Ad agencies, zeitgeist, and creative intent

Get our AI content system that keeps your content human: https://clickhubspot.com/fbe

Ep. 391

Is 2026 the year of the AI backlash?

Kieran Flanagan and Kipp Bodnar dive into what the growing resentment toward AI content means for marketers and how to stand out by embracing human creativity and expertise. Learn more about why authenticity is becoming the ultimate growth strategy, how brands like Equinox are flipping AI slop into standout campaigns, and the practical steps you need to succeed in a world overwhelmed by generic, automated content.

Mentions

• Grok https://grok.com/

• Equinox AI Ads https://www.instagram.com/p/DTIsY5tkrSB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

• Patagonia 2011 New York Times ad https://www.patagonia.com/stories/planet/activism/dont-buy-this-jacket-black-friday-and-the-new-york-times/story-18615.html

Get our guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/customgpt

We’re creating our next round of content and want to ensure it tackles the challenges you’re facing at work or in your business.

To understand your biggest challenges we’ve put together a survey and we’d love to hear from you! https://bit.ly/matg-research

Resource

• [Free] Steal our favorite AI Prompts featured on the show! Grab them here: https://clickhubspot.com/aip

We’re on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed

YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtXqPiNV8YC0GMUzY-EUFg 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matgpod 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matgpod 

Join our community https://landing.connect.com/matg

Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain!

Don’t forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934  

If you love this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review https://link.chtbl.com/h9_sjBKH and share your favorite episodes with friends.

We really appreciate your support.

Host Links:

Kipp Bodnar, https://twitter.com/kippbodnar  

Kieran Flanagan, https://twitter.com/searchbrat 
‘Marketing Against The Grain’ is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Produced by Darren Clarke.