Do you binge-watch Netflix or Prime shows and feel a little guilty about it? You don’t need to anymore. The truth is, those shows can be more than entertainment — they can be inspiration.
If you’re a coach, therapist, or service provider, you can use pop culture references to showcase your expertise and join conversations people are already having.
This isn’t about reviewing or critiquing shows for the sake of it. It’s about taking a storyline, a theme, or a character arc and using it as a lens to talk about your area of expertise. When you do that, you tap into the popularity of what’s trending while giving your audience a new, valuable perspective.
Examples You Can Borrow
Relationship & Dating Coaches - Reality dating shows like Love is Blind, Perfect Match, or Love Island are filled with attachment patterns, communication styles, and red flags you can break down.
Business & Creative Coaches - Mad Men is a perfect case study for how creative people worked in the pre-digital, pre-AI era. That show was my spark for writing this article.
Therapists & Healers - A show like Virgin River or The Bear can be a gateway to talk about grief, trauma responses, or boundaries.
You don’t need to force yourself to watch shows you dislike just because they’re popular. For example, I love Love is Blind but I wouldn’t watch Love Island even if you paid me to.
Stick to the ones you enjoy — your insights will feel more natural.
A Simple Framework to Try
- Pick a show you genuinely enjoy.
- Spot a theme or moment that links to your expertise.
- Share one insight — in a post, reel, or blog.
- Add a takeaway your audience can apply in real life.
That’s it. Keep it simple and consistent, and you’ll start seeing connections everywhere.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a script you can use to spark ideas:
“I am [insert your zone of expertise]. Which of the latest popular shows can I watch to showcase my expertise? Give me at least 3 shows, and ask me any additional questions so you are 95% sure you can complete the task.”
You can make the prompt stronger by being specific: ask for both latest/trending shows and timeless classics, and mention your preferred platforms (for example, Netflix or Amazon Prime).
When I tried this and followed up with clarifying questions, I ended up with a list of films and shows I hadn’t even heard of — and it instantly piqued my interest.
Resource Box: Creators Who Do This Brilliantly
Want inspiration from people who’ve built whole platforms around pop-culture tie-ins? Start here:
Legal Eagle
Real lawyer reacts to courtroom scenes in Suits or Better Call Saul.
Cinema Therapy
A therapist + filmmaker unpack movies through a psychological lens.
Reality TV Therapy
Dr. Diane Strachowski analyses dating shows like The Bachelor and Love is Blind.
Dr. Ali Mattu
Clinical psychologist breaks down mental health themes in Euphoria and Succession.
Pop Culture Detective
Breaks down cultural themes in shows like Mad Men or The Boys. His “Adorkable Misogyny of The Big Bang Theory” is a must-see for marketers.
You don’t have to go this deep — but these examples show the range of what’s possible.
Behind the Scenes: How This Blog Was Created
This is the first time I’m adding a behind the scenes section to an article. I want to show you not just the finished piece, but the steps that led here. My intention is to bring more transparency about how I use AI in my creative process — so you can see where it helps, where I draw boundaries, and how you might apply the same approach to your own work.
Inspiration
This started while I was watching Mad Men. One scene sparked an idea, I turned it into a quick reel, and that showed me the concept had potential. Paying attention to sparks of inspiration in your downtime often leads to the best content.
Research
To see if the idea had legs, I used Grok to explore how expertise is already being tied to pop culture. That gave me a list of references I hadn’t considered. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — notice what’s already out there, then adapt it for your niche.
Drafting
I tested the prompt I shared in this article inside my ChatGPT, then sat down to write the piece myself. AI gave me raw material, but the actual draft is in my words. AI works best as a brainstorming partner, not a ghost-writer — your perspective and voice are what make it unique.
Refinement
I asked ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok to critique the draft. I picked the ideas that resonated and left the rest. AI feedback is like human feedback — useful to consider, but you don’t have to follow every suggestion.
Polish
Finally, I used AI to suggest title options, a meta description, and SEO-friendly angles. These are places where I’m happy to delegate, because they’re functional tasks, not creative ones. Let AI do the heavy lifting on optimisation, while you stay in charge of the creative direction.
The overall structure and final decisions, however, are entirely my own.
What I Will Do Next
To keep the transparency going, I want to share what I’ll actually do with this article now that it’s written. Think of it as both my plan and an example of how one piece of content can be repurposed in multiple ways.
- Send it to my newsletter readers.
- Share the link in Instagram Stories.
- Post it on LinkedIn.
- Create 10 Pinterest pins (with AI support).
- Possibly record a YouTube video expanding on the theme, with the blog link in the description.
The point is not just to hit “publish and hope.” The same idea can show up in different formats and on different platforms, reaching new audiences each time.
This way, downtime turns into inspiration, inspiration becomes content, and content becomes a visibility system.
Your Turn
Think about the shows you already watch and enjoy.
Is there a moment, a character, or a storyline that links to your work?
Share it with your audience and tie it back to your expertise.
It doesn’t need to be complicated — a short post, a quick reel, or even a story is enough to spark connection and showcase what you do.
And if you want something topical to try right now:
A new season of Love is Blind is coming soon — perfect for relationship and communication insights.
The Downton Abbey finale will be in cinemas shortly — ideal for talking about tradition, social change, or even leadership dynamics.
Both are fresh opportunities to join a conversation people will already be having, while weaving in your expertise.
