In this episode of eCoffee with Experts, Austin Willman sits down with Angie Nwandu, CEO/ Founder at The Shade Room Media Company, to unpack how media, culture, and trust are evolving in a post-AI, social-first world.
Angie shares how launching The Shade Room during a major media disruption shaped her mindset as a founder and why every new wave of change presents opportunity for leaders who stay adaptable.
From AI-generated news and declining trust in traditional media to the rise of streamers, TikTok creators, and niche communities, this conversation dives deep into the future of media and marketing.
You’ll hear how The Shade Room uses social listening to build one of the most loyal online communities, why brand perception now matters more than impressions, and how authenticity is becoming the biggest differentiator as AI content floods the internet.
Angie also explains what she looks for when hiring, how intuition and psychology drive virality, and why niche communities outperform mass audiences.
This episode is a must-watch for founders, marketers, media executives, and creators navigating AI, content strategy, digital PR, and modern brand building.
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In this episode, we discuss:
00:00 – 01:00: Introduction
01:00 – 03:00: How media shifted from websites to social feeds
03:00 – 05:00: Why disruption creates new opportunities
05:00 – 06:40: Why bad news gets clicks but isn’t shared
06:40 – 07:45: How social media changes content behavior
07:45 – 09:00: What success metrics matter today
09:00 – 10:20: Why brand trust beats impressions
10:20 – 12:00: How AI is changing and confusing media
12:00 – 13:30: Why people trust The Shade Room
13:30 – 15:10: How community shapes content decisions
15:10 – 17:30: How Angie hires for intuition and taste
17:30 – 19:00: Why psychology matters more than analytics
19:00 – 21:00: How social listening built The Shade Room
21:00 – 22:30: Why naming the community increased loyalty
22:30 – 24:00: Why niche communities are the future
24:00 – 25:30: New ways brands partner with media
25:30 – 27:10: Why small creators drive bigger impact
27:10 – 28:40: TikTok Shop and creator trust
28:40 – 29:41: Final thoughts
Connect with Angelica Nwandu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-nwandu-2a866753/
http://theshaderoom.com/
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