In this episode of the Together Digital Power Lounge, Amy Vaughan talks with Emmy-nominated producer and video marketing strategist Deborah Mitchell about the real power of showing up on video. Deborah breaks down why perfection holds women back, how authenticity builds trust, and what it takes to turn visibility into real influence and business growth.

She also opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with caregiving, and how that experience reshaped her leadership with more patience and clarity. From supporting women of color in claiming their digital space to creating video content that actually converts, Deborah offers practical, empowering strategies for anyone ready to be more visible.

Chapters:

00:10 – Welcome to the Power Lounge & Together Digital
01:26 – Meet Emmy-Nominated Producer Deborah Mitchell
02:29 – When Video Visibility Becomes Power
04:46 – Perfectionism, Bloopers, and Being Relatable on Camera
07:39 – Caregiving, Boundaries, and Grace-Filled Leadership
11:13 – Bringing Caregiving into Your Brand Story (Without Oversharing)
13:06 – Women of Color, Layoffs, and Building Your Own Stage Online
20:04 – Client Case Study: A Podcast that Hit 1 Million Downloads
22:47 – Using AI Without Losing Your Voice and Humanity
28:03 – Small, Brave Steps Toward Showing Up More Authentically
30:26 – Batching, Meta Glasses, and Time-Saving Video Routines
34:44 – Q&A: Being Off-Camera with POV & Voiceover Video
41:03 – Q&A: Being the Face of a Brand You Don’t Own
46:05 – Final Takeaways, Where to Find Deborah, and Join Together Digital

Quotes:

“Showing up on video isn’t just about being seen — it’s about claiming your space and sharing your expertise with intention.” - Amy Vaughan

“You don’t need to be perfect on camera. In fact, your imperfections are what make you human — and that’s what truly connects with people.” - Deborah Mitchell

Key Takeaways:

Imperfection makes you relatable — not less professional.
Caregiving teaches boundaries, grace, and empathy.
Women of color can build their own digital stage.
Batch content to save time and stay consistent.
Use AI for support, but keep your human voice.
Authenticity always outperforms polish.
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

Connect with the guest Deborah Mitchell:

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahjmitchell/

Guest Website:https://www.deborahmitchellmediaassociates.com/

Popl Link (for all ways to digitally connect with Debbie): https://popl.co/card/DsfBm0DJ/2

Episode Feedback Survey Link: https://talk.ac/deborahjmitchell?code=TDPL

Mailing List Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/lPfcUAl/DMMAVideoVisibility

Sign Up For Deborah Mitchell Media Associates webinar series on Video Visibility- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxrMnHiPGcMa8Fk8oQDnnOM20QjVZHoAPvkBU4piL-K84ctA/viewform

Connect with the host Amy Vaughan:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amypvaughan
Podcast:Power Lounge Podcast - Together Digital

Learn more about Together Digital and consider joining the movement by visiting Home - Together Digital

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In this week’s Power Lounge, host Amy Vaughan welcomes Dr. Mara Einstein, an internationally recognized authority on deceptive marketing and author of Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults. A former TV and advertising executive turned academic and media ethicist, Dr. Einstein pulls back the curtain on the dark psychology behind consumer manipulation. Together, she and Amy dive into the question: When does persuasion cross the line into indoctrination? Listeners are invited to examine the uncomfortable parallels between cult behavior and brand loyalty—and to confront just how easily marketing can tap into our fears, anxieties, and identities.

Drawing from her research and insights featured in the Emmy-winning Netflix documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, Dr. Einstein explains how modern marketing operates within what she calls the “anxiety economy.” From endless doom-scrolling to influencer-driven consumerism, she reveals how technology and advertising combine to keep us hooked, anxious, and buying. The conversation unpacks the continuum between brand fandom and fanaticism, using examples from Apple to Weight Watchers to show how manipulation thrives when emotional needs meet persuasive design.

But this isn’t a hopeless picture—Dr. Einstein also offers guidance for marketers and consumers alike. She challenges professionals to embrace ethics without sacrificing creativity and encourages all of us to become more conscious of how we engage with brands. By replacing reflexive scrolling with mindful consumption and by choosing community over cultish loyalty, listeners can reclaim agency in an economy built on influence. This episode is a must-hear for anyone who wants to understand—and resist—the subtle ways marketing shapes our thoughts, habits, and values.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Welcome

00:50 – Meet Dr. Mara Einstein

02:10 – Why Talk About Cults and Marketing?

03:30 – How the Book “Hoodwinked” Began

05:10 – The Cult–Marketing Continuum

06:45 – From Attention Economy to Anxiety Economy

08:50 – How Anxiety Fuels Overconsumption

10:25 – “Buy Now” and Viewer Reactions

12:30 – Black Friday and the “Economic Blackout”

14:10 – Conscious Consumption in a Digital World

16:00 – The Line Between Persuasion and Manipulation

17:30 – The Genius and Ethics of Duolingo’s Campaigns

18:45 – When Brand Community Becomes Brand Cult

20:15 – Weight Watchers: A Case Study in Cult Tactics

27:00 – The Role of Social Media in Modern Tribalism

31:30 – Identity and the Brands We Choose

37:00 – Ethical Marketing and Real Community

41:10 – The Danger of Making It Hard to Leave

44:30 – How AI and Bots Change the Deception Game

50:00 – Building Awareness and Resilience

53:00 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Dr. Einstein

Quotes:

“We don’t live in an attention economy — we live in an anxiety economy. The entire system is built to keep us just uncomfortable enough that buying something feels like relief.” - Mara Einstein

“It’s funny — we call it doom scrolling, and yet we treat it like self-care. The truth is, it’s winding us up, not calming us down.” - Amy Vaughan

Key Takeaways:

• Anxiety, not attention, drives modern marketing.
• Persuasion turns toxic when it exploits fear.
• Brand loyalty can slide into cult behavior.
• Algorithms feed anxiety for engagement.
• We shop to soothe stress, not need.
• Ethical marketing connects, not controls.
• AI blurs truth and manipulation.
• Brands now shape personal identity.
• Awareness breaks the consumer cycle.
• Conscious choices beat compulsive clicks.

Connect with Dr. Ma

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In this week’s episode of The Power Lounge, host Amy Vaughan welcomes Ilise Benun, acclaimed business coach, author, and founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, for a candid conversation about money, mindset, and marketing for creative professionals. Together they explore why so many talented freelancers and solopreneurs fall into the exhausting cycle of undercharging and overdelivering, and what it truly takes to build a business that reflects both your skill and your value.

Ilise shares decades of wisdom on how to reframe pricing from a matter of self-worth to one of clear strategy and confident communication. She offers practical advice on having better money conversations, identifying ideal clients, and setting prices that feel fair to both sides. The discussion is packed with insight, from her signature “$500, $5,000, or $50,000” approach to budget talks, to the mindset shifts needed to escape desperation pricing and cultivate lasting client relationships.

Amy and Ilise also dig into the art of consistent marketing, emphasizing that real success comes from showing up regularly and authentically. They discuss the power of simplicity, how to market yourself without making it about you, and why even small, steady efforts can transform your business over time. Whether you’re a creative struggling to charge what you’re worth or a seasoned professional ready to attract higher-value clients, this episode will challenge how you think about money and remind you that confidence, clarity, and communication are your strongest assets.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome

00:29 – Meet Ilise Benun: Guest Introduction

01:22 – Ilise’s Background & Podcast

01:49 – Episode Overview: Pricing, Mindset, and Marketing

02:28 – The “Spooky” Topic: Money

03:53 – Why Creative Professionals Undervalue Their Work

05:21 – The Power of Mindset in Pricing

06:02 – Pricing Problems Need Marketing Solutions

07:24 – Attracting the Right Clients & Using AI

10:10 – Real-World Pricing Stories

11:08 – The Importance of the Money Conversation

12:31 – Mindset Shifts for Discussing Budgets

13:44 – Avoiding Desperation Pricing

15:10 – Transparency and Building Client Partnerships

16:16 – Value-Based vs. Hourly Pricing

17:32 – Common Marketing Mistakes

19:58 – The Simplicity of Effective Marketing

21:30 – Raising Rates & Upgrading Clients

24:28 – Marketing Yourself vs. Marketing a Product

27:30 – Power Round & Final Advice

Quotes:
“There’s this people-pleasing thing we tend to do, especially as women, and it gets all tied up in our so-called self-worth — which doesn’t really belong in business. You have to take yourself out of it and look at your pricing objectively. Like I always say, ‘Like me a little less and pay me a little more.’” - Ilise Benun

“Awareness is the key. Listen to that internal voice, notice the tone, and remember — just because you think it doesn’t make it true. But if you believe in it long enough, you can think it into being true.” - Amy Vaughan

Key Takeaways:

• Pricing isn’t about self-worth — it’s about strategy.
• Mindset is built on your inner dialogue.
• Marketing solves pricing problems.
• Have the money conversation early.
• Stop people-pleasing your way into poverty.
• Price communicates value. Low rates often repel serious clients.
• Consistency beats complexity. Small marketing actions build stronger pipelines.
• Raise rates through conversation, not confrontation.
• Let go to level up. You can’t grow while holding onto every client.
• Marketing isn’t about you — it’s about them. The best promotion focuses on solving your clients’ problems, not brag

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