Smack! Media, Scottsdale, AZ (2026)

10/21/2026

Women’s sports are having a moment. And so is the conversation around how brands choose to represent female athletes.

POWERADE recently entered that conversation with its “Never Just Sports” campaign, putting the spotlight on women actually DOING what they do best: competing, training and pushing boundaries.

The campaign arrives amid debate surrounding Novig’s provocative advertising featuring Sydney Sweeney, raising some interesting questions about attention, representation and the messages brands choose to amplify.

There’s no denying that controversy can generate serious buzz.

But what we’re particularly interested in is how brands can use culturally relevant moments to reinforce what they stand for.

For companies investing in women’s sports, the opportunity is bigger than impressions. It’s about authentically supporting athletes and connecting with the communities cheering them on.

We’d love to hear what others think about these very different creative approaches.

Read more on ADWEEK.

10/02/2026

We LOVE watching smart founders build something they genuinely believe in—and Lily Shapiro, PharmD of ATIKA ~ Skin Longevity is one of those people.

Lily recently joined Lauren Fields on her podcast, and it was such a great conversation.

Lily is brilliant, thoughtful and refreshingly real about what it actually takes to create a product rooted in science, not hype. She shared more about her journey, what inspired ATIKA and the research behind the brand—and Lauren did such a great job bringing that story out.

And ATIKA? We’re big fans.

One thing we especially love about Lily is how well she can take something incredibly science-heavy and make it feel approachable. She talks about formulation, ingredients and skin health in a way that actually makes you want to keep listening.

Amazing founder. Amazing product. Terrific conversation.

If Lily and ATIKA aren’t on your radar yet, they should be.

Give her conversation with Lauren Fields a listen 👇

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fieldswell-podcast/id1743282753?i=1000790035398”

10/02/2026

We LOVE watching smart founders build something they genuinely believe in—and Lily Shapiro, PharmD, of ATIKA ~ Skin Longevity is one of those people.

Lily recently joined Lauren Fields on her podcast, and it was such a great conversation.

Lily is brilliant, thoughtful and refreshingly real about what it actually takes to create a product rooted in science, not hype. She shared more about her journey, what inspired ATIKA and the research behind the brand—and Lauren did such a great job bringing that story out.

And ATIKA? We’re big fans.

One thing we especially love about Lily is how well she can take something incredibly science-heavy and make it feel approachable. She talks about formulation, ingredients and skin health in a way that actually makes you want to keep listening.

Amazing founder. Amazing product. Terrific conversation.

If Lily and ATIKA aren’t on your radar yet, they should be.

Give her conversation with Lauren Fields a listen! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fieldswell-podcast/id1743282753?i=1000790035398

09/30/2026

There’s a reason so much of what’s resonating right now feels a little less polished.

Gen Z is leaning into vintage, thrift, nostalgia, niche communities and content that feels more real than perfectly produced. Vogue Business recently explored this shift in luxury, and one point really stuck with us: cultural relevance isn’t something a brand can simply BUY.

You can hire the celebrity, create the beautiful campaign, jump on the right aesthetic and partner with all the right names. But if it feels forced? People know.

Especially younger consumers.

They’re paying attention to what a brand stands for, who’s actually part of the community around it and whether it feels like the brand genuinely belongs there—or is just trying to borrow a little cultural cool.

And we’re seeing the exact same shift on social. The perfectly curated feed isn’t necessarily winning anymore. Behind-the-scenes content, founder POVs, imperfect videos, personality and posts that feel like they came from an actual PERSON are having a moment.

And we LOVE that.

At SMACK! Media, we’ve always believed the best brands aren’t the ones trying the hardest to look cool. They know exactly who they are, they know who they’re talking to and they build real relationships with the people they want to reach.

So maybe the question isn’t, “How do we make our brand more relevant?”

It’s: “Why would this community actually want us here?”

Because you can create the content. You can build the campaign. You can hire the celebrity.

But you still have to earn the relationship.

And THAT is what makes a brand culturally relevant.

Read more on Vogue Business.

09/24/2026

BETTY DESIGNS Designs is one of those brands.

And for SMACK! Media founder Elisette Carlson, it’s personal.

Eli has known Betty Designs founder Kristin Mayer since 2005, and over the years they’ve become longtime friends. She’s also had a front-row seat to watching Kristin build and evolve Betty Designs into the brand it is today.

And that photo of Eli and Kristin together? That’s the two of them racing a triathlon together—because this friendship goes way beyond business.

And if you know Eli, you know Betty Designs is pretty much all she wears. Seriously.

Bold prints. Serious performance. A little attitude. And a community of women who genuinely want to be part of it.

What we love most from a marketing perspective is that Betty Designs has never tried to be everything to everyone. The brand knows exactly who it is and keeps evolving without losing that identity.

This year, they introduced their biggest product innovation in more than a decade, with new products, updated fits and performance fabrics across cycling, triathlon and running. But the personality? Still unmistakably Betty Designs.

And then there’s the Betty Squad, a global community of women who race, train, cheer each other on and bring the brand to life far beyond a social feed.

That’s the part of brand building we LOVE.

Great brands don’t just build an audience.

They build loyalty.
They build community.
They build a world people want to belong to.

More than 20 years after Eli first met Kristin, she’s still wearing Betty constantly.

That kind of brand love is hard to manufacture.

What brand do you think has absolutely nailed its identity and community? Drop it below. 👇

09/17/2026

One of the most interesting things happening in marketing right now?

Brands are becoming bigger than the category they started in.

Gap Inc. is reportedly looking at opportunities across areas including sports, travel, hospitality, gaming and food as it explores ways to extend its brands beyond apparel.

And there’s a really important marketing lesson in that.

The strongest brands aren’t just selling products.

They have a point of view.
A community.
A feeling.
A recognizable identity.

That’s what permits them to show up somewhere new.

But the key word is permission.

A brand extension works when consumers think, “Of course THEY would do that.”

Not, “Wait…why are they doing that?”

Brand awareness can get attention.

Brand identity gives you somewhere to go next.

09/15/2026

Pumpkin season has officially entered the chat.

And while we fully support the occasional pumpkin spice latte, we also LOVE seeing fall flavors show up from brands we’ve worked with, supported and cheered on over the years.

A few currently making their way into our carts:
🎃 NuttZo® Mixed Nut & Seed Butter and Snacks Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice — their nut + seed butter gets the full fall treatment with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove.
🎃 IQBAR Pumpkin Spice — 12g of plant protein, 8g of fiber and all the pumpkin-spice vibes in an easy grab-and-go bar.
🎃 Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Cinnamon Granola — salty-sweet clusters with oats, pumpkin seeds, chia and cinnamon. Very good over Greek yogurt. Also very good straight from the bag.
🎃 Honey Mama's | Superfood Fudge & Protein Bars Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Truffle Bar — fudgy chocolate, sprouted pumpkin seeds and warm fall spices. Basically pumpkin spice season in chocolate form.

Proof that pumpkin spice season can be fun AND fit into the way you actually want to eat.

What pumpkin snack are we missing? Drop your favorite below. 👇

09/10/2026

Recovery isn’t a luxury. It’s a KPI. 🚀

And we LOVE seeing this message continue to resonate.

Huge thank you to Daymond John for sharing this takeaway from SMACK! Media founder Elisette Carlson’s recent Entrepreneur piece with his audience.

For Eli, this isn’t just something she writes about. She has spent years prioritizing her own health while working with founders, executives and brands who are realizing that recovery isn’t separate from performance. It’s part of it.

Because healthier people build stronger businesses.

They lead better. Think clearer. Show up more fully for their teams, families and themselves.

And increasingly, some of the world’s highest performers are treating recovery with the same intention they bring to every other business metric.

Grateful to Daymond for helping push this conversation forward. 🙌

Read Eli’s full piece in Entrepreneur.

09/08/2026

Football season is officially kicking off, and we’re here for healthier snacks and beverages for fans, athletes, youth sports families and players.

Especially when they still taste GOOD.

We’re incredibly proud to be part of helping drive this initiative for Oobli as the brand teams up with the NFL Alumni Association around a shared goal: making it easier for families to reduce sugar without giving up the foods and beverages they love.

Oobli’s sweet proteins deliver sweetness as protein instead of carbs, offering an entirely new approach to reducing sugar.

And this partnership is taking that message beyond the sidelines.
🏈 Youth football camps and community events
🏈 Hall of Fame activities
🏈 NFL Alumni Super Week leading up to the 2027 Big Game in Los Angeles
🏈 The launch of Oobli Inside™, helping consumers easily identify foods and beverages made with Oobli sweet proteins

This is the kind of partnership we LOVE: innovation, wellness, sports and a mission that can make healthier choices more accessible to families everywhere.

So proud of the Oobli team and excited for what’s ahead this football season. 🙌

Read the full announcement on Woman's World Magazine.

09/04/2026

We’re officially clocking out and thinking about dinner. 🐟🥑🍍

This week’s Friday night recipe inspo comes from Tieghan Gerard and her Bang Bang Salmon Bowls with Pineapple Slaw.

Think roasted salmon, rice, fresh pineapple slaw, creamy avocado and bang bang sauce all in one bowl. Even better? It comes together in about 30 minutes.

Fresh, colorful, a little spicy and exactly the kind of dinner we want heading into the weekend.
Saving this one. Who’s making it with us?

Recipe: Tieghan Gerard 💥

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