Podcast Summary: The Mindful Marketing Podcast

Episode: My Predictions for Smarter Marketing in 2026
Host: Andréa Jones
Date: November 25, 2025

Overview

In this annual "Ms. Cleo" style episode, Andréa Jones predicts the key trends and shifts for marketing in 2026, grounded in reflections from the past five years. The focus for 2026 is purposeful, human-centered strategies that value doing what matters over simply doing more. Andréa makes the case for smarter, sustainable marketing approaches that balance the advances of AI and technology with a renewed emphasis on authenticity, community, and trust.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Reflecting on the Past Five Years (03:00–10:15)

• 2021: "Humanizing and reconnecting was the theme...because we basically accelerated the digitization of business." (06:49)
• 2022: Emphasis on refinement and simplification.
• 2023: "Year of community and connection...emerging from this hyper digitized world into in person connection." (08:10)
• 2024: Focus shifted to loyalty and trust—deepening relationships became central.
• 2025: Year of experimentation, innovation, and halfway through, playfulness, as "experimentation started to feel heavy." (09:34)
• Emerging cycle: Marketing is moving in a pendulum between digitization/AI and an increased craving for humanness and connection.

"We're going to crave more humanness as the world becomes more digitized... The world is going to crave more human connection in a way that really emphasizes the humanness of it all."
— Andréa Jones (10:44)

Prediction #1: AI as the Backbone, Not the Boss (11:20–16:40)

• AI will underpin all marketing tools and processes, but will not replace human touch or creativity.
• The age of perfection is ending—authenticity, even with flaws, is valued over polished AI output.
• AI functions best as a system accelerator, not as the creative lead.

"AI is going to become the backbone of everything, but not the boss." (11:27)

• Example: Andréa uses AI for her emails, but still edits for her unique voice and stories.

Prediction #2: Micro Communities Will Surpass Broad Audiences (16:41–22:55)

• Social platforms are building features (e.g., Instagram Broadcast Channels, TikTok Bulletin Board) to support smaller, deeper communities.
• Future of community is an ecosystem—people connect in multiple spaces, with more “feeling” than “platform.”
• Email continues to play a major role in this ecosystem.
• The term “social media” may soon become outdated due to this fragmentation.

"We're craving intimacy in marketing... the very definition of social media to me is going to change over the next couple of years." (20:16)

Prediction #3: The Rise of Sustainable Content Systems (22:56–30:50)

• Pandemic fueled overwhelming content output; now burnout is common—"my business is doing okay, but I'm not okay." (24:48)
• Solution: anchor your strategy with a signature piece of content and build a system around it for sustainability, not volume.
• People are increasingly selective; long-form content (blogs, podcasts, YouTube) are popular but must be personalized and offer context, not just information.

"We cannot keep up with... this content creation machine... And so people are burnt out." (24:27)

• Consistency is not about frequency—it's about sustainable systems that communicate why the content matters to the audience.

Prediction #4: Referral and Earned Trust Outperform Trend-Chasing (30:51–38:30)

• Earned trust is more valuable (and reliable) than temporary algorithmic wins.
• Focus on "relationship-driven visibility," e.g., borrowing audiences through podcast guesting, client testimonials, and third-party authority (like PR).
• Sales and marketing operate in symbiosis—referral-based trust shortens the sales cycle and deepens credibility.

"Relationship driven visibility is going to outrank and outperform every single time, any sort of trend that you try to chase." (33:12)

• Testimonials and third-party features (e.g., BBC) create “perceived proof” for audiences.

Prediction #5: Seasonality in Marketing (38:31–48:36)

• Marketers are shifting from day-to-day hustle to planning campaigns in cycles or seasons.
• There is a collective urgency created by connected global events, but reacting to every moment is unsustainable.
• Adopts an “artist’s cycle” mindset: creation, launch, promotion, rest—akin to how musicians release albums, not singles weekly.
• Seasonality brings reliability and resilience, countering the fragility of day-to-day grind.

"Planning your content around seasons... could actually build a system that's not fragile and frail and doesn't crumble the second something changes in the world" (44:12)

• Consumption is higher than ever, but attention is not necessarily shorter. The key is to create "bingeable" content for deeper engagement.

Actionable Takeaways for Listeners (48:37–52:49)

Andréa’s Quick-Start Advice for 2026:

• Choose ONE “signature channel”: Go deep, not wide—pick the platform or format that best resonates with you and your audience.
• Contextualize over inform: Focus on providing insight and perspective rather than just churning out information.
• Select just ONE prediction from the episode to focus on: No need to overhaul everything at once.
• Embrace seasonality: Plan for ebbs and flows to match your energy and your audience’s needs.

"Pick one channel, contextualize it for your people, go deep, not wide, and decide how you want to add seasonality into your business." (50:15)

Personal Update & Word of the Year (52:50–59:37)

• Andréa announces a major transition in her own business for 2026 ("The Mindful Marketing Lab" is ending; new offers will align with practical, simplified marketing).
• Her word of the year: Rooted—symbolizing depth, boundaries, steadiness, and growing into a better fit for herself and her business.

"Rooted to me is not just the roots. It's choosing the atmosphere of the soil... It's about depth, it's about boundaries, it's about stability." (56:15)

• Changes are coming to the podcast as Andréa continues to “repot” and expand her own work.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We want to see the human behind the robot, essentially." — Andréa Jones (12:49)
• "Micro communities are going to become actually far more important than broader audiences." (17:21)
• "Consistency does not mean posting more." (26:21)
• "Your time is better spent on building relationships versus building or creating eight to ten TikToks a day." (34:05)
• "It's not about creating more content. It's about creating bingeable content." (47:00)
• "For me personally, services just makes more sense for me." (53:55)
• "I feel like a potted plant where it's thriving, but the roots can't go anywhere else because the pot is too small." (56:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Reflecting on Trends (2021–2025): 03:00–10:15
• Prediction 1 (AI as Backbone, not Boss): 11:20–16:40
• Prediction 2 (Micro Communities): 16:41–22:55
• Prediction 3 (Sustainable Content Systems): 22:56–30:50
• Prediction 4 (Earned Trust): 30:51–38:30
• Prediction 5 (Seasonality): 38:31–48:36
• Advice for Listeners: 48:37–52:49
• Personal Updates & Word of the Year — “Rooted”: 52:50–59:37

Final Thoughts

This episode is essential listening for marketers, business owners, and content creators who want to move toward smarter, more intentional marketing in 2026. Andréa’s predictions center on creating genuine connections, focusing on sustainability, and rooting your strategy in what matters most to your community—and to you.

For details on Andréa’s new offer, “Your Marketing Shortcut” (and to join the waitlist), visit: onlinedrea.com/shortcut