Radical Content

Hosted by Eric Gray

Business Marketing

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Radical Content a new content and social marketing show where our mission is to help brands stop interrupting and start connecting. Eric Gray, former head of Fortune 500 Social and Content teams, now the founder of Maverick Content Studio, highlights how content & engagement is the brand-building superpower you are missing. On this podcast we talk to the brand leaders, creators, and storytellers who have built rabid fans, to help us learn how marketing can shift from transactional selling to a brand that entertains, connects, and creates raving fans. Radical Content is a Maverick Content Studio production. Maverick Content Studio is a social and digital-first content agency helping the biggest brands engage the next generation of fans. If you need help with social media, YouTube, podcasting, or building a fan-first content strategy email us at hello@maverickcontentstudio.com.

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52 recent

June 16, 202630 min

The Content Framework Behind Every Bold Brand (ft. Erin Balsa)

What separates memorable brands from forgettable ones? In Episode 51 of Radical Content, Eric Gray sits down with content strategist, researcher, and House of Bold founder Erin Balsa to unpack the framework behind bold, differentiated content in an era flooded with AI-generated noise. From building trust through transparency to creating original thought leadership that actually stands out, Erin shares the principles she uses to help B2B brands, founders, and marketing leaders create content that drives connection, credibility, and growth. Whether you're a marketer, founder, content creator, agency leader, or brand strategist, this conversation is packed with practical insights on how to create content people remember... and trust. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why trust is the most valuable asset in modern marketing The difference between content that performs and content that builds authority Erin's framework for creating bold content Why originality matters more than ever The role of transparency in building brand trust Why most brands struggle to stand out The dangers of "AI slop" and generic content How research can become a powerful content engine What founders and executives get wrong about personal branding Where B2B content marketing is headed next 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow me on Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray Episode #51

June 2, 202627 min

Why LinkedIn Is the Most Underutilized Platform in Marketing (ft. Melissa Dawson)

In this episode of Radical Content, I sit down with Melissa Dawson, Global Social Lead at WD (formerly Western Digital), to break down how B2B brands can actually win on social media by leaning into storytelling, thought leadership, and audience-first content. Melissa shares how she helped transform WD’s social strategy from a broad B2C/B2B mix into a focused LinkedIn growth engine that generated millions of impressions, massive engagement, and real business impact. From viral LinkedIn posts to the future of B2B marketing, this episode is packed with insights for marketers, creators, and social media professionals trying to stand out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why LinkedIn is massively underrated for both B2B and B2C brands How WD shifted from product marketing to audience-first storytelling The LinkedIn content formats driving the most growth right now The psychology behind Melissa’s viral “social media manager” post Why relatable content often outperforms polished expertise How LinkedIn’s algorithm differs from TikTok and Instagram Why social media managers are becoming the future CMOs Melissa’s hot take on brands using creator content for free exposure 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow me on Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray

May 18, 202629 min

How EA Sports Uses NFL Players to Build One of the Best Social Media Brands

From Super Bowl activations and NFL Draft content to athlete creator partnerships and the return of EA Sports College Football, Tiffany shares how EA Sports used social media to create cultural moments, deepen fan loyalty, and turn NFL players into creators and influencers. They also unpack why sports brands consistently outperform other industries on social media, how gaming audiences shaped modern creator culture long before TikTok, and what marketers can learn from brands that truly understand fandom. If you care about sports marketing, creator strategy, social storytelling, or audience building, this episode is packed with insights from one of the people helping shape the future of fan engagement behind the scenes. 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow me on Instagram: InstagramEric Gray - The Content Coach! (@theericgray) • Instagram photos and videos 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray Episode #49

April 27, 202634 min

How The North Face Turned a Viral Complaint Into a Helicopter Marketing Stunt

In this episode of Radical Content, Eric sits down with Maren Hamilton (former social lead at The North Face, now at Popfly) to break down the full behind-the-scenes story of how a single customer complaint turned into one of the most memorable brand moments in recent social media history. From spotting the opportunity to convincing leadership, coordinating a real-time response, and ultimately delivering a jacket via helicopter: this is a masterclass in modern brand storytelling. This conversation goes far beyond one viral moment. Maren shares how brands can build trust internally, create space for real creativity, and move from reactive content to intentional storytelling that actually connects with audiences. If you’re trying to figure out how to stand out in a sea of trend-chasing content, this episode will completely reset how you think about social. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The full breakdown of The North Face’s viral helicopter stunt and how it came together How to turn a negative customer moment into a brand win Why trust from leadership is critical to executing bold ideas The importance of resilience and problem-solving in real-time social moment The problem with trend-chasing content and what to do instead How to create social content that feels like a story How to build internal alignment and credibility as a social leader 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://instagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray Episode #48

April 13, 202638 min

Former Ryanair Head of Social Tells Us Why Social Media Impressions Don't Matter...

Drawing from his experience building one of the most disruptive and talked-about brand voices in the world, Michael Corcoran breaks down how Ryanair used bold strategy, irreverent storytelling, and relentless experimentation to shift perception. This conversation goes beyond tactics and trends, diving into the real role of social media in modern marketing: building memorability, influencing decisions, and driving real business results in an algorithm-driven world. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why impressions and reach are no longer the metrics that matter How Ryanair used social to change brand perception at scale The difference between vanity metrics vs. meaningful impact Why most brands don’t actually have a social media strategy How to shift from trend-chasing to brand-building content The importance of memorability over visibility How to build a clear, actionable social strategy framework 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: LinkedinEric Gray - Maverick Content Studio | LinkedIn 📲 Follow me on Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray Episode #47

March 30, 202635 min

The Truth About Viral Content (From a Red Bull Creative Director)

What does it actually take to create 500 pieces of content in a single weekend (and more importantly, why would you?). In this episode of Radical Content, I sit down with Mike Aransky (Creative Director at Grey NY) to break down the strategy, systems, and mindset behind high-volume, high-impact content production. From his early days in digital media at NBC and IGN to building content ecosystems at 100 Thieves, Red Bull, and now Las Vegas, Mike shares how the best brands are evolving from marketers into full-scale media companies. We go deep on what most brands still get wrong about social, why “best practices” are quietly killing creativity, and how teams can actually operate at the speed of culture without sacrificing quality. If you’ve ever felt stuck between “we need more content” and “we need better content”… this episode will reset how you think about both. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why volume + quality is the new standard—and how to actually execute both The real story behind producing 500+ pieces of content during F1 in Vegas Why most brands fail on social (hint: they think like advertisers, not media companies) How to build systems for rapid content production without burnout Why experimentation and iteration are non-negotiable in today’s algorithm-driven world The role of community and audience-first thinking in winning on social Why breaking “best practices” is often the key to breakthrough creative 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow me on Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: YoutubeEric Gray

March 16, 202637 min

How Cava is Connecting Culture and Content.

Andrew is leading one of the most creative brand social programs right now, including the launch of “Bowlmates,” CAVA’s social-first dating show that turns the restaurant into the backdrop for culture-driven content. It’s a great example of what happens when brands stop thinking like advertisers and start thinking like creators. We talk about how social media has fundamentally changed. From the rise of the For You Page to the reality that most of your content is now reaching non-followers first. That shift forces brands to rethink everything: how ideas are developed, how creativity is structured, and how brands earn attention in feeds that are more competitive than ever. If you lead social, content, or brand marketing, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to build content systems that break through the algorithm and actually connect with people. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why most social content now reaches non-followers first and what brands must do differently Andrew’s “Idea Ring” framework for expanding content beyond your core audience How CAVA created the Bowlmates social dating show Why formats are more powerful than chasing trends How brands can create social shows without huge production budgets The importance of creative culture inside social teams Why modern social strategy is really about building fandom, not just followers 👀 Watch this with your team. 📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week! 💬 Connect with Me on LinkedIn 📲 Follow Me on Instagram 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: Episode #45

February 3, 202630 min

Any Brand Can Win on Social (Here's How)

What if the challenge isn’t your brand... but how its story is being told?We unpack how Jenn has driven hundreds of thousands of views by rethinking mindset, storytelling, internal partnerships, and creative strategy. This conversation isn’t about gimmicks or chasing trends, it’s about uncovering the stories already inside your brand and learning how to tell them in a way people actually care about.If you’re a social media manager or brand-side marketer trying to stand out with limited resources, skeptical leadership, or a category that feels overlooked, this episode will completely reframe what’s possible.What you’ll learn from this episode:Why unexpected categories often have a creative advantage on social The mindset shift required to earn real attention and interestWhat Jenn learned building social for live events, culture-driven brands, and airportsHow internal relationships unlock better access, storytelling, and contentThe difference between managing social and leading creative strategyWhy taste, curiosity, and cultural awareness matter more than tactics

January 19, 202613 min

The Exact Org Structure I Used to Scale a Social Team from 2 to 24

One of the most common questions I get from social media leaders is: “What should my social team actually look like?” In this episode, I walk through how to structure small, growing, and enterprise-level social teams, why org design should always support strategy, and how the right structure creates speed, creativity, and collaboration. We get into real-world realities: underfunded teams, lack of buy-in, reporting lines, and how to build a model that actually scales without killing momentum. If you’re trying to earn credibility, grow your team, or design a structure that leadership can believe in, use this episode as your blueprint.What you’ll learn in this episode:The starter, growing, and enterprise social team structures (and when to use each)Why your org structure must be a resource to your strategyThe core “triangle” every strong social team needs: strategy, creative, and communityHow pod-based team models unlock speed, collaboration, and scalabilityWhere social should report inside large organizations (and why it matters)How to put people in the right seats so both the work (and careers) flourish 👀 Watch this with your team.📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week!MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ericgray 📲 Follow Me on Instagram:Instagraminstagram.com/theericgray 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel:YoutubeEric Gray Episode #43

January 14, 202613 min

How Social Media Managers Should Actually Be Using YouTube

If you’re a social media manager, content lead, or brand-side marketer trying to make YouTube actually work, not just exist, this episode is for you. We talk audience clarity, packaging, hooks, education-first content, and the mindset shift that most teams never make when it comes to long-form video. This isn’t about chasing trends or “gaming the algorithm.” It’s about understanding how YouTube really works, how it learns who to show your content to, and how to build a channel that grows intentionally over time.What you'll learn in this episode:Why YouTube is always learning who your content is forThe biggest mistake brands make by creating content that’s “interesting” but not valuableHow to get brutally clear on your target audience (and why this should show up in every title you publish)How to rethink hooks, the first 5 seconds, and getting to the point fasterThe real role of titles, thumbnails, and packaging in driving growthHow to balance platform best practices without losing your creative voiceThe mindset shift that changed how I think about YouTube forever 👀 Watch this with your team.📩 Share it with your boss. 📬 Subscribe to the Radical Content Newsletter and get The Content of the Week!MaverickcontentstudioMAVERICK CONTENT STUDIO 💬 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn:LinkedinEric Gray - Maverick Content Studio | LinkedIn 📲 Follow Me on Instagram:InstagramLogin • Instagram 🎥Subscribe to my Youtube Channel:YoutubeEric Gray Episode #42