SocialMinds - A Social Media Marketing Podcast

On our 100th Social in Six episode, SocialChain influencer executive Rachel Lea joins Mil in the studio to cover off the top six need-to-know updates from the world of social. This time, that includes two updates from Instagram: a new watch history feature and a crackdown on duplicate content that's got some news accounts rattled. They're also talking all about Sora, the latest AI video/social platform from ChatGPT's parent company OpenAI. Plus, new AI tools from TikTok that let creators streamline both the edit and video scripting process; Reddit's guide to optimising for AEO (not a typo, that's Answer Engine Optimisation), and finally...find out which platform marketers ranked top priority in Emplifi's State of Social report. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

On our 100th Social in Six episode, SocialChain influencer executive Rachel Lea joins Mil in the studio to cover off the top six need-to-know updates from the world of social. This time, that includes two updates from Instagram: a new watch history feature and a crackdown on duplicate content that's got some news accounts rattled. They're also talking all about Sora, the latest AI video/social platform from ChatGPT's parent company OpenAI. Plus, new AI tools from TikTok that let creators streamline both the edit and video scripting process; Reddit's guide to optimising for AEO (not a typo, that's Answer Engine Optimisation), and finally...find out which platform marketers ranked top priority in Emplifi's State of Social report. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Recorded in front of a live audience at SocialMinds Live 2025, we go behind the scenes of Primark’s bold social-first strategy with Primark’s Kymberley Thompson in this raw, unfiltered conversation between client and creative. From concept to execution, we lift the lid on the work and the wins that put community at the heart of the brand, and how collective creativity turned one of fashion’s biggest names into a cultural conversation starter. Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

On this episode of Social in Six, SocialChain strategist Chelsea Noronha returns to the studio to help Mil break down social's biggest updates. They cover Meta’s ad-free subscription tier launching in the UK, plus the news that Instagram is trialling opening the app to the full-screen Reels feed. They also discuss two updates from Facebook, including keyword search suggestions for Reels, and the platform’s rising popularity as a news source. Finally, they cover TikTok Travel Ads and YouTube’s AI tool that generates alternate endings for Shorts. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Your most successful activations will be the ones that makes stakeholders squirm. Just a little. Still, most organisations are more fearful of perceived backlash than ever before - but not Channel4. As the ‘alternative’ UK broadcaster with shows that range from Virgin Island to Trump V The Truth, the nature of its programming opens doors for the nature of its marketing. In this episode, 4Studio’s senior content strategist Aaron Gillies tells all. Whether it’s sending Handmaids in full regalia to parade The Palace of Westminster a week after Roe Vs Wade was overturned, or letting mischievous Yorkshire teens take over your socials and post things like “Channel4 is for people who belong in a nursing home”, this broadcaster is no stranger to bold tactics. Is its reputation risked or ruined? No. Far, far, far from it.Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

On this week’s trend-focused Social in Six, account manager Scarlett Carson joins Mil for a midyear lookback on the trends that are dominating social right now – and the trends to come. They dissect Pinterest’s autumn trends report, YouTube’s digital culture recap, and talk about the trends they think will sustain in 2025. They also break down the hottest new updates, like Instagram adding new analytics, a Reels linking feature and considering screenshots as a measurable metric; plus TikTok quietly implementing a hashtag limit and Reddit’s Pro Organic playbook. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

For TV broadcasters, social marketing has to do more than just educate or entertain – it has to convince audiences to get *off* their phones and sit down to watch. Sharing the solution to that challenge is Erina Jones, director of social media and social AVOD at UKTV, part of the award-winning BBC Studios. Erina delves into why consolidating UKTV’s owned channels made for a stronger brand, the secret to a perfect TV show cutdown for social, and how data helps the team convert passionate communities into loyal brand fans. Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

On this week’s episode of Social in Six, senior creative Eve Young is back with Mil in the studio. Together, they recap the top headlines from social, including Bulletin Boards, TikTok’s answer to Broadcast Channels; Instagram and TikTok developing connected TV apps; and YouTube's new shoppable stickers for Shorts. They also discuss Meta’s plan to train chatbots to send follow-up messages unprompted; X making advertisers literally pay by the pixel, and Reddit’s new Recommendations tool. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Mindsets matter more than metrics. In episode two of The Media Lift Effect, Eve Young returns with Gareth Harrison (SocialChain) and Mark Byrne (Brave Bison) to unpack how brands can apply the model across audience, creative, media, and measurement. From auditing assets to making use of AI tools like AudienceGPT, this episode shows how to build strategy around real behaviour, not outdated personas. Creative becomes your targeting, organic becomes your testbed, and measurement becomes the bridge between brand and performance. If you want a social strategy that works with the algorithm, not against it — this is where to start. 🔗 Get the full framework in the whitepaper: https://www.socialchain.com/social-minds/insights/the-media-lift-effect/%E2%86%97

Social ad spend is growing but over half of it still goes to waste. In this first episode of The Media Lift Effect, a special SocialMinds × Brave Talk collaboration, host Eve Young is joined by Gareth Harrison (SocialChain) and Mark Byrne (Brave Bison) to unpack why performance is falling short — and what needs to change. They explore the new realities of rising CPMs, fractured attention, and misleading last-click attribution. And introduce a smarter model built for how people move through social: aligning creative, media, and measurement to reduce waste and lift performance. From creator content to dwell time, organic signals to data-driven attribution — this is your reset on what effective social performance really looks like. 🔗 Download the full whitepaper: https://www.socialchain.com/social-minds/insights/the-media-lift-effect/%E2%86%97

On this week’s episode of Social in Six, senior creative Eve Young is back with Mil in the studio. Together, they recap the top headlines from social, including Bulletin Boards, TikTok’s answer to Broadcast Channels; Instagram and TikTok developing connected TV apps; and YouTube's new shoppable stickers for Shorts. They also discuss Meta’s plan to train chatbots to send follow-up messages unprompted; X making advertisers literally pay by the pixel, and Reddit’s new Recommendations tool. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com. Got a question or suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Dr. Oetker is a brand that has a place in every household’s cupboards, but it’s also found its place on everybody’s social feeds - particularly for its baking category. Today’s guest is Josephine Keller, Dr. Oetker’s head of digital marketing, and she joins us to share how the brand has successfully built out its in-house social production capabilities, what the power of both UGC & EGC has been for them (and when to use each) and why old cult classic Facebook Groups is still worth the investment. Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Procurement isn’t just about cost-cutting anymore. It’s about chemistry, collaboration and long-term value. That’s the message from this week’s guest, Tina Fegent – one of the UK’s first marketing procurement specialists and a leading voice in agency-client relationships. In this episode, we explore how procurement has evolved from tactical to strategic, why “fit over flash” matters in pitches, and how agencies can build lasting partnerships with brands. Tina also shares her take on the future of social media, the role of AI in marketing, and what makes campaigns like Holland & Barrett’s Strong for Life resonate beyond the scroll. Whether you’re agency-side, brand-side or somewhere in between, this one’s packed with practical insight on how to pitch better, partner smarter and plan for what’s next. Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com

The Brave Bison team sit down to decode what’s next — from search and social to technology and experience. No jargon. No fluff. Just unfiltered insights, bold opinions, and the real stories behind the strategies shaping growth today. Whether you're scaling campaigns or rethinking the funnel, if it moves the needle — we’re talking about it. Hit follow to be the first to listen to Decoding Discovery — a two-part series diving into how AI and social are reshaping the way people search, discover, and decide. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-talk-podcast/id1813356507 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PrZpvQgYz9qqylkF20N7u

Show your support! Vote for Eve, your SocialMinds host, to win Creative Trailblazer in the Prolific North Creative Awards here: https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/creative-awards-cast-your-vote/ This week, SocialChain strategist Chelsea Noronha joins Mil in the studio to unpack the latest, greatest, and up-and-coming social media features you need to know about. That includes an update to TikTok Ads and its new moderation feature, native reposts on Instagram, and new creator collaboration tools on YouTube. We also cover one LinkedIn feature brought back from the dead, and Pinterest’s latest foray into AI with a smart recommendations-based shopping feature. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Platforms change, trends come and go. Brand fundamentals must remain. That’s the opinion of this week’s guest, Kathryn Swallow - worldwide head of Unilever’s deodorants category, previously the global VP for Rexona (Sure) and Dove. Among all of Unilever’s brands, the deodorant category stands out thanks to the global success of those brands as well as Lynx (Axe), and their success is owed in part, Kathryn says, to a deep understanding and respect for a brand’s positioning, purpose and and proposition. In this, we ask how brands can stay true to their core - and communicate that - among fast-moving tech, endless data, modernising audiences and, of course, social media. And we find out how Unilever’s deodorant brands approach the above to ensure they don’t just stay relevant, but are revered. Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com

In a space where failure is hidden from a wider audience, Surreal embrace the imperfect. A challenger brand within the staid world of cereal marketing, Surreal have emerged as a distinct voice. John Thornton, Senior creative at Surreal breaks down the process of embracing your marketing bluffs and peeling back the veneer of the social economy.

SocialChain strategy and innovation director Gareth Harrison joins Mil to unpack this month’s Social in Six updates. This time, that’s an update on TikTok’s ban in the US, which has been extended again; a handful of updates from Meta to improve social SEO and make creator partnerships easier; and LinkedIn’s new Trends page that curates videos based on trending workplace topics. Elsewhere, Snapchat has launched a new ad format in Sponsored AI Lenses, while YouTube Shorts has changed the way it measures views. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

“Have you had your Weetabix?” is an iconic ad slogan as any. But post-pandemic, though Weetabix had become part of online conversations, it wasn’t necessarily translating to consumers’ shopping baskets. In this episode, Lorraine Rothwell, head of marketing at Weetabix, shares the story of how the brand reconnected with its core demographic while remaining relevant to younger audiences. Discover how social informed ad creative, the power of nostalgia in marketing, and how Weetabix continues to surprise and delight without losing its heritage roots.