Podcasts about Agency

In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover the latest revelations in astrophysics, including the intriguing prospect of supermassive dark stars, Australia's ambitious lunar rover mission, and fresh insights into the formation of our solar system.Supermassive Dark Stars: A New Cosmic DiscoveryAstronomers have identified potential candidates for a new type of star in the early universe, known as supermassive dark stars. Recent observations from the Webb Space Telescope suggest that these stars, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, are supported against gravitational collapse by dark matter. This episode delves into how these dark stars could help explain the existence of supermassive black holes and the unexpectedly bright distant galaxies observed by Webb. With the possibility of a smoking gun signature in their spectra, the implications of this discovery could reshape our understanding of dark matter and stellar evolution.Australia's Lunar Rover Mission: A Step Towards the MoonWork is underway on Australia's first lunar rover, set to launch as part of NASA's Artemis programme. This 20-kilogram robotic vehicle, developed by the Queensland University of Technology, will explore lunar geology and contribute to establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The episode covers the rover's design, mission objectives, and the collaborative efforts between Australian institutions and NASA to advance lunar exploration.Piecing Together the Early Solar SystemNew research published in Science Advances reveals that the early solar system was more chaotic than previously thought, with planets forming from recycled fragments of shattered bodies rather than pristine materials. This episode discusses the violent origins of our solar system and how high-energy collisions influenced the development of planetary cores, ultimately shaping the celestial bodies we know today.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesJournal of Physical Review Lettershttps://journals.aps.org/prl/Science Advanceshttps://www.science.org/journal/sciadvBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-your-guide-to-space-astronomy--2458531/support.Supermassive Dark Stars: A New Cosmic DiscoveryAustralia's Lunar Rover Mission: A Step Towards the MoonPiecing Together the Early Solar System(00:00) The potential discovery of supermassive dark stars(10:15) Australia's new lunar rover mission details(18:45) New findings on the chaotic origins of the solar system(25:30) Skywatch for October: Meteor showers and celestial highlights

What happens when you stop treating organic and paid as separate games, and start viewing marketing as one connected system?In this episode of Marketing Mindset, I sit down with Miruna Dragomir, CMO at Planable, to talk about the evolving role of organic social and why it's the foundation for smarter, more effective paid strategies.Miruna shares how marketers can go beyond vanity metrics, use organic content to test messaging before scaling, and build brand strength that supports every other channel.Here's what we cover:Why quality engagement beats follower counts every timeHow organic social helps validate creative before investing in paidThe balance between brand building and business outcomesWhy marketing works best when it functions as a single ecosystemIf you've been stuck trying to prove ROI from organic social or debating where it fits in your marketing mix, this episode will reshape how you think about your entire strategy.Follow Colby on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-flood/⁠Follow Colby on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/Colby__Flood⁠Visit our Agency website: ⁠www.brighterclick.com⁠Learn more about our creative strategy software: ⁠https://www.dataally.ai/

Most recruitment agency owners hit a wall around 10–20 people. The culture that made you successful starts to crack, and the personal touch gets lost. Nicholas Barton didn't just avoid that wall he redefined what scaling could look like. From packing boxes in a warehouse to leading a 100-person global firm, Nicholas built The Barton Partnership into one of Forbes' “World's Best Management Consulting Firms,” with offices in London, New York, and Singapore. He built a platform before headcount, gave away 35% of his business through share options, and kept his early hires for nearly two decades. While competitors chased quick wins, Nicholas played the long game scaling internationally without losing the cohesion that made his business special. In this episode: [03:40] How Nicholas found his niche in strategy consulting [10:50] The “spray and pray” moment that launched his career [13:04] The hires who've stayed 18 years — and why [18:33] Why giving away 35% made his firm stronger [29:08] The “airport test” and how to hire for culture [35:20] Build your platform before you scale [1:04:42] Why great service always beats great selling

In this episode of the Managing Partners Podcast, Kevin Daisey welcomes Cassidy Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers and founder of the CMO Academy. Cassidy dives into the ongoing debate of agencies versus in-house marketing and explains why the most successful law firms don't choose; they do both. She also shares insights on KPIs, strategy, fractional CMOs, and how managing partners can empower junior marketers to drive real results. Today's episode is sponsored by The Managing Partners Mastermind. Click here to schedule an interview to see if we're a fit. Chapters (00:00:00) - Law Firm Network: Managing Partners Podcast(00:00:35) - The CMO Roundtable with Cassidy Lewis(00:02:15) - Should I Hire an Agency or Build an Internal Marketing Team?(00:05:08) - Do Small Firm's Need an Internal Marketer?(00:09:39) - The CMO Academy and the Managing Partners Mastermind(00:14:30) - On Strategy and New Law Firms(00:15:53) - Cooper Harley Injury Lawyers: Legal Marketing Program

President Donald Trump and his administration abruptly ended billions of dollars in aid to foreign countries, calling it wasteful and inappropriately supporting a liberal agenda. In addition to food and medicine that went directly to Indigenous people who need it, the money and goods also promoted agriculture programs and other incentives toward preventing people with few other options from resorting to the illegal drug trade and other criminal activity that has significant bearing on American interest abroad. We'll hear about the direct effects of ending U.S. support of foreign countries as well as the long-term implications. GUESTS Sandra Lazarte (Quechua), former Indigenous Peoples and Climate advisor for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Leonardo Crippa (Kolla), senior attorney at the Indian Law Resource Center Brian Keane, co-founder of Land is Life, former UN Permanent Forum rapporteur, and the first advisor on Indigenous Peoples' Issues for U.S. Foreign Assistance Andrew Miller, advocacy director for Amazon Watch

In this episode, I sat down with @Sharon Toerek from Innovative Agency to talk about the real shifts happening in agency business development — and the constant evolution that comes with them. We unpacked why 2025 is the year agencies need to get honest about their positioning, how trust — not information — has become the key currency, and why specialization isn't just smart, it's essential for survival.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Welcome and introduction: why the agency landscape feels confusing in 2025 2:10 – The “trust recession” and why agencies are more anxious than ever 5:00 – Why information is cheap but credibility is expensive 6:30 – Specialization as a core sales lever (not just a niche tactic) 9:45 – The fear that keeps most agencies from focusing 12:00 – What ruins deals when you're not specialized 13:30 – Why the “show, don't tell” principle beats overblown ROI claims 15:00 – Thought leadership as a frictionless entry point 17:30 – How to build thought leadership around your ICP (not your ego) 19:00 – Should the founder always be the face of the content? 21:30 – Balancing new client acquisition with organic growth 23:00 – Dan's “Trust Matrix” for prioritizing outbound calls 24:30 – Systematizing referrals (without being weird about it) 26:00 – The three “food groups” of agency sales 28:00 – Why most agencies over-engineer outbound and underdeliver 29:30 – What's surprised Dan about agency sales in recent years 31:00 – What smart agency owners are doing differently 32:00 – Where AI helps — and where it's just shiny object syndrome 34:00 – Why more agencies will start to look like consultancies soon 35:00 – Where to go to learn more about Dan's model

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you really implementing AI in your agency the right way? Adding a random tool just to say you “use AI” isn't the game changer many agency owners hope it will be. In fact, chasing shiny AI solutions can waste time, drain resources, and create tools your team never actually uses. Many agency leaders, especially those aiming to build a sellable business, assume any form of AI integration will automatically boost their agency's value. But today's featured guest strongly disagrees. He's seen firsthand how agencies fall into the trap of building solutions first and searching for problems later, a costly mistake that does more harm than good. Instead, he's here to share how to approach AI adoption strategically, in ways that actually stick and drive real results. Ken McLoud is the CEO of Laconic Technologies, a business that aims to help agencies figure out how to make AI actually useful. His specialty is finding high-leverage spots in your agency where AI can unlock growth without bloating your headcount. Ken helps owners avoid wasted tools and instead roll out AI that gives their teams real superpowers. In this episode we'll discuss: How agency owners are forcing AI integration the wrong way. When to use custom code. A case study of real world wins and misses. The future of AI in agencies. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Stop Forcing AI Where It Doesn't Belong Ken specializes in helping agency owners start to think strategically about AI. One of the first things he warns about is the “solution in search of a problem” trap. Too many agency owners decide, “We need to be using AI somewhere,” and then jam it into the wrong part of the business. That usually leads to tools that sound cool but don't move the needle, or worse, meet resistance from the very team that's supposed to use them. Instead, Ken suggests starting with the business itself. Are you demand-constrained (needing more leads) or supply-constrained (too much work, not enough capacity)? His litmus test is simple: if a fairy godmother doubled your clients overnight, would you cheer or panic? That answer tells you where the bottleneck really is, and that's the exact spot where AI should be applied. Case Study: Smarter Finance Insights with AskQuick.ai Ken worked to build AskQuick.ai with Nate Jenson, a fractional CFO who worked with tons of agencies. Nate had deep financial expertise but needed a way to scale his brain. Together, they built AskQuick.ai, a chatbot trained on Nate's own textbook of agency finance. The result was a tool that taps into a client's QuickBooks data to deliver specific insights, like spotting which clients are actually losing money. After a rebrand, he is now marketing the product as a simple, agency-friendly tool rather than a complex back-end. No-Code Tools vs. Custom Code: Where's the Breaking Point? Every agency owner has been tempted by tools like N8N, Zapier, or Make.com. According to Ken, these tools are perfect for simple workflows and stuff you could explain in one or two sentences. These tools are often pitched as something anyone with a computer and no experience ca n use, but once your automation starts piling up with dozens of nodes, things break constantly, and you spend more time fixing than benefiting. That's when it's smarter to build custom code. Ken compares it to driving stick shift: more control, less frustration, and often a way faster solution. AI As a Superpower Not a Replacement For Ken, the real promise of AI isn't replacing people, but rather upgrading them. He calls it “giving your team superpowers.” By offloading the repetitive, low-value work to AI, you free up your people to focus on strategy, creativity, and client impact. Instead of fearing AI, most teams welcome it. Nobody loves repetitive tasks, and when you use AI to clear that away, your staff gets to spend more time on what actually lights them up. Real-World Wins (and Misses) If you're wondering how some agencies are using AI right, Ken has seen quite a few examples. For instance, an Australian medical agency built a custom chatbot trained on years of proprietary medical content. The tool now helps their writers quickly draft accurate, technical marketing content; something that would have taken hours of research before. Huge win. On the other hand, this agency built a classic example of a solution in search of a problem. Basically, the owner wanted an elaborate folder system to organize AI chats. It sounded clever, but the writers never actually needed it. Why? Because new AI queries were faster than digging through folders. A perfect example of chasing a solution before identifying a real problem. The Future of AI in Agencies in Plain English Looking ahead, Ken sees AI becoming a tool to replace code and processes. Many things we used to hardwire with messy “if-this-then-that” logic can now be handled with prompts. That means non-technical agency owners can adjust systems in plain English instead of hiring a developer every time they need a change. These tools can make all the difference for agencies that get hundreds of deals come through every day and need a quick way to sort through the ones that can be most profitable from those that likely won't. In these cases speed is everything and AI can deliver in a way that human response cannot. However, Ken is also clear that not every problem should be handed to AI. High-value, low-risk areas, like grading prospects or filtering opportunities, are perfect testing grounds. Mission-critical, high-risk functions will probably still need human oversight for a while. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Most people would assume that raising capital for a celebrity-backed business would be a cakewalk, but Thai Randolph knew that was far from the truth. Securing $100 million in investment for Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Productions required more than just a famous name; it took proving real value, building trust, and navigating rejection. Her success led to one of the largest private-equity rounds ever led by a Black woman in the U.S. In this episode, Thai joins Ilana to share the lessons she's learned throughout her career, from her time at Sony, Facebook, and Lionsgate. She also opens up about her personal struggles with fertility while building a successful career and the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership style. Thai Randolph is an award-winning entrepreneur and marketer, and the former CEO of Hartbeat, where she led the company's growth and secured a $100M investment, one of the largest private-equity rounds led by a Black woman in the U.S. In this episode, Ilana and Thai discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:51) How Thai's Small-Town Roots Shaped Her Path (04:58) Pivoting from Marketing Missiles to Storytelling (09:36) Breaking into Big Tech: From Sony to Facebook (14:14) Balancing Fertility Struggles and Career Moves (22:11) Joining Lionsgate and Meeting Kevin Hart (26:34) Challenges of Carving Out a New Business (28:20) Raising $100M for Hartbeat Against All Odds (32:40) Transitioning to CEO and Leadership Lessons (37:49) Balancing Work, Life, and Avoiding Burnout (41:57) Redefining Your Identity Beyond the Job Title (49:28) Thai's Next Big Ventures and Future Plans Thai Randolph is an entrepreneur and marketer, and the former CEO of Hartbeat, where she led the company's growth and secured a $100M investment, one of the largest private-equity rounds led by a Black woman in the U.S. As President and COO of Laugh Out Loud, she oversees the strategy and operations for Kevin Hart's comedy network. Thai has driven digital transformation at companies like Facebook and Sony, and provided media strategy for top brands like Verizon, Dell, and more. Connect with Thai:  Thai's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thairandolph Thai's Instagram: instagram.com/thairandolph Resources Mentioned: Thai's Podcast, The Suga: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-suga/id1502324399  LOL Network: youtube.com/@lolnetwork  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training 

A conduit for brands to reach Gen Z women. Sponsored by Supporting Cast.

Taxpayer advocates are keeping close watch on this week's decision to name Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano as CEO of the IRS, and have many questions about what it could mean for the agency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday he was creating a new IRS CEO position, and Republicans in Congress seem to be generally supportive, though some said the White House should still name an IRS commissioner nominee. The Treasury Department assured staff in GOP Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's office that a commissioner nominee would still be sent to the Senate. At the same time, the Senate Finance Committee voted Wednesday to advance Derek Theurer's nomination to be undersecretary for legislative affairs and Donald Korb's nomination to be IRS chief counsel. That's good news for Pete Sepp —president of the National Taxpayers Union, a taxpayer advocacy group—who is concerned that many of the top IRS positions remained unfilled. Sepp, who sat down with Bloomberg Tax Senior Reporter Chris Cioffi for this episode of Talking Tax, said Congress is right to seek answers about how the CEO job interacts with the commissioner. He said he hoped the CEO position, in the future, would be selected by an IRS oversight board that has been dormant for more than a decade. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

The intelligence world is evolving rapidly. Former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante explains Cold War tech, Ukraine strategy, and global conflicts. [Pt. 1/2]Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1220What We Discuss with Andrew Bustamante:Number stations are still active intelligence tools. These mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts transmitting sequences of numbers remain a viable covert communication method. Using one-time pad encryption, they allow intelligence services to send untraceable messages to operatives worldwide. The receiver is nearly impossible to identify since anyone with a cheap shortwave radio could be listening, making this Cold War technology still relevant in the digital age.World War III may already be underway. According to Andrew, there are currently 161 active conflict zones globally, most involving multiple countries supporting different sides through proxy warfare. This represents a fundamentally different kind of world war — not the massive conventional battles of WWII, but an interconnected web of conflicts where nations profit economically from supporting wars without direct engagement.Russia is winning in Ukraine. Despite Western support, Russia continues to control 17-18% of Ukrainian territory and maintains consistent progress. Putin's long-term messaging strategy has been remarkably effective, and with decreasing US support, Ukraine faces an increasingly difficult position. The conflict may ultimately result in a divided nation, with reconstruction contracts becoming the real prize for both Western and Russian interests.Leaving the CIA is designed to be nearly impossible. The Agency provides zero transition assistance and maintains operatives in "leave without pay" status rather than terminating them, making it easy to return but extremely difficult to move forward. Covert officers face resume gaps they cannot explain, fake work histories that don't check out, and a cover rollback process that can take years — all designed to make former officers fail and return.International experience creates unique opportunities and safety nets. Whether it's obtaining dual citizenship for your children, understanding how to navigate corrupt systems (like ducking into upscale hotels owned by powerful people when police hassle you), or recognizing that Americans abroad often receive preferential treatment, global exposure provides tangible advantages. Part two will explore more about modern espionage, global conflict, and what it means for the rest of us.And much more...And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: DripDrop: 20% off: DripDrop.com, code JORDANMomentous: Go to livemomentous.com and use code JORDAN20 for 20% off your first orderGrammarly: Get 20% off premium at grammarly.com/jordanAirbnb: airbnb.com/hostAG1: Welcome kit: drinkag1.com/jordanWhat Was That Like: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy launched an ad agency… It's vertical integration, daddy-style.Lamborghini & Aston-Martin now sell $5k baby strollers… and fertility explains the trend.CBS News named Bari Weiss as Editor in Chief… The new target customer? 70% of Americans are “radical centrists.”Plus, more Americans are sewing & knitting… and that's an economic indicator.Vote for The Best Idea Yet to win “Best Business Podcast”: ​​https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/business$PSKYNEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter OUR 2ND SHOW:Want more business storytelling from us? Check our weekly deepdive show, The Best Idea Yet: The untold origin story of the products you're obsessed with. Listen for free to The Best Idea Yet: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/NEW LISTENERSFill out our 2 minute survey: https://qualtricsxm88y5r986q.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dp1FDYiJgt6lHy6GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Linkedin (Nick): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/Linkedin (Jack): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ About Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, The Best One Yet is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kari Lake is a failed politician. She ran for governor of Arizona and lost. She ran for the United State Senate and lost. She was successfully sued for defamation and was forced to settle. She has pushed the lie that Trump won the 2020 presidential election. So of course, Trump made her senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. And now, Kari Lake is a defendant in a case being presided over by DC Federal District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. As Politico reported, "Judge pauses cuts to US Agency for Global Media: Judge Royce Lamberth said the agency's 'concerning disrespect' for court orders under the leadership of Kari Lake would justify contempt proceedings." Glenn reviews this legal development, and he discusses whether Kari Lake may be heading for contempt charges.For nightly live Law Talks, please join Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comIf you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We know we know, we missed a week but chilll the boys was busy. We catch up on all things Heye frequency Agency, Talk about being lost in the airport, Unks vs Yn's battle and much more. Tune in!  To watch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@DormtainmentTV⁠ Follow Rome: ⁠@iromealot⁠ Follow Cameron: ⁠@camfromdt⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want Rory's system to turn one brief into 100+ assets with AI? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/drf Ep 368 Ever wonder how you can use AI to reduce the amount of money you're spending on ads to acquire more customers? Kipp and Kieran dive into how to leverage AI to scale creative asset production and transform your marketing workflow with expert insights from AI creative mastermind Rory Flynn. Learn more on building prompt formulas for high-quality imagery and video, deploying node-based tools like Weavy to automate and batch-create assets, and reverse engineering creative building blocks to make every marketer self-sufficient in the age of AI. Mentions Rory Flynn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rory-flynn-ai Midjourney https://www.midjourney.com/ Weavy https://www.weavy.ai/ Claude https://www.midjourney.com/ Get our guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/customgpt We're creating our next round of content and want to ensure it tackles the challenges you're facing at work or in your business. To understand your biggest challenges we've put together a survey and we'd love to hear from you! https://bit.ly/matg-research Resource [Free] Steal our favorite AI Prompts featured on the show! Grab them here: https://clickhubspot.com/aip We're on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtXqPiNV8YC0GMUzY-EUFg  Twitter: https://twitter.com/matgpod  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matgpod  Join our community https://landing.connect.com/matg Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain! Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934   If you love this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review https://link.chtbl.com/h9_sjBKH and share your favorite episodes with friends. We really appreciate your support. Host Links: Kipp Bodnar, https://twitter.com/kippbodnar   Kieran Flanagan, https://twitter.com/searchbrat  ‘Marketing Against The Grain' is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Produced by Darren Clarke.

How do we keep our creative edge—and ourselves—intact while navigating constant demands, distractions, and emotional turbulence? In this episode, we explore two distinct yet overlapping paths to real impact and creative resilience.We first sit down with Robert Glazer, best-selling author of The Compass Within, who demystifies the role of core values as more than just aspirational words—they're non-negotiable principles that serve as a compass for decision making, relationships, and leadership. We discuss how to identify actionable, clarifying values, why supposed “values” like “family” often hide deeper principles, and how lack of alignment between values and life leads to burnout and stagnation. Glazer shares his “big three” most life-defining decisions and what happens when our work, partners, or communities are out of sync with who we really are.Next, we're joined by Josh Pais, veteran actor and creator of Committed Impulse, whose new book Lose Your Mind offers a radical take on performance and presence. Pais reveals how reframing so-called “negative” emotions like anxiety and nervousness—as simply energy—transforms dread into creative fuel. He walks us through practical access points to presence, explains why emotion labeling sabotages creativity, and shares tools for cultivating the embodied awareness needed to consistently put ourselves on the line, whether the audience is one person or a thousand.Together, these conversations serve up a roadmap for navigating modern creative pressures with clarity, energy, and authenticity.Five Key Learnings from This Episode:Core values aren't beliefs—they're actionable, non-negotiable principles that guide behavior and decisions across every area of life and work.Naming surface-level values like “family” isn't enough—clarity comes from articulating how those values show up as decisions and actions, both personally and professionally.Burnout is often rooted not in workload, but in living incongruently with our core values, which drains energy and leads to fragmentation or eventual crisis.Emotions like fear or nervousness are not “bad”—they're simply sensations, or energy, that, when accepted and embodied, can be used as creative fuel rather than barriers.Authenticity is grounded in presence and congruence: anchoring to core values provides direction, while welcoming our emotional experience gives us the fuel to show up bravely and perform at our best.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.

Dr. Dave Jones is the Founder of M is Good, one of the world's largest Christian marketing agencies, and creator of the R7 Process for vision-centered communication. A former pro hockey player turned sport and performance psychology consultant, he has coached elite NHL and NFL athletes for over 20 years while leading an agency that has served hundreds of clients worldwide. Author of Vision Wins: 7 Strategies for Mental Toughness in Life and Sports, Dr. Jones is passionate about faith-driven leadership, peak performance, and helping others turn setbacks into vision-fueled success. In this episode… Setbacks in business and sports can stall momentum and erode confidence, while hidden barriers such as fear, lust, anger, and pride can quietly sabotage progress. Vision blurs, emotions take over, and resilience fades. But can mental toughness tools and clear vision turn valleys into stepping stones — and help leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs thrive under pressure? Dr. Dave Jones shares how setbacks in business and hockey shaped his approach to vision-centered communication and mental resilience. He introduces his R7 Process for clarifying vision and strategy, addresses the “FLAP” factors — fear, lust, anger, and pride — that sabotage success, and offers practical tools, like the “reload” technique and affirmations. Drawing parallels between sports and business, he highlights the importance of self-awareness, coachability, and preparation for inevitable challenges. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Dr. Dave Jones about unlocking peak performance and resilience in life and business. Dr. Jones shares his R7 framework and mental toughness tools used by elite athletes to manage stress, reframe setbacks, and stay goal-focused. They also explore mentorship, emotional intelligence, and putting others first — offering mindset shifts for leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs alike.

What if your best marketing asset isn't your funnel or ad spend — but your values?Darren Magarro, founder and president of The DSM Group (https://thedsmgroup.com), joins me to unpack how he built one of New Jersey's top marketing agencies from scratch — starting with just his gut instincts, a deep belief in community, and zero cold calls.Darren's story is raw, real, and refreshingly grounded. From walking away from Wall Street to scaling a multi-million-dollar agency in an industry obsessed with flash, Darren shares the mindset shifts, hiring mistakes, and personal breakthroughs that helped him build something sustainable, profitable, and purpose-driven.

Welcome to an inspiring conversation on the future of learning with Michael Ioffe, founder of Arist, a company doing really interesting work in education. Michael is a Forbes 30 under 30 and a Thiel fellow. Michael joins host Mike Palmer to share his journey, beginning with his early obsession with education, influenced by his parents who were refugees. His experiences, including scaling free live conversations with entrepreneurs to 500 cities in 50 countries by age 18, led to a critical insight in a war zone in Yemen: the best way to deliver learning where educational resources and internet access are limited is via text message. This led to building Arist, which focuses on meeting people where they are and making learning conversational and digestible. We explore how constraints drive innovation and how Arist was ahead of the curve, foreseeing that most workplace communication would shift to messaging tools and leveraging the power of early AI models like GPT-3. We discuss how being text-based puts Arist at the native environment of LLMs and how conciseness forces clarity in learning design. Michael explains that Arist courses are not "micro learning" in a way that suggests they are less significant, but are intentionally designed to chunk information into bite-sized, conversational, and practice-oriented pieces. We also cover the importance of making instruction feel human, using custom data and custom workflows to ensure content is reliable, and how Arist enables rapid upskilling in the flow of work for enterprises. For example, a client with 30,000 employees was able to push out content on AI and data literacy immediately using Arist, compared to the six months it would have taken with existing tools. The conversation culminates in a discussion about the shift from focusing on skills to focusing on outcomes, and why agency is the single most important human skill in the age of AI. Michael shares that the role of the teacher is evolving from knowledge-provider to curator, facilitator, and mentor, helping students define their ambitious outcomes. The limit in the age of exponentially better AI models is no longer the model, but our own ability to ask better, smarter, and more interesting questions. Key Takeaways Learning in the Flow of Work: Learning should meet people where they are, making it digestible and conversational, often via messaging tools. The Power of Constraints: Challenges, such as a lack of internet access in a war zone, can drive innovations like text message courses, which then prove widely relevant. AI and Frictionless Learning: Leveraging AI to create content delivered through messaging makes learning completely frictionless for both the creator and the end-user. Focus on Outcomes Over Skills: The future of education needs to shift its focus from building and measuring skills to achieving specific, desired outcomes, with AI accelerating the path to those outcomes. Agency is the Core Skill: The number one skill that matters with AI is human agency—the ability to figure out the outcome you care about and what you need to do to accomplish it. New Role for Educators: Teachers and leaders shift to curators, facilitators, and mentors who help students define ambitious goals and push them to achieve more than they thought possible. If you're interested in how disruptive technology like AI is reshaping corporate learning, instructional design, and career readiness, this episode offers a forward-thinking perspective. We break down the evolution of learning delivery and why focusing on human agency is key to thriving in the future of work. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one.

Jeremie Watson is here! As the founder of Watson Marketing Agency and an award-winning marketer, he helps brands achieve their highest potential, especially in the 7 to 8 figures. Jeremie believes that every mistake is a unique learning opportunity. He advocates for embracing the longer path to lasting success and being patient with ourselves to avoid burnout. His philosophy is to stop comparing yourself to others, take the time to understand who you are, and remember: persistence is key. Never give up!You can connect with Jeremie Watson on Instagram @ceojeremie

Kari Lake is a failed politician. She ran for governor of Arizona and lost. She ran for the United State Senate and lost. She was successfully sued for defamation and was forced to settle. She has pushed the lie that Trump won the 2020 presidential election. So of course, Trump made her senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. And now, Kari Lake is a defendant in a case being presided over by DC Federal District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. As Politico reported, "Judge pauses cuts to US Agency for Global Media: Judge Royce Lamberth said the agency's 'concerning disrespect' for court orders under the leadership of Kari Lake would justify contempt proceedings." Glenn reviews this legal development, and he discusses whether Kari Lake may be heading for contempt charges.For nightly live Law Talks, please join Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comIf you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Original air date: October 25, 2022During times in this episode, there is sensitive content that may be traumatizing to some audiences. Listener discretion advised.Katie is an adoptee who has always known she was adopted. Abuse and neglect by adoptive parents growing up led her to feeling unloved or unwanted by them. As a younger person, Katie felt so broken and joined Al-Anon and (ACA) Adult Children of Alcoholics for healing. She still felt like something was missing in her recovery. A friend gave Katie the book, The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier, and she then sought out podcasts about adoptees which all proved to be great resources.Katie never had the desire to look for her birth parents, but an acquaintance insisted, and found maternal and paternal birth parents within days in 1996. She has met both birth families and have different relationships with them today.Music by Corey Quinn

Today in the business of podcasting: ChatGPT debuts Spotify integration, Alex Cooper's new creative agency lands Google as first client, and reflections on what new generative AI video tools mean for content advertising.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Show SummaryThis episode features a conversation with Kathleen Ellertson, the Founder and President of the Veteran Art Institute. The Veteran Art Institute is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit dedicated to honoring and empowering active-duty military and veterans through the arts.Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today's GuestKathleen Ellertson is the dedicated Founder and President of the Veteran Art Institute (VAI). Inspired by her father, an Army Air Forces Veteran and WWII Bronze Star Medal recipient, Kathleen has channeled her lifelong passion for the arts into a mission to honor veterans through creative expression. With a BFA in Art History and years of experience curating veteran art exhibits, including a notable year-long exhibit at the Pentagon, Kathleen has established VAI as a platform for veterans to showcase their work both online and in local galleries. Since its inception in 2019, VAI has not only hosted numerous art exhibitions but has also cultivated a nurturing community where veteran artists can share their stories and find solace. Kathleen's unwavering dedication to giving back to the veteran community continues to drive her work, making a meaningful impact through art and advocacy.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeVeteran Art Institute Web Site PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Telling Your Story. Your experience in the United States military is one only you can tell and it's up to you how much you choose to share with others. In this course, four Veterans share their personal stories and offer insight.   You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-s-a-v-e Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Katie Dally is a seasoned marketing executive with experience on both the agency and client sides, most recently as the General Manager of Brand, Creative, and Operations at Endeavour Group.  Katie shares her experience transitioning to from an agency leadership role to a client roles, exploring the cultural shifts and challenges faced this transition.  She discusses the importance of understanding the role of marketing within organizations, the need for strategic thinking in agencies, and the impact of AI on the marketing landscape.  And Katie highlights the necessity for marketers and agencies to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing environment while maintaining a focus on human-centric skills. Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/managing-marketing/id1018735190   Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75mJ4Gt6MWzFWvmd3A64XW?si=a3b63c66ab6e4934   Listen on Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/managing-marketing   Listen on Podbean: https://managingmarketing.podbean.com/    For more episodes of TrinityP3's Managing Marketing podcast, visit https://www.trinityp3.com/managing-marketing-podcasts/   Recorded on RiversideFM and edited, mixed and managed by JML Audio with thanks to Jared Lattouf.

The Prime Minister has told young unemployed people to get off the couch, stop playing PlayStation, and go find a job because there's lots of them. The government plans to means test the parents of 18 and 19-year-old applying for a JobSeeker benefit. If the parents make about $65,500 combined, their teenager won't be eligible for a benefit. Angela Singleton, the General Manager of First Call Recruitment spoke to Lisa Owen.

Is the transition to a sustainable economy happening to us or because of us? Associate Professor Ioannis Ioannou (London Business School) joins host Kate Webber to unpack the recent ESG backlash and why today's “disorderly transition” must become an orderly one. We explore how investors can push markets toward aligned capitalism - a system that lives within planetary and social boundaries - while unlocking “trapped competencies” and long-term value.Overview Ioannou argues we don't choose whether to transition—the system is already shifting amid climate change, biodiversity loss, and widening social inequalities. The real choice is whether that transition is orderly (policy-led, long-term, and integrated) or disorderly (reactive, crisis-driven). He outlines how investors can re-center long-termism, integrate sustainability into core strategy (not a side product), and restore the original purpose of capital markets: scaling real-economy solutions.Detailed coverageOrderly vs. disorderly transition: Planetary boundaries are breached; social stress is rising. An orderly path minimises harm and plans within ecological and social limits.Aligned capitalism: Capitalism is a human-made system that can be re-ruled to fit reality. Policy, incentives, and investment practices should align with science and society.From stranded assets to “trapped competencies”: Future-fit capabilities (circularity, regeneration, inclusion) remain undervalued until the system aligns—creating alpha for first movers.Investor playbook: Reframe metrics beyond short-term profits; deploy patient capital toward companies building system-shifting capabilities; advocate for rules that unlock these competencies.Integration, not silos: Sustainability must hold authority inside firms; RI can't be a niche fund while the rest ignores impacts.Capital markets' role: Finance the next industrial transformation (energy, transport, food). Prioritise scaling real solutions over purely financial engineering.Beyond shareholder primacy: Re-balance to a “team production” model that values natural and human capital alongside financial capital.Long-termism & multilateralism: Global problems need global collaboration; regionalism can't substitute. Impacts are already “now,” not just long term.Why the ESG backlash can help: It forces clearer, evidence-based narrative infrastructure (not just technical standards) that connects with citizens and beneficiaries.Agency & communication: Engage end-investors better (including with AI-enabled tools); reflect their values in products; compound positive choices over time.Responsibility redefined: Don't just align—restore and regenerate ecological and social capital.Chapters00:01 – Welcome & series context00:52 – Guest intro and PRI's Investment Case database02:11 – Orderly vs. disorderly transition05:38 – Defining “aligned capitalism”07:37 – Future-fit capabilities & trapped competencies10:51 – Investor incentives for alpha & impact14:12 – Making RI core (authority, integration, structure)18:17 – Capital markets' original purpose21:08 – Shareholder primacy & governance rethink25:30 – Long-termism, regionalism, and global coordination29:02 – Why the ESG backlash might be good31:18 – From technical to narrative infrastructure36:53 –...

Today in the business of podcasting: ChatGPT debuts Spotify integration, Alex Cooper's new creative agency lands Google as first client, and reflections on what new generative AI video tools mean for content advertising.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

In this episode of the podcast; In July this year, the Government published their 10 year health plan for England - A new analysis just published on BMJ.com takes an in depth look at the chances of that plan succeeding, and where the government needs to focus time and resources. Bob Klaber, paediatrician and director of strategy, research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare, and Helen Salisbury, GP and columnist for the BMJ join us to discuss. Journalist Chris Stoker-Walker's grandfather suffered from delirium at the end of his life, but the journey to that diagnosis was difficult - Chris joins us to talk about the impact that had on his family, and Elizabeth Sampson, professor of liaison psychiatry from Queen Mary University of London, explains why it's under-researched. Finally, we've been reporting from Gaza for 2 years, and it's been very difficult to get accurate information out of the region. However, new research published on bmj.com has surveyed medics there, to document the patterns of wounding in the civilian population - to improve the medical response to the conflict. Omar El-Taji and Ameer Ali, resident doctors in the NHS join us to explain what they found.   Reading list: Delivering on the 10 year health plan for England Why can't we do anything about delirium? Patterns of war related trauma in Gaza during armed conflict  

Now on Spotify Video! Hala Taha's journey into entrepreneurship began after repeated rejections from gatekeepers at Hot 97 and MTV. While at Disney, she was overlooked despite her corporate accomplishments. Realizing that waiting for others' permission was limiting her potential, she scaled her podcast from a side hustle into a multi-million-dollar business. Today, she runs YAP Media, with over 50 employees and a podcast network of more than 35 top creators. In this episode, Hala joins Hal Elrod on the Achieve Your Goals podcast to explore her entrepreneurial journey and the mindset entrepreneurs need to build a successful business. In this episode, Hal and Hala will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:00) Her Father's Influence and Legacy (07:46) Using the Law of Attraction for a Limitless Life (11:31) Overcoming Adversity and Reinventing Herself (22:13) Scaling a Side Hustle into a Podcast Empire (35:58) Using Affirmations to Manifest Business Success (41:44) Skill Stacking for Entrepreneurial Success (50:03) The Future Vision of YAP Media Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting, a top 10 business and entrepreneurship podcast on Apple and Spotify. She's the founder and CEO of YAP Media, an award-winning social media and podcast agency, as well as the YAP Media Network, where she helps renowned podcasters like Jenna Kutcher, Neil Patel, and Russell Brunson grow and monetize their shows. With her business on track to hit eight figures in 2025, Hala stands out as a leading creator-entrepreneur. Sponsored By: Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. Mercury streamlines your banking and finances in one place. Learn more at mercury.com/profiting Quo - Get 20% off your first 6 months at Quo.com/PROFITING  Revolve - Head to REVOLVE.com/PROFITING and take 15% off your first order with code PROFITING Framer- Go to Framer.com and use code PROFITING to launch your site for free. Merit Beauty - Go to meritbeauty.com to get your free signature makeup bag with your first order. Pipedrive - Get a 30-day free trial at pipedrive.com/profiting Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Resources Mentioned: Hala's Podcast, Young and Profiting: bit.ly/_YAP-apple  Hala's Agency, YAP Media: yapmedia.com    Achieve Your Goals Podcast by Hal Elrod: bit.ly/AYG-apple  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Startup, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

This time - John discusses Trump's lust to keep the government shutdown going so he can fire as many non-loyalists as possible. He also talks about the MAGA fury at the Pope for blessing a glacier and telling people to help immigrants. Plus, he goes on a rant about Trump's former spiritual adviser Robert Morris who admitted he sexually abused a teenage girl but was given a pass to continue his ministry. Then, John welcomes back democratic strategist Max Burns to talk listeners off a ledge and give advice to frustrated Dems with no hope for the future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Courtney Harding, founder of Friends with Holograms and a leading voice in spatial computing, joins Srini to discuss the real-world applications and philosophical implications of immersive technologies like VR and AR. Drawing from her background in music journalism, activism, and public policy, she unpacks how virtual experiences are reshaping education, work, and socialization — especially for marginalized communities. Courtney challenges the common fear narratives around tech, advocating instead for thoughtful regulation, inclusive design, and greater human agency. From the classroom to the workplace, from social VR to AI-enhanced creativity, she explores how immersive tools can increase empathy, bridge physical divides, and elevate equity — when built with intention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:A simple but important definition of “agency” and why it matters for individuals and teams.What it looks like to create “a leader in every seat” — and how that changes the way a team operates day to day.Why agency is especially important right now, and whether it's harder to cultivate in today's world.How “agency” differs from the more familiar idea of “empowerment.”What organizations truly gain when individuals and teams embrace agency.A look at the 10-step roadmap to unleash agency, including which steps are the toughest to implement — and a quick win to get momentum fast.Real-world examples of how unleashing agency has made a difference in organizations.The very first step to changing organizations, and practical advice for both leaders and team members who want to make an impact.To learn more about this guest:WebsiteKJCG.com 

Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan sits down with Ana Laskey, an experienced market researcher and strategist, to tackle one of the industry's hot-button issues: the art and business of agency strategy. As the marketing landscape gets more crowded with freelance talent and AI tools, Drew and Ana dig deep into what truly differentiates agencies—our ability to develop meaningful, insight-driven strategies that help clients succeed. Ana brings her expertise to the table, sharing how pairing robust market research with a well-defined strategic methodology can help agencies deliver smarter, more profitable work. Together, they explore the dangers of gathering too little or too much information, the weaknesses of relying solely on AI for insights, and the necessity for agencies to develop consistent and niche-focused processes for strategy development. Ana emphasizes that strategy isn't just about information abundance—it's about refining the right data to create actionable plans that are rooted in genuine client needs and market realities. You'll come away with actionable advice on how to standardize your strategic process, build a reliable methodology for insight gathering, and confidently present your findings to clients—even when they push back. Ana and Drew also discuss the economics of strategy work, how to integrate research costs into your agency's proposals, and ways to communicate the value of this work to clients who may hesitate to invest.   If you're grappling with how to make your agency's strategic offerings stand out and drive meaningful results, this episode is packed with practical tips, real-world examples, and a clear call to rethink your approach to strategy. Don't miss it—you'll finish the hour ready to lead your team through a smarter, more streamlined strategy process that delights your clients and protects your bottom line.   A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why having a defined methodology is essential for effective agency strategy   The critical role of niche focus in building strategic expertise How to gather and validate the right data for client strategy Differentiating assumptions from facts in strategic recommendations The impact of new research tools, including AI, on accessing insights Communicating the value and cost of strategic work to clients The importance of confident, insight-driven storytelling to win client trust

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Most agencies don't make it 25 years but Bill Swanston's has. From surviving 9/11 to leading a 30-person team through COVID, Bill shares how Bosun (formerly Frederick Swanston) adapted, learned to love KPIs, empowered their team, and even pulled off a successful rebrand. His story proves you can survive the toughest agency seasons and come out stronger—if you track the right numbers, avoid “superclient” risk, and learn to truly let go. What You'll Learn Why resilience (not just growth hacks) is the real agency survival skill How ignoring KPIs almost cost the agency big—and how to avoid that mistake Why letting go of control is the only way to grow past founder-dependence What a rebrand really signals about an agency's maturity and leadership shift The hidden dangers of relying on a “superclient” Key Takeaways Keep overhead light in uncertain times—it gives you room to maneuver when crises hit. Track your KPIs like a client project: salaries as % of AGI, AGI per employee, revenue per client. Don't rely on a single client for survival—client concentration is a silent killer. Empower your team early—you can't scale if you're reviewing every deliverable yourself. Rebrands work when they reflect a cultural shift—not just a new logo. What does it really take to keep an agency alive through market crashes, pandemics, and the endless grind without burning out or losing your edge? Today's featured guest will unpack his journey from starting in a basement with a couple of clients to leading a 30-person team through some of the toughest seasons an agency can face. From navigating financial blind spots to learning how to actually let go and trust his team, and the reason the agency's 25th anniversary actually marked a big shift with a new rebrand. Bill Swanston is the president and founder of Bosun, an Atlanta-based agency that just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Formerly known as Frederick Swanston, the agency has weathered market crashes, client shakeups, and a pandemic while building a powerhouse team with deep creative and digital chops. In this episode, we'll discuss: The challenges that really tested the agency's resilience. How learning to love KPIs saved the business. Why rebrand after 25 years? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Building Through Adversity and Surviving 9/11 After moving back to Atlanta from New York, Bill was freelancing at BBDO and thinking about switching to smaller agency. As he saw it, it was better to be a big fish in a smaller pond. Unfortunately, his gig at the smaller agency was short lived, since the agency shut down for good. Instead of packing it in, Bill and his partner Scott Frederick grabbed a few clients, set up shop in a basement, and got to work. Built-in revenue gave them a smoother start than most scrappy entrepreneurs, but reality set in quickly. By the early 2000s, they were hit hard by 9/11 and its ripple effect on corporate events. It was a reminder that whether you're at a big holding company or running your own small shop, stability is often an illusion. Surviving those first waves meant keeping overhead light, grinding it out, and learning how to adapt before the word “pivot” became a business cliché. The Challenge that Really Tested the Agency's Resilience Partnerships can make or break an agency and Bill admits the early years with his partner had their rough patches, not as creatives, but as business owners learning how to disagree productively. Over time, their different strengths meshed into what became a powerful leadership duo. But nothing tested the agency quite like COVID. With a staff of 30 suddenly looking to them for answers, the partners had to act fast. They slashed salaries, cut their own pay completely, and relied on federal relief programs like PPP loans to keep the team intact. That lifeline, combined with quick adjustments, got them back on track. As Bill put it, “It was the absolute worst period of time for the agency. But we came out stronger because we had no choice but to figure it out fast.” From Gut Instinct to KPIs That Saved the Business Like a lot of creative-led shops, Bill and his partner weren't exactly obsessed with financial metrics at first. According to Bill, they mostly leaned on QuickBooks, check-writing, and gut instincts. That worked until it didn't. By the time they realized improprieties had slipped under the radar, they knew it was time to upgrade. Today, they track everything from salaries as a percentage of adjusted gross income to AGI per employee to recurring revenue versus project-based work. They also look at revenue per client to ensure there isn't any one account that is overwhelming the team. Like many agencies, they had this happen at one point, with a client that accounted for 50% of their billing. He remembers being scared once this client started to dwindle as a result of the ‘08 crisis, which taught him the danger of relying on superclients that can walk away and take half your revenue with them. Bill stresses that KPIs aren't about being a math whiz, but about having clarity. Knowing your true profitability by client or department means you stop guessing and start making better decisions. “We do it for our clients,” he said, “so we've got to do it for ourselves too.” Nowadays, he works with an external CPA and an internal comptroller who help him keep an eye on the agency's finances. Pro tip: If you're not yet at the point where you can have a CFO but don't know where to start to assess your agency's financials, use askquick.ai. It's a tool developed by Jason and his team that'll help you figure out your most profitable clients, assess your financial red flags, measure your KPIs, and more. Learning to Let Go and Empower the Team For the first decade, Bill and Scott were deep in the weeds, reviewing every creative output, managing every account, carrying the business on their backs. Eventually, the workload became too much and they had to learn how to trust others. Empowering team members to make real decisions wasn't easy. It started organically as new hires took over account management, media, and digital responsibilities. Over time, Bill realized the work improved when people felt ownership and felt empowered to shape the agency. “The ability to let go and trust others is essential to grow your agency,” he says. This trust not only gave the agency room to grow but also gave Bill and Scott the freedom to step back from being prisoners of their own business. Why Would a 25 Year Old Agency Rebrand Now? After two and a half decades as Frederick Swanston, the founders made the bold move to rebrand as Bosun to better reflect what they'd become. The decision was about more than a new logo. According to Bill, keeping their surnames in the brand felt too self-centered and didn't reflect the agency's culture. The rebrand signaled a shift: it's not about Bill or Scott anymore. It's about the team, the clients, and the relationships that actually fuel the work. While rebrands often make clients nervous, Bill said the transition was seamless. In fact, many partners celebrated alongside them, proving that strong relationships matter more than the name on the door. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

VISION WINS BOOK: https://misgood.com/vision-wins/As a former professional hockey player, Dr. Dave Jones understands what it's like to have your identity misplaced and wrapped up in the wrong things. With a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology, Dr. Dave now coaches elite professional athletes with his Mental Toughness Training System. Dr. Dave has found his Vision in helping others encounter their identity and developing vision for their lives. Dave created the innovative R7 process that helps leaders effectively communicate their vision. This helps create a strategy to embrace the God-given destiny each person is created for.Dr. Dave has written the book "Vision Wins: Seven Strategies for Mental Toughness in Life and Sports." This is a faith-based personal development book wrapped in a fantastic hockey story. This inspiring and insightful book helps bring understanding to those seeking to understand their purpose and identity in life and those needing a clear vision for their purpose in life.Dave Jones is also the successful entrepreneur who runs a top Christian Marketing & Advertising agency called "M is Good." Dave's Agency is dedicated to serving organizations well who are on a journey to of growth. This award-winning agency has worked with hundreds of clients helping them in organizational health, business development, branding and many more services by providing a stable foundation of a clear vision.Listen as Brett and Dave share about personal struggles, adversity and strategies to overcome life's obstacles that deter us from living out our vision and destiny.DR DAVE'S WEBSITE: https://misgood.com/R7 PODCAST: https://misgood.com/r7-podcast/

Brennah Davis is the Founder of The Marketing Matchmakers, a service that helps small businesses connect with the right marketing agencies. With over a decade of experience running her own agency and scaling teams, she has developed a proven process for creating successful partnerships across North America and the Caribbean. Brennah combines her financial savvy and people-centered approach to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships. In this episode… The marketing world is changing fast, and many business owners struggle to keep up. With agencies making big promises and results often unclear, choosing the right partner can feel risky and overwhelming. Is there a better way to navigate the maze and find the right marketing partners without getting burned? Drawing on a decade of agency experience, Brennah Davis witnessed the common frustrations of mismatched expectations, unclear deliverables, and outright disappointments. This inspired her to create a more transparent and supportive process by founding The Marketing Matchmakers. She describes how her background — from a childhood shaped by entrepreneurial parents to running her own agencies — provided unique insights into both the business and relational aspects of marketing. Brennah's approach centers on deep, empathetic listening and asking probing questions to ensure a true understanding of a client's goals, rather than simply matching them with the most convenient agency. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Brennah Davis, Founder of The Marketing Matchmakers, about how she helps companies find the right marketing partners, what to watch out for when hiring an agency, and how clear communication can prevent costly mistakes. They also discuss the impact of AI on marketing and why Brennah believes transparency is key to lasting business relationships.

In this Berkeley Talks episode, renowned marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco discusses how a persistent narrative that the ocean is “too big to fail” has led to its degradation. While many now believe its problems are “too big to fix,” Lubchenco explains why we need to embrace a new narrative: That it's too central to our future to ignore.“There is a historic narrative about the ocean, one that has framed the way people have talked about the ocean and have treated the ocean for almost all of human history,” Lubchenko told the audience at a UC Berkeley event in March. “The ocean, for thousands and thousands of years, was seen as so immense, so endlessly bountiful that people thought it must be infinitely resilient and impossible to deplete or disrupt.”But now, she said, the impossible has happened — “it's depleted, it's disrupted, it's polluted, it's warmer, it's more acidic, it's deoxygenated" — and we need to create a new narrative, one that acknowledges that a healthy ocean is central to a just and prosperous future on Earth. While she admits there are “huge challenges,” Lubchenco stresses that there are solutions that already exist that can be scaled up, like enabling sustainable aquaculture, reforming fisheries management, employing nature-based blue carbon ecosystems and creating and strengthening marine protected areas.“This ocean that we have, that connects us all, that feeds us all, is at the center of climate change solutions, health solutions, food security, recreational opportunities,” she said. “This is really all one ocean. It is possible to use it without using it up. We're not there yet. But given what I've said, it's not impossible. And I think that these findings and these actions and these results are leading to the emergence of a new narrative for the ocean.”Lubchenco spoke at Berkeley on March 13, 2025, as part of the Martha Charles M. and Martha Hitchcock Lectures series. This lecture was one of two given by Lubchenco for the series, together titled “Agency, Urgency, and Hope: Science and Scientists Serving Society.” Watch the event on the UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures YouTube page. Lubchenco is former deputy director for climate and environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology and University Distinguished Professor at Oregon State University.Listen to the episode and read the transcript on UC Berkeley News (news.berkeley.edu/podcasts/berkeley-talks).Photo by Daniel J. Schwarz for Unsplash.Music by HoliznaCC0. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

**Cold Open (We're Switching to Invoice Billing with Google Ads)****Skip the Cold Open at 10:37**What if you could sip pina coladas on a beach without a multi-million dollar agency? It's possible when you stop chasing the wrong goals. This week, we talk about the difference between setting monetary milestones and building toward lifestyle goals. We explain why we think true agency success isn't about hitting a revenue number. It's about designing a business that gives you freedom and fulfillment along the way.----------------------------------JOIN THE FREE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRDOur recommended agency tools:everbrospodcast.com/recommended-tools/----------------------------------⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐As always, if you enjoyed this episode or this podcast in general and want to leave us a review or rating, head over to Apple and let us know what you like! It helps us get found and motivates us to keep producing this free content.----------------------------------Want to connect with us? Reach out to us on the everbrospodcast.com website, subscribe to us on YouTube, or connect with us on socials:YouTube: @agencygrowthpodcastTwitter/X: @theagency_uLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agencypodcastFacebook: facebook.com/theagencyuInstagram: @theagencyuReddit: r/agency & u/JakeHundleyTikTok: @agency.u

April Harding, former IRS director of user experience services, discusses her proposed agency modernization plan and the future of IRS digital products. For more coverage, read the following in Tax Notes:Shutdown Uncertainty Adds to Difficult Year for IRS EmployeesDirect File Derailed by Dissension, Not Performance, Werfel SaysWhat's Next for the IRS? Another Overhaul?Follow us on X:David Stewart: @TaxStewTax Notes: @TaxNotes**CreditsHost: David D. StewartExecutive Producers: Jeanne Rauch-Zender, Paige JonesProducers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton RhodesAudio Engineers: Jordan Parrish, Peyton Rhodes

In this episode, I sit down with Lily Jones, founder of Educator Forever, for a coaching session to map out how she can scale her education business from $700K to $1M and beyond.We dive into Lily's unique flywheel that connects training teachers with agency work, why she's hitting a growth plateau, and how focusing on sales could unlock her next stage. Lily shares her journey from kindergarten teacher to entrepreneur, what she's learned building two businesses in one, and how to prioritize growth without burning out.If you're looking to evolve a multi-offer business without splitting your focus, this episode is a blueprint.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:17 Lily's backstory and why she left the classroom04:43 From teacher to curriculum developer07:15 How free classes built her first audience10:26 Creating the Curriculum Development Foundations program13:19 Building a two-sided business: teachers and agency16:28 Mapping the Educator Forever flywheel19:35 Revenue growth23:05 Where the business plateaued and why26:31 Increasing project size and repeat contracts30:56 The case for hiring salespeople34:20 Finding focus by niching down in K–5 curriculum38:29 Exploring recurring and higher-paying projects42:18 Selling into schools as a future growth path46:55 Balancing opportunities with clear priorities50:12 Building a long-term roadmap to $1.5M+54:46 Takeaways and next stepsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comFollow Lily:Website: https://educatorforever.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/educatorforeverLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-jones-b940457bFeatured in this episode:Educator Forever: https://educatorforever.comEducator Forever Agency: https://educatorforeveragency.comKit: https://www.kit.com

What happens when a State Farm agent decides he's not cut out for the captive world and instead builds a tech empire supporting $2B in premium? Jason Cass sits down with Austin Moorhead, Founder of Lava Automation to unpack that journey.  Key Topics: Austin's leap from State Farm to automation and his “lightbulb moment” with Keap Growing from a side project into 350+ virtual assistants powering $2B in premium Balancing hard work, family, and redefining success in the agency tech space Why AI hype feels like past industrial shifts and what it really means for agencies How LAVA approaches SOC 2 certification and data security in the AI era Turbo Dial's customizable VoIP and HubSpot's growing role in larger agencies Why lead generation remains the great separator for top-performing agencies Optimizing websites for ChatGPT and AI-driven search, not just Google Fear, valuations, and why relationships still anchor the future of independent agents Reach out to: Austin Moorhead Jason Cass Visit Website: Lava Automation Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

Send us a textEpisode 193: From Victim to Empowered — How to Reclaim Agency and Accountability in Family RelationshipsIn this second part of my conversation with Emily Layton, we explore what happens after awareness and acceptance — the critical next steps of agency, accountability, and action. If you've ever felt stuck in a victim mindset or found yourself waiting for others to change before you feel better, this episode will challenge your thinking and inspire powerful change.We talk about the difference between blame and responsibility, how generational patterns keep us stuck, and what it really takes to step into your personal power — especially when relationships feel strained or disconnected.Emily shares stories, metaphors, and practical wisdom that make this conversation rich and relatable. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to move forward without perfection, embrace mistakes as part of growth, and reclaim your voice in your most important relationships.If you missed Part 1 of this interview, be sure to go back and listen to Episode 192 first.Meet My Guest: Emily LaytonEmily Layton has a Master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from BYU. She is a certified life coach who focuses on identity integration and personal restoration, centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ and informed by interpersonal neurobiology.Download Emily's FREE graphic: Steps Up to the High BrainLearn more about Emily's work at: www.GrowintheLight.comSchedule a free 30-minute discovery call: Email Emily directly at emily@growinthelight.comReady to stop the cycle of disconnection in your family?Join me for my next free workshop:End Family Disconnection and Rebuild Relationships that Last Date: October 9, 2025 Sign up here: https://www.courageous-connections.com/end-family-disconnection-event_oct-2025You'll walk away with a clear roadmap to begin repairing and rebuilding the relationships that matter most. Tina Gosney is the Family Conflict Coach. She works with parents who have families in conflict to help them become the grounded, confident leaders their family needs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with us: Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tinagosneycoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinagosneycoaching ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tina is certified in family relationships and a trauma informed coach. Visit tinagosney.com for more information on coaching services.

Two companies bid to become the Brand New Air Traffic Control System prime integrator, FAA issues carry-on SAFO, 737 MAX production limits eased, P&W and GE adaptive cycle engines, Sikorsky contract for CH-53K helicopters, and Sergei Sikorsky passes away at age 100. Aviation News Two bidders vie to be project manager of massive FAA US air traffic overhaul Two bids to become the prime integrator in the FAA's project to overhaul the air traffic control system have been received. Congress has approved $12.5 billion for the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), and the Agency has indicated that an additional $19 billion might be requested. The bids come from two DC Beltway companies: Peraton is a national security company owned by Veritas Capital and headquartered in Reston, Virginia. See the press release: Peraton Offers the FAA a Brand New Approach for Its Revolutionary ATC Modernization Initiative. Parsons Corporation is a technology provider in national security and global infrastructure markets. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, Parsons confirmed it has bid with IBM. The FAA says it will make a selection by the end of October. FAA urges airlines to discourage passengers from taking bags during evacuations The FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 25003, PDF) titled “Addressing Risk Associated with Passenger Non-Compliance and Retention of Carry-On Baggage and Personal Items During Emergency Evacuations.” The SAFO “Serves to emphasize the operational and safety-critical importance of strict passenger compliance with crewmember instructions during emergency evacuations. Specifically, it addresses the adverse effects of passengers attempting to evacuate with carry-on items, which can significantly impede evacuation procedures and increase the potential for injury or fatality.” FAA Signals Easing of Oversight on Boeing Jets The FAA is expecting to restore Boeing's ability to conduct safety sign-offs on new 737 MAX jets. Final airworthiness certificates will continue to be issued by the regulator The FAA is also considering increasing Boeing's 737 MAX production cap from 38 to 42 planes per month. Engines for America's F-47 Sixth Gen Combat Aircraft Coming Together Faster Than Expected The F-47 is being developed as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems. It's a stealthy air superiority aircraft that can directly engage adversaries on the ground and in the air. It will be able to fly itself as well as collaborate with and control wingman drones. The propulsion system being developed under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program is a concept that offers two modes of operation, which can be dynamically adjusted in flight: high thrust and high speed, and lower thrust with reduced fuel burn. Adaptive cycle engines can modulate the bypass ratio and fan pressure using a third air stream and advanced variable geometry components. Both Pratt & Whitney and General Electric are developing NGAP engines. Airbus, Air France reject blame over AF447 crash, 16 years on Air France 447 crashed in the Atlantic in 2009. In a 2023 trial, the judge found acts of negligence by Airbus and Air France, but determined that, under French criminal law, these acts were insufficient to establish a definitive link to the loss of the A330. Both Airbus and Air France were cleared of corporate manslaughter. In an appeals hearing, the two companies pleaded not guilty. Air France and Airbus chief executives recognized the suffering of the families, but denied any criminal responsibility for the crash. Appeal hearings are expected to run until late November 2025. Sikorsky to Build 99 CH-53K King Stallions for the U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky announced the award of a $10.8 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over the next five years.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you still thinking of AI as just “ChatGPT with a better prompt”? Or maybe you've played around with Zapier automations and thought, yeah, that's good enough. Today's featured guest knows that the agencies pulling ahead right now are building full-on AI agent networks that replace routine tasks, streamline data pipelines, and give their teams superpowers. She's re-engineering her agency around AI and will talk about where she finds top-tier talent and why you don't need to code to lead your agency into the future. Jennifer Bagley is the CEO and founder of CI Web Group, a fully virtual digital marketing agency registered in 22 U.S. states with clients across the United States and Canada. A former corporate operator turned entrepreneur, Jennifer started in real estate and mortgage brokerage before leaning into the marketing work she built to support those businesses. Today she runs a modern, tech-forward agency that's rebuilt its stack around AI, centralized data, and agentic networks, all while carrying the scars and lessons of scaling, pivoting, and re-founding a business from the ground up. In this episode, we'll discuss: Feeling trapped by the business. Hiring, firing, and the people reset AI, reskilling, and the end of “middle” roles What does this talent cost? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. From Corporate Ladder to Accidental Agency Founder Jennifer came from an operations background, a self-proclaimed black belt in Six Sigma and certified project manager. Having built that corporate background, she had made a promise to herself (“by 30 I'll be an entrepreneur”), and started to build the side hustle that became the main event. She started in real estate and mortgage brokering where she had to learn marketing the hard way; not because she wanted to be a marketer, but because the survival of her businesses depended on it. Initially, Jennifer didn't set out to build a scalable agency; she built a team to support her broker network. When the market collapsed in 2008, the same team that did marketing for agents suddenly had a market outside real estate. That “we'll just help this painter or HVAC company” phase is where the web group was born: small, service-focused, and useful to people in her network. That accidental turn became a business by solving real, pressing problems for paying clients, then leaned into that. Trading Time for Freedom: The Hard Pivot For the first five years, Jennifer describes the business as a “lifestyle” operation, profitable maybe, but trapping her time. She was trading billable hours for income and was reaching her limit when she hired a coach that forced a reckoning: if entrepreneurship isn't buying you time, money, and freedom, what's the point? So she made the brutal choice of cutting consulting contracts and burning the bridge to the “safety” of hourly work, and effectively gave herself a mulligan. This is the classic founder pivot: you have to choose between growth that keeps you doing the work and growth that scales the business without you. Jennifer's reset wasn't pretty, for a while she lost everything and she and her son lived in an office for a while, but it bought her the permission to build something salable, not just sustainable. Agency owners who feel trapped in delivery need to remember that sometimes you have to give up short-term revenue to create long-term value. Feeling Trapped by the Agency and Becoming a CEO Those first five years, Jennifer continued to run a business that started as a supply chain consulting and eventually turned into a sales supply chain consulting. This change meant the business was now a good lead generator for the agency but it also meant Jennifer was essentially selling her image and her time. Until she ran out of time. Once she felt trapped by the business, Jennifer actually hired a business coach that helped her change the model from “selling Jennifer with marketing on the side” to an actual sustainable business. She had to go back to the basics and remember she, like every entrepreneur, started the business with the idea of having more time, money, and freedom. It took losing everything, but Jennifer knew she didn't want a lifestyle business, she wanted a sellable business. The antidote was delegation plus systems. If you want growth and a future exit, you need to own those CEO responsibilities and be comfortable with letting go of the day-to-day. Hiring, Firing, and Resetting the Team Jennifer's talent strategy has evolved with each stage of growth. Her early hires were the classic “friends, family, fools” bootstrap crew; later she invested in developers, content teams, project managers, and over time, more strategic hires like CFOs, chief of staff, BI teams, and AI engineers. Each five-year arc brought a new set of needs and a new level of sophistication in hiring. Now, she divides her time between promoting her agency's work in podcasts and content and thinking of ways to navigate her business in these volatile and exciting times. Her most recent addition to the team was a technology and transformation team that is revisiting all of the agency's processes, investments, and infrastructure. As a result, she has downsized her team from over 300 W2 employees and refocus the team. The takeaway for agency owners: be honest about whether your people are builders or maintainers, and hire accordingly. The workforce you need for growth is not the same as the workforce you need for stable operations. Building AI Agent Networks with Centralized Data Jennifer's agency shifted from WordPress to Webflow and built agentic networks: hundreds of AI agents that crawl competitors, do strategy homework, and automate tasks that humans used to do. More importantly, they rebuilt infrastructure into a hub-and-spoke model with a centralized min.io data layer and ETL pipelines feeding analytics and BI. Two big lessons here. One: invest in your tech stack deliberately so you're not a Frankenstein of five different platforms that don't talk to each other. Two: design your data architecture so your people (and your AI agents) have a single source of truth. That's how you get from fire-fighting in six dashboards to proactive, predictive signals that tell you when a client engagement needs attention. AI, Reskilling, and Shrinking Middle Roles Jennifer draws a hard line: the agency now tends to hire either very seasoned client-facing leaders or AI engineers; the middle is shrinking. With agentic networks giving junior staff “superpowers,” the agency can afford fewer mid-level “lever pullers.” At this level there's no room for slow execution or elementary work. That's a cultural and ethical challenge, both for hiring and for workforce development. For agency owners, this raises practical HR questions: do you reskill your people, or replace them? Jennifer suggests building agent-driven systems that augment humans, and being brutally honest about who can grow into that future. It's also a call to action for how we prepare the next generation: schools won't teach this; companies will need to. Playing with AI Platforms: Why Leaders Need to Just Know Enough to Be Dangerous Jennifer started like a lot of agency owners dipping into AI, playing around on tools like n8n, Make.com, Relevance, and Longchain. Her dev team laughed, calling her an “elementary school kid on a tricycle,” but here's the point: she didn't need to master the tech. She needed to know enough to point her team in the right direction. Instead of obsessing over code, she framed the problem differently: “Here's what I don't want a human doing anymore. Can you make that happen?” That mindset shift is key for agency owners. You don't need to be a full-stack AI engineer to lead an agency into the future; you just need to clearly define outcomes and invest in people who can deliver them. Find Real AI Talent in Unlikely Places This is where most agencies get stuck. You're not going to find your next AI architect on Upwork. Jennifer leaned on her network, starting with her cousin Chris, a hardcore developer who initially thought AI platforms were “rookie business.” Once Chris realized the power of agentic networks to scale his expertise, he became the backbone of CI Web Group's transformation. Now, she hunts talent in unconventional places: hackathons, LinkedIn, and especially YouTube. Forget the flashy “10x growth hack” videos — she looks for nerds with four views, geeking out about orchestrators and ETL pipelines. Those are the builders who care about solving real problems, not just building hype. Her tip: if you find one, reach out immediately. They don't want sales, they just want to build. Designing AI Agents Like an Agency Org Chart Jennifer compares AI agents to a company org chart. You don't hire one person to do everything, that's a recipe for burnout. Same thing with AI. Each agent should tightly focus on a single task, with checks, auditors, and orchestrators overseeing the system. The payoff was massive efficiency gains. Instead of six different platforms that don't talk, her agency built a centralized hub with min.io, ClickHouse, and AI layers on top. That's how you go from patchwork automation to true predictive intelligence. The Real Cost of AI Talent If you're wondering how much this all costs, the answer is… a lot. On the high end, seasoned AI engineers can run you a quarter million in salary. On the low end, Jennifer tests new hires on project-based sprints, maybe $6K for a 10-hour challenge. The point isn't to cut costs; it's to prove quickly who can deliver and who can't. Her recruiting process is brutal but effective: give candidates a project, a tight deadline, and see how they perform. If they stall, they're out. If they screen-share fast and solve problems live, they're in. No fluff, no endless interviews. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

High performers like us can get stuck chasing outcomes, living by ‘shoulds,' and searching for the perfect choice. That black-and-white thinking keeps us on autopilot and robs us of momentum.Today's guest, coach and Changeology host Meg Trucano, has lived this work. After burning out in a prestigious research career, a single question, ‘How will you feel a year from now if nothing changes?', sparked a complete pivot. Now she helps high-achieving women create identity-level change with what she calls small acts of rebellion, like dropping old rules that don't serve you and reclaiming your time.     If you're ready to trade perfectionism for progress, you'll learn how intention, agency, and aligned action create real movement, and how to give yourself permission to change your mind.-------------------------------About the Guest: Meg Trucano is a coach, podcaster, and change advocate who helps high-achieving women navigate major life transitions with clarity and intention. Through her coaching practice and her podcast Changeology, she empowers clients to rediscover their agency, break free from limiting “shoulds,” and create meaningful, identity-level transformation.Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, Steve sits down with Meg Trucano to explore what it really means to be growth ready. Meg shares her perspective on the trifecta of growth—intention, agency, and aligned action—and how choosing to “exercise agency” is the key to creating lasting change.Together, they dive into why we're so prone to black-and-white thinking, the cultural obsession with productivity and outcomes, and how self-awareness often defaults to self-criticism rather than possibility. Meg introduces her concept of “small acts of rebellion” and reveals how choice and ownership transform how we show up in life.From her personal burnout story to her mission of guiding others through life's biggest shifts, Meg's wisdom is equal parts practical and inspiring. If you've ever wondered how to stop coasting and start choosing the life you want, this episode is for you.Key Topics & Themes:What it means to be growth readyThe trifecta: intention, agency, aligned actionThe difference between coasting and exercising agencyWhy black-and-white thinking dominates our mindsShifting self-awareness from criticism to compassionSmall acts of rebellion as tools for changeChoice as the foundation of growthMeg's journey from burnout to coachingThe courage to embrace change without fearLinks & Resources Mentioned:Meg's Website: https://megtrucano.comMeg's Podcast: Changeology (search on all major platforms) https://changeology.buzzsprout.comThe Real Change Kickstart: Meg's 45-day 1:1 coaching intensiveThis podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout#GrowthReadyPodcast #PersonalGrowth #SelfDevelopment #MindsetMatters #LifeCoaching #ChangeYourLife #GrowthMindset #HighPerformanceHabits #EmbraceChange #AgencyAndActionSend us a textSupport the showSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

How often do our teams, family members, or collaborators end up misunderstanding each other even when we think we're being perfectly clear? In this episode, we dive into the high cost of miscommunication and what it takes to become a “super communicator” in a noisy, divided world. We're joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg, whose new book “Supercommunicators” unlocks why our conversations so often miss the mark—and offers a toolkit for breaking through confusion and building true alignment.Together, we explore how clarity, empathy, and attention are more crucial than ever, especially as our workplaces and lives move online. From hospital handoffs to debates with Uncle Gary, we unpack the vital art of matching the right kind of conversation, listening deeply, and decoding the signals that don't show up in written words. If you've ever walked away from an exchange realizing you and your counterpart were simply talking past one another, this episode is for you.Five Key Learnings from This Episode:Assumptions are the enemy of understanding. We can't assume others interpret our words as we intend; confirming mutual understanding is essential—even in routine exchanges.There are three types of conversations—practical, emotional, and social. Misalignment around which conversation is taking place is often the root cause of frustration and disconnect.“Matching” the conversation builds trust. Super communicators detect what kind of conversation someone needs and mirror it—acknowledging emotion when present, before pivoting to solutions.Deep questions invite deeper connection. Asking about values, motivations, or experiences (rather than just surface details) opens the door for more meaningful dialogue.Non-linguistic cues are powerful—but different channels require different strategies. Tone, posture, and facial expressions matter, but in written or digital communication, politeness, clarity, and rereading from the receiver's perspective become the superpowers.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.

Alex Natskovich is the Founder and CEO of MEV, LLC, a technology services firm that builds custom software and modernizes digital systems for life sciences, real estate, and pharma companies. With over 20 years in software engineering, he has led 200+ projects across diverse industries and specializes in distributed systems, cloud computing, and large-scale data processing. Under his leadership, MEV has delivered major projects for clients such as Cartier, Novo Nordisk, and Daiichi Sankyo. In this episode… Surviving economic chaos can forge an entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in uncertainty. What lessons can be drawn from growing up in a place where scarcity and improvisation are part of daily life, and how do those lessons translate into building successful teams and technology today? Alex Natskovich, a veteran software engineer and product leader, believes resilience and resourcefulness are the foundation of innovation. He shares how early hardships taught him to adapt quickly, think creatively, and focus on core values when hiring talent. From avoiding common product pitfalls, like untested assumptions and weak data privacy, to embracing AI tools such as GitHub Copilot and Fireflies for smarter development, his insights reveal how to build scalable, market-ready products. These experiences underscore the importance of aligning strategy, technology, and culture to win in competitive markets. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Alex Natskovich, Founder and CEO of MEV, to discuss how early-life resilience shaped his leadership in software development. He explores hiring based on core values over technical skills, lessons from guiding Hawaii Information Service's MLS platform overhaul, and the impact of AI on client expectations and product development.

Join host Aaron Renn and cultural diagnostician Dr. John Seel in this thought-provoking podcast episode as they dive into the crisis of masculinity, the unraveling of modern culture, and the path to aspirational manhood. From the influence of sociologists like James Davison Hunter and Peter Berger to the societal implications of nihilism and technology, this conversation explores headwater issues shaping families, society, and civilization. Dr. Seel also introduces his new book, Aspirational Masculinity, offering a bold vision for men rooted in faith and purpose. Don't miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional narratives and calls for a renewed understanding of what it means to be a man today.CHAPTERS:(0:00:01 - Introduction and Welcome)(0:00:49 - Dr. John Seel on Masculinity)(0:01:31 - Working with James Davison Hunter and Oz Guinness)(0:08:23 - The Cultural Inflection Point: Nihilism and Modernity)(0:11:10 - Technology's Acceleration vs. Cultural Decline)(0:13:41 - Power, Authority, and Nietzschean Nihilism)(0:22:03 - The Crisis of Masculinity: A Headwater Issue)(0:26:51 - Framing the Masculinity Problem)(0:31:16 - Identity Formation: Postmodern, Modern, and Biblical Views)(0:39:37 - Aspirational Masculinity and Christ-Centered Identity)(0:49:01 - Grace, Nature, and Masculinity)(0:58:14 - The Parable of the Talents and Agency)(1:03:28 - The Marines: A Secular Model for Identity)(1:09:50 - Final Thoughts on a Positive Vision for Masculinity)(1:11:18 - Book Announcement: Aspirational Masculinity)JOHN SEEL'S LINKS: