Marketing Sucks

Amanda Casinha-Ginther
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Marketing Sucks is the podcast for business owners who are looking for practical, fun, and strategic ways to get noticed online, and don’t want to sit through 30 minutes of filler to get to the good stuff. Each week, Grind Social Media + Co founder Amanda Casinha sits down with the industry’s most interesting and unconventional ad experts, funnel developers, content creators, and changemakers to explore their off-the-beaten-path strategies and experiences in the world of marketing and business — and dig into real stories of failures, strategies, and how they got their jaw-dropping results.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Algorithm Isn’t the Problem and Adam Mosseri’s Recent Instagram Updates

    In this episode of Marketing Sucks, Amanda Casinha and Phil Ginther tackle one of the biggest excuses in marketing right now: blaming the algorithm. Instead of feeding into outdated myths about reach and suppression, they break down what’s actually happening on Instagram and why most content struggles have nothing to do with the algorithm and everything to do with voice, originality, and how the platform is meant to be used today. Drawing directly from recent updates shared by Instagram’s head, this episode explains why shares and private DMs now matter more than likes, why polished content is losing ground to raw authenticity, and why boring, copy-paste content is being ignored by both people and platforms. If you’re stuck at low views, minimal engagement, or blaming the algorithm for stagnant growth, this episode reframes the problem and gives you a clear, practical way forward. What You’ll Learn ✔ Why the algorithm isn’t the problem, your content is ✔ What Instagram is actually prioritizing right now ✔ Why shares and DMs matter more than views and likes ✔ How private sharing fuels reach faster than public engagement ✔ The difference between content that performs and content that gets ignored ✔ Why raw, unpolished content is outperforming “aesthetic” posts ✔ How AI is changing what originality looks like online ✔ Why originality beats volume in 2026 ✔ How to read your own analytics properly ✔ Why saves and shares are more valuable than high view counts ✔ How to test content without chasing vanity metrics ✔ The exact mistakes keeping brands stuck in low reach cycles Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    20 min

  2. FEB 10

    What Today’s Best Marketing Campaigns Get Right

    In this episode of Marketing Sucks, Amanda Casinha and Phil Ginther flip the script. Instead of tearing apart bad marketing, they break down three major brands that are actually getting it right right now and explain why their campaigns are working in today’s attention economy. From unhinged humour and cultural relevance to emotional storytelling and radical honesty, this episode explores what modern brands are doing differently and how smaller businesses can apply the same thinking without copying tactics blindly. Featuring real-world examples from Duolingo, Nike, and Ryanair, this conversation is part marketing breakdown, part cultural commentary, and part call-out of boring, safe, copy-paste content that blends into the void. What You’ll Learn ✔ Why speed beats polish in modern marketing ✔ How cultural relevance drives engagement more than perfection ✔ Why brands win when they stop acting like brands ✔ How Duolingo turned chaos into a content strategy ✔ Why Nike shifted away from product-first messaging ✔ How emotional storytelling builds trust at scale ✔ Why Ryanair’s radical honesty actually works ✔ The danger of copying viral formats without a voice ✔ How comment sections can become content engines ✔ Why consistency of tone matters more than aesthetics ✔ How to audit your own marketing for alignment ✔ What most businesses are doing that’s killing originality Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    33 min

  3. FEB 3

    Funnel Stages Explained: Why Your Marketing Isn’t Converting

    In this final episode of a four-part Marketing Sucks series, Amanda Casinha and Phil Ginther break down one of the most misunderstood reasons marketing fails: not understanding funnel stages. From awkward couch setups to brutally honest real-world examples, this episode strips away the fluff around funnels and explains what they actually are, how people misuse them, and why jumping straight to “buy now” is killing conversions. Amanda and Phil walk through the four core funnel stages, the common mistakes businesses make at each one, and how misreading timing, trust, and objections leads to wasted effort and lost sales. If you’ve ever asked, “Why isn’t my marketing working?” this episode answers that question with clarity, humour, and very practical takeaways. What You’ll Learn ✔ The four true stages of a funnel and what each stage’s job really is ✔ Why most businesses jump straight from awareness to selling and fail ✔ The difference between cold, warm, and hot leads (and why it matters) ✔ The most common barriers stopping people from buying ✔ How fear, trust, timing, and price impact conversion ✔ Why over-educating at the wrong moment can actually kill sales ✔ How misreading cues online and in real life leads to lost opportunities ✔ Why treating people like numbers destroys trust instantly ✔ How different buyer types need different messaging at the same time ✔ Why random posting strategies rarely produce results ✔ How data, analytics, and timing drive effective funnels ✔ The questions you should ask before creating any piece of content Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    25 min

  4. JAN 27

    How to Build a Simple Marketing Campaign That Works

    Most businesses say they’re running campaigns. Very few actually are. In Part 3 of this January series, Amanda and Phil break down what a real marketing campaign is, what it is not, and why so many businesses are unknowingly sabotaging their results by overcomplicating everything. This episode introduces a deceptively simple rule that drives real conversions and explains why clarity beats creativity every single time. If your campaigns feel scattered, confusing, or underperforming, it’s probably not a content problem. It’s a clarity problem. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What a marketing campaign actually is (and what it’s not)Why sending emails and posting during a sale does not equal a campaignThe role a campaign plays in achieving your objectiveWhy confused customers do not convertThe three essential components every campaign needsHow over-educating buyers can cost you salesWhy simplicity outperforms complexity in real-world marketingHow to spot messaging that’s too broad to convert What’s Coming Next This episode sets the foundation for the final part of the series. Next week we’re covering funnel stages, where people actually convert, and how broken funnels quietly drain your marketing budget. Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss it. Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    19 min

  5. JAN 20

    Why Posting More Content Isn’t Growing Your Business

    In week two of this January series, Amanda and Phil break down one of the biggest myths in modern marketing: that more content automatically equals more growth. Spoiler: it doesn’t. This episode dismantles the obsession with daily posting, viral content, and arbitrary challenges, and replaces it with something far more uncomfortable and far more effective: real objectives, real numbers, and real accountability. If your current strategy is “post more and hope,” this conversation explains exactly why that’s keeping you stuck and what to do instead. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why posting every day is an activity, not a goalThe difference between content volume and content effectivenessWhy going viral is not a business objectiveHow empty metrics protect your ego but stall your growthWhat a real marketing objective actually looks likeWhy vague goals keep you comfortable, and specific goals force growthHow numbers, timelines, and outcomes change everythingWhy discipline is boring until it starts making you moneyWhat’s Coming Next This episode builds directly into Part 3 of the series and next week you’ll learn how to structure simple campaigns that actually work and why most businesses skip this step entirely. Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss it. Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    31 min

  6. JAN 13

    The New Year Marketing Lie That Costs Businesses Thousands

    It’s the second week of January, and the hype is loud. New year, new you. New platforms. New offers. New ads. New everything. In this episode, Amanda and Phil call out the New Year marketing lie that convinces business owners they’re already behind and need to do more, faster, right now. Spoiler: that energy is usually what drains your budget and derails your strategy. Instead of panic-driven decisions, this conversation focuses on slowing down, returning to fundamentals, and getting brutally clear on what your brand actually stands for before you touch another tactic. This is a reality check for business owners who feel overwhelmed by January pressure and want to make smarter, more intentional marketing decisions. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the New Year “urgency” is mostly manufactured and expensiveHow rushing into new platforms, rebrands, and ads can quietly set you backWhy January is the worst time to make reactive marketing decisionsThe difference between doing more and doing the right thingWhy most brands cannot clearly articulate what problem they actually solveHow clarity beats content volume every single timeA simple internal brand exercise to ground your marketing decisionsWhat’s Coming Next: This episode kicks off a 4-part January series. Next week we’ll chat about why posting more content is not growing your business and what actually does. Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss what builds next. Connect With Us For behind-the-scenes clips, hot takes, and conversations we don’t always have time for on the mic, follow us on Instagram @grindsocialmedia. If you’ve been listening for a while, leaving a quick review helps more business owners find the show and stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work. Thanks for listening and thanks for being part of this community. — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    17 min

  7. JAN 6

    How to Grow Your Email List and Revenue in 2026

    You heard it here first: 2026 will be the year of email marketing. Not only is it the fastest way to be seen by your audience, it converts 4x higher than any other channel. If you’re not already on the bandwagon and growing your list, this episode of Marketing Sucks is required listening.  Tune in as Phil and I explore the forgotten art of email and how to use it to make your revenue explode this year. We talk about how to write a newsletter CTA that doesn’t suck, how to warm up new subscribers, and the sequences and automations you need to set up. We also share some of our hottest lead magnet tips, so you can toss that tired PDF (sorry, not sorry) and create something people will actually WANT.  Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌ Why most brands rely heavily on email for sales-specific contentThe unique perks of email marketing other channels don’t offer The #1 reason your list isn’t growing (and the crazy simple fix)Please rate, review, and subscribe! Timestamps:‌ ‌ 00:12  Intro 01:30  My email numbers 03:21  Why email?  04:54  Why lists don’t grow  06:55  Building a funnel 09:20  Lead magnets 12:47  Sequences   14:04  Automation & personalization  16:32  Emails to send 18:16  Action items — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    20 min

  8. 2025-12-30

    Why Not Showing Up Online is Going to Hurt Your Business This Year

    You can’t outsource being the founder or CEO. These days, your personal brand is your #1 business growth strategy - and if you’re not showing up online often and authentically this year, your business is going to suffer. Full stop.  In this short-and-spicy episode of Marketing Sucks, Phil and I lay out the new rules of engagement for 2026, from keeping the algorithm happy to becoming BFFs with your audience. We talk about how your personal brand will actually shorten the sales cycle with your best-fit customers, why the fear of being seen is costing you money, scale, and growth, and how being petty can actually help you get more visible with less stress. Marketing sucks. Let’s learn together. Hit play to discover:‌ ‌ Finding a posting schedule that consistent and comfortable for you How to stop giving a f*ck about other people’s judgments What sets Canada’s most-trusted brands apartPlease rate, review, and subscribe! Timestamps:‌ ‌ 00:11  Intro 02:24  Consistency 04:19  Your personal brand 05:37  Shortening the sales cycle 07:17  Top trusted Canadian brands  08:02  Fear of being seen 09:47  Action items Links mentioned:‌ ‌ BrandSpark 2026 Winners Announced brandsparkmosttrusted.com/canada  — 📱 Looking for content creation & social strategies that drive REAL results? Visit grindsocialmedia.com. 🤝 Book your free discovery call: calendly.com/grindsocial/discoverycall Get social Instagram: @grindsocialmedia Facebook: facebook.com/GRINDSOCIALMEDIA 📢 I’d love it if you’d share this episode and tag me! Podcasting support Production: theultimatecreative.com Show notes: copymagic.agency

    13 min
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5 Ratings

About

Marketing Sucks is the podcast for business owners who are looking for practical, fun, and strategic ways to get noticed online, and don’t want to sit through 30 minutes of filler to get to the good stuff. Each week, Grind Social Media + Co founder Amanda Casinha sits down with the industry’s most interesting and unconventional ad experts, funnel developers, content creators, and changemakers to explore their off-the-beaten-path strategies and experiences in the world of marketing and business — and dig into real stories of failures, strategies, and how they got their jaw-dropping results.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Casinha-Ginther
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Marketing Sucks
  • Show Website
    Marketing Sucks