Brain Driven Brands

What's going to happen to DTC in 2026 once the AI noise dies down, tariffs stabilize, and brands stop pretending vibes are a strategy? In this holiday episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate don their ugly sweaters, roast underperforming AI tools, and make real predictions they'd actually put money on. They break down why 2026: Could be a breakout year for disciplined brands Why community is shifting off rented platforms and onto brand-owned ecosystems And why the biggest risk next year isn't effort…it's distraction. You'll hear takes on: • Why brands who "hang out" with customers will win • The rise of on-site social and owned community ecosystems • How AI should actually be used (hint: not for final copy) • Why messaging and copywriting are about to matter more than ever • Dynamic pricing, premium buyers, and letting your best customers spend more • Micro-movies, PDP under-optimization, and where content is heading • Why UGC is evolving into character-driven storytelling • And a hopeful prediction about marketers finally sharing real signal instead of shilling If 2025 felt like learning to ride with training wheels again, this is the conversation about what happens when brands finally stop wobbling, and start moving with intent.

In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate pull back the curtain on the exact AI prompts they actually use to generate high-performing ad ideas—the ones that don't sound robotic, generic, or like every other brand on the internet. After revisiting one of the show's most-downloaded episodes, Sarah shares why most AI-written copy fails, how she rebuilt her prompts from first principles, and what happens when you tell AI which psychological mechanisms to use before it writes anything at all. Together, they live-test these internal prompts on a real brand ad (cowboy boots), exploring how different psychological levers change the creative direction entirely—including: First-principles thinking paired with loss aversion Quiet status signaling and open loops Curiosity-driven hooks and reverse psychology Instead of asking AI to write headlines or scripts, Sarah shows how to use it to generate raw ad concepts—and why the last 10% (the human part) is where all the money is made. This episode is part live teardown, part psychology lesson, and part behind-the-scenes look at how six-figure ads are actually born—not from clever wording, but from properly framed ideas. If you care about better creative, higher prices, and ads that don't feel like ads…this one's for you. Sarah Makes Nate Cry With a Prompt Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cVZ3nIE8YUMAlO6Qm0NFN?si=UWSUywsJTmqoz5bkRVgADw

For years, marketers have been told to "find the why"...which drives Sarah absolutely nuts.

We unpack a wild 2013 study by economist M. Keith Chen: proof that the language you speak completely rewires how you save, spend, exercise, plan, and even respond to marketing. Germans retire with more wealth, smoke less, and make healthier choices… not because they're more disciplined, but because their grammar collapses the future into the present. English pushes actions into "later." German makes the future feel like right now. On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, we break down how your phrasing might be creating psychological distance without you realizing it ("you will feel better tomorrow") and how a simple tense shift ("your future self thanks you") can snap people into action instantly. We riff on examples, rewrite real campaigns in real time, and even end with a mini-rant about why AI struggles with time itself. If you sell anything to English speakers, this is a masterclass in linguistic persuasion. Tune in. Your future self… thanks you.

This episode was supposed to be about something else entirely…but TikTok's algorithm had other plans. Sarah and Nate fall headfirst into a conversation about why our For You Pages are changing how people perceive content, other people, products, and the world…and what that means for the ads we create in 2026. From cave-death phobias to zoo-bear attack headlines, we unpack why humans are magnetized to bizarre, emotionally charged micro-stories, and why traditional "polished" ads have no chance against that dopamine roulette. They break down: → How the TikTok algorithm broke the entire marketing industry → What it really takes to stop a scrolling brain trained on chaos → Why identity-based ads are exploding (and why the platforms are rewarding them) → The truth about personas: how more of them, narrower, and built for one emotional moment at a time is the only way to win → The surprising shift from "better" ads to accurate ads…ads that lock onto a universal story the brain can't ignore The episode ends with a simple question that might reshape your 2026 creative strategy: What's the repeatable story your customers will always stop for, no matter the platform? This one is a wonderfully unplanned, unnervingly honest look at where attention is going and how brands can evolve with it.

Today's episode cracks open one of the most unintuitive persuasion effects hiding in plain sight: customers are 149% more likely to say yes to an offer… when it's presented as something that wasn't meant for them. Sarah and Nate break down the original Journal of Marketing Research study (2013), walk through real examples from DTC, SaaS, and Nate's own infamous bar-tab email campaign, and show how brands accidentally stumble into this effect all the time. We explore: • why "this isn't usually for you, but…" is irresistible to new customers • how pro-level products trigger aspiration psychology • the difference between unintentional offers vs. unlock offers • how TetherOS and Adapt could test this framing immediately • why this fits under the broader umbrella of "pre-purchase surprise & delight" If you've ever run a "we weren't supposed to do this but…" promo (or fallen for one) this episode makes the science obvious…and profitable.

Marketers love to argue about tactics: structures, caps, creatives, bids, funnels. But the data from this year paints a different picture: every winning campaign in 2026 will be powered by the same three forces… and almost nobody is preparing for them. In this episode, we pull together the most revealing moments from the show; the ones where emotions spike, buying behavior becomes predictable, and the old rules of persuasion fall apart. You'll hear how valence and intensity shape conversions, why WHEN someone sees an ad matters more than WHO they are, and how abstract language can increase willingness-to-pay by 35% without changing the product. If you want your 2026 campaigns to scale instead of stall, these are the forces you need to master emotion, timing, and framing. Everything else is noise. Sarah Makes Nate Cry Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cVZ3nIE8YUMAlO6Qm0NFN?si=8_gGsWQbR4i7cDvMBfID6A Get People to Pay 35% More Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iBY6204hJvT69ejFS3MeI?si=HHKyRErhTkuvPU11fCuQhQ Marketers...Think About WHEN Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yTuYTNUDsGS3obpsiCOr2?si=EY9qh43JRNa3q6BjQ6Kx7g

In this episode, we dig up the wild (but true) story of Borax — yes, Borax — and how a forgotten cleaning brand quietly rewired consumer psychology long before Meta ads, hooks, or CTR dashboards existed. What they did was shockingly simple: they stopped selling "soap vs. better soap," and started selling a system their product could sell itself in… while naming an enemy you couldn't see but desperately wanted to defeat. This one hits everything marketers secretly crave: • How to pick a real psychological villain (not your competitor) • Why "incomplete solutions" convert better than "new solutions" • The hidden power of systems-based marketing • How this translates directly to watches, wellness, supplements, luxury, and your brand right now By the end, you'll rethink your product, your positioning, and maybe your entire funnel. The Orange is a Lie Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-driven-brands/id1752169629?i=1000702690496

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dig into what actually helps most during BFCM week: simplifying your work, limiting decisions, touching grass (literally), planning something fun, rewarding yourself for non-revenue wins, and keeping alcohol out of the mix until the storm passes. It's the conversation everyone in DTC needs during the wildest season of the year and the reminder that none of us are doing this alone.

This week on Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate crack open 25 Core Identity Maps (CIMs) collected across nearly every category — supplements, apparel, home goods, tech, sleep, skincare — and uncover the five global consumer behaviors defining 2026. These aren't the usual "people want convenience and trust" surface takes. They're weird, psychologically sideways, deeply human patterns emerging across thousands of responses… the kind of stuff your attribution dashboard will never show you. Inside the episode, they break down: Why customers want the feeling of improvement, not the reality of change Why up to 70% of buyers choose identity alignment over product performance Why emotional safety now beats price, logic, or urgency How shoppers are making decisions through emotional math, not rational math And the wildest finding: customers are humanizing objects that reduce stress—naming them, personifying them, treating them like sidekicks Along the way, Nate confesses the uncomfortable self-truth the research exposed in his buying habits, Sarah explains why most marketing overestimates aspiration and underestimates avoidance, and both of them dig into why belonging is quietly becoming the dominant motivator in nearly every market. If you want to understand how real people actually think before they buy — not how marketers wish they thought — this episode is a masterclass in modern consumer psychology wrapped in friendly self-roasting. Perfect for founders, operators, and anyone who suspects their customers are running way deeper scripts under the surface than their spreadsheet can explain. Plus: A live breakdown of how brands should adapt their messaging sequencing to match these psychological shifts — and why one wrong emotional signal can kick you out of a buyer's world instantly.

Some myths haunt the ad industry like immortal raccoons rifling through the garbage. In this episode, Sarah and Nate crack open a tweet that asked a simple question: "What's the dumbest take you've heard about running ads?" Turns out…people had thoughts. They wade through the greatest hits — "never turn off an ad," "you gotta season the pixel," "ads hurt organic," "just follow Andromeda best practices," "DR can't build brand," "scale winners 15% a day," — and then get into the deeper psychology behind why these ideas still survive in 2026. Along the way, they break down: Why founders often accidentally sabotage good ads Why Meta's "best practices" contradict themselves weekly The dark truth about greedy scaling Why employee-led ads outperform founder-led mythmaking The sneaky identity traps that make bad takes so seductive It's equal parts catharsis, strategy, and industry group therapy. By the end, you'll understand not just what the worst takes are… but why people cling to them — and what smart operators are doing instead. Perfect for anyone who loves ads, hates nonsense, and wants their marketing to be grounded in actual sanity.

  When a PepsiCo-trained behavioral scientist crashes the studio, things get weird…and wildly useful. In this episode, Will Leach walks us through the emotional math behind why customers buy, why brands plateau, and why most marketers have their goals entirely backward.  We dig into why value ≠ "saving money," how DiGiorno tricked America by anchoring against delivery pizza, why buyers change personalities between Monday and Friday, and the surprising reason your brand matters way less than you think. Come for the spicy takes on Coke vs Pepsi, stay for the "Batman vs Utility Belt" analogy that will permanently change how you write ads. If you've ever wondered why your logical pitches flop, why people buy cowboy hats during burnout, or how to outmaneuver giants without outspending them — this episode is a masterclass in real human behavior, not the stuff your personas pretend.

Most marketers are using AI to replace their thinking instead of sharpen it—and it's showing. In this episode, Sarah and Chase break down why lazy prompting is the reason your creative feels stale, your tests flop, and your "winners" die in two weeks. They'll walk you through 50 wild "what if" experiments that flip marketing psychology upside down and show you how to use AI as a thinking partner, not a content mill. Here's a taste:

Sarah and Nate dive into one of marketing's strangest scientific findings: launching [secret product] can make your brand 20% cooler. So which product is it? No hints on this one…you'll just have to listen and find out! Source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/crazy-mini-products-make-your-brand-cool

2025 was a weird year for marketers..an avalanche of AI hype, output obsession, and soulless creative cycles. In this episode, Sarah and Nate dissect the biggest missteps brands made this year and what needs to change before 2026 hits.  From mistaking outputs for outcomes to realizing AI isn't ready to think for us, they break down why "volume" culture is killing creativity and how to rebuild your strategy around clarity, authenticity, and actual human intelligence. Expect hard truths, some laughter about naming cows "Ribeye," and a challenge to run your own "What Could Go Wrong?" meeting before the new year. It's a roadmap for smarter, saner marketing in 2026…no AI attitude required.

Ever seen an ad so bizarre you couldn't look away? A woman eating a boiled egg for 90 seconds. A cigarette brand that never showed the cigarette. A $40M Burger King campaign about a guy named Herb who'd never eaten there. In this episode, Nate and Sarah play Two Truths and a Lie: 1980s Ad Edition and then break down why the strangest, most nonsensical ads of the decade actually worked. We'll talk about:

In this Brain Driven Brands episode, Nate and I unpack a wild little study that found ads can be 30% more effective depending on where your model's eyes are looking. Turns out, the difference between “I trust this brand with my organs” and “why is she looking at me like that?” comes down to whether your product is utilitarian or hedonic (fancy words for “practical” vs “fun”). We break down why eye contact builds trust for supplements and skincare—but looking away sells fashion and for-funsies products. TL;DR: Your model's gaze might be the cheapest conversion hack you've never tested.

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah's bad haircut spirals into a four-week behavioral case study—and an accidental masterclass in consumer psychology. From identity triggers (“am I that kind of person?”) to timing misfires and disqualifying sales moments, this story exposes how every brand loses money by misunderstanding when a buyer is ready—not why. In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dissect: → Why “when” your customer feels safe matters more than “why” they buy. → How bias, timing, and trust signals silently make or break conversions. → The $2,000 mistake one salon made that every brand repeats online. If you've ever wondered why great products don't convert—or how to fix the sequence that kills your sales—this is your wake-up call.

What if your next viral ad came from your meanest review?  In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dive headfirst into the world of negative feedback, brand psychology, and emotional resilience—starting with a spicy listener review about Sarah's voice.

In this Halloween-themed episode, Sarah and Nate dive into the wildest (and weirdest) campaigns in advertising history (the ones that shouldn't have worked… but somehow did.) From the Tango Orange Man who literally slapped sales up 33%, to the Diamond Shreddies intern who made millions by tilting a cereal 45 degrees, to Pepsi's 1992 Number Fever fiasco that sparked riots in the Philippines, this episode is a masterclass in how psychology, timing, and cultural context can make or break a campaign. Expect laughter, disbelief, and plenty of “wait, that actually worked?” moments...plus two challenges for listeners at the end. Because sometimes, genius isn't about doing more — it's about seeing differently.

Coca-Cola once tried to sell apathy in a can. They called it OK Soda — a grungy, “anti-brand” aimed at cynical Gen Xers. The ads were clever, the design was bizarre…and the product died within a year. In Episode 107, we dig into why “anti-branding” almost always backfires, why Liquid Death succeeded where Coke failed, and the psychology of why brands can't thrive on indifference. Inside the conversation: ✅ The real reason OK Soda flopped despite massive hype ✅ Why apathy is the weakest emotion you can build a brand on ✅ The key difference between active vs. passive emotions in marketing ✅ How today's “anti-agency agencies” and “non-beauty beauty brands” are repeating Coke's mistake ✅ Why rebellion only works if you give customers an identity to step into, not out of If you've ever wondered: Why some “anti” campaigns take off while others flatline How to pick the right emotion to anchor your brand around What Liquid Death nailed that Coke couldn't figure out And why fighting your own category is the fastest way to lose… …this one's for you.

What if everything you've been told about the “right” ad length is wrong? In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah and Nate dive into a surprising new study showing that one oddly specific video length outperformed the standard 15–30 second format — driving 40% more traffic and 3X engagement. They break down: Why shorter ads spark curiosity (and clicks) while longer ones stall The real “job” of an ad vs. your landing page Why benefit-first storytelling beats pain-point rambling Live ad-read experiments (yes, in under 10 seconds) Source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/keep-video-ads-under-10-seconds

We dropped a stat this week that stopped Nate in his tracks: brands can see up to 42% more sales just by framing discounts the right way. No new ads, no extra products...just choosing percent off vs. dollar off at the right moment. In Episode 105, we dig into the psychology behind that lift and why most brands blow Q4 by overcomplicating offers, stacking promos, and teaching customers not to trust them. Inside the conversation:  ✅ The science behind when to use % off vs. $ off (and why it changes sitewide vs. single product) ✅ The 5 offer types we see every year — and which ones are worth your testing budget ✅ Why “combo deals” and “sale extended” emails wreck trust long-term ✅ Sequencing tactics (like Nate's “Better Than Black Friday” play) that build urgency without burning credibility ✅ Why sometimes the boldest Q4 strategy is raising prices, not cutting them If you've ever wondered: 1. How to simplify offers so customers don't need a calculator 2. Why half-off deals aren't always the flex you think they are 3. How to build trust during the most profitable month of the year 4. And why less discounting can actually mean more margin …this one's for you. Season 3 keeps pushing, and the data's spicy.

This episode of Brain Driven Brands is a survival guide for founders, media buyers, and creative teams heading into the chaos of Q4. Sarah sits down with Joanna Wallace (VP of Paid Creative @ Bird Dog, formerly HexClad) to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to prep for Black Friday without burning your team out—or losing your sanity. We dig into: ✅ Why burnout hits creative teams hardest in September (and how to stop the slide) ✅ The hidden costs of “just make more ads” during Q4 ✅ How to prep your staff, editors, and assets so you're not scrambling in November ✅ Why organization (not genius ideas) is the real secret weapon for BFCM ✅ The playbook Joanna used at HexClad to survive—and even thrive—during Black Friday If you've ever felt like Q4 is a treadmill you can't get off, this episode gives you the strategy shift (and the permission) to slow down, get organized, and protect your team while still hitting your numbers.

This week, Sarah and Nate are joined by Alyssa Wallace, retention & lifecycle marketing pro, for a conversation that flips the usual DTC playbook on its head. Here's the hard truth: blasting 100+ AI ads and endless “buy now” emails isn't retention. It's noise. Consumers aren't dumb—they're tired, frustrated, and tuning out. Together, we dig into: Why retention is really about habit-building, not just marketing BDB - Episode 103 The difference between lifecycle vs. loyalty vs. acquisition (and why most brands get it wrong) Why your email list isn't full of “customers”—it's mostly prospects How to align ads, offers, timing, and messaging to create actual lifetime value Why silly things (like mocktail recipes or “sandwich emails”) often outperform discount blasts And why the future belongs to brands that connect emotionally, not just transactionally If you've ever wondered why your retention campaigns feel flat, how to build real loyalty, or what it actually takes to keep customers around, this episode will give you the straight answers. Season 3 is here, and we're starting loud.

This episode of Brain Driven Brands is a wake-up call for every founder, media buyer, and creative who's been told the secret is more ads, more volume, more work. Sarah, Nate, and guest Kevin (Head of eCom at High Camp Flasks) pull back the curtain on the creative hamster wheel and share why “a thousand ads a month” isn't just unrealistic—it's wrecking teams, draining budgets, and distracting from what actually drives growth. We dig into: Why Meta's “creative volume” advice is being misapplied How focusing on holistic campaigns (not individual ads) changes everything The hidden burnout, team, time, and efficiency costs of chasing volume What great brands are doing instead: quality storytelling, high-impact campaigns, and customer research If you're tired of the spray-and-pray approach and want to fall back in love with marketing again, this episode will give you the strategy shift you need.

We kicked off Season 3 with some heat.

In this episode of Brain-Driven Brands, Nate and Sarah kick off Season 3 by reflecting on some of our favorite episodes from past seasons, share the lessons that stuck with us, and give you a preview of what's coming next. If you haven't listened to Brain Driven Brands for long, or if you jut wanna send your friend some good content this week, SEND THEM THIS.

In this episode, Nate and Sarah walk through one of the easiest ways to steal customers from your competitors using psychology and behavior science…by using Consumer Casey as a case study!   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah quizzes Nate on a super secret study that could boost his sales by 42%...if he's only willing to do what Sarah says he should.

In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, special guest Joanna Wallace joins Nate and Sarah to look at some of Nate's favorite ads and Joanna chimes in on what she likes and might not like.    JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, special guest Joanna Wallace joins Nate and Sarah to discuss some of the marketing strategies, tactics, methodologies and theory we're just not gonna believe anymore…mostly because we were wrong about them.    JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

  We don't even know how to describe this episode so...you'll just have to listen to it.   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

On today's episode of Brain Driven Brands, we dissect a brand new psychological topic: Nash Equilibrium One that might mean the difference between    JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf

ON this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah has beef with Nate, we talk about the Tampon ad that changed a nation, and dissect the real reason your ads aren't working! All this and more… JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

Sarah and Nate are back for another round of “guess the study”! This time, Sarah quizzes Nate on a marketing study that showed one super secret hack for increasing customer's likelihood to buy by 5.43X!   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, special guests Grace Clarke (Head of Community at Shopify) and Emmett Naughton (Full Stack Developer at KnoCommerce)  join Sarah in a deep conversation that every ecommerce operator should be having right now. With the advent of AI, and it's speedy injection into every workflow across industries, we've seen the productivity power and growth potential behind AI, but there's one thing we should all be asking ourselves…   Should we be using AI…at all?   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Nate and Sarah take a good look at his bundling strategy and break down the science behind the sell. Nate also makes a sneaky move when he announces a product that might change everything for Original Grain… JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

Sarah and Nate break down a super strange, but very psychology-based CRO test, we chat about how bundles have completely changed Original Grain's whole business strategy, and contemplate the meaning of brand. All this and more, on this episode of Brain Driven Brands.   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

Where did all the customers go? Did the economic downturn really crush DTC? And what does that mean for e-commerce brands? (Especially ones who might not be considered a “necessity” product? In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, we dissect the basics of what it takes to survive an economic downturn as a brand, and why it all comes down to management of your customer's psychological perception.   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

On this episode of Brain Driven Brands, we dive deep into the waters of creative strategy with a talented strategist who's fronting one of the largest brands in the industry (and doing it with a great sense of humor). We talk about: How to hire naturally talented creators (and why delivery is more important than scripts). Why you should hire for personality over metrics. The number one thing Sarah's most afraid of when it comes to TikTok. Why some brands win with humor (and others flop). All this and more on this episode of Brain Driven Brands. Guest: Paige Phillips LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-phillips-82394a238/ JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

After being in business for 12+ years, Original Grain finally made a massive breakthrough that will help them blow past their $30M mark this year. Nate and Sarah walk through one of the most impactful strategies Original Grain has implemented in 2025…one that's so simple, it gets completely overlooked by 99% of brands. Have a listen, take some notes. This one is GOLD. JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf

Your customer isn't doing math. They're doing emotional accounting to justify every decision they make! In this episode, we break down the weird, emotional, and totally irrational world of pricing psychology: why $50 for shipping feels outrageous, but $50 for same-day delivery feels like a luxury…and why a $7 deodorant gets pushback, but a $7 smoothie gets the go-ahead every time. In this episode you'll learn: Why customers say “too expensive” (even when it's not) How to reframe price based on identity, not logic Real-world tactics to make your pricing feel like a deal The dangerous myths brands believe about “value” If you've ever struggled to justify your pricing (or watched customers buy something dumber instead) this episode is for you.   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

We dive in this week with another science quiz! Sarah stumps Nate this week with a scientific study that even she didn't see coming. We break down how this study affects brands (from start ups to 9-fig) and why every marketer should be using this tactic TODAY to increase their customer's willingness to pay by 18.3%! Study source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/color-saturation-perceived-size JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

Do you love Brain Driven Brands but only have 20 minutes to spare today? We've got some great news for you - in this episode, Sarah and Nate break down the top 3 simple messaging tweaks Original Grain has put in place this year that has made them well over $1M…and they're all psychology-based. Studies referenced: "The effects of repetition frequency on the illusory truth effect" (Hassan & Barber, 2021 – Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications) "The Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational Behavior" (Dai, Milkman, Riis – 2014, Management Science) "Distinction Bias: Misprediction and Mischoice Due to Joint Evaluation" (Hsee & Zhang, 2004 – Journal of Behavioral Decision Making) CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah sits down with an expert to talk about creative strategy, why most people are bad at using humor in ads, and why the “volume” conversation might be doing more harm than good. Joanna Wallace from Hexclad joins us for an epic conversation…get ready to take notes.   Guest: Joanna Wallace  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannasloamewallace/ CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf

In this episode of Brain Driven Brands, Sarah makes Nate cry with ad copy she created from a super secret prompt. We dive deep into how the prompt works, and why it might just be the best creative strategy tool of 2025! CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

What if your product layout was costing you conversions…and you didn't even know it? In this episode, we unpack the psychology behind horizontal vs. vertical product displays, and how Amazon quietly uses this principle to push higher-quality, higher-priced items—boosting premium conversions by up to 25.7%. You'll learn: Why horizontal layouts make people focus on quality, not price How vertical layouts shift attention to secondary features The subtle design choice that could instantly raise your AOV CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

The title says it all. Listen to this one if you're just kinda done with being told the sky is falling, cost caps will save you, and everyone's doing better than you…because it's wrong. CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

In this episode, Sarah quizzes nate on a fascinating study co-authored by Jason Pallant that analyzed nearly 21,000 tweets from celebrity chefs, fashion bloggers, and personal trainers. The surprising insight? The most retweeted posts aren't hot takes or personal facts—they're something much simpler… We dig into: Which tweet styles boost reach (and which kill it) Why storytelling beats facts—even in 140 characters How influencer tone and topic affect virality What brands and marketers can actually do with this If you're running influencer campaigns or posting as a founder, this one's a blueprint. Source: https://app.sciencesays.com/p/stories-about-others-retweeted-more CoHost: Nate Lagos Twitter: https://x.com/natelagos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelagos/ Tactical and Practical Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tactical-practical/id1752915534   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf  

Marketers are masters of persuasion…but where's the line between influence and illegality? In this episode, advertising lawyer Robert Freund joins us to unpack how psychological tactics like loss aversion, authority bias, and default choices can backfire fast if you're not careful. We cover the legal side of ad claims, UGC licensing, dark patterns, and why “clever” marketing often needs a legal audit. Guest: Robert Freund Twitter:https://x.com/RobertFreundLaw Website:https://robertfreundlaw.com/about/   Learn more at: https://www.tetherinsights.io/ Twitter: https://x.com/SarahLevinger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevinger/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.levinger/ Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwfjt_7PU5N_2fTfHemXXg   JOIN The TETHER Community- https://www.skool.com/tether-lab/about   Thanks to Cytrus for the theme song, “Sky High” You can follow and find them on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/1oKGDsxjRdQlf2xHLZsiSJ?si=8fbd275dbbb54cbf