From Ozempic to Ad Strategy: Todd Gagne on GLP-1’s Ripple Effects

Today, I talk to Todd Gagne—tech founder, startup mentor, and the guy who accidentally dropped a viral bomb on Substack after a weekend rabbit hole about GLP-1 drugs. We talk about why these weight-loss medications might be as transformative as the air conditioner, what this means for advertising, and why the next few years could upend how we think about consumer behavior, even in B2B.

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:00] – Todd’s background and startup school origins

[01:20] – How a Substack detour into GLP-1 changed everything

[03:33] – What GLP-1 drugs do, how they work, and why they matter

[05:28] – The "air conditioner moment" analogy and downstream societal effects

[07:14] – Grocery, alcohol, and aviation: second-order impacts

[10:04] – What fills the lifestyle gap?

[11:46] – The hidden threat to advertising: fewer impulses, fewer clicks

[13:52] – Are your most impulsive ad converters vanishing?

[15:15] – Even B2B isn’t safe from this shift

[17:22] – Safety data, supply constraints, and the future scale of adoption

[19:25] – Could insurance companies lead the charge on GLP-1 coverage?

[21:15] – Could 50% of ad strategies go obsolete?

[22:23] – Where to follow Todd and dig deeper

📢 Key Topics:

• GLP-1’s societal and psychological impact
• Why this isn’t just about weight loss—it’s about impulse control
• Second- and third-order effects on brands, industries, and culture
• How marketing strategies may need to evolve in a post-GLP-1 world

Links & Resources:

Visit: https://salesschema.com/work-with-us/

🔗 Learn more about Todd→ https://wildfirelabs.io/