The Brand Roots Podcast

Stump & Root co

Welcome to The Brand Roots Podcast — where we dive deep into the world of branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're growing a brand, launching a business, or navigating the creative industry, this podcast is your home for insight, inspiration, and real talk.Each episode is rooted in real experiences, honest conversations, and a deep curiosity for what makes brands truly thrive. We’re here to build trust, offer value, and showcase the journey—because every brand has a story, and we’re here to tell it.

Episodes

  1. Beyond Virality: Gen Z Values, Story‑Driven Content & Building Real Community – with Anna Canfijn

    MAY 28

    Beyond Virality: Gen Z Values, Story‑Driven Content & Building Real Community – with Anna Canfijn

    In this conversation, host Sarah  sits down with Gen Z creator and marketer Anna Canfijn to unpack what actually moves the needle for brands on social media in 2025. They cover: Why Gen Z now judges brands first by ethics, transparency, and community impact.The fine line between clever trend‑jacking and cringe‑inducing meme overload.Three must‑have videos every brand should pin to the top of their profile.How to win when you don’t have a big budget (spoiler: document, don’t over‑produce).Why chasing virality can backfire—and what to focus on instead.Practical tools, posting cadence, and future trends (think Substack‑style long‑form and “low‑stim” storytelling).Whether you run a small business or manage a marketing team, this episode gives you a no‑fluff roadmap to stronger content, tighter communities, and better conversions. Major Takeaways Ethics = Table Stakes – Gen Z assumes your product works; they follow when they trust your values.Trends ≠ Strategy – One viral meme won’t save an off‑brand feed. Use trends sparingly, within clear content pillars.Story Over Budget – Audiences reward authenticity and process‑based “documenting.” Expensive production is optional.Three Core Videos – (a) “Start Here” brand pitch; (b) FAQ/objection‑buster; (c) Social proof compilation. Pin them.Community > Virality – A steady, engaged core outperforms one‑off spikes. Viral demand can break inventory and ops.Post with Purpose – Quality beats arbitrary “3‑posts‑a‑day” quotas. Aim for value, not volume.Platform Fit Matters – Show up where your audience lives, but maintain a minimal presence everywhere for credibility.Future Trend – A swing back to long‑form, lower‑stim content (newsletters, Substack‑style essays) that deepens brand narrative.Listen & Adapt – Brands that reverse bad moves (Glossier’s balm) rebuild trust faster than those that double down.Know Your Dream Buyer – Marketing to everyone is marketing to no one; build your avatar first, content second.

    48 min

About

Welcome to The Brand Roots Podcast — where we dive deep into the world of branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're growing a brand, launching a business, or navigating the creative industry, this podcast is your home for insight, inspiration, and real talk.Each episode is rooted in real experiences, honest conversations, and a deep curiosity for what makes brands truly thrive. We’re here to build trust, offer value, and showcase the journey—because every brand has a story, and we’re here to tell it.