What should brands do when controversy hits — or worse, when they create it?

In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Sa Maria Boyd and Kylie Scarborough break down how major brands handled (and sometimes mishandled) high-visibility social media moments — from Duolingo’s AI-first backlash to American Eagle’s campaign controversy, Cracker Barrel’s rebrand reversal, and Southwest Airlines’ policy changes.

When public sentiment is heightened, culture is shifting, and emotions are running high, marketers don’t have the luxury of “just posting.” Every message is amplified. Every silence is interpreted. And every decision has consequences.

We explore:

-Whether all press is really good press

-When brands should pause content during cultural or global tension

-The role of social media managers in crisis communication

-Why humor sometimes works — and sometimes falls flat

-How nostalgia, identity, and brand equity impact backlash

-When it’s smart to stand your ground… and when to pivot

This conversation is especially relevant for B2B marketers who often believe controversy is a “B2C problem.” It’s not. Social media is now the front line of brand reputation for every industry.

If you're releasing something that could even be perceived as controversial, double-check it. You may overthink it. You may delay it. You may even lose money adjusting the plan.

But the bigger question remains:

Is the short-term attention worth the long-term brand damage?

Social media managers carry more strategic weight than many organizations realize. They’re not just posting content — they have a pulse on culture. And in moments of crisis, that insight matters.

We’re officially in a digital marketing arms race — and most brands are walking away with black eyes.

Paid search costs are volatile. Competition is brutal. AI is changing how buyers search. And suddenly, the old playbook of “just run more ads” isn’t working like it used to.

So what the hell is actually going on?

In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Dacia Coffey and Sina Azmoudeh unpack:

-Why paid media feels harder (and more expensive) than ever

-The truth about AI search and large language models -Whether SEO is really “dead”

-Why content is no longer optional — it’s a core competency

-How to stop chasing ROAS in isolation and start building a real marketing ecosystem

-What “shots on target” content really means (and why volume matters)

-The Reddit effect and how AI is actually learning about your brand

Here’s the hard truth: If your company doesn’t have a scalable, consistent content strategy, you’re stuck fighting in a paid arms race you probably can’t afford to win.

But if you build influence through quality, resonant, emotionally intelligent content — and deploy it consistently — you stop renting attention and start owning it.

AI isn’t the enemy. Paid media isn’t dead. But the rules have changed.

This episode is a no-fluff conversation about what’s real, what’s hype, and how B2B leaders should be thinking about digital marketing in 2025 and beyond.

If you’re a CEO, CMO, or growth leader wondering why performance feels unpredictable right now — this is your episode.

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AI search is changing how buyers find you—but here’s the truth: AI SEO isn’t a replacement for traditional SEO… it’s an extension of it.

In this special episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Hudson Lab and Ramsey Sanchez break down what B2B leaders need to know right now to rank in AI-driven search (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, AI Mode) while still winning the fundamentals of Google.

You’ll learn:

-What “AI SEO,” “Generative Engine Optimization (GEO),” and “AI search optimization” actually mean -Why traditional SEO is still the foundation (and why most B2B companies are behind)

-The 4-stage, 100-day SEO rollout plan: keywords → content → publishing → paid amplification

-How Google Ads + SEO can work together to increase visibility and improve engagement signals -Why brand reputation + social signals (TikTok, Reddit, reviews, forums) can impact AI visibility -The new way to measure performance: mentions, visibility, and AI Overview tracking (not just keyword rank)

If you’re a B2B marketer or business owner trying to cut through the noise and build a strategy that actually holds up as AI evolves—this episode is your roadmap.

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Why is B2B marketing so bad at writing hooks and what can we do about it?

In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Dacia Coffey breaks down why so much B2B content gets ignored and how to make your marketing magnetic instead. If your emails aren’t getting opened, your videos aren’t getting watched, or your content feels smart-but-boring, this conversation is for you.

Dacia challenges B2B marketers to stop rushing content out the door and start thinking like real content creators — the kind who understand attention, emotion, and psychological resonance. From curiosity gaps and pattern disruption to emotional triggers and low cognitive load, this episode walks through exactly what makes a powerful marketing hook actually work.

You’ll learn:

-Why B2B marketers default to complexity (and why it kills attention)

-What a marketing hook really is — and where to use it

-The psychology behind curiosity, emotion, and pattern disruption

-Practical hook frameworks you can apply to emails, videos, social posts, headlines, and sales conversations

-How to reverse-engineer great social media content for B2B marketing

-Why slowing down your thinking leads to better ROI and more follow-worthy marketing

If you want your marketing to stand out, earn attention, and actually work, this episode will change how you think about content creation forever.

Marketing is changing fast and not every trend is worth your attention.

In this episode, we bring together multiple marketing leaders to share their 2026 marketing predictions, breaking down what’s coming next, what’s overhyped, and where teams should actually focus their time and budget.

From AI and automation to content, attribution, brand, and buyer behavior, this conversation cuts through the noise and highlights the strategies that will shape the year ahead.

Whether you’re a marketing leader, strategist, or growth-focused operator, this episode will help you plan smarter for 2026.

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Unlock some of the most compelling B2B campaign examples and discover how to apply them inside your own marketing engine. In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, Dacia Coffey breaks down real campaigns from GE, Toast, Amazon, Adobe, and more, showing how smart B2B brands win attention, create engagement, and drive trackable ROI.

From top-of-funnel storytelling to middle-of-funnel nurturing and bottom-of-funnel conversions, you’ll learn what actually works across the full marketing funnel. You’ll also hear practical insights on rep engagement, client activation, and employer branding, plus why earning attention is now the most critical currency in B2B. If you’re looking for inspiration and clear examples you can model, this episode will spark new ideas and sharpen your campaign strategy.

Let us know in the comments which B2B campaigns have impressed you or what you’re planning next.

Tired of B2B marketing that sounds like a dry manual? In this episode of The Marketing Blender Show, hosts Dacia Coffey and Ryan Heath show you how to swap jargon for irresistible narratives that win clients and close deals.

Learn the art and science of storytelling in B2B marketing to transform your brand from forgettable to essential.

The Deep Dive

- Your business has a story, and it's your most powerful marketing tool. Join us as we dive deep into how to build a winning narrative for your B2B brand:

- Understanding Story Structure: We break down classic frameworks like The Hero's Journey and show you how to apply them to your client's challenges.

-The Power of Vulnerability: Discover how embracing authenticity and emotion in business communication builds deeper trust and connection with your audience.

-Practical Application: Get hands-on tips for integrating powerful stories across all your marketing channels: your website, email campaigns, and high-impact case studies. -Make

Your Brand Irresistible: Learn how creativity and a commitment to genuine connection can completely transform your marketing strategies.

Your brand is ready for a powerful narrative—watch the episode to start building deeper client connections today!

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Is your company culture a secret weapon or a hidden liability?

Join us for this insightful episode of The Marketing Blender Show, where host Dacia Coffey sits down with Leshawnda Larkin, a fractional Chief Marketing Officer and marketing strategy expert with a robust background in B2C and B2B marketing.

In the B2B world, culture is the often underutilized engine of growth. LaShanda shares her extensive experience with Fortune 500 companies, discussing innovative strategies and the critical importance of aligning company culture with your brand for sustained organizational growth.

We dive deep into:

- The business case for investing in your internal "vibe."

- How culture influences B2B buyer decisions and brand loyalty.

- The significance of community building in B2B marketing. Practical advice and compelling examples to make a meaningful internal and external impact.

This episode is packed with B2B marketing tips, brand strategy insights, and actionable advice for CMOs, marketing leaders, and founders aiming to build a more successful and authentic organization.

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