Once upon a time, ad agencies ruled with glossy spreads and TV spots. Then came social, creators, and platforms rewrote the rules. So what can you learn from this dramatic evolution?

In this episode, Dave Yovanno sits down with Sam Kimmel, Senior Director of Co-Marketing Partnerships at Hello Sunshine, for a conversation on the evolution of advertising and what it means for the future of partnerships. With a career that started in the agency world and later took her to Pinterest and TikTok, Sam offers a firsthand look at how these platforms operated, the metrics that mattered, and what it took to make content resonate. Now at Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s mission-driven media company, she shares their unique approach to brand partnerships, where experiential marketing comes into play, and why creating a sense of belonging is a brand’s best practice. Tune in for insights on today's top platforms, the underrated social metric that matters more than likes, and why the most impactful partnerships are the ones built to last.

This podcast episode was produced by Quill.

We all know the creator economy is evolving — but when done right, what does it look like in its ideal form? In this episode, Dave Yovanno is joined by Lindsey Gamble, an Influencer Marketing Advisor, Founder of Lindsey Gamble Media, and creator himself. Lindsey puts on his consultant hat to offer advice to both brands and creators, drawing from his first-hand experience on both sides. From the brand perspective, he outlines how the struggle to maintain control is a hurdle companies must overcome, why diversification will always be a winning strategy, and tackles industry myths. Shifting focus to creators, Dave gets Lindsey’s take on the importance of a personal touch and fair compensation, with Lindsey’s ideal structure being a blended model designed for scalability. Finally, they cover the top trends: TikTok Shop, modern metrics, algorithms, and why great content will always be king. Tune in to take notes and get inspired by Lindsey’s dual perspective.

This podcast episode was produced by Quill.

AI this, AI that… but what about the creator economy!? With all the buzz around artificial intelligence, it’s time to connect the dots to creator marketing. In this episode of The Partnership Economy, Todd is joined by Brian Klais, Founder of URLgenius, to explore how AI is transforming the creator landscape. Brian kicks things off with a holistic view of the industry, reflecting on the trends he’s observed across his 20+ years in digital marketing. He shares how those trends helped shape the mission behind URLgenius and how their mobile-first approach to commerce set the stage for the company’s breakout success. From there, the conversation turns to AI. While many creators are embracing automation for administrative tasks, Brian highlights the very real concerns around using AI for content creation. Still, he shares the huge potential: from brand-creator matching to optimizing campaign structures and even enabling dynamic commission models based on performance. If you're ready to blend trends, tech, and the creator economy, this one's for you!

Mentioned in the episode:

• Creators Tap AI Superpowers to Thrive in a Changing Economy, Finds New URLgenius Survey
• What Brand Marketers Look for When Partnering with Creators