Amanda's Playbook

Amanda Russell
  • 5.0 (50)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Amanda's Playbook

Amanda's Playbook is your front-row seat to a living laboratory alongside unfiltered conversations with the people influencing the future of business, culture, creators, and community. Hosted by Amanda, investor, professor, and marketing powerhouse, alongside insightful co-hosts, you'll witness firsthand experiments that bridge the gap between marketing theory and what actually works right now. This isn't another show about yesterday's successes—it's about creating tomorrow's playbook together. Join a community of forward-thinking business leaders, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals as we challenge conventional wisdom, test new approaches, and document what truly builds influence in today's rapidly changing landscape. No theory. No history lessons. Just real experiments, real results, and real-time adaptations you can apply immediately.

  1. APR 16

    How I Got The Plaza Hotel With ZERO Budget

    I didn’t have a budget. Or connections. Or even a fully-formed plan. What I did have was an idea—and a camera in the corner of a one-bedroom apartment. This episode unpacks a defining moment from my early YouTube days: how I went from filming solo workouts in my NYC apartment to partnering with one of the most iconic luxury landmarks in Manhattan—The Plaza Hotel. No money exchanged. No backdoor connections. Just a different kind of value. It’s a story that challenges the traditional playbook: How do you earn trust… before you have credibility? How do you create opportunity… when no one’s opening doors? It turns out, the answer had nothing to do with pitching—and everything to do with perspective. I stopped asking what I needed, and started solving for them. That shift became the foundation of what would later become a global curriculum on influence. Key Reflections from the Episode: 💡 Real influence isn’t bought—it’s built through value exchange 💡 “No budget” can be your greatest creative superpower 💡 Influence starts when you stop leading with your ask 💡 The best partnerships often begin with a problem you didn’t know they had Let’s open the conversation: Is paying for posts really “influencer marketing”? Or just modern-day ad spend? Share your thoughts—I’m listening. 📍Next up: Why Creating Community Trumps Selling Products (Hint: Even Wall Street's Elite Are Changing The Game) #InfluenceRedefined #BrandStrategy #NoBudgetBigMoves #ThePlaza #AmandaRussell #ContentWithPurpose #MarketingThatMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  2. The Influence Paradox: What Our Experiment Revealed

    APR 10

    The Influence Paradox: What Our Experiment Revealed

    I didn’t set out to disrupt how we measure influence—but that’s exactly what happened. When I launched this community experiment, I wasn’t just testing engagement. I was testing a principle I’ve spent years exploring: real influence isn’t about followers or flashy credentials—it’s about meaningful connection and lasting impact. And you proved it beautifully. Our experiment revealed something powerful that goes against what most marketing “experts” preach. The most influential voices weren’t the first to comment, the most credentialed, or the loudest. They were the ones who created value that transcended the algorithm. They did it through: -Thoughtful vulnerability in sharing real challenges -Genuine generosity in offering perspective to others -Resonant connection that amplified everyone’s understanding This is what I call the Value-Connection Matrix of influence—where the quality of your contribution meets the depth of your engagement. Let me introduce our Three Strong Members who embodied this kind of influence: 🥇 Erin @erinbreitenbach4362 — You didn’t try to have all the answers. You asked better questions. Your presence invited deeper exploration and elevated our conversations. 🥈 Kana @kanalivolsi7124 — You named the tension between performance and authenticity in a way that gave voice to what so many of us feel. Your words created clarity and connection. 🥉 Allan @allanlxn1— You modeled influence as evolution, not perfection. Your willingness to refine your thinking publicly made a lasting impact. Real influence isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. If you've ever questioned your impact in the noise of social media—this is for you. This isn't just content. It’s a learning lab in motion. And you’re a crucial part of it. Join the next chapter: 1. Share a moment from your week when something or someone influenced your thinking or decision. 2. Offer perspective on two other community members' experiences. The real masterpiece isn’t what we build online—it’s how we create value for each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  3. Why Some Leaders Cut Through the Noise While Others Go Unheard

    APR 2

    Why Some Leaders Cut Through the Noise While Others Go Unheard

    Nothing teaches you the power of influence more than when you don't have it. This realization didn't come from books or experts—it emerged from those humbling moments when visibility didn't translate to impact. I've spent years navigating the tension between what we're told influence is and what actually moves people to action. What I've discovered challenges everything we've been conditioned to measure and celebrate. There's a deceptively simple truth about influence that changed everything for me—a missing piece that explains why some voices cut through while others, equally qualified, go unheard. We're not the purely logical beings we pretend to be in boardrooms and strategy sessions. This isn't just theory—it's the difference between campaigns that look successful on paper but fail to drive action, and those quieter moments that create seismic shifts in behavior. Watch to discover the equation that will transform how you build influence in business and life. #AmandasPlaybook #Influence #TrustBuilding #AuthenticLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  4. Breaking Free From The Status Paradox That's Limiting Your Growth

    MAR 26

    Breaking Free From The Status Paradox That's Limiting Your Growth

    What happens when achievement becomes the very thing stopping you from growing? After my recent Amanda's Playbook launch event, I received this refreshingly direct feedback: "Great event, but I'm still not entirely sure what Amanda's Playbook is all about." The truth? The ambiguity isn't a failure—it's intentional. In this episode, I reveal: -Why established success paradoxically makes us MORE risk-averse at the precise moment we should be innovating -How my journey from competitive runner to fitness entrepreneur to academic taught me the danger of "first place paralysis" -The unexpected reason I returned to YouTube after years in academia and corporate consulting -Why learning together creates stronger connections than presenting perfectly polished ideas JOIN THIS WEEK'S EXPERIMENT: Make your way over to my YouTube video and comment your biggest influence challenge (personal or professional), then respond to at least two other community members. Next week, I'll highlight the three most influential contributors who share meaningful challenges and thoughtful responses. This isn't just content to consume—it's an invitation to build something together. Amanda's Playbook is a living laboratory where we'll test what actually works now, not what worked years ago. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly experiments, strategies, and insights on building real influence in 2025 and beyond. #TheStatusParadox #BuildingInfluence #AmandaRussell #MarketingStrategy #LeadershipChallenge #InfluencerMarketing #CommunityBuilding Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  5. I Built a Fitness Empire... Then I Disappeared. Here's Why I'm Back.

    MAR 19

    I Built a Fitness Empire... Then I Disappeared. Here's Why I'm Back.

    After walking away from YouTube years ago and vowing never to return, I'm back—with a revelation that ironically explains exactly why I left. My journey since those early fitness videos has transformed me in ways I never anticipated. It's led me through building subscription businesses, selling a production company, publishing a book, and ultimately into the halls of prestigious business schools who’s mission is to “shape how business and marketing is taught to future leaders”. But something profound happened that compelled me to break my "never returning to YouTube" promise. This isn't just another comeback story or content creation venture—it's a response to a critical disconnect I've witnessed firsthand, one that affects anyone trying to build something meaningful in today's digital landscape. Each week, I'll be sharing a revolving mix of insights, examples & real-time experiments that bridge the gap between theory and implementation. This isn't just content for you to consume—you're essential to the process as we discover what actually works in 2025 (not 2010). To my original fitness community who've witnessed every pivot of this journey—thank you for your unwavering support. The authenticity we built together remains at the heart of this new chapter. Watch or listen to discover why I believe we need to revolutionize marketing education and how we'll do it together. 📍 New episodes weekly 📍 Join the community testing real strategies in real-time 📍 First experiment launches next week 📍 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more! @amandasplaybook #AmandasPlaybook #MarketingRevolution #MarketingEducation #TheoryToPractice #DigitalMarketing #RealTimeMarketing #MarketingCommunity #2025Marketing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 min
  6. Unsexy to Unstoppable: How YETI Became A $300 Status Symbol

    MAR 14

    Unsexy to Unstoppable: How YETI Became A $300 Status Symbol

    Discover how an ordinary water cooler transformed into a $300 status symbol without being different OR unique. In this episode, I break down YETI's extraordinary influence strategy that turned customers into brand evangelists. I reveal the three key principles behind YETI's massive success: Identity Over Innovation- Why YETI sells who you become, not what you buy Community Over Commodity- How they created an exclusive club people pay to join Movement Over Marketing- The genius of having customers pay to advertise for you As someone who's built a career studying influence and developed MBA curriculum at institutions like Kellogg School of Management and Bocconi University, I share practical insights on what makes brands truly influential. YETI didn't try to stand out from the crowd - they became the crowd everyone wanted to stand in. Learn the difference between attention and true influence, and why emotional connection trumps rational features every time. Whether you're a marketer, entrepreneur, or just curious about brand influence, this case study offers valuable lessons on creating movements instead of just marketing products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 min
  7. 41: Unlocking and Unleashing LinkedIn Influence for Yourself - and Your Company

    11/03/2021

    41: Unlocking and Unleashing LinkedIn Influence for Yourself - and Your Company

    When we talk about influence in social media, we tend to dwell on consumer-centric sites such as Instagram and TikTok. But what about influencing the world through your creation of a robust personal brand? Or perhaps leveraging your employees to yield more influence for your brand through social media? Are Instagram and TikTok still the ideal places to invest time and energy? Of course not, and this is something today's guest, Sandra Long, has been speaking and writing about for nearly a decade, including her definitive work "LinkedIn for Personal Branding." When you and your company are ready to influence the influential demographic that is on LinkedIn, listen in as Sandra uncovers both how to improve our personal branding and influence on LinkedIn as well as how brands can leverage the influence of their employees on the unique and often misunderstood social network that is LinkedIn. For more information: •Sandra Long on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/longsandra/ •LinkedIn for Personal Branding on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/LinkedIn-Personal-Branding-Ultimate-Guide/dp/B08VCQWRQ8/ •Amanda Russell: https://amandarussell.co •Neal Schaffer: https://nealschaffer.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min
  8. 40: The Methodology behind Turning CEO's, Executives and Corporate Leaders into Global Thought Leaders

    10/20/2021

    40: The Methodology behind Turning CEO's, Executives and Corporate Leaders into Global Thought Leaders

    Why is it that some companies have rockstar founders and CEOs? Why does EVERYONE know the name of say Steve Jobs, but few know the names of his successors or partners for that matter? Why do some leaders get all the glory, and some none at all? Donnetta Campbell, Founder of TheSocialArchitects, LLC (www.thesocialarchitects.co), has created a unique social media architecture and methodology that delivers authentic social engagement for brands, institutions, and senior leaders. She developed and orchestrates a powerful "peer-to-peer" influencer leadership, specializing in "earned-influence" personal brand building and guiding corporate digital platforms through her #SocialPR™. She fuels her eco-system with over 300 top influencers and offers clients an influential reach into social's key networks. Brand partners, including SAP, NASDAQ, A+E Networks, Bloomberg Images, Innovation Enterprise, Power Shift Forum, Crowe Horwath and The Harry Walker Speakers Agency are embracing her unique models, SocialPR™, SocialDolby™, and SocialHR™ to optimize their impact. To date, Donnetta's strategic initiatives have generated over 8.7 billion impressions for more than 350 personal brands and 100 events. She is passionate about educating groups regarding Social Influencer Models and opens 'Innovation Enterprises Brand Innovation Summits' around the globe. She has spoken at SMW; Crowe Horwath; SAP'S Global Offices, HR and Executive Leadership Groups; Digital Summit for National Retail Federation; Advertising Club of NY; Georgetown University; Oxford University; Tribeca Disruption Innovation Awards; UCONN Business School; and CUNY Social Media Weekend. She was chosen as the Social Media Disruptor in Residence for Harvard's and Tribeca's Disruptor Foundation. For more information: •Donnetta Campbell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnettacampbell •The Social Architects: www.TheSocialArchitects.co •Amanda Russell: https://amandarussell.co •Neal Schaffer: https://nealschaffer.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

Amanda's Playbook is your front-row seat to a living laboratory alongside unfiltered conversations with the people influencing the future of business, culture, creators, and community. Hosted by Amanda, investor, professor, and marketing powerhouse, alongside insightful co-hosts, you'll witness firsthand experiments that bridge the gap between marketing theory and what actually works right now. This isn't another show about yesterday's successes—it's about creating tomorrow's playbook together. Join a community of forward-thinking business leaders, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals as we challenge conventional wisdom, test new approaches, and document what truly builds influence in today's rapidly changing landscape. No theory. No history lessons. Just real experiments, real results, and real-time adaptations you can apply immediately.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Russell
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    48
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021-present, Amanda Russell
  • Show Website
    Amanda's Playbook

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