Podcast Summary: Brain Driven Brands

Episode: The 8 Marketing Mistakes We Made in 2025 (and How to Fix Them in 2026)

Host: Sarah Levinger
Date: October 30, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Sarah Levinger and co-host Nate Lagos candidly dissect the eight biggest marketing mistakes made in 2025—especially in the world of e-commerce and neuromarketing. Pulling examples from major brands and their own agency experiences, they lay out actionable advice for marketers looking to pivot, avoid burnout, and leverage real consumer psychology to drive results in 2026. The duo’s banter is direct, practical, and filled with real-life anecdotes, focusing on advanced tactics any brand can implement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Output ≠ Outcome: Stop Chasing Volume for Volume's Sake

[03:05–04:50]

• Marketers in 2025 got stuck in an “AI-fueled, output-maximizing” rut: cranking out as many ads as possible, mistaking quantity for impact.
• Quote (Sarah, 03:25): “We treated 2025 like the game was as many ads as possible. And I think that's so detrimental to brands. It's incredibly easy way to burn out your entire team, but it's also not the frickin point. More ads is not the point.”
• Both stress the power of focusing on “the least amount of output necessary to hit business goals” instead of chasing content volume.

2. The AI Hype Got Ahead of Reality

[05:56–08:25]

• The promise that AI would revolutionize marketing was overblown; real-world results often fell short.
• Quote (Nate, 06:29): “I asked it to do a thing and it just ignored half my instruction and did what it wanted to do. ... Why am I getting like chat trying to like sneak off early from work is basically what it's doing?”
• AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) were used as “second brains,” but proved inconsistent, generating generic ads or ignoring critical details.
• Advice: Use AI for research and double-checks, but keep humans in charge of strategy and creative output.

3. “Spray and Pray” Marketing: Speaking to No One by Speaking to Everyone

[08:25–09:33]

• The rush to scale led brands to create generic, mass-appeal messaging—which failed to resonate.
• Quote (Sarah, 08:25): “We started building for everybody...and we didn't really speak to anybody because of this kind of spray and pray spaghetti kind of a method that we were using.”
• Success lies in ultra-specific messaging and activating consumers’ real-world experiences at precise moments.

4. Playing It Safe Means Losing Out: Take Real Stances

[09:33–12:25]

• Marketers shied away from anything controversial, watering down brand personality.
• Example: A successful ad featuring a watch model lighting a cigarette—something “real” that people found refreshing.
• Quote (Nate, 10:33): “I think we need to be less worried about offending people in advertising, and I think we should be willing to take hard stances on things.”
• Authentic, even slightly “unpolished” or “real” content connects—especially with audiences that reject sanitized, sterile ads.

5. Brand Voice Consistency Over Trend-Chasing

[12:25–13:26]

• Many brands chased trends, fragmenting their messaging across channels and killing brand recall.
• Quote (Sarah, 12:25): “They tried to tailor messages by channel...I want to move back to campaign-driven marketing, where we choose one specific theme...launch it out and stay consistent.”
• Campaign-driven strategy (distinct themes per campaign) is key to standing out against UGC-saturated feeds.

6. Remember There Are People on the Other Side

[13:26–14:48]

• Marketers often judge ads too quickly, killing campaigns that don’t “hit” in 48 hours, forgetting about real human buyer cycles.
• Quote (Nate, 14:01): “Give your advertising time to work. ... People do not buy based on a clever ad. They do not see something for the first time, click on it and check out.”
• Repeat exposure and patience are essential—impulse buys are rare (outside of grocery store candy).

7. Authenticity Is Your Edge—AI Can’t Replace Human Creativity

[15:11–16:54]

• Overreliance on AI dulled creativity and drained authenticity from ads.
• Quote (Sarah, 15:25): “Talented, incredibly skilled, super creative people...have literally turned off their ability to be creative because their boss wants them to use AI.”
• Use AI for research/analysis, but empower your team to create genuinely human ad content.

8. Not Planning For What Could Go Wrong

[17:01–20:18]

• Most teams failed to anticipate major disruptors (e.g., surprise tariffs on China).
• Quote (Nate, 17:31): “If we spent 15 minutes [before launching], we build smarter businesses. ... Think about if something is going to stop us from hitting our goals in 2026—what do you think it is?”
• Practical Tip: Do a “doom and gloom” session before launching campaigns—ask, “What could go wrong?” and build in fail-safes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hard pass. Okay.” (Sarah on using AI for creative, 08:25)
• “Be realer than you’ve ever been in your advertising.” (Nate, 10:33)
• “Give your advertising time to work.” (Nate, 14:01)
• “Long live human intelligence.” (Nate, 21:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:05–04:50 — Output vs. Outcome: How Overproducing Ads Backfired
• 05:56–08:25 — The Limits of AI for Marketing Creative
• 08:25–09:33 — The Dangers of Generic Messaging
• 09:33–12:25 — The Power of Realness & Taking Stances in Ads
• 12:25–13:26 — The Importance of Consistent Brand Voice and Campaigns
• 13:26–14:48 — Letting Human Buying Cycles Play Out: Patience in Advertising
• 15:11–16:54 — Reclaiming Human Creativity From AI Reliance
• 17:01–20:18 — Scenario Planning: Building Resilience By Anticipating Problems

Actionable Takeaways for Marketers

• Refocus on Real Outcomes: Pick a small set of clear business objectives and cut unnecessary creative production.
• Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch: Let humans lead strategy and creativity; use AI for what it does best—analysis and ideation.
• Speak to Someone, Not Everyone: Hyper-specificity beats watered-down mass appeals.
• Dare to Be Real: Audiences crave authenticity, not sanitized perfection.
• Be Consistent: Strong campaigns with single themes create brand recall and cut through the noise.
• Be Patient: Consumer journeys aren’t instant—let campaigns breathe to find traction.
• Audit for Weak Spots: Prior to launches, hold short “what could go wrong?” meetings to anticipate and plan for challenges.

Final Word:
As Sarah and Nate declare, “Long live human intelligence.” Marketing in 2026 is about rediscovering the power of focus, authenticity, patience, and real strategic thinking—beyond the hype and automation of previous years.