Shows
Sorry I Missed YouLow-Effort Side QuestsWhat makes tiny wins so addictive? I’ve been thinking about how low-effort side quests create momentum, fulfillment, and repeatable joy. From conveyor belt sushi and surprise capsule toys to habit streaks and everyday rituals, this voicemail explores why small wins work—and how a little progress, story, and reward turns ordinary moments into something we actually want to return to. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sorryimissedyou.substack.com
2026-01-1906 min
Sorry I Missed YouUnoptimized funWhy does your brain love things you don’t have to choose? In this voicemail, I get into why background TV, old cartoons, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade feel so comforting right now. We talk about algorithm fatigue, shared attention, curiosity, and how everything somehow started feeling like homework.From Pretty Little Liars nights in high school to texting my mom during Santa’s big entrance, this is a soft little rant about connection, low-stakes discovery, and the quiet joy of unoptimized fun.If this reminds you of your own comfort-watch rituals, tell m...
2025-12-0108 min
Sorry I Missed YouWhat Makes It Worth WatchingAmy Poehler recently said, “Enthusiasm is a risk.” This voicemail explores why that risk is worth taking — from the professor who told me I had too much enthusiasm to the creator behind K-Pop Demon Hunters, whose joy made the world’s most-watched movie. In this voicemail we talk about how excitement turns nerves into connection, why joy is a creative advantage, and how protecting our spark makes our work (and our lives) way more watch-worthy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit so...
2025-10-1406 min
Bringing Up BusinessCreating a Supportive Work Culture for FamiliesMegan Dalessandro, a content producer, creative director, and self-described creative Swiss Army knife, discusses the importance of creating a healthy work environment for all employees, the impact of gender roles on career progression, and practical advice for freelancers managing their finances.Host Kaila Sachse also speaks with Meg Dalessandro about the challenges of balancing a career and personal life. Meg shares her journey of navigating career setbacks, redefining success, and finding a supportive work culture at Wistia. The conversation emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in the workplace, especially for parents and those facing...
2025-08-121h 02
Sorry I Missed YouThe Smartest People I Know Are DumbThe smartest people I know are also the dumbest—on purpose. This voicemail reveals how low-stakes humor builds trust, sparks belonging, and makes ideas unforgettable. From spontaneous party bits and Step Brothers quotes to playful B2B campaigns, you’ll see how embracing silliness fuels creativity, strengthens your brand, and drives results that last. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sorryimissedyou.substack.com
2025-06-3012 min
Sorry I Missed YouThis Reminded Me of YouWhat do Snoop Dogg mugs, velvet track suits, and brand strategy have in common? A weirdly specific point of view. In this voicemail, we talk about how to make your voice so you it’s instantly recognizable and why that’s the secret to trust, connection, and creative work that sticks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sorryimissedyou.substack.com
2025-05-2906 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Serious Business of PlayDid you know bees play for fun? We explore what those little wooden-ball-rolling bees can teach us about perfectionism, creativity, and the power of play. Talk about why bad ideas matter (and why we should collect them), how daydreaming fuels insight, and what Amy Poehler’s Good Hang gets right about collaboration and curiosity.Play isn’t just a reward—it’s a requirement. So if you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, or waiting for permission to have fun again, this one’s your wooden ball. This is a public episode. If you would like to disc...
2025-05-1108 min
Create for No ReasonWhen Bad Ideas Lead to Great Work with Meg Dalessandro EP 135In this episode, we're joined by Meg Dalessandro, a talented designer and marketer living her dream at Wistia.We dive into Meg's creative journey — from studying graphic design and UX in art school to landing a pivotal role at Wistia, one of the most beloved brands in video marketing. She shares the full-circle moment that led her there, the story behind her 'Sorry I Missed You' voicemail newsletter, and why embracing bad ideas is often the first step to great work.We also explore how to stay consistent in your creative practice, even when motivation di...
2025-04-2949 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Science of Being UnforgettableTL;DL: Your audience’s brain is following a script. If your content doesn’t break that pattern in a memorable way, it gets forgotten. Here's how to make them remember you—and want to share it with a friend.I’m digging into the neuroscience behind why some content sticks and some slides into the void. We’ll talk about “event scripts”—the mental templates our brains use to process stories—and how to break them in the best possible way.We'll think about how to turn bland webinars, emails, and videos into content worth quoting in t...
2025-04-1708 min
Sorry I Missed YouFill in the Blank: What Marketers Can Learn from KaraokeEver wondered why your brain loves filling in song lyrics more than remembering your own to-do list? In this voicemail we dive into the neuroscience behind our love for filling in blanks, what marketers can learn from Spotify Wrapped (and Netflix’s autoplay fails), and why our content should empower our audience instead of instructing them. Also included: catchy songs, psychic friends, questionable horror movies, and cats disguised as chicken drumsticks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sorryimissedyou.substack.com
2025-03-1104 min
Sorry I Missed YouWhat Chaos (and Butter) Can Teach Us About MarketingDoes more actually mean better? Or does it just feel that way?Jerry Springer’s show ran for 27 seasons, thriving on shock, chaos, and controversy—until it all collapsed under the weight of too much. And honestly? The same thing happens in content marketing.Everyone’s obsessed with more—more posts, more videos, more channels. But just like in cooking, more butter doesn’t always make the dish better.In this episode, we’re talking about:🎬 What The Jerry Springer Show teaches us about content overload📉 When “more” actually hurts your brand (and what to do instead)🍽️...
2025-02-0406 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Alarming Truth About Brand LoyaltyOne second, I’m enjoying a normal shower. The next? A mysterious man’s voice is coming from my living room, and I’m mentally preparing to defend myself with a bottle of shampoo.Turns out, the culprit wasn’t an intruder—it was my possessed alarm clock radio. A clock radio I’ve had since 2008, you know, the last time you used a radio. A clock I suddenly realized I was way too loyal to.And that got me thinking: Why do we stay loyal to brands long after they’ve stopped serving us?In this v...
2024-12-3111 min
Sorry I Missed YouAre Your Memories Even Real?Ever almost not done something—then realized you’d regret it forever?That was me in Tennessee, debating whether to ride a mechanical bull as our Uber got closer. My friend looked me in the eye and said:“CORE MEMORY.”It got me thinking—how do we actually make memories? And why do some moments stick forever while others fade (or even change)?In this episode:🎬 Why “flashbulb memories” aren’t as accurate as we think🔁 How remembering actually rewrites memories🧠 Social media’s impact on what we remember💡 Why making more memories beats chasing on...
2024-07-2606 min
Sorry I Missed YouWhy Following Trends Will Never Make You MemorableEver been vibing to a happy song and thought, "This would be perfect for a horror movie"? No? Just me?In this episode, I’m diving into the power of contrast—in horror, in creativity, in work, and in life. From Us and Devil’s Rejects to satire writing and Six Flags free-fall rides, contrast makes things memorable.🎬 Why upbeat songs in horror movies feel so unsettling (and why it works)💡 How contrast fuels great storytelling, comedy, and creativity📉 Why failure is necessary for success (and why winning all the time holds you back)🎨 How balancing work and...
2024-05-1706 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Risk of Playing (And Why It’s Worth It)Seven months after absolutely exploding my ankle (yes, that’s the technical term), I finally got the all-clear to skate again. But...What if I wasn’t ready? What if I wiped out in front of an entire park full of strangers? What if Brad, my physical therapist, was secretly testing me and I failed spectacularly??But here’s the thing: Play always comes with a little risk. And not just in roller skating—marketing, relationships, life… it’s all a game of curiosity, trust, and hoping you don’t eat pavement.In this voicemail...
2024-04-1706 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Memory We Choose to KeepSome memories stick with us forever—but what if we had the power to reshape them?In this episode, I share a story from my friend Mariya Delano about a day that could have been the saddest of her childhood… but wasn’t. Thanks to a caring father and a little imagination, what started as a painful moment transformed into a lifelong core memory of wonder, adventure, and dinosaurs.We talk about how our perception of the past shapes us, why memory is more flexible than we think, and how we all have the power to red...
2024-03-1806 min
Sorry I Missed YouConnection vs. BelongingAfter getting contacts for the first time, I had a full-blown existential crisis over my eyebrows (shoutout to my glasses for shielding me from this for years). But this got me thinking… what actually makes something belong?Connection and belonging aren’t the same thing—just because something fits doesn’t mean it feels right. That applies to eyebrows, friendships, brands, and communities alike.In this voicemail:👀 Why my math teacher’s missing eyebrows live rent-free in my head📌 The key difference between connection vs. belonging in marketing (and life)🎯 How to create something people want to be part of—...
2024-02-0405 min
Sorry I Missed YouWhy Your Brain Hates UncertaintyGetting laid off? 0/10, would not recommend. But if life has taught me anything, it’s that the best moments usually come after the absolute worst ones. High peaks don’t exist without deep valleys, and right now, I’m somewhere in between—figuring it out as I go.Turns out, our brains hate ambiguity (like, full-on existential crisis mode). They crave patterns, predictability, and knowing what’s next. But what if not knowing is actually a good thing?In this voicemail:🧠 Why uncertainty makes my brain short-circuit (and probably yours too)🏔️ How contrast makes life richer—even when i...
2024-01-1104 min
Sorry I Missed YouHow Play Builds Trust Faster Than Any CTAMarketing has a trust problem. And the solution? It’s not more ads, more content, or more lead gen forms. It’s play.Think about it—when was the last time you really connected with someone? It probably wasn’t during a forced networking event or while filling out a 7-field gated form. It was during a shared moment, a laugh, an inside joke, a game.Play is the fastest way to build trust. It’s the difference between “This brand gets me” and “Ugh, another generic CTA.” And right now, most B2B marketing feels like the opp...
2023-12-0106 min
Sorry I Missed YouWant to Be Memorable? Make It Worth It.Look, I wasn’t sure I wanted to call you today. Nothing personal, just been in a mood. One of those ugh-everything-is-terrible-but-also-I-should-probably-fold-my-laundry kinda moods.Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes something (or someone) memorable. And my brain keeps circling back to the day I shattered my ankle—a day that started off suspiciously too perfect before everything flipped upside down.At first, I thought my entire world was over. (Dramatic? Maybe. Accurate? Also yes.) But now, months later, I realize something: that moment changed me in ways I never saw coming. It for...
2023-10-3108 min
Sorry I Missed YouLosers Make the Best MarketersI’ve been a loser my entire life. And honestly? I’m proud of it.Winning has never been my motivator—give me failure, feedback, and a good underdog story any day. In this episode, I’m diving into why losers actually have the advantage (especially in marketing), how getting comfortable with failure breeds innovation, and why the best connections aren’t built from a pedestal.Also, did I once cheerlead for a football team that never won a single game? Absolutely. Did that make me the perfect person to talk about embracing the L? 1000%.Oh, a...
2023-10-0108 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Case for PlayBreaking my ankle in three places? Not exactly the kind of play I had in mind for 2023, but here we are.This week, I’m thinking about play—why we need it, when we lost it, and why two of my best friends swinging like kids on a summer night made me want to cry (in a good way). I'm wondering:How play helps our brains, Why movie remakes don’t actually bring back the magicHow core memories come in all shapes and sizes. Also, if anyone at Hasbro is looking for a Nerf movie direct...
2023-09-0104 min
Sorry I Missed YouWhy We Remember What We RememberSome memories just stick. No photos, no documentation—just a feeling so strong it imprints itself forever. Like the day I got my license, blasting Avicii with the windows down, screaming CORE MEMORY!!! at the top of our lungs.Lately, I’ve been thinking about why certain moments stay with us while others disappear. Is it the people? The place? The emotions? And with how easy it is to document everything now, are we actually remembering less?I’ve spent years obsessively capturing life, afraid of forgetting. But I’m starting to realize that the best mem...
2023-07-3004 min
Sorry I Missed YouMemories Are Our Real CurrencyMemories are human's real currency. And lately, I’ve been feeling rich (and also kinda old??) because my little brother Kyle just graduated high school. HIGH SCHOOL. I remember changing his diapers, and now he’s a full-grown human heading to college. Make it make sense.Between that and realizing it’s been ten years since we lost Papa, I’ve been thinking a lot about how memories shape us. Some moments stick forever, like late-night Frosty runs we used to do together before he went work. Other memories fade, and that’s the scary part.Memories...
2023-06-2302 min
Sorry I Missed YouMarketing Without the IckMarketing has a reputation problem. It’s seen as manipulative, salesy, and—let’s be real—kind of gross. But does it have to be? In this episode, I’m unpacking why marketing gives us the ick and how we can approach it in a way that actually feels good. No slimy tactics, no weird persuasion hacks, just real human connection.In this voicemail:Scaling vulnerability (without making it cringe)Why marketing is like that unexpected slug in my kitchen (ew) How the best teachers and creators "manipulate" us (but in a good way)Plus, a side que...
2023-06-0109 min
Sorry I Missed YouAuthenticity is Earned, Not MarketedIf I hear the word “authenticity” used as a buzzword one more time I’m going to flip a table.I’m not voting to banish the word but I am saying we need to change how we talk about it in the working world. Because everything I see on LinkedIn lately is giving me the ick 🤢“7 AUTHENTIC HOOKS TO TRICK LINKEDIN’S ALGORITHM”“THE SECRET TO THIS CEO’S 50 MILLION DOLLAR STARTUP: AUTHENTICITY”Do I need to make up a third example or do you get the point?The problemThe w...
2023-05-0108 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Emotional Rollercoaster of ClickbaitBetween James and I getting COVID and the weather being as cold and disappointing as freezer burnt ice cream, we’ve seen better months.A silver lining to isolation was that once I exhausted every Netflix dating show (and TikTok hashtag associated with said Netflix dating shows) I had plenty of time read more of that book I told you about.One of the interviews from the book told this story that reminded me of that emotional grid we talked about recently.The storywas about a local live improv show....
2023-03-3108 min
Sorry I Missed YouBrand Affinity > Brand AwarenessDude you will not believe what just happened to me.Checking out at Target, getting some deodorant, soap, electric toothbrush heads, a vacuum sealer — James and I are on a sous vide kick, but you know, the essentials. And as the cashier is ringing me out she asks“Do you want a protection plan for $3?”I’m like oh yeah sure, totally. For $3 how could I not protect this $100+ sous vid supporting purchase. That $3 would’ve just been spent on steak anyways. She adds the protection plan and continues ringing me up....
2023-02-2209 min
Sorry I Missed YouB2B Doesn't Need More ContentHAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Can you believe it’s actually 2023? I mean, we’re already a month into the new year but it still feels fresh ya know?The new year always hits me in two phases:* Phase 1: I’m motivated, energized, reorganized and full of hope. Usually during this time I’ll set a bunch of over ambitious goals, personally my favorite way to self-sabotage.* Phase 2: My brain is in overdrive trying to maximize every part of my waking life to be the best version of me. This results in decision paralysis around what it...
2023-01-2610 min
Sorry I Missed YouThe Cheeseballs IncidentMaybe it’s the holidays but life has just been moving too fast for me to keep up lately! Especially after traveling for work last week, my head has been a whirlwind.James and I weren’t able to come home for the holidays this year but last week while I was in Boston I got to see both of our moms which was so nice. I went to the ICA with Dianne and then got Tasty Burger with my mom. Finding parking near Fenway is atrocious. $40 for ONE HOUR?! No thanks I’ll buy a barrel of che...
2022-12-2710 min
Sorry I Missed YouDon’t Boring-YourselfHeaded to the grocery store but wanted to call you to ask you about that date and how it went last weekend?!👀Remind me, was this the guy holding up the big fish in his profile pic? Or guy-with-guitar? Anything is better than that guy who took you tandem mountain biking for your first date…what a weirdo! Wouldn’t be surprised if we see a serial killer Netflix special about that guy in 10 years.*sigh of relief*I’m so glad I have James. You know we’ve been together pre-Tinder and as I watch...
2022-12-0407 min
Sorry I Missed YouBeware of ArtistsI swear, sometimes my life feels like an episode of Seinfeld.I'm in the car on the way home from that pottery class I told you about. It was fun but not as productive as I had hoped. You know, James bought me the pack of 4 classes to help me make new friends since we moved (super sweet).But I show up to this class all bright hair and ready to make some new friends, only to find out I am literally the only person in the class. Which I mean ~cool personal pottery class~...
2022-11-2304 min