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In Episode 80 of Creator Economy Live, we’re joined by Kara Salazar, who leads influencer marketing at Southwest Airlines. Kara breaks down how the brand’s creator strategy has evolved over the past four years — from launching and scaling Southwest Creator Day (including its international expansion to Cancun) to managing major cultural moments like the assigned seats announcement and the massive social response that followed.

We also dig into what makes influencer marketing in the airline industry uniquely challenging, whether “free flights for posts” is really a thing, and how Southwest balances brand storytelling with real-time community feedback. Plus, Keith and Brendan unpack the latest creator economy news — from TikTok’s Branded Buzz payouts to Instagram’s hashtag limits and YouTube’s new AI creator tools.

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Want to hear this content and more LIVE? Join us at Creator Economy Live, January 13 - 14 2026 in Las Vegas! Save 20% off your ticket with code CELPOD20 at checkout.

On the 12 months of 2025, the social platforms gave to thee… a booming creator economy.

It’s our annual holiday special, and we’re back with the 12 Stories of Social—a festive, no-holds-barred look at the biggest moments that shaped creators, brands, and platforms this year. From age bans and algorithmic control to episodic content, creator media empires, livestream shopping, and the return of the written word, we’re breaking down what really mattered in 2025.

This year, we’re switching things up and inviting friends to the table to wax poetic, sip some eggnog, and debate the state of the creator economy with us, including Aneesh Lai, Kerry Flynn, and Monica Khan.

Together, we crown Creator of the Year and Brand of the Year, revisit the rise of creator content everywhere (yes, everywhere), and ask the big question as YouTube turns 20: is monoculture officially dead?

Hit play for laughs, hot takes, and a definitive look back at the year that supercharged the creator economy - and what it all means heading into 2026 🎄🎧

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Want these insights and more in person? Join us in Las Vegas, January 13 - 14 2026 for Creator Economy Live West and use code CELPOD20 at checkout!

This week Keith & Brendan are joined by Rob Mayhew, the creator who’s become the unofficial spokesperson for agency life, to talk about turning industry satire into real brand value, making the leap to full-time creator, and why B2B brands are finally embracing creators who actually get the business. Expect sharp insights, creator economy data you need to know, and a rapid-fire rundown of what’s shaping influence right now.

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Creator Economy Live is back with Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan, and this week we’re joined by Jack Westercamp — one half of Breaking & Entering, the media duo the ad industry can’t stop obsessing over. From Georgina Cox vs. Sweaty Betty, to Timothée Chalamet’s viral parody marketing video, to Facebook’s new creator protection tools and TikTok’s AI slider, we’re breaking down the biggest creator economy stories of the week before diving into Jack’s rise, impact, and what’s next for B&E. Plus: our COW/BOW picks, the trends catching our eye, and all the must-know moments shaping the future of the creator space.

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Want these insights and more in person? Join us in Las Vegas, January 13 - 14 2026 for Creator Economy Live West and use code CELPOD20 at checkout!

Episode 76 of Creator Economy Live dives deep into the future of content with Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios and a veteran of MTV, HBO, Discovery, Jellysmack, Disney, and more. Sean shares why he shifted from traditional media to creator-driven companies, how DMS built its 125,000 sq. ft. production powerhouse in Los Angeles, and what purpose-driven storytelling looks like at scale.

Keith and Brendan also unpack the week’s biggest creator economy headlines — from TikTok Shop’s staggering $19B quarter and Instagram’s new competitor insights, to Facebook Groups opening up and the rise of influencer requests at Make-A-Wish.

You’ll learn:
• Why creators now rival major studios in reach and cultural impact
• What brands still misunderstand about YouTube sponsorships
• How Sean structures priorities between content, community, and growth
• What the business model looks like behind the world’s largest digital scripted studio
• And the creator/brand picks of the week, including SoFi, Whoop, and rising creators shaking up the industry

If you’re building, scaling, or partnering in the creator economy, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

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Mastercard’s Priceless campaign has stood the test of time — but how does a legacy brand stay culturally relevant in a world ruled by creators and constant change?

This week, Keith and Brendan chat with Cheryl Guerin, EVP of Brand Strategy & Innovation at Mastercard, who’s been with the brand for more than two decades and knows what it takes to evolve without losing your core. Cheryl shares how Mastercard is embracing creator partnerships, why influencer marketing deserves more strategic attention, and what marketers can learn from Mastercard’s blend of innovation and consistency.

You’ll also hear her take on cultural moments, creative risk-taking, and the brand’s cutting-edge Artist Accelerator Program.

Before diving in, the hosts catch up on the latest creator economy headlines — including Adobe’s new AI tools, ShopMy’s massive valuation, and the first-ever academic center for the creator economy at Syracuse University.

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Creator Economy Live West is taking place 13 - 14 January 2026! Use code POD20 for 20% off your ticket price.

Join Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan for another episode of Creator Economy Live as they sit down with Ashwinn Krishnaswamy — Brand Expert, Partner at Forge Design, and content creator known for his smart takes on branding and business across TikTok and Instagram. Ashwinn shares his journey from agency life to social stardom, how he balances brand partnerships with running Forge, and what he’s learned about building brands that truly resonate online.

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In this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith and Brendan sit down with Tom Goodwin, author of Digital Darwinism and founder of All We Have Is Now, to explore the shifting balance between creativity and performance in modern marketing.

Tom shares his take on how technology and creator culture are redefining the industry, why marketers lost sight of creativity, and what’s next for brands navigating the fast-changing landscape of content, AI, and consumer expectations.