Click Tease: Weekly Digest of Branding, Marketing & Content that Converts
Hot takes, fresh insights, and strategies that actually work — served weekly.Click Tease is your unfiltered, real-time digest of what’s trending in personal branding, content creation, and marketing for coaches, creatives, and online service providers. Co-hosted by branding strategist Michelle Pualani and digital agency founder Joanna Newton, this show breaks down the latest tools, viral trends, creator moments, algorithm updates, and everything that’s making waves right now.If you want to stay ahead of the curve — and make content that clicks and converts — this is your weekly tea. 🎧 Listen in. ☕ Sip something. 💻 Take notes.→ Subscribe to our companion Substack to get each...
Nostalgia Sells: Super Bowl Commercials, Zara’s Rebrand & the 2026 = 2016 Moment
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Why are brands spending millions to miss the point—and what can creators learn from Super Bowl ads and the internet’s obsession with nostalgia? This episode breaks down what actually drives attention, connection, and conversions right now.
What You’ll Learn:
How Super Bowl advertisers often miss the real buyer—and what that means for your targeting
Why nostalgia and simplicity are outperforming overproduced content
How to use repetition, teasers, and cultural moments without burning out your audience
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Why Super Bowl ads aren’t h...
TikTok Sale Update: What the Heck is Going on with the Algorithm
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TikTok’s sale is official — and creators are already feeling the fallout. From zero-view videos to data changes and algorithm chaos, here’s what’s actually happening and how to protect your business before the next platform quake.
What You’ll Learn:
How TikTok’s sale is impacting reach, monetization, and video distribution
What to do when your core platform suddenly stops performing
Why audience ownership matters more than ever (and how to start diversifying now)
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – TikTok sale explained: what changed and who ow...
3 Viral Video Trends Creators Can Shamelessly Steal for Faster Growth
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From “getting rejected on purpose” to comment-bait that actually converts, this episode breaks down why messy, participatory content is winning right now and how to use it to build trust, reach, and sales.
What You’ll Learn:
How challenge-style content pulls audiences into long-term stories instead of one-off posts
Why comment-driven formats outperform “educational” content and how to apply them to your niche
How community-led, slightly unhinged ideas create outsized reach and real revenue
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👯♀️ Connect with Us
Michelle Pualani: / themic...
Amy Porterfield Closed DCA: What It Really Means For You
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Big-name creators are canceling flagship offers — and no, it doesn’t mean courses or podcasts are dead. It means the creator economy is shedding outdated models and making room for smarter, simpler ways to grow.
What You’ll Learn:
Why major creators are sunsetting once-iconic offers — and what that signals for 2026
How to avoid panic-pivoting just because a “guru” changed direction
What fulfillment, exe...
The Death of Big Courses & Rise of "Real" Creators (2026 Predictions)
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AI ads are getting louder, funnels are getting messier — and creators are officially over it. Joanna and Michelle break down what’s actually going to work in 2026 (and what’s quietly dying).
What You’ll Learn:
How AI saturation is creating a huge opportunity for human-first creators
Why milestone-based planning beats traditional goal setting (especially if you “fall behind”)
Which digital products, offers, and...
2026 Goal Setting Secrets: Reflect, Envision, and Set 90-Day Sprints
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Still setting vague goals and hoping for the best? This episode breaks down how to plan 2026 with clarity, focus, and momentum—without burnout, shame, or chasing goals that don’t actually move the needle.
What You’ll Learn:
How to reflect on your year using data and intuition to make smarter decisions
How the 80/20 rule reveals what’s actually making you money (and what to cut)<...
The Secret Psychology Behind Viral Christmas Ads: Triggers, Nostalgia & Implied CTAs
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What do M&M’s, Coca-Cola, Hershey’s Kisses, and John Travolta have in common? Holiday ads that don’t sell hard, but sell feelings—and quietly win wallets through nostalgia, repetition, and cultural timing.
What You’ll Learn:
How top brands use characters, familiarity, and emotion instead of aggressive CTAs
Why repetition and simplicity outperform over-produced content
How AI, nostalgia, and pop culture shape modern brand trust
Ti...
The Secret Sauce Behind Viral Branding: From American Eagle to McDonald’s Grinch Meal
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What do McDonald’s pickle fries, Sydney Sweeney’s “great genes” controversy, and Martha Stewart’s Gen-Z renaissance all have in common? They reveal exactly how backlash, rebrands, and authenticity shape what actually sells in 2025.
What You’ll Learn:
Why scarcity marketing still works—even when customers hate the productHow public backlash...Content Creation Hacks: Growth, Consistency & December 2025 Instagram Updates
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This week, we break down why consistency—not fancy cameras, edits, or “perfect timing”—is still the fastest path to growth on any platform. Plus: the newest Instagram changes you actually need to care about and how cultural trends (yes, even Dubai chocolate) can win you customers.
What You’ll Learn
W...Best Holiday Gifts for Business Owners in 2025
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If you’ve ever tried shopping for a business owner or creator, you know we’re impossible—because we “don’t need anything”... until we do. This episode gives you the actually useful gift ideas that make creators’ lives easier, content better, and brains less fried.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
03:00 – Why...
Top Content Types for Growth in 2025: Stealing Social Secrets from Wicked, DWTS & Whitney Leavitt
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This week, Joanna and Michelle break down what Wicked, Dancing with the Stars, and reality TV villains can teach you about building a magnetic personal brand. Plus: the content formats dominating 2025 (and how to use them to get real traction).
What You’ll Learn:
How to use personal branding the way Hollywood franchises and reality TV s...VIRAL BRANDS & CREATIVE COLLABS — Starbucks, Dove x Crumbl, Dog Pack (Ep. 020)
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From a $300 Starbucks cup to talking dogs powered by AI — this week’s episode unpacks what happens when creativity, culture, and smart positioning collide.
What You’ll Learn:
Why you are not your customer — and how that shift can 10x your offer strategy.The secret behind Starbucks’ ability to sell “pre...HOLIDAY AD CHAOS — Sephora, Calvin Klein, Subscription Boxes (Ep. 019)
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From Sephora’s “striking” elves to Calvin Klein’s viral thirst traps — Joanna and Michelle unpack how brands are losing (and winning) consumer trust this holiday season. Plus, how you can turn this chaos into marketing gold.
What You’ll Learn:
What the Sephora x Mariah Carey ad got wrong — and how to avo...MORE ISN’T MORE — Pringles Rebrand, Cracker Barrel Bots, Instant Pot Collapse (Ep. 018)
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What Pringles, Cracker Barrel, and Instant Pot can teach you about marketing missteps, cultural backlash, and knowing when to stop scaling before it breaks your business.
What You’ll Learn:
Why “more” customers, followers, or products might be killing your brand faster than you thinkThe surprising story behind the...OUTAGES & OPPORTUNITIES: AWS Crash, Count Chocula Marketing, Coke Zero Strategy (Ep. 017)
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When the internet breaks, your customer service shows its true colors. Joanna and Michelle unpack how to turn outages into opportunities — and what Count Chocula, Coke Zero, and cinnamon rolls can teach you about seasonal offers and brand loyalty.
What You’ll Learn:
How to turn tech outages and customer frustration into trust-building momentsT...INFLUENCER INTEGRITY: Pastrygate, AI Trust, Storytelling Strategy (Ep. 016)
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What happens when influencer entitlement meets AI perfection? From “Pastrygate” to the comeback of messy, human marketing—Joanna and Michelle unpack why imperfection, honesty, and story-driven content are winning online.
What You’ll Learn:
How “Pastrygate” exposed the dark side of influencer culture—and what brands can learn from itWhy AI-polished content kill...STORYTELLING SHIFT: Email Marketing Decline, Taylor Swift Launch Lessons (Ep. 015)
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Is email marketing finally losing its edge? Joanna and Michelle unpack why social-first creators are outperforming inbox campaigns—and what Taylor Swift’s newest album rollout teaches us about storytelling, polarization, and pre-launch mismatches.
What You’ll Learn:
Why “storytelling content” now outperforms how-tos and tutorials—and how to shift your messaging to match.What Taylo...PIVOT PLAYBOOK: Platform Shifts, Podcast Guesting, Creator Longevity (Ep. 014)
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Pitching yourself, borrowing audiences, and staying ahead of platform drama — this episode shows you how to diversify your reach and protect your brand. Plus, the latest on TikTok’s uncertain future and Taylor Swift’s launch playbook.
What You’ll Learn:
How to use podcast guesting and collaborations to “borrow” authority and grow fasterWhy practicing pi...ALGORITHM SHAKE-UP: TikTok Update, Jimmy Kimmel, Branding Ethics (Ep. 013)
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What happens when TikTok’s magic algorithm gets rewritten in the U.S.—and Jimmy Kimmel gets yanked off air for poking fun at politicians? This week, we unpack how censorship, content, and creator strategy collide.
What You’ll Learn:
What TikTok’s U.S. algorithm split could mean for your reach, engagement, and salesHow th...CONTENT VS. CONVICTION: Showing Up When Culture Collides (Ep. 012)
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Not all traffic equals profit — and not all business models lead to freedom. Discover why choosing the wrong model can stall your growth (and sanity) and how to pivot with intention.
What You’ll Learn:
What you’ll learn about the hidden pitfalls of one-to-one, time-for-money business modelsWhat you’ll learn about how co...THE EMOTION ECONOMY: Why Selling Feelings Beats Selling Products (Ep. 011)
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What happens when pumpkin spice, reality TV, and psychographics collide? This episode dishes out spicy takes on positioning, brand triggers, and why authenticity converts faster than any “perfect” product launch.
What You’ll Learn:
How to use seasonal or cultural triggers (like pumpkin spice) to drive product demandWhy psychographi...CULTURE CLASH: Taylor + Travis, Summer I Turned Pretty, AI Strategy (Ep. 010)
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When Taylor and Travis broke the internet, brands couldn’t resist — but should they have? Plus: what “The Summer I Turned Pretty” teaches about episodic hype, and why AI still can’t kill your creativity.
What You’ll Learn:
Why brands win (or lose) when they jump on cultural momentsWhat “The Summer I Turned Pretty” nailed about community engagement and content pacingHow AI shifts marketing jo...RE-BRAND DRAMA: Cracker Barrel Rebrand, Consumer Psychology, Audience Testing (Ep. 009)
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Update: Since filming this episode, Cracker Barrel has decided to revert back to it’s original logo.
What happens when a heritage brand strips away its soul? The Cracker Barrel rebrand sparks outrage, proving why listening to your audience is the ultimate marketing play.
What You’ll Learn:
Why rebrands flop when busi...TREND TAKERS: LinkedIn Shifts, TikTok Slip-ups, Viral brand plays (Ep. 008)
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What do Taco Bell, banana bread TikTok, and Alex Hormozi’s $150M book launch have in common? A masterclass in creating demand and turning “oops” moments into cultural buzz.
What You’ll Learn:
What you’ll learn from Taco Bell, KFC, and McDonald’s about creating product demand (without new products)What you’ll lea...
LAUNCH GENIUS: Taylor Swift, Marketing Blueprints, Referrals (Ep. 007)
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Spark curiosity with the juiciest takeaway, drama, or trend
Taylor Swift just sold out an album you can’t see, hear, or fully know about yet—and it’s a masterclass in hype every personal brand can steal.
What You’ll Learn:
How to borrow “surprise and delight” tactics from pop stars to keep your audience hookedWhy referrals and word of mouth might be your most und...DIGITAL MARKETING SYSTEMS: Sydney Sweeney Controversy, Creative Campaign Backlash, and Different Business Models (Ep. 006)
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Brands are getting roasted, creators are getting hate, and still your business needs systems to survive the chaos. We break down the latest drama and how to stay consistent when the internet feels like it’s on fire.
What You’ll Learn:
Why inspiration is overrated (and what your content actually needs instead)The real reason the Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle ad flopped — and what Abercrombie + Old Navy did rightA mindset shift that helps you handle hate, trolls, and online backlash without spiralingTimestamps:
03:20 – Why your bus...
BRAND BACKLASH: Sydney Sweeney, American Eagle, Viral Ad Fallout (Ep. 005)
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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 audienceThe neuromarketing strategy behind envy, attraction, and sales psychology in...SERIES STRATEGY: TikTok Hooks, K-Pop Star Power & Content that Converts (Ep. 004)
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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 — thi...
DEEPFAKE AI CONTENT: AI UGC, LinkedIn Video, and Grow a Garden’s $5M/Month Playbook (Ep. 003)
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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 prot...
ALGORITHM ARCHETYPES: AI Content Creation, TikTok’s US App, & Kesha’s Indie Comeback (Ep. 002)
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Wondering if robots will replace your reels — or if TikTok might vanish overnight? This episode spills the tea on AI tools, a potential U-S-only TikTok, and how Kesha just turned label drama into a branding masterclass.
You’ll learn how to protect your audience if platforms shift, why quantity still beats perfection, and the sweet spot where “strategic unhinged” content outperforms polished feeds.
Timestamp...
BRAND STORYTELLING: RYZE Coffee, Alex Cooper, & Instagram’s Edits App (Ep. 001)
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When was the last time you saw a mushroom mascot make a better ad than your favorite brand? In this episode, we break down what marketing really is in 2025 — and why “being yourself” isn’t enough unless you’re strategic about how you show up.
If your content feels bland, the algorithm agrees. You’ll learn why storytelling is dominating the feed, how to create a character-driven brand that gets remembered, and the reason new Instagram features (like Edits) might be your biggest growth hack.
Timestamps:
08:15 – Wh...
Gabs Hayes & Growing Your Business with the Productivity Quickie
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Transform your productivity by focusing on what matters most—without burning out. Discover how to prioritize the tasks that actually move your business forward, break free from endless to-do lists, and leverage time-saving methods like the 80/20 principle and content batching. Whether you’re overwhelmed or just ready to work smarter, you’ll find actionable strategies for balancing business, personal life, and your own well-being.
After losing her son seven years ago, Gabs’ priorities fundamentally shifted: time over money, doing over dreaming, and memories over material things. Today, this entrepreneurial mom is building...
Agnes Maas & Gamifying Your Digital Product with Jiffy Courses
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Joanna Newton sits down with Agnes Maas of Jiffy Courses Online to explore how she and her husband transformed a niche digital product into an international sensation. Agnes shares actionable insights on solving real-world problems in online education, the power of staying focused on a niche, and proven strategies for scaling a digital business worldwide. If you’re looking to take your digital offer global—or want to learn from a founder who’s done it—this conversation is packed with practical takeaways for female entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators.
Website: Jiffycoursesonline.com
<...Leveraging Resilience: Spotlighting the Melanie Perkins & Canva Success Story
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Every rejection is a step closer to revolutionizing your industry—just look at Melanie Perkins’s story.
In this episode, we unpack the remarkable journey of Melanie Perkins, the female tech CEO who got over 100 rejections before launching Canva, a revolutionary design platform now used by more than 100 million people worldwide. Tune in for actionable insights on handling setbacks, the importance of consistency, building a winning team, and daring to dream big. This episode is a must-listen for female entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives ready to turn obstacles into oppo...
Her First Update: Sabrina Carpenter & Man's Best Friend
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Join Joanna solo as she unpacks the heated conversation surrounding Sabrina Carpenter’s new album cover for “Man’s Best Friend.” Is it empowering, satirical, or setting women back? Joanna explores the double standards female artists face, why provocative content gets people talking, and how bold creative choices can fuel both controversy and visibility. Whether you agree or not, this episode challenges you to consider how your own brand can make an impact by sparking real conversation.
Time Stamps:
01:00 Sabrina Carpenter’s Brand Evolution
02:00 “Man’s Best Friend” Album Cover Cont...
Embrace Innovation & Big Ideas: Jamie Kern Lima’s Journey from Rejection to Billion-Dollar Success
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Unpack the incredible story of Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics. From facing repeated rejection to building a billion-dollar brand, Jamie’s journey is a masterclass in staying true to your vision, innovating boldly, and persevering when the odds are stacked against you. If you’re ready to embrace big ideas and lead with authenticity, this episode will leave you inspired and empowered to keep going—no matter the setbacks.
Time Stamps:
02:11 Jamie Kern Lima's Early Career
02:45 The Birth of IT Cosmetics
04:5...
Should You Use AI for Content Creation? What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
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We break down the real pros and cons of using AI for content creation, and why originality and creativity matter more than ever. Get honest insight on the ethical and environmental impact of AI, plus practical tips for using these tools without losing your unique voice. If you want to stay innovative while keeping your brand authentic, listen now.
Time Stamps
00:54 The Debate on AI in Content Creation
04:18 The Ethical and Creative Concerns of AI
11:44 AI's Environmental Impact
14:19...
How Nervous System Regulation Creates Business Growth with Guest Trish Lynn
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We’re diving deep into how nervous system regulation can transform not just your personal well-being, but your entire brand presence and business growth. We sit down with Trish Lynn to uncover why past traumas can make your content invisible—and how practical healing strategies can help you finally show up, share your story, and build real authority online. If you’re ready to move from survival to self-expression in your business, this episode is for you.
Guest: Trish Lynn, CEO The Trish Lynn – Business Therapist & Content Strategist
Instagram: @thetrishlynn
“Whe...
Navigating Public Scrutiny: Lessons from the Blake Lively Controversy
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We break down the recent controversy involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni—and how it relates to building and protecting a personal brand. From public perception to media backlash, we talk about navigating online heat while staying rooted in your values and voice. If you’re a female entrepreneur or creator building a platform, this one’s for you.
Time Stamps:
01:30 Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Allegations
03:25 Impact on Personal Brands
06:40 Public Perception and Media Influence
07:30 The Role of Authenticity in Per...
Launch Strategies & 3 Non-Negotiables for a Successful Digital Launch
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We’re getting into the real must-haves for a profitable and aligned digital launch. Whether you’re selling a course, membership, or resource—these are the three things that can’t be skipped if you want sales (and sanity). We share examples, mistakes we’ve seen, and give you a behind-the-scenes peek at Joanna’s client’s $20K pre-launch that didn’t involve a single email or Instagram post.
Join Joanna’s Waitlist: https://www.millennialmktr.com/launch-flow
Time Stamps:
00:00 – $20K Pre-Launch Without Emails or Posts
00:59 –...
