It is time, once again, for another round of “Marketing Recommends,” in which the FGIA Marketing Department shares what we are getting out of the world of entertainment, design and marketing – of course. The three of us have curated several tools and resources from which we’ve gained insight – plus some fun stuff, too. Take a look at our recommendations for this spring and see what you can bring back to your own team.

Lori Benshoof, Web and Online Technology Specialist

Favorite Podcast

I love to listen to the podcast “SmartLess” with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. They have some incredible guests on each episode (some of my recent favorites were Millie Bobby Brown, John Lithgow, Mark Hamill and Ariana Grande), and I love their comedic antics amongst each other. It always puts me in a great mood and is perfect for listening to in the car or while working from home.

Comedy Relief

I follow Team Balmert on TikTok. This couple makes me laugh every. single. time. They try all the viral couple trends and many other hilarious things. If I need a mental break from the stress of the day (and who isn’t stressed when preparing to launch a website redesign), this is definitely a go-to. They never disappoint!

Angela Dickson, Marketing and Communications Director

Glass Talk Podcast

Admittedly, I’m not much of a podcast person, but I really enjoy the Glass Talk podcast (and its sister podcast – Fenestration Conversations) with Patrick Flannery. In a recent episode, Patrick talked with FGIA Board member and industry stalwart, David Cooper, about vacuum insulating glass (VIG). Dave has been researching and developing VIGs for over a decade and chairs multiple committees that are defining ways to assess its quality and performance. Never have I heard clearer guidance on what to look for in these products. It’s definitely a must listen!

White Lotus (Noooooo)

While I’m not big on podcasts, I love movies and shows. My latest obsession? Season three of White Lotus. No spoilers here for anyone who hasn’t watched yet, but for fans of the show, I’d be happy to give you my best Victoria Ratliff impersonation at our next FGIA event. “Piper, no!” “I just don’t think I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life.” Parker Posey, who plays Victoria, has been a favorite of mine since her early days on Dazed and Confused, and I am seriously considering buying a flowy kaftan and a black wig to dress as her for Halloween. Don’t worry, I won’t be handing out lorazepam to trick-or-treaters.

Meryl Williams Clark, Senior Communications Coordinator

New Canva Feature

This spring, I am excited about a new feature from Canva that allows users to design multiple size formats in one project/design. This was long overdue! Now it is easy to make a Facebook post that can quickly double as a post for Instagram or X.

Catching up on the All Stars of Drag

While there is a new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars airing soon, I am busy catching up on the previous 10 seasons over on Paramount+. Last year, I burned through all the regular seasons of Drag Race, so now I get to watch past competitions with the “all star” fan favorites competing against each other for the win. This show is a hilarious, delightful combination of Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, all with some of the biggest and most fun personalities from TikTok and Instagram. It’s the perfect low stakes, high entertainment value show.

That’s it for this round of Marketing Recommends. Until next time, give these recommendations a try!