In this live SocialNext Toronto 2025 conversation, guest host Maddie Alvarez sits down with Nithya Ramachandran, President and CSO at T1, a full-stack sponsorship and experience agency. Together, they unpack why modern sponsorships are more than logo slaps and check-writing, they’re strategic growth levers built on trust, collaboration, and meaningful activation.

Nithya breaks down how brands can use partnerships to reach audiences in ways media alone can’t, why asking “why” is a marketer’s most powerful tool, and how the best campaigns are built on shared values, not just shared budgets.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make sponsorships actually work (and prove their ROI), this conversation is a masterclass in modern partnership marketing.

In this live SocialNext Toronto 2025 conversation, guest host Maddie Alvarez sits down with Lana Rogers, founder of Gentle Lion Communications, for a candid and tactical talk on media scarcity, creative burnout, and why PR isn't just about landing one big headline.

Lana breaks down how the media landscape is shifting in real time and what brands and agencies can do to stay relevant, thoughtful, and audience-centered. From earned media realities to owned channel strategy, she outlines a smarter approach to storytelling, trust-building, and campaign planning in a noisy and fragmented landscape.

If you're a marketer, comms lead, or founder still chasing the golden press hit, this episode will reset your thinking. Spoiler: that Globe and Mail article might not move the needle the way you think.

In this live SocialNext Toronto 2025 conversation, guest host Maddie Alvarez sits down with Joe Teo, founder and CEO of HeyOrca!, the Canadian-built social media platform helping thousands of agencies and teams simplify their content workflows.

From dad jokes to dashboards, Joe shares why the point of social media isn’t virality—it’s community. He unpacks how HeyOrca’s product philosophy puts collaboration first, what social media managers actually need in 2025, and how AI can support (not replace) the humans behind the posts.

You’ll hear Joe’s take on why strong communities require intentional moderation, how brands can create digital “gardens,” and why the best social spaces are both safe and self-sustaining.

In this episode of Marketing News Canada, content strategist and guest host, Maddie Alvarez sits down with Geoffrey Blanc, General Manager at Cyberimpact, live from SocialNext Toronto 2025. With over 18 years of experience in digital transformation and email marketing, Jeff shares his expert insights on what makes email still one of the most powerful — and misunderstood — tools in a marketer’s toolkit.

From personalization and automation to privacy laws and deliverability, Geoffrey breaks down the essentials for building an effective, compliant, and high-performing email strategy. He offers practical advice for keeping lists clean, respecting consent, and creating campaigns that truly connect with audiences.

Whether you’re refining your CRM strategy or struggling to cut through crowded inboxes, this episode delivers actionable tips on personalization, automation, compliance, and creative best practices, all rooted in Geoffrey’s experience helping Canadian businesses grow through smarter marketing.

In this live SocialNext: Toronto 2025 conversation, guest host Maddie Alvarez sits down with Charlie Grinnell, digital leader turned co-CEO of research startup Right Metric (ex-Red Bull, Aritzia, adidas Terrex). Buckle up for sharp, candid takes on why language matters more than ever, how to separate opinions from evidence, and why the most effective strategies are often about reduction, not expansion. 

From buzzword bingo to AI’s real role in decision-making, Charlie breaks down how to turn messy metrics into clear choices, without needing a stats degree.

Opinions are the guest’s own.

Trying to break into a Marketing career is tough. It’s a mix of awkward networking circles, unnoticed LinkedIn requests, and a sea of stereotypes (no, marketing is not just advertising!).To get a real look into the world of Marketing and the people who are shaping it - listen to 4Ps in a Pod. In every episode, Jeevs & JP (two CPG marketers) have a chat with a Canadian marketer from a different industry, company, and point in their career.

Together, we’ll hear their coming-of-age story, get an unfiltered look at what they do, and gain valuable advice on how to carve out a successful Marketing career. This podcast is a must-listen for students looking for their first Marketing gig, seasoned vets looking for a change, and everyone in between.

4Ps in a Pod - Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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Try it yourself with a free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first three months now! 

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Thanks to our sponsor Jelly Academy. Jelly Academy has been helping professionals, students and teams across Canada acquire the skills, knowledge and micro certifications they need to jump into a new digital marketing role, get that promotion, and amplify their current marketing roles. Learn more about Jelly Academy's 6 Week online bootcamp here: https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-6-week-program

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Website - marketingnewscanada.com

The one where Darian chats with Takara from VentureKids.

Sign up for the Marketing News Canada e-newsletter at www.marketingnewscanada.com.

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Special Offer for Marketing News Canada Listeners

Unbounce can help you easily build landing pages, popups and sticky bars. Highly customizable and no coding required, anyone can get started on converting more traffic into leads, signups and sales. 

Try it yourself with a free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first three months now! 

https://unbounce.grsm.io/5cmrgz1mt3r6

Thanks to our sponsor Jelly Academy. Jelly Academy has been helping professionals, students and teams across Canada acquire the skills, knowledge and micro certifications they need to jump into a new digital marketing role, get that promotion, and amplify their current marketing roles. Learn more about Jelly Academy's 6 Week online bootcamp here: https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-6-week-program

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Follow Marketing News Canada:

Twitter - twitter.com/MarketingNewsC2

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LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/marketing-news-canada

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCM8sS33Jyj0xwbnBtRqJdNw

Website - marketingnewscanada.com

Follow Darian Kovacs:

Website - jellymarketing.com/darian

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dariankovacs

Facebook - facebook.com/dariankovacspage

Instagram - instagram.com/dariankovacs

Twitter - twitter.com/dariankovacs

Follow Takara Small:

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/takarasmall

Website - https://takarasmall.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/takarasmall/?hl=en

X - https://x.com/takarasmall?lang=en

The one where Darian chats with Rachel from Stantec.

Sign up for the Marketing News Canada e-newsletter at www.marketingnewscanada.com.

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Special Offer for Marketing News Canada Listeners

Unbounce can help you easily build landing pages, popups and sticky bars. Highly customizable and no coding required, anyone can get started on converting more traffic into leads, signups and sales. 

Try it yourself with a free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first three months now! 

https://unbounce.grsm.io/5cmrgz1mt3r6

Thanks to our sponsor Jelly Academy. Jelly Academy has been helping professionals, students and teams across Canada acquire the skills, knowledge and micro certifications they need to jump into a new digital marketing role, get that promotion, and amplify their current marketing roles. Learn more about Jelly Academy's 6 Week online bootcamp here: https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-6-week-program

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Follow Marketing News Canada:

Twitter - twitter.com/MarketingNewsC2

Facebook - facebook.com/MarketingNewsCanada

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/marketing-news-canada

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCM8sS33Jyj0xwbnBtRqJdNw

Website - marketingnewscanada.com

Follow Darian Kovacs:

Website - jellymarketing.com/darian

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dariankovacs

Facebook - facebook.com/dariankovacspage

Instagram - instagram.com/dariankovacs

Twitter - twitter.com/dariankovacs

Follow Rachel Osavitsky-Baker:

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rachel-osavitsky-baker-31466057

Website - https://www.stantec.com/en

The one where Ted chats with Karen from Manulife.

Sign up for the Marketing News Canada e-newsletter at www.marketingnewscanada.com.

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Special Offer for Marketing News Canada Listeners

Unbounce can help you easily build landing pages, popups and sticky bars. Highly customizable and no coding required, anyone can get started on converting more traffic into leads, signups and sales. 

Try it yourself with a free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first three months now! 

https://unbounce.grsm.io/5cmrgz1mt3r6

Thanks to our sponsor Jelly Academy. Jelly Academy has been helping professionals, students and teams across Canada acquire the skills, knowledge and micro certifications they need to jump into a new digital marketing role, get that promotion, and amplify their current marketing roles. Learn more about Jelly Academy's 6 Week online bootcamp here: https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-6-week-program

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Follow Marketing News Canada:

Twitter - twitter.com/MarketingNewsC2

Facebook - facebook.com/MarketingNewsCanada

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/marketing-news-canada

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCM8sS33Jyj0xwbnBtRqJdNw

Website - marketingnewscanada.com

Follow Ted Lau: 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ballisticarts/

Website - https://www.ballisticarts.com/

Follow Karen Leggett:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leggettkaren/?originalSubdomain=ca

Website - https://www.manulife.ca/personal.html

The one where Darian chats with Geoffrey from Cyberimpact.

Sign up for the Marketing News Canada e-newsletter at www.marketingnewscanada.com.

–

Special Offer for Marketing News Canada Listeners

Unbounce can help you easily build landing pages, popups and sticky bars. Highly customizable and no coding required, anyone can get started on converting more traffic into leads, signups and sales. 

Try it yourself with a free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first three months now! 

https://unbounce.grsm.io/5cmrgz1mt3r6

Thanks to our sponsor Jelly Academy. Jelly Academy has been helping professionals, students and teams across Canada acquire the skills, knowledge and micro certifications they need to jump into a new digital marketing role, get that promotion, and amplify their current marketing roles. Learn more about Jelly Academy's 6 Week online bootcamp here: https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-6-week-program

–

Follow Marketing News Canada:

Twitter - twitter.com/MarketingNewsC2

Facebook - facebook.com/MarketingNewsCanada

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/marketing-news-canada

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCM8sS33Jyj0xwbnBtRqJdNw

Website - marketingnewscanada.com

Follow Darian Kovacs:

Website - jellymarketing.com/darian

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dariankovacs

Facebook - facebook.com/dariankovacspage

Instagram - instagram.com/dariankovacs

Twitter - twitter.com/dariankovacs

Follow Geoffrey:

Cyberimpact - https://www.cyberimpact.com/en/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreyblanc/?originalSubdomain=ca