We start with TikTok’s new ownership getting off to a rocky start — and why creator + advertiser confidence matters more than “competition.” Even small moments of uncertainty can fracture momentum inside the most influential culture engine on the internet.

From there, we dig into the State of Email in 2026 with Jimmy Kim — what Gmail’s AI inbox means for deliverability, relevance, and retention, and why email isn’t dying… it’s getting filtered harder than ever. The brands that survive aren’t louder — they’re clearer.

We then break down OpenAI’s emerging ad model — paying for impressions instead of clicks — and why this signals a shift away from performance mechanics toward presence, trust, and context inside AI-native environments. If AI becomes the thinking layer, what does attribution even mean anymore?

Other stories we cover:

• Why Valentine’s Day is no longer just for couples (self-gifting + platonic spending are now core behavior)
• YouTube’s Demand Gen drop, shoppable CTV, and dynamic QR codes — the big screen is quietly becoming a checkout lane
• What Paramount+ topping the App Store says about comfort content + attention fatigue
• Why 2026 feels like 2016 again: Gen Z nostalgia, simpler aesthetics, fewer platforms, and a desire for a more human internet

Throughout the show, we connect the dots between automation, monetization, and culture — and why brands that keep optimizing for clicks may panic, while brands that earn trust quietly compound.

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

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