Meta’s Moderation Overhaul, TikTok’s Uncertain Future, and Instagram Best Practices
The Social Small Talk
This week on Social Small Talk, host Audra Brehm dives into the latest whirlwind of updates across the social media landscape. First, we explore Meta’s controversial decision to loosen content moderation by replacing fact-checkers with a community-sourced note system—what this means for user safety, misinformation, and freedom of speech. Next, we tackle the ongoing TikTok ban debate and what the Supreme Court’s deliberations could mean for creators and businesses relying on the platform. Audra shares strategic advice on diversifying your content efforts to future-proof your business....
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2025 Social Media Trends: TikTok, AI, and Organic Marketing Myths
The Social Small Talk
Welcome to the first episode of The Social Small Talk Podcast in 2025! This week, host Audra Brehm dives into the latest social media developments, including the ongoing debate over TikTok's future, the rising influence of AI in marketing, and why organic social media is far from dead. Audra shares actionable tips for leveraging AI responsibly, building authentic connections with your audience, and creating engaging, community-driven content. Plus, get insights into the top trends to watch for this year and practical advice for planning your Q1 and Q2 strategies. To help you stay ahead,...
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20. How Sales & Marketing Coexist with Denise Shedrick
The Social Small Talk
Today we’re joined by Denise Shedrick, the Vice President of Sales and New Product Development for the salon professional hair care and color brands MOP, ABBA, and ColorDesign. Denise is the perfect person to discuss how sales and marketing loop together.
The MOP brand is a perfect example, Denise set out to build a culture. It was important to connect people and for everyone to feel included like they were a part of MOP. Now with social
19. Using TikTok to Educate with Sarah Clifford from ALOA
The Social Small Talk
Are you on TikTok?
Listening to Sarah Clifford’s story today should inspire you to try it out. Sarah turned her passion for health and wellness, into a skincare line, ALOA, two years ago. She already had a social media following, so her community was a great place to launch her brand. Sarah communicates with her customers and loves the relationships that can develop from TikTok. You can’t fake it on TikTok and Sarah shares about family, so followers become acquainted with her actual life.
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18. Engaging Your Community with Alison Alhamed
The Social Small Talk
Alison Alhamed started her new position as the VP of Social Media and Community at R+Co at the beginning of March, right when everything started to change for all of us. Seeing that salons needed help and a way to bring in money now, she helped launch R+Co’s affiliate program and started programs to help salons build an online presence and following. Alison considered the needs of the salons and structured the affiliate program, to help salons get the best response and be able to bring home money sooner r
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17. Do What You Love with Kim Grustas
The Social Small Talk
Kim Grustas is the founder of Good For You Girls, a product she created when she couldn’t find acceptable skincare options for her tween daughters. Equipped with a background in advertising, she took what she had learned from helping other products create a voice to help her launch her own company.
Now she’s found the benefits of selling with Amazon and through her website and a few other mostly online retailers. Good For You Girls has experienced natural, organic growth and that has enabled
16. Why Consistency is Key with Chris-Tia Donaldson (tgin)
The Social Small Talk
Chris-Tia Donaldson shares how she ended up creating a beauty company after graduating from Harvard Law School. Chris-Tia didn’t grow up around the beauty industry, so she put in the work making connections at trade shows that ultimately led her to labs and the ability to launch Thank God It’s Natural (tgin).
She shares advice that she learned along the way for anyone looking to start a new beauty brand. Chris-Tia values consistency, and knows that customers do too! Instagram is tgin’s numb
15. Knowing Your Customer with Jamaliya Cobine (Ursa Major)
The Social Small Talk
Who is your customer?
Listen to this conversation with Jamaliya Cobine, who explains why that question is so important.
Jamaliya loves the ever-changing nature of social media marketing. Although she’s never considered herself a marketer, she’s been helping people sell things since she was 15. Jamaliya values the importance of knowing your customer and implementing a customer-first motto.
Jamaliya realizes that ROI can be difficult to show at times, and that is why it is
14. Authenticity in Social Media Marketing with Rochelle Jacobs
The Social Small Talk
Are you looking to use social media to enhance your business and share your product?
Rochelle left a wall-street trajectory to join her mother’s skincare company and needed to help them transition to a new world of internet sales and digital marketing. She has put in the work with social media marketing and has learned what works and what doesn’t for her companies at June Jacobs.
Rochelle knows there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing in the ever-changing world of so
13. The Uncomplicated Approach to Digital Marketing with Kelley Thornton from Tiege Hanley
The Social Small Talk
Kelley Thornton repurposed his 20 years of experience in retail merchandising to help him create a men’s skincare line with a few friends. He knew it was hard for men in America to understand how to take care of their skin and he thought he could create a product to uncomplicate the process… and he did!
Kelley relies on knowing his brand and market to create successful marketing campaigns across various social channels. Each channel has a different demographic and ads should be targeted for s