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When American Eagle dropped their Sydney Sweeney “good genes” campaign, the internet exploded… but not just because of her looks. We break down the backlash, what went wrong, and the deeper marketing lessons you need to take from it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why brand pivots go wrong — and how to do it without losing your audience
• The neuromarketing strategy behind envy, attraction, and sales psychology in this ad (see Michelle TT video here with deeper breakdown)
• What this campaign teaches us about aligning content with brand voice and cultural context

Timestamps:
03:12 – What actually happened in the Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle ad
06:45 – When “good genes” becomes bad PR
10:22 – Messaging missteps: Where AE strayed from their brand
16:10 – The power (and risk) of propaganda-style marketing
22:40 – Strategic pivots vs. brand betrayal: How to shift without shocking
29:55 – Should you respond to viral moments in your content?

References & Resources:

• Sydney Sweeney
• American Eagle
• Calvin Klein (Jeremy Allen White ad)
• Brooke Shields 1980s jeans campaign
• Lola Tung (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
• Coldplay kiss cam incident

Links to TT Videos with more information about the ad:

• sayantanidasguptabooks
• drjess21
• millenial.mia

Join the list, get the tea, tips & tools that convert: https://clickteasepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: hello@michellepualani.com
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
✅ Try Out Monday.com

✅ Subscribe to our companion Substack:
Get each week’s summary in your inbox — plus on-demand alerts when something big breaks 👉 https://clickteasepodcast.substack.com/

Content series aren’t just a vibe — they’re a strategy. In this episode, we unpack why serialized content is outperforming static one-offs, how star quality trumps strategy when you're stuck in scroll-jail, and what K-Pop training camps and The Summer I Turned Pretty can teach you about building brand obsession.

If you’ve ever struggled with consistency, camera confidence, or content that actually drives sales — this one’s for you. Get clarity on what makes people follow, binge, and buy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why series-style content creates bingeable, buildable personal brands
• How to magnetize an audience by leaning into “star quality” over perfection
• What’s working in content right now (spoiler: it’s not more batching)
• How Netflix shows and viral cafes are blueprinting the future of brand attention

Timestamps:
05:12 – Social media shifted niche success
10:01 – From Scotland to Substack: modern-day travel marketing
13:11 – 300-view TikToks = $$$ (yep, we said it)
20:45 – Attention vs. systems: which are you missing?
24:08 – Why content series convert
42:10 – “Star quality” and energy in digital business
57:02 – The Summer I Turned Pretty: emotional marketing 101

References & Resources:

• Substack
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Jimmy Fallon
• The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime)
• KATSEYE
• Kajabi

Join the list, get the tea, tips & tools that convert: https://clickteasepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: hello@michellepualani.com
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
✅ Try Out Monday.com

✅ Subscribe to our companion Substack:

Get each week’s summary in your inbox — plus on-demand alerts when something big breaks 👉 https://clickteasepodcast.substack.com/

The rage is real and the receipts are shocking. This week, we’re breaking down the dark side of AI-generated content—deepfake UGC, stolen influencer likenesses, and what the FTC should be doing but isn’t. Plus: why Substack is the new safe space, LinkedIn’s surprise Reels move, and what a farming game on Roblox can teach you about unhinged community marketing.

Learn how to protect your brand (and your brain), hear why creators are pivoting hard away from mass content, and get inspo from a wild, rave-like in-game update that’s pulling 21M users on a Saturday morning.

What You’ll Learn:

• The unethical trend that’s turning AI avatars into fake paid ads
• Why UGC is broken—and what it means for personal brands and product marketing
• How creators are future-proofing with platforms like Substack and private community building
• What a kids’ game can teach you about brand voice, virality, and $5M months

Timestamps:
03:55 – YouTube demonetizes AI-generated videos
05:12 – LinkedIn quietly adds vertical video feed
07:08 – AI is stealing influencer likenesses for fake ads
12:44 – The rise of AI UGC & what it means for consumer trust
17:10 – Real creators vs. AI scammers: the new digital divide
23:10 – AI makes stuff up (and even Sam Altman says don’t trust it)
28:11 – How AI is eroding critical thinking and online trust
43:18 – Roblox case study: $5M/month from a community-fueled farming game
51:35 – Rethinking personal branding and going all in on realness

Join the list, get the tea, tips & tools that convert: https://clickteasepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

📱 Social: @themichellepualani | @joanna_atwork
📩 Michelle: hello@michellepualani.com
🌐 Joanna: millennialmktr.com

📅 10-Day Course Creation Challenge (Joanna)
💻 Build a Successful Online Business Using Kajabi
🎙️ Get Descript for Podcasting
✅ Try Out Monday.com