146 - Inside Fandom, Innovation & Global Research with Sofia Gomez-Garcia of Warner Bros. Discovery

In this episode, Karen Lynch sits down with Sofia Gomez-Garcia, Executive Director of Innovation, Special Projects, and Global Community Management at Warner Bros. Discovery. Sofia shares the behind-the-scenes story of managing the A-List—WBD’s long-standing, non-incentivized insights community of over 45,000 fans—and how fandom fuels research agility and engagement.

She unpacks how WBD expands globally while preserving local relevance, and dives into groundbreaking studies like the company’s biometric research on nostalgia-driven content discovery. Plus, hear why Sofia is bullish on experimentation, gamification, and AI’s potential to elevate both speed and quality in insights.

Key Discussion Points:

• The evolution and impact of the Warner Bros. A-List community
• Why a non-incentivized panel works—and how fandom drives participation
• The strategic use of sub-communities (e.g., Harry Potter, DC)
• Expanding globally: launching in Japan, France, and Germany
• Biometric research on nostalgia, content browsing, and emotional response
• Balancing innovative and traditional methodologies
• Sofia’s forward-looking take on AI, synthetic data, and research integrity

Resources & Links:

• Warner Bros. Discovery
• NeuralSense (biometric research partner)

You can reach out to Sofia Gomez Garcia on LinkedIn.

Many thanks to Sofia Gomez Garcia for being our guest. Thanks also to our production team and our editor at Big Bad Audio.