Towards Better

Unlocking the power of strategy and identity.

Author

Jaime Solis
28 Mar

Welcome to Red Threads

For creators who lead. Strategic insights at the intersection of media, marketing, AI, and culture.

"The future belongs to those who ask better questions." – Peter Block

The Red Thread This Week

Strategy Starts with Better Questions

This week, I spoke with the president of One Family Athletic Foundation—a nonprofit shaping self-aware, high-integrity young adults through youth sports.

They’ve built something powerful. Coaching that prioritizes character over championships. Leadership over scoreboards. But like most purpose-driven organizations, they’re facing a familiar challenge:

“How do we grow when I’m spending all my time just trying to keep the lights on?”

Whether you’re running a nonprofit, launching a podcast, or building your first business—it’s the same tension:

You’re rich in vision. You’re poor in leverage.

And the missing piece isn’t money. It’s strategy.

Plenty of people think strategy is hazy, or a word used to hide from doing “real” work. Or it’s for big companies or business school grads. Or even worse, that attending all the scheduled meetings, sending the emails, and making the calls is strategy.

But real strategy? It’s a philosophy of becoming. It’s the most valuable compass you have to guide you through the woods. And working to develop your own meaningful strategy is essential for anyone trying to create something that lasts.

Strategy helps you:

  • Focus your energy where it matters

  • Say no to distractions that don’t

  • Build systems that scale your message and impact

The best part? You don’t need to have an MBA to think strategically. You just need to ask better questions.

~ Jaime

📌 If you’re working to grow your audience, increase donations, or sell more products—a short-term, hard to sustain strategy is to steal attention. A long-term, durable strategy is to create the conditions that make people want to say yes.

🔑 The Unlock

Strategy Kickoff For Your Next Project:

Set aside 30 minutes. Pick any 3 of these questions. Write down your answers. Collaborate with someone if needed.

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about making your assumptions visible:

  • Who is this for? (Be specific: Persona, psychographics, desires.

    "Everyone" is not a strategy.)

  • What is this for? (What transformation are we trying to create for the people we serve?)

  • What are our resources? (Time, money, energy, relationships, platforms, skills.)

  • What genre are we working in? (What's the category? What do people compare this to? What are the tropes or expectations?)

  • Why would someone choose to engage? (What’s in it for them? Why would they say yes, emotionally and practically?)

  • Are we changing someone's status?

    (When someone engages with us, do they gain or lose perceived status or influence?)

  • What will they tell others about their decision to engage?

    (Spouse, boss, colleagues, community. What narrative supports their choice?)

  • What do we still need to learn?

    (What skills, knowledge, or relationships are missing?)

  • Who do we need to work with?

    (Partners, collaborators, coaches, communities.)

  • What will we do if this doesn’t work out?

    (What's our plan B? What does failure look like, and what can we learn from it?)

📌 Take Action: This is how to turn abstract “strategy” into actionable clarity.

💡 Creative Edge

Don’t Chase Attention—Tap Into Identity

Most creators treat marketing like a megaphone: “Look at me!”

The better ones treat it like a mirror: “Look at who you become when you’re part of this.”

That’s the quiet power of strategy. It reframes your work from a transaction to a transformation. From a product to a symbol.

In 1700s France, potatoes were considered trash food, and were thought to cause leprosy—until a clever pharmacist hired guards to “protect” his fields during the day…but let thieves raid them at night, after sending the guards home. Soon, everyone wanted the exotic, rare, “must be valuable” potato.

Not because the potatoes changed—but because their meaning did.

If you want people to support your work, ask:

  • What does it represent to them?

  • What does it say about their values, status, or identity?

  • How can your work be a flag they fly, not just a thing they consume?

People don’t support entrepreneurs, nonprofits, or products because of specs, features, or mission statements.

They support them because it makes them feel like the kind of person they want to be.

  • They subscribe to your podcast because it says they’re in the know.

  • They buy your art because it reflects their taste.

  • They support your cause because it aligns with how they want to be seen.

📌 Try This: Instead of asking, “How do I get more attention?” ask:
“What does it say about someone who says yes to my work? Is it a story they will want to tell others?”

📡 Industry Pulse

  • New Social Platform ‘Sez Us’ Fights Rage Bait – A new app focused on authentic expression, not outrage, is gaining traction with Gen Z and college students. Read more

  • Dua Lipa Wins Copyright Case – Another major artist clears their name in a high-profile music copyright battle. Read more

  • YouTube Shorts Views Are Surging – The algorithm favors Shorts even more, creating new reach opportunities for creators. Read more

  • Gen Z Prefers Premium Content to Premium TV – Streamers need to rethink what “premium” means to younger audiences. Read more

  • Spotify Expands Podcast Monetization Globally – The Partner Program adds new markets, helping creators earn via video and audio. Read more

  • Deloitte: Audiences Want Value + Control – The latest report shows that consumers favor personalized bundles and interactive formats. Read more

  • Podcasts for Game Marketing? Huge Potential – Gaming brands are missing a major opportunity by underutilizing podcasting in their campaigns. Read more

  • Weverse Competitor Berriz Launches – HYBE’s rival enters the fan engagement app space with its own version of the “superfan platform.” Read more

📈 By The Numbers

Source: Sounds Profitable

What it says: How audiobook consumers who are also podcast listeners discovered their favorite podcast

What it means: Even though this segment of the population is perhaps the MOST predisposed to spoken word audio consumption, they are by no means resistant to video - which makes having some kind of video strategy crucial to marketing audio of all kinds.

🛠️ Trending AI Tools

  • Neurons Predict – AI-powered platform to optimize the performance of your digital Ads

  • Promptimize – A browser extension to instantly upgrade your AI prompts for better outputs

  • EaseUS AI – An assistant that summarizes and chats with PDFs, making document analysis effortless

  • OpenAI’s GPT-4o – New real-time image generation from OpenAI’s flagship model

  • InfiniteYou by ByteDance – Realistic AI avatars for video creation and personalization

⚡ Final Note

You’ve got an idea. A message. A story worth telling. The only thing standing between you and your own podcast? Getting started.

That’s why I put together The 7-Day Podcast Challenge—a simple, step-by-step guide to getting your podcast live in a week. No fluff, no wasted motion. Just a clear path from idea to launch.

And thank you for spending time with Red Threads this week. I’m glad you’re here.

~ Jaime

P.S. Could you use some help with a project you’re working on? Let’s talk! 

📌 If this issue sparked something for you, forward it to a friend.

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BONUS!

 🎵 New Music Friday

Note: Many releases are subject to last-minute adjustments, so this list may change.

New Albums / Deluxe / EPs

Friday, March 28

  • Will Smith: Based On a True Story

  • Yukimi: For You

  • Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine Deluxe (Brighter Days Ahead)

  • Mumford & Sons: RUSHMERE

  • NAV: OMW2 REXDALE

  • Lil Durk: Deep Thoughts

  • Q: 10 Songs

  • Xzibit: Kingmaker

  • Butcher Brown: Letters from the Atlantic

  • Jessie Reyez: PAID IN MEMORIES

  • Timbaland: Timbo Progression

  • Backxwash: Only Dust Remains

  • Nemzzz: Rent’s Due

  • Yasiin Bey & The Alchemist: Forensics (Bandcamp and LP Only)

  • Da Flyy Hooligan: LO&B

  • SPELLLING: Portrait of My Heart

  • Unknown Mortal Orchestra: IC-02 Bogotá

  • Marcus Newsome: Mental

  • Lil Yachty: Paid In Full

  • Maya Delilah: The Long Way Round

  • Santana: Sentient

  • Popa Chubby & Friends: I Love Freddie King

  • Branford Marsalis: Belonging

  • Frenchie: Frenchie

  • Steel Sessions: 1000WORD$ Forever

  • Janiva Magness: Back For Me

  • The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble: Gemini

  • Black Violin: Full Circle

  • Mr. Chenier: Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself

  • Tasha LaRae: Right Now

  • Boldy James & Antt Beatz: Hommage

  • Bryan Ferry: Loose Talk

  • Cactus Lee: Cactus Lee

  • Deafheaven: Lonely People With Power

  • Dean Wareham: That’s the Price of Loving Me

  • Destroyer: Dan’s Boogie

  • DJ Python: I Was Put on This Earth (EP)

  • Eiko Ishibashi: Antigone

  • Great Grandpa: Patience, Moonbeam

  • Lucy Dacus: Forever Is a Feeling

  • Ohyung: You Are Always on My Mind

  • Perfume Genius: Glory

  • Le$: Million Dolla Dreams

  • Sandwell District: End Beginnings

  • Aya: Hexed!

  • Nemzzz: RENT’S DUE

  • Alien Weaponry: Te Rā

  • Yung Beef & Goa: Traumatismo Kraneoencefalico 2

  • Peter Capaldi: Sweet Illusions

  • poptropicaslutz!: the new 925

  • chloe moriondo: oyster

  • CocoRosie: Little Death Wishes

  • Ellise: PRETTY EVIL

  • Black Josh: YSL Bootleg

  • sneak: SHARPSHOOTER

  • OHYUNG: You Are Always on My Mind

  • Slumber Logic & klwn cat: What Was Found in the Fire

  • One.Will: Better Living

  • Extraño Weys: Les abelles palmen però els pàjarus encara canten

  • Rufus Sims & Master ILL: Ill Dirty Rufus

  • Oddateee: Rabbit Season

  • Miles MeCloud: Track Star

  • STB: I AM MUSIC

  • Max Limit: VANTAGE

  • Playboi Carti: MUSIC: SORRY 4 DA WAIT

  • Khamsim: KHAMSIM*

  • Sylvan LaCue & Our Heroes Rock: The Heroes of STEM!

  • Termanology & Bronze Nazareth: Things I Seen

  • Deko: eclipse

  • CRIMEAPPLE: Jaguar On Palisades 3

  • Mariska: 10

  • Willie the Kid & Real Bad Man: Midnight

  • Luh Soldier: Soldier Life: Stand On Loyalty Compilation 2

  • Lord Sko: PIFF

  • Vald: Pandémonium

  • KRS-One: Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness

  • DaBoii: Heart of a Lion

  • Jan-rapowanie: Groteska

  • Babyfxce E: M Block

  • Aqyila: Falling Into Place

  • LaRussell & Tope: Be Home Before the Street Lights Come On

  • Vory: You Made Me This Way

  • mynameisntjmack: Bookmark 2

  • Ray Lozano: SILK&SORROW

  • Cootie: You Lookin’ At It

  • Yung Bans: Before RR

  • Chase Icon: Icon Baby

  • YT: OI!

  • Rx Papi: The Johnny Sparks Story

  • Damedot: Rap to These

  • Dende: I Am, Because You Are… (EP)

  • KiiiKiii: UNCUT GEM (EP)

  • Jolagreen23: GOTY Edition (EP)

  • Ten: STUNNER (EP)

  • KLIM: Meal Kit (EP)

  • Ye Ali: WYA? I’m Not Mad Anymore (EP)

  • Kalisway: Take Me Back (World of Eras) [EP]

  • kurtains: Sandy Nevermore (EP)

  • Kinrose: every garden (EP)

  • Dane Uno, Kool Keith & Supa Wave: Wakanda 2 (EP)

  • Swings: Fire (EP)

  • Tha God Fahim & Drega33: Lethal Weapon (EP)*

  • JAEHA: Y2K Tape (EP)

  • AKIA: Dumb (EP)

  • Lord Byron: Designed for Living (EP)*

  • Illingsworth: Ceiling Off (EP)*

  • Ivory Scott: Mud (EP)

  • Lil Nas X: Days Before Dreamboy (EP)

  • Erin Kimberly: Intimately (EP)

  • Corey Lingo: Go Where from Here (EP)

  • Autumn Paige: Down the Rabbit Hole (EP)

  • sydney & SENSEI DRIP: Alien Language III (EP)