MAPPED OUT

Lauren Loreto & Aurrie Hicks
  • 5.0 (25)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Ever feel like your marketing strategy and business plan is a maze of endless to-dos? MAPPED OUT is your GPS to breakthrough growth, minus the headaches. Think of us as your savvy road trip companions who've not only survived the marketing wilderness—we've mastered it. Lauren and Aurrie here, battle-tested marketers who've built businesses from the ground up. We're ditching the fluff and corporate-speak to give you the real deal: strategies that actually work, stories from the trenches, and those "why didn't I think of that?" moments that'll transform your approach. Every episode is like having coffee (or a stiff and needed drink) with that marketing friend who tells it straight, shares their secret weapons, and genuinely wants you to win. Whether you're dreaming up your next campaign or feeling stuck in the daily grind, consider this your official permission slip to simplify, amplify, and enjoy the ride. Buckle up—your marketing journey just got a whole lot more interesting.

  1. DEC 16

    Stop #22: Why the Smartest Funnels Start with a Quiz

    If you’ve been sitting on a quiz idea for months (or… 18 months 👀), this is your sign. Today, Lauren and Aurrie map out how to launch a quiz scrappy, use it as a data engine (not just a cute lead magnet), and build the “wings” after it’s already in the air. From results-first planning to routing logic, landing pages, email segmentation, and IG-era distribution (hello, ManyChat), this episode is your no-excuses quiz playbook. ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter In this episode, we cover: Why the quizzes that win are the ones that actually get launched (messy action > perfect funnels)Quiz types that convertSimplifying language so beginners can answer (no “macro” talk if your audience is brand-new)Where your quiz should liveWhat happens after the quiz: result pages, personas, and non-salesy CTAs that still convert & email segmentation 101Retargeting + lookalikes: using quiz data beyond email (especially for e-comm)Modern distribution ideasTimestamps 2:17 – The perfectionism trap (especially for designers) + why you’ve gotta ship it4:14 – The #1 quiz unlock6:10 – Simplify the language or your quiz dies (aka “don’t lead with macros”)7:03 – E-comm vs service quizzes: product match vs assessment (and why both work)8:29 – Where to steal inspo: Interact’s industry examples (juice cleanses, real estate, relocation)12:40 – Routing logic without spiraling: scoring, branching, follow-the-path16:49 – “Close the loop” psychology + how to set expectations upfront (no scammy vibes)19:11 – Best practice: build a landing page on your site to house + promote the quiz20:38 – After-the-quiz strategy23:07 – Email automation + segmentation25:30 – Paid ads + retargeting27:05 – List hygiene + re-engagement: quizzes as a “come back” hookNavigator’s Resources (mentioned) Interact (quiz builder + examples by industry + lead capture + logic tools) Use our link to get started: https://get.tryinteract.com/jkx44i3di07w ChatGPT (help with scoring + routing logic planning)ManyChat (DM-based distribution: “comment X and we’ll send the quiz”)Pinterest placements (quiz visibility + evergreen discovery)Meta Ads (retarget quiz-takers + build lookalike audiences)Landing page embed strategy (quiz housed on your site for better ownership + conversion control)Meet Your Co-Pilots Lauren Loreto — Founder, Brand Good Time® Expert in content marketing and web design Website: brandgoodtime.com • Instagram: @brandgoodtime Aurrie Hicks — Founder, Hopson Rae Expert in digital content and brand strategy Website: hopsonrae.com • Instagram: @hopsonrae 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Follow MAPPED OUT wherever you get your podcasts. P.S. Want the step-by-step version, templates, and links we referenced? Join The Flight Deck: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    37 min

  2. DEC 9

    Stop #21: Josh Haynam on Building a 100M-Lead Product, 12 Years of Bootstrapping, and Why Speed Beats Perfection

    Every industry has one person quietly powering the success of thousands of brands—and in the quiz-funnel world, that person is Josh Haynam, Co-Founder & CEO of Interact, the quiz builder behind 100M+ leads, 1.3B quiz views, and some of the biggest brands and creators online. Bootstrapped, profitable, and still founder-led after 12 years, Interact has survived four waves of VC-backed competitors—not because it had the most features, but because Josh bet everything on relationships, product clarity, and human psychology. In this episode, Josh shares how he built a tech company that refuses to chase shiny objects… and still wins. ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter In this episode, Josh walks us through: ⚡ How Interact survived—and outperformed—VC competitors for 12 years ⚡ The psychology behind quizzes (and why we’re now in the “Instagram Age”) ⚡ Why the best founders move fast—and why perfection is killing your results ⚡ How Interact scaled to $3.3M ARR with only 9 team members ⚡ What 8,000+ customer conversations taught him about modern marketing ⚡ What’s coming next for Interact’s design updates ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 3:38 – Competing with VC-backed copycats and why Interact chose relationships over features 8:23 – The real history of quizzes (yes, it starts in 1700s Irish pubs) 12:41 – Why agency partners, copywriters, and designers (“the Rich Pauls”) became Interact’s growth engine 16:11 – The shiny objects they did chase—and why they walked away 17:46 – What “ROI” actually looks like for quiz funnels 21:09 – What Josh is learning from today’s top creators generating 140K+ leads 27:18 – Building a no-ego team and the role of coaching inside the company 30:30 – Why quarterly offsites changed everything for their remote culture 33:06 – What’s coming in Interact’s design refresh 35:01 – Where quizzes are headed in the next 5 years 41:00 – Why founders over 30 struggle with speed—and how to fix it 48:29 – Josh’s 90-Day Marketing Playbook if he were starting Interact today 52:48 – HIGH / LOW / STOW 🔗 CONNECT WITH JOSH HAYNAM LinkedIn: Josh HaynamInteract: tryinteract.com👩‍✈️ MEET YOUR CO-PILOTS Lauren Loreto Founder, Brand Good Time Instagram: @brandgoodtime LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto Aurrie Hicks Founder, Hopson Rae Instagram: @hopsonrae LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aurriehicks 🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Follow Mapped Out wherever you get your podcasts.

    59 min

  3. NOV 11

    Stop #20: How to Build a Founder-Led Newsletter People Actually Read (and Share)

    Every big brand starts in the trenches—and sometimes the most powerful growth lever is sitting in your inbox. Today, Lauren and Aurrie react to their chat with Ari Murray and go all-in on founder-led newsletters: quick history, what’s working now, and a simple way to structure a newsletter people actually look forward to. ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter In this episode, we cover: A (very) fast history of newsletters and why the “personal blog energy” is backThe #1 rule: your newsletter must solve a specific problem (not “updates”)How to create a predictable format readers recognize on sightFounder tone without the “dear diary” trap: storytelling that serves the readerTools, workflows, and idea capture so you never face a blank pageWhere Substack fits (and when to start there)Timestamps 0:48 – Why we’re obsessed with newsletters (and why this pairs with a Season 2 tactical episode)3:04 – The quick history: from Roman “daily acts” to Substack’s blog-era revival6:38 – ROI, owned channels, and where email still wins for both e-comm and services8:42 – Start here: define the problem your newsletter solves (real examples)11:22 – Format > vibes: building a predictable structure your audience can scan14:10 – Lauren’s format teardown (campaign breakdowns, “second bests,” poll, light CTA)16:21 – Aurrie’s format teardown (cultural tie-ins + signature recipe closer)18:46 – Brand voice without oversharing: micro-stories that pull weight23:00 – The capture system: docs, notes, Slack to self, saved IG folders26:55 – Substack as a no-friction starting line (and why “messy action” wins)27:35 – What’s next: list growth ideas and a tease for our quiz-powered episodeYour Mapped Out Moment (homework) Audit your newsletter (or the one you’re about to start): Problem: What specific problem does it solve for readers? Write one sentence.Name/Promise Match: Does the title clearly signal that problem?Format: Lock a repeatable skeleton (e.g., Hook → Deep Dive → Second Bests → Wildcard → Quick CTA).Hook & Shareability: What’s the forward-worthy angle this week (story, hot take, or “steal this” template)?Friction-free Setup: Pick your platform (Substack is great to start) and set up a running idea dump (Doc/Notes/Slack).Navigator’s Resources (mentioned) Substack (easy start + built-in discovery)A simple capture stack: Google Doc + Notes app + “DM to self”/Slack channelReader poll at the end of each send (tiny habit, big signal)Meet Your Co-Pilots Lauren Loreto — Founder, Brand Good Time® Expert in content marketing and web design Website: brandgoodtime.com • Instagram: @brandgoodtime Aurrie Hicks — Founder, Hopson Rae Expert in digital content and brand strategy Website: hopsonrae.com • Instagram: @hopsonrae 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Follow MAPPED OUT wherever you get your podcasts—and don’t miss the next stop in Season 3 as we keep unpacking the real-world playbooks modern brands are using to grow. P.S. Want the step-by-step version, templates, and links we referenced? Join The Flight Deck: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    29 min

  4. NOV 4

    Stop #19: Ari Murray on Building Go-To-Millions, Making Media Human Again, and the Power of Personality in Marketing

    Every brand story has a turning point—and Ari Murray’s begins with dropping out of law school. From customer service agent to VP of Growth at Sharma Brands, Ari’s career has been a masterclass in turning setbacks into strategy. Now, as the creator of Go-To-Millions, one of the most-loved newsletters in marketing, she’s redefining how founders build audiences—with honesty, humor, and a healthy dose of exclamation marks. ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter In this episode, Ari shares how she: Went from answering customer service emails to leading growth for iconic DTC brands.Built Go-To-Millions from 400 early subscribers to 50,000+ loyal readers—without ever “playing the algorithm.”Turns humor and humility into her biggest brand differentiators.Balances honesty and hype in sponsored content (and what brands often get wrong about trust).Learned the real cost of inflexibility in e-commerce marketing—and how to pivot when things go off-script.Keeps her content consistent while juggling motherhood, a career in growth, and one very viral marketing household.If you’ve ever wondered how to build an audience around authenticity—or how to stay relevant when the internet moves faster than your strategy—this episode maps out the playbook. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 3:45 – What customer service teaches you about human behavior 7:20 – Branding, tone, and what “thank you!” says about your company 10:24 – The voice behind Go-To-Millions: how Ari found her tone 15:50 – Building audience momentum from scratch 20:00 – Sponsorships, transparency, and what makes readers actually trust you 25:10 – How to grow a newsletter when you don’t have a million followers 38:40 – What most DTC brands get wrong about flexibility 45:10 – Why “newness” is the most underrated Black Friday strategy 49:10 – Life with The Marketing Millennials (and how their creative partnership works) 51:15 – What’s next for Go-To-Millions 52:20 – Ari’s High / Low / Stow 🔗 CONNECT WITH ARI MURRAY Website: gotomillions.coLinkedIn: Ari Murray 👩‍✈️ MEET YOUR CO-PILOTS Lauren Loreto  Founder of Brand Good Time Instagram: @brandgoodtimeLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/laurenloretoAurrie Hicks  Founder of Hopson Rae Instagram: @hopsonraeLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/aurriehicks 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Follow Mapped Out wherever you get your podcasts.

    56 min

  5. OCT 28

    Stop #18 | Out of Home Marketing - Meeting Your Customers Where They Actually Are

    Welcome to Season 3 of MAPPED OUT! In this reaction episode, Lauren and Aurrie dive deep into Ashley Chang's guerrilla marketing origin story—specifically, her strategy of posting flyers on downtown light poles. This episode reframes how we think about out-of-home marketing in a digital-first world and challenges the myth that social media alone will launch your brand. If you've been pouring all your energy into TikTok, Instagram, or paid ads hoping for overnight success, this episode will shift your perspective. Lauren and Aurrie share real examples of major brands that started with grassroots, physical marketing tactics—and why meeting your customers in the real world might be exactly what your brand needs. Episode Highlights [00:00:55] Building on Ashley's flyer strategy and why out-of-home marketing deserves more credit [00:04:10] The TikTok slow burn myth—why going viral isn't a launch strategy [00:11:23] How Glossier built a beauty empire without traditional advertising [00:23:15] Red Bull's guerrilla marketing playbook—from college campuses to extreme sports [00:40:56] The eyeball surgeon billboard fail—when out-of-home goes wrong [00:43:04] Love Shack Fancy's pink Bronco—creative out-of-home done right Key Brands & Examples Discussed Glossier - Built through community and word-of-mouth before scaling digitallyRed Bull - Guerrilla marketing at college campuses and extreme sports eventsLove Shack Fancy - Custom pink Bronco as mobile brand experienceSprinter (Kylie Jenner's beverage brand) - Celebrity-backed product with instant recognitionVarious CPG startups navigating the TikTok landscape Resources Mentioned Startup CPG Slack communityTikTok Shop and TikTok Live featuresThe four-phase TikTok success wheel (Shop → Affiliate → Organic Content → Live Stream) Connect With Us Meet Your Hosts Lauren Loreto Founder of Brand Good TimeExpert in content marketing and web designWebsite: brandgoodtime.comInstagram: @brandgoodtimeAurrie Hicks Founder of Hopson RaeExpert in digital content and brand strategyWebsite: hopsonrae.comInstagram: @hopsonraeHave questions about out-of-home marketing or want to share your own guerrilla marketing wins? Our DMs are open! Visit mappedoutpod.com to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights, visuals, and examples from each episode. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! #MappedOutPodcast #OutOfHomeMarketing #GuerrillaMarketing #MarketingStrategy #BrandBuilding #Grassroots #TikTokMarketing #CPGMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #MarketingPodcast #DigitalMarketing #BrandGrowth

    46 min

  6. OCT 21

    Stop #17 | How Ashley Chang Bootstrapped Sundays Into a Million-Dollar Mission

    Every big brand starts in the trenches—and Ashley Chang is living proof that grassroots growth still wins. After watching her mom leave a software-engineering career to raise a family, Ashley made it her mission to build a future where no one has to choose between work and home. The result: Sundays—a company helping parents “scale their lives, not just their work.” ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter In this episode, Ashley shares how she: Personally interviewed 1,000+ parents before writing a single line of code.Printed flyers, taped them to telephone poles in San Francisco, and built her first customer base from there.Bootstrapped her company methodically to the $1 million mark—without a dime of traditional funding.Turned human connection (not algorithms) into Sundays’ most powerful marketing channel.If you’ve ever felt like you “need funding to grow,” this one proves how far resourcefulness, empathy, and great storytelling can take you. Timestamps 0:48 – Meet Ashley Chang: from Carta & Collective Health to starting Sundays 4:56 – Why she interviewed 1,000+ parents before launching 9:08 – Version 1: the “email-and-text” MVP that taught her everything 11:08 – Bootstrapping 101: blue flyers, printers, and San Francisco telephone poles 14:00 – LinkedIn as Sundays’ secret growth engine 17:10 – The hardest choices in a bootstrapped startup (and how she made them) 27:10 – Building a team of 30 moms—and why human connection beats AI 35:36 – How becoming a mom herself changed her mission 45:16 – Ashley’s High / Low / Stow  🔗 Connect with Ashley & Sundays Website: withsundays.comLinkedIn: Ashley ChangInstagram: @with_sundays Meet Your Hosts Lauren Loreto Founder of Brand Good TimeExpert in content marketing and web designWebsite: brandgoodtime.comInstagram: @brandgoodtimeAurrie Hicks Founder of Hopson RaeExpert in digital content and brand strategyWebsite: hopsonrae.comInstagram: @hopsonrae🎧 Listen & Subscribe Follow Mapped Out wherever you get your podcasts—and don’t miss the next stop in Season 3 as we continue unpacking how the industry’s best marketers built their brands from the ground up.

    50 min

  7. SEP 25

    Season 3 Trailer: MAPPED OUT™

    We are SOOOOO back!! Aurrie and Lauren sit down for a few mins to share what's to come for Season 3. We are SO EXCITED and cannot wait to share more about who is joining us, very soon.  → Visit mappedoutpod.com/newsletter to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights on each episode's topic. Meet Your Hosts Lauren Loreto Founder of Brand Good TimeExpert in content marketing and web designWebsite: brandgoodtime.comInstagram: @brandgoodtimeAurrie Hicks Founder of Hopson RaeExpert in digital content and brand strategyWebsite: hopsonrae.comInstagram: @hopsonraeConnect With Us Newsletter: mappedoutpod.com/newsletterInstagram: @mappedoutpodEmail: wheelsup@mappedoutpod.comSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if this season helped you level up your marketing game.

    2 min

  8. AUG 5

    Stop #16: Season 2 in the Rearview | Goal Check-Ins, Growth Spurts & What's Coming Next

    Welcome back to Mapped Out! Lauren and Aurrie are wrapping up Season 2 with a bang—diving into what made this season special, sneaking a peek behind the curtain of what's coming in Season 3, and giving you the mid-year goal check-in you didn't know you needed. If you've been wondering whether your goals still align with where you're headed (or if you're crushing them so hard you need to level up), this episode is your permission slip to realign and refocus. → Visit mappedoutpod.com/newsletter to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights on each episode's topic. Episode Highlights [00:00:33] Season 2 recap: 15 episodes of deep-dive marketing strategies and why this format was a game-changer[00:01:28] Why Season 2 felt like a mini marketing playbook—and how we took action from these conversations too[00:05:49] Season 3 sneak peek[00:09:52] Mid-year pulse check: Are your goals still aligned and what's shifted?[00:15:29] Lauren's ad campaign update: 1,000+ downloads, new funnels, and approaching that 3,000 subscriber goal[00:18:33] Aurrie's merch launch: Using Printify for made-to-order success (link dropping this week!)Meet Your Hosts Lauren Loreto Founder of Brand Good TimeExpert in content marketing and web designWebsite: brandgoodtime.comInstagram: @brandgoodtimeAurrie Hicks Founder of Hopson RaeExpert in digital content and brand strategyWebsite: hopsonrae.comInstagram: @hopsonraeEpisodes Referenced Stop #1: Goal Planning (still their most downloaded episode!)Stop #3: Mapping Out the Funnel (perfect diagnostic when things feel stuck)Season 2 as a whole: LinkedIn founder presence, copywriting deep-dives, customer journey mapping, swag shop setup, and more tactical playbooksReal Business Updates Lauren's Ad Results: 1,000+ downloads on lead magnet, strong engagement, almost at 3,000 email subscribers (500 away from goal)Aurrie's Merch: Samples approved, using Printify, link launching this weekTeam Growth: Lauren added 2 new team members since beginning of yearGoal Crushing: Both hosts hitting and exceeding their original bingo card goalsYour Homework Leave a review wherever you listen to podcastsShare your biggest takeaways from Season 1 or 2Mid-year goal audit: Go back to your goals—are they still aligned? Need to level up?Got connections? Know any CMOs, founders, or marketers at household name brands? We'd love an intro for Season 3!Connect With Us Newsletter: mappedoutpod.com/newsletterInstagram: @mappedoutpodEmail: wheelsup@mappedoutpod.comSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if this season helped you level up your marketing game—we'll see you at the next stop for Season 3 this fall! #MappedOutPodcast #SeasonFinale #GoalSetting #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #PodcastRecap #Season3Preview #MidYearGoals #MarketingPodcast #FounderLife

    22 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Ever feel like your marketing strategy and business plan is a maze of endless to-dos? MAPPED OUT is your GPS to breakthrough growth, minus the headaches. Think of us as your savvy road trip companions who've not only survived the marketing wilderness—we've mastered it. Lauren and Aurrie here, battle-tested marketers who've built businesses from the ground up. We're ditching the fluff and corporate-speak to give you the real deal: strategies that actually work, stories from the trenches, and those "why didn't I think of that?" moments that'll transform your approach. Every episode is like having coffee (or a stiff and needed drink) with that marketing friend who tells it straight, shares their secret weapons, and genuinely wants you to win. Whether you're dreaming up your next campaign or feeling stuck in the daily grind, consider this your official permission slip to simplify, amplify, and enjoy the ride. Buckle up—your marketing journey just got a whole lot more interesting.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren Loreto & Aurrie Hicks
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 MAPPED OUT
  • Show Website
    MAPPED OUT