PODCAST · business
Frictionless Growth Marketing
by Sonia Thompson | Inclusive Growth & Customer Experience Strategist
Brand growth today depends on removing friction from your marketing and customer experience to attract and retain more of the people you want to serve.Frictionless Growth Marketing is the podcast for marketers, business leaders, and founders who want to grow by eliminating the messaging, experience, and strategy gaps that quietly push customers away every single day.Hosted by Sonia Thompson, Inclusive Growth and Customer Experience Strategist, the show breaks down how modern brands drive sustainable growth by designing frictionless customer journeys, building trust with identity-rich growth communities, and adapting to changing consumer expectations with clarity and confidence.Each week, you’ll hear practical insights, real brand examples, and candid conversations with marketing leaders and subject-matter experts on: Brand strategy that fuels long-term business growth in the age of modern marketing Custo
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213. How Community Drives Brand Growth: Zumba’s Customer Experience Blueprint
How community drives brand growth—and why it only works when it’s built into the customer experience. In this episode of the Frictionless Growth Marketing Podcast, I sit down with Carolina Moraes, Chief Marketing Officer at Zumba, to break down how one of the most recognized global fitness brands has turned community into a powerful growth engine over 25 years. But here’s the nuance most brands miss: Community isn’t something you create. It’s something you earn. And it only forms when the customer experience is designed in a way that makes people feel like your brand was built for someone like them. From a growth marketing perspective, this episode explores what it really takes to drive sustainable brand growth, retention, and loyalty through community. We get into: Why community marketing strategy often falls short—and what actually makes it work How customer experience design drives retention, loyalty, and word of mouth The difference between building a brand community and simply creating a container for engagement How Zumba equips instructors to deliver a consistent, inclusive experience at scale Why representation isn’t just a marketing tactic—it’s an experience design principle The signal that you’ve built real community (hint: it happens without you) What most brands overlook about community as a growth lever If you’re focused on growth marketing, brand growth, customer retention, and building a community that actually lasts, this episode will change how you think about what it takes. Because the brands that win don’t build community first. They design experiences people want to belong to—and community becomes the outcome. Friction Finder Growth Audit - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Email Sonia: [email protected] Episode 203: Relevance Over Reach: The Growth Marketing Playbook for 2026 (Dense Bean Salad Girl Case Study) Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/203-relevance-over-reach-the-growth-marketing/id1604907821?i=1000750520486 Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZqA02lYQjliJX8S9U5yAy?si=9e980f38c2214882
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212. How Incomplete Buyer Personas Show Up in Your Marketing — and Limit Brand Growth (Real Examples)
Most buyer personas look complete — but they’re missing a critical layer. And that gap shows up everywhere in your marketing. In this episode, we break down how incomplete buyer personas impact growth marketing performance — including brand growth, customer acquisition, and conversion — using real-world examples and real consumer reactions. Because when your personas don’t fully reflect the people you want to serve, your marketing sends the wrong signals — and your ideal customers quietly opt out. This is a growth marketing problem — not just a messaging issue. You’ll see how small decisions — from imagery and language to user experience — create friction that limits performance across your entire customer journey. And more importantly, you’ll learn how to identify where your personas are falling short — and what to do to fix them so your growth marketing actually performs the way it should. In this episode: How incomplete buyer personas show up in your marketing Why small decisions send powerful signals to customers Real examples of missed conversions and lost customers How personas impact your growth marketing strategy A simple way to identify and fix persona gaps If this episode made you realize there may be gaps in your personas, the next step is to identify exactly where your marketing is creating friction. That’s what the Friction Finder Growth Audit is designed to do. Learn more: frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder or email me at [email protected]
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211. “Our Personas Are Fine” — And 7 Other Reasons Brands Don’t Fix What’s Costing Them Growth
If you’ve ever thought, “our personas are fine” — you’re not alone. This episode takes a closer look at why many buyer personas don’t work as well as they should — and how that gap can impact your growth marketing, customer acquisition, and conversion rates. From “our product is for everyone” to “this won’t move the needle” to “we don’t have the resources” — these are common responses when it comes to evolving your target audience strategy. But they can also mask a deeper issue that’s preventing your marketing from reaching — and converting — the customers you actually want to serve. In this episode, we break down 8 of the most common objections — and what’s actually happening behind each one: "Our personas are performing fine” “Our product is for everyone” “Our customers don’t care about identity” “This is niche / DEI” “This won’t move the needle” “We tested our messaging and it worked” “We don’t have the resources” “How would we actually implement this?” At the center of all of it is one question your customers are asking — whether you realize it or not: “Is this for someone like me?” When your marketing doesn’t answer that clearly, customers don’t push back — they simply don’t move forward. And when that happens at scale, it directly impacts your brand growth and customer acquisition performance. This episode will help you see where that gap may exist — and what to do about it. Friction Finder Growth Audit - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Email Sonia: Sonia at Soniaethompson.com
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210. Most Brands’ Buyer Personas Are Shrinking Their Market — Here’s How to Fix Yours
Most buyer personas are incomplete—and that’s why your growth marketing strategy, audience targeting, and conversion efforts aren’t delivering the growth you expect. In this episode, we break down why incomplete buyer personas are shrinking your total addressable market (TAM)—and what to do about it to unlock brand growth. If your brand feels like it’s doing everything right—strong campaigns, clear messaging, solid targeting—but your growth marketing efforts aren’t scaling the way they should, the problem may not be your channels or creative. It may be your personas. You’ll learn: Why most buyer personas and customer personas are missing a critical layer How incomplete personas impact conversion rates, customer acquisition, and growth The difference between a “melting pot” vs. “mosaic” approach to audience segmentation How to add identity layers to your existing personas to improve marketing performance When to create identity-specific personas instead—and how to know the difference How identity influences messaging, positioning, and feature prioritization How incomplete personas limit growth marketing performance and brand growth potential Why brands lose customers without ever realizing it—and how to fix it We’ll walk through real-world examples and a step-by-step approach you can use to make your personas more complete—so more of your ideal customers see themselves in your brand and choose to move forward. Because when identity shows up in your personas, it shows up in your marketing. And when it shows up in your marketing—more customers convert, and your brand growth accelerates. Get the Frictionless Growth Lab Newsletter - www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/newsletter Friction Finder Growth Audit -https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Frictionless Growth Roadmapping Session - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmapping/
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209. Why Most Buyer Personas Lead to an Underperforming Growth Marketing Strategy (and How to Fix Them)
Buyer personas are one of the core inputs into your growth marketing strategy — shaping your customer acquisition, creative, campaigns, and customer experience. But for many brands, those personas are incomplete. And when your buyer personas are incomplete, everything built on top of them underperforms — from your marketing campaigns to your conversion rates. If your marketing isn’t performing at the level it should — the issue may not be your channels or your tactics. It may be your personas. Friction Finder Growth Audit - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Frictionless Growth Roadmapping Session - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmapping/
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208. Why Most Customer Acquisition Strategies Underperform — And How to Fix Them for Brand Growth
Customer acquisition is getting more expensive — and less effective. CAC is rising. Paid channels are delivering diminishing returns. And many brands are investing more into growth marketing without seeing proportional results. But the problem isn’t your channels. It’s how your customer acquisition strategy is built. Most customer acquisition strategies rely on traditional models — awareness, consideration, conversion — or growth marketing frameworks like AAARRR. And while these models aren’t wrong, they’re incomplete. They assume customers evaluate options rationally. But behavioral science shows that’s not how people actually make decisions. Customers decide quickly, using mental shortcuts — and one of the most powerful is identity: Is this for someone like me? In this episode, we break down: Why most customer acquisition strategies are underperforming The hidden flaw in traditional growth marketing frameworks How identity shapes customer decision-making and conversion Why brands lose customers before the funnel even begins The difference between “melting pot” and “mosaic” marketing How to reduce friction and improve conversion across your customer journey Real examples from brands like Netflix, Toyota, Walmart, and more If you want to improve conversion, lower CAC, and drive sustainable brand growth, your growth marketing strategy needs to align with how customers actually see themselves — and how their brains make decisions. Because customer acquisition doesn’t start with your funnel. It starts with your "who." Friction Finder Growth Audit: https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Frictionless Growth Roadmapping Session: https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmapping/ Email Sonia: [email protected]
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207. Is Your Brand Growth Strategy Working With Your Customers’ Brains — Or Against Them?
Most brand growth strategies are built for customers who carefully evaluate their options. But behavioral science shows that’s not how people actually make decisions. Customers’ brains are wired to conserve energy, rely on shortcuts, and decide quickly. And when your brand strategy and customer experience don’t align with that process, it creates friction — the kind that quietly reduces conversions, weakens engagement, and slows growth. In this episode, you’ll learn: How System 1 and System 2 thinking shape customer behavior Why customer experience friction often starts in the brain — not the funnel How the brain uses shortcuts like social proof, familiarity, and identity cues Why “people like me” signals are critical to brand growth and customer acquisition How marketers misinterpret performance when customers don’t respond immediately Why effort, relevance, and cultural understanding drive stronger customer loyalty And how misalignment between your growth marketing strategy and how customers actually think is costing you more than you realize If you want to improve conversion, strengthen customer relationships, and drive sustainable brand growth, you need to work with your customers’ brains — not against them. Friction Finder Growth Audit - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Nudge Podcast - https://www.nudgepodcast.com/ Phil Agnew on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/
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206. Customer Experience As Growth Strategy: Nissan CMO on Designing For Different Consumer Needs
How do you design customer experiences that work for everyone when friction isn't the same for everyone? Allyson Witherspoon, Chief Marketing Officer at Nissan, reveals how customer experience has become a core growth strategy—and why most brands are getting it wrong. In this episode, you'll learn how to remove friction for different consumer needs by designing around context and identity. Allyson shares how Nissan creates flexible entry points (like their Rogue hybrid lineup) that address different friction points within the same demographic—from range anxiety to charging concerns to environmental priorities. You'll discover: Why customer experience is now central to the CMO role and business growth How to design tight core experiences with flexible entry points based on consumer context The difference between proximity and research when building authentic customer experiences How internal friction in your organization creates friction for your customers Why consumers ask their ecosystems for answers—and how to show up there The role identity plays in shaping what "frictionless" means for different people Plus, hear from Victoria Lozano, CMO of Crayola, on building brand ecosystems that meet consumers where they are—through products, experiences, and content. Last week, we explored why general market strategies hurt brand growth with Myles Worthington. This week, discover how to serve mass market audiences by infusing identity into every touchpoint of the customer experience. Together, these episodes show the complete picture: marketing strategy that resonates + customer experience that converts = frictionless growth. Learn more about the Frictionless Growth Marketing Framework and take the 2-minute friction diagnostic at www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 204. Why Most Growth Strategies Underperform -- And the 7C Growth Marketing Framework That Fixes Them | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/204-why-most-growth-strategies-underperform-and-the/id1604907821?i=1000751786391 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FMUMdRYqlYPgeYMj18ZlX?si=ce51361d637042d6 Episode 205. General Market Strategies Are Hurting Your Brand Growth. What Smart Brands Are Doing Instead (feat. Myles Worthington) | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/205-general-market-strategies-are-hurting-your-brand/id1604907821?i=1000753667740| Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/003AwA9cDBM1ZbbrKI4P5s?si=277765cc0e884ca0 Episode 198. The Growth Strategy Behind Crayola's Global Initiative Engaging 17 Million Kids | Brand Strategy & Customer Acquisition Case Study | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/198-the-growth-strategy-behind-crayolas-global/id1604907821?i=1000745298692 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3troj0jlYzfBkZ115hERyO?si=0660ab8855ee4398
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205. General Market Strategies Are Hurting Your Brand Growth. What Smart Brands Are Doing Instead (feat. Myles Worthington)
General market marketing is limiting your brand growth. Here's what the data actually shows—and what smart brands are doing instead. Myles Worthington (CEO, WORTHI; former Netflix Head of Global Audiences) breaks down why identity-based customer segmentation drives better conversion rates and sustainable growth than traditional mass marketing approaches. In this growth marketing strategy session, discover: The mosaic vs. melting pot framework: why preserving customer identity increases market reach How to build marketing infrastructure (not one-off campaigns) for customer loyalty Real examples: Netflix's Con Todo, Bumble's Love Letters to Black Women, Google's Gemini strategy Why $7 trillion in buying power goes untapped with general market strategies The authenticity equation: customer intimacy + cultural fluency = brand growth If you're a CMO or growth marketer looking to improve customer acquisition and conversion rate optimization through better customer segmentation—this episode delivers the playbook. What's slowing your brand's growth? Take the quiz: www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz Find Myles: worthi.com Myles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylestw/
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204. Why Most Growth Strategies Underperform — And the 7C Growth Marketing Framework That Fixes Them
Many growth marketing strategies underperform because they’re built on incomplete foundations. Despite better data, better tools, and endless optimization, brand growth and customer acquisition feel harder than they should. Campaigns convert — but they don’t compound. Customer experience improves — but loyalty stalls. Personalization gets sharper — but relevance feels thinner. In this episode, I break down why. You’ll learn why modern growth strategy often misses critical structural elements — and I introduce the 7C Growth Marketing Framework, a model designed to strengthen the foundation of your growth marketing system. We’ll explore: The hidden gaps causing growth strategies to underperform Why optimizing tactics without fixing structure limits customer acquisition How trust, identity, and customer experience shape buying decisions The seven elements inside the 7C framework — and how they work together What it takes to build a brand growth strategy that compounds over time This isn’t about hacks, trends, or short-term lifts. It’s about rebuilding growth strategy so it reflects how real people evaluate brands today — and designing a marketing system strong enough to scale. Take the quiz: What's slowing your brand's growth: www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz
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203. Relevance Over Reach: The Growth Marketing Playbook for 2026 (Dense Bean Salad Girl Case Study)
What if your growth problem isn’t performance — it’s relevance? In this episode, I break down what Dense Bean Salad Girl’s rise to 3 million followers and 125,000 subscribers reveals about how growth marketing actually works in 2026. No paid ads. No massive media budget. No interruptive campaigns. Instead, Violet Witchell entered a conversation already happening — about protein, fiber, affordability, and meal prep — and made herself genuinely useful. Her story reveals four shifts reshaping brand growth and customer acquisition today: • Enter the conversation already happening in your customer’s mind • Build trust in the margins — not just through campaigns • Design for identity without othering anyone • Recognize that your best marketers aren’t on your payroll If you’re a CMO or brand leader wondering why: – Customer acquisition costs are rising – Campaign performance feels harder to sustain – Discovery has fragmented – “General market” messaging isn’t landing This episode explains what’s changed — and what the new growth marketing playbook requires. Because in 2026, growth doesn’t come from being louder. It comes from being more relevant. What's slowing your brand's growth? www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz Violet's substack: https://violetcooks.substack.com/ Violet's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@violetwitchel Violet's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violetwitchel/?hl=en
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202. How Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Became a Blueprint for Modern Brand Growth
When Bad Bunny took the stage at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, it wasn’t just a performance — it was a masterclass in modern brand growth. In this episode, we break down why Bad Bunny’s halftime show resonated so deeply with audiences — and what brand leaders, CMOs, and growth marketers should learn from it. Because this wasn’t just about music. It was about: Cultural relevance Identity-driven marketing Audience intimacy And building brands that reflect the communities they serve Too many brands chase growth through scale alone. But Bad Bunny’s moment on one of the world’s biggest stages revealed something more powerful: growth today belongs to brands that understand culture, represent real people, and remove friction between identity and experience. If you’re a marketing leader navigating: Slowing ROI Fragmented audiences The limits of traditional growth marketing Or the tension between scale and relevance This episode will show you why cultural alignment — not just campaign optimization — is the blueprint for brand growth today. What's slowing your brand's growth? Take the quick assessment to find out (and what to do next): www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz
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201. Why the Traditional Growth Marketing Model Is Failing in a Fragmented Market
Growth marketing was built on continuous improvement — experiment, optimize, compound. But for many brand leaders today, growth no longer feels like it’s compounding. Despite more data, more tools, and more optimization than ever before, ROI is slipping and hitting growth targets is getting harder. That’s not a discipline problem. It’s a growth marketing model problem. In this pillar episode, I break down why the traditional growth marketing model — including the AARRR framework (Awareness, Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, Revenue) — is no longer optimized for how modern consumers make decisions. Built for scale and efficiency in a general-market era, these models struggle in today’s fragmented, identity-driven landscape. Drawing on insights from the American Marketing Association and a conversation with Bennie F. Johnson, this episode explores: Why growth marketing optimization is breaking down despite best practices How scale without intention creates friction across the funnel Where identity friction shows up across Awareness, Acquisition, Activation, Retention, and Revenue Why relevance — not reach alone — is now critical to sustainable growth How an identity-layered approach helps growth compound again This episode focuses on diagnosing why growth marketing stopped compounding — not tactical fixes, but how the underlying model needs to evolve to reflect how people actually make decisions today. If growth feels harder than it should, this episode explains why — and sets the foundation for what modern growth marketing requires now. Find out what's slowing your growth - www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz Interview with Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of AMA - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/trust-in-marketing-bennie-f-johnson/ How to use data to increase customer success for all - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/ep-146-how-to-use-data-to-increase-customer-success-for-all-with-deborah-pickett/
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200. The Glitch in Modern Marketing — And How It’s Harming Brand Growth
Modern marketing excels at personalization — until it reaches one consistent area where many brands still break down, costing them growth and frustrating customers in the process. In this milestone episode, Sonia Thompson explores The Glitch in Modern Marketing — and why brands that are otherwise sophisticated in growth marketing and customer acquisition often hesitate, stall, or retreat when identity enters the picture. Marketers know how to tailor products, experiences, and messaging by behavior, lifecycle stage, and preferences. But when personalization intersects with human identity, that rigor often disappears — replaced by assumptions and a return to “general market” thinking. This episode breaks down: Why identity shapes how customers decide what’s “for someone like me” How general market marketing quietly creates friction and lost sales Why asking customers to adapt is no longer a neutral choice And how integrating identity completes personalization — instead of complicating it If growth feels harder than it should, this episode will help you see what’s been missing — and how to fix it. Find out what's slowing your growth: www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz
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199. Brand Growth Strategy in 2026: 5 Marketplace Shifts Reshaping How Brands Grow
Many brands are finding that the growth strategies that once worked aren’t delivering the same results anymore. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the marketplace shifts reshaping brand growth strategy in 2026 and beyond — and why traditional growth playbooks are falling flat. From trust becoming a real constraint on growth, to discovery happening in entirely new ways, this episode explains what’s changed in the market — and what brands need to do differently to grow today. If your brand’s growth feels harder than it used to, this episode will help you understand why — and how to adapt your brand growth strategy for the market we’re actually in. Take the Frictionless Growth Quiz to identify where your brand may be creating hidden friction: frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz Also mentioned in this episode: Episode 198: The Growth Strategy Behind Crayola's Global Initiative Engaging 17 Million Kids | Brand Strategy and Customer Acquisition Case Study - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/brand-ecosystem-crayola/
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198. The Growth Strategy Behind Crayola’s Global Initiative Engaging 17 Million Kids | Brand Strategy and Customer Acquisition Case Study
In year one, Crayola launched a global initiative expecting to engage about 500,000 kids. Instead, more than 2 million participated. Five years later, that same initiative now engages over 17 million kids across more than 120 countries. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the brand strategy and customer acquisition approach behind that scale with Crayola’s Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they explore how the brand designed a global initiative rooted in inclusive marketing principles — and how focusing on engagement across the customer journey became a powerful engine for building trust, relationships, and long-term growth. You’ll hear how Crayola: Used brand strategy to design a global initiative that scales year over year Approached customer acquisition through participation, not promotion Built an ecosystem across products, experiences, and content Applied inclusive marketing to engage diverse audiences worldwide This conversation offers a clear lesson for modern brands: sustainable growth comes from engaging customers throughout the journey — not just reaching them once. If you’re curious how other billion-dollar brands are driving growth in today’s market, I’ve linked my Billion-Dollar Brands Roadmap in the show notes. It breaks down the strategies leading brands are using to build relevance, trust, and loyalty at scale. - www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmap Crayola Creativity Week 2026 - https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week
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197. AMA 2026 Marketing Trends: How Trust, AI, and Audience Fragmentation Are Rewriting the Rules of Growth
Marketing is shifting — and many brands feel it, even if they can’t yet name it. In this episode, Sonia Thompson speaks with Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association, about the AMA 2026 Marketing Trends shaping the future of modern marketing and growth marketing. They unpack how trust in marketing, AI in marketing, and audience fragmentation are rewriting the rules of growth — driving up customer acquisition costs, raising expectations for relevance, and reshaping how brands build credibility in identity-driven communities. Drawing on insights from the AMA’s 2026 Future Trends in Marketing research, this conversation explores what’s changing beneath the surface — from responsible artificial intelligence, inclusive leadership, and evolving workforce models to the implications for growth strategy in today’s complex marketing environment. 🎧 A must-listen for CMOs, growth leaders, and brand strategists navigating the next era of modern growth marketing.
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196. Why Growth Requires Evolution: Rethinking Brand Strategy and the Customer Journey
Brand growth today depends on evolving your brand strategy and improving the customer journey to meet changing consumer expectations. In this episode of Frictionless Growth Marketing, Sonia Thompson explores why traditional growth playbooks are breaking down — and what this moment is asking of marketers and business leaders instead. Drawing on real-world brand examples and cultural shifts, Sonia breaks down how friction shows up across customer acquisition, customer experience, and customer retention — often in ways teams don’t immediately see. You’ll learn how modern marketing requires removing the friction that slows growth, erodes trust, and pushes customers away — and how to adapt your strategy to grow with clarity and confidence in today’s market. If you’re rethinking how to grow in a changing landscape, this episode will help you understand what needs to evolve — and where to focus next. This episode also marks the next chapter of the show — not as a departure from the past, but as a sharper focus on what actually drives growth now. If you want to understand where friction may be quietly limiting your growth, start with clarity. Take the free quiz to identify what’s slowing your growth: frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz And if you’re ready for deeper support, you can also explore growth audits and focused roadmapping sessions designed to help teams remove friction and unlock performance. Because evolution isn’t a loss of identity. It’s a commitment to effectiveness.
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195. What 2025’s Biggest Marketing Mistakes Teach Us About Brand Growth
Brand growth today depends on avoiding the marketing mistakes that quietly erode trust, relevance, and customer loyalty. In this episode of Frictionless Growth Marketing, Sonia Thompson breaks down the biggest marketing mishaps of 2025 and the critical lessons they reveal about brand growth, customer expectations, and modern marketing strategy. Drawing from real-world brand backlash and high-profile missteps, you’ll learn how friction shows up in messaging, brand decisions, and customer experiences — and why those mistakes matter more than ever in today’s values-driven, identity-rich market. This episode explores: • What 2025’s biggest marketing mistakes reveal about brand growth • How misaligned messaging creates friction across the customer journey • Why trust, cultural relevance, and clarity are non-negotiable in modern marketing • What marketers must do differently to grow in 2026 and beyond If you want to build sustainable brand growth — without repeating the mistakes that cost other brands trust and traction — this episode will help you see what’s really holding growth back, and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. Not sure where friction is holding your growth back? Take this quick quiz to see your biggest opportunities — and get matched with the podcast episodes you need most to eliminate friction that's slowing your growth: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6945aaa3000543001536b23b
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194. How Messaging Creates (or Removes) Friction in the Customer Journey — and Why It Matters for Business Growth
Most brands think their messaging is clear. Their customers often disagree. In this episode of Frictionless Growth Marketing, Sonia Thompson sits down with Dr. J.J. Peterson — marketing and communication expert, former Head of StoryBrand, and former co-host of the globally top-ranked Marketing Made Simple podcast, and current host of the podcast Badass Softie — to unpack how messaging can either remove friction or quietly block business growth at every stage of the customer journey. Together, they explore why unclear messaging is one of the most overlooked sources of friction in marketing — and how it leads to lost trust, stalled conversion, and missed growth opportunities, especially with today’s identity-rich, values-driven consumers. This episode will help you spot where your messaging may be slowing customers down — and how to realign it to drive business growth. You’ll learn: How unclear messaging creates friction across the customer journey Why customers need to see themselves in your story to take action How storytelling increases clarity, trust, and conversion Where brands unintentionally push customers away with their language and positioning How to communicate with empathy and authority — without sounding generic or salesy Why clear, human messaging is essential for sustainable business growth Dr. Peterson also shares powerful real-world examples, lessons from working with global brands, and insights on how leaders can show up as guides — not heroes — in their customers’ stories. If you want to improve customer experience, remove messaging friction, and drive business growth through clearer, more human communication, this episode will help you see exactly where to start.
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193. Is Your Brand Ready for the Super Bowl, Olympics & World Cup? How Smart Brands Win 2026’s Biggest Cultural Moments (No Big Budget Needed)
The Super Bowl, the Olympics, and the FIFA World Cup are all happening in 2026 — and they’re not just sporting events. They’re cultural events powered by identity, influence, community, and the underrepresented audiences shaping modern fandom. The brands that win next year won’t be the ones with the biggest budgets — they’ll be the ones with the deepest cultural understanding and the strongest consumer trust. In this episode of Frictionless Growth Marketing, Sonia Thompson — inclusive growth and customer experience strategist — sits down with Cesar Martinez, Chief Commercial Officer at Sonoro, the largest multicultural podcast network in the world. Together, they break down: • Why major 2026 cultural moments (Super Bowl, Olympics, World Cup) require a new marketing playbook• The identity-led communities driving modern sports fandom — and why they’re essential for brand growth• How to connect meaningfully with Latino, Gen Z, and multicultural audiences (without pandering or stereotypes)• Why cultural competency is now a growth strategy, not a “nice to have”• The risks of getting it wrong — and the long-term benefits of getting it right• How brands of ANY size can show up in culture (even without a big-game budget) If your brand wants to grow in 2026 and beyond, this episode will show you exactly how to remove friction, build trust, and create marketing that resonates in moments that matter. Because the brands that understand and participate in culture will win next year and beyond. Work with Sonia Unlock sustainable, frictionless growth in your business: Friction Finder™ Growth Audit — Identify the friction points pushing customers away and learn exactly how to fix them - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/frictionfinder/ Frictionless Growth Roadmapping Session™ — Build a clear, confident plan for sustainable growth with today’s customer - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmapping/ Inclusive Growth Retainer — Partner with Sonia to optimize your customer journey, marketing, and experience for long-term growth - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/retainer Links from the episode: Sonoro - https://sonoromedia.com/ Cesar Martinez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesar-martinez-1b34376/
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192. The New Rules of Brand–Consumer Trust: What LinkedIn, Disney & Ralph Lauren Just Made Impossible to Ignore
Consumers today aren’t just buying products — they’re buying alignment, transparency, cultural fluency, and trust. And trust has officially become one of the most powerful growth marketing levers a brand can pull. In this episode, Sonia Thompson — inclusive growth and customer experience strategist — breaks down what three real-world stories from LinkedIn, Disney, and Ralph Lauren reveal about the new rules of brand–consumer trust and how they directly impact growth, loyalty, and long-term revenue. From algorithmic bias to cultural accuracy to identity-centered storytelling, these case studies show exactly why frictionless, values-led, inclusive marketing isn’t optional anymore — it’s a competitive advantage. You’ll learn: Why trust is now a core growth metric and a deciding factor in customer acquisition and loyalty How Disney’s Moana backlash demonstrates the business impact of cultural accuracy and responsible creative decisions What Ralph Lauren’s evolution teaches us about identity-driven brand building and long-term growth Why LinkedIn’s algorithmic bias debate highlights the rising expectations around responsible AI and inclusive design How representation, transparency, and cultural fluency shape modern customer experience The specific behaviors today’s consumers reward — and the ones that create friction, backlash, and brand erosion If you want to build a frictionless growth engine that resonates with today’s identity-led, culturally connected consumers, this episode gives you the clarity and direction you need for 2026 and beyond. The LinkedIn post and article referenced from LinkedIn staff - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sakshirjain_putting-members-first-testing-and-measuring-activity-7397384012421451776-M7A8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAADoGrYBxCncTQK1uoD5k0MgXOrx3330CMI
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191. The 2025 Marketing Shifts I’m Most Grateful For — and What They Mean for 2026
In this short reflection episode, Sonia Thompson — inclusive growth and customer experience strategist — shares the 2025 marketing shifts she’s most grateful for… and what they signal for brands heading into 2026. This year, marketers saw consumers use their voices and their wallets more boldly than ever, brands standing firmer in their values, and more companies finally recognizing the power of growth communities — the underrepresented and underserved groups who are shaping culture, influence, and buying behavior. Inside the episode, you’ll learn: Why consumer activism accelerated this year (and what it means for trust and loyalty) How values-led brands like Costco, GAP, and Levi’s grew by staying true to what they stand for The rise of growth communities — and why they represent one of the biggest opportunities for modern marketers Why frictionless marketing isn’t a trend… it’s the future What these shifts mean for your 2026 growth strategy If you’re focused on inclusion, customer experience, brand trust, or growth marketing, this episode will help you understand the cultural and strategic forces that will define the year ahead.
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190. I Reviewed 50 Brand Websites — Here’s Where Friction Is Costing Brands Customers
Hidden friction on your website may be quietly costing your brand customers — even if your intentions are good, your messaging is strong, and traffic is coming in. After reviewing 50 brand websites across industries, markets, and company sizes, clear friction patterns emerged that consistently limit growth, reduce conversions, and weaken customer trust. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the most common friction points she uncovered while reviewing these sites — from gaps in representation and inclusive language to accessibility oversights and customer experience breakdowns that create invisible barriers throughout the customer journey. These issues often go unnoticed because they don’t feel “broken,” yet they steadily push ideal customers away. You’ll learn: Where website friction most commonly hides How customer experience gaps quietly reduce conversions Why friction-filled experiences slow customer acquisition and brand growth How issues like representation, language, and accessibility impact trust Practical ways to identify and remove friction across your customer journey This episode is essential listening for growth leaders and marketers focused on growth marketing, customer experience, website conversions, and building frictionless experiences that work for today’s diverse, identity-rich customers.
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189. Find the Hidden Friction in Your Customer Journey (Before It Costs You Customers)
Hidden friction can exist anywhere in your customer journey — even when your brand has good intentions, strong values, and a solid product. These small, often invisible moments quietly frustrate customers, slow conversions, and limit brand growth long before teams realize there’s a problem. In this episode, Sonia Thompson introduces her Friction Finder Growth Audit framework, a practical approach designed to help brands uncover and remove the friction hiding across their customer experience. You’ll learn how friction shows up at different stages of the customer journey, why it’s so easy for teams to miss, and how even minor experience breakdowns can compound into lost customers and weakened trust. Sonia walks through how brands can identify friction tied to messaging, experience design, customer touchpoints, and internal assumptions — and how addressing these gaps can unlock stronger growth, loyalty, and long-term performance. You’ll learn: What “hidden friction” really looks like across the customer journey Why friction often goes unnoticed inside well-intentioned brands How customer experience gaps limit growth and conversions How to use the Friction Finder Growth Audit to diagnose issues Where to focus first to remove friction and improve results This episode is essential for growth leaders and marketers focused on customer experience, growth marketing, customer journey optimization, and building frictionless experiences that convert and retain customers.
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188. 4 Growth Marketing Mistakes That Prevent Brands From Reaching High-Growth Communities
Many brands want to grow — but too many are still using outdated growth marketing strategies that fail to connect with today’s most influential and high-growth communities. As consumer expectations shift, brands that rely on surface-level tactics and copy-and-paste campaigns are quietly losing trust, loyalty, and long-term ROI. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down four common growth marketing mistakes that consistently prevent brands from reaching and resonating with the communities driving today’s marketplace. Drawing on her experience as a growth and customer experience strategist, Sonia explains why these missteps happen, how they show up in real-world marketing strategies, and what brands need to do differently to unlock sustainable growth. From superficial inclusion to transactional campaign thinking, Sonia reveals what’s really holding brands back — and how to replace ineffective tactics with strategies that build trust, relevance, and meaningful connection. You’ll learn how to: Identify the growth marketing mistakes limiting reach and impact Move beyond representation to build genuine customer connection Design growth strategies that resonate with influential communities Replace short-term campaigns with trust and loyalty that last Build marketing strategies that support sustainable brand growth Today’s fastest-growing brands don’t just reach people — they resonate with them. This episode is essential for marketers and growth leaders focused on growth marketing, brand growth, customer trust, and building strategies that work with today’s diverse, identity-rich audiences.
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187. Why Growth Marketing Isn’t Working Like It Used To (And What to Do Instead)
If your ads, campaigns, or funnels aren’t delivering the results they used to, it’s not just the algorithm — and it’s not just you. Growth marketing has changed because consumers have changed. When strategies fall out of sync with how people make decisions today, performance starts to stall. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down why traditional growth marketing strategies are losing effectiveness — and what brands need to do instead to realign with today’s consumers. Drawing on shifts in customer expectations, identity, and values, Sonia explains why many performance-driven tactics are producing diminishing returns and how brands can evolve their approach to drive sustainable growth. You’ll learn: Why traditional performance marketing tactics aren’t working like they used to How evolving consumer identities, values, and expectations are reshaping ROI The key shifts required to modernize your growth marketing strategy How to lead with identity, communicate values clearly, and build connection What it takes to future-proof growth without relying on outdated playbooks If your growth has stalled — or if you’re ready to evolve how you attract, convert, and retain customers — this episode will help you realign your growth marketing strategy with how today’s customers actually decide. Because growth isn’t broken — it’s just misaligned.
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186. Why the Fastest-Growing Brands Start With “Who,” Not “What”
Most growth marketing strategies start with what to do — launch a new campaign, open a new channel, or create a new product. But the fastest-growing brands today start somewhere very different: with who they’re growing with. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the mindset shift powering today’s fastest-growing brands — the shift from focusing on tactics to focusing on people. As the first episode in the Growth Marketing series, this conversation reframes how brands should think about growth in a market shaped by identity, community, and evolving customer expectations. Sonia explains why effective growth marketing begins with understanding people, not platforms — and how brands that lead with “who” are better positioned to build loyalty, relevance, and sustainable growth. You’ll also hear how well-known brands have grown by serving specific growth communities instead of chasing every new channel or trend. You’ll learn: Why growth marketing starts with people, not tactics or platforms How focusing on “who” changes how brands design strategy How growth communities drive loyalty and long-term performance Practical ways to identify the audiences that will fuel your next stage of growth How starting with “who” leads to stronger, more sustainable results Whether you lead marketing for a global brand or run a growing business, this episode will help you design growth marketing strategies that start with people — and scale with intention. Because when you start with who, the what takes care of itself.
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185. The Proof Your Customer Acquisition Strategy Needs to Convert More Customers
Most brands focus on awareness in their customer acquisition strategy—but neglect the proof that actually drives conversions. In this episode of Inclusion & Marketing, Sonia Thompson explains why relevant social proof is the missing piece that helps customers see themselves in your brand—and feel confident saying yes. You’ll learn how to show “people like me succeed here,” why belonging matters just as much as benefits, and how to weave proof of success naturally into every part of your customer journey. If you want to turn more awareness into action—and more browsers into buyers—this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Other episodes in The New Rules of Customer Acquisition Series: 177. The #1 customer acquisition rule to boost conversions and maximize ROI - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/ 178. Win more customers with these 17 proven customer acquisition strategies - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/178-win-more-customers-with-these-17-proven-customer/id1604907821?i=1000723850008 | Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/episode/20g1LPHdTKonIi4Mg0mArn?si=6058bac77a364a62 183. How to increase the effectiveness of your customer acquisition strategy - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/183-how-to-increase-the-effectiveness-of-your/id1604907821?i=1000729666137 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/06uWd7kXFQNLtPsTYZFgQI?si=bce30052698a46d5
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184. Why Smart Brands Are Winning with Growth Communities (And You Should Too)
Most brands overlook underrepresented and underserved consumers — but these are the communities driving the biggest growth opportunities today. In this episode of Inclusion & Marketing, Sonia Thompson sits down with Edgar Hernandez, Chief Strategy Officer at MyCode, the U.S.’s largest multicultural media company. Together they unpack how MyCode helps brands grow by engaging the audiences most marketers ignore — and why “growth communities” should be at the center of every modern marketing strategy. You’ll learn why inclusive marketing is growth marketing, what forward-thinking brands are doing differently, and how your team can use inclusion as a powerful driver of business results. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Edgar Hernandez - [email protected] My Code - https://mycodemedia.com/
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183. How to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Customer Acquisition Strategy
Most brands are eager to launch new campaigns and chase fresh leads. But here’s the truth: if your foundation isn’t strong, your customer acquisition strategy won’t deliver the growth you want. In this episode of Inclusion & Marketing, Sonia Thompson breaks down why “getting your house in order” is the key to making any acquisition strategy more effective. You’ll learn what most companies overlook, how to fix it, and the simple shifts that turn attention into actual conversions. If you want your customer acquisition efforts to work harder and deliver bigger results, this episode is your roadmap. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Other Episodes In This Customer Acquisition Series: The #1 Customer Acquisition Rule to Boost Conversions and Maximize ROI - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/ Win More Customers With These 17 Proven Customer Acquistion Strategies: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/178-win-more-customers-with-these-17-proven-customer/id1604907821?i=1000723850008 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3hC7ezeDfhotEInmHDtL6Z
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182. How This Brand Is Elevating Latinas -- and Redefining the General Market
Inclusive marketing isn’t about business as usual—it’s about disrupting the status quo. In this episode, Sonia Thompson shares a live conversation from HubSpot’s INBOUND conference with the co-founders of DRAFTED, a brand elevating Latinas and reshaping what the “general market” really means. You’ll hear how they’re challenging incorrect narratives, disrupting an entire male-centered industry, and putting overlooked consumers center stage. If you want to understand how inclusive disruption drives loyalty, growth, and cultural relevance, this conversation is a must-listen. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter
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181. Uplevel Your Buyer Personas to Convert More Customers
Buyer personas are supposed to guide your marketing—but too often, they fall short. In this episode, Sonia Thompson, inclusive marketing strategist shares how to uplevel your buyer personas with simple identity-based shifts so they actually reflect your customers. You’ll learn how to move beyond demographics, close the persona gap, and create campaigns that convert more people into loyal customers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter How to plan more inclusive business events with Eman Ismail - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-130-how-to-plan-more-inclusive-business-events-with-eman-ismail/
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180. Performance Marketing’s Biggest Miss—and How to Fix It
Performance marketing is one of the most popular ways brands try to grow. But here’s the problem: too often, leadership decisions create gaps that keep campaigns from reaching their full potential. In this episode, Sonia Thompson sits down with Laura Lee—growth marketing expert, fractional CMO, founder of LL Consulting, and board member of Asians in Advertising—to explore a major miss in performance marketing today. Together, they discuss how decisions around values, customer understanding, and whose voices get prioritized can mean the difference between clicks that fall flat and strategies that drive loyalty and growth. If you want to close the gap, strengthen trust, and ensure your marketing resonates with today’s evolving consumer base, this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Laura Lee on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/llee01/ LL Consulting - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamllconsulting/ Asians In Advertising - https://www.asiansinadvertising.com/
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179. 3 Essential Marketing Lessons Every Brand Can Learn from Cracker Barrel’s Logo Backlash
Cracker Barrel’s logo redesign didn’t just spark backlash—it exposed cracks in leadership decision-making. In this episode, Sonia Thompson shares 3 timeless marketing lessons every brand leader needs to keep their business backlash-proof. Discover how decisions around values, who’s really in charge, and whose voices guide your strategy can make or break customer trust. Tune in for practical insights to help you lead with clarity, avoid costly missteps, and build a brand that resonates with today’s consumers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter -- www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter
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178. Win More Customers With These 17 Proven Customer Acquisition Strategies
Want more customers? You need better customer acquisition strategies — ones that actually work in today’s marketplace. Too many brands still take a passive “build it and they will come” approach, but today’s consumers — especially those from underrepresented and underserved communities — don’t show up where they haven’t been invited. In this episode, Sonia Thompson, inclusive marketing strategist and host of Inclusion & Marketing, shares 20 proven customer acquisition strategies you can use to win more customers now. Organized into five key pillars — Visibility, Belonging, Experience, Voice, and Conversion — you’ll hear real-world examples from brands like NYX, Mastercard, Toyota, and Ralph Lauren. Whether you’re a marketing leader at a Fortune 100 company or an entrepreneur building your customer base, this episode is your playbook for attracting, converting, and keeping more of the people you want to serve. Stop waiting for customers to find you. Start inviting them in. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter This is the 2nd episode in "The New Rules of Customer Acquisition" series. Listen to the first episode here: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/the-1-customer-acquisition-rule-to-boost-conversions-and-maximize-roi/
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177. The #1 Customer Acquisition Rule to Boost Conversions and Maximize ROI
Most brands want more customers, better conversions, and stronger ROI. But here’s the catch: when it comes to customer acquisition, there’s one critical rule most brands completely skip. And missing it could be the reason your campaigns aren’t delivering the results you want. In this episode, you’ll discover the #1 rule of customer acquisition that turns efforts into measurable growth. I break down why this overlooked step is the foundation of successful strategies, how skipping it sabotages your conversions, and what you can do to apply it immediately. If you’re ready to boost conversions, maximize ROI, and build a customer acquisition engine that actually works, this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter
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176. How to Create AI Prompts That Eliminate Bias and Win More Customers
AI is powerful — but it’s not perfect. Hidden biases in AI-generated content can quietly push away the very customers you want to attract. In this episode, I share exactly how to create AI prompts that eliminate bias and help you win more customers. You’ll learn: The simple question every customer — especially from underrepresented groups — asks before buying How to give AI the right context so it creates inclusive, high-converting content Specific AI prompt examples you can use to review and create bias-free marketing materials Ways to train AI to reflect your brand’s values and speak directly to your ideal customers Whether you’re using AI for copywriting, content review, or campaign brainstorming, these strategies will help you produce marketing that’s inclusive, on-brand, and built to convert. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Episode 95: Navigating the effective use of AI for inclusive marketing with Joyann Boyce - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-95-navigating-the-effective-use-of-ai-for-inclusive-marketing-with-joyann-boyce/
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175. 2 Marketing Lessons Every Brand Should Learn from the American Eagle Controversy and Love Island
Two pop culture moments. Two powerful marketing lessons your brand can’t afford to miss. In this episode, I breaks down the biggest key takaway for marketers from the American Eagle X Sydney Sweeney controversey, and a viral interview with two stars of Love Island USA season 7. Both examples teach us about what today’s customers really want from the brands they buy from. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Episode 174: The Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle Campaign Everyone's Talking About - 5 Real Lessons for Marketers On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WpSvXMPSPR4gCxEjQSmsq?si=bc296299d8d24a2a On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/174-the-sydney-sweeney-x-american-eagle-campaign/id1604907821?i=1000720099771
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174. The Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle Campaign Everyone’s Talking About — 5 Real Lessons for Marketers
The Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle campaign made headlines, sparked debate, and flooded social feeds. But beyond the buzz lies a deeper story marketers can’t afford to ignore. In this episode, I unpack 5 real lessons from the campaign marketers can't afford to miss. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter
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173. How to Win the $2.8 Trillion Latino Market Most Brands Are Ignoring
The Latino community in the U.S. is reshaping the future of consumer markets — yet most brands are missing key opportunities to connect authentically. Did you know Gen Z is already 1 in 5 Latino, and Gen Alpha is 1 in 4? In this episode, I sit down with Claudia Romo Edelman, CEO and Founder of the We Are All Human Foundation, to discuss the groundbreaking 2025 Hispanic Sentiment Study. Claudia shares eye-opening insights on how brands are falling short in marketing to Latino consumers and offers actionable strategies to build trust, cultural relevance, and growth. Whether you’re a marketer, brand leader, or business owner, this episode reveals the most significant growth opportunity you can’t afford to ignore. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com 2025 Hispanic Sentiment Study - https://www.hispanicstar.org/hispanic-sentiment-study We Are All Human - https://www.weareallhuman.org/ Claudia Romo Edelman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiaromoedelman/
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172. Behavioral Scientist Reveals a Highly Effective Way to Improve Customer Experience for More People
Want to improve customer experience for more people — and do it in a way that’s inclusive, intentional, and backed by data? In this episode, I’m joined by behavioral scientist and data psychologist Patrick Fagan, who ran a fascinating year-long experiment: trying one new experience every single week. His goal? To expand his perspective and build deeper empathy — something all brands need if they want to create experiences that make people feel like they truly belong. You’ll learn why customer experience and inclusive marketing are inseparable — and how diversifying your circle of influence can be a highly effective (and often overlooked) strategy for doing both well. This idea is part of my 5C’s framework for building inclusive brands — and in this conversation, we explore how exposure to new people, places, and ideas can transform how you serve all your customers. If you want practical insights on creating more meaningful, equitable brand experiences — this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Patrick Fagan - https://www.patrickfagan.co.uk/
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171. The Best-Practice Strategy Most Brands Ignore — And How got2b Used It to Drive Growth
Co-creation is a best-practice strategy in inclusive marketing — but most brands don’t use it consistently or effectively. In this episode, I sit down with Luis Valadez, Senior Brand Manager at hair care brand got2b, to explore how the brand leans into co-creation to build deeper trust, drive consumer engagement, and fuel growth. If you want to learn what it looks like to put inclusive marketing into practice at a global level, this conversation is a must-listen. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter got2b - https://www.got2b.com/about/co-creation.html
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170. How Inclusive Brand Partnerships Drive Real Growth
Inclusive marketing isn’t a tactic—it’s a thread that should run through every part of your marketing mix, including your brand partnerships. In this episode, I sit down with Jake Schonberger, Head of Brand Partnerships at Beehiv, to explore how brands are taking a more inclusive approach to partnerships to connect with a broader, more diverse audience. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, real examples, and insights to make your next collaboration more impactful—and more inclusive. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Beehiv - https://www.beehiiv.com/
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169. Your Inclusive Marketing Will Struggle Without This Team Dynamic
One of the most overlooked elements of inclusive marketing? The team behind it. It’s not enough to have diverse talent at the table — you also need the right team dynamics to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, valued, and empowered to shape the work. Without that, your inclusive marketing efforts will struggle to land with the people you serve. In this episode, I sit down with author and employer brand strategist John Graham to unpack why psychological safety and team culture are critical to marketing success. We talk about what gets in the way, what leaders often miss, and what it really takes to build an environment where authenticity thrives — and great marketing follows. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter John Graham LinkedIn post I referenced - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johngrahamcreative_dei-activity-7337134473370587136-YAt5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAADoGrYBxCncTQK1uoD5k0MgXOrx3330CMI John Graham on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngrahamcreative/ John's Company - Shaker Recruitment Marketing - https://shaker.com/
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168. The KPI Mistake That’s Costing You Customers (and How to Fix It)
Brands rely on KPIs to know if they’re on the right track — but what if the metrics you’re using are actually leading you off course? In this episode, I break down the KPI mistake that could be costing you customers and killing your growth — especially if you're trying to reach a more diverse audience. As an inclusive marketing strategist, I’ve seen how traditional KPIs often fail to tell the full story. I’ll share what most brands overlook, and how to reframe your metrics to make better, more inclusive decisions. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Ep. 146: How to use data to increase customer success for all - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-146-how-to-use-data-to-increase-customer-success-for-all-with-deborah-pickett/
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167. What Consumers Expect in 2025: Inside Kantar’s Global Inclusion Index
You've probably heard me say it before: inclusive marketing is the future of marketing. And the data keeps proving it. In this episode, I’m joined by Valeria Piaggio, Head of Inclusive Growth at global insights powerhouse Kantar. We dive into the latest findings from Kantar’s Global Brand Inclusion Index, which shows that consumers around the world expect brands to lead with inclusion. We unpack what the research reveals, what it means for marketers and brand leaders, and even touch on insights from another new study Kantar is releasing. If you're building a brand that wants to grow with intention — this episode is for you. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Kantar's Brand Inclusion Index - https://www.kantar.com/campaigns/brand-inclusion-index
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166. What It Really Takes to Execute a Multilingual Content Strategy That Drives Global Growth
In today’s global marketplace, content that connects across languages and cultures isn’t optional — it’s a growth necessity. But translating your message is just the beginning. In this episode, I’m joined by Shaheen Samavati, CEO of Vera Content, a multilingual content agency working with brands like Sony Music Spain to adapt their messaging for international markets. We dive into the real-world operational side of multilingual content — from localization workflows to managing quality at scale, and how to align language strategy with your global business goals. Whether you’re just starting to expand globally or refining your approach, this conversation will give you practical insights to help your brand truly resonate with audiences around the world. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Vera Content - https://veracontent.com/
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165: The inclusive marketing framework big brands are using with Jerry Daykin [Rebroadcast]
Inclusive marketing is more than a trend—it's a necessary shift in how brands communicate, connect, and grow. But with so many layers to consider, where do you start? In this episode, I sat down with Jerry Daykin, global marketing leader and author of Inclusive Marketing, to break down an inclusive marketing framework many top brands are leaning into and/or are extracting elements from. With senior roles at brands like Beam Suntory, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Diageo, and Mondelez, Jerry brings deep, real-world experience to the conversation. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter - www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter
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164. Inside the Inclusive Marketing Playbooks of Billion-Dollar Brands (and one million dollar one)
Want to know how billion-dollar brands approach inclusive marketing—from the inside out? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes with five standout brand leaders who are driving real impact through inclusive marketing. You'll hear highlights from interviews that reveal the unique strategies, decisions, and philosophies behind their success. Each leader shares how they’ve built inclusion into the core of their brand—and what that actually looks like in practice. I’ve always learned best by observing what others do—and this episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable takeaways you can apply to your own marketing. Whether you're leading a team or building your brand from scratch, you'll walk away with ideas and inspiration to make your marketing more inclusive and more effective. 🎧 Press play to step inside the inclusive marketing playbooks of some of the world’s most influential brands. 👉🏾 Want even more insights like this? Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Here are the full interviews that the excerpts from this episode came from: 106. How Zumba built a global customer base in more than 180 countries - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-106-how-zumba-built-a-global-customer-base-in-more-than-180-countries/ 113. How Lysol drives brand growth with inclusive marketing with CMO Gary Osifchin - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-113-how-lysol-drives-brand-growth-with-inclusive-marketing-with-cmo-gary-osifchin/ 122. How Micheal Graves Design & Pottery Barn are working to bring accessible home design to more consumers - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-122-how-michael-graves-design-pottery-barn-are-working-to-bring-accessible-home-design-to-more-consumers/ 127. How to create a multilingual content strategy with Selim Dahmani - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-127-how-to-create-a-multilingual-content-strategy-with-selim-dahmani/ 158. Creating inclusive video marketing at Wistia, with Taylor Corrado - https://inclusionandmarketing.com/ep-158-creating-inclusive-video-marketing-at-wistia-with-taylor-corrado/
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Brand growth today depends on removing friction from your marketing and customer experience to attract and retain more of the people you want to serve.Frictionless Growth Marketing is the podcast for marketers, business leaders, and founders who want to grow by eliminating the messaging, experience, and strategy gaps that quietly push customers away every single day.Hosted by Sonia Thompson, Inclusive Growth and Customer Experience Strategist, the show breaks down how modern brands drive sustainable growth by designing frictionless customer journeys, building trust with identity-rich growth communities, and adapting to changing consumer expectations with clarity and confidence.Each week, you’ll hear practical insights, real brand examples, and candid conversations with marketing leaders and subject-matter experts on: Brand strategy that fuels long-term business growth in the age of modern marketing Custo
HOSTED BY
Sonia Thompson | Inclusive Growth & Customer Experience Strategist
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