Sales in 2025 were… weird. And this isn’t just a “vibe,” Google actually researched it and is calling it the Messy Middle. So what does that mean for your 2026 content plan?
In this episode I talk about:
• what the Messy Middle looks like in real buying behavior
• why people are taking longer, circling offers, and lurking before they decide
• why trendy content and old funnel templates aren’t pulling their weight anymore
• how to shift your content toward more connection and actual conversations
• the changes I’m making in my own marketing for 2026, including in-person connection
• how to think about “slow” buying without assuming something is wrong with your offer
If you’re planning Q1 and want a strategy that matches how people are actually making decisions right now, this episode walks you through it.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.