Big Things Podcast
Big Things Podcast
Mitzi Payne & Mike Payne
A weekly show where we talk about the big things we're watching in marketing, social media, pop culture and sports. We also talk through signals we’re seeing that could inform the future of digital marketing. You can catch the podcast every Friday wherever you listen or watch it on YouTube. Be sure to follow us on Instagram or TikTok for updates on every episode.
It’s the Great Meme Depression and We’re Confused (E23)
Thanks for tuning in! After this episode we will be taking a hiatus and will be back again in the late spring. Be sure to catch up on old episodes in the meantime! This week we’re talking about the Severance season finale, March Madness, Puma’s new running ad, Tower 28’s YouTube Shorts series, and more! More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 02:00 – Spoiler alert! Thoughts on the season finale of Severance. 10:00 – March Madness continues. Also, rea...
Mar 28, 2025
46 min
Treat Your Brand Like An Athlete (E22)
This week Mitzi is leaving everyone behind. Plus, White Lotus feels like a build that will never drop, Set Active embraces realness, and YouTube creators are doing something that could revolutionize the industry. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 02:00 – Mitzi is leaving everyone behind.05:00 – Is White Lotus building to a drop that will never come?13:30 – Set Active is embracing realness with their “bloopers” campaign. 20:00 – YouTube cr...
Mar 21, 2025
42 min
Is It Too Soon to Talk About Football? X Causes Chaos (E21)
We’re unpacking the latest in sports and social media: Unwell Hydration signs a deal with the NWSL, and Instagram is testing a new algorithm. Plus, we explore the frenzy of NFL free agency and what happened when X went down. Is it too soon to be talking about football? More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 03:40 – Decision fatigue: It’s real, let’s talk about it. 08:30 – Mitzi is making her 17-year-old self proud. 10:00 - Thing 1: NWSL s...
Mar 17, 2025
51 min
You Can Throw Your Gum at Me (E20)
From the unexpected launch of Domino’s pizza-scented perfume to Instagram exploring a Reels app, we’ve got a lot to unpack this week. We also dive into Timothée Chalamet’s epic poker night with Cartier, the end of award season, and how we’re feeling about the current state of the world. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 02:05 – Timothée Chalamet’s SAG acceptance speech 06:23 – Kieran Culkin’s Oscars speech (You’re rich rich if you h...
Mar 10, 2025
44 min
Why Are We Crying Over An Ugly Fish? (E19)
It’s been a busy week on and offline: From Gen Z collectively losing it over the death of an angler fish, to landline phones making a comeback, we’re not sure if we’re okay. In this episode we also dive into Canada’s huge win at the 4 Nations Face-Off, IKEA’s creative social media campaign, and key moments from the SAG awards. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 01:00 – The 4 Nations Face-Off and Canada’s big win. 07:00 – Mike was right abo...
Feb 28, 2025
36 min
Why We Aren’t Loving NikeSKIMS Yet (E18)
Welcome back! We have a lot to cover this week. Between Love Is Blind drama, NikeSKIMS, and new signals around emotional-impact marketing, this is a jam packed episode. We also share a quick Super Bowl recap, thoughts around Mitzi’s first season diving deep into the NFL, the death of Duolingo’s beloved owl, and the end of personal style. Let’s get into it. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 02:00 – Hockey fights are on the rise lately. Does it create...
Feb 24, 2025
56 min
Netflix vs. Everyone (E17)
What a week: The Grammys delivered, Super Bowl campaigns are gearing up, and the White House is inviting “new media” (content creators) to press briefings. Meanwhile, Netflix is coming for everyone. Let’s get into it. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 00:30 – This past weekend the Grammys happened and there were some amazing, well deserved wins. 07:30 – Some of our favorite performances from the Grammys. 10:00 – Was this shade agains...
Feb 7, 2025
42 min
WAGS, Football Drama, and Meta Updates (E16)
What a weird week it has been online. TikTok was banned.. And then it wasn’t. Meta got rid of fact-checking (we dive into that) and things heat up in the football world. Let’s dive in. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike Payne @mmmiiikeTimestamps: 01:00 – TikTok was banned in the US… and then it wasn’t.09:00 – While it was going down with TikTok, Meta launched a ton of updates (including a new grid, editing app, and more). 18:00 – Meanwhile, Meta is getting rid of fa...
Jan 24, 2025
43 min
What Digital Audiences Want in 2025 (E15)
This week, we welcome our first guest speaker, Alyssa Yuhas, Arcade’s Creative Director and resident Futurist. With a background working with online creators to Nike and the United Nations (Canada), Alyssa brings the experience and mindset for compelling results. Together, we break down the 2025 Trend Report and discuss 5 trends, revealing what digital audiences REALLY want this year. From authenticity to shared moments, here’s how creators and brands can meet the evolving demands. More...
Jan 23, 2025
53 min
4 Big Steps for Setting 2025 Goals (E14)
New year, new us? Nah. We’re about practical goals that help us take the things we’ve worked hard on to the next level. On today’s episode, we break down the 4-step process we use each year to set goals we can’t wait to achieve. We start by sharing our theme for the year, and then we break it down from setting a focus to identifying milestones. Hint: It might be the start of Mitzi’s running era and Mike is taking a page from Bruno Mars’ book. More from us: Mitzi Payne @mmmitzi Mike...
Jan 10, 2025
35 min
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