Why are we suddenly afraid of microplastics (something scientists have known about since the 1970s)? It’s not the data. It’s the drama. In this episode, I break down how a single terrifying stat, “you eat a credit card’s worth of plastic every week,” turned a niche environmental concern into a growing national panic.

But this isn’t just about plastic plates and BPA bans. It’s about how environmental messaging works and why it so often outperforms traditional marketing. I discuss how fear, simplicity, and a good story can move products faster than any product demo ever could.

I also examine how the environmental movement picks its stories. It’s not based on urgency or science but on virality, and that’s where the real marketing lessons lie.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why “a spoonful of fear” is more effective than a pile of data
• How microplastic messaging mirrors classic consumer marketing strategies
• The reason people are buying glass Tupperware (and ditching plastic) overnight
• What sea turtles, ozone holes, and red lights teach us about audience psychology
• Why brands should jump on this trend now if their products are already plastic-free
• The simple formula behind viral cause marketing (and how you can use it)

Do you have a question or just need to vent about your marketing frustrations? Send it to fbymarketing@skyeline.com, and I might just answer it in a future episode.

FRUSTRATED BY YOUR MARKETING? is hosted by Jim DeMicco and presented by SkyeLine Studio.

LET’S CONNECT: LinkedIn | Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter/X

What does it mean when Elmo parts ways with HBO and lands on Netflix? On the surface, it’s just another licensing deal, but it’s actually a masterclass in brand alignment, strategic partnerships, and earning consumer trust. I explain how HBO’s decision to let go of Sesame Street isn’t a loss but a smart refocus on its core identity. Meanwhile, Netflix didn’t just acquire a show. They borrowed decades of trust from parents without changing anything about their platform.

But it’s not just about Elmo. I also dive into the bigger shifts in kids’ content, from Cocomelon’s hyper-optimized attention grabs to the thoughtful rise of creators like Ms. Rachel. Plus, we explore what this all means for public media’s future role - not in content creation, but in content curation.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why HBO was right to drop Sesame Street, and what it says about knowing your audience
• How Netflix uses Elmo as a perception play, not just a programming decision
• Why Cocomelon drives parents nuts, but still dominates kids’ screens
• What makes Ms. Rachel a modern-day Mr. Rogers
• Why public media needs to shift from funding to filtering
• The branding lesson every business can learn from this platform pivot

Do you have a question or just need to vent about your marketing frustrations? Send it to fbymarketing@skyeline.com, and I might just answer it in a future episode.

FRUSTRATED BY YOUR MARKETING? is hosted by Jim DeMicco and presented by SkyeLine Studio.

LET’S CONNECT: LinkedIn | Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter/X

• What OpenAI and Jony Ive are building, and why it could be revolutionary
• Why HBO is putting “Max” in reverse and re-embracing its heritage brand
• What Jaguar’s branding mess reveals about mismatched audiences and agencies
• A look at AI-first and AI-forward companies (and why it matters)
• How CEOs at Shopify and Fiverr are preparing for an AI-dominated future
• Why “being the AI person” at your company might save your job
• A listener's question about freelance client ghosting, and my real-world advice

• Sam & Jony introduce io
• HBO Max is Back
• Episode 38 - Walmart & Jaguar’s Logo Redesigns: Pointless or Brilliant?
• A Letter from Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke
• A Letter from Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman

• What Zuckerberg actually said in his recent interview about AI-driven advertising
• The rise of “black box marketing,” and why it’s more dangerous than helpful
• Why letting platforms control your brand is a fast path to irrelevance
• The hidden risks behind Meta’s “just connect your bank account” promise
• How ad costs will skyrocket, and why most brands won’t be ready
• What a future of third-party AI-powered ad platforms might look like
• How to build your own transparent, brand-safe black box using today’s AI tools
• Why strategy, creativity, and knowing your customer still matter, maybe more than ever

• Why the original Ice Bucket Challenge really went viral
• The difference between a viral stunt and an authentic movement
• What made the 2025 “Speak Your Mind” reboot catch on
• Why most copycat campaigns fall flat (think Twizzlers, rice buckets, and chicken wings, to name a few)
• How to build something small but meaningful inside your own community
• Why you can’t manufacture a viral moment, but you can engineer the conditions for one

• Should you disclose when you use AI for your work?
• Why “AI saves time” can backfire fast
• How to position yourself as a strategist (even if you’re not one)
• When perfectionism helps, and when it’s just procrastination
• Why some clients are firing their freelancers for AI, and how to respond
• How to ride a viral moment for all its worth

• Why 99% of podcasts fail - and how to avoid the same fate
• The mindset shift that helped me push through the dip
• What I learned the hard way about YouTube, Google Ads, and Spotify Ads
• Why content creators need a single platform to call home
• How podcasting helped me level up in AI, networking, and strategy
• Why having a pet project might be the best move for your marketing career

• Why retirement was never about freedom - it was about control
• How AI will accelerate the pressure to step aside
• Why stacked 401(k)s, dream vacations, and pickleball don’t always deliver the joy they promise
• What Bill Gates and Dick Van Dyke understand about purpose
• Why marketers should be the least likely to fall for retirement messaging
• How to start designing your future with intention