Artificial intelligence is transforming the market research industry at an unprecedented pace. From survey analysis to synthetic data and predictive modeling, AI is making research faster, more scalable, and increasingly accessible.

If AI can analyze data, what becomes the role of the researcher?

In the latest episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, Mario Carrasco sits down with Vera Chien, a research and strategy leader with extensive experience in entertainment and consumer insights, to discuss how AI is reshaping the future of research and why human curiosity is becoming more valuable than ever.

Entertainment Has Always Been a Laboratory for Understanding People

Audience preferences in entertainment can change overnight. New platforms emerge. Cultural moments spread globally within hours. Success depends not only on understanding what people consume, but also why they connect with certain stories, creators, and experiences.

That constant evolution has made entertainment research an ideal testing ground for new approaches to audience intelligence.

As Vera explains, researchers working in entertainment have long combined quantitative data with cultural context, behavioral observation, and human interpretation, skills that remain essential even as AI becomes more sophisticated.

AI Can Process Information, But It Can't Replace Curiosity

One of the most compelling themes from the conversation is that AI excels at identifying patterns, synthesizing information, and accelerating analysis. What it cannot do is replace the uniquely human ability to ask unexpected questions.

Technology can uncover trends.

Researchers determine which ones actually matter.

The Future Isn't AI vs. Researchers

Ultimately, the conversation moves beyond the familiar debate about whether AI will replace market researchers.

A more important question is:

How can AI make researchers better?

By automating repetitive tasks, expanding analytical capabilities, and accelerating discovery, AI allows researchers to spend more time doing what they do best: understanding people.

And that's where the future of consumer insights is headed, not toward less human involvement, but toward more meaningful human intelligence.

In this episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, Mario Carrasco and Vera Chien explore these ideas and share practical perspectives on the future of audience intelligence.

Listen to the full episode to discover why the future of market research isn't about replacing human insight—it's about making it more powerful than ever.

In an increasingly polarized environment, brands are facing growing pressure to define what they stand for culturally and how they position themselves on social, political, and environmental issues. At the same time, consumer behavior has changed significantly, along with expectations toward the brands people support.

This was the central topic of a recent episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, hosted by Mario Carrasco, featuring Neil Callanan, founder of LooseGrip, an agency focused on purpose driven brands, advocacy, and cultural transformation.

The Problem with Performative Activism

According to Neil, the issue is not that brands participate in cultural or social conversations. The problem arises when they do so without a genuine connection to their corporate identity.

Today, many companies publish messages about diversity, inclusion, sustainability, or representation during moments such as Pride Month, Black History Month, or corporate responsibility campaigns. However, when these messages are not backed by real actions, consumers often perceive them as opportunistic branding efforts.

If a company claims to support a specific community or cause, it must be able to clearly explain how it does so, what resources it invests, what policies it implements, and what measurable impact those actions create.

Purpose as a Competitive Advantage

Brands that build a strong identity around clear values often develop deeper relationships with consumers. This translates into stronger loyalty, differentiation, and emotional connection, all of which are especially valuable in highly saturated industries.

Examples discussed during the episode include Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, and Lush, companies that have integrated social and environmental causes into the core structure of their brand identity rather than treating them as temporary campaigns.

In these cases, purpose is not simply a communication tactic. It is reflected in organizational culture, product development, talent acquisition, customer experience, and long term business decisions.

How Purpose impacts Marketing Performance

Even when a values-based campaign does not generate an immediate sale, it can still create measurable indirect benefits for a brand, including:

• stronger consumer trust
• higher brand recall
• increased purchase intent
• greater social media engagement
• improved email open rates
• stronger emotional affinity with the company

In other words, purpose strengthens brand equity. In a market where products and services are becoming increasingly interchangeable, cultural relevance and identity have become powerful strategic assets.

The Relationship between Purpose and Talent

The conversation also explores a less discussed aspect of purpose driven marketing: its impact on attracting and retaining talent.

According to Neil, companies with clearly defined values tend to attract more engaged and motivated employees. This can directly influence factors such as:

• creativity
• innovation
• quality of service
• organizational culture
• employee retention

In highly competitive industries, purpose has also become an important employer branding tool.

The Future of Branding in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Technology can optimize processes and reduce barriers to entry, but a brand’s cultural identity remains far more difficult to replicate. Elements such as trust, community, authenticity, and emotional connection continue to be deeply human competitive advantages.

In the latest episode of The New Mainstream, Mario Xavier Carrasco sits down with Ingrid Otero, President and CEO of Casanova McCann, to discuss how multicultural marketing is evolving and what is shaping brand decision making today.

The conversation offers a grounded perspective on the forces influencing the industry.

A landscape shaped by strategic adjustments

In recent months, several brands have reduced the visibility of their multicultural initiatives. This shift reflects budget scrutiny, internal alignment, and the need to justify investment across organizations.

At the same time, research focused on multicultural audiences continues. Insights, strategy, and data teams remain actively engaged in understanding behaviors, motivations, and growth opportunities within these segments.

The continued relevance of the Latino consumer

The episode highlights the role of Latino consumers within the U.S. market. Their influence is reflected in consistent consumption patterns, strong community ties, and a meaningful role in shaping cultural trends.

For brands, this calls for sustained engagement and strategies grounded in this reality.

A central theme of the conversation is how authenticity is built.

Effective decisions are rooted in a deep understanding of the consumer, their context, and their cultural identity. Relevance comes from messaging that reflects lived experiences and real connections.

Leadership in times of change

Drawing from her experience leading Casanova McCann, Otero shares how she has navigated key decisions during periods of uncertainty.

During the pandemic, she led a transformation of the agency’s model, focusing on flexibility and independence. This involved operational shifts and a reassessment of priorities.

Implications for brands

The current environment requires clarity in how brands engage with multicultural audiences.

Strategies benefit from consistency, deep consumer understanding, and alignment across insights, creative, and execution.

Listen to the full episode of The New Mainstream and hear the complete conversation with Ingrid Otero.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the conversation is shifting from what AI can generate to what it can do.

In the latest episode of The New Mainstream Podcast, Michael Nevski joins Mario Carrasco to explore the next phase of AI: agentic systems and their implications for consumer behavior, payments, and trust.

Michael Nevski, Director of Global Insights at Visa, brings a unique perspective at the intersection of data, economics, and real-world consumer decision-making. Recognized as one of the most influential professionals in the insights industry, he shares how emerging technologies are reshaping how we understand and interact with consumers.

From Generative to Agentic AI

While generative AI has transformed content creation and automation, agentic AI introduces a new paradigm. These systems don’t just assist, they act.

From making purchases to managing financial decisions, AI agents have the potential to operate on behalf of consumers. This shift raises important questions:

• How much control are consumers willing to delegate?
• What role does trust play when machines make decisions?
• How should brands prepare for a world where AI intermediates transactions?

The Future of Payments and Consumer Trust

In industries like finance and payments, the implications are even more significant.

As AI begins to participate in transactions, trust becomes a central pillar. Consumers are not just evaluating brands anymore; they are evaluating systems.

This evolution challenges companies to rethink:

• Security frameworks
• Transparency in decision-making
• The role of human oversight

For brands, this is not just a technological shift. It’s a behavioral shift.

Why This Matters for Insights Leaders

Understanding how consumers feel about AI acting on their behalf will be critical for future growth.

As Michael highlights, the opportunity lies in translating complex data into actionable insights that help organizations navigate uncertainty, anticipate behavior, and build trust in an AI-driven economy.

The brands that succeed will be those that understand not only the technology, but the human response to it.

Listen to the full episode of The New Mainstream Podcast and explore how agentic AI is shaping the future of consumer behavior.

In the latest episode of The New Mainstream podcast, we sit down with Patrick Rose, leader of Black Star and cultural marketing at For Soccer, to examine a critical shift in American soccer culture: the rise of Black fandom, the structural barriers that have limited participation, and the pathways that could redefine the sport’s growth trajectory.

This conversation is not just about sports. It is about access, identity, economics, and who gets to see themselves reflected in the game.

The Access Problem Is Structural

Unlike basketball or football, soccer in the United States has largely developed through a pay-to-play system. Travel teams, club fees, tournament costs, and private coaching have created financial barriers that disproportionately affect Black and lower-income communities.

As Patrick explains in the episode, the issue is not lack of interest.

The issue is access.

While soccer is globally known as one of the most accessible sports in the world, the American development model has made elite participation expensive and geographically concentrated.

This has long-term implications, not only for talent development, but for those who feel ownership over the sport.

When access narrows, fandom narrows with it.

Black Fandom Is Not Emerging. It Is Being Recognized.

During the episode, Patrick Rose challenges the assumption that Black fandom is new. Black communities in the United States have long engaged with global soccer culture through international tournaments, cultural connections, and affiliations with clubs abroad.

What is changing now is visibility.

Digital platforms, streaming access, and cultural crossover moments are amplifying engagement that has always existed but was often underestimated or misunderstood. It also creates new opportunities for leagues, brands, and media companies willing to invest authentically.

This shift challenges traditional assumptions about who constitutes the “core” American soccer audience.

Culture Shapes Commerce

Soccer’s growth in the United States is often discussed in terms of media rights, stadium investments, and major international tournaments.

But as discussed in our conversation with Patrick Rose, cultural legitimacy may be the true growth engine.

When communities feel ownership of the sport, they buy tickets.
They purchase merchandise.
They invest emotionally and financially.

Brands that view soccer purely as an emerging commercial property may be missing the deeper insight: sustainable growth requires cultural alignment.

Without inclusive pathways, the commercial ceiling remains artificially limited.

The Path Forward: Infrastructure and Intentional Investment

If American soccer wants to meaningfully expand its base, structural changes are necessary:

• Lower financial barriers.
• Expand community-based development programs.
• Invest in diverse leadership.
• Tell stories that reflect the full spectrum of American fandom.

As Patrick emphasizes in the episode, the future of the sport will not be determined solely by star players or major tournaments.

It will be shaped by who has access to play, who feels represented in the stands, and who is invited into the business of the game.

The reflections in this article are drawn from the latest episode of The New Mainstream podcast, featuring Michelle O’Grady, Founder and CEO of Team Friday. In the conversation, we explored what the Super Bowl halftime show revealed about culture, risk, and the widening gap between where audiences are and where many brands still feel comfortable operating.

Super Bowl LX was not just a sporting moment. It was a cultural one. While the NFL rolled out multimillion dollar ads and brands leaned into the safety of familiar formulas, the performance that captured global attention was not a 30 second commercial. It was the halftime show headlined by Bad Bunny, a spectacle deeply rooted in identity, community, and Latino culture.

Although the performance was celebrated by millions and watched by more than 128 million viewers, many brands chose to play it safe. Instead of participating in a cultural conversation unfolding in real time, they retreated to traditional creative structures. That choice offers a strategic lesson for marketing, research, and brand leadership teams.

More than entertainment: A visible cultural narrative

Bad Bunny did not approach the halftime show with a neutral set. His performance was filled with cultural symbolism, from scenes reminiscent of Caribbean neighborhoods to the inclusion of figures like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with a “casita” that symbolized home, community, and cultural heritage.

Most notably, the performance was delivered primarily in Spanish, without translation. It reinforced that Latino culture can occupy the center of a stage historically dominated by Anglo narratives.

For millions of Latinos, this was not just a performance. It was an act of historic visibility, both for Puerto Rican culture and for the diverse Latin American identities present across the United States.

Why did so many brands play it safe?

Super Bowl campaigns often follow predictable paths:

• Humor designed to appeal to everyone.
• Nostalgic references without controversy.
• Familiar celebrities detached from cultural context.

This approach aims to minimize risk. But it also limits deep cultural relevance among audiences that no longer consume monolithic messages.

While Bad Bunny embraced his identity, language, symbolism, and roots, many brands stayed within comfortable zones. Not because they did not want to connect, but because they were not accustomed to participating with cultural context, meaning, or authentic narrative.

This is not a critique of specific creative executions. It is a strategic observation.
When the cultural conversation is strong, playing it safe can mean opting out of the very dialogue shaping your category.

Culture is not aesthetic representation. It is context and meaning.

A key theme in the discussion around the halftime show has been the distinction between visibility and cultural fluency.

It is possible to appear diverse on stage without truly speaking from culture. But Bad Bunny did something different. He told a cultural story that was recognizable and meaningful to his community, even when most of the content was in Spanish. That decision disrupted expectations of “neutral entertainment” at a global event.

This depth matters for brands that want to move beyond surface level representation:

• It is not enough to feature diverse faces.
• It is not enough to reference music or visual aesthetics.
• The strategic challenge lies in understanding the deeper meaning behind cultural symbols and articulating them with respect, authenticity, and purpose.

Three strategic lessons for brands and marketing teams

1. Cultural specificity does not dilute reach. It expands it.
   
   Bad Bunny demonstrated that cultural specificity does not limit resonance. His show reached more than 128 million viewers, and his music saw significant streaming increases, including traditional tracks.
   
   The principle is clear. When brands speak from authenticity, the message can travel farther than when it conforms to neutrality.
   
   
2. Avoiding politics does not make a brand neutral. It can make it irrelevant.
   
   Culture and politics, especially around identity, immigration, and representation, are already part of consumers’ lived realities. Ignoring them does not remove them. It simply leaves a vacuum others will fill.
   
   
3. Culture moves faster than many internal organizational structures.
   
   Pop culture and digital communities evolve rapidly. Organizations with rigid processes often struggle to keep pace. The new mainstream is not waiting for brands to decode cultural signals in hindsight.

Some brands chose safety. Others now have the opportunity to demonstrate that they understand more than the surface of culture. They understand its context, its history, and its emotional power.

In the new cultural economy, what moves markets is not only what is seen. It is what is felt, understood, and shared.

Listen to the full episode of The New Mainstream podcast to hear Michelle O’Grady, Founder and CEO of Team Friday, discuss how culture, risk, and strategy shape major brand decisions.

Meet our Guest:


Michelle O’Grady is a communications strategist, media psychologist, and speaker focused on belonging, identity complexity, and organizational transformation. With over 20 years of experience advising foundations, public health leaders, and global brands like Google and AARP,Michelle brings a rare blend of lived experience, research, and real-world strategy to understanding cultural ecosystems and multi-hyphenated people. She is the founder of Team Friday, a creative agency advancing cultural fluency across media, policy, and marketing.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in Media Psychology and is currently pursuing her PhD in Human and Organizational Development.

In the latest episode of the ThinkNow podcast, we sat down with Jim Blair, the Assistant Dean Chair of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Marketing at Eastern Kentucky University, to unpack one of the most talked‑about (and often misunderstood) topics in marketing and leadership today: personal branding.

In a world where everyone has a platform, Jim challenges the idea that personal branding is about self‑promotion or perfectly curated personas. Instead, he reframes it as something far more strategic, human, and sustainable, especially for leaders, researchers, and professionals navigating increasingly complex markets.

Below are some of the most compelling themes from the conversation, and why they matter right now.

Personal Branding Is Not a Logo, It’s a Reputation

One of the strongest points Jim makes early in the conversation is that personal branding isn’t about visuals, slogans, or social media aesthetics. It’s about what people consistently experience when they interact with you.

Your personal brand exists whether you actively manage it or not. It’s shaped by how you communicate, how you show up in moments of uncertainty, and how others describe you when you’re not in the room.

For professionals in insights, marketing, and research, this is especially critical. Trust, credibility, and clarity are core currencies and personal branding plays a direct role in all three.

Personal Branding Is Contextual

A key insight from the episode is that personal branding is not one‑size‑fits‑all. How you show up depends on your role, your audience, and the cultural context you’re operating in.

Jim emphasizes that effective personal brands are adaptive, not performative. They evolve as people grow, as industries shift, and as expectations change.

This idea closely mirrors what we see in multicultural research: identity is layered, dynamic, and situational. The same is true for personal brands.

Leadership, Trust, and Long‑Term Impact

Perhaps the most resonant part of the conversation is the link Jim draws between personal branding and leadership.

Strong leaders don’t build brands to be admired; they build brands that:

• Create clarity
• Earn trust
• Invite collaboration

Personal branding, when done right, becomes a leadership tool. It helps teams align, organizations communicate more clearly, and ideas travel further.

Listen to the full podcast episode with Jim Blair, the Assistant Dean Chair of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Marketing at Eastern Kentucky University, to hear real‑world examples, nuanced perspectives, and practical guidance on building a personal brand that actually lasts.