From under-16 social media bans in Australia to the sneaky reason your email should never go out exactly on the hour, this weekly rundown packs in plenty of usable takeaways and a little chaos. Jay Schwedelson connects policy shifts, inbox strategy, influencer math, and the latest AI land grab so you can keep your marketing sharp without living in a news feed. He even throws in some wild traffic stats and a Stranger Things rant that might make you question how old you feel right now.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(00:16) Jay riffs on Australia's under 16 social media bans, Snapchat's behavioral signals, and why age gating is about to spread to the EU and US.

(01:57) A dead-simple holiday email trick where not sending on the hour helps you dodge inbox clutter and lift open rates by around 15%.

(03:15) Holiday influencer rate reality check for micro creators and why follower count means nothing without real engagement.

(04:15) Jay makes the case for Team Gemini, breaking down fresh usage numbers and how it is catching up fast to ChatGPT.

(05:09) Wild traffic stats reveal Yahoo and even Bing pulling more visits than ChatGPT, leaving Jay stunned at what people still type into their browsers.

(06:34) From Wicked vs Zootopia 2 box office surprises to the very grown up Stranger Things cast still riding bikes, Jay wonders when nostalgia finally goes too far.

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

A quick-hit Bathroom Break with Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray that actually makes social feel manageable again — from tiny boost budgets that move mountains to a commenting play that beats mindless posting. You’ll also hear why short video still wins, how to turn email into a social flywheel, and a sneaky Stories tactic Daniel swears by.

ㅤ

Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights. Subscribe to Ari Murray’s newsletter at gotomillions.co for sharp, actionable marketing insights.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(03:00) LinkedIn’s new comment impressions make thoughtful replies a growth channel, not an afterthought.

(04:31) Micro budgets work: toss $5 on YouTube or under $50 on IG/LinkedIn to amplify content that’s already winning.

(05:41) Treat short video like share fuel for DMs, Slack, and group chats with a tight first three seconds and a clean loop.

(07:00) Stop propping up losers and only boost winners, plus link newsletter hero images straight to your social posts.

(08:00) Balance rented and owned audiences so people see you wherever they actually pay attention.

(08:45) Use IG Stories with DM keywords and simple automation to spark replies that lift your story distribution.

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Most people cranking out content feel like they’re on a hamster wheel, and this one is Jay Schwedelson basically turning his own burnout into a live strategy session with Caleb Ralston. They get into why copying 400-post-a-week creators is wrecking your brain, how to reverse engineer a cadence that actually fits your life, and what it really means for a personal brand to “work.” If you care more about leads, trust, and reputation than vanity metrics, this convo will mess with how you think about content in a good way.

ㅤ

Check out Caleb’s free 6-hour-and-22-minute YouTube course on how to build your personal brand, grab the companion workbook by dropping your email, and use it to level up before you ever think about hiring a media team.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(00:16) Jay admits he “got the guy” behind some of the biggest personality-led brands because he wants to reverse engineer what actually works for personal brands.

(03:00) Caleb explains why copying top creators’ insane content routines is like trying to train like the greatest athlete on day one and guarantees you will quit.

(04:15) The low-volume, high-effort strategy that grew Caleb’s YouTube to over 50,000 subscribers from just seven videos by focusing on depth over constant posting.

(08:58) Breaking down the Brand Journey Framework so you finally define why you are building a personal brand and what success is supposed to look like.

(13:23) A behind-the-scenes example of a video designed with one job only: get talented creatives to DM Caleb so he can place them on client media teams.

(16:01) Why views and followers are useful signals but become dangerous distractions when sales, conversions, and cost to acquire a customer are going the wrong way.

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

AI sounds like a shortcut until your “great” ideas flop in the wild, and that is exactly what Jay Schwedelson digs into here. He breaks down a simple 100,000 person prompt that quietly flips AI out of generic creative mode and into deeper statistical thinking, then shares what happened when he A/B tested it on subject lines and CTAs. Plus, a surprisingly relatable question about hating phone calls turns into a legit strategy for staying connected without awkward calls or endless text threads.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(01:00) Alyssa from Denver asks why AI generated ideas keep underperforming, and Jay flags the hidden problem with how most of us prompt these tools.

(01:47) Jay introduces the 100,000 person prompt and shows how to ask AI to simulate huge audiences reacting to subject lines, landing pages, and offers.

(03:05) Jay explains how framing prompts around 100,000 real people forces AI out of pure creativity and into deeper statistical mode for sharper recommendations.

(03:45) Jay shares A/B test results where 100,000 person prompts beat generic AI suggestions over 70 percent of the time and even double click throughs on CTA buttons.

(05:15) Jared from Dallas admits he hates phone calls and finds texting shallow, and Jay gets real about how easy it is to drift into isolation.

(06:00) Jay reveals his go to solution of voice memos as a low pressure, high connection way to maintain relationships without live calls or walls of text.

ㅤ

Prompts mentioned:

• Predict how 100,000 real subscribers would respond to each of these subject lines, rank them by expected open rate, and explain the psychology.
• Evaluate this hero section as if 100,000 new visitors landed on this landing page. Identify confusion points and drop-off risks.
• How would 100,000 consumer buyers or 100,000 B2B buyers interpret this offer? What is confusing, what is strong, and what is missing?
• We want you to simulate 100,000 people interacting with this call-to-action button. What should the language be?

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving has nothing on the chaos swirling around AI, privacy rules, and even Instagram trying to make you watch 20-minute reels. Before the turkey coma hits, Jay Schwedelson digs into everything from the death of the em dash to Google’s sneaky new flight deal superpower, plus a few very strong opinions on Netflix holiday movies. Somehow it all ties together in a way that’ll make your week a little smarter and a lot funnier.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(00:00) ChatGPT finally admits the M dash problem and promises to stop abusing it

(01:41) Europe’s Digital Omnibus plan could loosen GDPR and ease cookie consent madness

(03:28) Instagram quietly tests 20-minute reels, and Jay cannot handle it

(04:00) Google’s AI-powered flight deals tool is officially rolled out and wildly useful

(05:17) Three preheader words that just boosted email open rates by 19 percent

(06:44) Jay’s brutally honest reviews of The Beast in Me and Merry Little Ex Christmas

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Holiday email engagement is somehow both nerdy and genuinely fun here, as Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray use Thanksgiving food opinions, Hallmark movies, and Bathroom-Break banter to get into why replies matter way more than most marketers think. They dig into how to engineer responses in your emails and stories, why reply rate is a killer signal for both humans and algorithms, and how AI plus simple prompts like “Reply GUIDE” can quietly blow up your results. It’s basically a playbook for turning “one-way” campaigns into conversations people actually want to have.

Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights. Subscribe to Ari Murray’s newsletter at gotomillions.co for sharp, actionable marketing insights.

Best Moments:

(00:50) Daniel shares his not-so-traditional Thanksgiving background and why dry turkey is an instant no.

(02:06) Jay’s hard rule for Thanksgiving dinner: mac and cheese is required, salad is banned.

(02:49) Jay explains why the reply rate on promotional emails is about to explode thanks to AI and better follow-up.

(03:28) Daniel’s tricks for prompting real human replies, from light personal questions to hidden Easter eggs in the middle of an email.

(05:20) Jay’s “just reply GUIDE” tactic for content and discounts that crushes landing page forms and boosts inbox placement.

(07:14) Daniel shows how the same reply mindset on Instagram Stories boosts distribution while keeping interactions feeling human.

(09:28) They break down how replies become a goldmine of first-party data and even shape future content topics like reality TV.

(09:49) A rapid-fire holiday movie riff that goes from Die Hard and Home Alone to The Grinch, romcoms, and why Hallmark is secretly elite.

(11:15) Jay and Daniel pitch their very on-brand Thanksgiving “gain 5 pounds, then lose it” logic as the ultimate holiday hack.

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Event folks like to joke about chaos, but Jay Schwedelson and Rachel Andrews get into what it actually takes to build a career inside that chaos. Rachel shares how she went from school events and holiday parties to leading a massive global events program, why “embrace the suck” is secretly great career advice, and what is really changing for attendees on-site. They also talk about burnout, boundaries, and how to build networking formats that do not make introverts want to hide by the coffee station.

ㅤ

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn and check out Cvent CONNECT in Nashville, her “big family reunion” style industry event that brings together event pros and event technologists from across the world.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(01:45) Rachel’s oldest-child energy, early love of bringing people together, and the moment she realized she wanted the events side, not PR.

(05:10) How saying yes to “small” assignments like a company holiday party turned into a 15-year path to leading events at a huge brand.

(08:05) Why attendees keep begging for “more networking” and how Rachel designs formats that actually work for introverts and ambiverts.

(11:15) The problem with topic tables that go nowhere and how facilitators and “influencer hosts” can make roundtables worth showing up for.

(14:10) Rachel’s honest take on burnout, the myth of “do more with less,” and why she fiercely protects PTO and being present with her family.

(17:20) What 1,000 last-minute registrations revealed about attendee behavior and how she is feeling about event budgets and growth heading into 2026.

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

If you’re scrambling for a few last marketing wins before everyone mentally checks out for the holidays, Jay Schwedelson has you. He runs through ridiculously simple, data-backed plays you can still pull off in December to drive engagement, then pivots to underrated holiday movie picks you probably forgot existed. It’s fast, a little unhinged, and full of ideas you can steal right away.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(01:12) Jerry’s question about easy, last minute tactics to drive end of year engagement before everyone checks out.

(02:00) The holiday team photo or video that boosts social engagement by 400 percent and opens the door for casual DMs that build real relationships.

(03:12) Turning your email signature into December gold with a holiday thank you and a “best of 2025” content link that quietly drives 40 percent more clicks.

(05:00) Why December is the cheat code month for testimonial outreach, with a 500 percent lift in submissions you can repurpose all year long.

(06:33) Running simple end of year and next year polls that tap into everyone’s reflective mood and earn 250 percent higher engagement.

(08:00) Jay’s offbeat holiday watchlist from The Holiday and Love Actually to his all time favorite, The Family Man, plus a passionate defense of Thanksgiving classics.

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

If you’re looking for a quick spark for your marketing this week, this one’s packed with clever timing plays and wild cultural moments that Jay Schwedelson breaks down with zero fluff. From riding the wave of Spotify Wrapped to the bizarre reality of Brown Friday, he pulls out the stuff brands can actually use right now and the stuff that’s just too ridiculous not to mention.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(00:00) Why jumping on Spotify Wrapped is the smartest content move you can make this week

(01:45) The wild engagement bump brands get when they launch Wrapped style content

(04:09) The extremely real and extremely gross reason the day after Thanksgiving is called Brown Friday

(05:30) Why unsubscribe rates skyrocket this time of year and why it’s not your fault

(06:59) Jenna Bush Hager had 19 bridesmaids and Jay cannot process it

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Moving chaos, forgotten boxes, and the universal struggle of figuring out where the bathroom is in a new place somehow turn into the perfect setup for a smart chat about a wildly overlooked email tactic. You’ll hear how adding a simple animated gif can lift clicks, stop the scroll, and make your emails feel more alive, all thanks to the always blunt brilliance of Jay Schwedelson and the ever-game-for-any-topic energy of Daniel Murray.

ㅤ

Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights. Subscribe to Ari Murray’s newsletter at gotomillions.co for sharp, actionable marketing insights.

ㅤ

Best Moments:

(01:01) Jay admits he’d help Daniel move but really, absolutely would not

(01:43) Daniel predicts the inevitable two-week unpacking saga

(03:00) Daniel breaks down why gifs instantly stop the scroll

(03:32) Jay explains how animated gifs lift click rates by about 20 percent

(05:00) Daniel shares how to turn video moments into compelling gif teasers

(07:40) Jay reminds everyone that AI makes creating gifs ridiculously simple

ㅤ

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Register for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.com

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!