With over 800 million followers across their socials(!), National Geographic is a bonafide powerhouse in the world of media. Since their first published issue over 100 years ago, Nat Geo has blended a passion for nature and conservation with a deep understanding of their follower base to capture curiosity and inspire action.
Tulani André is the VP of Social Media at the company, and she has been using her passion for community building to not just grow the following of National Geographic, but also to tell stories directly to the audience and help them to engage with their content, whether that’s offering advice on how to maintain a healthy diet or sharing videos about the daily lives of penguins in the arctic. Tulani shares how the synergy between Nat Geo’s socials on different platforms contributes to their success, and also why building a loyal, active community can be more impactful than pure follower numbers.
V Spehar has redefined what it means to engage with social media, using platforms to create authentic, community-driven conversations around news and culture. Whether it's their viral TikTok videos delivering concise, informative updates with a dash of humour, or their commitment to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives, everything V does feels refreshingly real.
V's journey on social media took off when they began using it as a tool to break down complex issues into accessible, bite-sized content. As the host of Under the Desk News, V seamlessly blends advocacy with levity, earning trust with a loyal audience that looks to them for both information and a sense of community.
In this episode, we sit down with V Spehar to dive into how they use social media to cut through the noise, build authentic connections, and cultivate a space where followers feel informed and empowered. V shares their insights on how to keep the non-stop news cycle relevant to their audiences, and how the pandemic has changed creator culture.
Oatly have changed the game in plant based milk, whilst redefining what it means to market their products with authenticity, humour and boldness. Whether it’s their tongue in cheek ads like ‘It’s like milk, but made for humans’ or their innovative approach to turning controversies into opportunities - everything they do is anything but conventional!
Sarah Sutton, Global Media Director at Oatly has been overseeing their unique approach and ethos since she joined the company in 2021. She joined at the time when they just spent 90% of their marketing budget at that year's Super Bowl, in which they ran an old advert of their CEO singing “wow, no cow”.
Sarah chats to us about how Oatly believe their product is the purpose and so wrap their brand messaging around this. This enables Oatly to be seen as disruptors and that enables Sarah to choose humour and creativity, above all else, when creating content. When talking about social media in general, she believes that if you are on the right side of history and doing the right thing as a brand, then the community will step in and fight battles for you.
If you’re ever having a bad day, the Happy Doggo socials are where you need to be.
With over 1.5 million followers across platforms, this animal welfare charity aims to fix the global street dog problem by raising awareness of the issue and promoting the success stories of the dogs they rescue.
Its founder, Niall Harbison, founded the charity in 2021 after a near-death experience, and has gone on to utilise social media in gathering support for important causes which is making a substantial global impact.
Niall chats to us about the importance of authenticity in brand marketing, and the legacy he hopes to leave in the animal welfare community.
Patagonia is a global brand known not only for their leading outdoor fashion lines, but also for their focus on authenticity when connecting with their customers.
Lauren Henshaw, Community & Digital Impact Manager at Patagonia, has been overseeing their social media in Europe and has had huge success in building environmental activism and outdoor communities through socials.
Lauren chats to us about how to build a pathway to action through social channels, how to define engagement across platforms, and how to earn the trust of your audience by building safe communities to interact with.
“Sticking to your brand identity, sticking to that brand message is your secret sauce. It’s the only thing that’s gonna drive loyalty”
Pujah Shah from Architectural Digest has one of the most exciting jobs in social media. As Global Director for Audience Development, it’s her role to help showcase the world’s most beautiful designs for people to admire and be inspired by, all whilst building their online presence and profile. Architectural Digest released their first publication in 1920, so naturally conversation centred around preserving the brand legacy and signature but in today’s fast paced way of life. Listen to learn more about recognising how different geographic audiences have different appetites for content, tricks to showcasing beautiful spaces on small phone screens and listen to Pujah talk about measuring engagement for success.
“I believe in a world where the social network mimics your personal network, and when you’re a little bit depleted, you can just go and interact like in real life”.
Ramzi Rizk is someone who is sitting at the intersection of technology, psychology and human connection. He is an angel investor, advisor, mentor and founder of multiple businesses. Ramzi’s latest venture is Dunbar. This is a professional networking platform which allows its users to share contacts to help others build relationships, meet goals or achieve career success.
Listen to learn more about Ramzi’s journey and how to build successful meaningful connections in today's social media landscape.
In the competitive world of social media, even major brands struggle to connect with their audience. Elfried Samba, who Cat enthusiastically proclaims as the 'king of social,' helped Gymshark grow its following from 1.5 million to 20 million in just seven years.
Now, as founder for his own social media agency Butterly 3ffect, he shares his insights on creating engaging content, leveraging market trends, and thriving in today's social media landscape.
Join us to learn from his journey and discover how to stand out in the crowded digital space.
The race to see who will make it to number one in the UK Christmas charts has always been a hotly contested battle. But by 2009, Simon Cowell’s X Factor winners were the dominant force, with four consecutive wins under their belt.
Enter Jon Morter, a social media hellraiser who was out to cause chaos in the charts. Using every social media trick in the book, Jon inspired a movement which toppled the X Factor from its number one spot and catapulted a 1992 Rage Against the Machine single right to the top. Since then, Jon has used the power of social media to achieve more chart success, campaign against the closure of BBC Radio 6 station and influence polls for a popular fast food outlet.
In this episode, Jon reveals his secrets behind using social media to influence popular opinion, how his campaigns have got the attention of Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl, and his advice on whether brands should be taking more social media risks to achieve content success.
When it comes to going viral on social media, the introduction of TikTok changed the landscape for how creators produce content, and how we consume it en masse. Nowhere is this more clear than with Garron Noone, an Irish star who went from starting 2023 with a few thousand subscribers on the platform to having his videos regularly reach millions of followers weekly. His unique brand of Irish comedy has captured the hearts of fans all over the world, and his relatable content always has viewers in stitches.
We chatted to Garron about how his unintentional rise to fame came about, his opinion on whether you need to have great video editing skills in order to be a content creator, and the top secrets behind keeping viewers engaged with your social media content as an influencer.
With over 10 million followers across their social platforms, Boiler Room has been dominating the online music scene since their inception in 2010. Their promotion of sets from underground dance artists via live streams has highlighted some of the finest acts in techno, jazz and hip hop from across the globe. Boiler Room’s social strategy has created a new way for audiences to connect with music from around the world from the comfort of their own homes.
Kicking off Season 3 is Fabiana Pacini, Senior Global Marketing Manager at Boiler Room. We discuss how the company has used social to expand internationally, how the strategy of the company has changed since Covid, and what really happened during THAT viral Fred Again moment.
The internet is buzzing with social media success stories, and we’re back for another season of Social Creatures.
We’ll be exploring the secrets behind some of today's biggest social media wins, as well as uncovering some of the key successes behind the rise in influencer popularity.
This season, we’ll be talking to all sorts of people, whether it’s about going viral, driving business results, influencing public opinion, and even setting up a social media platform from scratch.
You'll hear exclusive interviews, actionable tips, and behind-the-scenes insights that will help you navigate the ever-evolving social media landscape.
So, buckle up, social media enthusiasts! Join our host, Cat Anderson, as we dive into Season 3 of Social Creatures, a podcast from Sprout Social.
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts, and get ready to become a master of social media!
In 2017, Fyre Festival captured the world’s attention. For a moment in time it was the hottest ticket in the world and founder Billy McFarland built its initial worldwide excitement and buzz entirely on social media. But the festival dramatically fell from grace when the terrible execution of the event shocked the world, resulting in Billy being convicted of fraud and owing roughly $27 million dollars to his investors. When reality hit, it was also social that documented the downfall of the festival and ultimately Billy’s reputation.
In our season 2 finale, Billy McFarland explains what actually happened with the Fyre Festival’s social media campaign. We hear where it went right and wrong, as well as his thoughts on the future of social and how to stay ahead in captivating the attention of followers. Brace yourself for a candid exploration of the power and perils of harnessing social media for marketing, as we uncover the lessons learned from one of the most infamous and notorious events in recent history.
Harnessing the power of social marketing to unite people to tackle climate change is a formidable undertaking, and Too Good To Go is paving the way. It’s estimated that a third of all food produced in the world is wasted and 10% of world greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste alone. This impact is greater than of the aviation industry and plastics combined. Too Good To Go is the world's largest food waste app and it’s revolutionising the battle against food waste. The app lets you rescue unsold food at your favourite spots from an untimely fate, and provides people with the tools and resources so they can feel empowered to have a tangible impact.
Co-founder Jamie Crummie's takes us on a deep dive into how Too Good To Go leverages social platforms to spread their message, engage users, and mobilise communities to take action. Jamie shares invaluable insights into the art of leveraging social media to ignite a global movement, and how you can contribute to the cause. Join us in this illuminating conversation and be inspired to make a difference in the world of food waste, one meal at a time.
Despite the progressive nature of the contemporary art industry, there had never been a huge presence of these artists in the social media space. That is, until Unit London exploded onto the scene in 2013 with a range of pop-up locations highlighting a new group of diverse, unrepresented artists whose talent was to be celebrated in a non-discriminate way. Its founders, Joe Kennedy and Jonny Burt, endeavoured to advance the contemporary art scene by taking a more accessible and inclusive approach to exhibitions, putting community and connection at the heart of everything they do. This strategy has been hugely successful and has led to the gallery having a massive global following.
In today’s episode, we chat to co-founder Joe. Joe takes us through how, at 22 years old, he took his marketing experience and applied it to an industry which tended to favour those with greater access and financial means to succeed in the art world. Joe utilised social media platforms such as Instagram to champion undiscovered artists and to allow fans to watch Unit London’s journey progress from a small pop-up in West London to a globally renowned gallery with over half a million followers.
Over the past two decades, the world of social media has undergone a remarkable evolution, reshaping the way we connect, communicate, and consume content. As a seasoned consultant, Matt Navarra has stood as a vigilant observer and an active participant. He's not only witnessed the shifts but has also been at the forefront of guiding brands and institutions through these seismic changes.
In today’s episode we speak with the seasoned social media consultant, Matt Navarra. With a career spanning over two decades, Matt brings a wealth of experience to the table, sharing captivating stories and insights on the ever-changing landscape of digital platforms. Matt's success is a testament to adaptability, innovation, and the power of staying ahead in a rapidly shifting industry. Join us as we delve into an array of fascinating stories that have shaped the digital sphere, guided by a trailblazer in the field.
The emergence of luxury fashion houses during the 19th Century marked a transformative moment in history, birthing legendary brands that would shape the landscape of fashion, and define style, trends and sophistication. These exclusive high fashion luxury brands captivate its followers with their exquisite designs and impeccable attention to detail that epitomise desirability. For the majority of their audience, their products are unreachable. So in an industry that defines trends and isn’t aiming to sell to the masses, how does the high luxury fashion industry navigate social media?
In this episode we speak with Maxime Bicard. With a brilliant career working across the top brands in the industry, Maxime brings a wealth of insights and expertise to the table. In this episode we uncover the secrets behind how the high luxury fashion industry utilises social media in a distinct manner, and why it sets itself apart from most other industries.
From its humble beginnings in 1984, Ryanair has grown to become one of Europe's leading airlines. It has established itself as a prominent and influential brand, known for its innovative approaches to engaging with customers through social media platforms. With a strong emphasis on building a vibrant and humorous online presence, Ryanair has effectively utilised social media channels to connect with their audience, drive brand awareness, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
In this episode we speak with Michael Corcoran head of social and creative content at Ryanair. We unravel the secrets behind RyanAir's social media triumphs and uncover the key ingredients for building a compelling online presence. We'll also explore their unique and playful strategies, creative campaigns, and the impact of their social marketing initiatives on their overall success.
Innocent is a fruit juice and smoothies brand that aims to be Europe’s favourite little drinks company. Well known for their ability to create emotional connections with people over social media, the premise of Innocent is to ‘leave people better than we found them’. They have mastered the art of emotional marketing, bringing humour and meaning into the customer experience; making people choose their offline product because they’ve made them feel something online.
As a B Corp, they believe in balancing purpose and profit. They dream big; looking beyond the sales of healthy drinks, they run hugely impactful social campaigns that sit at the intersection of social media and life offline.
In this episode we speak with Marcus Dean, social media manager for Innocent drinks UK. We discuss authentic emotional marketing; why maintaining a consistent, relatable tone of voice throughout the entire workforce is a central pillar to their success; and why creating a work culture where creatives are permitted to take risks is one where they will flourish and bring results.
Building a large following on social media is often key to the success of many companies. But building a trusted online social community is at the heart of the success of Riley; with honest and realistic promises central to their progressive marketing. They’ve taken the world of period products by storm, combining a health and wellness approach with direct customer-centric social media marketing with a simple message: ‘why should your period be a pain?’
In this episode of the podcast, we speak to Fiona Parfrey, Co-Founder of Riley. We discuss how Riley broke onto the scene, in a market that’s been controlled by a few major players, with something completely different that really resonated. Fiona tells us how the business takes the mystery out of the health of people who menstruate by creating a trusted social community that focuses on breaking down the stigma often associated with the topic. We discover how they are disrupting the market, and bringing their community along with them, by nurturing their consumers.