Empire Secrets of Digital Marketing with Mariana Henninger

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The other day, a friend of mine urged me to listen to a podcast episode from Nathan Barry (founder of Kit) and Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid. My jaw dropped when I heard him say that, in order to fix his business, he did 600 ICA calls. This massive commitment didn’t just “improve his messaging”… it changed the entire trajectory of his business (and life?). 

And hearing that lit a massive fire under me, because it mirrors a shift I’ve been making behind the scenes anyway: radical authenticity. And the cornerstone of this shift has been a hard rule: AI is my now my partner, but does not own my voice.

In this Empire Diaries episode, I’m sharing what I’m doing differently in 2026 to shorten the trust timeline – and why I’m done letting anything AI slowly chip away at my muscles and the edge of my REAL ideas.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
📌 Why “radical authenticity” is all about conviction (and what that means)
📌 The messaging unlock that happens when you start talking YOUR REAL HUMANS again
📌 And the new layer I’m building into my offer (trust needs traffic).

Link mentioned in this episode: 
Join my free LIVE training exclusively for coaches who operate with their heart and are impact-driven -- and who are tired of playing the content game, but equally tired of not being seen ➡  brandmagnetic.com/theshift
If we haven't yet - let's connect on Instagram! Find me at http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic

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We often misunderstand the role of Virtual Assistants (VAs). Today I chat with self-proclaimed “jill-of-all-trades when it comes to digital marketing and techie skills” Emily Reagan about everything from defining the difference between a general assistant and a specialized marketing VA, all the way to the importance of real-time feedback loops during launches. 

We also cover:
📌 Clarifying roles and responsibilities
📌 Specialization over generalization
📌 Onboarding and SOPs
📌 Hiring for the long term, not just the launch
📌 Investing in skilled (vs. low cost) help
📌 Capturing real-time feedback during launches
📌 Post-launch debriefs

Emily shares practical advice on avoiding common pitfalls when working with VAs, from setting clear expectations to how to actually build a well-rounded team. She’s the master of all things “finding your unicorn VA” – and my go-to for how to maximize your VA’s potential to boost your business!

Links mentioned:
👉 Emily on Instagram: @emilyreaganpr
👉 Hire A Unicorn: https://hireaunicorn.com

Grab my Ultimate Cheat Sheet For A Brand Story That Converts: https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet
If we haven't yet - let's connect on Instagram! Find me at http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic

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Yesterday I was meal-prepping (new year, new me) with my therapist friend Farya Barlas’ podcast in my ear – and her prompt struck me so hard I had to pause mid-stir: What are the 3 things people always say about you?

I kept circling back to “strength”… and then I realized something uncomfortable — I’ve always been tough, but in business I was still operating like it was “just my little thing”… because I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
So in this Empire Diaries episode, I’m sharing the real shift I’m making in 2026 — the one that finally feels like the slingshot is pulled back and I’m ready to release: tighter messaging, way more conversations with my people, ruthless ownership of my time, and a bigger focus on paid growth so my sales don’t move at an organic crawl.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The past “strength” stories — from sleeping in hostels + rough shoots to the identity shift happening now
Why I’m actively choosing to use AI less for my content — and what I’m reclaiming instead
The obsession I’m leaning into: talking to real humans (ICA calls) and letting that shape everything
The machine I’m building in 2026 — Trust Shift trainings, ads, and a faster path to scale
Links mentioned:
Sign up for The Trust Shift: http://brandmagnetic.com/theshift
Say hi on Instagram: @brandmagnetic
Grab my Ultimate Cheat Sheet For A Brand Story That Converts: https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet
If we haven't yet - let's connect on Instagram! Find me at http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic

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Lauren Shaw was on top of the world, taking an amazing trip in Patagonia... And then she got home, sat down at her computer… and just absolutely couldn’t get herself to do any work.
She knew exactly what needed to be done.

But something about the WAY she was selling (and her current program) no longer fit her life today.
In this episode, Lauren and I talk about what happens when your business is technically “working,” but your energy is whispering (or SCREAMING at you), telling you it’s time for a rebuild. 

We unpack how to recognize those signals early — and how to reimagine sales in a way that feels supportive, human, and sustainable, especially in a world where AI is now part of the equation.

In this conversation, we cover:

📌 The moment Lauren realized her resistance wasn’t random – it was a signal
📌 How to tell the difference between discipline and misalignment

And then we pivot to talk about SALES.

📌 Where AI can support sales (and where it can erode trust fast)
📌 Why forcing yourself to sell harder is usually the wrong move
📌 What it looks like to rebuild a sales process around energy, clarity, and trust
If selling has started to feel heavier than it used to — or you’ve found yourself avoiding work you used to enjoy — this conversation will help you understand why… and what to do next!!

Links Mentioned
👉 Join Lauren’s workshop (or watch the replay) – the 2026 Sales Call makeover:
http://brandmagnetic.com/salescallmakeover

Get $200 off Lauren’s sales accelerator program using code MARIANA200 

👉 Grab my Ultimate Cheat Sheet for a Brand Story That Converts
https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet
If we haven't yet - let's connect on Instagram! Find me at http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic

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At the start of this year, I wanted to do something different. I decided to not think about resolutions.
I really felt like I was being called to think about WHO I need to become.
In this Empire Diaries episode, I’m sharing what’s actually guiding my decisions in 2026. Not a long list of goals, like basically every other year of my life and business.

But an actual identity shift that’s changing how I manage my time, my energy, and Brandmagnetic.
This episode was inspired by something unexpected: watching an interview with Mel Robbins and learning how many iterations her life and career went through before things really clicked. It was the reminder I needed. Success is never linear! Becoming the right person matters more than getting everything “right” the first time.
I’m also taking you behind the scenes of how I’m thinking about this whole year.
In this episode, I share:
📌 Why “seven-figure founder” is the identity — not just a revenue goal
📌 The shift from setting goals to becoming the person who naturally achieves them
📌 How managing my time (down to the hour and sometimes the 15-minute block) has completely changed my peace of mind
📌 The tools and habits I’m using to stay focused during a big pivot to an evergreen model
📌 My word of the year — “Multiply” — and what that actually means in daily business decisions
📌 A powerful year-in-review exercise that helped me see patterns, clarity, and momentum I would’ve missed otherwise
If you’re entering the new year feeling clear but serious… excited but intentional, this episode will meet you right there.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
👉 The Year-In-Review exercise I mention. So worth it! (Free, no opt in needed)I absolutely love this exercise. https://www.kvaleadership.com/year-in-review
👉 Grab my FREE Ultimate Cheat Sheet for a Brand Story That Converts https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet
👉 Get lifetime access to the Instant YES Machine™ https://brandmagnetic.com/yesmachine
If we haven't yet - let's connect on Instagram! Find me at http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic