Simple Pin Podcast – Kate's Take: Quick thoughts on Pinterest marketing #3 – Founders’ Story
Host: Kate Ahl
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this quick "Kate's Take" segment, Kate Ahl reflects on the growing importance of sharing the founder's story in online business, especially as it relates to Pinterest marketing. Inspired by conversations with industry peers and her own mastermind group, Kate questions what an authentic founder story looks like for Pinterest users in 2026 and how it might play into successful business marketing, given ongoing shifts in user behavior, technology, and expectations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Influence of Recent Conversations

• Kate revisits insights from previous episodes, noting the impact of her discussions with Lyric Fryer and Megan Williamson on the importance of the founder's story.
• She shares how these discussions prompted her to bring the topic to her mastermind group for deeper reflection.
  • “In the last episode that I did with Lyric Fryer, I left that episode thinking so strongly about the founder's story. It was something that Megan Williamson brought up. It was something that Lyric brought up.” (00:16)

Instagram versus Pinterest: Personal Branding Fatigue

• Kate expresses her reluctance to emulate Instagram influencer-style storytelling, preferring Pinterest due to its less demanding approach.
  • “Right away, I think of, I need to be in front of the camera. I need to look like an influencer, and that sounds exhausting. It's why I chose Pinterest and not Instagram.” (00:38)
• She recommends Workplay branding as a middle ground for those who can afford it, but addresses listeners who may not be ready for that investment.

Founder’s Story: Does It Matter on Pinterest?

• Kate admits she rarely shares personal stories, thinking her audience just wants actionable Pinterest advice.
  • “Honestly, I don't talk a lot about my story because I think people are bored with it. I think people come to me and they say, I just want to know about Pinterest. I don't really care about you.” (01:09)
• She notes shifts in user interests: even "cold" Pinterest users may become curious about the people behind the brands.

The Rise of Authenticity in Marketing (2026 and Beyond)

• With the prevalence of AI and unbranded searches (96% on Pinterest), there's a growing demand for authenticity.
  • “Pinterest users are cold, right? They're not really interested in who you are and what you do. 96% of searches are unbranded, but they are becoming more interested in who the people are behind the product or the content that they're consuming.” (01:38)
• This trend may stem from users wanting to verify that they’re supporting real, ethical creators, not just faceless brands.

Where and How to Share the Founder’s Story

• Kate questions whether founder stories always have to be Instagram-based and encourages experimenting with other platforms, including newsletters.
  • “Where do you put your founder story? What does it look like? And does it have to always be on Instagram? I don't think it does, but I think those are the questions I'm left with after ruminating on that episode for a while.” (02:11)
• She highlights that she shares some personal tidbits in her newsletter, which might be a fitting channel for other business owners as well.

Connection and Business Purpose

• The mastermind group discusses whether sharing more about one’s story in 2026 will foster deeper relationships with customers and distinguish a brand from simple sales funnels.
  • “Will that help people see... we're passionate about these certain areas of our business and we want to see success in the lives of people who come into our ecosystem?” (03:02)

Shark Tank Analogy: The Power of Origin Stories

• Kate brings up an example from Shark Tank, contrasting how knowing a founder’s backstory makes certain personalities more likable and relatable.
  • “You have these four founders and two of the founders their family loved because they knew their origin story... Pretty sure you all know I'm not talking about Mr. Wonderful being on this founder's list of people that they loved.” (03:29)
• She observes that audiences connect with founders whose motives and personalities are clear, as opposed to those perceived as only profit-oriented.

Authenticity in an Age of AI

• Kate calls for a more authentic connection, even as marketers leverage AI, and notes that even historically guarded leaders are opening up.
  • “As we go into our time of AI, the story of who you are, what you do, and authentic connection with your audience… which doesn't mean you can't use AI, but showing a little bit more of yourself.” (04:10)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “It's why I chose Pinterest and not Instagram. I do not want to be exhausted by what I have to do on social media all day.” (00:41, Kate Ahl)
• "I don't know if telling my story is necessarily what people are looking for. And I don't know if I have landed on what founder story actually means, but I want to be challenged by it." (01:15, Kate Ahl)
• “Maybe a little bit of this is driven by the AI trend because they want to know if you're actually real. Maybe it's driven by. They want to make sure you're ethical. Who knows, right?” (01:52, Kate Ahl)
• "You have these four founders and two of the founders their family loved because they knew their origin story, they knew where they had come from..." (03:30, Kate Ahl)
• "As we go into our time of AI, the story of who you are, what you do, and authentic like connection with your audience..." (04:12, Kate Ahl)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 00:40: Introduction; reflections on founder’s story from previous episodes
• 00:40 – 01:15: Instagram burnout; why Kate prefers Pinterest
• 01:15 – 01:52: Does the audience care about the founder? Sharing stories in newsletters
• 01:52 – 02:27: Pinterest users’ evolving needs; unbranded searches and authenticity amid AI trends
• 02:27 – 03:10: Community (Mastermind) discussion: Should we share more of our stories?
• 03:10 – 04:00: Shark Tank analogy; connecting with audiences through origin stories
• 04:00 – 05:00: The rise of transparency and authenticity in marketing; encouragement to experiment

Wrap-Up & Listener Invitation

Kate closes by inviting her listeners to share their own approaches and opinions about founder storytelling in 2026, reminding them to email hello@simplepinmedia.com and promising continued reflection on this evolving topic.

Tone: Casual, honest, reflective, and conversational—consistent with Kate’s relaxed, relatable delivery.

Best For: Business owners and marketers wondering whether and how to share their personal journey as part of their Pinterest marketing strategy, especially in an era of AI and increased demand for authenticity.