Inside P.F. Chang’s Viral Creator Strategy with Patrick Benson

Send us Fan Mail What does influencer marketing look like inside one of the fastest growing tech brands in the world? Kailyn Nunn, Head of Influencer Marketing at Canva, joins Creator Economy Live to share how the strategy has evolved across 5.5 years of hypergrowth, what brands are consistently getting wrong with creator investments, and the campaigns she is most proud of. Keith and Brendan also dig into the latest creator economy news, from Sponsored Snaps and private chat advertising to YouTube's creator-led upfronts slate. 

Send us Fan MailWhat makes a branded creator partnership actually resonate online? Patrick Benson, Social & Influencer Lead at P.F. Chang’s, joins Creator Economy Live to break down the thinking behind one of the brand’s recent standout TikTok collaborations. The conversation covers creator trust, trend-driven content, campaign planning, and the evolving role of influencer marketing inside major brands. Keith and Brendan also dive into the latest creator economy news — from Vine’s unexpected comeback to the explosion of full-time creators in the U.S. 

Send us Fan MailThis week Keith and Brendan sit down with Dari Cohen, VP of Global Philanthropy at RevitaLash Cosmetics — a brand that has quietly donated $10 million to breast cancer research, stayed fiercely independent in a category where everything gets bought up, and built a creator strategy rooted in something most brands skip entirely: genuine purpose. Plus the week's news, including a $44 billion creator spend projection, YouTube quietly letting users kill Shorts, and two creators who built an Olive Garden compass and somehow got both a viral moment and a cease and desist out of it.  

Send us Fan MailB2B influencer marketing is entering a new era—and Fiona Turko is right at the center of it. Now leading Creator Partnerships at Gamma after her standout work at Zapier, Fiona joins us to break down how B2B is borrowing from the B2C playbook, why now is the inflection point, and what brands are getting right (and wrong).We also dig into Zapier’s Outpost event, what she’s building at Gamma, and the creators and companies pushing the space forward. Plus, we cover the latest headlines—from platform accountability and AI creator tools to major brand launches and shifting monetisation strategies.If you’re thinking about the future of influencer marketing beyond B2C, this one’s worth your time.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 89 of Creator Economy Live, we sit down with one of the sharpest voices in modern branding and social strategy—Camille Moore, creator of The Art of the Brand.Camille has built a loyal following by breaking down complex marketing ideas into clear, actionable insights—and in this episode, she shares how she went from getting started to becoming a go-to resource for marketers navigating TikTok and Instagram.We dig into: Camille’s journey into content creation and podcasting  The moment she knew her content was taking off  Why some of today’s most common marketing advice is completely overrated  The biggest misconceptions about the creator economy  Her process for consistently creating high-impact content  And the one piece of content she’d keep if everything else disappeared Plus, we cover the latest headlines shaping the space—from YouTube’s AI-powered creator tools and TikTok’s newest ad formats to Meta’s push to win back creators—and wrap with our Creator and Brand of the Week.If you're trying to sharpen your brand strategy or make sense of where social is headed next, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 88 of Creator Economy Live, Keith sits down with Parker Butler—former Director of Digital Rapid Response for Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign and now Managing Partner at Luminary Strategies, a Gen Z-led agency born out of the viral Kamala HQ movement.We dive into how political campaigns are leveraging creators, real-time content, and rapid-response social strategies to drive cultural relevance at scale—and what brands can learn from it. Parker shares behind-the-scenes insights from the Biden and Harris campaigns, key lessons from the 2024 election cycle, and why being reactive isn’t just possible for big organizations—it’s essential.Plus, we break down the latest industry news, from Instagram testing links in captions to TikTok’s move into radio, and highlight the creators and brands shaping culture right now.

Send us Fan MailWe’re going “across the pond” for a special Manchester edition of Creator Economy Live, joined by Beatrice Mustocea, Creator & Public Figures Lead at TikTok UK.With a career spanning Google, LinkedIn, and now TikTok, Beatrice breaks down how creator partnerships have evolved—and what it really takes to turn online influence into real-world impact. From building TikTok’s film and TV creator programme to working with studios and entertainment brands, she shares how the next generation of tastemakers is being shaped.We also dive into the latest headlines—from Indonesia’s under-16 social media ban to new commerce-driven ad formats on X—and spotlight standout creators and brands making waves right now.Plus: 🔥 What separates breakout creators from those who plateau 🎥 How entertainment brands are rethinking creator collaborations 📈 Overlooked growth opportunities on TikTok today

Send us Fan MailCreator Economy Live is going global 🌍 — and in Episode 85, we’re crossing the pond to the UK ahead of our upcoming trip to Manchester.Keith and Brendan sit down with Naomi Horan, marketing leader at Cloud Nine, the premium hair styling brand that’s built a powerful presence across retail, social, and the professional beauty community. Naomi shares how the brand approaches influencer partnerships, builds authentic creator relationships, and balances campaigns with long-term community.In this episode, we cover:✨ What makes Cloud Nine stand out in the competitive beauty space✨ How brands should think about gifting vs paid partnerships✨ The value of long-term creator ambassadors vs one-off campaigns✨ Differences in creator performance across the UK, Europe, and Australia✨ Where beauty influencer marketing is heading in 2026Plus, Keith and Brendan break down the latest creator economy headlines and wrap up with Creator of the Week, Brand of the Week, and Follow picks. 🎙️If you work in beauty, DTC, or creator-led marketing, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Send us Fan MailWant to hear these insights and more in person? Creator Economy Live is landing in Manchester 29 - 30 April. Save 20% on your ticket with code CELPOD20 and register today!When a simple jingle turns into a national commercial, you know something big happened. In this episode of Creator Economy Live, hosts Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan sit down with Romeo—the creator behind the viral “Dr Pepper Baby, it’s good and nice!” moment that took the internet by storm.What started as a spontaneous post quickly exploded across social media, ultimately landing Romeo in a major Dr Pepper commercial during the college football national championship and launching her creator career into overdrive.Romeo joins the show to share the full story:- The backstory before the viral moment- What it felt like watching the post explode online- How brands started flooding their inbox- The whirlwind of media appearances—from the Jennifer Hudson Show to national TV- What’s next as they build a long-term career in the creator economyPlus, Keith and Brendan break down the latest creator economy news—from TikTok’s rise as a search engine to Instagram’s controversial “shop the look” dupes and why nearly half of creators plan to launch their own brands.If you want to understand how one viral moment can turn into a career—and what it means for brands and creators—this episode is a must-listen. 🎧

Send us Fan MailThis week on Creator Economy Live, Keith Bendes and Brendan Gahan are joined by Christina Le, Head of Marketing at Slate and a rising voice in the creator economy on LinkedIn.Christina has built a powerful personal brand while leading marketing for one of the fastest-growing creative tools used by social media managers. In this episode, she shares how she developed her own content strategy across platforms, the thinking behind Slate’s marketing approach, and what it’s like to operate as both a creator and the person writing checks to creators.The conversation dives into the evolving world of B2B influencer marketing, whether creator rates are getting out of control, and what brands still aren’t paying attention to heading into 2026.Plus, Keith and Brendan break down the latest creator economy news — from Snapchat testing creator subscriptions to AI video competition heating up — and wrap up with Creator and Brand of the Week.