M.T. Deco

Open Tabs

A Marketing , Business and Society & Culture podcast

About the show

Stay ahead of the latest news, trends, and moments that are shaping digital and social media. Each episode, the M.T. Deco team digs into the cultural moments that are taking up real estate in our Google tabs and brains, pulling out practical, actionable insights that you can actually use. M.T. Deco is a multidisciplinary agency that creates impactful digital strategy and social media content. For more, join us on Substack mtdeco.substack.com

Newest episodes

🎧 We can’t stop talking about the Call Her Daddy drama

Nov 13, 2026 37 min

This week’s tabs: The Call Her Daddy drama is still in the headlines, and we’re looking at what Alex Cooper needs to do next to turn her podcast success into a bigger media business. Timestamps: 🎙️ 0:00 - The Call Her Daddy breakup isn’t going away. Sofia Franklyn’s new memoir is bringing the drama back into the spotlight, with more questions about what really happened between the former co-hosts, who owned what, and how their partnership fell apart. 💼 21:54 - What’s next for Alex Cooper? Big celebrity interviews are great for getting attention, but they don’t necessarily keep people coming back. Alex has an opportunity to build more recurring, personality-driven content, bring new talent into the mix, and give audiences a reason to connect with Unwell beyond her. And as the breakup reminds us, getting the business side of creative partnerships right from the start matters just as much as the creative side. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

Skims’ advent calendar backlash and the Daddy Issues fallout

Nov 11, 2026 34 min

This week’s tabs: the Skims advent calendar backlash and what Sofia Franklyn’s Daddy Issues means for the Alex Cooper brand. Timestamps: 🎁 1:54 - Skims is offering refunds after its $148 advent calendar disappointed customers with an assortment of random, underwhelming accessories. We discuss how advent calendars have become a social media marketing opportunity, why the marketing can’t outweigh the product itself, and how brands can turn unboxing into a more creative, gamified experience. * How Skims' $148 advent calendar went from holiday gift to refund offer, Mashable * Gifts we mention in our convo: * Slip silk scrunchies * Slip eye mask * Emi Jay clips 📖 15:48 - Sofia Franklyn’s new memoir, Daddy Issues, is reigniting conversations about her fallout with Alex Cooper and the origins of Call Her Daddy. We discuss how the story is reshaping public perception, what it means for Alex Cooper’s brand reputation, and why relationships and reputation are just as important as audience growth when building a media business. * Daddy Issues by Sofia Franklyn * Sofia Franklyn: How To Navigate Change, Let Go Of Approval & Move Forward, The Skinny Confidential * Sofia Franklyn on the Fight for Call Her Daddy, Starting Over & Building Again, Emma Grede This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Cool girls, long lines, and angry customers

Nov 6, 2026 37 min

This week’s tabs: The Disney adult is getting a rebrand, waiting in line has become a social status symbol, and frustrated customers are taking their complaints to social media. Timestamps: 🏰 0:21 - Goodbye Disney adults, hello Disney cool girls. How a new generation is making Disney more fashion-forward, and what it means for the brand’s next chapter. * Good-bye, Disney Adults; Hello, Disney Cool Girls, The Cut 🧋 13:55 - When did waiting in line become the activity? Why viral experiences are turning queues into social destinations and status symbols. * When did waiting in line become the activity?, Dazed 📱 25:20 - The customer service revolt. Why frustrated customers are bringing complaints to social media, and how brands can build loyalty through better experiences. * The customer service revolt: how bad support is building a grievance empire on social media, Fast Company * Megan’s piece: The pendulum always swings back: why 2026 is the Year of the Human Touch This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

Similar podcasts

The Artificial Intelligence Show Paul Roetzer and Mike Kaput

Super Creative Catie Dawson | Super Creative

The GaryVee Audio Experience Gary Vaynerchuk

Uncensored CMO Jon Evans

AI Explored Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner—AI marketing

強者我朋友 by 志祺七七志祺七七

The Futur with Chris Do The Futur

贝望录 Withinlink

All episodes

🎧 We can’t stop talking about the Call Her Daddy drama

Nov 13, 2026 37 min

Skims’ advent calendar backlash and the Daddy Issues fallout

Nov 11, 2026 34 min

🎧 Cool girls, long lines, and angry customers

Nov 6, 2026 37 min

🎧 Brands are getting in on the ACOTAR hype

Nov 4, 2026 32 min

This week’s tabs: why it feels like every brand has an ACOTAR collab and the rise of co-working livestreamers. Timestamps: 📚 7:42 - ACOTAR [A Court of Thorns and Roses] is the latest franchise brands are clamoring to collaborate with. From Target to For Love & Lemons, brands are tapping into the fandom. We discuss what makes these collaborations work and why understanding the world behind the IP matters more than simply putting a logo on merchandise. * Every ACOTAR Collab You Can Shop Right Now, The Cut 💻 20:44 - Why are people watching strangers work on the internet? Study and co-working livestreams offer accountability and a sense of companionship. We discuss the appeal of body doubling and whether these digital spaces are building community or monetizing loneliness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Why the internet loves “lore”

Oct 30, 2026 46 min

This week’s tabs: “Lore” is Sprout Social’s 2026 Word of the Year, and Banana Republic is turning to TikTok sitcoms to win over younger shoppers. We discuss what brands can learn from internet lore, why entertainment and marketing are increasingly overlapping, and what it actually takes to build cultural relevance. Timestamps: 📚 0:21 - Lore is the internet’s word of the year. Sprout Social named “lore” its 2026 Social Media Word of the Year. We discuss why audiences are craving backstories and deeper worlds, how brands like Duolingo are building out their own universes. * Sprout Social crowns “Lore” as the 2026 social media word of the year 👗 19:13 - Can a TikTok sitcom make Banana Republic cool again? Banana Republic launched The Agency, a five-part comedy series starring Jack Innanen, in an effort to reach younger shoppers. We discuss the growing trend of episodic brand content, whether consumers actually want marketing disguised as entertainment, and why a new content series might not be enough to revive a brand. Plus, what Gap Inc. could learn from creators, legacy products, and the power of having a clear point of view. * Banana Republic debuts TikTok content series in bid for younger shoppers, Marketing Dive This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Elizabeth Holmes is the ultimate “girl failure”

Oct 28, 2026 33 min

This week’s tabs: Instagram is testing long-form video, Elizabeth Holmes is Gen Z’s latest “girl failure,” and a creator will be host SNL for the first time. Timestamps: 📱 0:34 - Does Instagram need long-form video? Instagram is testing horizontal videos up to 90 minutes. We discuss whether audiences want another place to watch long-form content and why platforms may need to create more shared viewing experiences. * Instagram Tests 90-Minute Horizontal Videos, The Hollywood Reporter * Instagram CEO Reveals Biggest Update Yet, Collin & Samir 🎬 8:59 - Elizabeth Holmes is Gen Z’s latest “girl failure.” Nathan Fielder’s new documentary about the Theranos founder has sparked conversations about public downfall, internet memes, and the line between accountability and entertainment. * You Can See Everything Is on Track to Be One of the Most Successful Docs in History, Vulture 🎤 25:13 - SNL is tapping into creator culture. Druski is set to become the first content creator to host Saturday Night Live. What does his booking say about the show’s strategy to stay culturally relevant? * Druski is making SNL history, Variety This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 UC Berkeley is turning their athletes into content creators

Oct 23, 2026 38 min

This week’s tabs: Universities are turning student athletes into content creators, and LEGO is finding a whole new audience in adults. Timestamps: 🏈 0:00 - College athletes are becoming content creators. UC Berkeley has opened a Twitch studio where student-athletes can livestream everything from workouts to cooking challenges. * UC Berkeley’s new Twitch studio gives student-athletes a place to build their audiences, Mashable 🧱 24:05 - LEGO is growing up, and that might be changing the toy industry. With adults without children driving 55% of toy sales, LEGO is leaning into sets made for adults. * What Lego Lost When It Grew Up, The Atlantic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Can Victoria’s Secret still sell the fantasy?

Oct 21, 2026 37 min

This week’s tabs: Victoria’s Secret gave its iconic fashion show a social media makeover. We’re breaking down how the brand is using creators, celebrity power, and a multi-platform strategy to bring new life to a legacy event, from its YouTube casting series to Kylie Jenner’s Fantasy Bra debut. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 The internet wants more lore and less pretending

Oct 16, 2026 28 min

This week’s tabs: Brands are using Easter eggs to deepen fandom and Gen Alpha is bringing back the stigma around being a poser, from lifestyle tourism to cosplaying a life you don’t actually live. Timestamps: 🥚 0:45 - Easter eggs are becoming a brand marketing strategy. From Google’s interactive Fat Bear Week feature to TikTok’s celebrity comment pop-ups and movie theater booking interfaces that turn seats into themed experiences, brands are finding ways to surprise and delight their audiences. * Why platforms are winning with digital Easter eggs 🤠 10:19 - Gen Alpha and the fear of being a “poser.” From LARPer becoming a TikTok insult to influencers dressing up for a lifestyle they don’t actually live, we’re unpacking why authenticity is back in the spotlight. * The latest Gen Z insult is ‘You’re a Larper’ — so, are you?, The Times This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 TikTok live is the new QVC

Oct 14, 2026 25 min

This week’s tabs: Beauty brands are bringing QVC-style shopping to TikTok Live, and creators are proving that the best brand partnerships are built on stories audiences are already invested in. Timestamps: 💄 0:23 - Beauty brands are bringing QVC to TikTok. From Rihanna joining Fenty Beauty’s TikTok Live to brands building recurring livestream shopping shows, we’re unpacking why live shopping is gaining traction and what U.S. brands can learn from China’s multitrillion-dollar livestream commerce market. * How Beauty Brands Can Ride the Live Shopping Wave, WWD ✨ 13:01 - The best creator partnerships have lore. Beauty creator Hannah Chody spent years trying to find a dupe for her favorite discontinued Tom Ford eyeshadow. Now, she’s partnered with Saie to recreate it, turning a long-running content series into a brand collaboration her audience is already invested in. We’re breaking down why brands should look beyond follower counts to find creators with stories and communities they can build on, and why bringing back a beloved product can be more powerful than launching something new. * Gap Just Launched a New Nostalgic Collection. Some Customers Consider It ‘Dystopian’ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Workplace witchcraft & the rise of cute AI

Oct 9, 2026 36 min

This week’s tabs: Executive women are turning to astrology and tarot to navigate their careers, and Big Tech is giving AI assistants the cute-character treatment to make them feel more human. Timestamps: 🔮 0:20 - Workplace witchcraft is having a moment. From executive women hiring “workplace witches” for $1,000 a month to astrology becoming a regular topic on professional calls, we’re unpacking why spirituality is finding its way into the workplace. * The Rise of Workplace Witchcraft, Goop 🤖 24:06 - Big Tech wants you to fall in love with its AI agents. Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s Dot are getting cute, character-inspired branding, but there’s a bigger strategy behind the adorable faces. As AI assistants move deeper into our inboxes, calendars, bank accounts, and shopping habits, we’re discussing how anthropomorphizing technology can make people more comfortable with it, and what happens when a friendly little character has access to your entire digital life. * Why Is Big Tech Trying to Make AI Agents the New Labubus? - Vogue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 What the NHL gets wrong about women

Oct 7, 2026 36 min

This week’s tabs: The NHL tried to capitalize on the hockey romance boom and listicles are making a comeback in the age of AI. Timestamps: 🏒 0:00 - The NHL tried getting into hockey romance. The league launched “Hot for Hockey,” a series of fan fiction-inspired audio stories featuring real NHL players. They quickly scrapped the entire project just days after launching. We’re unpacking why it felt so off, what the league is missing about its growing female audience, and how sports can tap into women’s fandom without reducing it to romance and WAG culture [not that there’s anything wrong with romance or WAGs]. * The NHL Is Releasing Its Own ‘Hot’ Fanfic. Romance Lovers Hate It, Wired * NHL’s ‘Hot for Hockey’ campaign ends after not-so-hot reception, Yahoo Sports 📋 16:45 - The listicle is back. In an internet flooded with AI slop, people are turning back to rankings, lists, and curation as a way to signal taste, find community, and create shared cultural context. We’re talking BuzzFeed, Letterboxd, the New York Times’ TV rankings, and why the real value of a list might not be the list itself but what people do with it once its been posted. * How lists became our greatest defense against endless slop, New Yorker * The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, NY Times This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Kids are turning Spotify into a group chat

Oct 2, 2026 38 min

This week’s tabs: Kids are turning Spotify comments into group chats and New York City is becoming the unofficial soundstage for social media. Timestamps: 🎧 0:00 - Kids are finding new ways to socialize online. Middle schoolers who aren’t allowed on traditional social platforms have turned Spotify podcast comments into makeshift group chats. * Kids turned the comment section of an NPR podcast into a group chat, The Verge 🗽 18:45 - New York City is becoming a content creator’s paradise. The city is emerging as an unofficial soundstage for social media, from Subway Takes to man-on-the-street content in Washington Square Park. We’re digging into why NYC works so well for short-form video, how it differs from the old L.A. creator ecosystem, and what makes a city feel authentic enough to become part of the content itself. * Why New York City is a paradise for creators, NY Times This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Algorithms are out, blogs are in

Sep 30, 2026 39 min

This week’s tabs: Personal blogs are making a comeback with young women and CoStar is launching a dating app for book lovers. Timestamps: 💻 0:00 - The personal blog is back. Young women are reviving the early-2000s personal blog as a customizable alternative to social media. We’re unpacking creator fatigue, algorithm exhaustion, and why people are craving their own little corners of the internet. * Custom cursors, GIFs and hand-coded widgets: The personal blog is back, NBC News 📚 18:21 - CoStar is making a dating app for book lovers. ReadMe matches people based on their reading habits, communication styles, beliefs, and more. But can your taste in books actually predict romantic compatibility? We’re digging into the rise of BookTok, niche dating apps, and what people really want from online dating. * I tried Co-star’s Readme, the dating app for readers. It’s fine., Mashable * Dating Apps Are Dying, Time This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 We’re obsessed with an Olive Garden influencer

Sep 25, 2026 46 min

This week’s tabs: Youth sports are becoming more expensive, competitive, and all-consuming, and we’re unpacking what that means for kids, parents, and the future of sports. Plus, how one Olive Garden superfan turned a Lifetime Pasta Pass into a niche internet community, and why YouTube is finally investing in the community features creators have been missing. Timestamps: ⚾ 0:00 - Youth sports are becoming a full-time job. The cost of youth sports is rising, private club teams are becoming the norm, and parents and the athletes are grappling with FOMO, burnout, specialization, and just how much time and money to invest in their kids’ athletic lives. * The cost of youth sports is out of control - Vox 🍝 18:21 - The internet’s favorite Olive Garden superfan. One of just 50 people with an Olive Garden Lifetime Pasta Pass, Braden Sinclair has turned his unlimited pasta privileges into a surprisingly devoted online community. * This Man Has a Cult Internet Following Over His Olive Garden Lifetime Pasta Pass, Wired * LifetimePastaPass.com 📱 30:50 - YouTube wants to keep creators and their communities in one place. YouTube is adding group chats, direct video sharing, members-only communities, GIF reactions, and more interactive features as it tries to make the platform a more complete home for creators and their audiences. We’re just wondering what took them so long. * Jenny Hoyos wants to be your ‘internet best friend.’ YouTube wants to make that easier - Mashable This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Everyone wants to be a lifestyle brand

Sep 11, 2026 37 min

Today’s topics: Duolingo is taking its language-learning shtick to New York Fashion Week, and we’re asking whether its latest merch drop is actually the beginning of a bigger lifestyle brand. Plus, why A24 has become a cultural status symbol for Gen Z, and Charli D’Amelio is back in the discourse with a new chapter in her family drama. Timestamps: 👜 0:00 - Duolingo enters its fashion era. Duolingo is bringing its signature humor to Fashion Week with a capsule collection featuring phonetic pronunciations of hard-to-say designer names. * Duolingo Creates a Fashion Line for the Brands You Can’t Pronounce, AdWeek 🎬 11:54 - A24 is building the next generation of cinephiles. From its upcoming Nathan Fielder/Elizabeth Holmes project to its merch and membership strategy, we unpack how A24 has turned a production company into a lifestyle brand and a shorthand for taste. * Elizabeth Holmes Documentary Debuts at a Secret Screening in Telluride, NY Times 📱 19:57 - Charli D’Amelio is back in the algorithm. Charli is resurfacing online amid reports of a family money dispute, and her recent interviews are sending people back into the D’Amelio archives. * What’s the D’ealio With the D’Amelios?, Vulture This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Alix Earle is on TV and teen magazines are back in print

Sep 9, 2026 40 min

Today’s topics: Alix Earle is officially a reality TV star, and we’re breaking down what Earle Meets World says about the creator-to-reality-TV pipeline, the Alex Cooper/Unwell drama, and why the show’s storylines keep playing out on social. Plus, W Magazine is bringing back the teen magazine with W Youth [pronounced double youth]. Timestamps: 🎬 0:00 - Alex Earl enters her reality TV era. We deep Alix Earle’s new Netflix reality show, from it’s parallels to early Keeping up with the Kardashians, to her drama with Alex Cooper [we originally covered it here]. 📰 30:21 - W Magazine wants Gen Z to buy a magazine. W is launching W Youth, a twice-annual print edition inspired by the teen magazines of the early 2000s [RIP Tiger Beat]. With Sofia Coppola behind the idea, Hailey and Justin Bieber on the cover, and a heavy dose of nostalgia and fandom, we ask whether this is actually what Gen Z wants, and whether physical media can stay culturally relevant beyond the initial hype. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Is TikTok becoming one big comment section?

Sep 4, 2026 31 min

Today’s topics: TikTok is updating their comment sections to be more like iMessage, and workshopping Megan Collins’s upcoming piece breaking down Ross’ latest marking push. Timestamps: 🎙️ 0:00 - TikTok wants your comments to be content, too. TikTok is rolling out voice comments, polls, photo carousels, and Live Photos, making its comment section more interactive than ever. We talk about the rise of “comment influencers,” [Jackietaylorfan77 iykyk], how these features could deepen celebrity and creator relationships with their audiences, and why TikTok may be taking cues from the way we already use DMs and iMessage. * TikTok comments are getting more interactive, TechCrunch 🛍️ 17:27 - What exactly is Ross World? Ross is investing in influencers, celebrities, and immersive experiences to reach a younger, more culturally attuned audience. But between Ross World, Ross Wonderland, and celebrity content, we ask: what does any of this actually have to do with Ross? Stay tuned for Megan’s deepdive into Ross World next week. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Daisy Chain Fields Festival, RushTok, and the business of belonging

Sep 2, 2026 25 min

Today’s topics: Why Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival feels like a new model for cultural and brand experiences, and how sorority recruitment has become a full-blown social media and marketing ecosystem. Timestamps: 🌼 0:00 - Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival is more than a music festival. We break down how Olivia turned her album rollout into a sold-out, 45k person festival, raised $20 million for charity, and created an experience rooted in girlhood, crafting, community, and multi-generational fandom. 💌 14:16 - Brands are officially on RushTok. Sorority recruitment, aka #RushTok, has become a major social media moment, and brands have really gotten in on the action this year. We talk about how Poppi, Nike, and other brands are showing up during rush and why sorority girls are becoming expert marketers and focus groups for brands. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 How Poppi is recruiting it’s next employees on TikTok

Aug 28, 2026 39 min

Today’s topics: Why so many influencers are making the jump into real estate, and how Poppy is turning social media into its newest recruiting tool. Timestamps: 🏡 0:00 - The influencer-to-real-estate-agent pipeline. We break down why creators, celebrities, and former athletes are moving into real estate, why influencer skills translate surprisingly well to selling houses, and how the creator playbook is changing the way agents market themselves. * Celebrities and influencers are getting into real estate - The Atlantic 🥤 16:19 - Poppy is hiring on social. Poppy is looking for Gen Z talent for its culture team, but instead of relying solely on traditional job postings, they’re taking the recruiting process directly to social media [where they’re ideal candidates are already scrolling] by partnering with content creator Kitty Murphy to document what being on their culture team would look like. * Poppi wants its next employees to come from social media - Fast Company Have a great weekend! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Brands, please get better at reading the room

Aug 26, 2026 30 min

Today’s topics: Callaway and Good Good Golf are facing backlash over a brand collab that went very wrong, Lovesac learned the hard way that snarky brand responses don’t always land, and we’re asking whether brands should be focusing less on being funny and more on being useful. Timestamps: ⛳ 0:00 - When a brand collab goes very wrong. We break down the viral Callaway and Good Good Golf ad that depicted violence against a woman, why the concept raised bigger questions about the culture of the golf creator space, and what happens when a brand’s partnership strategy doesn’t match the values of the audience it’s trying to reach. The original ad that was posted: Callaway’s statement: 🛋️ 16:34 - Lovesac’s $10K couch problem. A comedian’s viral TikTok called out the surprisingly un-luxurious experience of assembling a $7,000+ couch, and Lovesac’s attempt to clap back only made the situation worse. We dig into why brands need to understand their “permission structure” on social and why not every customer complaint is an opportunity for a joke. 💡 22:49 - Is utility the new brand personality? From Costco and Amazon to Nordstrom’s legendary customer service, we’re talking about why consumers may be less interested in brands trying to be funny and more interested in brands making their lives easier. Plus, what happens when marketing teams are expected to sell around problems that the product team isn’t fixing? We’ll see ya next time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 The platform wars are getting weird

Aug 21, 2026 33 min

Today's topics: TikTok is trying to make Substack happen [and Substack users are not exactly thrilled], YouTube is paying creators millions to keep their content away from Netflix, and Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new reality show about baseball moms. Timestamps: 📝 0:00 - TikTok made a Substack. We break down TikTok’s new The Creator's Cut by TikTok LIVE, why the reception has been so cold, and what TikTok could have done to actually make the move feel native to Substack. 📺 10:48 - YouTube vs. Netflix. YouTube is reportedly paying top creators millions to stay exclusive as Netflix continues to expand into creator-led content. It feels like YouTube is on defense when they should be on offense. * YouTube Offers Creators Millions to Not Work With Netflix, Bloomberg ⚾ 21:04 - Baseball moms are getting the Dance Moms treatment. Kim Kardashian is executive producing Team Moms: Baseball, and we dig into the rise of competitive youth sports, sports-mom creators, and why this feels like a cultural trend that’s about to get much bigger. * Kim Kardashian to Executive Produce New Sports Reality Show 'Team Moms: Baseball', Yahoo This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Are Savannah Banana games the next PR stop?

Aug 19, 2026 41 min

Today’s topics: Young people are finding new ways to use Instagram without being beholden to the algorithm, and the Savannah Bananas are turning baseball into a fandom-first entertainment machine, complete with celebrity cameos and social media stars. Timestamps: 📱 0:00 - We unpack “ghost posting,” the Gen Z habit of posting to Instagram and immediately archiving content and then unarchiving to create a curated mood board without worrying about likes, engagement, or being perceived. We talk about whether Instagram has become too optimized for creators and brands, the return of the platform’s original photo-album energy, and why people are increasingly looking for ways to use social media on their own terms. * Is the grid dead? How young people are changing the feed - Dazed ⚾ 17:20 - Are the Savannah Bananas becoming the new celebrity press stop? We break down Kristen Bell’s surprise performance at a Banana Ball game, why the moment resonated with both kids and nostalgic parents, and what makes the Savannah Bananas such a compelling case study in community-first strategy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 What's the line between content and real life?

Aug 14, 2026 29 min

Today’s topics: The backlash against filming in public is growing as people push back on being unwilling extras in someone else’s content, and Hinge turns its love stories into audiobooks for this year’s No Ordinary Love campaign. Timestamps: * 📱 0:00 - We unpack the growing backlash against filming in public, from Pilates studios banning phones to “no influencer” signs and no-phone concerts. We debate consent, privacy, and the increasingly blurry line between being in public and being content, plus whether people are starting to actively opt out of the internet. * The Meaning of Consent in the Age of Content - Vogue * 💕 16:30 - Hinge is turning its annual “No Ordinary Love” stories into audiobooks on Spotify and Libby. We talk about why this is such a smart example of a brand being selective about where it shows up, how Hinge is tapping into the current romance and audiobook boom, and whether the campaign can actually deliver on the romantic promise it’s selling. * The story behind Hinge’s first audiobook campaign - Marketing Brew See ya next week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Everyone's outside this summer except the guy living in a Netflix billboard

Aug 12, 2026 31 min

Today's topics: Gen Z is finally leaving the house [yay!] for a "summer of outside" and Netflix planted an actor inside a house-shaped billboard on Sunset Boulevard to promote its new horror movie, a cool stunt that we think could have been cooler. Timestamps: 🌞 0:00 - Gen Z is breaking out of their pandemic funk, and we dig into why this summer feels different: more drinking, more spontaneous plans, more IRL socializing. We debate whether this is a genuine social reawakening or a marketing-driven trend, talk about the “One Night Only” singles screenings, and get into the growing backlash to being “extremely online,” with some people now treating being offline as aspirational rather than embarrassing. * 2026 is Gen Z’s breakout summer - Vox 🏠 18:42 - Netflix paid an actor to live inside a house-shaped billboard on Sunset Boulevard for 3 days to promote its film “The Last House”. We break down whether the stunt actually worked, why it seemed to land harder with marketers than with general audiences, what Netflix could have done to make it more of a moment [a live Netflix stream from inside the billboard + bringing MrBeast in], and why out of home advertising is having a real comeback this summer [hint: it’s because Gen Z is outside]. * Can Netflix save a summer slump with a stunt on Sunset Boulevard? - NY Times This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Lo-fi is having a moment (and so is messy internet drama, thank God)

Aug 7, 2026 37 min

This was a bit of a free-range episode, so enjoy our tangent-filled conversation! Here’s what we covered today: A lo-fi Instagram show following an NYU grad's friends running mundane errands around NYC has us thinking about the internet's hunger for unproduced, human content, Olivia Rodrigo's surprise $25 Brooklyn show (box office only, no online sales), and a fun-yet-messy public spat between infamous internet scammer Caroline Calloway and the Good Noticing podcast got us talking about why we love low-stakes internet drama. Timestamps: 🎬 0:00 - We dig into "Errands," a viral lo-fi Instagram show that follows an NYU film grad's friends doing actual chores (mailing packages, installing an AC unit) with no celebrities, no sponsorships, and barely any production value. * Errands Are Boring. He Makes Them Fun., NY Times 🎤 7:54 - Olivia Rodrigo's same-day-announced $25 surprise concert in Brooklyn (tickets sold in person only) got us talking about why Gen Zs need more spontaneity in their lives and Melissa Blum reminisces about living in NYC in the 2000s. 💬 24:41 - Caroline Calloway calls out the hosts of the Good Noticing podcast in a public rant, and we break down why this kind of low-stakes, messy internet drama feels increasingly rare now that most creators are guarding a personal brand. Lastly, quick question: See ya next week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mtdeco.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 Utility is the digital strategy word of the year

Aug 5, 2026 36 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today's topics: Reddit is adding native video and a "spoken Reddit" text-to-speech feature to grab back the audience that's been ripping off viral posts for TikTok, MySpace's owners insist a relaunch is coming (eventually), and OpenAI's first-ever influencer brand trip read more like an ad for a Hudson Valley hotel than for ChatGPT. Timestamps: * 🎥 0:00 - …

🎧 Nobody wants to see your Birkin anymore

Jul 31, 2026 13 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today's topics: Meta is working to combat the “creepy” reputation that their smart glasses have and why [some] lifestyle influencers are ditching luxury hauls for low-stakes rage bait like $130 DoorDash orders. Timestamps: * 🕶️ 0:00 - Weeks after we called out Meta's glasses branding problem, activist groups have plastered anti-surveillance ads across New …

🎧 The micro-influencer takeover

Jul 29, 2026 10 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today’s topics: what a new USC Annenberg study reveals about Gen Z’s relationship with live sports, and why brands are ditching mega-influencers for regular people with a few hundred followers. Timestamps: 🏟️ 0:00 - A new USC Annenberg and ACC study finds that nearly 80% of Gen Z only goes to live sporting events for celebrity sightings, concerts, and br…

🎧 Micro-communities, Spotify music videos, and anti-marketing

Jul 24, 2026 24 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today’s topics: the new social media app that promises no algorithm and no ads, Spotify’s move into music videos, and charli xcx’s “anti-marketing’ prediction and what it says about super fan culture. Timestamps: 📵 0:00 - A new app called Yope has raised $20 million on a promise of no ads and no algorithms, built around “micro-communities” [think family and friend…

🎧 The internet's whataboutism problem

Jul 22, 2026 22 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com What’s on the docket today: the Dunkin’ x Parke collab, the bean soup-ification of TikTok, and social media’s AI slop problem and how Substack is fighting against it. Timestamps 🍩 0:00 - Dunkin’ Donuts is partnering with clothing brand Parke [Gen Z’s fav sweatshirt brand] on a new line of drinks and a limited-edition clothing collecting featuring two di…

🎧 Gap's genius marketing, ballet-core, and the Phia fallout

Jul 17, 2026 17 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today we're talking about the Gap x Hailey Bieber jean drop and what it says about the brand's comeback, why ballet is having a moment, and the Phia affiliate scandal that's put Bill Gates' daughter under scrutiny. Timestamps 👖 00:00 – Gap and Hailey Bieber launch “The Hailey Jean,” a ‘90s-inspired denim capsule. We talk through why the campaign works, …

🎧 Can an app cure loneliness?

Jul 15, 2026 16 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today, we're talking about why Meta pulled its new AI image feature just days after launch, our thoughts on Time’s 100 Creators of 2026 list, and whether an app can actually fix the loneliness epidemic that tech helped create in the first place. Timestamps 🤖 00:00 – Meta pulls its Muse Image feature days after backlash. We revisit last week’s conversatio…

🎧 Meta keeps trying [and failing] to make cool happen

Jul 10, 2026 21 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Today, we're talking about why friendship is becoming one of the internet's biggest status symbols, why Meta's latest AI rollout has creators [and users] concerned, and how Netflix is making its boldest move yet to compete with YouTube. Timestamps 🤝 00:00 – Are influencer friend groups the internet’s newest flex? We dive into why creators are building en…

🎧 Taylor Swift's wedding, brand slop & utility creators

Jul 8, 2026 18 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Wednesday: * Taylor Swift’s wedding felt anticlimatic [00:00]. The wedding finally happened, but was the speculation more fun than the event itself? * When brands should sit out the meme [~00:08:00]. We discuss Silence, Brand!’s piece breaking down all the brand posts that came out of the recent Empire State Building climb. Behind the paywall: * The rise of utility creat…

🎧 The Taylor Swift wedding frenzy + the business of fandom

Jul 3, 2026 22 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Friday: * Taylor Swift's "royal wedding" speculation [00:00]. The internet is convinced Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are secretly getting married today. We unpack why the speculation has reached a fever pitch, how Taylor trained fans to look for Easter eggs, and where the line between authentic fandom and manufactured hype begins to blur. * When fandom …

🎧 Can you trademark internet culture?

Jul 1, 2026 22 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Wednesday: * TikTok’s “hot girl” controversies [00:00]. Two content creators are under fire for trademarking the terms Hot Girls Read and Hot Girl Walk. We unpack what these controversies reveal about ownership, community, and why creators are increasingly treating culture like intellectual property. * A24's AI backlash [~00:13:13]. Indie darling A24 is …

🎧 Everything feels like gambling now

Jun 26, 2026 35 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Friday: * Meta wants to be your bookie [~00:03:18]. Meta is reportedly building a standalone prediction market app called Arena, joining the rush toward betting on everything from elections to reality TV outcomes. * The rise of butter squishies [~00:24:50]. A trip to 7-Eleven leads us down a surprisingly deep rabbit hole of butter-shaped squishy toys. On…

🎧 Smart glasses have a branding problem

Jun 24, 2026 36 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Wednesday: * Creators take over Cannes Lions [~00:01:55]. Brand spending on influencer marketing is forecast to hit $12.4 billion this year, and for the first time brands are flying creators out to pitch them, not the other way around. We get into what's actually driving that power shift and whether a 23-year-old who went viral on TikTok has any busin…

🎧 Inside Fishtank Live, the reality show with no rules

Jun 19, 2026 18 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Friday: * Wired’s deep dive into Fishtank Live, the 24/7 unmoderated reality stream [~00:00:22]. Contestants with nothing to lose live in a house while viewers blast insults through a live speaker system. The hosts unpack why this feels like the inevitable endpoint of reality TV, social media, and a generation using it as an escape from a pretty bleak…

🎧 Unpacking MrBeast's 500 million subscriber milestone

Jun 17, 2026 21 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Wednesday: * MrBeast becomes the first YouTuber to hit 500 million subscribers [~00:00:22]. The hosts debate whether the number means much when so many “subscribers” are just chasing his cash giveaways, and whether his fan base simply ages out of his content as fast as it ages in. * Vanity Fair’s exposé on Alex Cooper’s Unwell empire [~00:14:47]. Forty s…

🎧 What does your drink say about you?

Jun 12, 2026 21 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This episode: * Creators are filling Love Island USA’s content void [~00:00:42]. With contestants’ accounts dormant this season, content creator @NotWildlin has stepped in with hour-long TikTok recaps of each episode. * Why is everyone drinking Loonen water? [~00:11:14]. The glass-bottled water brand has taken over feeds through what appears to be a heavy in…

🎧 Why The Backrooms is the perfect Gen Z horror movie

Jun 10, 2026 30 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This Wednesday: * Love Island US is going social media silent [~00:00:52]. Season 8 made the call to keep contestants' personal accounts dormant while they're in the villa. * The Backrooms is the perfect Gen Z horror movie [~00:15:07]. A24's latest just crossed $200M at the international box office in 10 days, directed by a 20-year-old YouTuber. Below the payw…

🎧 What happened to Glamour Magazine?

Jun 5, 2026 27 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This week we cover: * The rise of snail mail clubs [~00:01:07]. We dive into how physical mail became a growing creative economy and Megan Collins does a live snail mail club unboxing. Plus: why the appeal might have less to do with nostalgia and more to do with craving a sensory experience that your phone just can’t replicate. * Jay Shetty is leaving YouTube [~00:16:53].…

🎧 Zillennials are in their ✨whimsical✨ era

May 29, 2026 31 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This week: * Spotify is reserving concert tickets for superfans [~00:00:35]. Spotify announced it will use listening data (streams, hours, and shares) to identify superfans and hold tickets exclusively for premium subscribers. * The rise of whimsy [~00:19:10]. A New York Times piece declared whimsy a rising trend among Zillennials. Beyond the paywall… * Everyon…

🎧 Is 90% of the internet fake?

May 22, 2026 56 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com This week: * The rise of parallel play for adults [~4:31]. A Real Simple article applied the child development concept of parallel play to adult friendship -- spending time together while doing your own thing. * The Rise of Parallel Play Friendships, Real Simple * Stop Calling It Community. You’re Running a Group Chat With Merch., Ayo Ogunde 🧠 * Nobody wants to be famous anym…

🎧 The internet is trying to buy Spirit Airlines

May 15, 2026 39 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Happy Friday! 👋 We’re back with this week’s episode of Open Tabs, our weekly Substack live where we talk about the internet news and cultural moments that have been taking up space in our brains and Google tabs. Here’s what we covered this week: * Charli xcx dropped a new song exclusively on Instagram and vinyl [~0:00]. She released her new song, I Keep On…

🎧 Is the internet killing reality TV?

May 8, 2026 54 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Happy Friday! 👋 We’re back with this week’s episode of Open Tabs, our weekly Substack live where we talk about the internet news and cultural moments that have been taking up space in our brains and Google tabs. Here’s what we covered this week: * The Met Gala happened [~0:29]. We had varying levels of investment: Megan Collins was tuned in across YouTube and TikTok liv…

🎧 Spotify wants to be a one-stop-shop. Should it be?

May 1, 2026 28 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Happy Friday! 👋 We’re back with this week’s episode of Open Tabs, our weekly Substack live where we talk about the internet news and cultural moments that have been taking up space in our brains and Google tabs. Here’s what we covered this week: * AI influencers are getting sneakier [~0:29]. A New Yorker piece profiles a 45-year-old Georgia homemaker who bu…

🎧 Would you pay for Instagram Premium?

Apr 24, 2026 36 min

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit mtdeco.substack.com Happy Friday! 👋 We’re back with this week’s episode of Open Tabs, our weekly Substack live where we talk about the internet news and cultural moments that have been taking up space in our brains and Google tabs. Here’s what we covered this week: * Summer 2026 Trend Predictions [~0:13]. Megan dropped a preview of her Summer 2026 trend forecast, and the headl…

See all 72 episodes

–

0 ratings from members

Rate this podcast

No reviews yet — be the first member to rate "Open Tabs".

This podcast, its content and its artwork are not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Castquire.

🎧 We can’t stop talking about the Call Her Daddy drama

Share this podcast

Live Chart rankings

#18 Marketing 🇳🇿 NZ

Chart history

🇳🇿 Marketing Best #18

Holding at #18 — the line fills in as this chart moves.

Podcast details

Created by: M.T. Deco
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 13, 2026
Episodes: 72
Release period: Several times a week
Avg. episode length: 32 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

Links

Official website ↗ Apple Podcasts ↗ RSS feed ↗

Is this your podcast?

Claim it to show it on your profile. Using the email from your RSS feed approves it instantly.

Keep listening

Discover more podcasts like this.

Browse podcasts See the charts