The Social Complex

We've all seen the level of impact that technology has on the way that we live our lives, do business, and communicate with one another. One of those advancements in technology that has swept the news cycle is artificial intelligence. And if you're anything like me, it has blown your mind. It's truly transformative. And as a marketer, I have seen the impact that it is having on my industry and the experts who have been working in the space.

On this episode, we talk to Zachary Lipton, Chief Technologist & Scientific Officer at Pittsburgh-based Abridge whose generative AI solutions have pioneered the automatic drafting of after-visit clinical documentation. Their technology is already deployed at hospital systems across the nation, where it is helping to combat the physician burnout crisis. Zack is also a widely published AI expert and an Assistant Professor of Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon, where he directs the ACMI lab, whose research focuses include the theoretical and engineering foundations of robust and adaptive machine learning algorithms, applications to both prediction and decision-making problems in clinical medicine, natural language processing, and the impact of machine learning systems on society. As a subject matter expert, Zach does not hold back and is more than willing to share his knowledge with us here today. 

Read more about Zachary 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.

When's the last time that you bought something online? Was it something that you needed? Or something that you saw and you liked? Our ability to shop online has transformed drastically over the last two decades. Even the ads that we are targeted with today are vastly different than they were five years ago. And as a consumer, the way in which we shop and the access that we have at our fingertips has never been more abundant than it is today. But how has this transformation in this space happened so rapidly? And where is it going next? So to dive into this topic, we had to bring on an expert. 

Kurt Elster is a senior e-commerce consultant who helps Shopify merchants like Jay Leno's Garage uncover hidden profits in their website through his e-commerce agency, EtherCycle. With two million downloads, Kurt is best known for hosting the unofficial Shopify podcast. Today, Kurt and I talk all about e -commerce, his background in the field, and where the first integration between social and shopping actually happened.

To connect with Kurt, click here.

Read more about Kurt here.

Listen to The Unofficial SHopify 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.

In this episode, we discuss employee advocacy and its significance in social media marketing, an area that many companies overlook despite its potential to support growth. Employee networks are a valuable asset, acting as advocates and promoters who can enhance a brand's presence through their interactions and online networks.

We're chatting with Brayden Cohen, who has extensive experience in developing social media, content, influencer, and employee advocacy programs. Brayden has worked with both startups and large companies, including 1Password, Hootsuite, TransLink, Duer, and Lojel. His work focuses on developing social media, content, influencer, and employee advocacy campaigns for disruptive brands to scale and level up their marketing strategies.

Our conversation covers what employee advocacy is, why it matters in the digital age, and how companies can create a culture that supports it. Brayden shares insights on the involvement needed from leadership, the tools and platforms that can help, and the risks and challenges that companies need to consider. This episode offers practical advice for anyone looking to understand or implement an employee advocacy program.

Learn more about Brayden 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 is all around us, and it's all-consuming. Whether you have one platform, multiple platforms, a Finsta, or you're managing it for brands, it is everywhere. Have you ever felt so inclined to take a step back or feel like you're in need of a little bit of detox? Taking time away from social media usage has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and much of this is actually stemming from younger generations. Gen Z and Millennials are really starting to lead the charge on responsible usage of social media platforms, from how many hours a day you're spending on platforms to even taking multiple days off, stepping away from the technology that we hold near and dear to us. One organization that is helping to lead the charge in growing awareness and social consciousness of how people are using these platforms is a group called the Log Off Movement, headed by our guest today, Emma Lembke.

Emma is a 20-year-old youth digital advocate seeking to spread digital consciousness and integrate youth voices in conversations regarding tech. In addition to her advocacy efforts, Lembke is a third-year rising political science major at Washington University in St. Louis. She is the founder of Log Off, a youth movement founded in 2020 to uplift and empower youth to tackle the complexities of social media and its impact on younger generations. As a youth-led movement, Log Off provides an often overlooked and critical perspective on social media by leveraging and empowering the underrepresented experts in the field: Generation Z.

Today, Emma and I talk all about the implications of social media usage, how going completely cold turkey online is not only unreasonable for a lot of people but unrealistic, and tools and tips that anyone and everyone can use to help build a safer, smarter, and more intentional relationship with social and digital media.

Check out the Log Off Movement 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.

The concept of harassment and bullying is not a new one. However, once the internet came into play, it completely changed the dynamic. In today's episode, I am chatting with Emily Vogels of Pew Research Center to talk about the studies that they have completed on cyberbullying, harassment, and online behaviors when it comes to interconnectivity and conflict online. 

Emily Vogels is a research associate working on internet and technology research at Pew Research Center. Much of her recent work has been focused on teens' digital lives, the tone, and tenor of online discourse, and the digital divide. Join us as we talk about the studies that have been produced around teen usage of digital media and that of adults as well. Let's get into it.

Check out Pew Research 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.

Joining us today to discuss her latest article in The Atlantic, we have Kate Lindsay. Kate is the co-founder of Embedded, a newsletter about Internet culture. She also writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Verge, and Vulture.

In this episode, we are diving into the phenomenon of social media babies becoming aware of their social media presence online, some of the dangers and pitfalls that are associated with it, the legality behind whether or not your child has the right to delete their social presence once they turn 18, and the laws that are following that sentiment. Also, monetization of kids and whether or not they are entitled to compensation and the difference between doing it for the likes and doing it for the connection. 

Read Kates's article here.

Check out the Embedded newsletter here.

Connect with Kate 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.

Performance marketing is a career that did not exist 10 years ago, but today it is one of the most sought-after positions in digital marketing. Why? Because it is a converter of sales. And today we are going to be talking about what the landscape of performance marketing looks like as well as how performance marketing really fits into bigger-picture brand initiatives, including how organizations are utilizing performance marketing data to help drive smarter decision-making when it comes to their brand creative. And there is no one better to join me for this conversation than Katie Almas. 

Katie's journey began in traditional sales but quickly evolved as she sought out innovation. She made a bold move into the world of e-commerce, assisting major consumer packaged goods companies in developing their online shopping experiences with the customer at the center of it all. Through this experience, Katie developed a passion for working with direct-to-consumer startups and B2B digital products. Her expertise lies in helping teams build effective strategies that prioritize lean approaches, rapid learning, and customer-centricity.

Join us today as we talk all about Katie's story exploring her unique career path and valuable insights that she has gained along the way. 

Find Katie on LinkedIn 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.

The creator economy is a new one and an interesting one, to say the least. With so many of these content creators popping up in all facets of life, what is it that makes one stand out? What's the difference between an influencer and a content creator? And how can these content creators help unlock the potential for brands to scale content in a quality way and at speed? 

Today, we are talking with Madison Long. Madison is joining us from Clutch, where she drives the company's vision of building a world where authentic, engaging work supports a more sustainable, equitable lifestyle. Her passion for entrepreneurship and helping the next generation thrive began in childhood including spending her high school summers creating a math mania programmatic instruction class for middle school students in need and working with youth advocacy programs in college. Prior to Clutch, Madison was a program development and analytics lead at Lean In, where she led multiple initiatives, including the foundation's 2020 Women in the Workplace Report along with their first project focused on empowering youth girls. Madison's overall goal is to create opportunities for the next generation to thrive in life and work. 

In today's conversation, we cover the gamut when it comes to content creation. From the business side of becoming a content creator, how organizations are scaling their content creation efforts, and also some of the safety concerns around programs, platforms, and the next generation of content creators. We talk a bit about what is out there with regulations, kids communicating online, and how we can keep their safety front and center. We get into a lot of different areas and categories that are fascinating to me, and I hope they are fascinating to you as well. Let's get into it.

Learn more about Clutch here. 

Check out Madison on LinkedIn 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.

There is no question about the importance, impact, and influence of social media in our political sphere. Each election season since 2008 has had a hallmark reputation regarding how media influenced said presidential election. And we're heading into what may very well be our most dramatic political season yet in 2024. So, what's that going to look like? And what can we learn from past election seasons to get a better idea of what we're getting into? There is no one better to join me for this conversation than the man behind Barack Obama's Twitter, Caleb Gardner.

His career has been driven by curiosity and focused on change. Caleb led one of the largest digital programs in existence, including the most followed Twitter account in the world, @BarackObama. But his decades of experience in change leadership, digital innovation, and social impact don't just include work in government and politics. Now, as the co-founder and managing partner of 18 Coffees, an innovation consulting firm, Caleb helps businesses with a mission to get a foothold in the future, using his professional experience to solve impossible problems and bring new ideas to life. His new book, "No Point B: Rules for Leading Change in the New Hyper-Connected, Radically Conscious Economy," is available in all major bookstores.

Caleb and I had a blast today. We delved into many philosophical questions about the nature of social media and its implications when it comes to political climates. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. I firmly believe that, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you are on, there is a ton of value in this episode and a lot of introspection to be had.

Check out Caleb’s website 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 we are going to be chatting about Reddit, that sneaky little platform that is building communities and having meaningful discussions that are also self-regulated. The people on Reddit are voting up and voting down anything that they do not want to see or do want to see. It is entirely run by moderators and communities themselves. Within this platform, there is so much data that brands can tap into and can use to understand their consumers and ultimately their decision-making habits. 

Joining us today is the founder of GummySearch, an audience research tool for Reddit. His name is Fed Folio, and Fed has founded not just GummySearch, but also Hive Index, which is a catalog for a variety of topics and various communities within Reddit to help you find communities that matter most to you and your interests. Fed and I get into some nitty-gritty topics specifically around the culture that is found on Reddit, how brands have continued to struggle to find their footing in the Reddit communities, how founders can show up authentically, and how organizations can tap into the endless amount of qualitative and quantitative data that their customers are sharing about their brand, about their industry, and about their world today. 

Buckle up and let's get into it.

Check out the Gummy Search platform here. 

Follow Fed on Twitter 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.