NEWS & INSIGHTS

EPISODE 243  |  MAY 6, 2025

The New Word of Mouth: Why Consumer-Owned Media Is Rising

Mass media is going in a different direction. Livestreams from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour didn’t come from networks—they came from fans, forming a holistic approach to community engagement. In this episode of The No Normal Show, Desirée, Stephanie, and guest, Mario Nichols, producer of The No Normal Show, unpack the shift happening in media, influence, and consumer trust. This episode digs into fan-powered content, the White House pushing AI into public education, and the transformation of mass media. Niche creators and everyday voices are now shaping public opinion. So how can your brand level-up?

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Transcript

Stephanie Wierwille: [00:00:00] Welcome to the new normal show, brought to you by BPD. This is where we leave all things status quo, traditional old school, and boring in the dust, and celebrate the new, the powerful, the innovative, the bold, while delivering the future to healthcare’s leading brands. I’m Stephanie Weirwille, EVP of Engagment here at BPD, and I’m joined by Desiree Duncan, b VP of Health, equity and Inclusion. Hello, Des. Hi. Desirée Duncan: Happy Friday. Sun Stephanie Wierwille: is shining. Happy Desirée Duncan: Friday. Stephanie Wierwille: Yes, we’re on week three of the Friday Vibe Train. I think. Um, and this is gonna really, really be a, a fun episode. We have a special guest, Mario Nichols, brand strategy and growth specialist. Hi Marie. Hi. Mario Nichols: It’s so good to be here. I’m so excited. Stephanie Wierwille: I’m so excited to have you here. So, for those who don’t know, Mari, um, Mari’s been on the show before, but he’s, uh, really the voice behind the show. He is our producer and he makes all the magic happen behind the scenes. And today he is center [00:01:00] stage, uh, because he has some really exciting topics to talk about. Um, Mari you always do such a great job of finding the, the trends and. Spotting the culture and, and sharing it with us so that we are really, really, uh, ready to talk about great things. And I think today you spotted some really interesting trends,…