Parker Hughes on Burnout, Boundaries and Building an Agency

Parker Hughes on Burnout, Boundaries and Building an Agency

Parker Hughes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-a-hughes/] is the founder of Parker Marketing and Management, [https://parkermarketingandmanagement.com] a marketing agency helping brands grow through strategy, content and creative. In this episode, Parker shares her journey from missing out on nursing school by 0.05 of a point to building a successful agency before turning 30. We chat about entrepreneurship, leadership, burnout, boundaries, AI, social media addiction, client management and the pressure that comes with building something of your own. Parker also opens up about a health scare that forced her to rethink everything, why she believes growth at all costs is a trap, and how she's building a business that supports her life rather than consumes it. If you're building a business, leading a team or trying to navigate the chaos of modern work, this one's for you. The #seen Podcast is proudly sponsored by Sked Social [https://skedsocial.com]. Start your FREE 14 day trial now.

Salomé Thériault on Authenticity, AI and the Content Machine World

Salomé Thériault [https://www.linkedin.com/in/salom%C3%A9th%C3%A9riault/] never planned on working in social media. After building a career in the fashion industry, working with global retailers and living in China, a chance return home during COVID led her to spot a gap that would eventually become Ampersand Social [https://www.ampersandsocialco.com/]. In this episode, Sal shares her journey from corporate life to agency owner, the lessons she's learned through burnout, scaling a team, and the reality of building a business from the ground up. We also explore the future of social media, the rise of personal brands, authenticity in the age of AI, and what it takes to stand out when everyone is competing for attention. If you're a founder, creator, marketer, or simply someone trying to build something meaningful online, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest reflections. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Sked Social [https://skedsocial.com/]. Start your free 14 day trial now.

Rachael Webb on the Psychology Behind Great Marketing

This week on #seen, Lach sits down with Rachael Webb [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelcwebb/] from Sticki and DataSauce for a conversation on creator partnerships, internet culture, human behaviour and why the best marketing rarely follows a formula. They get into the psychology behind why people buy things, why smaller brands are often moving faster than legacy players, the tension between originality and efficiency, and why creators should be trusted to “cook” instead of being over-managed by brands. There’s also chat around influencer marketing blowing up into a billion-dollar industry, the emotional side of agency life, relationship-led growth, reality TV brain rot, Coke Zero addictions, frozen pizzas and a genuinely elite nacho business concept. If you work in social, marketing, partnerships or creative, there’s a lot in this one. Proudly brought to you by Sked Social [https://skedsocial.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] — the social media workspace for teams who take socials seriously.

Maddi Daffara on Staying Real on the Internet

Everyone wants to grow online. Very few people talk honestly about what it does to your brain. This week on #seen, Lach sits down with Madeline Daffara [https://www.instagram.com/madelinedaffara/] for a super honest conversation about content creation, community, burnout, vulnerability and trying to stay grounded while building a presence online. Maddi works inside Kic [https://kicapp.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] as a Content Manager while also building her own platform across Instagram and TikTok through storytelling-led content focused on wellness, balance and authenticity. The two unpack the pressure of constantly being perceived online, why authenticity still cuts through more than polished content, the mental toll of comparison culture, balancing personal content with brand work, and why community has become one of the most important things modern brands can build. They also dive into creator burnout, AI in content creation, storytelling, trends, social media habits and the difference between building an audience versus building trust. Proudly brought to you by Sked Social [https://skedsocial.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Start your free 14-day trial now.

Canva's Jack Delaney on Creativity, Discipline and Internet Brainrot

Everyone wants the shortcut. Nobody wants to do the boring work. This episode with Jack Delaney [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-delaney-hi/] goes deep into the overlap between elite sport, creativity, discipline, and why most people are chasing hacks instead of building actual skill. Jack went from professional rugby into the world of creative strategy and performance marketing, eventually landing at Canva [https://www.canva.com] — where he now works across paid media, creative systems, storytelling, and growth. We spoke about: * Why strategy is actually action, not “thinking” * The death of generic AI copy * Why brands are becoming allergic to sounding human * The hidden value of copywriting in 2026 * What great creators understand about repetition * Why volume matters more than perfection online * The psychology behind content hooks and audience retention * How elite sport shaped Jack’s mindset around work * Why execution beats ideas almost every time * The difference between making content for algorithms vs people There’s also a very honest conversation around burnout, identity, frameworks, and the weird state of modern creative work. This episode is proudly brought to you by Sked Social [https://skedsocial.com] — the social media management platform built for brands, agencies, and teams who take socials seriously. Start your free 14-day trial now.