

Marketing Happy Hour
Marketing Happy Hour
Keeping up with marketing trends and leveling up your career doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Don’t go at it alone. Marketing Happy Hour was created to help you navigate the corporate marketing world, launch your own business, and stay sane while advancing in your career. Join hosts Cassie Tucker and Ally Golden each week as they dive into real conversations with industry guests, covering everything from marketing strategies to career growth and leadership insights—all served with a mix of inspiration and support to keep you thriving.
Learn more: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/
Learn more: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 30, 2025 • 25min
How Social Media is Redefining PR and Brand Credibility | Casey Madsen of VaynerX
In a digital world where 85% of young adults get their news from social media but only 5% trust it, brands face an unprecedented challenge: building credibility in an algorithm-driven landscape. In this episode, we’re joined by Casey Madsen of Vayner, who breaks down insights from their latest research on the state of PR, content, and consumer trust. We discuss how “earned media” and influencer storytelling have merged, why only 29% of brand leaders feel their voice is consistently authentic, and what marketers must do to earn real attention in 2026 and beyond. Whether you’re leading a comms team or just starting your marketing career, this episode unpacks the evolving intersection of credibility, creativity, and connection in the attention economy.Key Takeaways:// Credibility Crisis: With only 5% of social media users fully trusting the content they see, brands must focus on transparency, consistency, and community-driven storytelling to rebuild trust.// The Overlap of PR and Social: The walls between traditional PR and social storytelling are gone — teams must now think like creators, not just communicators.// Authenticity Gap: Only 29% of brands believe their voice is truly consistent. The fix? Align every piece of content with your brand’s values, tone, and long-term mission.// The Rise of Earned Attention: As paid reach declines, the brands that win will be those who earn engagement through relevance, not repetition.// New Skills for the Modern Marketer: The next generation of communicators needs to be data-driven, platform-native, and emotionally intelligent, blending creative instinct with analytical insight.// Career Advice for Emerging Talent: Focus on mastering storytelling, speed, and strategy — the three currencies of credibility in the modern media landscape.Download the Report: HEREConnect with Casey: LinkedIn____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Oct 23, 2025 • 19min
The State of Marketing Careers in 2025: Burnout, AI, and the Path Forward
In this episode, Cassie reflects on six years of consulting, the evolution of marketing careers, and what it really takes to grow (without burning out) in 2026 and beyond. From the rise of AI to the importance of human connection, we’re talking about how to stay adaptable, keep learning, and find new inspiration in your work. Cassie shares her own career pivots, lessons from the Digital Summit in Philly, and the key skills that will define the next era of marketing.Key Takeaways:// Why marketing is still a viable — and essential — career path in a tech-driven world// How to use AI as a creative tool to elevate, not replace, your expertise// The difference between career burnout and a misaligned role (and how to tell which one you’re facing)// The top skills that will future-proof your marketing career: writing, communication, adaptability, and curiosityConnect with Cassie: LinkedIn____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Oct 16, 2025 • 24min
How Ronald McDonald House Is Modernizing Storytelling for a New Generation
What happens when one of the most iconic nonprofits in the world reimagines its brand for a new generation? In this episode, we sit down with Joanna Sabato, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Ronald McDonald House, to explore the strategy and storytelling behind the organization’s bold new “Family Stays” campaign. From evolving a legacy brand and reaching Gen Z and Millennial audiences, to crafting authentic, emotionally resonant stories voiced by real families, Joanna shares how the campaign redefines what it means to connect with audiences in today’s media landscape. Key Takeaways:// How Ronald McDonald House evolved its brand while honoring decades of trust and legacy.// The creative and strategic process behind the “Family Stays” campaign.// Why authenticity and real family voices became the heart of the campaign’s storytelling.// The importance of reaching younger audiences through emerging media and relatable narratives.// How nonprofits can think like modern brands while staying mission-driven.// Measuring success beyond impressions — focusing on emotional connection and impact.// Lessons for marketers on building relevance and resonance in a fast-changing media landscape.Connect with Joanna: LinkedInLearn more about the Ronald McDonald House: Family Stays Campaign | LinkedIn | Website____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Oct 9, 2025 • 28min
Social Media Algorithm Updates and AI-Driven Creative | Digital Summit Philadelphia 2025
Discover innovative insights from the Digital Summit in Philadelphia as Cassie shares game-changing strategies for marketers. Learn how to use AI to enhance creativity rather than replace it and why deep engagement beats vanity metrics. Explore the importance of relevance in social media algorithms and how to track signals that truly matter. Uncover the shift from traditional personas to interest clusters for audience targeting, and understand the crucial need for humanization and genuine connections in marketing. Dive into the future of digital marketing!

Oct 2, 2025 • 26min
How Taylor Swift Builds Loyalty and Hype (and What Brands Can Learn)
Taylor Swift isn’t just breaking records—she’s redefining what it means to market in the digital age. In this episode, Cassie and Ally unpack the marketing brilliance behind Taylor’s Eras Tour and beyond, exploring how she uses storytelling, connection, and innovation to keep her audience engaged. From live Easter eggs to building anticipation through mystery and intrigue, we break down the strategies Swift uses to create loyalty, spark excitement, and make every launch feel like an event. Whether you’re a podcaster, creator, or brand, this conversation will give you actionable ways to infuse your marketing with the same magic that keeps Taylor fans coming back for more.Key Takeaways:// Drive connection with your audience through storytelling in unique channels.// Tease content live with your audience to build mystery and intrigue through emerging media types.// The importance of giving every campaign or product launch its own unique spin.// How to engage your audience continually, even when you’re not in the middle of a “big launch.”// Lessons from The Life of a Showgirl and how podcasting can serve as a hero content engine.// Strategies for blending personal brand and professional brand to connect more deeply with your audience.____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Sep 18, 2025 • 46min
The Brand Brief Audit: What Every Marketer Should Rethink | Kahlea Wade, Agency Founder + Creator
What does it take to thrive in today’s creator economy? Kahlea Wade, CEO and Founder of Alora Society, an award-winning influencer talent agency, joins me to break down what’s working (and not working) in influencer marketing in 2025. With experience leading campaigns for brands like Meta, Nike, Amazon Prime, and Skims, Kahlea shares how brands can write better briefs, why LinkedIn is becoming a powerful platform for creators, and the mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to build confidence and resilience. Whether you’re a brand marketer, a creator, or a solopreneur, this conversation will help you better understand how to create partnerships that actually work.Key Takeaways:// The biggest mistakes brands still make when working with creators in 2025—and how to avoid them.// What every strong brand brief should include (and what to leave out).// How to use LinkedIn to build authority and expand your network as a creator or professional.// Why confidence and persistence matter when facing rejection—and how to keep showing up.// Tips for building a personal brand that positions you for opportunities in and outside of social media.// What makes a brand activation or live event worth the investment for both creators and brands.Connect with Kahlea: Instagram | Alora on Instagram____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!

Sep 12, 2025 • 34min
Building Cultural Relevance Through Influencers and Celebrities | Bette Ann Fialkov, Fractional Head of Influencer Marketing Bette
In this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, we’re joined by Bette Ann Fialkov, Fractional Head of Influencer Marketing and Professor at Parsons, who has led influencer and celebrity partnership strategies for powerhouse brands including Google, Lyft, and Hims & Hers. With nearly 15 years of experience, Bette Ann shares the playbook for building and scaling influencer programs, the lessons she’s learned moving between brand and consultancy roles, and the secret to creating partnerships that put brands at the center of culture. Whether you’re just getting started with influencer marketing or looking to elevate your program to the next level, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right away.Key Takeaways:// What it really takes to scale an influencer program from test-and-learn to fully operational.// How major brands like Google and Lyft leveraged influencers and celebrities to tell cultural stories.// The biggest lessons Bette Ann has learned from moving between in-house brand roles and consultancy work.// Where influencer marketing is headed next — and the shifts brands need to prepare for.// The surprising questions her students at Parsons are asking about the future of partnerships.Connect with Bette Ann: LinkedIn____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Sep 4, 2025 • 29min
Inside the Evolving World of Influencer Marketing with WIIM’s Jessy Grossman
This week on Marketing Happy Hour, we’re joined by Jessy Grossman, Founder of Women in Influencer Marketing (WIIM). From building one of the fastest-growing influencer talent agencies in under two years to creating a global community that empowers women in the influencer marketing space, Jessy has been at the forefront of industry innovation. In this conversation, she shares her career journey, the inspiration behind WIIM, and her perspective on the challenges women face in business today. You’ll also hear her take on where influencer marketing is headed in the next 3–5 years — and why community-driven spaces like WIIM are more important than ever.Key Takeaways:// How Jessy built one of the fastest-growing influencer talent agencies in under two years.// The biggest challenges women face in influencer marketing — and strategies to overcome them.// What it takes to keep a professional community valuable and relevant in a fast-changing industry.// Predictions for where influencer marketing is heading in the next 3–5 years.// A reminder of why connection and community are critical for long-term career success.Connect with Jessy: Instagram | LinkedIn____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Aug 28, 2025 • 35min
From Culture to Conversions: Maximizing Tentpole Moments | David Pangilinan of Paramount Advertising
In this final episode of our POSSIBLE series, we sit down with David Pangilinan, Senior Manager of Audience Impact and Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, to explore how brands can win big by leveraging tentpole moments. From live events and major film releases to cultural shifts that dominate the headlines, Paramount has perfected the art of turning high-profile moments into powerful opportunities for advertisers. David breaks down common mistakes brands make, strategies for staying authentic, and the four pillars for success he shared at POSSIBLE—our favorite presentation of the entire conference. If you want actionable insights on how to turn cultural relevance into measurable ROI, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.Key Takeaways:// What tentpole marketing really means today—and how the definition is evolving in an always-on, digital-first landscape.// How to authentically connect with audiences during cultural and industry moments without forcing the brand fit.// The four proven strategies for tentpole success that Paramount uses to deliver impact at scale.// Mistakes brands should avoid when trying to insert themselves into cultural conversations.// How to measure ROI when investing in tentpole-related campaigns.// Where audience expectations are heading in 2025 and beyond, and what marketers need to pay attention to now.Connect with David: LinkedIn____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook

Aug 21, 2025 • 36min
Building Brand Loyalty Through Nostalgia and Fandoms | Ilana Gelfand of The Walt Disney Company
Ally and I sit down with Ilana Gelfand, Senior Manager, Global Social Strategy at Disney Consumer Products. With 12+ years of experience in marketing and social media, Ilana has led creative content and brand strategy for some of the world’s most popular brands, including Disney and Loungefly. We discuss Ilana’s illustrious career in selling a lifestyle over a product and how the organic positioning of that lifestyle is the unlock to greater audience connection. We walk through how to drive authenticity within your brand’s consumers through nostalgia, self-expression and niche fandoms.Key Takeaways:// To sell a lifestyle instead of a product - identify your target audience, learn how they want to be seen and align your messaging to how they want to be spoken to.// Build nostalgia for your brand by referencing the past and finding fresh ways to incorporate it in the present.// When choosing influencers for a campaign, consider lookalike influencers that may have various crossover interests that align with the campaign look and feel.// Brands are currently underutilizing Pinterest - Gen Z is using Pinterest as a creative outlet and opportunity to build an individual user world.Connect with Ilana: LinkedIn | Instagram____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook


