The Social Complex

Will it or won't it? That is the question on everyone's mind: the fate of TikTok in the United States. With questions looming around privacy concerns, battled and combated by the issues of free speech and accessibility, TikTok finds itself at the center of the debate. TikTok is a fan-favorite app among many young users and happens to be one of the hottest topics on the Hill. The main point of contention is whether TikTok's close relationship with China, through its parent company ByteDance, poses privacy concerns.

The concern initially arose in 2020 during the Trump administration, and today we are joined by journalist Paige Leskin, who closely covered that period. Paige Leskin specializes in writing about online communication, the culture of internet users, and the businesses behind social platforms. Her work has been featured in publications such as Business Insider, USA Today, Inverse.com, and PIX11 News.

During our discussion, we delve into various aspects of TikTok, exploring the potential for a ban and the implications it would have on not just TikTok itself and social media but also on the future of technology, the global economy of data sharing, data privacy, and ultimately, how we connect with one another and our communities. There is much to unpack, so, as I like to say, let's get into it

Check out Paige’s website here.

Follow Paige on Twitter here. 

Follow Paige 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.

In today's episode, we are talking with social media coach, expert educator, and just all-around badass, Jera Foster-Fell. Also known as Jera.Bean.

Jera is a TikTok expert, an in-demand speaker, and a seasoned content creator. She leans into her extensive background in content creation and strategy to help teach people and brands how to harness the power of their secret sauce and show up authentically on social, helping them generate engaging content that converts followers and fans into customers and clients. When she's on stage, she brings an unparalleled level of energy and engagement while breaking big concepts down in actionable and bite-sized ways.

Jera has created bespoke education sessions and led training for well-known brands such as Estee Lauder, Adobe, AT&T, and TikTok, while also educating and empowering brand ambassadors for businesses in the beauty and lifestyle industries. As a content creator, Jera has grown her TikTok following to 1.5 million followers, and her Instagram community to 187,000 followers.

First, we're gonna talk about the early days of the workout bean that Jera was and how I found her back in 2015. She also opens up and shares about her journey from fitness influencer, content creator, and brand ambassador, to education. We're also talking about the crossover between creative content in brands and also that of brand ambassadors, how organizations can tap into their brand ambassadors even better, and actionable ways to make social media content more engaging, higher converting, and all-around more you. 

Jera is incredible and her career thus far is inspiring, to say the least. Everything that she has accomplished and all that she is sharing on the podcast today is just an example of how much of a professional badass she is in this space. So there's a lot to unpack here. I hope you buckle up, tune in and enjoy the episode. 

Check out these freebies from Jera -

• Transform your social media with these 10 evergreen video ideas 
• Learn how to trendy edit

Follow Jera on social: Instagram | TikTok

Learn more about Jera 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 all about demand generation in B2B. Amanda and I get into the nitty-gritty on what it means to be creative in B2B, how to stand out among the competition, how to structure and organize lean teams where budgets are not always a flow in, and how to be really strategic about getting your message out there in the world and prioritizing customer experience to get the results that you are looking for with those more complex B2B sales. 

Amanda DePaul is the founder of Mythodical, a consulting agency helping B2B companies modernize demand gen to more closely align with today's buying process. She is passionate about ditching old-school lead gen tactics in favor of developing creative acquisition strategies and delightful customer experiences along with measurement techniques to match. In this conversation, we talk about the transition of DemandGen in a technologically booming world, what it means to retire the third-party data cookies that are coming down the line and how organizations are going to be marketing in light of that shift, and the importance of moving away from a downloadable funnel cycle into an experiential customer serving mentality.

Learn more about Amanda’s Agency, Mythodical here.

Connect w/ Amanda 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.

We're diving into the potential TikTok ban in the US and the latest ruling in Montana. In this episode, we explore the legal, social, and economic implications of the ban, and what it means for TikTok users and brands.

From national security concerns to the app's impact on pop culture and content creator marketing, TikTok has made headlines for the last 3 years. The app has been adopted by over 150 million US users, but has faced scrutiny about its ties with Chinese government and concerns on the collection and sharing of American data in an increasingly tense geopolitical climate.

In April 2023, Montana because the first American state to proceed with a bill that would ban TikTok in the state, which if endorsed by Governor Gianforte, would wipe the app from Montana users phones by January 1, 2024.

What is the real impact of a ban of an app like TikTok? Will it actually be removed from US app stores and cut off from users? If so, what are the implications for users, brands, creators and other apps? How will marketing teams view the viability of social media - and how should they?

Lots to cover in this episode. Let's get into it.

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.

Alexa, play Happy Birthday because we've got a one-year-old in the house, and that one-year-old is The Social Complex podcast.

Guys, we are turning one. That's crazy!

This time last year, I was walking the floors of the Austin Convention Center, listening to the best of the best from South by Southwest and launching this podcast. It's bananas to do a launch when you're at an event that is taking up all of your time, energy, and soul. But it's been a wild ride. And it has been a big learning curve.

I have loved recording this podcast and hosting the guests. I have loved connecting with you all virtually. And I cannot thank you enough for inviting me into your cleaning sessions, into your workout sessions, into your driving sessions, wherever you are listening to this podcast and enjoying these episodes. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

On today's episode, I’m reminiscing and sharing an exciting announcement about the Social HQ brand.

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.

Let's talk about the buzz around Chat GPT and AI. Artificial intelligence has been around for a long time. What has changed is that now we have Chat GPT. It is accessible, powerful, and an indicator of what is to come in the world of artificial intelligence. And Rachel Woods is here to tell us about what that impact is going to look like for the past, present, and future of our world.

Rachel Woods is a leading voice on applying AI in practical and useful business applications. Her expertise spans large-scale systems from her time as a research data scientist at Meta, to applying AI in the most niche of spaces from her journey founding and building an AI-enabled e-commerce platform for artisan wineries. Now, Rachel is building The AI Exchange with the mission of helping people use AI to its fullest in their work, products, and life.

In this episode, we are exploring the impact of AI on our world, our society, and our workforce. We are exploring how the industry was before the current hype, discussing the ways that AI is changing the way we search for and discover information online, and examining how jobs will be impacted by this technology.

As AI continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, its important to understand its potential implications for society. Will AI completely change the role of traditional search engines? What does the future of the workforce look like with AI in the mix? These are just a few of the questions that we are gonna be answering on today's podcast. Let's get into it.

Join Rachel's Free Newsletter here.

Become a Member here.

Get 50% off your first month with code: SOCIALCOMPLEX50

Follow Rachel on TikTok 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 talking about why humor in branding works magic – humor that is rooted in the science of how people connect communicate and ultimately trust one another. We all love comedy shows, TikTok clips, and witty banter back and forth from brands on Twitter to connect with their audiences. But why does humor resonate more than other forms of branding?

There is no one better to get into the nerdy ooey gooey stuff of why humor and branding work so well than Allie LeFevere. Allie is a branding expert in the co-founder of Obedient, an agency that specializes in humor to connect brands with its audiences. With a background in advertising and a passion for comedy, Allie brings a unique perspective to the world of branding, helping companies develop their voice and create content that resonates with their audience. She shares her experience with the science of humor and the power of storytelling to drive engagement and build brand loyalty. She has been featured in a variety of media outlets including Forbes, Inc., Adweek, and Fast Company, and is a frequent guest on a handful of industry podcasts. 

With a witty and irreverent style, Allie is known for her ability to make complex branding concepts accessible and entertaining. She helps brands harness the power of humor to create meaningful connections with their audience and drive long-term success. Allie does not hold back on sharing her incredible knowledge and a robust amount of experience in the space in this episode and we are so grateful for it. Let's get into it.

To connect with Allie, click here. 

Check out Obedient Agency here.

To stalk the Fangasm Podcast, 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.

On social media, there are so many sub-cultures and niche groups. That’s the beauty of it - we all have a space where we can find others that share similar interests, values, and stories. One of those groups that has always fascinated me is one that paints a picture of the dream - van lifers. And today, I am honored to be joined by Noami Grevemberg.

Noami Grevemberg is a van life OG, avid outdoorist, digital nomad and dog mom, living on the road in her classic Volkswagen Vanagon since 2016. She’s the founder of the Diversify Vanlife community organization author of the upcoming book, Living the Vanlife.

In this episode, Noami and I discuss the decision to take life to the road, her transformation from marine biologist to content creator, and how social media has supported community building for other road warriors like herself. We talk about how the van life community has evolved since pre-2020, with an influx of remote workers hitting the road, and how diversity on the road has shifted over the last few years.

We speak about how road life is portrayed online versus the reality, examining how social media is great for promoting various ways to live your life, but sometimes can be a highlight reel rather than a realistic data point. Noami brings a fresh perspective to the community of van life and her community within Diversify Vanlife that she’s building, and they’re just getting started. Let’s get into it. 

To connect with Noami, click here. 

To follow @Diversify.Vanlife, click here. 

To learn more about "Living the Vanlife" Book, 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.

We're talking about the past present and future of the social media industry. While organizations were once comfortable with a single social media intern, we've transformed into full social media teams as the norm.

And to help us understand the market, we're bringing in someone responsible for the hiring of top-shelf talent in the industry.

Kelly Gordon is a principal marketing agent for Creative People, a human-first recruiting firm for both clients and talent to help build best-in-class product, design, and marketing teams for the world's most disruptive startups. With over 38k followers on LinkedIn, Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to candidates and hiring managers in the social market to keep an eye on how this fast-paced industry is shifting, and what roles need to be filled to stay ahead of the curve.

Before finding her dream job at Creative People, she tried her hand in Creative Services through Agency Life and Fashion, and dipped her toes into the startup world. It took her a bit of time to figure out what she loves doing, but she now gets to work with incredibly talented Brand, Content, and Social marketers to help them find their dream jobs at some of the most disruptive companies in the country.

Kelly and I get into the nuts and bolts of how organizations are staffing and structuring social media teams, the diverse portfolio of roles out in the market, how social media in organizations has shifted since 2020, and what the future holds for candidates and brands in the business.

To connect with Kelly, click here. 

To learn about Creative People, 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.

Building a creative business is a journey. Building one rooted in purpose and inclusivity? That's the next level.

Today's conversation is for our business owners who are on the path to growing and scaling. We're talking all about early-stage entrepreneurship, finding where your passion meets your purpose, and how the power of creativity can unlock new levels of visibility for your brand.

Neysa and Tabari join us in today's episode to show the power of developing creative with purpose. The husband and wife duo behind Ginger and Carrot Productions, they combine creative direction with photography and videography to empower brands to authentically tell their stories. They are also the hosts of The Sensitive Business Podcast, a space where they have conversations with other creative professionals on how they’re able to be their whole selves in the work that they do. 

Ginger and Carrot Productions is a predominantly women-operated organization whose mission is rooted in inclusivity and culture expansion. Neysa and Tabari love high-vibe energy, bold colors, and creative partnerships with trailblazing brands that think outside of the box.

To connect with Neysa and Tabari, click here. 

To follow Ginger and Carrot on Instagram, click here.

To listen to The Sensitive Business Podcast, 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.