Episodes

  • Stop #22: Why the Smartest Funnels Start with a Quiz
    Dec 16 2025

    If you’ve been sitting on a quiz idea for months (or… 18 months 👀), this is your sign. Today, Lauren and Aurrie map out how to launch a quiz scrappy, use it as a data engine (not just a cute lead magnet), and build the “wings” after it’s already in the air. From results-first planning to routing logic, landing pages, email segmentation, and IG-era distribution (hello, ManyChat), this episode is your no-excuses quiz playbook.

    ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    In this episode, we cover:

    • Why the quizzes that win are the ones that actually get launched (messy action > perfect funnels)
    • Quiz types that convert
    • Simplifying language so beginners can answer (no “macro” talk if your audience is brand-new)
    • Where your quiz should live
    • What happens after the quiz: result pages, personas, and non-salesy CTAs that still convert & email segmentation 101
    • Retargeting + lookalikes: using quiz data beyond email (especially for e-comm)
    • Modern distribution ideas

    Timestamps

    • 2:17 – The perfectionism trap (especially for designers) + why you’ve gotta ship it
    • 4:14 – The #1 quiz unlock
    • 6:10 – Simplify the language or your quiz dies (aka “don’t lead with macros”)
    • 7:03 – E-comm vs service quizzes: product match vs assessment (and why both work)
    • 8:29 – Where to steal inspo: Interact’s industry examples (juice cleanses, real estate, relocation)
    • 12:40 – Routing logic without spiraling: scoring, branching, follow-the-path
    • 16:49 – “Close the loop” psychology + how to set expectations upfront (no scammy vibes)
    • 19:11 – Best practice: build a landing page on your site to house + promote the quiz
    • 20:38 – After-the-quiz strategy
    • 23:07 – Email automation + segmentation
    • 25:30 – Paid ads + retargeting
    • 27:05 – List hygiene + re-engagement: quizzes as a “come back” hook

    Navigator’s Resources (mentioned)

    • Interact (quiz builder + examples by industry + lead capture + logic tools) Use our link to get started: https://get.tryinteract.com/jkx44i3di07w
    • ChatGPT (help with scoring + routing logic planning)
    • ManyChat (DM-based distribution: “comment X and we’ll send the quiz”)
    • Pinterest placements (quiz visibility + evergreen discovery)
    • Meta Ads (retarget quiz-takers + build lookalike audiences)
    • Landing page embed strategy (quiz housed on your site for better ownership + conversion control)

    Meet Your Co-Pilots

    Lauren Loreto — Founder, Brand Good Time®
    Expert in content marketing and web design
    Website: brandgoodtime.com • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks — Founder, Hopson Rae
    Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    Website: hopsonrae.com • Instagram: @hopsonrae

    🎧 Listen & Subscribe

    Follow MAPPED OUT wherever you get your podcasts.

    P.S. Want the step-by-step version, templates, and links we referenced?
    Join The Flight Deck: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

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    37 mins
  • Stop #21: Josh Haynam on Building a 100M-Lead Product, 12 Years of Bootstrapping, and Why Speed Beats Perfection
    Dec 9 2025

    Every industry has one person quietly powering the success of thousands of brands—and in the quiz-funnel world, that person is Josh Haynam, Co-Founder & CEO of Interact, the quiz builder behind 100M+ leads, 1.3B quiz views, and some of the biggest brands and creators online.

    Bootstrapped, profitable, and still founder-led after 12 years, Interact has survived four waves of VC-backed competitors—not because it had the most features, but because Josh bet everything on relationships, product clarity, and human psychology.

    In this episode, Josh shares how he built a tech company that refuses to chase shiny objects… and still wins.

    ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    In this episode, Josh walks us through:

    ⚡ How Interact survived—and outperformed—VC competitors for 12 years

    ⚡ The psychology behind quizzes (and why we’re now in the “Instagram Age”)

    ⚡ Why the best founders move fast—and why perfection is killing your results

    ⚡ How Interact scaled to $3.3M ARR with only 9 team members

    ⚡ What 8,000+ customer conversations taught him about modern marketing

    ⚡ What’s coming next for Interact’s design updates


    ⏰ TIMESTAMPS

    3:38 – Competing with VC-backed copycats and why Interact chose relationships over features
    8:23 – The real history of quizzes (yes, it starts in 1700s Irish pubs)
    12:41 – Why agency partners, copywriters, and designers (“the Rich Pauls”) became Interact’s growth engine
    16:11 – The shiny objects they did chase—and why they walked away
    17:46 – What “ROI” actually looks like for quiz funnels
    21:09 – What Josh is learning from today’s top creators generating 140K+ leads
    27:18 – Building a no-ego team and the role of coaching inside the company
    30:30 – Why quarterly offsites changed everything for their remote culture
    33:06 – What’s coming in Interact’s design refresh
    35:01 – Where quizzes are headed in the next 5 years
    41:00 – Why founders over 30 struggle with speed—and how to fix it
    48:29 – Josh’s 90-Day Marketing Playbook if he were starting Interact today
    52:48 – HIGH / LOW / STOW

    🔗 CONNECT WITH JOSH HAYNAM

    • LinkedIn: Josh Haynam
    • Interact: tryinteract.com

    👩‍✈️ MEET YOUR CO-PILOTS

    Lauren Loreto

    Founder, Brand Good Time
    Instagram: @brandgoodtime
    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto

    Aurrie Hicks

    Founder, Hopson Rae
    Instagram: @hopsonrae
    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aurriehicks

    🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

    Follow Mapped Out wherever you get your podcasts.

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    59 mins
  • Stop #20: How to Build a Founder-Led Newsletter People Actually Read (and Share)
    Nov 11 2025

    Every big brand starts in the trenches—and sometimes the most powerful growth lever is sitting in your inbox. Today, Lauren and Aurrie react to their chat with Ari Murray and go all-in on founder-led newsletters: quick history, what’s working now, and a simple way to structure a newsletter people actually look forward to.

    ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    In this episode, we cover:

    • A (very) fast history of newsletters and why the “personal blog energy” is back
    • The #1 rule: your newsletter must solve a specific problem (not “updates”)
    • How to create a predictable format readers recognize on sight
    • Founder tone without the “dear diary” trap: storytelling that serves the reader
    • Tools, workflows, and idea capture so you never face a blank page
    • Where Substack fits (and when to start there)

    Timestamps

    • 0:48 – Why we’re obsessed with newsletters (and why this pairs with a Season 2 tactical episode)
    • 3:04 – The quick history: from Roman “daily acts” to Substack’s blog-era revival
    • 6:38 – ROI, owned channels, and where email still wins for both e-comm and services
    • 8:42 – Start here: define the problem your newsletter solves (real examples)
    • 11:22 – Format > vibes: building a predictable structure your audience can scan
    • 14:10 – Lauren’s format teardown (campaign breakdowns, “second bests,” poll, light CTA)
    • 16:21 – Aurrie’s format teardown (cultural tie-ins + signature recipe closer)
    • 18:46 – Brand voice without oversharing: micro-stories that pull weight
    • 23:00 – The capture system: docs, notes, Slack to self, saved IG folders
    • 26:55 – Substack as a no-friction starting line (and why “messy action” wins)
    • 27:35 – What’s next: list growth ideas and a tease for our quiz-powered episode

    Your Mapped Out Moment (homework)

    Audit your newsletter (or the one you’re about to start):

    1. Problem: What specific problem does it solve for readers? Write one sentence.
    2. Name/Promise Match: Does the title clearly signal that problem?
    3. Format: Lock a repeatable skeleton (e.g., Hook → Deep Dive → Second Bests → Wildcard → Quick CTA).
    4. Hook & Shareability: What’s the forward-worthy angle this week (story, hot take, or “steal this” template)?
    5. Friction-free Setup: Pick your platform (Substack is great to start) and set up a running idea dump (Doc/Notes/Slack).

    Navigator’s Resources (mentioned)

    • Substack (easy start + built-in discovery)
    • A simple capture stack: Google Doc + Notes app + “DM to self”/Slack channel
    • Reader poll at the end of each send (tiny habit, big signal)

    Meet Your Co-Pilots

    Lauren Loreto — Founder, Brand Good Time®
    Expert in content marketing and web design
    Website: brandgoodtime.com • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks — Founder, Hopson Rae
    Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    Website: hopsonrae.com • Instagram: @hopsonrae

    🎧 Listen & Subscribe

    Follow MAPPED OUT wherever you get your podcasts—and don’t miss the next stop in Season 3 as we keep unpacking the real-world playbooks modern brands are using to grow.

    P.S.

    Want the step-by-step version, templates, and links we referenced?

    Join The Flight Deck: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

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    29 mins
  • Stop #19: Ari Murray on Building Go-To-Millions, Making Media Human Again, and the Power of Personality in Marketing
    Nov 4 2025

    Every brand story has a turning point—and Ari Murray’s begins with dropping out of law school. From customer service agent to VP of Growth at Sharma Brands, Ari’s career has been a masterclass in turning setbacks into strategy. Now, as the creator of Go-To-Millions, one of the most-loved newsletters in marketing, she’s redefining how founders build audiences—with honesty, humor, and a healthy dose of exclamation marks.

    ✈️ GET THE FLIGHT DECK BREAKDOWN: www.mappedoutpod.com/newsletter

    In this episode, Ari shares how she:

    • Went from answering customer service emails to leading growth for iconic DTC brands.
    • Built Go-To-Millions from 400 early subscribers to 50,000+ loyal readers—without ever “playing the algorithm.”
    • Turns humor and humility into her biggest brand differentiators.
    • Balances honesty and hype in sponsored content (and what brands often get wrong about trust).
    • Learned the real cost of inflexibility in e-commerce marketing—and how to pivot when things go off-script.
    • Keeps her content consistent while juggling motherhood, a career in growth, and one very viral marketing household.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to build an audience around authenticity—or how to stay relevant when the internet moves faster than your strategy—this episode maps out the playbook.

    ⏰ TIMESTAMPS

    3:45 – What customer service teaches you about human behavior
    7:20 – Branding, tone, and what “thank you!” says about your company
    10:24 – The voice behind Go-To-Millions: how Ari found her tone
    15:50 – Building audience momentum from scratch
    20:00 – Sponsorships, transparency, and what makes readers actually trust you
    25:10 – How to grow a newsletter when you don’t have a million followers
    38:40 – What most DTC brands get wrong about flexibility
    45:10 – Why “newness” is the most underrated Black Friday strategy
    49:10 – Life with The Marketing Millennials (and how their creative partnership works)
    51:15 – What’s next for Go-To-Millions
    52:20 – Ari’s High / Low / Stow


    🔗 CONNECT WITH ARI MURRAY

    • Website: gotomillions.co
    • LinkedIn: Ari Murray


    👩‍✈️ MEET YOUR CO-PILOTS

    Lauren Loreto

    • Founder of Brand Good Time
    • Instagram: @brandgoodtime
    • LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto

    Aurrie Hicks

    • Founder of Hopson Rae
    • Instagram: @hopsonrae
    • LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/aurriehicks


    🎧 Listen & Subscribe
    Follow Mapped Out wherever you get your podcasts.

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    56 mins
  • Stop #18 | Out of Home Marketing - Meeting Your Customers Where They Actually Are
    Oct 28 2025

    Welcome to Season 3 of MAPPED OUT! In this reaction episode, Lauren and Aurrie dive deep into Ashley Chang's guerrilla marketing origin story—specifically, her strategy of posting flyers on downtown light poles. This episode reframes how we think about out-of-home marketing in a digital-first world and challenges the myth that social media alone will launch your brand. If you've been pouring all your energy into TikTok, Instagram, or paid ads hoping for overnight success, this episode will shift your perspective. Lauren and Aurrie share real examples of major brands that started with grassroots, physical marketing tactics—and why meeting your customers in the real world might be exactly what your brand needs.


    Episode Highlights

    [00:00:55] Building on Ashley's flyer strategy and why out-of-home marketing deserves more credit

    [00:04:10] The TikTok slow burn myth—why going viral isn't a launch strategy

    [00:11:23] How Glossier built a beauty empire without traditional advertising

    [00:23:15] Red Bull's guerrilla marketing playbook—from college campuses to extreme sports

    [00:40:56] The eyeball surgeon billboard fail—when out-of-home goes wrong

    [00:43:04] Love Shack Fancy's pink Bronco—creative out-of-home done right


    Key Brands & Examples Discussed

    • Glossier - Built through community and word-of-mouth before scaling digitally
    • Red Bull - Guerrilla marketing at college campuses and extreme sports events
    • Love Shack Fancy - Custom pink Bronco as mobile brand experience
    • Sprinter (Kylie Jenner's beverage brand) - Celebrity-backed product with instant recognition
    • Various CPG startups navigating the TikTok landscape


    Resources Mentioned

    • Startup CPG Slack community
    • TikTok Shop and TikTok Live features
    • The four-phase TikTok success wheel (Shop → Affiliate → Organic Content → Live Stream)


    Connect With Us

    Meet Your Hosts

    Lauren Loreto

    • Founder of Brand Good Time
    • Expert in content marketing and web design
    • Website: brandgoodtime.com
    • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks

    • Founder of Hopson Rae
    • Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    • Website: hopsonrae.com
    • Instagram: @hopsonrae

    Have questions about out-of-home marketing or want to share your own guerrilla marketing wins? Our DMs are open!

    Visit mappedoutpod.com to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights, visuals, and examples from each episode.

    Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

    #MappedOutPodcast #OutOfHomeMarketing #GuerrillaMarketing #MarketingStrategy #BrandBuilding #Grassroots #TikTokMarketing #CPGMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #MarketingPodcast #DigitalMarketing #BrandGrowth

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    46 mins
  • Season 3 Trailer: MAPPED OUT™
    Sep 25 2025

    We are SOOOOO back!! Aurrie and Lauren sit down for a few mins to share what's to come for Season 3. We are SO EXCITED and cannot wait to share more about who is joining us, very soon.

    → Visit mappedoutpod.com/newsletter to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights on each episode's topic.

    Meet Your Hosts

    Lauren Loreto

    • Founder of Brand Good Time
    • Expert in content marketing and web design
    • Website: brandgoodtime.com
    • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks

    • Founder of Hopson Rae
    • Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    • Website: hopsonrae.com
    • Instagram: @hopsonrae

    Connect With Us

    • Newsletter: mappedoutpod.com/newsletter
    • Instagram: @mappedoutpod
    • Email: wheelsup@mappedoutpod.com

    Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if this season helped you level up your marketing game.

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    2 mins
  • Stop #16: Season 2 in the Rearview | Goal Check-Ins, Growth Spurts & What's Coming Next
    Aug 5 2025

    Welcome back to Mapped Out! Lauren and Aurrie are wrapping up Season 2 with a bang—diving into what made this season special, sneaking a peek behind the curtain of what's coming in Season 3, and giving you the mid-year goal check-in you didn't know you needed. If you've been wondering whether your goals still align with where you're headed (or if you're crushing them so hard you need to level up), this episode is your permission slip to realign and refocus.

    → Visit mappedoutpod.com/newsletter to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights on each episode's topic.

    Episode Highlights

    • [00:00:33] Season 2 recap: 15 episodes of deep-dive marketing strategies and why this format was a game-changer
    • [00:01:28] Why Season 2 felt like a mini marketing playbook—and how we took action from these conversations too
    • [00:05:49] Season 3 sneak peek
    • [00:09:52] Mid-year pulse check: Are your goals still aligned and what's shifted?
    • [00:15:29] Lauren's ad campaign update: 1,000+ downloads, new funnels, and approaching that 3,000 subscriber goal
    • [00:18:33] Aurrie's merch launch: Using Printify for made-to-order success (link dropping this week!)

    Meet Your Hosts

    Lauren Loreto

    • Founder of Brand Good Time
    • Expert in content marketing and web design
    • Website: brandgoodtime.com
    • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks

    • Founder of Hopson Rae
    • Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    • Website: hopsonrae.com
    • Instagram: @hopsonrae

    Episodes Referenced

    • Stop #1: Goal Planning (still their most downloaded episode!)
    • Stop #3: Mapping Out the Funnel (perfect diagnostic when things feel stuck)
    • Season 2 as a whole: LinkedIn founder presence, copywriting deep-dives, customer journey mapping, swag shop setup, and more tactical playbooks

    Real Business Updates

    • Lauren's Ad Results: 1,000+ downloads on lead magnet, strong engagement, almost at 3,000 email subscribers (500 away from goal)
    • Aurrie's Merch: Samples approved, using Printify, link launching this week
    • Team Growth: Lauren added 2 new team members since beginning of year
    • Goal Crushing: Both hosts hitting and exceeding their original bingo card goals

    Your Homework

    1. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts
    2. Share your biggest takeaways from Season 1 or 2
    3. Mid-year goal audit: Go back to your goals—are they still aligned? Need to level up?
    4. Got connections? Know any CMOs, founders, or marketers at household name brands? We'd love an intro for Season 3!

    Connect With Us

    • Newsletter: mappedoutpod.com/newsletter
    • Instagram: @mappedoutpod
    • Email: wheelsup@mappedoutpod.com

    Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review if this season helped you level up your marketing game—we'll see you at the next stop for Season 3 this fall!

    #MappedOutPodcast #SeasonFinale #GoalSetting #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #PodcastRecap #Season3Preview #MidYearGoals #MarketingPodcast #FounderLife

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    22 mins
  • Stop #15: The Safety Net Your Client Onboarding is Missing with Sarah Still
    Jul 15 2025

    Welcome back to Mapped Out! Lauren and Aurrie are diving into the unsexy but absolutely critical world of client onboarding. If you've ever wondered why some businesses are sales machines but can't figure out their churn rate, this episode breaks down exactly how to nail the handoff from "yes" to delivery—and why this phase is actually your most important marketing.

    → Visit mappedoutpod.com/newsletter to join our email list and get our weekly Flight Deck newsletter every Friday with deeper insights on each episode's topic.


    Episode Highlights

    • [00:01:17] Why client onboarding IS marketing and the most important marketing you'll ever do
    • [00:03:39] How mature businesses handle the gap between "yes" and delivery
    • [00:05:23] The hidden costs: It's 5-25x more expensive to acquire new customers than retain existing ones
    • [00:07:45] The three critical layers: Trust transfer, experience design, and team empowerment
    • [00:13:05] Meet Sarah from Vivid Impact Partners with expert insights from scaling an agency to almost $10M
    • [00:29:26] The trust transfer breakdown and why signing contracts is the starting line, not finish line
    • [00:32:27] The "we vs. I" language trap that keeps founders stuck in every client relationship
    • [00:39:00] Metrics that matter: From trust transfer to team empowerment KPIs

    Meet Your Hosts
    Lauren Loreto

    • Founder of Brand Good Time
    • Expert in content marketing and web design
    • Website: brandgoodtime.com
    • Instagram: @brandgoodtime

    Aurrie Hicks

    • Founder of Hopson Rae
    • Expert in digital content and brand strategy
    • Website: hopsonrae.com
    • Instagram: @hopsonrae


    Meet The Guest

    Sarah – Vivid Impact Partners

    • Founder of Vivid Impact Partners
    • Strategic partner to agencies ready to scale without chaos
    • Mission: Helping agencies grow with clarity, confidence, and zero founder bottlenecks
    • Website: vividimpactpartners.com
    • LinkedIn: Sarah at Vivid Impact Partners


    Brands & Examples Mentioned

    • Handwrytten – Used as part of a high-touch onboarding experience to send automated, branded handwritten notes and birthday cards to new clients.
    • Monday.com – A project management tool leveraged to streamline due dates and internal workflows across onboarding and offboarding stages.
    • Slack – Employed with custom SOPs and pinned templates for seamless sales-to-delivery handoffs, internal team communication, and proactive client updates.
    • ChatGPT – Used to analyze client sentiment from onboarding surveys and improve internal processes with clearer feedback patterns.
    • HoneyBook – Utilized to automate offboarding workflows and schedule client satisfaction surveys post-project.
    • AI Note Takers (like Fireflies or Fathom) – Suggested to summarize client calls and reduce knowledge gaps in the trust transfer process.
    • Google Drive – Central hub for branded onboarding documents, client resources, and experience design touchpoints.


    Connect With Us

    Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review if this episode helped you tighten up your client process—we’d love to hear from you!

    #MappedOutPodcast #ClientOnboarding #RetentionStrategy #MarketingOps #ClientExperience #BusinessGrowth #AgencyLife #FounderLife #ServiceBusiness #CustomerSuccess #MarketingPodcast

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    1 hr and 4 mins