Episode 60 | What Most DTC Brands Get Wrong In 2025 With Patrick Johnson

This week on After Hours x Above the Fold, I’m joined by my longtime internet friend and professional complainer, Patrick Johnson—engineer, brand builder, and one of the most brutally honest voices in ecomm.

We cover everything from smarter subscription strategies to the death of originality in AI-built websites. Patrick shares what he’s seeing behind the scenes with clients, why most brands copy each other without context, and what actual personalization looks like in 2025.

We also get into founder storytelling (does everyone really need to be the face of their brand?), how to build real community without being cringe, and why bundling isn’t a growth strategy—it’s just vibes if you don’t know your numbers.

If you work in CX, ecomm, or brand strategy—or you’re just tired of beige sites and bloated tech stacks—this episode is packed with takes and tools you can actually use.

🎧 Listen now for insights on building smarter, designing better, and getting real about what works in DTC.

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Instagram: @patrickbjohnson

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrickbjohnson/

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