Marketing Brew Weekly

Welcome to Marketing Brew Weekly! This week, we’re talking April Fools – no, really, we are! We take a look back at the beginning of brands pulling a switcheroo on consumers, and give our take on those brave enough to be the butt of the joke in 2026. Plus, why this brand holiday can actually work in favor of smaller brands entering the convo, but backfire on those that do it too well – or too wrong. 

00:00: Intro 

00:30: We’re nominated for a Webby award!

01:08: April Fools pitches for 2026

04:08: Why do brands get involved with this holiday 

09:30: How can brands stand out 

11:27: A day for surprise collabs and smaller brands

15:00: Risks of a bad prank 

19:30: Other brand holidays

Vote for us in this year’s Webby Awards in the Creativity & Marketing, Shows (podcast) category: https://wbby.co/57461N (please and thank you!)

Join us this May for the Marketing Brew Social & Creator Marketing event, covering what’s driving real ROI in the creator economy right now. If you’re in NYC, we’d love to meet you in-person. Tickets and info here: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events/the-next-phase-of-social-and-creator-marketing?utm_campaign=mkb_me_022526&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=mkb 

For more upcoming Marketing Brew events: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events

Subscribe to the Marketing Brew newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

Watch Marketing Brew Weekly on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingBrew

Follow Marketing Brew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingbrew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/marketing-brew/

Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Brew Weekly gives marketing professionals insightful analysis and a lively conversation on the latest trending topics in the world of media and advertising, from the Marketing Brew reporters who know the industry best. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Marketing Brew Weekly! This week, we’re diving into the trend of corporate employees becoming brand ambassadors, with a spotlight on the “Staples Baddie”. Should more companies be relying on their employees to create their own content, or should they have more control over the process? The Staples Baddie shares tips on what to post, how it’s lead to  greater in-store foot traffic, and what makes the content authentic. 

00:00: Intro 

02:42: Who is Staples Baddie

04:00: Brands not on board with employee ambassadors 

04:52: Why this works for Staples

08:39: An increase in foot traffic for stores

09:52: People want IRL experiences

11:42: Other brands using this trend

14:00: Proof of reality social trend 

15:00: Why brands won’t try this

21:20: Employees have to be happy at their job for it to work 

 

This episode is presented by Disney Campaign Manager. For more information: https://www.disneycampaignmanager.com/

Read more from the Staples Baddie: https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2026/03/16/staples-baddie-interview-marketing-lessons

Join us this May for the Marketing Brew Social & Creator Marketing event, covering what’s driving real ROI in the creator economy right now. If you’re in NYC, we’d love to meet you in-person. Tickets and info here: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events/the-next-phase-of-social-and-creator-marketing?utm_campaign=mkb_me_022526&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=mkb 

For more upcoming Marketing Brew events: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events

Subscribe to the Marketing Brew newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

Watch Marketing Brew Weekly on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingBrew

Follow Marketing Brew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingbrew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/marketing-brew/

Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Brew Weekly gives marketing professionals insightful analysis and a lively conversation on the latest trending topics in the world of media and advertising, from the Marketing Brew reporters who know the industry best. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Marketing Brew Weekly! This week, Jennimai is fresh from her trip to SXSW in Austin, TX and reports back on the biggest convos she had (and overheard) at panels, activations, and throughout the event. From creators to AI, and even a mix of both, we’re discussing the major themes marketers were discussing on the ground, and where we can expect to see them in action next. 

00:00: Intro 

00:35: Overall themes of SXSW this year

03:00: Convergence at the conference 

04:30: Bringing creators into legacy spaces 

10:45: Activations geared towards creators

14:54: The state of experiential at SXSW 2026

16:22: AI conversations at the festival 

20:47: Agentic AI in shopping and consumer world

24:39: NBCU AI agent product

 

This episode is presented by Disney Campaign Manager. For more information: https://www.disneycampaignmanager.com/

Join us this May for the Marketing Brew Social & Creator Marketing event, covering what’s driving real ROI in the creator economy right now. If you’re in NYC, we’d love to meet you in-person. Tickets and info here: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events/the-next-phase-of-social-and-creator-marketing?utm_campaign=mkb_me_022526&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=mkb 

For more upcoming Marketing Brew events: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events

Subscribe to the Marketing Brew newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

Watch Marketing Brew Weekly on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingBrew

Follow Marketing Brew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingbrew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/marketing-brew/

Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Brew Weekly gives marketing professionals insightful analysis and a lively conversation on the latest trending topics in the world of media and advertising, from the Marketing Brew reporters who know the industry best.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Marketing Brew Weekly! This week, we’re discussing the burger drama and the way each brand is responding to the McDonalds CEO taking a “big” bite from their new Big Arch burger. Burger King, Jack in the Box and even Freddy’s jumped in by handing execs their own products to show off just how big their bites can be. But are consumers on board – and hungry for burgers? 

00:00: Intro 

01:56: Reacting to the McDonald’s CEO video

03:55: The burger drama is getting weird

06:27: Backlash to the video

09:48: What are the pros and cons and other examples 

11:24: Sassy social media

15:00: Campaigns aligning with brand identity

16:09: How will McDonald’s react

17:24: Why this happening on social matters 

19:32: Not all CEOs are made for social 

 

This episode is presented by Disney Campaign Manager. For more information: https://www.disneycampaignmanager.com/

Join us this May for the Marketing Brew Social & Creator Marketing event, covering what’s driving real ROI in the creator economy right now. If you’re in NYC, we’d love to meet you in-person. Tickets and info here: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events/the-next-phase-of-social-and-creator-marketing?utm_campaign=mkb_me_022526&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=mkb 

For more upcoming Marketing Brew events: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events

Subscribe to the Marketing Brew newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

Watch Marketing Brew Weekly on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingBrew

Follow Marketing Brew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingbrew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/marketing-brew/

Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Brew Weekly gives marketing professionals insightful analysis and a lively conversation on the latest trending topics in the world of media and advertising, from the Marketing Brew reporters who know the industry best.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Marketing Brew Weekly! This week, we’re discussing protein maxxing, the health trend you’re seeing everywhere: from Super Bowl commercials to sparkling protein water and even protein Doritos (?!), if it feels like every brand is adding protein to their offerings, it’s because they are. We break down how this is directly connected to GLP-1s, if it’s actually benefitting brands, and if we can expect to see the same from Big Fiber. 

00:00: Intro 

00:42: Is protein everywhere these days?

02:38: Products that magically now have protein

07:05: Why are we hearing about protein all the time now

13:00: The connection to GLP 1’s

17:30: Is it oversaturated now?

21:10: Is fiber the next hot ingredient

 

This episode is presented by Disney Campaign Manager. For more information: https://www.disneycampaignmanager.com/

Join us this May for the Marketing Brew Social & Creator Marketing event, covering what’s driving real ROI in the creator economy right now. If you’re in NYC, we’d love to meet you in-person. Tickets and info here: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events/the-next-phase-of-social-and-creator-marketing?utm_campaign=mkb_me_022526&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=mkb 

For more upcoming Marketing Brew events: https://www.marketingbrew.com/events

Subscribe to the Marketing Brew newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

Watch Marketing Brew Weekly on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingBrew

Follow Marketing Brew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingbrew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/marketing-brew/

Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Brew Weekly gives marketing professionals insightful analysis and a lively conversation on the latest trending topics in the world of media and advertising, from the Marketing Brew reporters who know the industry best. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices