We break down reports that ChatGPT could take a 4% cut of Shopify merchant purchases, why Google always wanted this but never pulled it off, and what it means if AI becomes the front door to checkout — not just discovery.We also dig into TikTok’s new Smart+ AI campaigns, why platforms are pushing marketers toward automation and black boxes, and who actually wins when judgment gets replaced by inputs.On the culture side, we talk about:- The Unplugging of Gen‑Alpha and why analog childhoods are becoming a real trend- Why BuzzBallz’ $35K engagement ring is a culture hack, not a product- Mehtab’s marketing calendar hackThen we sit down with Dave Stickland, co‑founder of Popsmith, for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about retail:- Why landing Costco was a mistake- The real cost of prestige and “omnichannel too early”- How to use retail as R&D instead of validation- And what “bougie shite for the aristocrats” looks like in 2026 and beyondWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We break down TikTok’s new off‑site performance tracking and why it’s a signal that attribution, halo effect, and downstream sales are now table stakes for big budgets. We talk about Fulfilled by TikTok, why it feels incredibly convenient, and why it should also make brands a little uncomfortable.We cover:- TikTok’s push to measure the Halo Effect beyond the app- Why Haus’ research shows affection still drives performance before attribution- What happens when platforms own discovery and fulfillment- Nate’s move from watches to supplements, and why copy and positioning break before ads ever do- How category shifts expose whether you actually understand persuasion- ByteDance launching a Netflix‑style competitor and what it signals for brand‑owned mediaWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Commerce is changing layers — fast. Discovery is shifting away from who pays the most and toward who actually fits. Agents don’t care about CPMs. They care about relevance, taste, and context.In today’s livestream, we break down what that means for brands, creators, and operators as:- Visual search becomes vibe‑coded- Agentic commerce introduces “merit‑based shopping”- Paid discovery starts losing its grip on the decision layer- Brands built on spend get exposed — and brands built on relevance get rewardedWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Today we’re breaking down what it actually means now that ChatGPT is getting ads, why AI agents are quietly replacing workflows, and why a lot of what people think is “authentic content” is about to stop working.On today’s livestream:- Why ChatGPT ads are less like Google Search — and more like Amazon recommendations.- What happens when execution becomes cheap, infinite, and automated.- Why “raw” content is no longer a moat in an AI world.- How agents are already running pieces of real businesses.- Why taste, judgment, and clarity are becoming the only defensible advantages.- And why brands that feel human are pulling away while everyone else argues about formats.We’re also joined by Kyle Hency (Chubbies → GoodDay).Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Marketing, ecommerce, and media are colliding faster than most brands are ready for. Today’s show breaks down why legacy retailers are hiring Hollywood execs, why brands now need studios instead of campaigns, how AI is collapsing the cost of content, and why trust, authenticity, and owned relationships are becoming the only real moat. If you’re a founder, operator, or marketer trying to understand where attention, commerce, and culture are actually headed — this episode is for you.- Gap hiring a Chief Entertainment Officer and what it signals about brands becoming media companies- Why brands need in‑house studios to compete in a real‑time, culture‑driven world- AI video reaching the point where we can’t tell what’s real anymore — and what that breaks (and creates)- An in‑depth conversation with Adam Turner, CEO of Postscript, on SMS, AI, and one‑to‑one commerce- Why entertainment beats instruction, from airline safety videos to TikTok Shop chaos- The reality of subscription fatigue and what consumers actually want now- How limited, culture‑first collaborations (like Bridgerton x Jeni’s) outperform mass appeal- What all of this says about the future of ecommerce, marketing, and jobsWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Live from Austin on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 — we dig into the “SaaS is dying” discourse and why the real story is pricing power collapsing (AI + lower technical barriers = the middle tier gets smoked). We react to Cody Schneider’s “we cloned the vendor in 3 weeks” tweet, talk why security + SOC2 is the real line in the sand, and use Apple’s new $12.99/mo Creator Studio as the loudest signal yet that incumbents (looking at you, Adobe) are about to feel pain.

Then we pivot to DTC survival mode: Popsmith’s Dave Stickland says the quiet part out loud — you can’t win cheap, so make “bougie” products people want to show off (Delta’s premium revenue proves the economy is bifurcating). We hit the counterpoint too (Costco + Arizona Tea = emotional trust via stubborn pricing), then David Herrman joins to break down the Meta delivery/LPV chaos, what to do when your CPA jumps 40–60% overnight, and where real scale is showing up beyond Meta (AppLovin, Pinterest-as-awareness, and YouTube Shorts). We close with the “human is luxury” thesis (Miller Lite vs. AI slop), Van Man’s restaurant-as-marketing weapon, and Canva’s 2026 design trends: imperfect by design.

• 0:03:20 Is SaaS dying… or just getting cheaper? (Cody Schneider + “build it in 3 weeks” thesis)
• 0:10:57 Apple Creator Studio $12.99/mo — price pressure on Adobe + “SaaS moat” debate
• 0:15:12 “Sell bougie sh*t” — Popsmith lesson + Delta’s premium profit math
• 0:22:59 Counterpoint: Arizona Tea + Costco — consistency, trust, and loss leaders
• 0:28:31 E.l.f on Roblox — brand planting vs PR bait (and why it might still work)
• 0:31:22 David Herman joins — Meta outage fallout
• 0:54:42 Brand stance wars: Equinox vs Miller Lite — “human is the new luxury”
• 0:58:30 Being small is a superpower: VanMan’s “tribe” strategy
• 1:02:44 2026 design trends (Canva): “Imperfect by design” + what it signals
• 1:05:50 Wrap — key takeaways + tomorrow’s guest lineup

Welcome to DTC’s daily show — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

Made possible by:

Postscript - https://postscript.io

AMP - https://useamp.com

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Live from Austin, Texas on Monday, January 12, 2026 (yes, the on-mic day call is a little chaotic) — today’s episode is basically a white-collar fire drill. We break down Claude Code / “co-work” and why AI just crossed the line from “assistant” to “worker replacer,” and what that means for marketers and operators who still think execution alone is a moat. Colin and Carson riff on the one-person brand era, the “become unfireable” playbook (taste + judgment + tool mastery), and why “go-to AI guy” is the new internal superpower.

Then we shift into internet-attention economics: David Protein’s Julia Fox campaign and the “interesting vs classy” debate (you can get attention without nuking your brand ethos… or can you?). We close with Google’s Direct Offers in AI Mode — Google as your negotiator — and why system-to-system commerce (my agent sells to your agent) is going to torch lazy discount strategy unless your pricing discipline is tight.

0:04:08 Cloud Code changes white-collar work

0:12:01 Everyone can build now

0:17:30 David Protein controversy

0:24:36 Google Direct Offers = AI salesperson

0:32:37 Bar Bruhis joins0:36:57 DTSki explained

0:44:52 Building BoostCous (CPG from scratch)

0:47:51 Live taste test + Brand of the Week

0:58:32 Who controls ads in 2026?

1:03:36 Final takeaways + one-man brand future

Welcome to Ecom Cowboy — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers and operators can survive and thrive in 2026. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

Made possible by:

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Live from Austin on Monday, January 12, 2026 — we cover a weekend-loaded slate:Shopify and Google co-develop the Universal Commerce Protocol so AI agents can buy anywhere (open by default, even if you’re not on Shopify),Nike accidentally-or-on-purpose lands in another history-making moment,and Dan McCormick drops a Create Creatine year-in-review that screams “category is mainstreaming” as they flip from losing money to profitable with Amazon + retail expansion.

Then we bring on NotZaneAgain to talk TikTok Shop reality for 2026 — where it works (price point + categories), where it doesn’t, what “halo effect” actually means, and the spy tools (FastMoss / Kalodata) behind those viral screenshots.

We close with Josh Suggs (the Gary V of street-talk ads) on building a 55-person street interview machine, why you can’t script authenticity, and why the brands making the biggest anti-AI bet might win.

CHAPTERS

• 0:01 Intro + today’s lineup
• 0:02 Shopify + Google launch Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)
• 0:03 NotZaneAgain joins (TikTok Shop 0→1)
• 0:23 Nike makes world history again (lucky vs good debate)
• 0:31 Josh Suggs joins (street interview machine)
• 0:51 UCP deep dive + Shopify vs Stripe ACP
• 0:57 Create Creatine year in review (225% growth, profitable)
• 1:03 What’s coming this week + wrap

DTC’s daily show — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.

Weekly newsletter:
https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

Made possible by:

• Postscript — https://postscript.io
• AMP — https://useamp.com

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X |LinkedIn |Instagram |TikTok

Live from Austin on Friday, January 9, 2026 — we break down the AppLovin “love fest” (and why it might be the first real crack in the Meta/Google duopoly for DTC), react to David Herrman’s practical playbook for making the channel work, and dig into FERMAT CEO Rishabh Jain’s controversial hiring guardrail on job hoppers.

Then Taylor Holiday joins for the second half with bold 2026 predictions:

• AI breaking brand guidelines
• Why “creative strategy” is mostly pseudoscience
• What real branding actually means
• Why the endgame of creative volume is IRL/live content

We close with a quick hit on Bieber’s new shoe drop and a slightly unhinged gray-hat search tactic that might be genius… or chaos.

CHAPTERS

• 0:01 Intro + today’s lineup
• 0:04 AppLovin love fest + Herrman’s playbook
• 0:13 Hiring guardrail + job-hopper debate
• 0:24 Sponsor: Postscript
• 0:26 Taylor Holiday joins
• 0:30 AI + creative strategy breakdown
• 0:36 What branding actually means
• 0:44 IRL/live content future
• 0:50 Events + new revenue streams
• 0:58 Sponsor: AMP
• 1:01 Bieber drop + gray-hat tactic
• 1:03 Wrap + outro

DTC’s daily show — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.

Weekly newsletter:
https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

Made possible by:

• Postscript — postscript.io
• AMP — useamp.com

Follow Ecomm Cowboy:

X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok