What Threatens Brand Health Most?

As the world rushes to adopt AI, what if the most future-proof skill isn't mastering the machine, but mastering human connection? In this episode, Sani sits down with Brent Csutoras, a true OG of the internet who has been a core member of the Reddit community since 2006.

Brent argues that the unfiltered, honest, and often chaotic conversations happening on Reddit, a platform he calls "the real world online", provide the ultimate blueprint for the future of brand building. So many brands fail on Reddit because they treat it like a traditional advertising channel, only to be torn apart by a community that values authenticity above all else. Brent breaks down his "anti-marketer" playbook, using incredible stories, from the REI AMA that turned from a PR disaster into a masterclass in accountability to a beef jerky company that sold $30,000 worth of product from a single, honest conversation, to illustrate his points.

If you are professional trying to navigate the future of digital marketing, you need to hear this. Brent makes a compelling case that we are not in year 21 of the old internet; we are in "Year One" of a completely new era , where solving real human problems has replaced the old hacks of chasing keywords and gaming algorithms.

Guest

Our guest is Brent Csutoras, a renowned Reddit thought leader and marketing strategist. As the Founder of OGS Media, he has spent nearly two decades helping Fortune 100 brands, scrappy startups, and skeptical CMOs navigate one of the most misunderstood platforms online.

In addition to his deep expertise in Reddit, Brent has been a Managing Partner at Search Engine Journal for over a decade, helping to shape the voice of the digital marketing industry. He is a self-described "futurist at heart, with a bias for action", constantly drawn to the edge of what's next in search, social, and AI-driven discovery. His core philosophy is simple but profound: help brands stop marketing at people and start connecting with them.

Key Takeaways

• Community is a networking event, not a megaphone
• Trust is the only metric that matters
• Solve problems, don't chase keywords
• Your new job is to train your AI assistant

Links and Resources

• Connect with Brent: The best way to reach Brent is on his LinkedIn Profile.
• OGS Media: Learn more about Brent's Reddit community engagement company at ogsmedia.com.
• Search Engine Journal: One of the leading online marketing publications where Brent is a managing partner.
• ZipTie.AI: The project Brent is working on to map online conversations.
• Book Mention: Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger.
• Book Mention: Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert.
• Book Mention: The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier.
• Brand Mention: Sonos, a brand Brent highlights for its excellent community engagement on Reddit.

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