An interview with Lee Hersh of Fit Foodie Finds!

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Jenna Redfield is the leader of the Twin Cities Collective, the largest resource in the Twin Cities for bloggers, small businesses, entrepreneurs & creatives. She is a well-known speaker, educator & social media strategist. You can work with her one on one with coaching or take one of the Academy classes

Free Social Media Masterclass
https://www.collectivemarketingacademy.com/Masterclass-Signup

Academy
www.collectivemarketingacademy.com

Join the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiescollective

Coaching
https://www.jennaredfield.com/coaching-programs

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Follow Lee!

FitFoodieFinds.com

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instagram.com/fitfoodiefinds

Jenna Redfield is a digital content expert, focused on organizing, planning and creating content for marketing purposes.

She runs her YouTube channel Jenna Redfield and works with people to help organize their digital lives! 

Home: https://jennaredfield.com

YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/jennaredfield

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Falen is real, flaws and all. She's known for her bold humor, quick wit and infectious laugh. She is the co-host on the legendary Dave Ryan in the Morning Show on 101.3 KDWB. She also hosts the "Heartbroken Podcast" and a monthly book club.

www.kdwb.com/falen

www.instagram.com/falenkdwb

www.twitter.com/falenkdwb

Jenna Redfield is the leader of the Twin Cities Collective, the largest resource in the Twin Cities for bloggers, small businesses, entrepreneurs & creatives. She is a well-known speaker, educator & social media strategist. You can work with her one on one with coaching or take one of the Academy classes

Free Social Media Masterclass
https://www.collectivemarketingacademy.com/Masterclass-Signup

Academy
www.collectivemarketingacademy.com

Join the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiescollective

Coaching
https://www.jennaredfield.com/coaching-programs

Find the podcast on all platforms http://www.twincitiescollective.com/podcast-links

Follow us on Social

https://www.instagram.com/twincitiescollective

Jenna Redfield is a digital content expert, focused on organizing, planning and creating content for marketing purposes.

She runs her YouTube channel Jenna Redfield and works with people to help organize their digital lives! 

Home: https://jennaredfield.com

YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/jennaredfield

Join the Facebook Groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandnotion
https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingandnotion/

Follow me on Social

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We talk with podcast host & data expert April Seifert about using psychology to not only figure out your user's needs and desires but also your own behavior and habits

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Podcast

https://www.aprilseifert.com/women-inspired/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/aprilseifert/

Jenna Redfield is a digital content expert, focused on organizing, planning and creating content for marketing purposes.

She runs her YouTube channel Jenna Redfield and works with people to help organize their digital lives! 

Home: https://jennaredfield.com

YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/jennaredfield

Join the Facebook Groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandnotion
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How To "Marie Kondo" Your Business & Life & Spark Joy in 2019!

Jenna Redfield is a digital content expert, focused on organizing, planning and creating content for marketing purposes.

She runs her YouTube channel Jenna Redfield and works with people to help organize their digital lives! 

Home: https://jennaredfield.com

YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/jennaredfield

Join the Facebook Groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandnotion
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We sat down with 8 year old Gavin & his mom Kate to talk about many things, including fortnite, getting famous on Vine, celebrity status in China & much more!

Follow Gavin

www.instagram.com/gavinthomas

www.twitter.com/Gavinthomas

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQyncW_D0BDsGYAQG50XF3g

Jenna Redfield is the leader of the Twin Cities Collective, the largest resource in the Twin Cities for bloggers, small businesses, entrepreneurs & creatives. She is a well-known speaker, educator & social media strategist. You can work with her one on one with coaching or take one of the Academy classes

Free Social Media Masterclass
https://www.collectivemarketingacademy.com/Masterclass-Signup

Academy
www.collectivemarketingacademy.com

Join the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiescollective

Coaching
https://www.jennaredfield.com/coaching-programs

Find the podcast on all platforms http://www.twincitiescollective.com/podcast-links

Follow us on Social

https://www.instagram.com/twincitiescollective

The Internet’s Son Lives in Minnesota?!

Behind the Scenes with Gavin Thomas & His Mom, Katie

If you’ve spent any time online in the past decade, you’ve seen his face.

The fake smile.The “I’m fine… but clearly not fine” expression.The meme that refuses to die — and honestly, gets funnier with age.

That kid?He’s Gavin Thomas.

He’s eight years old in this interview.He lives right here in Minnesota.And somehow he’s more famous in China than most American celebrities are in America.

This week on the Twin Cities Collective Podcast, the episode takes a different shape. First I talk with Gavin — about China, Fortnite, meet-and-greets, and accidentally becoming a global meme. Then I sit down with his mom, Katie, to unpack what it’s actually like raising a kid who can’t walk through a mall in Shanghai without being mobbed.

This is one of the most surreal and strangely wholesome conversations I’ve ever had.

Gavin’s Story: How a Toddler on Vine Became a Global Meme

Gavin started showing up on Vine around age three with his uncle, Nick (Nick Mastodon). They made silly reaction videos — including the iconic lizard-bite Vine — and people loved his expressive little face.

Then Vine began to die, and the internet did what it does best:It turned him into a meme.

His “fake smile” face started showing up everywhere — BuzzFeed, Tumblr, Twitter — even Olympians Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez posted him.

Suddenly, this Minneapolis kid was the internet’s inside joke.

Why China Became Obsessed With Him

Here’s where the story gets wild.

China doesn’t have Instagram, but Chinese social platforms LOVE expressive reaction faces. Gavin’s memes went viral there, and fans started begging Katie to create a Weibo account.

When they finally launched it?

He hit one million followers in 24 hours.A million.

They’ve now traveled to China three times for events, campaigns, and media appearances, where he gets recognized everywhere — airports, malls, even children’s playhouses.

In Minnesota?Occasional Target run-ins.In China?Security teams, huge crowds, and paparazzi-style airport photos.

The Reality Behind Raising a Meme

Katie doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She:

Runs all of Gavin’s social media

Works with a management team in LA

Has a lawyer, accountant, and a full safety strategy

Carefully chooses brand deals

Protects his identity and privacy

Lets him be a kid first, internet personality second

What I love most is how normal their daily life still is. Gavin goes to school, plays Fortnite, negotiates “work first, then play,” and organizes freeze-tag games at concerts instead of watching the musicians.

He’s famous, but he’s still eight.And Katie works hard to keep it that way.

What’s Next for Gavin?

Like most kids his age, he wants to be:

a YouTuber

a gamer

a vlogger

…and honestly, he already has a better start than most adults. He’s got millions of followers, brand experience, and a global fanbase waiting for whatever comes next.

But at home?He’s still a kid who wants to finish the podcast so he can go play video games.

Follow Gavin

If you want to see his latest content:

Instagram: @gavinthomas

Twitter: @gavinthomas

YouTube: GavinThomasYT

Facebook: Gavin Thomas FB

Quick Episode Highlights

10–15 Timestamp Moments Worth Skipping To

00:00 – Sponsor: Roadmap to You Life Coaching01:13 – Why this episode is structured differently02:22 – Gavin says “Ni Hao” and talks about China fame03:01 – Early Vine days with his uncle Nick03:53 – Becoming a meme + his favorite “fake smile” meme05:53 – What meet-and-greets look like for an 8-year-old07:06 – Winning awards in China (Bilibili, etc.)07:53 – Fortnite talk: Ninja, streamers, and playing with creators11:21 – Gavin ends the interview to go play video games13:37 – Katie joins the interview15:46 – The summer his memes exploded across the internet21:17 – Hitting 1 million Weibo followers in 24 hours23:01 – The moment 100 fans waited outside a playhouse in China27:04 – Why they hired managers, a lawyer, and a full team34:02 – Buying him a vlogging camera + making videos for classmates

If you want me to tighten the post, punch up the hook, or add images/header formatting for Substack, just tell me.Follow Gavin

www.instagram.com/gavinthomas

www.twitter.com/Gavinthomas