The Climb with Cherie Clonan

The Digital Picnic
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The Climb is a podcast for people building something meaningful and finding their way through the ups, setbacks, and in-between moments that come with it. Hosted by Cherie, founder of The Digital Picnic (a digital marketing agency based in Melbourne/Naarm), the show explores the realities of growth through marketing, leadership, and neurodivergence. As a proud Autistic woman and agency founder of more than 11 years, Cherie brings both lived experience and strategic thinking to the conversation. Episodes blend practical frameworks, industry insight, and personal stories... including leadership lessons and moments rarely shared publicly. The podcast creates space for honest discussion around modern marketing that works, neurodivergent leadership... and leadership in all its complexity, from decision-making and team culture, to resilience and long-term growth. The Climb is named for the shared journey it represents. Whether you’re growing a business, leading others, or navigating your own next chapter, the climb looks different for everyone.

  1. 1d ago

    What Makes A Great Social Media Specialist

    We wrap season one by breaking down what makes a truly great social media specialist.  For business owners, we tell you how to spot the real deal when you’re hiring.  And for marketing professionals and freelancers, we share the mindset shifts and practical tests that separate culture-led strategists from trend-chasers. Key Takeaways:  Great social media specialists are immersed in online culture, not just chronically online.The best social media managers spot patterns, shifts, and emerging formats before others do.Strong social media specialists are tinkerers who keep improving content after it goes live.A great social media specialist balances creativity with analytics, not aesthetics alone.Top social media managers focus on audience needs, not proving how clever or trendy they are.The best social media content makes people feel something and earns their time and attention.Business owners should hire social media specialists who can explain why content works, not just make content.Exceptional social media specialists combine taste, curiosity, judgment, and community-building skills Mentioned in this episode: Kinso App Empathy Canvas Map Jony Lee  Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    43 min

  2. Jun 10

    How to nail your first 90 days at The Digital Picnic

    We unpack what actually helps you succeed in your first 90 days at a fast agency and why “dazzle” often backfires. We share the boring basics that build trust, how to handle culture shock, and what to do if your probation period ends with a no. Key Takeaways: The first 90 days in a new job are about risk reduction, not trying to dazzleReliability is the fastest way to build trustStrong new hires ask thoughtful questionsIn a new role, accuracy should come before speedThe first 90 days are easier when you observe first and challenge laterA move from brand side to agency side often comes with culture shock New employees should bring past experience without constantly comparing their old workplace.A successful probation period is often built on boring things done brilliantly. Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    39 min

  3. Jun 3

    How to get a job at The Digital Picnic

    We pull back the curtain on what actually gets someone hired at The Digital Picnic. We share the practical steps that help you stand out, plus the mindset shifts that keep you grounded when you’re applying to a workplace you admire. Key Takeaways:  To get a job at The Digital Picnic, tailor your application instead of mass applying.A good resume should be clear, relevant, and submitted as a PDF.Creative job applications only work when they are backed by real technical skill.If you want to work at TDP, explain exactly how your experience fits this specific role or business.Parasocial enthusiasm is not the same thing as job readiness or culture add.Strong candidates ask thoughtful interview questions and show how they would add value in the first 90 days.In a job interview, confidence matters.How you handle job rejection can shape future opportunities with that employer. Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    44 min

  4. May 27

    How to hire a team that protects your energy

    We break down what it really means to hire people who protect a neurodivergent founder’s energy. We share the frameworks Cherie uses to spot friction early, set boundaries and build a team culture that supports performance and wellbeing.  Key Takeaways:  Hiring the right team means hiring people who protect your energy, not just fill a role.Energy raisers reduce friction, support momentum, and make leadership feel lighter.Energy drainers create conflict and unnecessary mental load for founders.A quarterly team energy audit helps founders spot green, amber, and red dynamics early.Strong hiring decisions should measure friction removed, not just work produced.The best hires bring solutions, systems thinking, and lower executive function strain.Do not get seduced by charm or a polished CV while hiring.Brilliant jerks and chronic conflict cost more energy than their output is worth. This episode was proudly sponsored by Graham Psychology. Receive an ongoing discount of 20% off all appointment types [therapy and assessments]. Listeners can book directly via the website and enter ’THECLIMBPODCAST’ into the booking notes or call or email and mention the podcast.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Instagram carousel Cherie shares Disc profiles Patrick Lencioni definition of charmersShelley Johnson from Boldside  Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    43 min

  5. May 20

    How to Grow on LinkedIn in 2026

    We break down how to grow on LinkedIn in 2026 without chasing daily posts or virality, and why the platform still rewards real thinking over polished noise. We share practical ways to choose a single topic, add a true thought leadership angle, and use comments, carousels, and social SEO to get discovered.  Key Takeaways: LinkedIn growth in 2026 starts with one clear thought leadership topic.LinkedIn rewards people of influence.The best LinkedIn posts teach something, not just share an update.One high-quality LinkedIn post a week can outperform high-volume posting.Human LinkedIn content stands out more than polished AI-generated content.LinkedIn comments can drive reach, impressions, and connection requests.Text posts and LinkedIn carousels usually outperform video content.An optimised LinkedIn personal profile supports SEO, GEO, and discoverability. Send this to someone who needs a little push to start their own LinkedIn.   Follow us on LinkedIn: Cherie Clonan Stephanie Clifford Stepps Framework Explained Ryan Kelly on LinkedIn Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    40 min

  6. May 13

    Calm leadership: Founder habits that protect your energy

    What changes after you survive a brutal season of founderhood? In this episode, we unpack calm leadership, the founder habits that help you protect your energy, and why reactive leadership can pull a team straight into chaos. Cherie shares the leadership boundaries, mindset shifts, and everyday decisions that help her choose calm leadership over overreaction, protect her energy, and lead more steadily when work gets messy. If you’re trying to build better founder habits, move away from reactive leadership, and create a more grounded version of calm leadership, this one’s for you. Key takeaways: Calm leadership is built by choosing peace over chaos. Reactive leadership creates stress, slower leadership creates better decisions.  Protecting your energy is a core founder habit, not a luxury.  Fake urgency trains founders to react fast instead of respond well.  Healthy leadership boundaries stop other people’s chaos from running your day.  Creator mode helps founders solve problems, victim mode keeps them stuck.  Strong leaders ask better questions instead of rushing to fix everything.  Quiet confidence in leadership comes from protecting, not proving. This episode was proudly sponsored by PocketSmith. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation plan here. Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    43 min

  7. May 6

    Hyperfocus builds the business until boredom bites back

    Hyperfocus can look like a superpower from the outside, but living inside it is a different story. We get honest about what autistic hyperfocus actually feels like and how it helped build The Digital Picnic when the hours were long, the stakes were high, and the salary was, frankly, nothing. Then we flip the coin to the part founders rarely admit out loud: boredom. Not the harmless kind, but the kind that creeps in when you feel underutilised, disconnected, or tempted to “fix” things that aren’t broken. We talk about why a bored founder can destabilise a business, create fake urgency, pick unnecessary fights, and chase dopamine at the team’s expense, plus what to do before that energy leaks into decisions you regret. You’ll also hear a practical framework for separating boredom from true misalignment. If you’re navigating neurodivergent leadership, founder identity shifts, or the messy middle of small business growth, this chat will give you the next steps. This episode was proudly sponsored by PocketSmith. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation plan here. Key Takeaways:  How autistic hyperfocus can drive early business growth  Why founder boredom is a hidden risk in business  The difference between boredom and outgrowing your role How pattern recognition and deep focus create a business advantage  Why underutilisation is dangerous for neurodivergent founders  How bored founders create chaos, self-sabotage, and fake urgency  Why updating your founder role and job description can reignite growth  The bigger lesson, hyperfocus builds the business, but reinvention keeps it healthy Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    37 min

  8. Apr 29

    Building a Personal Brand: No Followers, No Problem

    We unpack why you don’t need followers to build a personal brand, and why starting at zero can be the most strategic move you make. We share the content choices, boundaries, and mindset shifts that turn visibility into trust, leads, and real influence in an AI-first algorithm era. If you’re an introvert, creative, strategist, or business owner who wants more opportunities from their social media, this one’s for you. This episode was proudly sponsored by PocketSmith. Get 50% off your first two months of PocketSmith’s Foundation plan here.  Key Takeaways:  Why you can build a personal brand with no followers in 2026  Why clear positioning matters more than follower count for personal brand growth  How to use top of funnel content to grow Why AI-first algorithms favour clear, repetitive content How choosing 3 to 5 personal brand topics builds authority faster  Why your first 100 posts are for positioning, not growth How to create a personal brand that drives trust, visibility, and inbound leads Why personal brand growth comes from clarity, consistency, and memorability, not vanity metrics Hosted by Cherie Clonan [@cherie_thedigitalpicnic] and co-hosted and produced by Steph Clifford [@stephssocials]  Follow us on Instagram @theclimbpod_ Check out our agency @thedigitalpicnic > we teach digital marketing, and we can manage yours, too.

    44 min
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About

The Climb is a podcast for people building something meaningful and finding their way through the ups, setbacks, and in-between moments that come with it. Hosted by Cherie, founder of The Digital Picnic (a digital marketing agency based in Melbourne/Naarm), the show explores the realities of growth through marketing, leadership, and neurodivergence. As a proud Autistic woman and agency founder of more than 11 years, Cherie brings both lived experience and strategic thinking to the conversation. Episodes blend practical frameworks, industry insight, and personal stories... including leadership lessons and moments rarely shared publicly. The podcast creates space for honest discussion around modern marketing that works, neurodivergent leadership... and leadership in all its complexity, from decision-making and team culture, to resilience and long-term growth. The Climb is named for the shared journey it represents. Whether you’re growing a business, leading others, or navigating your own next chapter, the climb looks different for everyone.

Information

  • Creator
    The Digital Picnic
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Climb with Cherie Clonan
  • Show Website
    The Climb with Cherie Clonan

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