Best Common Thread Collective Podcasts (2025)

1
Understanding Spend vs. aMER, and Spending Power 36:49

9h ago36:49

36:49

In this episode of the E-Commerce Playbook Podcast, Richard Gaffin is joined by Luke Austin (VP of E-Commerce Strategy at CTC) and Steve Rekuc (Director of Data) to unpack one of CTC’s most powerful forecasting tools: the Spend & aMER Model. This model reveals whether your brand is overspending past the point of profitability—or underspending and l…

1
CTC Summit '25: An inside look at CTC’s exact client growth strategy 23:29

2d ago23:29

23:29

Get an exclusive look behind the curtain with our VP of Strategy, Luke, as he breaks down how CTC is transforming profit-driven growth through clarity, measurement, and scalable systems. Discover how our incrementality tool, daily forecasting workflows, and creative growth frameworks come together in the “prism”—our metaphor for the integrated deci…

1
What is the future of eCom? on DTC Hotline Episode 1 37:21

6d ago37:21

37:21

In the debut of The DTC Hotline, Richard Gaffin is joined by Tony “The Chopper” Chopp (VP of Paid Media) and Luke “The Weatherman” Austin (VP of eCommerce Strategy) to take real questions from eComm operators and Admission members—no fluff, just unfiltered answers. They tackle: • Why your Meta cost caps aren’t spending (and what to do about it) • H…

1
The Secret That Prepares Accelerator Brands for 8-Figure Success 47:49

7d ago47:49

47:49

As brands approach the $1M–$10M revenue range, they often find themselves stuck—still hustling, but with slower growth and rising costs. That’s where CTC’s Global Accelerator comes in. In this episode, Richard Gaffin is joined by Joy Sharma and Jan Almuni to share the blueprint for how seven-figure brands break through to eight.They reveal the step…

1
Last Week’s Podcast Crushed on X—Here’s Why It Did 33:39

9d ago33:39

33:39

In this episode of the E-Commerce Playbook Podcast, Taylor Holiday and Richard Gaffin unpack the surprising success of last week’s episode—and explore what it reveals about content that actually resonates.What about the convo with Taylor and Andrew led to such a positive response?Turns out, the answer has less to do with tactics—and everything to d…

1
We Ran Incrementality Tests... Meta’s Tool Didn’t Win 20:15

15d ago20:15

20:15

After months of speculation, testing, and internal debate, CTC put Meta’s new Incremental Attribution Tool to the test—three times. In this episode, Richard Gaffin sits down with VP of Paid Media Tony Chopp to break down what really happened across those tests, including a final geo holdout study using actual Shopify revenue. The result? You’ll lea…

1
Lessons from 11 Years of Building an Agency — and What Happened After 1:53:35

16d ago1:53:35

1:53:35

In this episode of The Random Show, Taylor Holiday and Andrew Faris sit down for a moment of focus—because something big just happened.Common Thread Collective has a new growth partner. Taylor breaks down what the deal really means, why it isn’t a retirement plan, and how private equity views agencies differently than eComm brands.• Why service bus…

1
Summit Recap: Lessons You Only Learn From Talking with Clients In Person 22:29

21d ago22:29

22:29

At CTC’s recent Client Summit, Taylor Holiday and Richard Gaffin sat down to unpack what happens when you get out from behind Zoom and into a room with the people you work with. The result? Honest conversations, unexpected insights, and a clearer picture of what brands really need right now. From creative volume challenges to leadership struggles, …

1
CTC Summit: Why 2025 eCom Is a Tale of Two Cities: Winners & Losers 1:05:48

23d ago1:05:48

1:05:48

The Tale of Two Cities in E-Commerce: Winners and Losers in 2025At CTC’s Client Summit, Taylor Holiday shares an unfiltered perspective on where the economy, the world, and the e-commerce landscape are headed—and why the future will be defined by a sharp divide between winners and losers.From macroeconomic pressures to changing consumer behavior, T…

1
14 Days, $1.28M: We CRUSHED Our Million-Dollar Challenge! 24:16

29d ago24:16

24:16

Can you turn 14 days into $1.28 million? We did—and we're breaking down exactly how we crushed our million-dollar challenge! In this episode, join Richard and Luke as they unpack the intense 14-day journey that led to massive revenue success. You'll learn: How we strategically turned a critical marketing moment into explosive growth. The day-by-day…

1
Inside CTC’s New Strategic Partnership: What's Next? 30:46

1M ago30:46

30:46

Discover the next chapter in Common Thread Collective’s story as Taylor Holiday takes you behind the scenes of our 12-year journey from a tiny IKEA furnished office and our first Facebook ad experiments with QALO, to the seismic shifts of COVID and our reinvention as a “profit agency.” In this special episode of the podcast, you’ll hear: How CTC ev…

1
Meta's Attribution Settings Don't Matter Anymore 17:38

1M ago17:38

17:38

In this episode of the podcast, we dismantle the old school attribution windows holding your ad strategy hostage and reveal a simple framework for measuring true incremental ROAS. What you’ll discover: Why standard “7-day click” and “1-day view” settings both mislead you How to run a zero cost geo holdout test for real incremental data When to stic…

1
3 Moves to Save Your Brand From Financial Collapse 18:45

1M ago18:45

18:45

Is your brand feeling the squeeze? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we break down three essential moves every DTC and ecommerce brand must make to survive—and thrive—amid rising bankruptcy rates and tightening capital markets. You’ll learn: Why capital constraints are killing growth—and how to turn your supplier into a lender How to generate o…

1
Are Ecommerce Brands Suddenly Failing? 45:24

1M ago45:24

45:24

Ecommerce brands are quietly shutting their doors, but what's really behind this sudden wave of closures? In this episode, we dive deep into exclusive industry data, consumer trends, and expert analysis to uncover what's truly happening behind the scenes in the ecommerce space.Join our panel of industry experts as we reveal: Why more brands than ev…

1
6 Questions That Expose Weak Brands 10:38

1M ago10:38

10:38

Are you building a resilient brand or just delaying the inevitable? In this episode of the Podcast, we tackle six hard hitting questions every founder and operator needs to answer right now. From survival mode decision making to brand building under pressure, we break down what separates strong, adaptable brands from those on the edge of collapse. …

1
Can We Save the $1M Challenge? – We’re $577K Short 10:25

2M ago10:25

10:25

We’re $423K into our 14-day, $1M revenue challenge—and the pressure is mounting. With just 6 days left, we’re $577K short of our goal. In this episode, Luke Austin breaks down: What’s working (returning customers are showing up) What’s not (new customer revenue is lagging) Why our efficiency is solid, but volume is the problem The high-stakes brand…

1
The Future of Ads According to Meta (Straight from the Summit) 45:45

2M ago45:45

45:45

What’s next for Meta ads? We just got back from Meta’s Performance Summit, and the future is clear: incrementality, AI tuning, creative velocity, and less button pushing, more strategy. In this episode of the Podcast, VP of Paid Media, Tony Chopp, shares an exclusive insider recap of what Meta’s top brass revealed about the evolving ad platform and…

1
Meta's New Setting Beat Our Old Campaign by 18% 17:39

2M ago17:39

17:39

Meta just rolled out a brand new attribution setting called Incremental Attribution and we put it to the test. In this episode of the Podcast, Richard is joined by Tony and McCay to break down the results of a real A/B test comparing Meta’s new setting vs. standard 7-day click attribution. The outcome? An 18% lift in conversion value—from the exact…

1
2 Weeks to Make $1,000,000—Here’s the Plan 11:03

2M ago11:03

11:03

We’re attempting something BIG. Over the next two weeks, our VP of Ecommerce Strategy, Luke Austin, is taking on a real-time challenge to generate an additional $1,000,000 in revenue profitably for one of our clients. Every day, we’ll document the actions, strategy shifts, wins, and losses required to hit this massive goal. No fluff. No filters. Ju…

1
May Report Card Shocker: Under Budget but Over Profit? 17:11

2M ago17:11

17:11

How did our clients perform in May against their forecasted targets? In this episode, we analyze the latest client report card—detailing key insights from over 60 brands we manage. We dive into: How we managed to underspend budget but still exceeded contribution margin forecasts. Real examples of price testing and rapid flash sale strategies. Actio…

1
🔮 Live from Money2020 in Amsterdam - Content Is the Company: Rethinking Business in the Age of Media with Sebuh Mesfin 1:01:15

2M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

In this episode, Content Is the Company, we explore how content has evolved from a marketing tool to the core of modern business strategy. From product development to distribution and monetization, discover how leading companies are building entire business models around content, and why you should too. 🖇 Follow links 🖇 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sebuh Mesfin on Linke…

1
Story vs. Volume: The Creative Conflict Killing Your Ads 27:27

2M ago27:27

27:27

Is your marketing stuck between creating meaningful stories and pumping out endless ad variations? This episode of Podcast breaks down the critical tension between creative storytelling and the high volume ads required for success on platforms like Meta. Join Richard and Taylor as they discuss: How the best DTC brands successfully balance creative …

1
I Almost Lost My Business — Here's Exactly How I Fixed It 55:38

2M ago55:38

55:38

In this episode, Tara Austin, founder and CEO of Ruthie Grace, reveals the raw and honest story of how she nearly lost her seven figure ecommerce business—and exactly what she did to turn it around. From facing a payroll crisis that nearly shut her doors, to completely transforming her team's culture and operating systems, Tara shares powerful less…

1
Taylor & Andrew Break Baseball Cards & Break Down DTC in 2025 1:41:08

2M ago1:41:08

1:41:08

In this episode of The Random Show, Taylor Holiday and Andrew Faris are back—new set, same chaos. They dive into the uncomfortable truths of e-commerce: zero barriers to entry, infinite competition, and the creative treadmill that never stops. If you’ve ever felt like you’re sprinting just to stay in place, you’re not alone. Why ecom profits get co…

1
Meta’s New Attribution Model Will Blow Up Your Ad Strategy—Here’s Why 32:36

3M ago32:36

32:36

Meta just dropped a game changing attribution feature, and it could completely upend how you measure ad performance. In this episode of the Podcast, CTC’s VP of Paid Media Tony Chopp and Paid Social Manager McCay Rasmussen join Richard to break down Meta’s new incremental attribution setting—a behind-the-scenes update that uses continuous holdout t…

1
CMOs: Stop Measuring, Start Creating Moments 12:02

3M ago12:02

12:02

In this solo episode of the Podcast, Taylor shares a powerful lesson from Cozy Earth’s CMO, who broke free from the measurement rabbit hole to create a viral TikTok challenge that earned 10M+ impressions over Memorial Day weekend. If you’re a CMO, marketing leader, or operator stuck in the endless loop of attribution models and incrementality debat…

1
Diagnose Your Ecommerce Growth Potential in 5 Minutes 32:07

3M ago32:07

32:07

Is your brand truly set up for growth? Or just treading water? In this episode of the Podcast, Taylor and Richard introduce CTC’s brand new Strategic Growth Scorecard—a 7-metric framework designed to help you quickly assess the strength of your growth engine. You’ll learn: Why we replaced ROAS with IMR (Incremental Marginal Return) The key metrics …

1
95% of Ecommerce Businesses Are Worth NOTHING 31:03

3M ago31:03

31:03

95% of ecommerce brands are worth ZERO. Why? In this episode, we unpack the harsh reality behind most DTC businesses, why logical decisions don’t drive entrepreneurship—and what actually does. Taylor and Richard dive deep into: The real odds of building a valuable brand Why success in ecommerce is often delusional by design How to align your busine…

1
Daily Ad Tweaks Are Wasting Your Budget 33:17

3M ago33:17

33:17

Are you obsessively tweaking your ad campaigns only to see flat results? In this episode of the Podcast, Richard sits down with Luke Austin, to expose why daily bid and budget changes are wasting your time and money. They dive into the root issue behind inconsistent performance: a lack of belief in the data. Luke shares the system CTC uses to align…

1
Inside the $10M+ Brand Growth Workflow (Real Client Example) 23:57

3M ago23:57

23:57

Ever wonder how $10M+ ecommerce brands make their next move? In this episode of the Podcast, Taylor and Richard walk through a real world growth scenario pulled directly from CTC’s work with a 9-figure brand. Using live data from our proprietary platform, Statlas, we break down exactly how our team evaluates performance, spots hidden opportunities,…

1
We Killed the Growth Map! Here’s What Replaces It 26:01

3M ago26:01

26:01

We just did something radical: we killed the Growth Map—CTC’s signature media buying tool used for years across hundreds of ecommerce brands. Why? Because AI changed the game. In this episode of the Podcast, we break down why our old system no longer works, how AI is reshaping the future of media buying, and what we’re building to replace human lim…

1
Growth Is a Muscle—Here’s How to Train It 21:14

3M ago21:14

21:14

Most brands think they have a growth problem—but what they really have is a DOING problem. In this episode, we break down why volume of action is the single greatest predictor of business growth—and how to build a system that trains this muscle every day. From 400+ ads to 52 product launches a year, we’ll show you what it takes to build momentum, c…

1
How Skullcandy Used a Competitor to Win New Customer 37:54

4M ago37:54

37:54

What happens when you collaborate with a competitor instead of competing with them? In this episode of the Podcast, we sit down with Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow to unpack the bold business strategy behind their surprising partnership with Bose. From leveraging “product as marketing” to rebranding perception, launching at $99, and turning retail …

1
We Built Our Own Incrementality Testing Tool 43:04

4M ago43:04

43:04

After years of relying on expensive, limited solutions, we decided to build our own. In this episode of the Podcast, CTC’s VP of Ecommerce Strategy Luke Austin is joined by VP of Technology Kwa and Director of Data Steve Rekuc to unveil our brand new incrementality testing platform — now available to all CTC partners. We’ll break down: Why incremen…

1
March Report Card: Did We Hit or Miss the Forecast 21:29

4M ago21:29

21:29

How did our clients actually perform in March 2025? On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard break down the latest performance scorecard across our client portfolio—revealing exactly how we stacked up against forecasted revenue, spend, and contribution margin goals. Spoiler: We beat margin expectations by +11.68%, but that’s just the begi…

1
2025 Guide to Profitable META Media Buying 53:35

4M ago53:35

53:35

Meta’s ad platform has changed—again. In this episode, we break down the exact strategies we’re using at Common Thread Collective to drive profitable growth for ecommerce brands in 2025. You’ll learn: Why cost caps alone won’t cut it anymore How we’re adapting bidding strategies to Meta’s new algorithm The role of creative diversification in target…

1
Why 50 Brands Trust Our $5K Global Accelerator 18:24

4M ago18:24

18:24

What if you could get full funnel growth support, media buying, strategy, forecasting, creative direction, for just $5K/month on a month-to-month agreement? In this episode of the Podcast, Richard and Taylor break down the $5K Global Accelerator Program that’s helped over 50 seven-figure brands grow through one of the most volatile economic environ…

1
How to Tailor Your Tariff Response: The 4-Part System 19:44

4M ago19:44

19:44

Tariffs are here—and they’re not hitting every brand the same. In this solo episode, Taylor walks through a critical 4 part framework designed to help ecommerce founders and operators craft the right response based on their unique balance sheet realities. Whether you’re cash rich with deep inventory or strapped for both, this episode will help you …

1
Forget Stability—Chaos Is the New Normal 33:05

4M ago33:05

33:05

If you’re waiting for things to “go back to normal” in ecommerce… stop. In this episode, Taylor and Richard break down why chaos is no longer the exception “it’s the rule” and what that means for how you run your brand. From unpredictable macro shifts to supply chain disruptions, stability is out. Adaptability is everything. We dive into the 7 core…

1
Tariffs, Sentiment & Spending: What the Data Says About Q2 20:41

4M ago20:41

20:41

In this episode of the Podcast, Richard is joined by Steve Rekuc, our Director of Data, for a deep dive into what Q1 taught us — and what’s coming next. We’re breaking down the latest from our Direct to Consumer Confidence Index (DTCCI) and revealing what macroeconomic signals, consumer sentiment, and real brand performance tell us about the road a…

1
Tariffs Are Here: We’re Offering Emergency Support 6:05

4M ago6:05

6:05

Emergency Update for Ecommerce Brands: Tariffs have arrived and they’re already impacting your bottom line. Costs are rising, margins shrinking, and uncertainty is high. But you’re not alone. In this special episode, Taylor Holiday (CEO, Common Thread Collective) breaks down the immediate impact of these tariffs and announces the CTC Tariff Relief …

1
YouTube Ads: The Underestimated Channel Driving Real Growth Right Now 44:08

4M ago44:08

44:08

Are you overlooking YouTube ads in your marketing strategy? On today’s podcast, we’re breaking down why most brands are significantly underestimating YouTube and how it’s quietly becoming the hidden gem driving real, profitable growth for smart advertisers. Joined by Rachel Kwon (Head of Paid Search) and Tony Chopp (VP of Paid Media) from Common Th…

1
This Broke the Internet: The ChatGPT Update That Changed Everything 44:35

5M ago44:35

44:35

The future of ad creative just changed forever. In this episode of the Podcast, we break down the latest ChatGPT model update that literally broke the internet — and why it’s the biggest shift in AI-generated creative since GPT-3.5. Jacob Posel joins to explain how this update unlocked a wave of AI ads so good… you can’t deny it anymore. From viral…

1
The Four Biggest 6-figure Brand Struggles 43:11

5M ago43:11

43:11

Are you stuck at six figures, unsure how to scale without burning your budget on expensive agencies or freelancers? You’re not alone. Most growing ecommerce brands face the same struggles—limited resources, information overload, and the stress of choosing the right growth strategies. In this episode of the podcast, Richard and Grant Zanini, VP of E…

1
Meta’s Andromeda: The Biggest Shift in Facebook Ads Since iOS14 31:03

5M ago31:03

31:03

Meta just flipped the script on media buying — and if you’re still running ads the old way, you’re already falling behind. In this episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Taylor breaks down everything you need to know about Meta’s new AI-powered advertising engine: Andromeda. We’re talking about: The death of cost caps and the rise of AI optimiz…

1
How D. Louise Went From Scrappy Start-Up To 8-Figure Jewelry Brand 32:51

5M ago32:51

32:51

In this episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we sit down with Jack Zamichides, CEO of D Louise, to explore the journey from a small, scrappy startup to a fast-growing jewelry brand on the path to eight figures. Key Topics Covered: Trusting the Process – How D Louise committed fully to CTC’s creative volume methodology — and saw results almost…

1
Unbiased eCom Forecasting Starts with a Reality Check 27:48

5M ago27:48

27:48

In this episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we’re diving into the crucial role of accurate forecasting in driving e-commerce growth — especially during challenging times. Inspired by our upcoming Sharpen Your Skills episode, this discussion unpacks why many brands struggle with overly optimistic forecasts and how an unbiased, data-driven for…

1
How Taylor Holiday Views Influencer Marketing 27:41

5M ago27:41

27:41

In this episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we’re diving into influencer marketing and seeding—a foundational strategy that often gets overlooked in the rush to optimize ad accounts. This episode is a prelude to our new Sharpen Your Skills episode dropping tomorrow (Season 2, Episode 3) - which covers this even more in depth! Key Topics Cove…

1
How Tecovas’ CMO Uses Product to Unlock New Markets 59:45

5M ago59:45

59:45

This episode isn’t just about a viral Tecovas ad—it’s about the bigger picture of authentic marketing. We sit down with Krista Dalton, CMO of Tecovas, to break down the full story behind their marketing success. From understanding the customer to building the right product, finding the ideal distribution channels, and crafting memorable ads—this ep…

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Common Thread Collective Podcasts

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