Episode · 2026-01-09
How to Not Get Fired in 2026
How to Not Get Fired in 2026 | Pinterest's Shoppable CTV | Lego Smart Bricks
Rundown
The hosts explore ad framework discipline and creative testing, celebrate strategic creator-brand partnerships in CPG (Outlaw Light, Garage Beers, Eight Brewing), and critique Equinox's AI-driven rebranding as destructive to its premium positioning.
Takes from this episode
Testing creative against a structured framework beats random experimentation because it provides guardrails and clarity.
If you have this framework that you can test against, then you know exactly you got some guard rails.
Launching a new product with a relevant, authoritative creator in the same niche consistently drives growth.
partnering a new product, a new debut with a relevant authoritative creator person, expert in that same niche...every time we're up and to the right, it's a huge win.
Lego Smart Bricks is underpriced given its innovative design and unique set variety.
I'm surprised by the price tag. I really think that they could have upped this a little more based on the unique sets they've been creating.
Light beer brands succeed by positioning around masculine, aspirational lifestyles (outlaws, garage culture, celebrity NFL endorsements).
Who are the drinkers of light beer?...They're aiming at men who want to feel like outlaws...the same that NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is having.
Equinox is harming its premium brand by pursuing AI branding instead of partnering with high-quality creators like competitors.
I would be furious...This is not 24-hour fitness. This is not Planet Fitness...Equinox should be...partner with some great creators, you know, the sweet greens of the world. That's how Equinox should be addressing the rest of the market, not going through and doing this kind of like AI kind of branding.