TBPN's Meme Marketing Strategy: How a Tech Podcast Cracked the Viral Growth Code

TBPN (Technology Brother Podcast Network), hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, has redefined how B2B media brands grow in the age of social virality.

With a sharp pivot to meme-based content on X (formerly Twitter), TBPN has become one of the most consistently viral players in tech media.

Their strategy is a repeatable visual template, perfect timing, and framing industry drama like high-stakes sports news.

How One Meme Became a Blueprint for Going Viral

It all started with: "OpenAI → Meta: JIAHUI YU TRADED."

That single meme racked up over 4.2 million views. A simple graphic—headshot, logos, arrow, bold "TRADED" tag—recast a personnel shift as a blockbuster NBA-style trade.

Then came a string of hits: Claude Code PMs Boris Cherny and Cat Wu joining Cursor.

Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan heading to Google DeepMind after OpenAI’s failed acquisition.

Linda Yaccarino leaving X, dubbed "FREE AGENCY."

Meta's massive poaching spree across OpenAI, DeepMind, Anthropic, and Sesame was also turned into a high-impact collage.

Each of these posts used the same structure—clean portraits, bold arrows, brand colors, and the now-signature TBPN watermark. Every move in the AI talent war was transformed into a shareable, sports-style headline.

Consistency That Feeds the Algorithm

Each post followed a consistent visual grammar:

• Oversized bold fonts

• Red, green, and blue color codes (Meta, TBPN, X)

• Minimal text, clear narrative

The design echoed ESPN and Bleacher Report—not coincidentally, the most familiar sports content formats on the internet. This approach built visual recognition and trust with their growing audience.

The memes weren’t trying to be ironic or overly clever. They worked because they were simple, smart, and timely. Tech insiders and casual followers alike understood the reference instantly.

TBPN also synced its meme drops with breaking news. From Linda Yaccarino’s July 9 resignation to Windsurf’s pivot to DeepMind, the response time was measured in hours—not days.

They even covered X's creator earnings leaderboard like it was a sports payout ranking.

Ads That Actually Entertain

When TBPN's sponsor Wander asked for an ad, they got a cinematic meme instead.

A 45-second spot showed two men in suits floating in a pool. It rolled credits like a film trailer:

• Producer: Benjamin A. Kohler

• Director: Scott Trinkham

• Cinematographer: Michael Woloson

• Special Thanks: Brad Pitt & George Clooney

The ad fit perfectly into TBPN’s feed and still managed to stand out—zero disruption, maximum attention.

You can check out their strategy in action by browsing TBPN's media archive, or their top-performing tweets.

TLDR on TBPN's recent meme playbook for startups:

• Repeat what works. Consistency beats novelty.

• Design with intent. Bold, recognizable visuals matter more than polish.

• Act fast. Timeliness amplifies reach.

• Use cultural references. Framing matters—turn job changes into headline moments.

• Stay native. Whether it's memes or ads, make content feel like it belongs.

As Elon Musk said, "A picture says 1000 words, and maybe a meme says 10,000 words." It is slowly proving to be right for TBPN.

Top Tweets of the day

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