
Mike Sharman: Make It Newsworthy, A Viral Playbook
From 42courses Podcast by 42courses
September 1, 2025 · 46 min
About this episode
Mike Sharman discusses the elements of creating viral marketing campaigns and shares insights on curiosity and public relations.
How do you turn a funny idea into primetime chatter and global buzz? In this lively episode, Mike Sharman shares the “Holy Trinity of marketing” that still wins today: activation first, scale it digitally, then PR the living daylights out of it. He breaks down how his team spoofed My Octopus Teacher" into the cult hit “My Creepy Teacher,” why curiosity is a superpower, and how to engineer virality rather than wish for it. Find out more about Mike at retroviral.co.za Find out more about 42courses at 42courses.com What you’ll learn The Holy Trinity that powers modern viral campaigns. How “My Creepy Teacher” went from a Cape Town shoot to a global hit. How to build successful creator partnerships. How to use obsessive curiosity as a career advantage. Why being “worthy of the news” is the bar that keeps work sharp.
People in this episode
Host: 42courses
Guest: Mike Sharman
Topics covered
- viral marketing
- creator partnerships
- curiosity in marketing
- public relations
- modern campaigns
Keywords
- viral playbook
- marketing strategies
- My Creepy Teacher
- activation
- digital scaling
- PR
- curiosity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: 42courses, retroviral.co.za
Books & works: My Octopus Teacher, My Creepy Teacher
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