Back

Explore every episode of the podcast Social Media CX Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for Social Media CX Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 73

TitlePub. DateDuration
Why Nobody Responds to Brand Content20 mai 202600:19:39

The algorithm doesn't care that you posted. It cares that you said something worth responding to.

This week, I'm breaking down why so much "safe" content underperforms, why applause isn't the same as engagement, and what platforms are actually rewarding right now.

It's layer three of Social Penetration Theory: opinions. The layer where real conversations start, trust builds, and brands either become memorable or disappear into the noise.

We'll get into the difference between controversy and conviction, why disagreement is often a sign your content is working, and how to drive conversation without manufacturing drama. Plus, I’ll share practical ways to get your audience actually talking back.

Inside this episode:

  • Why disagreement can actually strengthen your content
  • What social media algorithms are rewarding right now
  • How brands accidentally water down their messaging
  • Simple ways to get your audience talking back
  • How to create conversation without being controversial

Mentioned:

Free Talk-Worthy Content Course: https://bsquared.media/courses/talk-worthy-content

Connect with Brooke Sellas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookebsellas

Why Valuable Brand Content Gets Ignored13 mai 202600:13:52

Most brands think they have an engagement problem when they actually have a conversation problem.

Because facts matter. Credibility and data matters. But if your content stops at “here’s a statistic,” you’re probably creating passive engagement instead of real conversation.

This week, I’m digging into why some of the smartest, most accurate brands online are still struggling to get people to respond and why algorithms are increasingly rewarding conversation over broadcasting.

It’s part two of our May Series on Social Penetration Theory—and how it can help explain why so much brand content gets seen but not responded to.

We’ll get into:

  • Why facts alone rarely create meaningful engagement
  • What LinkedIn’s analytics reveal about where reach is actually happening
  • The difference between passive consumption vs. conversation-driven content
  • How to stay compliant without losing personality or warmth
  • Why conversation is becoming more valuable than reach

Mentioned:

Free Talk-Worthy Content Course: https://bsquared.media/courses/talk-worthy-content

Connect with Brooke Sellas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookebsellas

The Real Reason Brand Content Isn’t Building Loyalty06 mai 202600:15:53

Most brands are publishing more content than ever — yet trust, engagement, and loyalty still feel harder to earn.

For enterprise marketing leaders, the challenge is rarely a lack of content. The problem is that much of today’s brand messaging stays at the surface level: polished announcements, safe language, and transactional responses that create visibility but not connection.

In this episode of the Social Media CX Podcast, Brooke Sellas explores the communication framework that has quietly shaped relationship-building for decades: the Social Penetration Theory, also known as the “Onion Theory.” Originally developed to explain how trust forms between people, this framework offers a powerful lens for understanding why some brands build loyalty while others struggle to create meaningful engagement.

You’ll hear why most brand content never moves beyond clichés, how relationship depth impacts customer trust, and why today’s social algorithms increasingly reward conversation over passive engagement.

For marketing leaders navigating audience fatigue, declining engagement, and pressure to prove business impact, this episode reframes social media as more than a distribution channel — it becomes a relationship environment.

What You’ll Learn
  • Why publishing more content doesn’t automatically create stronger customer loyalty
  • The four layers of relationship-building that shape trust between brands and audiences
  • How surface-level messaging weakens engagement and emotional connection
  • Why customer service interactions on social media can either strengthen or damage loyalty
  • What social platforms are rewarding now — and why conversation matters more than impressions
  • How enterprise brands can move from broadcasting content to building relationships

Why This Matters for Marketing Leaders

Today’s customers expect more than awareness campaigns and polished announcements. They want relevance, recognition, and human interaction.

The brands earning trust are not necessarily the loudest or the most visible — they are the brands willing to communicate with greater depth.

This episode challenges a common assumption in enterprise marketing:

Visibility doesn’t automatically create loyalty.

Instead, loyalty is built through trust, and trust grows through conversations that move beyond surface-level messaging.

Continue the Conversation

Want more insights on social care, customer loyalty, and conversation-driven marketing?

Subscribe to Brooke Sellas’ Lost to Loyal Newsletter on LinkedIn for ongoing strategies and real-world examples of how brands turn engagement into loyalty.

Join the newsletter:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6815661085677383680/

Or take the free Talk Worthy Content Course to learn how to create social content designed to spark meaningful engagement.

Explore the course:

https://bsquared.media/courses/talk-worthy-content/

Connect with Brooke Sellas

Follow Brooke on LinkedIn for ongoing conversations about customer experience, social care, and the future of relationship-driven marketing.

AI in Customer Experience: Will It Build Trust or Break It?29 avr. 202600:33:38

AI is everywhere in customer service right now. But faster doesn’t always mean better.

In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Price, founder and CEO of Crescendo AI. We talk about what’s actually changing in customer experience, and where I see a lot of brands getting it wrong.

We get into why “just adding a bot” often makes things worse, how so many teams are still operating like production lines, and what shifts when you stop thinking about efficiency and start thinking about engagement.

Matt shares what he’s seeing across hundreds of contact centers, including how AI is changing customer expectations, where companies are creating friction without realizing it, and why the real opportunity isn’t automation… it’s redesigning the entire experience.

We Talk About:

  • Why adding AI to one part of the process can backfire
  • The “fast food” approach to customer service
  • What I think companies still misunderstand about CX
  • Why customers are fine with AI (until they’re not)
  • How better handoffs between AI and humans improve outcomes
  • The pressure CX leaders are under right now
  • What you’d do differently with unlimited capacity

Mentioned in this Episode:


The 5 Levels of Social Care (And Where You Actually Are)22 avr. 202600:17:01

Most brands think they’re doing social care well.

They’re responding to comments, they have a team, and they might even have the right tools in place.

But when you actually look under the hood, there’s often a gap between perception and reality.

In this solo episode, Brooke Sellas breaks down the B Squared Social Care Maturity Model and walks through the five levels most organizations move through, from reactive to fully experience-led.

If you’re investing in social, this is the framework to understand where you really stand and what it takes to level up.

We Talk About:

  • Why responding to comments doesn’t mean you’re actually doing social care
  • The gap between where brands think they are vs. where they actually are
  • The 5 levels of social care maturity (and what defines each one)
  • What “reactive” social care looks like in practice
  • Why most brands are stuck between Level 1 and Level 3
  • Why social is becoming an experience channel, not just content distribution

Mentioned In This Episode:


Unfiltered Social Media Marketing Conversations15 avr. 202600:11:57

At Social Media Marketing World, the most valuable conversations don’t always happen on stage.

In this special replay episode, Brooke Sellas shares real, unfiltered hallway conversations recorded immediately after her session at Social Media Marketing World 2025.

From navigating B2B2C audience challenges to rethinking engagement metrics, sparking real conversation on social, and deciding how (and when) to respond to comments, this episode captures what social media strategy looks like in practice, not theory.

If you’ve ever struggled to get people to engage, measure what matters, or prove the value of social care, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how those problems actually get solved.

In this episode:
  • How to approach content when you’re speaking to multiple audiences
  • Why people aren’t engaging with your posts—and what to change
  • What “conversational content” actually looks like in practice
  • How to think about engagement rate (and why there’s no perfect formula)
  • Why your campaigns might be too big, too soon
  • How to use polls and simple prompts to build momentum

Mentioned In This Episode:


What’s Actually Driving Customer Churn08 avr. 202600:34:35

Customer experience doesn’t usually break all at once. It’s often a series of small moments that aren’t handled quickly enough.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rani Parkinson, our Senior Social Care Account Manager at B Squared Media, to talk about what’s actually happening inside social care day to day—and why the brands that feel “calm” are usually the ones handling the small stuff well.

We talk about why good CX often feels invisible, how small issues turn into public escalations, and why consistency matters more than any big viral moment.

We also get into what’s really behind most customer complaints (it’s usually not the product), and how quickly things can spiral when no one responds.

Mentioned:


Learn more in the State of Social Care Report (2026): https://bsquared.media/the-state-of-social-care-2026

Where Customer Experience Actually Breaks: CX Under Pressure01 avr. 202600:11:45

Customer experience doesn’t break in one big moment. It breaks in the gaps.

In this final episode of the CX Under Pressure series, I’m pulling together the biggest patterns from the last four conversations and where things tend to break down.

It’s usually not one big failure. It’s gaps in how teams operate, how decisions get made, and how customer signals actually get used.

This episode is a look at what’s behind that—and what separates teams that stay reactive from the ones that don’t.

In this episode:

  • Why most brands are still getting wrong about customer relationships
  • The real reason customers escalate (and why it’s usually not about anger)
  • How disconnected systems create broken experiences
  • Where AI is helping—and where it’s making things worse
  • Why listening to customers isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
  • The difference between reactive vs controlled CX
  • What metrics that actually matter

Mentioned:


Turn Customer Feedback Into Action: CX Under Pressure25 mars 202600:37:11

Most banks collect customer feedback. Very few actually use it.

In this episode, I talk with Scott Lee Holloway, Head of Customer Experience at APS Bank, about what it looks like to actually turn customer insight into action.

We get into how his team gathers feedback across channels—and how that insight makes its way into real decisions across the business. We also talk about automation and where human support still matters most, especially in a trust-heavy industry like financial services.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to move from collecting feedback to actually using it, this conversation breaks it down.

You’ll hear about:

  1. Why most customer feedback never turns into anything useful
  2. What you’re missing if you’re only looking at dashboards
  3. How customer insight actually reaches leadership
  4. The tension between AI efficiency and human support
  5. What breaks trust faster than most teams realize

Mentioned:

  1. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottleeholloway
  2. APS Bank: https://www.apsbank.com.mt

Interested In More?

  1. Download the State of Social Care 2026 Report: https://bsquared.media/the-state-of-social-care-2026

The Real AI Risk Isn’t Speed. It’s Trust.18 mars 202600:34:51

AI is moving fast — but is your brand keeping up in a way that builds trust or quietly erodes it?

In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Martin — former NASA scientist, tech media strategist, iHeartRadio host, and host of CMOs Unscripted — to unpack one of the most pressing questions in business today: How do you use AI in customer-facing environments without sacrificing the trust you've worked so hard to build?

Lisa brings her signature blend of scientific rigor and journalistic clarity to the conversation, and she doesn't hold back.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why most AI initiatives fail to deliver ROI — and what leaders are getting wrong about use case selection
  • How AI is fundamentally changing the trust equation in public, customer-facing channels
  • What "human in the loop" oversight actually looks like in practice
  • The non-negotiable guardrails CMOs should insist on before scaling AI in social and digital channels
  • Why transparency and accountability aren't just compliance checkboxes — they're growth strategies
  • What some big brands are doing right (and why they're still the exception, not the rule)
  • The three metrics leaders should be measuring beyond cost savings and automation rates
  • How to push back internally when AI rollouts feel rushed

Connect with Lisa Martin:


Interested in More?


When Social Media Turns on Your Brand: CX Under Pressure11 mars 202600:29:28

What would you do if someone started posting across your social media saying your company was a scam?

That’s exactly what happened to Katie Robbert, co-founder and CEO of Trust Insights. One day their notifications started blowing up with accusations that they were stealing money from a customer.

There was just one problem… she had the wrong company.

In this episode, part of our CX Under Pressure series, Katie shares how she handled the situation and why responding with empathy instead of defensiveness turned a potential reputation crisis into a trust-building moment.

Mentioned:

  1. Trust Insights
  2. Katie Robberts on LinkedIn
  3. SparkToro study on AI visibility

Rate the Podcast:

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love your feedback. Leave us a quick rating or review at: ratethispodcast.com/smcx

Creating Experiences That Drive Retention: CX Under Pressure04 mars 202600:34:51

As part of our March series, CX Under Pressure, we’re exploring what’s really shaping customer experience in 2026, from rising CAC to fragmented journeys and the human side of loyalty.

In this episode, I sit down with Tyler Stambaugh to unpack why acquisition is easy to test, but retention is personal. We talk about discount dependency, vanity metrics, and the uncomfortable truth that many brands are training customers to expect incentives instead of value.

In this episode:

👉Why retention feels “emotionally distressing” for founders

👉How discounting creates transactional behavior

👉The “Pavlov’s dog” trap in e-commerce

👉The 80/20 rule in customer revenue


If CX is under pressure right now, retention is where that pressure shows up first.


Mentioned:

  1. Magnetiq
  2. Tyler Stambaugh on LinkedIn

CX Under Pressure Is Coming in March25 févr. 202600:05:41

Customer experience feels more exposed right now. Budgets are tighter, AI is louder, and trust is thinner than ever.

And most organizations are still running systems built for what social media used to be, not what it’s become. In March, I’m launching a four-part series called CX Under Pressure. It’s where we’ll unpack what actually holds up when systems crack, listening fails, and automation starts replacing empathy.

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

Leave a Review:

Found this helpful? Leave at a review at ratethispodcast.com/smcx

Are You Measuring Social Media All Wrong?17 févr. 202600:12:41

Marketing metrics focus on output: content published, engagement generated, and response times. But customers don't come to social media to be engaged. They come to be helped.

When social care is measured with marketing metrics alone, teams optimize for volume and speed. A team that responds to 500 tweets in a day but leaves frustrated customers without real solutions creates churn.

In this episode, we break down the signals that help leaders understand whether social is influencing acquisition and retention—not just activity.

Mentioned in this Episode:

  1. Download the 2026 State of Social Care Report

Leave a Review:

Enjoying the show? Leave a quick rating and help us reach more CX leaders: ratethispodcast.com/smcx

Why Social Care Doesn’t Belong in Marketing10 févr. 202600:09:02

We need to talk about the silent risk happening on your social media team.

In this episode, I unpack the very real consequences of treating social care like social media marketing. You’ll find out why this structural misalignment creates burnout, buried risks, and missed opportunities.

I also share how we got here and why fixing this isn’t about your people or your tools, it’s about your setup. If your social team is being measured by engagement but handling service issues, this one’s for you.

Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. The State of Social Care Report 2026

Leave a Review:

Enjoying the show? Leave a rating at ratethispodcast.com/smcx to help more leaders find their way to better social care.

The Little Moments That Make or Break Customer Trust with Jeannie Walters03 févr. 202600:38:11

This episode is one of my favorites. Because it’s real talk about what customers actually experience… not just what we think they do.

I sat down with the brilliant Jeannie Walters, CEO and Chief Experience Investigator at Experience Investigators, to talk about what’s really broken in most customer experience strategies—and what to do about it.

We got into:

  1. Why most CX “strategies” aren’t actually strategic
  2. The difference between process maps and journey maps
  3. Who should really own customer experience (spoiler: it's complicated)
  4. How tiny micro-moments either build or erode trust

CX is tested in real time, by real customers, in messy, unplanned moments. And social media is one of the first proving grounds.

Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. Jeannie’s new book → Experience Is Everything
  2. Download the 2026 State of Social Care Report
  3. Jeannie’s company → Experience Investigators

Who Owns Social Care? (And Why That’s the Wrong Question)27 janv. 202600:12:16

There’s a reason social care keeps hitting roadblocks—and it’s not about who owns it.

In this episode, I unpack what we’ve uncovered in our State of Social Care 2026 Report: Ownership debates often mask deeper structural issues. And when teams are misaligned, even the best tools or intentions fall flat.

You’ll hear:

  1. Why ownership models alone don’t predict success
  2. What high-performing brands are doing differently
  3. The real value of social listening (and why many orgs miss it)
  4. A simple framework to reveal where your approach might be stuck

If you're ready to move beyond debates and start building true cross-functional CX, this episode is for you.

Mentioned In This Episode:

  1. Download the State of Social Care Report 2026
  2. Paige Walker on social listening

Let’s Settle This:

In an ideal world, who should lead social care?

  1. Marketing
  2. Customer Experience
  3. Support
  4. A cross-functional team

Ownership debates can stall progress. If you could design your team from scratch, who would lead social care—and why?


Rate This Podcast:

If this sparked a new idea or uncovered a blind spot, leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/smcx. We read (and celebrate) every one!

Why Reactive Social Care Keeps Teams Stuck20 janv. 202600:12:06

Most social care teams aren’t failing; they’re just stuck inside broken systems.

In this episode, I unpack the most eye-opening insights from our 2026 State of Social Care Report, including why reactive teams are burning out, how leadership is missing critical early signals, and what predictive social care actually looks like in practice.

I’m sharing:

  1. The top reason customer insights never spark change
  2. Why dashboards don’t drive decisions (and what does)
  3. A simple weekly practice that transforms your entire CX strategy
  4. How to know if your org is ready to scale social care with impact, not just output

If you’re stuck playing defense or overwhelmed by volume, this episode is for you.

👉 Download the State of Social Care Report + 2026 Playbook

We’ll benchmark your current social care program against the maturity framework from the report.

📊 Request a Social Care Audit

—

🧠 Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. 2026 State of Social Care Report
  2. Conversations That Connect by Brooke Sellas

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Rate & review here: ratethispodcast.com/smcx

The Lie That's Costing You Customers on Social Media13 janv. 202600:11:43

How many times have we brushed off a question on social with: “That’s just a support issue”?

It sounds harmless. But in this episode, I’m breaking down why that mindset is quietly costing your brand real revenue—and how a simple shift in how you label social conversations can make or break trust (and conversion).

Inside, I share a surprising client case study and one of the biggest insights from our upcoming State of Social Care Report.

Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. State of Social Care Report 2026
  2. Free 30-min strategy consult
  3. Leave a review if this hit home
  4. Dive into the blog here

Content Fatigue Is Real. Here’s What Works Now.07 janv. 202600:11:17

If you’re doing all the right things on social but still struggling to show results, you’re not alone. In this episode, I unpack why content isn’t the issue … and what actually is.

We’re officially in the Experience Economy. And that means your social media strategy must evolve beyond campaigns and content calendars. It’s time to think in terms of moments, trust, and real conversations.

I also pull back the curtain on our upcoming State of Social Care Report 2026—why we skipped 2025, what’s changed, and how the best brands are using social care to close the experience gap.

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. Rate the Show: ratethispodcast.com/smcx

👉 If this episode shifted your thinking about CX, social media, or brand trust, please subscribe, share it, and leave a review at the link above!

After the Hardest Year of My Career, This Had to Change31 déc. 202500:05:27

This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a shift.

After one of the hardest years in business and life, I’m evolving the Social Media CX Podcast into something more real, more human, and more useful.


In this episode, I open up about what 2025 taught me, why I’m stepping away from polished content, and what’s coming next for the show.


You’ll hear about the mess, the lessons, and the behind-the-scenes truths we usually keep hidden.


We’re closing the door on one version of the podcast… so we can build a braver one together.


Mentioned in this Episode:

  1. Learn more about B Squared Media


How to Humanize Your Brand Voice on Social (Even with AI)24 déc. 202500:09:34

Let’s talk about the thing that’s slowly killing your social media engagement: robotic replies.

Automation is efficient. AI is fast. But if your tone sounds like a bot, you’re missing the real opportunity: connection.


In this episode, I’m sharing The Humanization Reset. It’s a 5-step framework to make your brand sound more like a person (yes, even when using macros, templates, and AI tools). You’ll learn how to:

  1. Lead with empathy instead of instructions
  2. Mirror energy like a human, not a system
  3. Add just the right amount of brand personality
  4. Close conversations in a way that builds trust
  5. Use the “Read It Out Loud” Rule to pass the human check


Plus, I’m sharing real before-and-after examples and an action step that will majorly shift how your brand sounds online.


Mentioned in This Episode:

  1. eBook: Social Media Customer Service for Beginners
  2. Rate the podcast


Why Customers Trust Some Brands Instantly (and Scroll Past Yours)17 déc. 202500:15:03

Customers are evaluating your brand long before they engage. And they’re basing that decision on more than just your content.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how your social presence functions as a real-time trust scorecard. And how even small inconsistencies can quietly erode the credibility you’ve worked hard to build.


I introduce the internal framework we use at B Squared Media to evaluate trust at every layer of a brand’s social presence. We call it Signal Strength—and it focuses on the three categories of signals that matter most: visual, behavioral, and consistency.


You’ll also get a five-point audit you can run today to check how your brand is showing up. Not just what you’re saying, but what your audience is actually seeing and feeling.


Mentioned in This Episode:



If this episode challenged your thinking, leave a review → ratethispodcast.com/smcx 


It helps more social and CX leaders discover the show.



Is Your Content Sending the Wrong Message? Do This 5-Minute Audit10 déc. 202500:09:51

You never get a second chance at a first impression. And on social, that impression takes about three seconds.

In this solo episode, I’m diving deep into what Joshua McGee and I only scratched the surface of: how content clarity and polish are forms of customer care. I walk you through a 5-point platform optimization audit you can run today—on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok—that will instantly level up your posts and your CX.


We’re not just talking about engagement here. We’re talking about empathy, accessibility, and real alignment between your brand and your audience.


Plus, I share:

  • The tools we use to format and optimize across platforms
  • The #1 question I ask when auditing content
  • A reminder that your audience feels your lack of intention


🔗 Mentioned In This Episode:



👀 Want to see how your content really performs?

Run the 5-point audit and let me know what you uncover. DM me or tag @bsquared.media with your biggest takeaway.

Subscribe, review, and share if this sparked something for you! And as always: Think Conversation, Not Campaign.™


How to Optimize Social Media Content for Better Customer Experience03 déc. 202500:28:50

If your CTA gets cut off or your video is cropped on TikTok, you’re already telling your customers that you don’t care about their experience.

In this episode, I’m joined by Joshua McGee, a social media strategist who treats content formatting and platform fit as key CX levers. We talk about how small visual details in your social media content can increase attention, trust, and engagement.


We cover:

  • What most brands miss about content design
  • How platform differences impact brand perception
  • Why vertical video is essential, even on LinkedIn
  • Joshua’s behind-the-scenes “burner account” strategy for testing
  • The power of clean thumbnails, visible logos, and consistency across posts


This episode is for marketers and social media teams who want content that not only performs—but proves you care.


Mentioned In This Episode:



📞 Ready to rethink your social care? Book a brainstorm → https://bsquared.media/contact 



The ROI of Saying Thank You: How Gratitude Builds Customer Loyalty26 nov. 202500:06:51

This episode drops right before Thanksgiving, so naturally we’re talking about gratitude. But not in the fluffy, feel-good way. I’m talking about how gratitude can actually become one of your strongest customer retention strategies.

In this episode, I’ll break down how simple “thank you” moments can be measured, scaled, and turned into real revenue-driving touchpoints in your social care strategy. You’ll also learn how AI can support gratitude without sounding robotic (yes, really!).


In this episode:


  • Why engagement is gratitude—and how it fuels loyalty
  • 3 tactical ways to operationalize gratitude without a huge budget
  • What brands like Chewy, Zappos, and JetBlue teach us about thank yous
  • How to use AI to make gratitude more human, not less
  • My favorite client example using a “gratitude database”


🎁 Your CX Challenge This Week:


Say thank you to a customer, colleague, and community member—then track what happens. Gratitude builds trust and trust builds retention.


Mentioned in This Episode:


Why Social Listening Should Change Your Entire Content Strategy19 nov. 202500:08:55

Ever feel like your social feed is full of noise? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to cut through that chaos and extract the signal—the emotions, the expectations, the hidden stories your audience is actually trying to tell you.

We’ll talk about:


  • Why your customers are already writing your next campaign brief
  • A simple framework to turn insights into impact
  • How a healthcare client turned competitor complaints into a breakthrough campaign
  • Why AI struggles with tone (and how to prompt it better)


Plus, I’ll give you three prompts you can take straight to your listening dashboard or AI tools.


🎧 Mentioned in this episode:



🧠 Remember: Listening gives you the truth, but storytelling gives it traction.



BIC Framework: The Easiest Way to Listen Smarter12 nov. 202500:10:44

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by social listening or unsure where to even begin, you’re going to love this episode. I’m walking you through our BIC Framework—the easiest, most strategic way to listen smarter in 2026 and beyond.

Here’s the deal: Most brands think they’re doing social listening, but they’re really just monitoring mentions. That’s a missed opportunity

In this episode, I break down:

  • The difference between social monitoring vs. real listening
  • Why you need to combine quantitative + qualitative data (and how to do it)
  • How to implement the BIC Framework
  • Tools to help (yes, I name names)
  • How to steal your competitors’ thunder and turn complaints into conversions

Plus, I’m sharing a sneak peek of my upcoming webinar with Agorapulse where we’ll show you how to uncover buying signals in competitor feedback. (It’s free—grab your spot below!)


Mentioned in This Episode


Hershey’s Social Listening Playbook05 nov. 202500:35:50

Ever wondered how a wave of customer requests can spark a brand-new Reese’s flavor? This week on the Social Media CX Podcast, I’m joined by Paige Walker from Hershey’s—and this one is extra sweet.

Paige, Manager of Cultural Intelligence & Trends, takes us behind the scenes of how Hershey's evolved from reactive social care to a full-blown cultural listening machine. We talk about:

  • The actual ROI of social listening
  • How AI tools like Quid and Viral Moment uncover hidden trends
  • Turning TikTok videos and Instagram DMs into campaign strategy
  • The Reese’s + Oreo story that proves consumers are co-creators

Whether you're deep in CX or still getting buy-in for better customer care, this episode will have you rethinking how your brand listens.

🎯 Want to uplevel your social customer care? Check out my LinkedIn Learning course: bit.ly/B2LICare 

Mentioned in this Episode:


The Dark Side of Employee Advocacy: How to Avoid a Brand Horror Story29 oct. 202500:07:40

Employee advocacy can be your brand’s biggest superpower — or your scariest liability.

In this Halloween-inspired episode, I’m showing up as Brooke the Jellyfish (because when CX gets dark, we glow ✨), and sharing the spooky truth about what happens when employee advocacy goes sideways.

We’re diving into real-life horror stories:

👻 A rogue LinkedIn post that accidentally politicizes a brand

🧟‍♂️ Over-scripted employees who become zombie megaphones

📸 An Instagram post that leaked private customer data

🪦 A new advocacy program that flopped right out of the gate

But don’t worry, I’m not here just to scare you — I’m handing over your survival kit:

✔️ Guardrails that protect without controlling

✔️ Motivation methods that actually get employees engaged

✔️ Training tips to help your team post safely

✔️ Why choice is the most powerful tool of all

If your advocacy program feels like it’s dead on arrival… let’s bring it back to life. 💥

💡 Mentioned in This Episode:
🔁 Next Steps:

👉 DM me your scariest employee advocacy story

👉 Subscribe + leave a review if this episode made you think

👉 Share this episode with your CX or HR team — they need to hear this!

Until next time,

Think conversation, not campaign.™

From Advocacy to Activism: Turn Employees into Community Leaders22 oct. 202500:07:32

Hey y’all — Brooke Sellas here.

In this episode, we’re flipping the script on employee advocacy. It’s not just about amplifying brand content anymore — it’s about building community.

I’ll share how your employees can become trusted community hosts, not just megaphones, and why that shift from “share” to “shape” is where the magic happens.

We’ll dive into:

  • Tactical ways to spark real conversations (not just reposts)
  • How to protect and empower employees as advocates
  • A client story that proves behind-the-scenes wins get the biggest engagement
  • What employee-led CX actually looks like in practice

Plus — I’ve got a hard truth: while you’re focused on content, your competitors are converting conversations. I’ll show you how our Social Care Audit uncovers those missed opportunities and turns them into ROI.

🎯 Want to see where you’re leaving money on the table?

➡️ Schedule your Social Care Audit


How to Prove the ROI of Employee Advocacy (Without Vanity Metrics)15 oct. 202500:07:19

If you can't prove the ROI of your employee advocacy program... you don’t really have a strategy — you have hope.

In this episode, I break down the real metrics that move the needle on employee advocacy. 

We're done counting clicks and calling it a win. I’m showing you exactly what to measure, how to tell a compelling story with your data, and the dashboard metrics your executive team actually wants to see.


Plus, I share a simple way to test advocacy’s true impact and get more budget and buy-in for your program.


👇 Ready to turn engagement into revenue?

Book your spot in our Care Squared Training Program → https://bsquared.media/services/care-squared-training-program/


Ditch the Megaphone: The New Rules of Employee Advocacy in CX08 oct. 202500:08:19

If your employee advocacy sounds like a press release… it's not advocacy. It's advertising.

Let’s fix that.


In this episode of the Social Media CX Podcast, I’m breaking down why canned captions kill trust and how you can unlock real employee voices to build credibility, connection, and conversions.


We’ll cover:

  • The difference between amplification and authentic advocacy
  • Why copy/paste posts don’t cut it anymore
  • My favorite framework for empowering employees without overwhelming them
  • How to use trust data to change the way you amplify wins
  • Tactical tools like content hubs, storytelling workshops, and social proof that actually works


💬 Whether you manage social care or CX, this one’s for you if you’re ready to let go of control and start building real trust through real voices.


🔥 Mentioned in this episode:



Why Employee Spotlights Belong in Your Social Strategy01 oct. 202500:24:11

What makes someone stop scrolling and actually care about your brand? Good creative helps, but really connects on social media is your people.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rashad Alaiyan, a social strategist who’s helped brands like IBM, Salesforce, and Audi build trust by putting their people front and center. 

When IBM Watson Health rebranded to Merative, Rashad helped the team lean into employee stories that showed the humans behind the brand in a way that felt real—not performative.

The results? Higher engagement, stronger morale, and more connection.

We talk about:

  • How to bring employee advocacy into your brand’s content (without it feeling forced)
  • What Rashad tracked to show real impact beyond just likes
  • The ripple effects this kind of strategy has on trust, culture, and retention


This is the kind of conversation that makes you rethink what social media can be and how it can fuel more than just clicks.


🔗 Mentioned In This Episode:



Want to build a brand people believe in? Start with the people inside it.

How Clarity in Customer Care Creates Loyalty and Revenue24 sept. 202500:09:37

Let’s be honest, your customers don’t care about your latest post. They care about how fast you reply when they need help.

In this episode, I break down why clarity, not content, is what builds real loyalty on social media. I’ll walk you through three simple ways to create a clearer, more consistent care experience across your social channels.


You’ll also hear how our clients are turning faster response times and tone training into 20-40% revenue lifts.


You’ll learn:

  • How we helped a brand go from 20-hour response times to under 10 minutes
  • The 3-step clarity formula I use with every client
  • Why care isn’t just for complaints—it’s a conversion tool


Mentioned in This Episode



🎯 Want to know what’s hiding in your own DMs? 

Our Social Care Audit reveals blind spots, buyer intent, and real-time sales opportunities you’re probably missing. 👉 Get your audit here

How Empathy Drives Revenue (and What Most Brands Miss)17 sept. 202500:10:44

What if empathy wasn’t just a “nice to have” in your social strategy, but the very thing driving your revenue?

In this solo episode, I break down how emotional intelligence and human-first interactions translate into measurable growth. From reducing churn to capturing buying intent in your DMs, this is the business case for making empathy a frontline metric.


You’ll hear about:

  • Why response time + tone = your secret retention strategy
  • What real empathy looks like (hint: it's not "we're sorry for the inconvenience")
  • KPIs that prove caring actually converts
  • How to reframe empathy for your CFO, not just your team
  • Our “bar tab” method for empowering agents with autonomy


If you’ve ever struggled to explain why your social care team matters—or why empathy belongs in the boardroom—this is the language you’ve been looking for.


🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:



The EMPATH Framework for Human-Centered Social Media10 sept. 202500:08:05

Let’s talk about what happens when we stop marketing to personas and start connecting with real people.

In this episode of the Social Media CX Podcast, I’m building on the framework Phil Treagus introduced last week and showing how we can bring those ideas to life in your social care strategy. From emotional insight to pattern recognition to cross-functional feedback loops, I’m sharing real-world ways we apply this approach at B Squared Media.

You’ll learn:

  • Why personas fail to reflect true customer needs
  • How to gather emotional clarity using AI + social listening
  • How to tag conversations to surface pre-purchase intent
  • How agent feedback becomes a secret source of CX gold
  • How to build and maintain a Human Understanding Map


Whether you're trying to boost loyalty, prove ROI, or just elevate how your brand shows up on social, this episode delivers the clarity you need.


👉 Mentioned in This Episode:



Let me know which part of EMPATH you’re already using (or struggling with). DM me or drop a comment on LinkedIn. Let’s compare notes!


Ready to future-proof your social care strategy? Let’s talk it out: https://bsquared.media/contact 

Human-First Marketing in an AI World with Phil Treagus-Evans03 sept. 202500:34:18

If you’ve ever felt that traditional marketing personas just don’t capture the real human behind the data, you’re in for a treat.

In this episode, I’m joined by Phil Treagus-Evans. He’s an entrepreneur, writer, and co-founder/CEO of Giraffe Social, here to talk about why he believes personas are flawed, why funnels are outdated, and how his Empath Framework and Pinball Method can help you truly connect with your audience.

Phil shares practical ways to map customer feedback so you can build trust and drive meaningful engagement (the kind that leads to loyalty and advocacy). We also dig into AI’s role in marketing, how to balance automation with human touch, and why your team is your greatest USP.

Mentioned in This Episode:


Want to put human-first thinking into action for your brand? Book a brainstorm with us at B Squared Media, and let’s talk about building real connections that convert.

5 Steps to Build Your Social Engagement Strategy Without a Big Team: Care Chat27 août 202500:07:25

You don’t need five people to care about your customers on social, you just need a plan.

In this Care Chat episode, I’m answering a question inspired by my recent interview with Ben from King Arthur Baking: How do you build an engagement team when you’re flying solo?

I break down the 5-step system we use at B Squared Media to help brands create proactive, high-impact social care programs—even if you’re a team of one. From auditing your inbound channels to tracking ROI on conversations, this episode is all about starting where you are and proving the value of social.

You’ll learn:

  • Why reactive engagement is still a starting point
  • How to build a response matrix that sets the tone
  • Tools to help you flag urgency (without going enterprise)
  • Why you MUST engage like a human (yes, daily!)
  • How to track gain/retain conversations for ROI

Whether you’re running solo or growing your team, this one’s for you. 

Mentioned in This Episode:


👉 Book a brainstorm and let’s talk about turning your DMs into dollars: https://bsquared.media/contact 

How to Scale Social Engagement with a Tiny Team and a Big Heart20 août 202500:09:20

Let’s bust a myth: You do not need a big team to deliver amazing social care.

In this episode, I’m spotlighting how small but mighty teams—like King Arthur Baking Company’s three-person social squad—are showing up more consistently (and with more heart) than brands with twice the headcount.

I break down how to scale real, heartfelt digital engagement using the systems, tone, and tools that make conversations feel personal, even at scale. If you’re struggling with slow response times, low engagement, or proving ROI on your social efforts, this one’s for you.


You’ll learn:

  • How to build a tone playbook your team can actually use
  • Why responsiveness is your brand’s new reputation
  • Ways to tag, segment, and personalize replies using tools like Agorapulse
  • How to connect the dots from comments to conversions
  • Why FAQ templates still need a human “hello”

If you’re ready to scale real conversations (not just content), let’s talk it out. 💚 


Mentioned in This Episode:


👉 Want help building your own scalable engagement system? Book a brainstorm with me and let’s future-proof your social CX.

Why Relatable, Messy Content Wins the UGC Game13 août 202500:07:22

If you’re still chasing perfect social media content, it’s time to rethink your UGC strategy. In this episode, I break down why messy is beautiful—and why your next best-performing content might be lopsided, amateur, and absolutely relatable.

I share insights from my chat with Ben Rapson of King Arthur Baking about how their community thrives on imperfect, authentic content. Plus, I walk you through four ways to spark user-generated content that actually builds trust and drives conversions.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

  • Reframe your UGC brief to invite authenticity
  • Create low-barrier prompts your audience loves
  • Celebrate progress instead of perfection
  • Track and nurture repeat contributors to grow superfans

Your audience doesn’t want to be impressed, they want to be included. Let’s turn your UGC into a true loyalty engine.

Want to build a UGC strategy that actually converts? Book a strategy session with me.

Mentioned in This Episode:



Inside King Arthur Baking’s Customer Experience Playbook06 août 202500:31:13

What do a digital engagement pro and a 200-year-old flour company have in common? Turns out, a lot. In this episode of the Social Media CX Podcast, I chat with Ben Rapson, the mastermind behind King Arthur Baking’s award-winning social strategy.

We dig into why King Arthur focuses on delivering "knowledge and inspiration" on social, rather than selling. Ben shares how their customer care team responds 7 days a week, how they’ve built a pun-filled, personality-driven brand voice, and why embracing amateur content is a strength, not a flaw.

You’ll also hear how they track success across UGC, their annual Recipe of the Year, and even their emotional connection to baking trends.

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:


Social Tools Mentioned: Sprout Social and Hootsuite

Care Chat: The Glow Framework for Surprise & Delight30 juil. 202500:09:17

In this week’s Care Chat, I’m answering a listener question about one of my favorite CX tools—surprise and delight. Specifically, can it actually be measured? Spoiler: YES. And in this episode, I show you exactly how.

I walk you through our GLOW framework (Give, Listen, Observe, Win) and how to use it to create moments that actually matter to your customers and move the needle for your business.

From handwritten notes and unexpected swag to brand love and revenue lifts, this isn’t about going viral. It’s about creating emotional retention that leads to lasting loyalty.

Let’s talk about how we can help you create a repeatable, revenue-generating CX strategy. 

—

Mentioned in This Episode:


When Your DMs Become a Disaster: How to Prevent a Social Media Meltdown23 juil. 202500:05:52

What do your DMs look like when your team is offline?

In this week’s CX Hot Take, I’m breaking down what I call the fireworks moment: When your inbox explodes, your mentions go wild, and you’re left scrambling during a holiday or weekend. Sound familiar?


I’m sharing a real story from Jill Sammons at BCU and unpacking the most common social care gap I see: coverage fails during nights, weekends, and holidays. Plus, I walk you through a quick audit you can do right now to check if your brand is at risk.


You’ll learn:

  • Why reactive social care creates brand risk
  • The exact mini-framework we use at B Squared to keep brands covered 18/7
  • A 10-minute audit to expose your coverage cracks
  • How to avoid turning one rogue DM into a full-blown crisis


And if you’re thinking “we really need help with this”... you do. And we’ve got you.


Mentioned In This Episode:

🎯 Check out my LinkedIn Learning course: Mastering Social Media Customer Care

📣 Or skip the overwhelm and hire us to manage your social care the right way. Learn more at bsquared.media or reach out directly.


Why Every Brand Needs a “Nick” (and How to Find Yours)16 juil. 202500:03:56

Who’s your brand’s “Nick”? 

In this quick mini drop, I’m revisiting a powerful moment from my convo with Jill Sammons, VP of Brand at BCU. She shared how one unexpected advocate kept showing up—and how BCU turned that moment into a movement.

This story will shift how you think about loyalty, advocacy, and social listening.

If you're not identifying and engaging your "Nicks"... you're missing a major CX opportunity. Hit play to hear how to spot these superfans—and why they matter more than any ad campaign.

—

Want to go deeper into building loyalty through social listening and real conversation? Grab my book Conversations That Connect—available now on Amazon or at bsquared.media.


Where Empathy Meets Process: Turning Social Care into a Competitive Advantage09 juil. 202500:05:39

In this episode, I’m unpacking a big CX truth: empathy without process is chaos. But process without empathy? That’s just cruelty.

I share how empathy and structure together unlock scalable social care—including a story from my twenties (yes, there’s beer involved) and how we helped Brother International cut response time by 3,791%.


You’ll also hear the Three E’s that drive connection and results:


  1. Embed empathy in your workflows
  2. Enable empowerment on your frontlines
  3. Evaluate consistency monthly


🔗 Mentioned In This Episode:



Social Media Care as a Retention Engine (Feat. Jill Sammons)02 juil. 202500:32:30

We’re pulling back the curtain on what real social care looks like in action. My guest is the brilliant Jill Sammons, SVP of Marketing, Well-being & Wealth Advisory at BCU, and yes—a longtime client of ours.

This conversation is packed with truth bombs about empathy, internal alignment, and how one fireworks-worthy moment completely shifted the way BCU shows up for its members. Jill shares what it took to get leadership buy-in, the surprising results of authentic social listening, and why member experience can’t be a siloed metric. It’s everyone’s job.

If you're in marketing, service, or CX leadership, this episode will reframe the way you think about connection over communication.

Mentioned in This Episode:


Learn how B Squared helps brands like BCU reduce response times by up to 3,791% and turn social messages into retention and revenue wins. 

👉 Book a Care Consult: https://bsquared.media/



How to Turn Social Replies Into Emotional Loyalty Drivers25 juin 202500:08:06

Most brands chase customer loyalty with clever copy, fast replies, or AI shortcuts. But let’s be real, if your customers don’t feel anything when they engage with you, you’re 100% replaceable.

In this Care Chat, I’m answering 5 of the most common questions I get about how to build emotional payoff into your social care strategy. We’re talking personalization beyond first names, human-sounding auto-replies, and listening for feelings—not just complaints.


If you’ve ever wondered how to make social CX unforgettable, this one’s for you.


🎯 Want to dive deeper into human-led, AI-powered social care? Take my LinkedIn Learning course.

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:



💬 Got a question or a hot take on social care? Drop it in the comments or DM me on LinkedIn to be featured in a future Care Chat!

Beyond the Like: Building Brand Affinity on Social Media18 juin 202500:08:52

If your social post gets a like, cool. But if it makes someone think, “This brand gets me,” now we’re talking emotional loyalty.

In this episode, I walk through Christina Garnett’s Brand Affinity Ladder and how to actually use it to write better social content. We’re moving beyond vanity metrics and into identity alignment—because that’s what keeps customers coming back.


I also share three strategic post prompts that help you speak your customer’s language of belonging and show you how to audit your last five posts for resonance, not just reach.


🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:



If you’re ready to stop collecting followers like baseball cards and start creating real customer connection, this episode is for you.


🛠 Want to future-proof your brand’s social strategy? Let’s talk it out.


Stop Sounding Like a Bot: Use Your DMs to Build Emotional Loyalty11 juin 202500:08:31

Your customer doesn’t need a faster reply, they need a real one.

In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to use your brand's social media replies to build trust, not just close tickets. You’ll learn the A Cubed method—Acknowledge, Align, Assure—which we use at B Squared Media to turn basic replies into emotional loyalty builders.


I’ll walk you through real examples, mistakes most brands are making, and a simple three-question audit you can do on your own social replies TODAY. If your brand sounds like a bot in the DMs, it’s time to change that.


We talk about:

  • Why customers confuse being seen with being sold to
  • The myth of loyalty and why it isn’t earned through discounts
  • The role of community and social teams as your brand’s emotional frontline
  • Real-world examples from Toast and HeyOrca that prove small moments = big impact


If you're tired of measuring success in vanity metrics or feeling like your CX work goes unnoticed, this is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.


🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:



🎯I teach the A Cubed method and the metrics to prove it inside Conversations That Connect. Grab your copy at B Squared Media or Amazon!


© My Podcast Data · Independent project · Data from Apple & Spotify