The Social Shift: Finding the Human Edge in AI Marketing with Katie Brinkley Artwork

Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

Turn your expertise into content, conversations, and clients with Human-First AI Marketing. Learn how and where to leverage AI without burning bridges, burning cash, or burning out your team.

For founders and marketing leaders at expert-led B2B firms, Mike Montague, founder of Avenue9, hosts weekly conversations with AI and marketing experts and other founders to learn how they use AI in marketing.

You'll hear practical ways to build thought leadership, leverage AI systems, tell scalable sales stories that travel, show up in AI answers with Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and build workflows that amplify your team. Practical, candid, and a little funny.

Get your free Human+AI Trust Score report at: https://avenue9.com/trust/

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Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

The Social Shift: Finding the Human Edge in AI Marketing with Katie Brinkley

November 03, 2025 • Mike Montague

0:00 | 31:19

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In this episode of The Social Shift, Mike Montague (Avenue9) sits down with Katie Brinkley (Next Step Social and Podcast) to unpack how AI is changing social media and why the brands that win will be the ones that sound most human, not most automated. They explore the rise of “AI slop” in our feeds, why going viral isn’t a business strategy, and how local and B2B businesses can use podcasting and authentic content to build genuine relationships, not just rack up views.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by content chaos or unsure how to make AI work without losing your voice, this conversation is your reset button. You’ll learn how to blend AI with authenticity, why smaller audiences often lead to bigger results, and how to turn conversations into your most powerful content engine. It’s a must-listen for marketers, business owners, and creators looking to bring marketing back to life.

Top Takeaways

1. AI Made Social Media Sloppy, Now Authenticity Stands Out More Than Ever:
With everyone posting AI-generated fluff, real human content is easier to spot and more potent than before.

2. Going Viral Is Not a Business Strategy:
Business owners should prioritize relevant reach over random views from audiences unlikely to convert.

3. Influencers Chase Attention; Business Owners Should Spark Conversations:
Social media works best when it leads to fundamental interactions, not just likes or trends that disappear tomorrow.

4. Podcasting Builds Trust, Authority, and Community at the Same Time:
A podcast lets you connect directly with your audience and expand your network by interviewing real people in your space.

5. You Don’t Need a Fancy Setup to Start a Podcast, Start the Conversation:
Most of Katie’s podcasting success comes from consistency, genuine curiosity, and a webcam, not expensive gear.

6. Local Businesses Gain a Competitive Edge by Showing Up Online with a Human Voice:
People want to buy from real people in their community; consistent, authentic content can make you the go-to name in your niche.

7. Repurposing Podcast Content Can Fill Your Entire Marketing Calendar:
One great episode can become blog posts, social clips, emails, and more with AI, making it even easier to scale your message without losing your tone.

8. Trust Comes From Depth, Not Just Reach:
It’s better to build deep relationships with 100 people than be forgettable to 10,000.

At Avenue9, we capture your expertise and turn it into content, conversations, and clients, building trust with humans and AI at the same time. Get the visibility and online reputation you deserve!

Get your free Human-AI Trust Score report.

Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.