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Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

This week, we’re joined by none other than Christina Westley — a true insider in the influencer game. From her early days at VaynerMedia to running influencer marketing for Pepsi, and now striking out on her own, Christina’s seen the industry from every angle. She shares honest takes on agency vs. brand life, why influencer budgets still lag behind expectations, and how AI avatars could reshape creator content.

Before Christina joins, Keith and Brendan unpack VidCon, Cannes hot topics (hello, AI governance), and why the influencer world isn’t freaking out about TikTok’s 180-day extension. We also dive into the latest stats, studies, and product updates from YouTube, Instagram, Google, and TikTok — it’s a jam-packed news rundown.

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From the beaches of Cannes to your For You page, Keith and Brendan sit down with Kim Farrell - Head of Creators at TikTok, and dive into how TikTok is helping creators connect, create, and cash in. We explore why live events are becoming a core pillar of creator strategy, which underused monetization tools every creator should know about, and how to actually define "high quality" content in 2025. Plus, our Creator & Brand of the Week picks: Dhar Mann, Louis Butterfield, Dove’s bold new campaign, and the app that literally makes you put your phone down.

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Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

Melanie Huet, CMO of Newell Brands (home to Sharpie, Coleman, Rubbermaid, and more), joins the pod to talk about her journey from Unilever and Kraft to leading a powerhouse portfolio of everyday icons. But before we get into boardrooms and brand strategy, we dive into her other passion — shooting and editing sports content as the ultimate team video mom.

We cover:

• What unites (and divides) the world’s biggest CPG brands
• How Newell approaches influencer marketing at scale
• The KPIs Melanie really cares about
• What she’d create content about if she were an influencer

Plus:
The latest in AI from Google’s jaw-dropping Veo 3 to smart glasses, what 825 social pros say about Instagram, TikTok, and burnout, and why carousel posts might be 2025’s surprise hit.

Creator of the Week, Brand of the Week, and all the usual chaos — don’t miss it.

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Keith and Brendan sit down with Olivia Petzy, Social Media and Communications Group Manager at Care.com. Olivia shares how she built Care.com’s influencer strategy from the ground up, why she’s passionate about authentic storytelling, and what brands get wrong when they expect social leads to be on-camera talent. Plus, we cover the latest headlines: Publicis’ acquisition of Captiv8, Whalar’s $400M valuation, new creator tools from YouTube and Instagram, and all the wild AI updates out of Google I/O. Stay tuned for creator and brand shoutouts, including AI app builder VibeCode and parenting tech fave Life360.

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Enjoying the Creator Economy Live podcast? Hear all these actionable insights and build connections with HUGE industry titan brands at Creator Economy Live East 2025. PLUS as a loyal listener, you can get 20% off your ticket using POD20 at checkout!

On this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with Gabe Gomez — a social strategist who’s made waves on LinkedIn and beyond. With experience at Edelman, Verizon, and now MCoBeauty, Gabe offers a unique perspective on what brands are getting right (and wrong) when it comes to influencer marketing.

They dive into why the traditional influencer marketing playbook no longer works, how brands can take creative risks without losing control, and whether everyone needs to become a creator to stay relevant in today’s digital landscape.

You’ll also hear their take on the latest industry news, including:

- Meta’s mixed reviews on its new editing tools

- TikTok surpassing Twitch as the #2 live platform

- New research revealing that finding the right creators is still the #1 challenge for marketers

- YouTube’s report on the rise of virtual creators

- Peacock’s bold move to bring TikTok talent to TV with four new original shows

Plus, don’t miss this week’s Creator and Brand of the Week picks — featuring Zach King, Rob Mayhew, Alix Earle’s viral Pantene moment, and more.

Whether you’re brand-side, agency-side, or building your own creator brand, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable takeaways.

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Toilet paper, tampons, tissues, and... TikTok? In this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith and Brendan sit down with Megan Narcisi and Lauren Staff from Kimberly-Clark—home to household brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Kotex—to talk about what it really takes to make everyday products pop on social. From wild agency stories to building a center of excellence in a corporate giant, they spill all. Plus, we dive into LinkedIn’s influencer glow-up, Meta’s new ad features, and the AI cat that hijacked Quinta Brunson’s feed.

Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

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In this special episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan are joined by not one but two powerhouse guests—Ali Kaltman and Janna Ninekin from Gruns, the brand that’s been taking over your social feed. They dive deep into how Gruns crafts scroll-stopping content, builds measurable impact through influencer marketing, and structures a high-performing team. Plus, the duo explores the evolving revenue models for creators, how community drives long-term success, and the creator-brand partnerships changing the game. And of course, don’t miss this week’s standout creators, brands, and follows.

Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free!

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On this episode of Creator Economy Live, we’re joined by the one and only Mike Diva—the creative powerhouse directing some of Saturday Night Live’s most unforgettable digital shorts. From viral YouTube hits to high-gloss SNL sketches, Mike has built a career on chaotic brilliance, razor-sharp satire, and mind-blowing VFX.

Hosts Brendan Gahan and Keith Bendes chat with Mike about breaking into the industry, maintaining his distinct visual voice in mainstream media, how the SNL gig came to be, and what creators and brands alike can learn from sketch comedy’s golden formula.

Plus: AI in the creator world, YouTube vs. TV, and why Chili’s deserves your respect.