arcade studios

Show Notes:

1. This is episode 100!! How we came up with the idea (over wings) and how it has served us as an agency. 
2. This week on The Sip: YouTube gave us a feature nobody asked for (but maybe we’ll like?), Threads lets you see your liked posts and more. 
3. Today’s hot tea: We need to break down this year’s Super Bowl. We talk memorable moments, our real thoughts on the commercials, Kanye’s stunt and, of course, the game. 
4. Beyoncé announced her new album and we have thoughts! How she announced it, our thoughts on it being country-themed and the cool connection to Calgary.

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of wins and losses. But what if we told you that viewing these losses as opportunities for growth could change everything? In this episode, we’re joined again by founder of I Love Ugly, Valentin Ozich, to have a candid conversation about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Valentin returns as a follow-up to our interview last year to explain the mindset shift that helped him continue to grow his brand, even when life got really hard. He explores the power of personal growth and self-care, the importance of celebrating life’s mundane moments and how to ease up on ourselves. 

We explore topics including the fascinating world of subconscious reprogramming, how to overcome obstacles, finding clarity in our goals and finding connection. This episode is motivating, uplifting and real. Join us on this inspiring journey of self-discovery and purpose. 

Learn more about Valentin:

1. I Love Ugly: https://www.iloveugly.com/ 
2. I Love Ugly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iloveugly/  
3. Valentin Ozich on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valentinozich 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes:

1. 00:15 - Catching up on I Love Ugly and how the past year has gone for the brand and Valentin. 
2. 01:20 - Big changes in Valentin’s life and thoughts on “The War of Art.”
3. 08:10 - Mindset, discipline and celebration. 
4. 12:30 - How to live in the moment as an entrepreneur and relieve the pressure of “the grind.”
5. 17:10 - Why you need to work harder on yourself than on your business.
6. 23:45 - Clarify what you want to accomplish and how to show up. 
7. 27:00 - How to achieve your goals through persistence. 
8. 31:00 - Thoughts on 15 years of I Love Ugly and what inspired Valentin to step out of the driver’s seat.
9. 38:00 Life will always intervene and force you to take breaks
10. 40:15 Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Remember to keep “wise council” around you.
11. 47:25 - How Valentin stays creative artistically while managing a business. 
12. 51:40 - How to use your subconscious mind to solve problems. 
13. 53:30 - Valentin’s art and future goals with helping others. 
14. 55:40 - Who is making waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode:

• Danny Morel https://www.instagram.com/dannymorel/?hl=en 

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

Show Notes:

1. This week Tea for Lunch is hosted by Manny and Mel! They catch up on how they’re getting through the busy Q4 season. 
2. A first sip: Instagram launched a ton of exciting updates this week. Catch us adding a vibe to our carousels with the new music features and debating over buying a creator subscription. We also talk about the two major new features we’re thrilled about as an agency. 
3. Today’s hot tea: Twitter has been going through changes and not everyone is loving them. We talk about what changes to the verification process means for brands and creators, brands leaving the platform and an iconic move by Doja Cat. 
4. Finally, the New York Knicks have appointed their first creative director, Ronnie Fieg, founder and CEO of Kith. What does this groundbreaking move mean for the future of sports teams?

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 
This week’s episode was co-hosted by Manny (@_abella) and Mel (@melanielaurene).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.

Show Notes:

1. Welcome back to Tea for Lunch! This week Vern and Morgan are co-hosting, the duo that makes up Tea for Lunch’s production and editing team. We’re also celebrating Vern visiting Arcade IRL!
2. A first sip: Megan Thee Stallion launched “Bad Girls Have Bad Days Too” to provide her fans with mental health resources and we have no choice but to stan. 
3. Today’s hot tea: Music, fashion, beauty and now - football. What can’t Rihanna do? The NFL is officially the National Fenty League and we can’t wait. 
4. Last, TikTok stresses users out with their new update to the “save” button. Goodbye sweet anonymity. 

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 
This week’s episode was co-hosted by Morgan (@moseylifestyle) and Vern (@vernicet).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Leah Sookoo, Taina Theano, Melanie Trottier and Morgan Berna.

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.

Back in 2008, up-and-coming artist, Valentin Ozich, started I Love Ugly out of his bedroom with zero experience in business or fashion. The brand experienced rapid growth, going from 0 to $10,000,000 in seven years. They had a flagship store in LA, Melbourne, Sydney, four flagship stores in New Zealand and a major license deal on the table in South Korea. They had seven global distributors with over 200 accounts stocking their products globally, plus an online store that was growing quickly. And then it (almost) all went away. For our season 5 finale, we sat down with Valentin Ozich to talk about his journey with I Love Ugly; the good, the bad and the, well, ugly. We talk about his journey of bouncing back from near-bankruptcy, the importance of working on yourself even more than you work on your business, and the mindset required to achieve ambitious goals and, more importantly, find happiness. 

Shop Waves Social merch: https://www.wavessocialpodcast.com/merch 

Show Notes:

1. When did Valentin get interested in art?
2. What kind of art drew him in?
3. When did Valentin move from street art styles to apparel?
4. How did I Love Ugly get started?
5. Does the name still feel reflective of the brand?
6. What inspired the iconic Zespy pant?
7. Developing a bolder mindset as a business owner. 
8. What to do when your product gets a cult following. 
9. How to find the right team size. 
10. Navigating the really tough times. 
11. Why Valentin chose to be honest and vulnerable with the I Love Ugly community. 
12. How to handle loneliness as a business owner or entrepreneur. 
13. Embracing the intersection where creativity and business meet. 
14. Valentin’s health and wellness journey. 
15. How to show up better at work. 
16. How to plan for your problems. 
17. What’s the best piece of advice Valentin’s received?
18. Who is making waves and why?

Discussed in this episode:

1. I Love Ugly: https://www.iloveugly.com/ 
2. I Love Ugly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iloveugly/ 
3. Valentin Ozich on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valentinozich/ 
4. Aimé Leon Dore: https://www.aimeleondore.com/
5. James Clear - Atomic Habits (book)

Waves Social with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

This week, Mike and Mitzi are in the hot seat as the Arcademy interns take over Waves Social. Nyarout Jock and Addi Ninaber, Arcade Studio's inaugural social media interns, host episode 52 for an all-out AMA with Mike and Mitzi. They ask the burning questions new grads and marketers want to know, from how to get started in the industry to tips for staying resilient in an ever-changing industry. Mike and Mitzi talk about how Arcade Studios and Waves Social got started, their work backgrounds and their top tips for new marketers. Then, Nya and Addi put them to the test with a battle of the brands game. This fun episode's packed with takeaways for anyone considering a marketing, social media or design career.

Learn more about the Arcademy*: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5Z_smPu8W/

*We are currently not accepting intern applications at this time, but stay tuned to @helloarcade to be notified when new spots are available!

Shop Waves Social merch: https://www.wavessocialpodcast.com/merch 

Show Notes:

1. Welcome to the Waves Social intern takeover! Meet Nya and Addi.
2. What’s the story behind Mitzi and Mike merging their companies to create Arcade Studios?
3. Where did the name “Arcade” come from?
4. How did the Arcademy get started?
5. How did Mitzi’s experience as an intern shape what the Arcademy is today?
6. How does the team see the Arcademy evolving in the future?
7. Are these the careers Mike and Mitzi envisioned growing up?
8. How does Arcade differ from other marketing agencies?
9. Would Mike and Mitzi work for Arcade if they weren’t already?
10. How often does the team revisit annual goals?
11. How has the marketing industry changed since Mike and Mitzi have been working in it? Any predictions for the future?
12. The importance of being resilient as a marketer.
13. Why Mike and Mitzi don’t look in their immediate lane for inspiration.
14. Is there a single piece of advice they’d give to someone looking to start a marketing agency?
15. Speed round! Books, go to karaoke song, who would make a better lawyer and more. 
16. Battle of the brands.
17. The best piece of advice Mike and Mitzi have been given.
18. Who are Mike and Mitzi seeing make waves and why? 

Discussed in this episode:

1. Nyarout Jock: @nyaroutjock
2. Addi Ninaber: @addibrielle
3. 247 Laundry Service: https://247laundryservice.com/
4. Anomaly: https://anomaly.com/ 
5. The Win Without Pitching Manifesto: https://www.winwithoutpitching.com/the-manifesto/
6. Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight
7. The War of Art: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ 

Waves Social with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade.

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

After spending 12 years inside the in-house social media marketing world, Mario Moreno Sears knew it was time to mix things up. Armed with his experience working with Guess?, Forever 21, L’Oréal Paris and H&M, Mario was ready to start his entrepreneurial journey. He has since started a D2C brand, We Spill the Tea, launched his own social media agency, Moonrise Social Club, and has gathered more than 160k followers across TikTok and Instagram. His passion for the ever-changing social media landscape has kept him hungry, passionate and teachable. In this episode, we sit down with Mario to discuss what led him down this path and where he sees himself going in the future. Mario shares advice for overcoming imposter syndrome, sharing what you know and making sure you’re doing what you love. A true pioneer of the social media industry, this episode shows the power a career in social media can have. 

Shop Waves Social merch: https://www.wavessocialpodcast.com/merch 

Show Notes:

1. Introducing today’s guests, Mario Moreno Sears. Social media guru, entrepreneur and educator. 
2. Where did Mario get his start in marketing? 
3. How Mario got Guess? onto social media. 
4. Mario’s moves from Guess, to Forever21 and L’Oréal Paris. 
5. Navigating the ever changing social media landscape as a marketer.
6. Balancing instinct and research when working in social media. 
7. How Mario’s passion for inclusivity, diversity and inclusion has affected his roles. 
8. How Mario got started on TikTok and what helped him grow. 
9. Figuring out your sweet spot with content. 
10. Does Mario think creators should niche down?
11. Tips for marketers who want to grow their personal brand.
12. What led Mario to the entrepreneurial path he is on now?
13. What has it been like moving from in-house marketing to operating in the agency space?
14. How Mario is unlearning traditional corporate strategies.
15. How to get your D2C brand noticed. Tips for new brands entering the space. 
16. Where did Mario get the inspiration for his Marketing Foundations course?
17. How Mario is working to overcome imposter syndrome.
18. Who’s Mario seeing making waves and why? 
19. Where to connect with Mario.

Discussed in this episode:

1. Mario on TikTok: @followmario
2. Mario on Instagram: @followmario
3. We Spill the Tea: https://wespillthetea.com/ 
4. Moonrise Social Club: https://moonrisesocialclub.com/ 
5. Marketing Foundations Course: https://moonrisesocialclub.com/products/marketing-foundations-e-learning-masterclass 
6. Glennda Baker on TikTok: @glenndabaker

Waves Social with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade.

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

Show Notes:

1. We’re back from vacation! Catch up on our trip to Hawaii as we spill a little Rihanna and A$AP Rocky tea. 
2. Piping hot: There are two big Instagram updates rolling out this week that nobody seems to be talking about. First, Reels will be getting an upgrade from a 60 to a 90 second time limit. Second, in-feed posts will now be showing at a larger resolution of 9 x 16. We discuss how this news affects brands and our agency clients. 
3. Another sip: Experts think fast food will be meatless in the future. A vegan food experiment done by Burger King in the UK revealed surprising results.
4. Finally, the Met Gala happened this week and many attendees did not understand the assignment. Mitzi explains what “Gilded Glamor” actually means and who got it right. 

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Leah Sookoo, Taina Theano, Melanie Trottier and Morgan Berna.  

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.

Show Notes:

1. Catching up with Manny and Ben about Arcade’s time at The Gathering conference in Banff, Alberta. 
2. Today’s hot tea: Elon Musk purchases Twitter for roughly $44 billion, making it the largest deal to take a company private in at least two decades. How was the price decided, why did he do it and what do we think will happen next?
3. Another sip: Makeup company Milani Cosmetics weighs in on the Heard and Depp trial. With TikTok videos making their way into the courtroom, we discuss what this means for social media acting as a source of truth.
4. Finally, there’s a new app taking the App Store by storm; BeReal. The photo-sharing platform encourages users to take “in the moment” photos, but is it as real as it seems?

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

Today’s show was co-hosted by Manny Abella (@_abella) and Benjamín Velázquez (@benvelazq).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Leah Sookoo, Taina Theano, Melanie Trottier and Morgan Berna.  

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.

Show Notes:

1. Catching up with today’s co-host, Taina! You can find more of her work on the Arcade TikTok page, @helloarcade.
2. Today’s hot tea: We react from the marketing perspective to the slap heard around the world. Should brands make memes for controversial events? Plus, where do we think Chris Rock and Will Smith will go from here?
3. Kim Kardashian “apologizes” for her insensitive comments about women working. Did she just gaslight us?
4. Another sip: Diving into the epic soundbites we have been getting from Julia Fox. 
5. Finally, Beyoncé wows at the Oscars with her performance of “Be Alive.” 

That’s all for this week’s tea. We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

Tea for Lunch with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

This week’s show was co-hosted by Taina (@tainatheano).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Leah Sookoo, Taina Theano, Melanie Trottier and Morgan Berna.  

Tea for Lunch is written, produced and co-hosted by the team at Arcade Studios, not limited to: Mitzi Payne, Mike Payne, Manny Abella, Mikenna Ritchie, Benjamín Velázquez, Melanie Trottier, Harrison Neef and Morgan Berna.