Tell me more: Episode 1- how store bought pesto + revenge = virality

Yes friends, you read that right. Those were the amount of exclamations points I intended to include in that subject line. I have a new podcast dropping today and I am SO UNABASHEDLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. You know those rare moments when you have and idea in your head and the outcome actually surpasses your expectations? This is one of those moments. I have already recorded 5 episodes and my fantastic guests have all brought their A game, convos are flowing, insights are slinging, vibes are right. Such a fun win.

I intended this to be just a written series for this newsletter, but as someone who records everything, I was going to be getting the conversations in audio form anyway so might as well just release it as a podcast as well? Smarter not harder friends. These little things are why I am such a tech enthusiast. I can record a call ( I used the new Adobe podcast tool and it has been flawless in audio clean up and editing! Highly recommend getting on the waitlist) that sounds a few degrees above good enough, polish it up and have it ready for distribution in a few hours. As someone forever seeking awe and wonder, this stuff really makes me feel like we have magic wands.

Before I go too far off a tangent about my love for the technology time we live in, let me give you a primer on the pod intent. I adore a walk and talk. I’m fortunate to live in the best walking neighborhood in America1 so when the weather is anywhere close to decent, I am taking to the streets. Sadly and somewhat shockingly, not everyone I ask to go on a walk with me can drop everything and let me pick their brain for 30 minutes, so I decided to take them with me in a digital form and share them with you! As much as I love to languish over a long drawn out anything- convo, dinner, nap, bath, bike ride- the current trend of 3 hour podcasts ala Huberman are just not practical to a working mom, entrepreneur, lover of efficiency. So keeping these convos to 30 minute range was very important to me. I love the tiny mental accomplishment trophy that comes with starting and finishing something in one sitting (or strolling). I also am not a believer of every podcast being a sales pitch. As a marketer, I totally understand the opportunity to come out and talk about your new book, course, product etc etc etc. But I don’t think that fame or sales be the only merit to being able to tell your story2. I find the most fascinating people the ones that live their lives outside of the perverbial box and under the radar. I love to pick up the little breadcrumbs they drop like “when I record on QVC” without having them having to lead with it. It hits that treasure hunt feeling for me- I’m sorry, what was that subtle drop of a something I need to ask entirely too many questions about?? The QVC guest of mention, Nate Collier, summed it up perfectly about his wife, Cooper3, who is one of my favorite people on planet earth. She’s one of those types that has just the absolute coolest niche skills under the surface. She can do impressions, comedy bits at the drop of a hat, sings beautifully, knows a vast amount of interesting people, and is an insanely talented graphic designer. She would never lead with that. Whats cooler than being cool? Not having to live it all out loud.

I intend to keep this newsletter free and open to the public, but my ego does do a little flutter every time I get the “new subscriber notification” so if you’d like to support I’ll take it in the form of confidence boost!

So you probably aren’t but I’m going to act like you are anyway, wondering why my first episode on a podcast about people’s subtle life stories begins with a Tiktok creator’s story VERY public tale. When I first saw Linda’s viral video telling a decades long strategic genius revenge plot online, I knew there was muchhh more to this story. Linda is someone who has been on my radar for quite some time. Her online clothing store, Adeline, is around the same age as mine, Amor, and housed in the same lovely city of Lafayette, LA. Our stores were born around the same time as using social media as a business platform was taking shape and I loved watching the creative marketing strategies she would cook up. It wasn’t your typical “comment/ share to win a $100 gift card” growth tactics that were extremely popular at the time (can you imagine a brand asking you to reshare a post onto your hard IG feed these days??). She took them to the next level, think “comment and share to win a 3 day cruise, Usher tickets, etc.” All sorts of promos that were very motivating to her exact customer base she was trying to reach. As a passionate enthusiast of creative organic marketing and knowing my clients to a deep degree, I knew just how much strategy was going on behind the scenes. So after seeing that video, I knew it had to be chock full of intent before, during, and after. And boy was a right. Linda shares all the things you can’t learn in the 3 minutes of the video. The internal reactions, what happens when Inside Edition, The Times, TMZ come calling, the trolls, the aftermath. It’s quite the ride. If you haven’t watched the story, go do it now and the come back to the pod to listen to the behind the scenes.

I hope you enjoy as much as I did and view the next viral phenomenon to come across our tiny screens next in a different view. Next week, I’m talking us on a hard 180 direction and speaking to my cousin, Angie, on choosing to live a joyful life when the world serves you some really intense blows.

And now….a word from our SPONSOR!! Eee yay!

I first heard about Pax on one of my beloved strategy walks I mentioned earlier. My dear friend, Courteney, was in the midst of a pivot and had an amazing vision for an apparel company that really embodied our tiny slice of heaven over in Charleston. Something that residents would be proud to wear and visitors will want to have as a momento of time spent in the slowcountry. The hats, tees, and sweatshirts have been a core part of our fashion identities (young and old!) over at my house this past year so when Court dropped us the sneak peak of spring- all members of the Winter household were thrilled. Pax is launching new styles tomorrow and they have generously given readers/ listeners of this pod 10% off with code “tellmemore”! Snag some for yourself + your littles, or send some to a friend who needs a little more Charleston in their lives (better yet, both!). You won’t regret it friends. And if you see me wearing this sweatshirt for the next 6 months straight, yes you did.

Love y’all, mean it.