All Aboard for National Train Day!

Celebrated annually on May 10th (or the Saturday closest to that date) to recognize the anniversary of the 1869 completion of the first United States transcontinental railroad, National Train Day was started by Amtrak in 2008 to promote rail travel. Many railroad museums and organizations hold events with model train layouts, tours of vintage and modern equipment, and educational activities.

What brands do you associate with trains or train travel?

(1) Amtrak

(2) Orient Express (Europe)

(3) Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)

(4) Grand Canyon Railway (Grand Canyon)

(5) Great British Railways

When it comes to model train brands, hobby enthusiasts favor Lionel, American Flyer, and Marklin. Of course, we cannot forget a shout-out to the "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "The Little Engine that Could" children's books!

In 1950, Walt Disney built a 1/8th scale live-steam railroad at his residence in Holmby Hills, California. He operated the "Carolwood Pacific Railroad" as its engineer for family and friends until 1953 when he shifted his energies into creating a magical place where families could have fun together – that place was named "Disneyland," opened on July 17th, 1955, and forever changed the leisure and theme park industry!

SHARE THIS: Before Disneyland, Walt Disney entertained family and friends with a live-steam train in his backyard. #FunFact #NationalTrainDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

And what about works of fiction that center around trains or train travel? Here are five with brief synopses:

(1) The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa (Translated from Japanese)

"Between the two beautiful towns of Takarazuka and Nishinomiya, rattles the Hankyu Line train. Passengers step on and off, lost in thought. On the outward journey, we are introduced to the emotional dilemmas of five characters, and on the return journey six months later, we watch them find resolutions."

(2) With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

"Anna Matheson boards a luxury overnight train bound for Chicago that she's commissioned, along with a list of names and a heart hardened by loss. Twelve years earlier, during the height of World War II, six people shattered her family's life. Now, under a false guise, Anna has orchestrated a chilling reunion - trapping each of them aboard."

(3) Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

"Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. After their first evening spent getting to know some of their fellow travelers, Joe pulls out his laptop and opens a new document. The next morning, Joe and Meredith are shocked to witness that the cabin next door has become a crime scene, bathed in blood but with no body in sight. The pair soon find themselves caught up in an Agatha Christie-esque murder investigation. Without any help from the authorities, and with the victim still not found, Joe and Meredith are asked to join a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds to look into the mysterious disappearance of the man in Cabin16G."

(4) 6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk

"Agatha's husband has bought her a first-class ticket on the scenic six-hour train from Toronto to Montreal as a gift―a one-day writing retreat so she can get some serious work done on her new book, a highly-anticipated follow-up to Agatha's runaway bestseller debut novel. The first-class car is the perfect place to be productive, with only a handful of other passengers, plenty of snacks and drinks, and beautiful views flying by outside the window. But the train breaks down in the middle of the frigid Canadian woods and one of Agatha's fellow passengers dies quietly in his seat. Soon, a pleasant morning in transit turns into a fight for survival against an unknown and unseen enemy."

(5) Follow You Home by Mark Edwards

"It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. But an experience on a night train through Eastern Europe forces Daniel and Laura to cut their dream trip short and flee home. Back in London, Daniel and Laura vow never to talk about what happened. But as they try to fit into their old lives again, they realize they are in terrible danger."

And, let's not forget the famous song, "Midnight Train to Georgia," sung by Gladys Knight & the Pips. According to Wikipedia, "Written by Jim Weatherly and included on the Pips' 1973 LP Imagination, "Midnight Train to Georgia" became the group's first single to top the Billboard Hot 100. It also won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and has become Knight's signature song. The song is sung from the perspective of someone whose lover, having failed to become a Hollywood star, is leaving Los Angeles to move back to Georgia, taking the titular midnight train."

So how will you celebrate National Train Day today? Chime in and share.

Image Credits: Discover Temple, Arizona.

Check out Walt Disney's train:

https://www.carolwood.org/walts-barn/

Learn more about The Little Engine That Could:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could

See How Some Brands Celebrated the Met Gala!

The 2026 Met Gala may now be in the history books, but you wouldn't know it by scrolling on Instagram. The reason is because countless brands continue to celebrate the big event by aligning their products with the event in a memorable way.

First, before we check out the brands, a little context from Google, "Held on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Benefit, is the annual haute couture fundraising festival held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in Manhattan. Attendees are given the opportunity to express themselves through fashion, often producing elaborate and highly publicized outfits inspired by the evening's theme. The event is organized by the fashion and glamor magazine Vogue and is known as "fashion's biggest night," where "haute couture intersects with history to create the ultimate cultural moment – all in the name of art." Invitees to attend the Met Gala in a given year are typically personalities widely perceived to be culturally relevant to contemporary society at the world's crossroads of fashion, digital and social media, tech, music, Broadway, Wall Street, film, television, sports, and politics. The entry price for one ticket to attend the Met Gala rose to US$100,000 in 2026, up from $75,000 in 2025."

Here are nearly 50 brands that almost overnight mastered brand alignment with brand storytelling - separated into product categories:

BOOKS / AUTHORS / PUBLISHING

THESE BRANDS POSTED PHOTOS OF MET GALA ATTENDEES WITH BOOK COVERS THAT MATCHED THEIR OUTFITS.

---Simon Schuster Australia (Publisher)

---Waterstones (UK's leading bookseller)

---Harper Collins (Publisher since 1817)

---Harper Collins 360 (Part of Harper Collins, publisher in USA)

---William Morrow Books (Part of Harper Collins, publisher since 1926)

---Book Heronz (New Zealand's online bookstore)

---Celadon Books (Division of Macmillan USA)

---House and Garden (Magazine publisher of international design and decor)

---A Little Overbooked (Book influencer)

---Adriana Trigiani (NY Times bestselling author)

---Savoir Flair (Middle East online magazine)

---Casey Bee Books (Book reviewer)

---Hyperbole Bookstore (Independent bookseller in College Station, Texas)

---Read Book Page (Independent monthly magazine for readers)

---St Martin's Press (An imprint of Macmillan USA)

---Bloomsbury Books US (Book fans)

---Helen Plum Library (Library in Lombard, Illinois)

---Marysville Public Library (Library in Evansville, Ohio)

---Sterling Book Club (Book club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

ART & ART MUSEUMS

THESE BRANDS POSTED PHOTOS OF MET GALA ATTENDEES WITH ARTWORK THAT MATCHED THEIR OUTFITS.

---Martin Lawrence Galleries (Art gallery founded in 1975 with locations throughout the USA)

---Ashmoleon Museum (Museum founded in 1683 and located in Oxford, UK)

---Art History Daily (Daily artwork posts)

---Art History Fashion (Art history plus fashion posts)

---Bazaar Thailand (Magazine)

---Frick Collection (Museum in New York City)

---Tinker Tailor Art (Floral and architectural art)

---Meelzonart (Pop culture art historian)

FOOD

THESE BRANDS POSTED PHOTOS OF MET GALA ATTENDEES WITH ARTWORK THAT MATCHED THEIR FOOD.

Costume art meets candy art. ~@SeesCandies

Fashion is art, art is cake. ~@SusieCakesBakery

---See's Candies (Chocolate candy since 1921)

---Voodoo Doughnut (Doughnuts made fresh daily)

---Susie Cakes Bakery (Bakery founded by Susie Sarich with locations in California, Texas, Nashville, and Oklahoma City - with shipping nationwide)

---Delicious Australia (Australia's number one premium food and lifestyle brand)

OTHER

---Westminster Kennel Club (150 years of championing purpose-bred dogs and celebrating all dogs) - featured Met Gala attendees with similar-looking dogs

---Moody Gardens (Home to the Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids on Galveston Island in Texas) - compared Met Gala looks with Moody Gardens residents (penguin, harbor seal, sealion, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, and Scarlet Ibis)

---Pantone Color Institute via Nick Sizemore ("The global authority for color communications and inspiration since 1963") - compared Met Gala attendees with matching Pantone colors

---Mixbook (Publisher that turns ordinary photos into extraordinary stories) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching book covers

---Paper Blanks (Maker of journals to inspire creativity) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching journal covers

---J'adore Les Fleurs (florist in Los Angeles, CA) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching floral arrangements

---Bonkers Pets (Snacks for cats and dogs) - featured Met Gala attendees with cats wearing the same outfits

---Wine & Design (Coordinator of art and wine experiences) - featured Met Gala attendees paired with matching Wine & Design art projects

---Summer Thornton Design (Interior design firm based in Chicago) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching rooms and decor

---Color Me Magic (Disney fan) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching Disney characters and cultural icons

---Jonathan Adler (Designer of furniture, decor, art, and more since 1993) - featured Met Gala attendees with matching furniture, dinnerware, and lighting

Isn't it fun when brands think outside the box when it comes to brand messaging? What are some take-aways that other brands can apply? Chime in and share!

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products with trending news or special events have the potential to be memorable. #MetGala #BrandAlignment #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Delicious Australia, Simon Schuster Australia, Sees Candies, Wine and Design, Westminster Kennel Club, and Pantone via Nick Sizemore (all via Instagram).

Read my post: See How Six Brands Celebrated the Oscars! (March 23, 2026)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/03/see-how-some-brands-celebrated-oscars.html 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is more popular in the United States than in Mexico? Do you know the day's history?

According to Wikipedia, "Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "Fifth of May") is an annual celebration held on May 5th to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. Zaragoza died months after the battle from an illness, however, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and then occupied Mexico City. Following the end of the American Civil War in 1865, the United States began lending money and guns to the Mexican Liberals, pushing France and Mexican Conservatives to the edge of defeat. At the opening of the French chambers in January 1866, Napoleon III announced that he would withdraw French troops from Mexico. In reply to a French request for American neutrality, the American Secretary of State William H. Seward replied that French withdrawal from Mexico should be unconditional. Celebrations began in 1862 in Columbia, California."

Cinco de Mayo gained nationwide popularity beyond those of Mexican-American heritage during the 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies. Today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

The day grew in popularity and evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, first in areas with large Mexican-American populations, like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and New York - followed by Cleveland, Boston, Indianapolis, Raleigh, Dallas, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Tucson, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego.

The day's popularity has also extended around the world. Some Canadian pubs play Mexican music and serve Mexican food and drinks. In the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition; and at Montego Bay, Jamaica, there is a Cinco de Mayo celebration. There are also celebrations in Brisbane, Australia; New Zealand; Cape Town, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; Paris, France; and in the Japanese cities of Osaka and Tokyo.

So which brands do you associate with today's holiday? Here are some that come to mind:

AVOCADOS FROM MEXICO

According to the brand's website, "In 2013, thousands of Mexican avocado farmers partnered with U.S. importers to form a non-profit marketing organization — Avocados From Mexico. Since then, we've been sharing the good taste, good health, and good times that only Avocados From Mexico can provide. Avocados From Mexico has doubled U.S. imports of Mexican avocados — from 1.2B pounds in 2014 to nearly 2.5B pounds in 2023. Today, more than 80 percent of avocados in American stores and restaurants come from orchards from our orchards."

JOSE CUERVO TEQUILA

According to the brand's website, "As an 11th generation, family-owned Mexican company, Cuervo was the first to farm agave for tequila production and the first to perform intensive cultivation. Jose Antonio de Cuervo founded the family business in 1758 when he bought land around Tequila and named it Solar de las Animas. The Cuervo family was granted the first license to distill by the King of Spain in 1795. Cuervo Tequila is the oldest tequila brand and one of the oldest spirits brands in the world, with the oldest distillery in the Americas called La Rojeña. That distillery is still operating and producing tequila, in the town of Tequila, Jalisco."

SHARE THIS: Each year, the Cuervo family commissions a well-known Mexico-based artist to create a special edition design in a limited quantity. #CincoDeMayo #brandstorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

CORONA BEER

According to the brand's website, "Corona beer's international expansion began in the South and Southwestern regions of the US — with American tourists returning from Mexico bringing a taste for the beer they'd enjoyed on the sunny beaches of Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta home with them. In 1979, Corona Extra was introduced in the U.S. and quickly became synonymous with the American beach and barbecue lifestyle. In the late '80s, people started asking for a more calorie-conscious beer that didn't skimp on taste — and we listened. Corona Light was introduced to U.S. customers in 1989. In 2020, we set a goal to remove 1 million pounds of plastic from our business and beaches across the country in time for our 100th birthday in 2025. In partnership with Oceanic Global, we've not only reached that goal – we've exceeded it, reaching 1.2 million pounds removed over the 5 years. (And now, celebrate America's pastime with a ceremonial first pitch and four tickets to a Major League Game.)"

TECATE BEER

According to the brand's website, "All great traditions have to start somewhere. For Cerveza Tecate, that somewhere is the town of Tecate, Baja California Mexico. Tecate signature beers have been brewed for over 60 years and continue to soar today. See how Tecate's story has unfolded in history. In 1944, Cervecería Tecate was officially born. Cervecería Tecate reached international status by beginning exporting to Asia and the US. In the US specifically, Tecate demand grew rapidly in various states including Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. In the 50's, Tecate became the second most important brand in Mexico, thanks to Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma who purchased the brewery in 1954. In 1964, Tecate launched the first ever "easy open" can in Mexico, which made a can opener unnecessary to open and enjoy a beer. This can opening design is the design still used in beer cans today. In 1994, Tecate Light became the first Mexican light beer to be made and sold in Mexico."

SHARE THIS: Tecate launched the first ever "easy open" can in Mexico, which made a can opener unnecessary to open and enjoy a beer. #CincoDeMayo #brandstorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

CINCO DE MAYO BARBIE

Mattel released a limited-edition "Cinco de Mayo" Barbie in 2006 as part of its "Festivals of the World" collection. Designed by Sharon Zuckerman, Cinco De Mayo Barbie doll wore a beautiful folkloric dress with ruffles and ribbons inspired by the colors of the Mexican flag. A traditional hairstyle with braids and festive embellishments added the final touch.

AEROMEXICO

According to the brand's website, "Beginning in 1934, Aeromexico is Mexico's global airline and has its main hub at Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. The Group's operating fleet is comprised of Boeing 787 and 737 jet airliners and Embraer 190 models. Aeromexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance which includes partners Aerolineas Argentinas, AirEuropa, AirFrance, ITA Airways, China Eastern, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, KLM, and Korean Air."

However you celebrate today, happy Cinco de Mayo!

Image Credits: Avocados from Mexico, Jose Cuervo Tequila, Corona, and Tecate.

Here's a recipe for classic guacamole:

https://avocadosfrommexico.com/recipe/guacamole/classic-guac/

Here's a recipe for black bean and avocado tostada:

https://avocadosfrommexico.com/recipe/tacos-burritos/black-bean-avocado-tostadas/

Here's a recipe for avocado chicken Waldorf salad:

https://avocadosfrommexico.com/recipe/aha-heart-healthy/avocado-chicken-waldorf-salad/

Let's Celebrate Star Wars Day!

Do you know today's date on the calendar? While it may appear as May 4th to the casual observer, for Star Wars fans, it's "May the Fourth be with you" or translated into Star Wars lingo, "May the Force be with you."

According to Wikipedia, "Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4th to celebrate the Star Wars franchise created by filmmaker George Lucas. Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977. The date originated from the pun "May the Fourth be with you," from the Star Wars catchphrase "May the Force be with you." Even though the holiday was not created by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans have chosen to celebrate the holiday - and it has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company as an annual celebration of Star Wars."

According to USA Today, "The saying comes from a line of dialogue in the 1977 Star Wars film, before the rebel fighters begin their assault on the Death Star, General Dodonna encourages them with the command: "Then man your ships! And may the Force be with you!" It's a saying used by Jedi Knights such as Obi-Wan Kenobi referencing the Force, a form of energy connecting the galaxy, which some Force-sensitive individuals can tap into and enhance their abilities. Saying, "May the Force be with you," is akin to wishing someone good luck."

The first official use of the phrase came on May 4th, 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. To celebrate, the U.K. Conservative Party paid for a newspaper ad in the London Evening News saying, "May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!"

From a branding perspective, the Star Wars franchise is unique. Few movies develop cult followings and become part of the cultural zeitgeist - and even fewer have days of the year named after them. Despite fan adoration, there is no Casablanca Day, no Psycho Day, and no Freaky Friday Day.

A fun way to celebrate today would be to test your Star Wars knowledge with a quiz. So here we go:

(1) What year did the first Star Wars movie appear in theaters? (Interesting note, the movie played in Hollywood's Chinese Theater for one full year!)

(2) Who created the Star Wars franchise?

(3) Who provided the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies?

(4) Which hand did Luke Skywalker lose in his battle with Darth Vader?

(5) What famous catchphrase is said in every Star Wars movie?

(6) What is Chewbacca?

(7) What is the name of Han Solo's ship?

(8) What is the name of Luke and Leia's birth mother?

(9) What are the names of the movies in the final trilogy released between 2015-2019?

(10) What are the robots R2-D2 and C-3PO called that possess a degree of artificial intelligence?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "For some fans, the official Star Wars Day comes on May 25th, the date of the first film's release. The Los Angeles City Council even declared that date to be Star Wars Day in 2007, although the California Legislature voted in 2019 to designate May 4th as Star Wars Day."

And on May 3rd, 2024, a day before that year's Star Wars Day, legendary Star Wars actor Mark Hamill made a surprise appearance in the White House press briefing telling reporters he had just come from the Oval Office, where he asked President Joe Biden, "'Can I call you Joe-Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

And lastly, did you know that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie? On February 19th, 2027, the celebration begins with a re-release of the 1977 original (a restored version renamed Star Wars: A New Hope) in both regular theaters and IMAX. Of course, lots of related branded merchandise will also be available for purchase as the date gets closer!

SHARE THIS: On Star Wars Day 2015, astronauts in the International Space Station watched Star Wars. #FunFact #StarWarsDay #Maythe4thBeWithYou #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Public Libraries of Jefferson County, Alabama.

Quiz Credit: Holly Parker of Public Libraries of Jefferson County, Alabama.

Here are the quiz answers: (1) 1977, (2) George Lucas, (3) James Earl Jones, (4) Right hand, (5) I have a bad feeling about this, (6) Wookie, (7) Millennium Falcon, (8) Padmé Amidala, (9) The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker, (10) Droids.

Visit the Star Wars website:

https://www.starwars.com/star-wars-day

Check out these examples of zeitgeist:

https://helpfulprofessor.com/zeitgeist-examples/

Let's Celebrate Koalas Today!

Today is International Wild Koala Day, a day started in 2016 by a group of koala conservation groups to raise awareness about the need to protect wild koalas and their eucalyptus homes. 

Koalas, often called koala bears, are not bears, but instead, they're marsupials. According to Britannica, "Marsupials are mammals characterized by giving birth to premature young, which typically complete development in a pouch attached to the mother's body. They are most common in Australia and the Americas. Examples include koalas, kangaroos, wombats, opossums, wallabies, and Tasmanian Devils."

Check out these interesting facts about koalas:

(1) Koalas have fingerprints that are individual and similar to humans. They are the only animals other than primates that have fingerprints.

(2) Although their vision is poor, koalas rely on their keen sense of smell to find food and mates.

(3) Koalas eat hundreds of species of eucalyptus (gum-trees), and they get most of their water from the leaves. A single koala can eat the leaves of up to 1,000 eucalyptus trees every year, a powerful reminder of how essential continuous replanting is to meet their needs.

(4) A male koala's life expectancy is around 14 years. Female koalas outlive males by 5 to 10 years.

(5) When it comes to koala breeding, the females choose their mates. Female koalas are "cougars," they usually mate with younger males.

(6) Major threats to koalas are climate change; habitat destruction; mines and their infrastructure; and dogs and vehicles.

And now, let's pivot to marketing and check out some famous brands featuring koalas in their logos and brand storytelling:

KOALA AIRLINES

Set to launch toward the end of 2026 in Australia, Koala Airlines aims for 20 aircraft within the first few years and will focus on tourists and leisure travelers along the "Golden Triangle" of Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane.

TIFFANY & CO.

According to Vogue, "Since its founding in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has championed artistry steeped in reverence for the natural world. Owing a debt for both the inspiration and materials that give form to their iconic designs, the brand formalized their love for Mother Earth in 2017 by launching their Save The Wild collection in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Network, or WCN. The network's mission is to protect endangered species by investing in initiatives to support wildlife and ecosystems on the brink. All of the proceeds from the Save The Wild collection go directly to the WCN, and to date, Tiffany & Co. has proudly donated over $10 million in support of their efforts."

Tiffany & Co. expanded its Save the Wild collection with the announcement of the Koala Brooch, an Australia-exclusive design to raise much needed funds for rapid response initiatives and habitat restoration.

COLORFULKOALA

This brand features a creative logo that looks like two koalas hanging on a tree. Founded in 2018, Colorfulkoala began with the vision to provide down-to-earth athleisure wear to every corner of the world. To date, they've sold 20,000,000+ pairs of leggings all over the world.

KOALA

Koala is an Australian furniture brand. According to the brand's website, "Our product design process starts with the problem and customer pain point. With our customer's perspective at the forefront, we brainstorm innovative ways to combine functionality and elegance. With an average of 1.5 years devoted to the design and development of each product, we ensure it's flawless when it reaches the customer's home."

NUII ICE CREAM

Here's the ice cream brand's inspiring mission, "With Nuii, every adventure begins in an extraordinary place! Australia holds a special place in our story: it's where our very first creation was born, the Australian Salted Caramel & Macadamia. This wild and fascinating land has inspired us from the beginning and reminds us how precious nature truly is. That's why Nuii is committed to protecting Australia's biodiversity, and especially the koalas, a fragile symbol of this unique ecosystem. Preserving their habitat means preserving the possibility of experiencing exceptional adventures for years to come, in the place where it all started for us. Nuii is not just about indulgent, generous ice creams: it’s also about protecting the places that make our adventures possible."

KOALAFORNIA

And lastly, let's not forget when the largest group of koalas outside of Australia arrived at the San Diego Zoo in California back in 2013. The marketing campaign was extremely memorable, "Greetings from KOALAFORNIA, the Australian Outback at the San Diego Zoo."

How can YOU help save koalas? Protect a forest, plant a tree, or call/text/email politicians to share your concerns about koalas and their disappearing wild habitats.

Which other brands feature koalas in their logos or promote koala conservation? Chime in and share.

SHARE THIS: The word "koala" originates from an Australian Aboriginal language, Dharug, which translates to "no drink" or "no water." Koalas rarely drink water because the majority of their water intake comes from eating eucalyptus leaves. #InternationalWildKoalaDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Goway.com, Tiffany & Co., Colorfulkoala, Koala Airlines, and the San Diego Zoo.

Watch an ad for Koala Airlines featuring a koala consultant:

https://youtu.be/Bw5xsD_vn3U

Watch an ad for Koalafornia at the San Diego Zoo:

https://youtu.be/yANPF7NvWvk?si=3ynM6s1Y92k_xrib

Learn more about saving koalas and their habitats:

https://savethekoala.com/our-work/koala-habitat-atlas/

Best Social Media Post of the Month of April 2026

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like my favorite tweet of all time, the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a monthly series on my blog (hard to believe I've been writing these posts for more than a year!) appearing during the first week of each month, I share the best social media post of the preceding month. My choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience; this could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my recognition as the best social media post of the month from April 2026 was a post on April 5th by Merriam-Webster, the dictionary resource that has sat on everyone's desk since 1828 and is currently in its 12th edition - and also appears online with a word of the day, that appeared on Twitter/X. According to its description, "Noun: a reference source containing words alphabetically arranged along with information about their forms, pronunciations, functions, and etymologies."

Merriam-Webster's post shared a post by Reid Wiseman, Commander of the Artemis II that had blasted off to space for a lunar flyby four days before, with an amazing photo of Earth and the caption, "There are no words." In Merriam-Webster's post, the caption read, "Even we have to agree with this."

Brands that can align their products or services to an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable. And Merriam-Webster definitely succeeded in my book!

Which brand will stand out during May, and why? Swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog during the first week of June to read about my choice.

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products or services with trending news have the potential to be memorable. ~@DebbieLaskeyMBA #SocialMediaMarketingStrategy #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Merriam-Webster and NASA/NASA Artemis II via Twitter/X.

Tips to Deal with Toxic Leaders!

If you're a fan of the film "The Devil Wears Prada" from 2006, then your wait for a sequel is over. Today, after 20 years, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" arrives in theaters.

The original film starred Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in memorable roles about an aspiring journalist (Hathaway's character Andy) who got a job at a fashion magazine and worked for an extremely demanding boss (Streep's character Miranda). All will reprise their roles in the sequel.

Here are some iconic Miranda Priestly quotes:

"Details of your incompetence do not interest me."

"Truth is, there's no one who can do what I do."

"Please bore someone else with your questions."

But Miranda was much more than a demanding boss - she was a toxic boss.

According to a post by Gregg Vanourek, a leadership expert, "Toxic leaders inflict great damage on our organizations, communities, and nations. They draw us in with bold promises and then turn around and wreak havoc. It's important to understand the phenomenon of toxic leaders, especially why people fall for them."

Dr. Jean Lipman-Blumen, a prominent scholar of toxic leadership, defined toxic leaders as "individuals who, by virtue of their destructive behaviors and their dysfunctional personal qualities or characteristics, inflict serious and enduring harm on the individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and even the nations that they lead." In her book on the subject, she addressed the critical question of why people follow leaders who ultimately cause harm: "Toxic leaders may display confidence, charisma, and power, but their leadership is ultimately manipulative, self-serving, and detrimental to the well-being of their followers."

According to Professor Lipman-Blumen, here are some dysfunctional personal qualities of toxic leaders:

* Inability to determine right from wrong

* Enormous egos that blind them to their own shortcomings

* Arrogance that prevents them from admitting mistakes

* Ignoring others

* Reckless disregard for the impacts of their actions on others

* Harming the weakest people in the group or society

* Blaming others for their decisions and actions

* Using others to do their dirty work and throwing people under the bus

And as Gregg Vanourek wrote, "By understanding the allure of toxic leaders, we can build defenses against them. This requires critical thinking (including short-circuiting our cognitive biases), choosing better leaders, moral courage (including speaking truth to power), and cultures that value shared leadership and accountability."

Hey, Miranda...this time around, we're prepared and ready for you! See you at the movies!

SHARE THIS: We may grouse about toxic leaders, but frequently we tolerate them, and for surprisingly long periods of time. ~Jean Lipman-Blumen via @gvanourek #ToxicLeaders #TheDevilWearsPrada2 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: People don't quit jobs, they quit bosses. #ToxicLeaders #TheDevilWearsPrada2 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: We can find leadership lessons in movies. I call it the concept of reel leadership, looking at movies while intending to pull out leadership lessons. ~@JosephLalonde #ToxicLeaders #TheDevilWearsPrada2 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: The Walt Disney Company.

Read Gregg Vanourek's full article, "Why People Fall for Toxic Leaders" here:

https://triplecrownleadership.com/why-people-fall-for-toxic-leaders/

Check out the book, "The Allure of Toxic Leaders" by Jean Lipman-Blumen here:

https://www.amazon.com/Allure-Toxic-Leaders-Destructive-Politicians/dp/0195312007/

Check out the book, "Reel Leadership" by Joseph Lalonde here:

https://jmlalonde.com/product/reelleadershipbook/