The Social Complex

When you hear 'virtual world,' what comes to mind? Headsets? The metaverse? Gaming? If any of those pop into your head, I'm here with a special guest to shift your perspective on what a virtual world is and what it could be.

Daniel Liebeskind is the founder and CEO of Topia, a platform-as-a-service technology for real-time social interaction and spatial video chat within customizable virtual worlds. Their customers span various industries, including education, game studios, financial services, and software. These enterprises use Topia to help employees feel more connected as a community. From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, Daniel's mission is to foster human connection through technology. Having built offline communities throughout his life, he became an entrepreneur to create software that helps people manage their personal communities. As a product creator and engineer, Daniel has coded nearly 30 applications over the last six years, including community platforms, contact managers, Slackbots, real estate systems, trading platforms, knowledge ecosystems, and games for browser, VR, and mobile.

In today’s conversation, Daniel and I explore virtual worlds and online community-building, especially as we head toward Web3, the metaverse, and whatever else that digital world might become. One crucial topic Daniel addresses is child safety. When we think about open worlds, social media platforms, and the current state of the internet, what are the implications for child safety? How are apps taking steps in the right direction to prioritize this issue when building these communities? Tune in to learn more.

To connect with Daniel, click here. 

To learn more about Topia, click here. 

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Digital HQ, the marketing agency behind the podcast. We're a modern agency that's backed by a network of contractors and one of those contractors was invited to come on the podcast today. Matthew Wolfe is a marketing creative with an engineer's logic. He holds two engineering degrees and started his career at Ford Motor Company before making the switch to marketing. After Ford, he worked with several early stage startups, building inbound growth strategies from the ground up. Matthew is currently a freelance marketing consultant specializing in demand capture and generation programs.

Not only does Matthew bring a keen sense of curiosity to the world of paid media, but he also excels in strategic thinking and seamlessly integrates with our creative team. Matthew’s unique background and innovative approach have made him a great asset on our projects, and I knew his insights would be something worth sharing with the world. Tune in to learn from his experience and discover how he’s navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape. 

To connect with Matthew, click here.

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Social media has added a complex new layer to how we interact and learn online. It has really offered the first opportunity for users to directly influence the outcome on the platform in front of them. So, what kind of implications does that have for kids?

Today, I am joined by Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens. Kris most recently served as Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Deputy Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where she led the development of the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and expanded access to high-quality early childhood programs. Perry was also instrumental in restoring marriage equality to California following the landmark 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which she wrote about in her book, Love on Trial.

In our conversation, Kris and I delve into the research she is overseeing at Children and Screens, the mission of the Institute, and the implications of digital and social media on children's development.

To connect with Kris, click here.

Learn more about Children and Screens here. 

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

It's easy to crank out great content when you have an unlimited budget behind you. But what about nonprofits who are known for historically needing to create really impactful stories on very lean budgets and resources? Today, we are chatting with someone who knows a little bit about that and is an expert when it comes to supporting nonprofit marketing strategies, Daniel Francavilla. 

Daniel is a marketing advisor, strategist, founder and mentor making a positive impact. He is a Certified Brand Strategist, college educator, member of the Canadian Marketing Association and a recipient of a 40 Under 40 Award. After graduating from OCAD University, Daniel founded Now Creative Group in 2013, later acquired by creative performance agency King Street Media in 2021, where he is a partner. The agency also launched a content platform and studio called CreatorClub in 2022. As an advocate for social good Daniel continues to run ACCESS, a nonprofit he founded as a student in 2006, which provides funding and mentorship for youth-led initiatives. His latest venture, The Good Growth Company, provides training for social good organizations to upskill their teams and scale their mission.

In today's episode, we are talking about the modern makeup of a marketing team that is supporting lean budgets, primarily around nonprofits. We talk about how nonprofits can utilize the stories within their organization and turn it into valuable content that is bound to drive visibility for their cause and support from the communities around them. We get into some of the common misconceptions as well as common hurdles that these organizations face and Daniel provides his best recommendations on how to handle the curve. He comes with a wealth of knowledge and whether you are in a nonprofit or you are on a marketing team that has had a budget cut in recent years, there's a lot to be learned from this episode. 

Learn more about Daniel, here.

To connect with Daniel, click here.  

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Ever wondered who really owns that last post you made on social media? Is it yours, or does the platform hold the rights? And what happens when influencers and content creators post on your behalf? The world of content ownership is more complex than ever, especially with the rise of AI in the marketing industry. To help us navigate these murky waters, we're joined by Sharon Toerek, Founder and CEO of Toerek Law, a national law firm specializing in intellectual property and marketing law for agencies and their clients.

Sharon is the Founder and CEO of Toerek Law (doing business in the marketing world as Legal + Creative), a national law firm focused on intellectual property and marketing law for marketing agencies and their clients. Sharon is a former President of AAF in Cleveland, Ohio and a member of the 4A’s Legal Consultant Panel. She’s a frequent conference speaker on marketing legal issues at industry events like INBOUND, Content Marketing World, Agency Management Institute and the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute, as well as to private agency networks including TAAN, Magnet, and Worldwide Partners.

In this episode, Sharon unpacks the legal intricacies of modern case law surrounding AI-generated content, IP ownership, and the brand's rights to content shared on public platforms. Whether you're a marketer, content creator, or just curious about the future of digital ownership, you’ll walk away with valuable insights from this fascinating discussion.

Tune in and get ready to rethink what you thought you knew about content ownership in today's marketing landscape. 

To connect with Sharon, click here.

Check out Sharon’s agency, here.  

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Today's guest is Jeff Barrett, a modern PR professional who is thinking beyond the box of traditional PR and how it integrates into the content creator economy, media award shows, breaking through the attention economy, and how brand storytelling is happening on a grand scale. Jeff is a Shorty Award-winning content creator, Business Insider's #1 Ad Executive, and one of the Top 10 Most Sought After Chief Evangelists. He works with Adobe, FIS, Experian, and more on communications and creator strategy, and hosts the podcast *It's No Fluke* for the Shorty Awards, where he currently serves as Chief Evangelist.

In our conversation today, we are talking all about moving away from transactional to a relational approach with creators, how brands can leverage their profile to amplify a creator's audience, and how to build these long-term relationships with content creators for brands. I am sure you are going to learn a ton, as I did as well.

To connect with Jeff, click here.

Check out Jeff’s podcast, here.

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Today's episode is all about the metaverse—what it is, what it isn't, and what it could become. When people hear 'metaverse' in everyday conversation, they might think of Meta with Facebook. Is it going to be a social platform? Or is it going to be something entirely different?

In this episode, we're talking with Eugene Capon, the creative visionary and co-founder of Studio Capon, a trailblazer in the metaverse creative space. From making waves with his VR talk show, *Glitched*, to authoring a children's book on the metaverse, Eugene's insights are limitless. His expertise in XR and digital media has earned him partnerships with some of the biggest brands in the industry, including Microsoft, AltspaceVR, Skype, and High Fidelity.

We'll dive into the potential of the metaverse, its integration into modern society, and the challenges it may bring, including its impact on mental health. Just as the internet revolutionized our world, the metaverse is poised for another seismic shift. Join us as we unpack what this means for all of us and what we should expect as we stand on the brink of this digital frontier.

Learn more about Eugene here.

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Welcome to another engaging episode of the Social Complex Podcast! Today, we delve into the intricate world of alcohol marketing and advertising. From the echoes of prohibition to modern-day regulations, the landscape has evolved significantly, especially with emerging markets like cannabis making their mark.

Join us as we unravel these complexities with our guest, Karen Locke, founder of High Proof Creative. Since 2018, Karen has championed the craft beverage industry with her award-winning branding and marketing agency. Her initiative, Women in Distilling, shines a spotlight on underrepresented voices in the distilling world.

Karen shares her wealth of experience, discussing the nuances of marketing in the spirits category and navigating the intricate balance of creativity and compliance. With nearly a decade in marketing and contributions to publications like GQ and Bon Appetit, Karen offers invaluable insights into what marketers should know when crafting alcohol brands.

Whether you're a marketer, enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of alcoholic beverage marketing, this episode promises a deep dive into what lies ahead. Tune in now to explore the evolving trends and strategies shaping the industry!

To learn more about High Proof Creative, click here.

To connect with Karen, click here or here. 

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.

Welcome to the third season of The Social Complex Podcast, where we delve into the ever-evolving world and complexities of social media. We're kicking off this season with an exciting announcement about Digital HQ, the modern agency that supports this podcast.

In this premiere episode, Hillary Applegate sits down with Jacqueline Keidel Martinez, a seasoned PR pro, to unpack the transformation of earned media in the digital age. Gone are the days when public relations was merely about shipping products and getting reviews. Today, it's a sophisticated interplay of digital metrics, trending topics, and seamless integration between paid and earned media.

Key Topics Covered:

- Big announcement at Digital HQ

- Evolution of Earned Media: Understanding how the traditional approach of shipping products for reviews has evolved into a complex strategy where digital metrics and trending stories play crucial roles.

- Digital Metrics in Newsrooms: Discover how modern newsrooms utilize digital metrics to gauge success and determine the stories they cover.

- Modern Storytelling: Learn about the contemporary methods of sharing information and talking about products, where affiliate marketing blurs the lines between earned and paid media.

- Crossovers in Communication: Explore the intersections between digital, social, and communications, and how they support and amplify each other.

- Executive Thought Leadership: The importance of storytelling, influencers, and activations in executive thought leadership.

- Personalized PR Strategies: Why taking a stand and personalized pitching resonate more with today's audiences than traditional methods.

Highlights:

- Fast Fashion of Stories: Discussing how stretched newsrooms rely on trending social topics to support their stories.

- Cracking Misconceptions: Jacqueline addresses and debunks some of the common false narratives in the PR industry, emphasizing the need for personalized and audience-focused strategies.

Join us for a deep dive into the power of digital and PR, and discover how to navigate and thrive in this dynamic landscape. Whether you're a PR professional, a digital marketer, or just curious about the intersection of media and technology, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Tune in and let's start this season with some fun!

When we think of crisis communications, we often envision the worst-case scenarios portrayed on the internet and in our news cycles. However, crises don't solely occur on digital platforms. While digital media can exacerbate them, the concept of crisis is rooted in a more scientific framework that determines what constitutes a crisis and how it can be resolved by the company or individual at its center.

In today's episode, we delve into the intricate nature of crisis communications in our digitally savvy and interconnected world with professional crisis readiness expert and leader, Melissa Agnes. Globally recognized as an expert thought leader and visionary in crisis management, Melissa Agnes has collaborated with major players including NATO, The Pentagon, ministries of foreign affairs and defense, financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, aviation organizations, and many other industries. In 2020, Melissa founded the Crisis Ready Institute, offering training and certification programs to professionals to better protect people, brands, the environment, and the economy during times of crisis, while also encouraging organizations and leaders to invest in effective crisis readiness.

Melissa is the author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, a book that is taught in dozens of universities worldwide, including Harvard University. It is also ranked among the leading crisis management books of all time by Book Authority and was named one of the top 10 business books of 2018 by Forbes.

To connect with Melissa, click here.

For more information on the Crisis Ready Institute, click here and here. 

To connect with Hillary, click here. 

Read more about Digital HQ here.

For more episodes, go to SOCIALCOMPLEXPOD.COM

Produced by You Lucky Dog Productions.