TikTok’s not slowing down. Reddit’s rising. Creators are turning into strategists. And brands? They’re either adapting – or falling behind.

Recorded live in New York at the Brand Advocacy Summit, this special episode of Building Brand Advocacy throws six sharp minds into a game show-style debate (hosted by Verity) on what’s actually next in culture, social, and the creator economy.

From red flags to green flags, beige flags to bold predictions for the year ahead; this chat doesn’t hold back.

Hear from:

— Madisen Theobald (Global Director of Social Creative @ M.A.C Cosmetics)

— McKinley Hart (Director of Social Media @ SoulCycle)

— Gabriel Gomez (Head of Social & Community @ MCoBeauty)

— James Denman (Brand Strategy & Marketing Expert)

— Brandon Smithwrick (Creator, Advisor & Content Strategist)

— Maksim Tokarev (Senior Social Media Manager @ Loop Earplugs)

For their hottest takes on why…

🧠 AI-generated UGC could get banned

🧵 Threads, Reddit & Broadcast Channels are in for discovery

📉 YouTube Shorts might not be worth the big bucks (yet)

🔑 Intimacy is the new influence & the DMs are where it’s happening

… and much more.

If your brand is still playing by the 2020 rulebook, stop. Listen. Learn.

Chapters:

00:00 – Kicking Off

01:22 – Hot Takes Begin: Predictions for 2026

07:34 – Brand Flags: Green, Red, or Beige?

23:03 – Watch, Wait, or Walk: What Brands Should Act On, Pause, or Ditch

35:25 – Social SEO & AI Content: Future-Proofing Your Brand

38:23 – AI Content Ethics: Where Brands Go Wrong

40:45 – Closing Out & Audience Questions

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Connect with the Hot Takers:

On Madisen’s LinkedIn

On McKinley’s LinkedIn

On Gabe’s LinkedIn

On James’ LinkedIn

On Brandon’s LinkedIn

On Maksim’s LinkedIn