The So Us Pod

The So Us Pod

By The So Us PodSociety & CultureBusinessMarketing
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The So Us Pod episodes

  • Oprah Holiday Shopping, Marketing Wins & Losses, and the Toys “R” Us Comeback

    This week, we’re breaking down Oprah’s 2025 favorite things and what they tell us about holiday shopping trends, diving into the marketing winners and losers of the week, and checking out the slow-but-steady comeback of Toys ‘R’ Us — a brand that’s nostalgia-packed and back in expansion mode.

    Links:

    • On-Brand Website: https://www.onbrand.com/
    • Let’s Fucking Date Cards: https://go.shopmy.us/p-32740490
      • 40 min
    • Sneakers, Skincare, and Snacks: Performance, Play, and Purpose
      We’re back with a lineup of stories that prove brands are NOT sleeping this week. First up: the HOKA × Halfdays winter sneaker collab that’s basically ski-chic meets streetwear. Then, Shay Mitchell launches Rini — yes, skincare for kids (!!) — and we have thoughts. And to round it out, 7-Eleven is giving emerging snacks and drinks a national stage with their “Brands with Heart” accelerator. Performance, play, purpose… and a whole lot of opinions.
       
      • Hoka x Halfdays collab: https://go.shopmy.us/p-31478040
      • Rini: https://heyrini.com/
      • Does Anyone Else Feel This Way: https://go.shopmy.us/p-31478040
        • 43 min
      • Cuffing Season Meets Caution: Holiday Spending, Relationship Rebrands, and Chobani’s $20 Billion Glow-Up

        This week, we’re digging into why shoppers are playing it safe this holiday season, how having a boyfriend somehow became embarrassing (according to British Vogue), and what Chobani’s $650 million raise says about the next era of food-as-lifestyle brands. We’re talking cautious consumers, cultural rebrands, and corporate glow-ups — basically, everyone’s pivoting this fall.

         

        - Megababe Armpit Detox Mask: https://go.shopmy.us/p-27506649  (CODE: ELLAP15 for 15% off your purchase)

        - McKinsey Study on Consumer Holiday Habits: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/holiday-shopping-trends

        - Locker Referral Link: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/cla35okur6674715gtrvr3ch7r?utm_content=TmUmUM

        - Article: Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?: https://www.vogue.com/article/is-having-a-boyfriend-embarrassing-now

        - Article: It’s Not Just a Feeling: Data Shows Boys and Young Men Are Falling Behind https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/upshot/boys-falling-behind-data.html

        - Dr. Diamond's Metacine: https://go.shopmy.us/p-28443475 

        - Aquaphor Baby Stick: https://go.shopmy.us/p-28443475

        - Vivrelle Code (CODE: ELLAMCMAHAN for first month free) 

        1 hr 1 min
      • Taco Bell Lattes, Creator Stores, and the Return of Full-Fat Dairy

        This week, we’re spilling all the tea on Taco Bell’s new Live Más Café, exploring why full-fat dairy is making a major comeback, and checking out Sephora’s creator storefronts. Plus, we’re unpacking what these trends say about our lives, our kitchens, and our Instagram feeds. Sip, snack, and trend spot with us.

        Links:

        • Taco Bell Live Más Cafe: https://www.tacobell.com/promotions/live-mas-cafe
        • Ella’s ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/ellapennington?Section_id=944708&tab=collections
        • Sign up for your own ShopMy account: https://shopmy.us/join/ellapennington
        • Navan App: https://navan.com/
        • The Tiny Post: https://www.thetinyfarmersmarket.com/
          • 1 hr 10 min
        • Catching Flights (and Feelings for Snacks), Ben Stiller’s Soda Review, and the Whole Foods Trends We’ve Been Manifesting

          This week, we’re talking big life updates, ranking airline snacks like it’s our job, taste-testing Ben Stiller’s new soda live, and celebrating the fact that Whole Foods’ 2026 trend predictions basically prove we were right all along. Catch flights, not feelings — unless it’s for snacks.

           

          Links:

            • Stiller’s Soda: https://amzn.to/4hnu199
            • Whole Foods Market Trends: https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/trends
            • Land’s End Bags: https://go.shopmy.us/p-27317084
            •  Goodyear Blimp TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodyearblimp?lang=en
              • 1 hr 15 min
            • Fiber's Back, Baby- AI Shopping is Getting Way Too Easy- and Jane's Sliding Into Ben Stiller's LinkedIn DMs

              In the second episode of the So Us Pod, hosts Jane and Ella delve into various topics and stories. 

              - GLP-1 Medications: They discuss the rising popularity and market impact of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, including:

              - Oikos and other brands targeting GLP-1 users with protein products

              - The importance of protein and fiber for GLP-1 users

              - Ro's collaboration with Serena Williams on a GLP-1 weight loss journey

              - Tech Integrations: 

              - Amazon and TikTok Shop collaboration

              - ChatGPT's new instant checkout feature for Etsy and Shopify products

              - Prebiotic and Better-for-You Sodas: The hosts debate the market saturation and relevance of these sodas, highlighting:

              - Poppy's acquisition by PepsiCo and continued growth

              - Ben Stiller's launch of a new vitamin-enriched soda line (and beg him to send them PR so they can try it live on the pod!)

               

              Obsessions: The episode wraps up with Jane and Ella sharing their latest obsessions!

               

              Links:

              - Gruns: https://amzn.to/4pVIPzG 

              - Stiller's Soda: https://amzn.to/4pVIOf6 

              - Ella's fav Caudalie Product: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26987432 

              - Beekeepers Naturals products: 

              • Propolis Spray: https://amzn.to/48gdm58
              • Vit C Packets: https://amzn.to/4nFNDI4 
              • Bee Pollen: https://amzn.to/478yGZ7

                • - Little Nosh Denver Pop Up: https://www.instagram.com/littlenoshshop/ 

                1 hr 12 min
              • Vuori Jeans, Glossier’s new CEO, and the Brand Trips we Want to Go On

                In this debut episode of 'The So Us Pod,' hosts Jane and Ella introduce themselves and share their journey from college to their current lives in Denver and Lake Tahoe. The core of their conversation delves into three major stories in the CPG world:

                • Brands venturing into new product lines
                • Glossier’s new male CEO
                • A TikTok shop phenomena

                  • Wrapping up the episode, Jane and Ella answer rapid-fire questions about dream brand trips and their latest favorite CPG products. This podcast blends industry insights with personal anecdotes, making it a lively and enriching listen.

                   

                  Links: 

                  • Five Star Weekend Book: https://amzn.to/4pUQQVJ 
                  • Go Nanas Banana Bread: https://amzn.to/431PcYo
                  • Fat Marshmallow Beef Tallow: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26987056
                  • Unleshia Brow Pomade: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26987068
                  • Nixit Condoms: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26987073
                  • Lem Massager: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26987080

                  • Melissa - Denver Nano Brow Artist

                    Arch & Ink

                    https://www.instagram.com/archandinkbrow?igsh=MTA5OWgyN3E2a2Fuaw==

                    1 hr 3 min

                  About The So Us Pod

                  From the publisher's feed

                  The So Us Pod is hosted by marketing girlies Ella McMahan and Jane Franco—two friends who can’t stop gossiping about the consumer world (and their own lives). Each week, they dive…