In this episode, we look at two of the year’s biggest marketing moments: Cracker Barrel’s quick “un-rebrand” and Duolingo’s “Duo is dead” campaign. Both sparked huge reactions for opposite reasons, and we break down what worked, what didn’t, and what you can learn for your own brand.

We start with Cracker Barrel’s redesign that went too far—modern logo, white walls, and minimalism that erased the comfort customers loved. Thousands spoke up, and the brand reversed course. We discuss how to balance updates with authenticity, gather feedback early, and recover when a strategy misses the mark.

Then we turn to Duolingo, a brand fluent in internet culture. The “Duo is dead” storyline pulled followers into the fun, boosted real app use, and showed how consistent voice builds trust for bold ideas. We share takeaways on testing content fast, listening to community reactions, and knowing when to play it safe or push the edge.

If you care about brand strategy, social storytelling, and turning audience reactions into results, this episode is for you. Subscribe for weekly marketing insights, share it with a teammate, and leave a comment. What do you think they did right or wrong?

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Meet your hosts and learn more about Kickstart Collective at kickstartcollective.co

Kickstart Collective is a creative marketing agency based in Wilmington, NC. We offer our clients a creative advantage through creative content and marketing strategies.