Episode Summary: "What’s Up THIS WEEK: NEW Content Format! Multiple Offers in Email? Nepo Babies? The Beckhams?"

Podcast: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Host: GURU Media Hub
Episode: 462
Date: February 17, 2026

Overview

This rapid-fire "What's Up THIS WEEK" episode sees Jay Schwedelson diving into the latest marketing trends, with a spotlight on micro drama content formats sweeping TikTok (and soon, all channels). He explores best practices in email marketing offers, riffs on trending cultural phenomena like “Nepo Babies,” and even drops thoughts about the Olympics and personal anxieties—all with his trademark blend of actionable advice and casual humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Micro-Drama Content: The Rise of Soap Operas on Social Media

• [00:18] “The biggest new thing... business marketers really need to lock in on... is this idea of basically soap operas. These mini soap operas on TikTok and soon to be Instagram.”
  • Jay explains TikTok's January launch of "Pine Drama"—a separate app now bleeding into the main feed, proliferating “micro dramas.”
  • Example: Full-length shows broken into 60-90 second serialized clips (e.g., "High School Musical" adapted as a micro-series).
  • Massive viewership: Top three dramas now have over 100 million views.
  • Deloitte prediction: This “micro drama” category could generate $7.8 billion in revenue this year.
  • Takeaway: Marketers—B2B and B2C alike—should explore serializing their own content for platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram.
  • Quote:

    “We are moving from long form content to short form content, but now we’re taking long form content, turning it into this serialized short form content. And it’s getting views and it’s getting people sucked in with these cliffhangers and stuff.” (Jay, 01:17)

2. Email Marketing: Too Many Offers Tank Your Clicks

• [03:03] Jay shares new research from World Data Research addressing a common marketer dilemma:
  • Many marketers want to cram multiple offers (discounts, demos, content, webinars) into a single email.
  • The data is clear:

    “When there are three or more destination links in an email, the primary hero offer receives 50% fewer clicks.” (Jay, 03:41)

  • Whether B2B or B2C, multiple destinations dilute the effectiveness of your main call-to-action.
  • Tip: Focus your email on one key offer for maximum impact.
  • Quote:

    “When you press send on that email, you are hoping something happens. Like I really hope people consume this one offer. That is the goal when you hit send, or at least it should be.” (Jay, 04:15)

3. Trend Watch: The “Nepo Cookie” and ‘Nepo Babies’

• [05:02] Mondelez’s launch of the “Oreo Cream Egg Cookie”—their so-called “Nepo Cookie” (a mashup of Oreos and Cream Eggs)—triggers Jay’s thoughts on the cultural phenomenon of “Nepo babies.”
  • “It’s very on trend because it’s basically two brands, a parent company, ‘quote unquote,’ and this is their Nepo cookie, which I like a lot.”
• He playfully discusses well-known “Nepo Babies”:
  • Hailey Bieber (“she kind of crushed it”)
  • Dakota Johnson ("that’s the actress... what's her face?")
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Brooklyn Beckham (“I don’t want to say anything really bad... but... he’s really angry at his parents. They’re not talking.”)
• Commentary on performative privacy:
  • “If you want to be private, don’t do that. What are we doing, people? We gotta stop doing that.” (Jay, 07:38)
• Overall: Combining trends and brand mashing reflects how culture moves—and gives marketers a lesson in trendjacking with relevance.

4. Olympics & The Anxiety of Near-Misses

• [08:02] Jay shares personal anxieties watching the Olympics, marveling at how athletes put years into training—only to potentially miss the podium by fractions of a second.
  • “How do you process putting all your life’s energy and not making it by 2/10 of a second? This would freak me out... But it does give me anxiety. Why does everything give me anxiety? I don’t know.”
  • Offers a light, self-deprecating perspective on the contrast between his everyday habits and Olympians’ dedication.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On micro-drama’s growth:

  “If you haven’t checked out these micro dramas, you need to do that, because this is the hottest thing right now.” (Jay, 02:45)

• On cramming emails with content:

  “Everybody wants to shove in... all the different stuff, but nobody cares. Nobody cares about what it is that you’re promoting. You need to lock in on one offer now.” (Jay, 03:18)

• On social media privacy contradictions:

  “If you want to be private, don’t do that. What are we doing, people? We’ve got to stop doing that.” (Jay, 07:38)

• On Olympics anxiety:

  “I’m so impressed by them. I’m a disgusting slob, and these people are just incredible human beings. But it does give me anxiety.” (Jay, 09:12)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:18 — Introduction; Micro-drama/soap opera content wave
• 01:15 — Micro-drama examples and business applications
• 03:03 — Data: Multiple offers in email campaigns reduce performance
• 05:02 — Oreo Cream Egg “Nepo Cookie”; Nepo babies in pop culture
• 07:30 — Brooklyn Beckham’s privacy contradictions
• 08:02 — Olympics, near-misses, and performance anxiety

Final Thoughts & Calls to Action

• Check out micro-dramas to stay ahead in marketing and content trends.
• Focus your emails on a single offer for better results.
• Stay aware of cultural trends and weave them into your marketing.
• “Go out there and crush it!”

Jay closes with a reminder about his resources and upcoming book, encouraging listeners to connect and contribute to the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This summary captures Jay’s lively, energetic style—mixing humor, pop culture, and tactical marketing tips in an engaging, information-packed episode.