Make The Way: Culture Decoded

Mike Austin Makes Podcast Network

What happens when Millennials and Gen Z start burning down the old playbook and actually build something better? Hosted by award-winning brand strategist and author Mike Fair, Make The Way dives deep into the codes MillZ are rewriting across culture: from work and wellness to fashion, fandoms, faith, and more. Each episode unpacks what’s shifting (and why it matters) through a lens of lived experience, cultural strategy, and sharp storytelling. Expect real talk, smart takes, and a blueprint for the future you actually want to live. 📍 Tap in weekly to decode the culture and Make the Way forward.

  1. Sep 22

    Trust Your Gut: How to Build Intuition You Can Actually Trust | Make The Way

    Do you trust your gut? And no, I'm not talking about your stomach. I'm talking about your intuition. We hear "trust your gut" all the time. But what actually makes your instincts worth trusting? In this episode of Make The Way, we're unpacking how intuition is built through practice, research, repetition, exploration—and yes, failure. Because your gut isn't magic. It's informed. I'll also take you behind the strategy of TWIX Kicks, one of the defining campaigns of my career, and break down how an instinct about connecting TWIX Cookies & Creme to sneaker culture was strengthened by SEO data, TrendKite research, cultural observation, and the growing relevance of drop culture. The idea might have felt intuitive. But there were years of reps—and plenty of research—underneath it. In this episode: • Why intuition isn't the same thing as guessing • How to build better instincts over time • The role of research, repetition and failure in trusting your gut • Why great decision-making is both art AND science • How data can validate—but shouldn't replace—intuition • The strategy behind TWIX Kicks • How to know when your gut is actually worth trusting Maybe the question isn't, "Do you trust your gut?" Maybe it's: "Have you done the work to build a gut you can trust?" Subscribe to Make The Way for conversations about culture, strategy, creativity, personal growth and making your own way forward. #MakeTheWay #TrustYourGut #Intuition

  2. Sep 15

    You’re Not Stuck. You’re Numb. Here’s How to Break Free. | Make The Way

    Feeling stuck in life? What if you’ve been on autopilot for so long that you’ve lost touch with what excites you? Let’s talk about how to get unstuck and reconnect with possibility. In this episode of Make The Way, Mike Austin Fair explores a tension that may feel familiar to Millennials and Gen Z: you’re showing up, handling responsibilities, and getting things done—but where’s the room for who you’re becoming? We unpack three codes to help you make your next move: • Break out of the matrix: question the expectations, routines, and definitions of success you’ve inherited. • Get back into learning mode: follow your curiosity and give yourself permission to be a beginner. • Go get inspired: make room for play, hobbies, art, and experiences that don’t have to become a hustle. When was the last time you changed your mind, learned something new, or did something simply because it made you feel alive? Your challenge this week: one thing to question, one thing to learn, and one thing to enjoy. Which code do you need most right now? Tell me in the comments—and name one move you’re making this week. Subscribe to Make The Way for conversations about culture, personal growth, and making your way forward. Find me on YouTube and Instagram: @mikeaustinmakes #MakeTheWay #FeelingStuck #PersonalGrowth

  3. Aug 19

    We’ve Got Martha’s Vineyard All Wrong—Here’s What’s Missing (Culture Radar) | Make The Way

    Is Martha’s Vineyard really elitist—or have we reduced a multi-layered Black cultural space to its most expensive image? After visiting for the first time, I think we’ve been having the wrong conversation about Martha’s Vineyard. In this Culture Radar episode of Make The Way, I share what I experienced during my first visit to Martha’s Vineyard and explore what the online discourse may be missing about Oak Bluffs, Black leisure, community, belonging, and cultural tradition. Yes, Martha’s Vineyard can contain wealth, status, exclusivity, and even pretension. But it can also represent Black rest, organic connection, intergenerational legacy, and the freedom to experience vacation on our own cultural terms. More than one thing can be true at the same time. We’ll decode: Why social media reduces Martha’s Vineyard to wealth and statusThe difference between labeling culture and actually experiencing itWhy Black leisure carries deeper cultural significanceHow aspiration and elitism are often conflatedWhy nuance doesn’t require us to ignore questions of accessWhat the Vineyard taught me about practicing communityOak Bluffs has served as a historic place of gathering and belonging for Black Americans, and August continues to feature major celebrations of Black literature, film, art, HBCU culture, and community. Oak Bluffs’ Sankofa Festival and other current cultural programming reflect that broader legacy. What do you think: Is the criticism of Martha’s Vineyard fair, or are we missing part of the story? Subscribe to Mike Austin Makes for more episodes of Make The Way: Culture Decoded, where we examine the cultural codes shaping Millennials, Gen Z, and what comes next.

  4. Jul 7

    You're Probably Standing in Your Own Way (Here's How to Stop) | Make The Way

    Are you actually stuck... or are you standing in your own way? In this episode of Make The Way, I share what I learned after teaching my recent OGSM strategy workshop—and how fear, overthinking, perfectionism, and self-doubt almost kept me from doing it in the first place. The biggest lesson wasn't that I was perfectly prepared. It was that action creates clarity. Confidence doesn't come before you begin—it grows because you begin. If you've been waiting until you feel ready to launch the business, create the content, apply for the opportunity, or make the change, this episode is for you. You'll learn: Why confidence comes after actionHow perfection keeps us stuckWhy movement reveals what overthinking never canA simple mindset shift to help you move forwardIf this episode resonates, subscribe for more conversations about strategy, culture, purpose, and building a meaningful life. #MakeTheWay

  5. Jun 29

    CULTURE RADAR: Black Music Month Shouldn't End in June | Make The Way

    Black Music Month deserves more than one month on the calendar. In this episode of Culture Radar, we're talking about why Black music isn't just entertainment—it's one of the most influential cultural forces in history. From jazz and gospel to hip-hop, house, R&B, Afrobeats, and beyond, Black artists have shaped the soundtrack of our lives. But celebration shouldn't stop on June 30. In this episode, I share practical ways to celebrate Black Music Month with intention, discover new artists, support Black creators, explore music history, and keep the culture alive all year long. If culture shapes how we live, then music deserves more than a playlist. In this episode: Why Black Music Month still mattersThe global impact of Black musicSimple ways to celebrate beyond JuneSupporting Black artists year-roundWhy participation matters more than performanceIf this conversation resonates, subscribe to Make The Way for weekly conversations decoding the culture shaping Millennials and Gen Z. #MakeTheWay #BlackMusicMonth #CultureRadar

  6. Jun 22

    REWRITE THE SCRIPT: Why Words Unlock Your Vision | Make The Way

    What if the life you want begins with the words you choose today? In this episode of Make The Way, Mike Fair explores the surprising power of writing down your vision, speaking affirmations over your life, and rewriting the stories that hold us back. This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending everything is okay. It's about understanding that your thoughts become words, your words become beliefs, and your beliefs shape your future. Millennials and Gen Z have become experts at rejecting old rules about success, work, identity, and purpose. But after you reject an old script, you have to write a new one. This episode is your invitation to do exactly that. In this episode: • Why words have power • How writing your vision creates clarity • The science behind affirmations and self-talk • Why the stories you tell yourself matter • Practical ways to rewrite limiting beliefs • How to intentionally shape your future Your future is listening. #MakeTheWay #Affirmations #Mindset #SelfTalk #PersonalGrowth Link to download my OGSM framework here: 👉 https://www.mikeaustinmakes.com/shop/...

  7. Jun 3

    The Hustle Culture Trap: You Don't Need to Slow Down. You Need to Stop. | Make The Way

    We've been sold a lie. Work harder. Stay busy. Keep grinding. Sleep later. For years, hustle culture convinced us that exhaustion was a badge of honor and that productivity was the ultimate measure of success. But what if the problem isn't that you're moving too slowly? What if the problem is that you've never been taught to stop? In this episode of Make The Way, Mike Fair explores the hidden costs of hustle culture, why Millennials and Gen Z are experiencing record levels of burnout, and how creating rhythms of rest may be one of the most radical acts of self-preservation available to us today. We'll unpack: The origins of hustle cultureWhy burnout has become normalizedThe myth of work-life balanceThe emotional cost of constant productivityHow hustle culture impacts relationships and identityWhy slowing down isn't enoughHow to build intentional rhythms of restIf you've ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected, or trapped in the cycle of doing more and feeling less, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for weekly conversations on culture, strategy, creativity, purpose, leadership, and making your own way forward. #HustleCulture #Burnout #MentalHealth #MakeTheWay

  8. May 5

    This Is How You Actually Build a Real Strategy (OGSM Step-by-Step) | Make The Way

    You can’t build a great brand without a real strategy. In this video, I break down the OGSM framework, the exact system I use to turn business goals into execution. Download and USE my OGSM framework here: https://www.mikeaustinmakes.com/shop/p/the-make-the-way-ogsm-system Everyone is shouting about marketing, content, and campaigns… But here’s the truth: If your business strategy isn’t clear, your marketing will never work. In this episode of Make The Way, I walk through the OGSM framework (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, Metrics) — a simple but powerful system used by top strategists to bring clarity, focus, and results. This is how you stop guessing… and start building a real strategy. Download and USE my OGSM framework here: 👉 https://www.mikeaustinmakes.com/shop/p/the-make-the-way-ogsm-system This is the exact framework I use to build brand and business strategy — simplified so you can apply it immediately.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

What happens when Millennials and Gen Z start burning down the old playbook and actually build something better? Hosted by award-winning brand strategist and author Mike Fair, Make The Way dives deep into the codes MillZ are rewriting across culture: from work and wellness to fashion, fandoms, faith, and more. Each episode unpacks what’s shifting (and why it matters) through a lens of lived experience, cultural strategy, and sharp storytelling. Expect real talk, smart takes, and a blueprint for the future you actually want to live. 📍 Tap in weekly to decode the culture and Make the Way forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Austin Makes Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mike Austin Makes Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Make The Way: Culture Decoded

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