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Get a breakdown of Ali’s personal brand growth frameworks in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/48uDaJo Apply to grow or launch a Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4zkMlbd Ali Altindal is the personal branding genius behind some of the fastest-growing creators and entrepreneurs on Instagram, including Timo Armoo, Lara Acosta, and Dean Forbes. In this episode, Ali reveals the exact systems he uses to build viral personal brands, the strategies behind growing from 0 to 100K+ followers, and how to turn attention into authority. We cover how Ali went from clipping podcasts to running one of the most in-demand social agencies in the UK, his frameworks for Instagram growth, the psychology behind content that builds trust, and how to create videos that actually make people feel something. If you’re serious about growing your audience or building a personal brand, this is a must-watch masterclass. Listen on Your Podcast Player: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/creatorplaybooks Follow Callum on Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X: https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent: Make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ysc__ali/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ali-altindal-9056721b2 Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 1:34 – How Ali built one of the fastest-growing social agencies in the UK 6:05 – From filming rappers to running Positive News 10:18 – Growing clients like Timo Armoo & Dean Forbes to 500K+ followers 15:26 – The five-step process for building a personal brand 22:04 – Why your story matters more than your strategy 27:58 – The psychology behind viral content and “feel-based” editing 33:40 – Ali’s frameworks for hooks, storytelling, and formats 39:26 – How to grow from 0 to 100K followers on Instagram 45:12 – Trial Reels, remix features, and content testing hacks 51:00 – Building and leading a world-class creative team 56:48 – Monetizing your personal brand the smart way 1:03:20 – Callum’s Instagram strategy breakdown with Ali 1:09:15 – What makes a great short-form video 1:14:45 – Final advice: start now, stay authentic, and don’t chase trends

Get a FREE breakdown of the 11 DOAC growth rules in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4i5BHPx Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4jwOSde Anthony Smith was the Director of Trailers at The Diary Of A CEO, the editor behind the trailers that turn every episode into an event. In this clip, he breaks down the formula behind every DOAC trailer, from finding the perfect hook to the narrative structures he uses to get you to watch a two hour podcast. This is a trailer editing masterclass. We get into: The four ingredients behind every DOAC trailerWhy a trailer that is all cliffhanger just annoys peopleHow one shout from the Ramit Sethi episode became the hookWhy Simon Cowell getting emotional makes the perfect openingThe "defence lawyer" narrative structureHow long it really takes to make a DOAC trailer Follow Anthony: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyr.smith Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Timestamps: 00:00 The four ingredients of every DOAC trailer 01:49 What makes an amazing hook 05:38 Problem, cost, solution 06:30 Editing music, sound and B-roll separately 08:11 How long a DOAC trailer really takes

This time I'm in the guest seat. ATOMIC had me on their show Don't Work Harder to break down how I built 7xContent to 7 figures in just over 4 years, bootstrapped, with a team of 16. When I started, I had no track record, no portfolio and no testimonials. In this episode, I share exactly how I built credibility before I had any, and the client acquisition strategies that changed the trajectory of the business. We get into: - How I landed my very first clients with zero reputation - Why cold outreach failed me, and what I did instead to get high-profile clients to reply - How one successful client turned into referrals, bigger deals and long-term retainers - How my own podcast guests became paying clients - The painful hiring lesson Steven Bartlett taught me - The reel that landed Red Bull, and the formula I use for brand content - Why saying NO more than YES was my biggest unlock on the way to 7 figures 00:00 From Startup to Seven Figures 05:16 Meet Callum, Founder of 7x 06:44 Building an Agency That Scales 09:55 The Skills Every Founder Needs 13:48 Landing Your First Big Clients 17:04 The Mindset That Changed Everything 20:11 Why Most Agencies Stay Small 24:22 Learning From the Best in the World 27:22 How to Measure Real Client Success 29:29 Choosing the Right Clients 33:15 The Power of Saying No 34:17 Building a Brand That Attracts Opportunities 37:33 The Reel That Landed Red Bull 39:35 Why Visibility Creates Leverage 41:34 What Not to Share Online 43:02 Stepping Out of Delivery 44:04 Building a Business Without You 45:25 The Podcast Strategy That Opened Every Door 47:35 Finding Time to Think 48:48 How to Build a Great Podcast 50:35 The ATOMIC Clock: Business Advice 51:52 Books Every Founder Should Read 53:10 Host Takeaways Originally recorded on Don't Work Harder by ATOMIC. Make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/

Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with Callum: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson and ran content as the show grew to over 4 million YouTube subscribers. In this clip, he breaks down Modern Wisdom's short form strategy, from why they waited until around 1 million subscribers to take it seriously, to the faceless clip accounts that pushed their content out to millions more people. This is a short form masterclass. We get into: - Why Modern Wisdom held off on short form for so long - How 150 faceless clip accounts became a secret distribution channel - The exact posting schedule across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X - Why short form was never a conversion piece for Chris Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benhancock98 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forallthesaintspod Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Timestamps: 00:00 The 150 faceless accounts strategy 01:40 Waiting until 1 million subscribers 02:18 Why short form cannot save a weak podcast 03:01 How much content should a top podcast post? 03:55 The posting schedule across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X 05:18 Why short form was never a conversion piece

Get a FREE breakdown of the 11 DOAC growth rules in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4z4uoNw Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4zbvKq5 The Diary Of A CEO just hit 20 million YouTube subscribers and is a top 10 podcast globally. I’ve followed its journey and got to know the team behind it since the show had just 10,000 subscribers. In this episode, I break down the 11 rules Steven Bartlett’s team shared with me, with insights from Grace Andrews (former Marketing Director), Anthony Smith (the editor behind the trailers) and Tom Lewis (Steven’s paid media partner). This is a podcast growth masterclass. We get into: • The 10-second change that had a 300% impact on subscribers • Why DOAC tests up to 100 thumbnails before every episode • The clips experiment that backfired when they doubled output • Why their short form isn’t built to push people to the full episode • The four-part formula behind every DOAC trailer Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Rule 1: Have a really clear mission 03:38 Rule 2: Don’t copy other podcasts 06:10 Rule 3: The 10-second change behind 3x more subscribers 09:47 Rule 4: Make learning someone’s job 10:02 The clips experiment that backfired 12:21 Rule 5: Testing 100 thumbnails before every episode 14:32 Testing packaging on Meta ads before release 16:46 The golden rule of running experiments 17:32 Rule 6: The short form strategy 19:58 The biggest mistake short form editors make 22:47 Rule 7: The guest strategy 24:19 Rule 8: Win the first hour after publishing 27:47 Rule 9: Stop judging episodes on views 29:59 Rule 10: The secrets behind DOAC trailers 32:29 Rule 11: The podcast is not the product

Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson as the show grew from 150,000 to 4.3 million YouTube subscribers. In this clip, he breaks down the YouTube strategy behind Modern Wisdom, including the mid-length clips that even people at YouTube hadn't seen before. This is a YouTube growth masterclass. We get into: • Why going from two to three episodes a week was massive • How mid-length clips released before each episode built anticipation • How Chris plans scroll-stopping moments into his interviews • The MrBeast reinvestment principle Chris brought to podcasting • Why Modern Wisdom keeps everything on one channel Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benhancock98  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forallthesaintspod  Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell  Timestamps: 00:00 The inflection points on Spotify and YouTube 01:06 The mid-length clips YouTube hadn't seen before 02:46 Planning scroll-stopping moments 04:05 MrBeast's reinvestment principle 06:28 The news doc Chris reads before big episodes 07:52 More shots on goal from every episode 09:39 One channel vs a separate clips channel 11:06 Why mid-length clips reach a new audience

Get a FREE breakdown of Ben's 9 podcast growth principles in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4rBd4NI Start or grow your own Podcast with Callum: https://bit.ly/4hA1wpi Ben Hancock was one of the first hires at Modern Wisdom, where he spent four and a half years working alongside Chris Williamson as the show grew from 150,000 to 4.3 million YouTube subscribers. In this episode, he breaks down the 9 principles he learned from Chris, and the levers that took Modern Wisdom from a bedroom podcast to one of the biggest shows in the world. This is a podcast growth masterclass. We get into: • The Joe Rogan bump that kicked off the hockey stick growth • Why moving to Austin was the smartest growth move Chris made • How the show went from Chris's bedroom to a 100K+ cinema shoot with Matthew McConaughey • How mid-length clips released before each episode built anticipation • Why going from two to three episodes a week changed everything Follow Ben: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingaryhancock/ Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Ben 02:23 The hockey stick inflection 04:56 Why Chris didn't quit and the Joe Rogan bump 08:29 The smartest growth move: moving to Austin 12:38 Data is useful, but don't compromise your tone of voice 17:28 The best will always rise to the top 18:43 The David Goggins cinema shoot (and the smoke alarm) 21:42 Should creators invest in sets? Why 95% of podcasts quit 25:12 Cultivate an audience you love creating for 33:05 Why no researcher can replace the host's preparation 35:36 How guests get booked and why 90% was outbound 42:51 Chris's obsession with the small details 52:26 Enjoyment first 54:25 Success is on the other side of cringe 56:30 Why the comments section beat every other metric 59:47 Create something beautiful 1:02:29 Why they waited so long to do short form 1:12:10 Three episodes a week and the volume inflection 1:13:33 Mid-length clips before the episode drops 1:21:37 One channel vs a separate clips channel 1:27:35 How Modern Wisdom makes money 1:37:51 Interviewing as a craft 1:42:52 Is podcasting still worth starting in 2026? 1:48:50 Why video-first shows are the blue ocean 1:52:29 Who Ben is watching right now

Get the full 2026 podcast growth playbook in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/4d5O9uN Apply to work with me: https://bit.ly/4uCJw2E In this episode, Callum breaks down his 21-step playbook for growing a podcast in 2026, based on years of working behind the scenes with some of the biggest shows in the world generating millions of views and listens every month. Most podcasts fail not because the host is bad, but because the show was never engineered for growth. He unpacks what actually moves the needle, from format and retention to the distribution stack that compounds attention across YouTube, Spotify, and social. Plus the volume, tracking, and double-down principles that separate podcasts that scale from podcasts that stall. If you're starting a show or trying to break through a growth ceiling, this is the episode to save and come back to. Connect with Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallumX: https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make and grow a podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timestamps 0:00 Why 99% of podcasts fail in 2026 1:00 Know the goal of your show 1:30 The problem your show solves & your ICP 2:30 Format, signature segments & unfair advantage 6:00 Episode planning with proven topics & guests 7:30 Signature feeling & brand 8:00 Briefing & packaging every episode 9:30 Engineering a 5-star guest experience 10:30 Meta testing titles & thumbnails 12:30 Trailer structure & open loops 15:30 Distribution: YouTube first 16:00 Distribution: Spotify video 17:30 Native social content per platform 20:00 TikTok as a clip testing platform 21:30 YouTube mid-length clips channel 22:30 The guest launch plan 23:30 Fan accounts, theme pages & press 25:30 Calls to action that actually convert 27:30 The newsletter flywheel 30:30 Volume & posting frequency 32:00 Reactive & emergency episodes 33:30 Track your numbers every week 34:30 Double down on what works

Get a FREE breakdown of Ronnen's frameworks in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4dosm2j Start or grow your own Podcast with me: https://bit.ly/4r1fhSi Ronnen Harary is the co-founder and chairman of Spin Master, the company behind PAW Patrol, Bakugan and the Rubik's Cube. In this episode, he breaks down how a toy company started making its own TV shows, and how that decision built some of the biggest kids' brands in the world. This is a brand-building masterclass. We get into:   • How a 4am drive to Detroit landed a 48,000-unit Kmart order two months in  • Why Spin Master started producing its own TV shows  • The Beyblade deal he passed on and what it taught him  • How Bakugan took sales from $450M to $1B, then back down again  • Why PAW Patrol was born at the lowest point in the company's history Ronnen also shares: • The birthday cake test he uses to spot a hit• How to expand a brand without losing its tone and tenor• Why he turned down a $100M live-action film (and still regrets it)• How he pitches without ever using a PowerPoint• Why Spin Master bought the Rubik's Cube Plus: YouTube vs Netflix, making money from content beyond merch, how fast you can tell a product has failed, no-blame culture, top grading, and building a company that outlives its founders. Follow Ronnen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnen-harary-99b13370/No Experience Necessary (book): https://www.ronnenharary.com/projects/no-experience-necessary Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/home#apply Follow Callum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Timestamps:00:00 The toy and TV playbook behind PAW Patrol01:21 Step one is deciding to bet on yourself04:20 Spotting a proven product in Israel and bringing it to Canada06:02 Driving to Detroit and pitching the wrong Kmart buyer09:30 The 19-year road to PAW Patrol11:43 Why 26% of toys come from TV and film12:40 Passing on Beyblade (a $3B miss)14:35 Bakugan and the $6M bet on a TV show17:23 Why the toys and the show launch on the same day18:32 How eight years at MIPCOM opened the door to TV deals20:05 The lowest point that produced PAW Patrol22:25 The birthday cake test for a hit24:40 Storytelling fundamentals for creators and brands27:16 YouTube, Netflix and why there's no clear path today30:17 No-blame culture and why doubt kills luck34:19 Why you can't replicate a hit36:13 Why Spin Master bought the Rubik's Cube43:10 Hatchimals and letting go of product development47:06 Turning down a $100M live-action film49:24 What makes a great pitch (and the Banana Boy story)54:43 Top grading and why culture is Spin Master's moat59:04 Quick-fire questions1:02:43 Where to find Ronnen + No Experience Necessary

Get weekly content growth playbooks in my FREE newsletter: https://bit.ly/4iMG1DV Work with me: https://bit.ly/4cziyCu It's time for the mid-year update. So far, this has been one of the most challenging years of my life, but also one of the best for the business. I love it when founders do these transparent updates, and I try to do them every 3 to 6 months.I’m sharing how I crossed the £1M ARR mark. Turning down a serious conversation about selling the business. Hiring mistakes. Losing team members. Client partnerships I'm incredibly proud of. And preparing to become a dad! Follow Callum on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X: https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro: The Mid-Year Update 00:19 – Reflecting on a Tough But Rewarding Year 01:19 – Personal News: A Baby on the Way 02:42 – Business Update: Crossing £1M ARR 03:49 – Landing New Clients 04:25 – Growing Shows With US and Global Creators 05:40 – A Night at 10 Downing Street 07:01 – The Failures: Hiring Mistakes 08:09 – Losing Team Members 09:37 – The Biggest Lesson: Slowing Down My Own Development 11:01 – Talking Numbers: Revenue and Margins 13:19 – A Serious Acquisition Conversation 14:36 – Why I Turned It Down 16:14 – What I Learned About Founder Tax and Structuring 19:46 – Health and Fitness Check-In 21:29 – The Podcast: What's Working, What Isn't 26:44 – Priorities for the Rest of the Year 28:23 – Books, Podcasts, and What I'm Watching

Get weekly content growth playbooks in my FREE newsletter: https://bit.ly/3T7VV13 Work with me: https://bit.ly/4hbeLhc A look inside a week running a content led business, from 10 Downing Street to a private jet shoot and a full team strategy day. In this vlog, I take you behind the scenes of a visit to 10 Downing Street, a private jet shoot for a new podcast, and a day spent with the team mapping out our next strategy moves. A real look at what it takes to build a content led business, from client work and recording sessions to networking and creative strategy. Follow Callum on socials: Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallum X, https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make your own Podcast with us here: https://www.7xcontent.com/ Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro: A Week in the Life 00:58 – Heading to London for the Private Jet Shoot 01:23 – On Set: Private Jet Business Interview 02:56 – Inside the Showroom: Building a Standout Business 03:32 – The LinkedIn Play: Meeting Lara Acosta 04:24 – Why Most People Get Their Market Wrong 05:15 – The Real Reason People Start a Podcast 05:57 – What C-Suite Clients Actually Want 06:23 – Team Day Begins 07:09 – Packaging Teardown: What Makes a Thumbnail Work 07:30 – CTR Benchmarks You Need to Hit 08:05 – From 100K to 14M Subscribers 08:44 – Rating Hooks and Trailers 09:43 – Heading to 10 Downing Street 10:35 – Walking Through the Corridors of Power 11:48 – Inside Number 10 12:36 – Meeting the Prime Minister's Wife (and the Cat) 13:26 – A Surreal Evening 14:26 – Wrapping the Week

Get the FREE breakdown of Lara's frameworks in my newsletter: https://bit.ly/4w4oRVK Apply to work with me: https://bit.ly/3SgmP6z Lara Acosta is a founder, creator, and personal branding strategist who built a 7-figure business through LinkedIn. With 320K+ followers and thousands of students, she’s become one of the fastest-growing voices in personal branding - known for turning content into authority, attention into opportunity, and audience into revenue. In this episode, she breaks down the exact frameworks behind her growth - and why most people fail on LinkedIn (even if they’re consistent). This is a full personal branding masterclass. We get into: Why most people aren’t growing (and it’s not the algorithm) The SMPV framework to 10X your reach How to structure content that actually converts The difference between creators and real operator-buildersWhy storytelling beats “educational content” Lara also shares: Her 4-3-2-1 content system (and how to apply it) The SLAY storytelling framework that drives engagementHow to build an audience that actually buys Why email is her highest revenue channel How to monetise a personal brand without brand deals Plus: content strategy, LinkedIn growth, building a community (not just followers), and why most founders are over-optimising the wrong things. Follow Lara: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laraacostar/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laraacostar/ Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/contact Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Timestamps: 00:00 Storytelling vs educational content (what actually works) 01:00 Why most people aren’t growing on LinkedIn 02:00 The SMPV framework (skill, market, problem, value) 03:30 How to find your skill + what to post about 05:00 Selling to the right audience (and why most creators are broke) 06:30 Content that drives leads vs content that gets likes 08:00 Why LinkedIn is different from other platforms 09:00 The 4-3-2-1 content framework explained 10:30 Ideal client vs ideal follower (underrated growth lever) 12:00 Why email is the real monetisation engine 13:30 Educational content: broad → narrow → niche strategy 15:00 Why storytelling is the most powerful format 16:30 ICP vs IFP content (and how to balance both) 18:00 Going viral vs growing in your niche 19:00 The “one” strategy: lead magnets + email funnels 20:00 The SLAY framework (story, lesson, action, you) 22:00 Writing posts that actually get engagement 23:30 The psychology behind LinkedIn formatting 25:00 Likes, comments & what actually matters 26:00 Why you shouldn’t ask for likes or follows 27:00 Building brand equity vs constantly selling 28:30 What makes a high-converting lead magnet 30:00 How to plan content without batching 32:00 Why most content feels the same 33:00 Using AI to write better content (properly) 35:00 Best formats on LinkedIn (and why it depends on you) 37:00 Finding your unique content style 39:00 Metrics vs “vibes” (what to actually track) 40:30 AI comments & fake engagement 41:30 Why Lara does everything herself 42:30 The importance of commenting daily 44:00 Building community through comments 45:00 Why you shouldn’t outsource your personal brand too early 47:00 Scaling vs authenticity (founder trade-offs) 49:00 Over-optimisation and why it kills growth 50:00 LinkedIn algorithm changes + profile importance 51:30 How to position your profile properly 53:00 Optimising your featured section for revenue 54:30 Why niche matters (and “you are the niche” is wrong) 56:00 Banner, profile & conversion tips 57:00 Monetisation: content → email → sales 58:30 Newsletter strategy + launch model 01:00:00 Using trends + storytelling in emails 01:01:30 Building trust through long-form content 01:02:00 Final thoughts + full playbook recap

Get the breakdown of Sedge's frameworks in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/4tNXDkR Apply to work with me: https://bit.ly/4hdIIgB Sedge Beswick is a brand and influencer marketing expert who’s worked with Red Bull, Nike, and ASOS - where she built the iconic Insider Program - and scaled her own agency to a £24M valuation.In this episode, she breaks down what actually wins in marketing in 2026 - and why most brands don’t have a content problem, they have a structure problem.We get into:- Why brand + performance silos are killing growth- How Adidas reinvented itself post-Yeezy (and why working with Molly-Mae makes sense)- The real reason M&S became “cool” again- The inside culture at Red Bull - and why “ask for forgiveness, not permission” works- The ASOS Insider playbook (and how you’d rebuild it today)Sedge also shares:- The eBay sneaker campaign that drove insane demand (and queues around the block)- Why consistency beats constant experimentation in marketing- The 3 P’s of personal brand that drove 75% of her agency leads via LinkedIn- Why TikTok Shop is the biggest opportunity right nowPlus: lessons from building and exiting an agency, mistakes founders make, and how to actually build a brand that converts - not just gets attention.Follow Sedge: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedgebeswick/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sedge-beswick Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us: https://www.7xcontent.com/contact Follow Callum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro + Adidas, Yeezy problem & changing strategy 01:00 Why most brands fail (structure problem) 02:00 Brand vs performance (biggest mistake brands make) 03:00 Adidas reinvention + Molly-Mae strategy 05:00 Building brands beyond the founder (Molly-Mae case) 07:00 Why M&S became cool again 09:00 Emotional storytelling in modern marketing 10:00 Long-form content: opportunity or overrated? 11:00 Red Bull culture + “ask for forgiveness” 12:00 Getting arrested at a festival (Red Bull story) 14:00 What makes Red Bull teams different 16:00 Working with Nike vs Red Bull 19:00 Best campaign: eBay sneakers breakdown 21:00 Building a campaign that actually works 23:00 Why most marketing teams are broken 24:30 The importance of consistency (not chopping & changing) 26:00 ASOS lessons + what actually drives sales 28:00 Biggest mistakes brands make today 30:00 How to pitch ideas internally 32:00 Personal brand: what actually works 33:00 75% of leads from LinkedIn (no big following needed) 34:00 The 3 P’s: Perspective, Proof, Personality 36:00 Where to focus today (platform strategy) 37:00 Why TikTok Shop is the biggest opportunity 39:00 Luxury brands + Emma Grede blueprint 42:00 Personal brands doing it right 44:00 Founder vs operator (why most creators get it wrong) 46:00 Finding your “superpower” as a founder 49:00 ASOS insider program deep dive 52:00 How to build a creator program today 54:00 How brands should work with creators long-term 55:00 Scaling & selling an agency (£24M valuation) 57:00 Biggest business lessons & mistakes

Get a breakdown of Tom's frameworks in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/48JKUaa Apply to work with me:https://bit.ly/4zZb8Cy Tom Lewis is Steven Bartlett’s advertising performance partner and co-founder of Metastat. At 22, he’s helped scale brands and creators by replacing guesswork with data.In this episode, Tom explains how top creators use paid ads to test thumbnails, titles, hooks, guests, and even product ideas before publishing, sometimes for under £100 on The Diary Of A CEO. He shares how Meta ads can help predict virality, improve click-through rates, and turn content into a repeatable growth system.We also cover when creators should monetise, why many launch too early, and why paid ads should support organic growth, not replace it. A practical guide to turning content into predictable growth and revenue. Listen on your podcast player:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/creatorplaybooks Follow Callum on socials:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallumc/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heycallumX - https://x.com/mcdonnellcallum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell Produced by 7xContent - make your own podcast with us:https://www.7xcontent.com Follow Tom: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-lewis-a46877167/ Timestamps (accurate + true to transcript) 00:00 Introduction to Tom Lewis and Steven Bartlett's Advertising Machine 00:13 Tom Lewis' Journey and Partnership with Steven Bartlett 04:46 The Power of Paid Media and Experimentation 05:22 Deep Dive into Testing and Experimentation 12:20 Practical Tips for Running Effective Ad Campaigns 18:47 Optimizing Meta Ads for Traffic 21:19 Budgeting for Effective Ad Campaigns 22:59 Balancing Creativity and Data 24:04 Tom's Best Frameworks 25:28 The Importance of Eliminating Guesswork 26:38 Building a Brand Before Monetization 29:12 Using Paid Ads to Catalyze Growth 29:12 Understanding Meta's Ad Auction System 34:08 Creating Engaging Ad Content 35:08 The Power of Problem-Solution Hooks 36:42 Leveraging Dragons' Den Pitches 43:48 Iterating on Successful Ad Concepts 52:06 Meta Ads Campaign Structure 52:45 The Outlier Graph and Winning Ads 55:07 The Evolution of Magic Ads 57:39 Setting Goals for Meta Ads 58:00 Instagram Profile Visits Strategy 1:02:50 Retargeting and Audience Segmentation 1:06:08 Choosing the Right Product for Creators 1:11:51 The Future of Meta Advertising 1:14:24 Focusing on Long-Term Customer Value 1:21:44 Structuring Your Team for Success 1:24:42 Insights on Working with Steven Bartlett 1:27:00 Conclusion and Next Steps

Get the breakdown of Michael’s frameworks in my free newsletter: https://bit.ly/41tiga0 Apply to work with me: https://bit.ly/3UD2ycs Michael is a brand and social media strategist known for his work at Ryanair and now through his consultancy, Slice. In this episode, he explains why most brands do not have a content problem, they have a strategy problem and breaks down the 4 ways brands can actually win on social today. From fast vs. slow social to prompted vs. unprompted discovery, repeatable formats, search, distribution, measurement, and memorability, this episode offers a sharp, practical breakdown of what brands need to understand if they want social to drive real business impact. Follow Callum on socials:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecallummc/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/callummcdonnell/ Produced by 7xContent: make your own podcast with us:https://www.7xcontent.com/contact Follow Michael: https://www.instagram.com/mc_so_me/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro + why strategy matters more than ever01:18 The state of social in 2026: fragile platforms, outrage, and rented land04:46 Why trend-chasing is making brands less memorable08:26 The organic social renaissance09:36 Prompted vs unprompted discovery12:10 Fast vs slow social15:11 Fast prompted moments: culture spikes people search for17:11 The 4 ways brands can win on social22:04 Where the biggest opportunity is right now23:53 Brand examples: Currys, Candy Kittens, Confused.com, and more29:47 Slow unprompted content and thinking like TV33:01 How brands should find their real gap / problem / opportunity36:42 The marketing education gap in social41:13 When organic social is and isn’t the answer42:46 Distribution is the missing piece46:49 What brands can learn from podcasts, clipper accounts, creators, and aggregator pages53:26 How to actually implement creative distribution56:45 Why brands struggle to let go of control58:44 What Michael is excited about in 20261:00:47 Brands using social well right now1:02:25 What brands are struggling with most1:05:39 What still works from the Ryanair playbook1:10:05 AI, content abundance, and the return of the all-round marketeer