Marketing, Machines & Mischief

Matthew Newell

The weekly intelligence briefing that actually respects your time and brain cells. Marketing veterans Matthew Newell and Chris Stone deliver 10-minute episodes packed with what happened in marketing that didn't suck, AI developments that won't be obsolete by Thursday, and creative campaigns worth your attention. No fluff. No corporate speak. No hour-long "journeys." Just sharp insights from professionals who've survived enough industry disasters to separate breakthrough from BS. Whether you're running your first campaign or your thousandth rebrand, you'll finish each episode knowing something actionable - plus you'll probably chuckle. Perfect for day-1 and day-10,000 marketers who want concentrated weekly intelligence that moves the needle. Because great marketing isn't just science - it's art, instinct, and knowing which robots to trust. New episodes every week. Real perspective. Actual value.

  1. Jul 13

    We Ranked 2026's Best and Worst Marketing Campaigns (One Involves a Fugitive President) : EP 040

    Halfway through 2026 and the marketing world has already delivered a synthetic skin car that sunburns on camera, a dictator in a hoodie generating millions of free impressions, and kids' juice brands quietly adding vodka to the lineup. Matthew and Chris break down exactly what made a campaign a genius move versus a brand crisis waiting to happen, and why the difference usually comes down to one decision made under pressure. This episode covers the real content challenges brands are navigating right now: how far is too far when nostalgia brands chase relevance, what happens when a viral moment you never planned for lands on your doorstep, and why marketers keep bringing in engineers, historians, and other outside talent to pull off ideas that actually break through. You will also get a mid-year check on the trillion dollar global ad spend milestone, why retail media from Amazon to Walmart is becoming as important as Google and Meta, the shift from SEO to generative engine optimization, and which marketing executives already lost their jobs over decisions made in the first half of the year. Matthew and Chris close out with predictions for the rest of 2026, covering where TikTok commerce is headed and why AI detection tools might change how audiences trust everything they see online. If you work in marketing, advertising, or content, this is the mid year update you actually need. Drop your own picks for the best and worst campaigns of 2026 in the comments, and hit subscribe so you never miss a weekly breakdown. 📖 Grab the new Book “How To Succeed In Marketing, Advertising and Artificial Intelligence Without Really Lying” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OJDXzU 🔗 **Join The Marketing, Machines & Mischief Community** ✅ Official: https://MarketingMachinesMischief.com ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewnewell/ ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingmachinesmischief Marketing, Machines & Mischief is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

    We Ranked 2026's Best and Worst Marketing Campaigns (One Involves a Fugitive President) : EP 040
  2. Jun 13

    How a College Professor Prepares Students for Real-World Influencer Marketing & Content Creation: EP 037

    Get ready to be the smartest marketer in the room. In today’s episode, Matthew and Chris welcome special guest Jacob Hiler—a professor at Ohio University and pioneer of the Influencer 101 course—and his students’ BS Meters were off the charts! First, we explore DoorDash’s transformation into a global advertising powerhouse, and what it means for small businesses and the future of retail media. Next, we break down the massive $5.4 billion Coca-Cola ad agency review, examining how data science and AI are now at the heart of legacy brand decisions. We also follow up on Starbucks Korea’s PR disaster, highlighting how a single marketing blunder can trigger worldwide fallout and why human oversight matters more than ever in the age of AI. Finally, Dr. Hiler gives us an inside look at his innovative course on influencer marketing—what students are learning, why authenticity trumps polish, and how the next wave of marketers are being trained to bridge the gap between brands and audiences. Stay with us for all of that, a few laughs, and this week’s game of Wrong Answers Only. Whether you’re a marketing veteran or just starting out, you’re 10 minutes closer to GOAT status. 📖 Grab the new Book “How To Succeed In Marketing, Advertising and Artificial Intelligence Without Really Lying” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OJDXzU 🔗 **Join The Marketing, Machines & Mischief Community** ✅ Official: https://MarketingMachinesMischief.com ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewnewell/ ✅ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingMachinesMischief ✅ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingmachinesmischief Marketing, Machines & Mischief is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

    How a College Professor Prepares Students for Real-World Influencer Marketing & Content Creation: EP 037

About

The weekly intelligence briefing that actually respects your time and brain cells. Marketing veterans Matthew Newell and Chris Stone deliver 10-minute episodes packed with what happened in marketing that didn't suck, AI developments that won't be obsolete by Thursday, and creative campaigns worth your attention. No fluff. No corporate speak. No hour-long "journeys." Just sharp insights from professionals who've survived enough industry disasters to separate breakthrough from BS. Whether you're running your first campaign or your thousandth rebrand, you'll finish each episode knowing something actionable - plus you'll probably chuckle. Perfect for day-1 and day-10,000 marketers who want concentrated weekly intelligence that moves the needle. Because great marketing isn't just science - it's art, instinct, and knowing which robots to trust. New episodes every week. Real perspective. Actual value.