 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-carr-b14796a8

References & Resources:

• Sweet Loren’s (TikTok story)
• Alex Hormozi – 100M Leads book launch
• Cassie Ho / Blogilates / PopFlex
• Dana Castillo (LinkedIn)
• Taylor Swift Reputation re-record buzz

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
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Send us Fan Mail

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Spark curiosity with the juiciest takeaway, drama, or trend
Taylor Swift just sold out an album you can’t see, hear, or fully know about yet—and it’s a masterclass in hype every personal brand can steal.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to borrow “surprise and delight” tactics from pop stars to keep your audience hooked
• Why referrals and word of mouth might be your most underused revenue stream
• The mindset shift that frees you from doing everything in your business
  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
03:58 – Bootstrapping vs. big-budget business growth
06:41 – The real cost of running digital vs. physical businesses
17:02 – Taylor Swift’s mystery album drop and genius drip-feed marketing
30:59 – Turning declining sales into demand with creative repositioning
38:00 – Why only 7% of word-of-mouth happens on social (and how to leverage the rest)
44:00 – 10x thinking: leveraging bigger opportunities for exponential growth

References & Resources:

• Taylor Swift
• Travis Kelce / New Heights Podcast
• Contagious by Jonah Berger
• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• StrengthsFinder
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Sabrina Carpenter

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
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Brands are getting roasted, creators are getting hate, and still your business needs systems to survive the chaos. We break down the latest drama and how to stay consistent when the internet feels like it’s on fire.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why inspiration is overrated (and what your content actually needs instead)
• The real reason the Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle ad flopped — and what Abercrombie + Old Navy did right
• A mindset shift that helps you handle hate, trolls, and online backlash without spiraling

Timestamps:
03:20 – Why your business problems are system problems
06:15 – Creatives vs. structure: can you thrive inside a system?
12:00 – Brand backlash: how Abercrombie + Old Navy clapped back at American Eagle
17:00 – Sydney Sweeney, Dunkin’ ads, and marketing's obsession with “good genes”
34:00 – When trolls attack: neutralizing hate online without losing your mind
45:00 – Final reminder: your business ≠ your worth

References & Resources:

• Sydney Sweeney
• American Eagle
• Ralph Lauren Oak Bluffs ad

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
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Send us Fan Mail

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When American Eagle dropped their Sydney Sweeney “good genes” campaign, the internet exploded… but not just because of her looks. We break down the backlash, what went wrong, and the deeper marketing lessons you need to take from it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why brand pivots go wrong — and how to do it without losing your audience
• The neuromarketing strategy behind envy, attraction, and sales psychology in this ad (see Michelle TT video here with deeper breakdown)
• What this campaign teaches us about aligning content with brand voice and cultural context

Timestamps:
 03:12 – What actually happened in the Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle ad
 06:45 – When “good genes” becomes bad PR
 10:22 – Messaging missteps: Where AE strayed from their brand
 16:10 – The power (and risk) of propaganda-style marketing
 22:40 – Strategic pivots vs. brand betrayal: How to shift without shocking
 29:55 – Should you respond to viral moments in your content?

References & Resources:

• Sydney Sweeney
• American Eagle
• Calvin Klein (Jeremy Allen White ad)
• Brooke Shields 1980s jeans campaign
• Lola Tung (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
• Coldplay kiss cam incident

Links to TT Videos with more information about the ad:

• sayantanidasguptabooks
• drjess21
• millenial.mia

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
✅ Try Out Monday.com

Send us Fan Mail

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Content series aren’t just a vibe — they’re a strategy. In this episode, we unpack why serialized content is outperforming static one-offs, how star quality trumps strategy when you're stuck in scroll-jail, and what K-Pop training camps and The Summer I Turned Pretty can teach you about building brand obsession.

If you’ve ever struggled with consistency, camera confidence, or content that actually drives sales — this one’s for you. Get clarity on what makes people follow, binge, and buy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why series-style content creates bingeable, buildable personal brands
• How to magnetize an audience by leaning into “star quality” over perfection
• What’s working in content right now (spoiler: it’s not more batching)
• How Netflix shows and viral cafes are blueprinting the future of brand attention

Timestamps:
 05:12 – Social media shifted niche success
 10:01 – From Scotland to Substack: modern-day travel marketing
 13:11 – 300-view TikToks = $$$ (yep, we said it)
 20:45 – Attention vs. systems: which are you missing?
 24:08 – Why content series convert
 42:10 – “Star quality” and energy in digital business
 57:02 – The Summer I Turned Pretty: emotional marketing 101

References & Resources:

• Substack
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Jimmy Fallon
• The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime)
• KATSEYE
• Kajabi

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clickteasepodcast

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: [email protected]
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
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