Simple Pin Podcast: Kate’s Take – Quick Thoughts on Pinterest Marketing #1

Host: Kate Ahl
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this inaugural “Kate’s Take” segment, Kate Ahl introduces a new podcast mini-series designed to share her timely, unfiltered perspective on Pinterest marketing trends. Built as a companion to the deeper-dive interview and strategy episodes, “Kate’s Take” will offer bite-sized updates, personal insights, and practical tips bi-weekly—helping marketers and business owners stay agile and informed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing “Kate’s Take” Format

[00:00–02:10]

• Kate announces her new bi-weekly format:
  • Deep-dive interviews and strategies continue as regular episodes.
  • On the “off” weeks, Kate will share solo thoughts: quick Pinterest observations, trend reactions, client insights, and troubleshooting in short five-minute episodes.
• Rationale:
  • Aims to fill the context gap with honest, personal perspectives and advice.
  • Acknowledges the challenges of producing frequent solo teaching episodes on top of client work and broader expert interviews.
• Honest reflection:
  • “Frankly, I'm only one person with one perspective… but I wanted to really widen my reach and get out there and see how are people using Pinterest differently.” (Kate, 01:01)

2. Purpose and Audience Care

[02:11–03:12]

• Kate emphasizes she’ll always be transparent when she’s brainstorming or troubleshooting so listeners don’t waste time chasing strategies that may not be proven yet.
• Focused on respecting listeners’ time:
  • "I want to really caretake for your time so that you don't take more time than you need on something that may or may not work." (Kate, 02:45)
• Encourages listeners to see these short episodes as a “Pinterest reality check” between full, scheduled episodes.

3. Podcast Availability Update

[03:13–03:56]

• The “Kate’s Take” segments will only be available on standard podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple, etc.)—not on her website or YouTube.
• Brief aside about shifting podcast habits:
  • “Apple has been terrible lately. I know a lot of people have shifted away from it.” (Kate, 03:39)
• Direct call to subscribe for uninterrupted access.

4. Pinterest Predicts 2026 — Practical Use

[03:57–05:05]

• Kate shares a behind-the-scenes insight from her last episode, featuring the Head of Global Content at Pinterest, focused on “Pinterest Predicts 2026.”
• She calls the Pinterest Predicts deck “overwhelming”—packed with creative names and trends that may seem daunting or mysterious.
• Her simple, actionable strategy:
  • Go directly to the year-over-year “trending search terms.”
  • Identify one or two relevant trends for your audience; if nothing fits, it’s okay to skip or do something adjacent.
  • If you’re already seeing good results in analytics and have a content groove, there’s no need to force change.
  • But if you’re “idea poor” or need fresh content inspiration, use Predicts as a strategic roadmap.
• Addressing Critics:
  • Some critique that Predicts trends are “obvious” or “pre-ordained” by Pinterest’s own content priorities.
  • Kate’s stance: “Well, if that's the case, then you for sure need to be using those keywords… every platform has interest-based targeting or keyword-based targeting. That's essentially what you see here.” (Kate, 04:33 & 04:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On evolving the podcast:
  • “I want you to think of it a little bit as your Pinterest reality check or Pinterest thoughts between these episodes.” (Kate, 02:55)
• On the purpose of Predicts:
  • “If your analytics are telling you what's working and not working already and you feel like you have a really good groove, keep doing it. But if you are idea poor… this is such a great way for you to basically get a roadmap.” (Kate, 04:14)
• On platform strategy:
  • “If that's the case [Pinterest boosting trends], then you for sure need to be using those keywords because every platform has interest based targeting or keyword based targeting.” (Kate, 04:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:10: Introduction to “Kate’s Take” and podcast structure changes
• 02:11–03:12: Kate’s promise to be transparent and focus on protecting listeners’ time
• 03:13–03:56: Availability news—“Kate’s Take” will be podcast-player exclusive
• 03:57–05:05: Kate’s actionable advice for using Pinterest Predicts 2026

Summary & Takeaway

In this quick and candid episode, Kate Ahl introduces the “Kate’s Take” format, offering her listeners a direct line to her evolving analysis and advice on Pinterest marketing. She shares a practical, minimalist approach to leveraging Pinterest's annual trend forecasts, emphasizing simplicity, authentic alignment with your existing audience, and prioritizing tactics proven to work in your analytics. The tone remains relatable and focused on saving listeners time, while the advice is immediately actionable—ideal for marketers who need a Pinterest reality check between longer-form episodes.