How AI Is Forcing Brands to Be More Human with Brent Csutoras

As the world rushes to adopt AI, what if the most future-proof skill isn't mastering the machine, but mastering human connection? In this episode, Sani sits down with Brent Csutoras, a true OG of the internet who has been a core member of the Reddit community since 2006.

Brent argues that the unfiltered, honest, and often chaotic conversations happening on Reddit, a platform he calls "the real world online", provide the ultimate blueprint for the future of brand building. So many brands fail on Reddit because they treat it like a traditional advertising channel, only to be torn apart by a community that values authenticity above all else. Brent breaks down his "anti-marketer" playbook, using incredible stories, from the REI AMA that turned from a PR disaster into a masterclass in accountability to a beef jerky company that sold $30,000 worth of product from a single, honest conversation, to illustrate his points.

If you are professional trying to navigate the future of digital marketing, you need to hear this. Brent makes a compelling case that we are not in year 21 of the old internet; we are in "Year One" of a completely new era , where solving real human problems has replaced the old hacks of chasing keywords and gaming algorithms.

Guest

Our guest is Brent Csutoras, a renowned Reddit thought leader and marketing strategist. As the Founder of OGS Media, he has spent nearly two decades helping Fortune 100 brands, scrappy startups, and skeptical CMOs navigate one of the most misunderstood platforms online.

In addition to his deep expertise in Reddit, Brent has been a Managing Partner at Search Engine Journal for over a decade, helping to shape the voice of the digital marketing industry. He is a self-described "futurist at heart, with a bias for action", constantly drawn to the edge of what's next in search, social, and AI-driven discovery. His core philosophy is simple but profound: help brands stop marketing at people and start connecting with them.

Key Takeaways

Community is a networking event, not a megaphone
Trust is the only metric that matters
Solve problems, don't chase keywords
Your new job is to train your AI assistant

Chapters:

[00:00:00] The Story of Reddit, Told By an OG
[00:10:55] The 'Anti-Marketing' Playbook for Reddit
[00:21:14] How to Turn a PR Disaster into a Win
[00:41:56] Why AI Search Cares More About Conversations Than Keywords
[00:58:56] Your New Job: Training Your AI Assistant
[01:02:56] A 5-Year Prediction from a Marketing Futurist