Business Of Social

Hosted by David Brickley

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100

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Sep 2026

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About the show

The Business Of Social keeps you up-to-date on the ever-changing social media & marketing landscape. David Brickley, CEO & Owner of the nationally recognized social-first agency, STN Digital, is your host each episode as he interviews the top marketers in the world. Each episode will leave you feeling inspired as we discuss how brands and individuals can continue to evolve their strategy. We've had conversations with leaders from ESPN, WarnerMedia, Twitter, Instagram, Coca-Cola, Patagonia, Peloton, and NBC, just to name a few.

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September 15, 2026Episode 15214 min

4 Signs Showing the Death of AI Content

David Brickley, CEO and Founder of STN Digital, is breaking down four signals he believes every marketer should be paying attention to as AI-generated content continues to take over our feeds. We have spent the last few years talking about everything AI can do, but now we're entering a new phase where consumers are becoming much more aware of what was made by AI, what was made by a human and how that changes the way they engage with content. The big question for marketers moving forward is simple…as AI makes it easier than ever to create more content, will being able to prove something was Made by Humans become even more valuable? 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

June 17, 2026Episode 14823 min

Here's Why Most Sports Sponsorships Are Trash

David Brickley, CEO of STN Digital, takes the stage to tackle a topic that impacts every team, league, athlete, brand, and sponsor in sports - why so much sponsored content misses the mark and how to fix it. Drawing from more than a decade of experience working across the sports ecosystem, David breaks down real-world examples from brands like Amazon Prime, Fanatics, Royal Kingdom, CarMax, Castrol, and more to show what drives fan engagement and what gets brands ignored. At the center of the presentation is David's F.A.N.S. Framework, a practical approach for creating sponsored content that fans actually want to watch, share, and engage with. Download the free F.A.N.S. Framework and sponsorship education template here: https://www.stndigital.com/fans-framework/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

March 16, 2026Episode 1371 hr 0 min

The #1 NFL Team on Social is…

NFL teams generated over $1.5B in social value last season. But most teams still are not capitalizing on the content that actually drives engagement, reach, and sponsorship revenue. In this episode, David Brickley sits down with Dan LaTorraca, Head of Marketing at Zoomph and former NFL and NHL team executive, to break down the biggest trends from the 2025 NFL Social Media Report. You'll learn: • Why YouTube Shorts generated the most social value in the NFL • Why Instagram still dominates total engagement • Why mic'd up moments consistently outperform highlight clips • Why teams are leaving sponsorship revenue on the table • How social data is now influencing team valuations and ownership investments If you work in sports, sponsorship, or digital media, this episode shows exactly where the next wave of social growth is coming from. Download the full 2025 NFL Social Media Report: https://zoomph.com/2025-nfl-social-media-performance-report-stn-digital-x-zoomph/ 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

February 17, 2026Episode 14416 min

Why Women's Sports Is the Smartest Bet in Media

Recorded live at the SPORT BEACH Clubhouse content studio during Super Bowl week in San Francisco — a destination where sport, culture, and innovation collide — David Brickley sits down with Kati Fernandez, Chief Content Officer at TOGETHXR, for a candid and strategic conversation on content, community, and the meteoric rise of women's sports. Kati breaks down her career path — from the NFL to Hulu, ESPN, and now leading content at TOGETHXR — and why authenticity is her superpower. She shares how real relationships drive growth, how TOGETHXR built community-first momentum before the spotlight hit, and what brands and sponsors need to understand about showing up correctly in women's sports today. This episode covers: • Why authenticity beats "code‑switching" in content and leadership • How TOGETHXR scaled without traditional paid marketing • The modern economics of women's sports and fan growth • What brands get wrong when they try to "hijack" culture • Why storytelling and community matter more than follower counts • How to create partnership content that's additive — not intrusive A must‑watch for leaders in social, brand strategy, and anyone pushing culture forward through meaningful content. #sportbeach2026 #sportbeach #SBSuperWeek 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

February 5, 2026Episode 1435 min

This Is Why Your Marketing "Didn't Work"

A lot of people have "marketing" in their title—but what they're doing is actually just low-funnel performance tracking. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down the real reason most marketing strategies fall flat: skipping the top of the funnel entirely. He dives into why awareness still matters, how to build real community and trust, and what it actually means to be additive to culture. If you've ever had to explain the value of upper-funnel content to someone who only wants clicks and conversions, this one's for you. 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

February 5, 2026Episode 14210 min

The Truth About A.I. That Investors Won't Say Out Loud

Everyone's talking about AI—but is anyone talking about what's not working? In this episode, David Brickley breaks down why AI adoption isn't moving as fast as the hype, and why marketers need to approach it with more patience than panic. He covers: The Ben Affleck quote that reframed his thinking Why 95% of AI pilots are failing, according to MIT The $1.5B lawsuit that could shape copyright law for AI What the .com bubble can teach us about overhype Why AI content generation still isn't ready for prime time If you're overwhelmed by the pressure to overhaul your brand with AI overnight, this one's for you. 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

November 12, 2025Episode 14138 min

The #1 WNBA Team on Social is...

This WNBA season was historic…and the data proves it. STN teamed up with Zoomph to analyze 20,000+ posts from every WNBA team, tracking engagement, growth, and earned media value. David Brickley is joined by Zoomph's James Ho to reveal the biggest takeaways from the 2025 WNBA Social Rankings, including the teams, formats, and content types driving massive impact. This episode covers: • How the Fever delivered $55M+ in social value • Why the Wings saw a 5x spike in engagement • The NBA crossover content outperforming everything else • What Facebook is still getting right • Where brands and sponsors can actually stand out Download the full WNBA 2025 Season Social Ranking Data: https://www.stndigital.com/wnba-social-media-rankings/ 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ Interested in becoming a guest on the podcast? Reach out to our team at businessofsocial@stn.digital -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

November 12, 2025Episode 1401 hr 10 min

Relationships, Boundaries & the Science of Feeling Safe ft. Sabrina Zohar

Sabrina Zohar, host of The Sabrina Zohar Show (7M+ downloads, top 0.1% globally), joins David Brickley for a raw, honest conversation about mental health, dating, relationships, and childhood trauma—and how all of it ties into the patterns we carry as adults. They unpack the psychology behind anxious vs avoidant attachments, the neuroscience of texting anxiety, the truth about boundaries (hint: it's not about telling people what to do), and how to actually rewire old beliefs instead of projecting them onto your partner. From real talk about her own healing journey to the patterns she sees in thousands of clients, this episode is packed with insight, self-awareness, and the kind of honesty that makes you feel seen. 🎧 Listen to her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sabrina-zohar-show/id1668235178 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ Interested in becoming a guest on the podcast? Reach out to our team at businessofsocial@stn.digital -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

October 30, 2025Episode 1391 hr 3 min

StubHub's Secret To Breaking The Internet

Caity Bransby, Head of Global Social - Growth, Strategy, Analytics at StubHub, joins David Brickley to break down how her team built a content engine that taps into real-time trends, drives massive earned reach, and keeps StubHub top-of-mind across sports and entertainment. They walk through the exact moments that broke the internet—from the Kendrick Lamar tower edit to Coldplay's HR scandal to the Jalen voodoo doll—and break down the real strategy, approvals, and creative instincts behind them. 📍 StubHub social links and campaigns mentioned in this episode: • Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake / Toronto Tower: https://x.com/StubHub/status/1933210064976031791 • Jalen Brunson voodoo doll TikTok fan: https://www.tiktok.com/@darmiikim/video/7504911161129930030 • Coldplay HR cheating scandal: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMOer8VsIt_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Chapel Roan tour moment: https://www.tiktok.com/@stubhub/video/7552546603509288247 • Billie Eilish "Red Bandana Girl": https://www.tiktok.com/@stubhub/video/7559747224914152759 • Bad Bunny Super Bowl reaction: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPNCRNxDWR-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ Interested in becoming a guest on the podcast? Reach out to our team at businessofsocial@stn.digital -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley

October 22, 2025Episode 13726 min

7 Sports Sponsorships that Sports Fans Loved

Too many brands still try to hijack the culture instead of creating with it. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down seven sports sponsorships that actually worked—each one built trust, earned credibility, and showed how to add to the conversation instead of interrupting it. From LeBron's viral Prime Day tease to Nike's emotional Asia Wilson campaign, these are the moments that didn't just check the brand box—they created real fan connection. David walks through each one, explains why it worked, and gives you the playbook to create campaigns that sports fans actually want to share. 🎥 Also discussed: Casey Hurbis (CMO of BetMGM) on why some campaigns flop: https://youtu.be/FGGDk5hddY4 LeBron's Paid Sponsorship Post Went VIRAL. I Explain Why…: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn1Jro1newo 📌 Clips referenced in this episode: • Amazon Prime Day × LeBron James: "What's Next" • Nike: "Winning Isn't for Everyone" • Nike IG: Scotty Scheffler "Guilty" Post • State Farm × Caitlin Clark: "From the Logo" • Nike × A'ja Wilson: "One of a Kind" • Royal Kingdom × LeBron James • Gatorade × Cooper Flagg: "Mic Drop" Bonus Spec Ad: • Converse × SGA (creator: @carstensen_) • Tyrese Haliburton × Pacers (vs. Knicks) — "In New York" 📬 Sign up for David's monthly newsletter—Real insights, bold strategies, and the smartest plays in social delivered to your inbox 👉 https://www.stndigital.com/db/ Interested in becoming a guest on the podcast? Reach out to our team at businessofsocial@stn.digital -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STN Digital is a social-first marketing agency that specializes in launching brands and building highly engaged audiences. ➡Check us out: https://www.stndigital.com/ ➡Get in touch with our team: https://www.stndigital.com/contact/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more insights? Follow David: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbrickley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brickley Instagram: http://instagram.com/davidjbrickley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesbrickley