Podcasts about brands

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down the real difference between a social media manager and a social media strategist — and why confusing the two can cost businesses time, money, and momentum. Michelle explains how strategy and execution serve different purposes, the most common hiring mistakes business owners make, and how choosing the right support at the right time can dramatically change results. This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs, founders, and brands deciding how to invest in their marketing and visibility in 2026. Topics Covered The difference between social media management and social media strategy Posting content vs planning a visibility ecosystem Why execution without strategy leads to wasted effort How strategy saves money long-term Common hiring mistakes business owners make When to hire a strategist vs when to hire a manager How clarity impacts content, growth, and conversion Why roles, timing, and expectations matter Key Takeaways A social media manager executes content, a strategist designs the plan Posting consistently does not equal strategic growth Strategy provides direction, focus, and measurable outcomes Hiring the wrong role at the wrong time creates frustration Clear strategy makes execution more effective and efficient Who This Episode Is For Business owners hiring marketing support Entrepreneurs confused about social media roles Brands struggling with inconsistent results Founders preparing to scale visibility in 2026 Creators transitioning from DIY to professional support If you need clarity before hiring or scaling your marketing, explore working with Michelle's agency for strategic support. www.thamesmediasolutions.com For ongoing proximity, feedback, and visibility guidance, join the Collective. https://michellethames.com/elevate-and-empower-collective About the Host Michelle Thames is a marketing strategist, podcast host, and community builder with over 15 years of experience helping brands and entrepreneurs build visibility systems that convert. She specializes in strategy-first marketing, community-led growth, and sustainable brand ecosystems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your entire career started with being told you were too nice to succeed?For John Terzian and Brian Toll, that's exactly how it began. These are the minds behind The h.wood Group: an empire born from rejection, reinvention, and the refusal to follow the rules.In this episode, they share how protecting guests instead of exploiting them became their superpower, why aesthetics matter more than you think, and how they transitioned from bottle service to building culture through culinary. We get into the painful leap from nightlife to fine dining, how they designed demand instead of chasing it, and the operational discipline required to stay profitable 10 years in.This isn't just about cool venues, it's about what it takes to last in an industry designed to burn you out.To learn more about The h.wood Group and their concepts, visit hwoodgroup.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

After years of building credibility with a core consumer, Zevia is leaning into scale – and confronting what it takes to turn a purpose-driven brand into a durable CPG business.  In this episode, CEO Amy Taylor breaks down the executional shifts across product, pricing, packaging and mass retail distribution that are helping Zevia compete more effectively in mainstream grocery and position the brand for sustainable, long-term growth. Show notes: 0:25: Amy Taylor, CEO, Zevia – Amy discusses her journey from two decades at Red Bull to leading Zevia, explaining how her brand-building experience prepared her to scale a modern soda brand at the right cultural moment. She positions Zevia as a timely solution amid growing interest in the better-for-you soda category and explains how advances in stevia use and flavor blending have unlocked a more sugar-like taste. Amy highlights the brand's expansion into mainstream retailers like Walmart, its role as an anchor brand due to value and multipacks, and the importance of trust, transparency, and word-of-mouth marketing over lecturing consumers. She also discusses packaging makeovers and a new marketing campaign focused on a moderation-based philosophy. Amy also outlines her leadership approach, which is centered on humility, strong teams and long-term growth. Brands in this episode: Zevia, Red Bull, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, Sprite, Doritos, Oreos

Cash flow isn't just spreadsheets—it's survival. In an era of tariffs, currency swings, and supply chain whiplash, small businesses face a paradox: grow fast while everything shifts beneath you. Corinne Boonstra (Brex) and Aharon Naveen (Melio) unpack how payment independence becomes the ultimate competitive advantage.Key takeaways:Tariff volatility forces brands to message consumers directly about pricing pressuresSmall businesses gain agility advantage by switching suppliers faster than competitorsPayment independence decouples cash flow from vendor relationship power dynamicsTechnology stacks need finance-novice friendliness, not just CFO sophisticationKey Quotes:Corinne Boonstra [00:08:11]: "Brands are having to reach out to their consumer base to communicate with them why prices are increasing or using that as kind of a pivotal point of, say, buy these goods now while they're this price."Aharon Naveen [00:12:06]: "Switching vendors is complex. It comes with an operational overhead of different net terms, different currency conversions, different shipping time, different payment acceptance."Aharon Naveen [00:19:45]: "Giving the control back to small business, putting them in a position that they can overcome the relationship dynamic or the power dynamic of a new vendor—that is what technology brings to play."Corinne Boonstra [00:23:10]: "These tools need to be able to be leveraged by your CMO, your head of digital, your founder—whoever is ultimately making these decisions might not have an accounting background."Associated Links:Learn more about BrexLearn more about MelioCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is needed to truly move the needle on health? Create more research, more trials on nutrient density, more advocacy? Or, as Martin Reiter, founder of RARE argues, create the next regen Nestlé or Unilever: a 100 billion (yes, that's a B) regenerative consumer goods conglomerate, with only better-for-you and better-for-the-planet brands. The demand is there; the current incumbents are unable to innovate in regen, as they are built on chemical ingredients.The story usually goes like this: a group of people sets up a food (or cosmetics) brand that is better for you and better for the planet. Much better ingredients, honest sourcing, actually healthy, not UPF, etc. Then they need some money and raise funds, keep building, scaling, and at some point, 10–15 years down the road, the founders get tired and want to take some money off the table. and their existing investors need to get out and return money to their LPs.Currently, their only option is to sell to an incumbent, which then unfortunately usually screws it up. They start tweaking the ingredients, squeezing farmer margins, etc. The original founders leave after a few frustrating years.Is there a better way? A permanent home for regen, good-for-you, good-for-the-planet brands? A regen Nestlé or Unilever, if you will?More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================

Today we ask, why can't I find this cigar!? Everyone loves limited edition or limited production cigars these days but some are harder to find than others. We give you tips on how to find the special cigars you are looking for!

In this tutorial, Lydia Bagarozza, breaks down how Impact support earned media and why many digital publications rely on affiliate links to monetize their content. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how editors, writers, and publishers work with brands, and how being properly set up can increase your chances of landing listicles, gift guides, and product roundups. Timestamps:00:44 Why many online publications prefer affiliate links when featuring products01:32 How affiliates actually work with publications, & who makes the sale, and whether PPC or PPA makes sense04:55 Tutorial begins: how the platform works and what we'll cover -- including where to sign up for Impact. This is our affiliate link :) https://goto.impact.com/aOkrOQ 07:18 A walkthrough of the Impact backend and setup for product-based brands09:00 How reporting works inside Impact and how to read it10:15 Understanding contracts for magazine partners and choosing commission percentages that support coverage11:30 How to create contracts using Impact templates (and when to customize your own)12:29 How to find new affiliate partners such as magazines, creators, and coupon sites13:00 How to vet affiliate profiles and spot red flags (important: scams do exist)14:00 How to apply to affiliate programs with magazines, creators, and coupon platforms16:35 What to include in pitch emails outside of Impact so editors, writers, and producers know you offer affiliates Support the showWant a Personalized PR Plan? (includes: a custom PR pitch, 6 part "how to research media contacts" module, curated list of 5–10 ideal media outlets, “Where to Go from Here” roadmap (pitch cadence, next steps, etc.) AND a personalized voice note. Click here: https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/offers/prxBzYXW/checkout DIY PR COURSE!! https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/pitchpartySIGN UP ON QWOTED for free: https://www.qwoted.com/?via=VOPWatch our FREE masterclass to start landing big press features like Forbes & interviews on top 1% podcasts: https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/getfeatured Connect with us on and off the pod! Website: ⁠www.visibilityonpurpose.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/visibilityonpurpose/⁠ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityonpurpose

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down the marketing trends that will actually matter in 2026 and the ones she's intentionally ignoring. Drawing from 15+ years of experience in marketing, community building, and visibility strategy, Michelle explains why fundamentals still outperform hype and how brands can build longevity instead of chasing short-term momentum. This episode is for entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners who want sustainable visibility, stronger relationships, and marketing strategies that work across every season of business. Topics Covered Why most marketing trends don't last The difference between momentum and longevity Community-led marketing and why it's the future Thought leadership vs performance-based content Why owned audiences matter more than algorithms Trends Michelle is intentionally ignoring in 2026 Why virality does not equal business growth How clarity, consistency, and trust still win Building a visibility ecosystem instead of chasing platforms Key Takeaways Trends are loud, but foundations compound quietly Community creates trust, referrals, and long-term growth Decision-makers buy clarity, not aesthetics Owned audiences protect your business from platform shifts Mastery on one platform beats being everywhere Fundamentals never go out of style Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs planning for 2026 growth Creators tired of chasing trends and burning out Business owners focused on long-term visibility Brands ready to build community, not just content Leaders who want marketing strategies that last If you want support building a sustainable visibility strategy and community-led ecosystem, join the Collective for ongoing proximity, strategy, and feedback. Make sure to follow Social Media Decoded so you don't miss future episodes on visibility, marketing, and brand growth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Eric Malzone chats with Verdine Baker, who shares his inspiring journey from being a professional athlete

Ashley Herd, founder of Manager Method and former Head of HR at McKinsey, explains why most managers aren't actually failing—they're just guessing. She breaks down her simple yet powerful three-step framework—pause, consider, and act—to help leaders move past the "speed of the inbox" and start leading with real intention. From handling employee mistakes with empathy to navigating the "octopus and wizard" traps of burnout, Ashley provides practical "real talk" for anyone responsible for the careers and lives of others. What You'll Learn in This Episode The critical difference between day-to-day management and long-term leadership How to implement the three-step Manager Method of pause, consider, and act Why the “speed of the inbox” is causing manager burnout and how to slow down Practical ways to handle employee mistakes using the “Gigi” perspective How to use human-centric storytelling to build psychological safety on your team Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:51) Management vs Leadership (03:18) The Gap in Manager Training (06:01) The Manager Method Explained (06:39) Step One: The Power of the Pause (09:20) Step Two: Consider Your Response (11:09) Step Three: Acting with Intention (13:36) Avoiding Modern Workplace Burnout (19:16) Storytelling as a Leadership Tool (24:09) Brand That Made Her Smile (26:47) Where to Learn More About Ashley Herd Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method and a former Head of HR for McKinsey North America. A LinkedIn Top Voice and top 10 business podcast host, she has trained more than 250,000 managers across various industries. Her background as an employment lawyer for brands like KFC and Yum! Brands informs her practical, "real talk" approach to leadership. She is the author of The Manager Method, where she provides actionable frameworks for leading with confidence and supporting team growth without burnout. What Brand Has Made Ashley Smile Recently? Ashley recently smiled at Chiquita. She loves their banana stickers that claim they are "likely the best snack on earth." As a former marketing lawyer, she appreciated the humorous collaboration between the creative and legal teams to include the word "likely" rather than a definitive claim, showing a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously. Resources & Links Check out the Manager Method website and book. Connect with Ashley Herd on LinkedIn. Listen & Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when speed, scale, and convenience start to erode trust in the images brands rely on to tell their story? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Swift, Senior Vice President of Creative at Getty Images, about a growing problem hiding in plain sight, the rise of low-quality, generic, AI-generated visuals and the quiet damage they are doing to brand credibility. Rebecca brings a rare perspective to this conversation, leading a global creative team responsible for shaping how visual culture is produced, analyzed, and trusted at scale. We explore the idea of AI "sloppification," a term that captures what happens when generative tools are used because they are cheap, fast, and available, rather than because they serve a clear creative purpose. Rebecca explains how the flood of mass-produced AI imagery is making brands look interchangeable, stripping visuals of meaning, craft, and originality. When everything starts to look the same, audiences stop looking altogether, or worse, stop trusting what they see. A central theme in our discussion is transparency. Research shows that the majority of consumers want to know whether an image has been altered or created using AI, and Rebecca explains why this shift matters. For the first time, audiences are actively judging content based on how it was made, not just how it looks. We talk about why some brands misread this moment, mistaking AI usage for innovation, only to face backlash when consumers feel misled or talked down to. Rebecca also unpacks the legal and ethical risks many companies overlook in the rush to adopt generative tools. From copyright exposure to the use of non-consented training data, she outlines why commercially safe AI matters, especially for enterprises that trade on trust. We discuss how Getty Images approaches AI differently, with consented datasets, creator compensation, and strict controls designed to protect both brands and the creative community. The conversation goes beyond risk and into opportunity. Rebecca makes a strong case for why authenticity, real people, and human-made imagery are becoming more valuable, not less, in an AI-saturated world. We explore why video, photography, and behind-the-scenes storytelling are regaining importance, and why audiences are drawn to evidence of craft, effort, and intent. As generative AI becomes impossible to ignore, this episode asks a harder question. Are brands using AI as a thoughtful tool to support creativity, or are they trading long-term trust for short-term convenience, and will audiences continue to forgive that choice?   Useful Links Connect with Dr. Rebecca Swift on LinkedIn VisualGSP Creative Trends Follow on Instagram and LinkedIn Thanks to our sponsors, Alcor, for supporting the show.

Today’s caller wants to help brands improve their Terms & Conditions, also known as T&C. Can she design and license a template that companies will pay for? Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&A several days each week. Show notes: SideHustleSchool.com Email: team@sidehustleschool.com Be on the show: SideHustleSchool.com/questions Connect on Instagram: @193countries Visit Chris's main site: ChrisGuillebeau.com Read A Year of Mental Health: yearofmentalhealth.com If you're enjoying the show, please pass it along! It's free and has been published every single day since January 1, 2017. We're also very grateful for your five-star ratings—it shows that people are listening and looking forward to new episodes.

This week on The Cigar Authority, we're talking premium cigar brands vs their friendly value knockoff cigar brand! Cigar prices keep climbing but we're here to help you find the perfect alternative lower priced cigars for the biggest names! We will smoke Montecristo Classic Toro in the first hour. Join Mr. Jonathan, David Garofalo and Ed Sullivan as we light up cigars and talk about them. The Cigar Authority is a member of the United Podcast Network and is recorded live in front of a studio audience at Studio 21 Podcast Cafe upstairs at Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem, NH.

Every January, the same thing happens. Millions of people quietly stop drinking…Celebrities post their “reset” routines…Brands suddenly talk about “mindful consumption”…And then February hits, and we all pretend none of it mattered. In this episode of That Sober Guy Podcast, we break down the cultural hypocrisy around alcohol and why Dry January has become the only socially acceptable time to admit drinking might be an issue. We unpack: Why alcohol is the only substance you have to justify not using How celebrity culture glamorizes drinking, until it doesn't What declining beer sales and bankrupt alcohol brands are quietly telling us Why “moderation” sounds responsible but rarely matches real life And how Dry January accidentally exposes a truth no one wants to say out loud This isn't about shame.It's about honesty, culture, and calling out the weird double standards we've all accepted. If you've ever wondered why quitting drinking feels harder socially than drinking every weekend…If you've ever done Dry January and thought, “Why don't I feel like going back?”Or if you're just tired of being gaslit by alcohol culture. This episode is for you. New episodes weeklyJoin our sober guy mens community The Victory Circle for more tips and connection. You don't need alcohol to live a big life Sober Executive Performance Reset: A 12 Week Private Coaching Experience - APPLY HERE https://www.thatsoberguy.com/coaching Invite Shane to Speak - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/speaking Join “The Victory Circle”, our FREE Sober Guy Mens Community at https://www.thatsoberguy.com/offers/SvjjuEQ2/checkout Check out Shanes New Book, Sober Guy How Do I - https://a.co/d/81ZIgtE Tired of Drinking? Try Our 30 Day Quit Drinking Dude Challenge! - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/quit-drinking-alcohol-for-30-days For More Resources go to http://www.ThatSoberGuy.com Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ramer-7534bb257/ Follow us on Instagram @ThatSoberGuyPodcast Follow us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/thatsoberguypodcast  Follow us on X @ThatSoberGuyPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From cell-cultured protein and functional soda to premium cereal and frozen snacks, this episode spotlights innovative brands, emerging partnerships, and winning strategies gaining momentum across the CPG landscape. Show notes: 0:25: Control, This Is BTS. Faire Plays & Pops. A Magnificent Merger. Magic Mallows? Hey, Maker. – Ray and Mike kick things off by unpacking a chaotic behind-the-scenes studio setup before spotlighting standout brands from the 2026 Winter FancyFaire*, including a globally inspired popcorn line, a kid-friendly rooibos tea–based hot cocoa, vegan and gluten-free frozen churros, and Quatro Mamas' salsa macha. The hosts also review Culture Pop's limited-edition black cherry soda collaboration with musician Noah Kahan and discuss the merger of three female-led CPG brands as a savvy early-stage strategy to streamline costs and scale more efficiently. Rounding things out, they dig into Magic Spoon's new protein cereals with marshmallows and protein pastries, along with Tractor Beverage's apple cider vinegar–based "Haymaker" ready-to-drink tonics. 19:58: Interview: Lou Cooperhouse, Co-Founder & CEO, BlueNalu – Lou discusses how BlueNalu is pioneering cell-cultivated seafood, the science behind the breakthrough, and why it could be a new frontier for sustainable, chef-driven dining. 28:11: Interview: Heather Brown, Owner, Sati Soda – Heather shares how Sati Soda has grown into a nationwide brand, offering organic CBD, functional, and low-sugar beverages that resonate with health-conscious consumers. Brands in this episode: BlueNalu, Sati Soda, Nomad Snacks, Teany Tea, Madres Churros, Culture Pop, Nemi, Tuyyo, Todo Verde, Magic Spoon, Cheerios, Pop-Tarts, Tractor Beverage Co., Olipop, Poppi, Miller, Quatro Mamas

In this episode, Michael sits down with Sean of Spillover Commerce to talk about thinking beyond Amazon.They discuss the difference between being an Amazon seller and being a true e-commerce brand. Why does that gap matter? And why not every product — or every brand — should be treated the same across Amazon, Shopify, and Meta.Sean breaks down when Meta ads actually make sense for Amazon brands, and how off-Amazon traffic can spill over into Amazon sales. They also talk about product-market fit by platform. Why some products work on Amazon but struggle on Meta. And why product iteration often beats endless ad optimization.If you sell on Amazon and you're curious about Meta ads, this episode will help you think more clearly about the next step.We'll see you in The PPC Den!

If it's the Friday before “Snomageddon 2026,” then you know it's time to drop Ep. 54 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week during the Opening Shot, Bill shares what his PPAI Expo was like in terms of managing schedules as well as what the week truly means for the industry. Afterwards, Bill is joined by his friend and incoming PPAI Board Chair, Danny Rosin. In a conversation that weaves in and out of many topics including goals for his stewardship of the board, how he manages being pulled in several thousand different directions at once, the PPAI Strategic Plan, and the human connection our medium provides, they get real and honest while having a few laughs – especially during a surprise round of “would you rather” at the end. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

Karl Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, discusses the brand's evolution, its commitment to quality and sustainability, and the innovative approaches being taken to redefine coffee experiences. He highlights the importance of community, the role of creativity in coffee culture, and the challenges posed by climate change. Strovink also shares insights on leadership and the significance of caring in building a better world.Takeaways:Blue Bottle Coffee is a leader in the specialty coffee segment.The brand is known for its commitment to quality and hospitality.James Freeman's artistic influence still shapes the coffee experience.Instant coffee can be made with specialty-grade coffee.Sustainability is a core value for Blue Bottle Coffee.Exploring alternative coffee varietals is essential for the future.Climate change poses significant challenges to coffee production.Blue Bottle achieved carbon neutrality in 2024.Dairy alternatives are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.Community engagement is crucial for successful expansion. Trends blowing West and East as they expand their footprint.Sound bites:“James Freeman brought artistic sensibility into the world of coffee.”“as a brand, Blue Bottle punches way above its weight. mean, we have anywhere from 15 to 30 % mass market awareness as a brand, but we occupy less than one half of 1 % share in the marketplace.”“We strongly believe that there's a better way with instant coffee and that instant can be specialty.”“It turns out that if you actually consider what can be done with those other varietals like Robusta, and treat them the way you do Arabica species, they can produce beautiful coffees.”“We did the hard work to actually baseline ourselves to understand our footprint across the value chain from green coffee all the way through to our offices.”“We've shifted our sourcing in certain places around the world to favor more regenerative, more healthy soil systems, farms, and farming practices.”“Many guests were preferring oat milk. So we just said, why don't we just lean into it?”“We're down something like two thirds in our emissions intensity around electricity around the world from the US to China and Japan.”“We in the US made the call in 2020 to be a primarily a work from home, remote workforce. Ss you can imagine, emissions intensity goes down from that.”"We want to scale with distinction."“We're repositioning the coffee category towards an East-West axis.”“Coffee is about building community, not just harvesting of business opportunities.”Links:Karl Strovink on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-strovink-9852a517/Blue Bottle Coffee - https://bluebottlecoffee.com/us/engBlue Bottle Coffee on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluebottlecoffeeBlue Bottle Coffee on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluebottleBlue Bottle Coffee on X - https://x.com/bluebottleroastBlue Bottle Coffee on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyki4e6RG84BT_xzi4oYkRw…A CEO for All Seasons, Book by Kurt Strovink (and others) - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-for-all-seasonsAmerican Nations, Book by Colin Woodard - https://colinwoodard.com/books/american-nations/…Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/…Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/…Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetworkHeritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_RadioHeritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radioChapters:03:00 Introduction to Blue Bottle Coffee08:04 The Evolution of James Freeman's Role10:54 Innovations from the Blue Bottle Studio13:39 Quality and Technology in Instant Coffee18:21 Securing the Future of Coffee22:27 Exploring Coffee Varietals Beyond Arabica26:46 Achieving Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability Goals33:10 The Shift to Oat Milk and Consumer Preferences37:11 East Meets West: Blue Bottle's Global Expansion41:56 Bridging Cultures: The East-West Connection42:43 Uniformity vs. Localization in Coffee44:19 Crafting Unique Experiences: The Blue Bottle Journey45:48 Balancing Innovation and Tradition49:46 Strategic Growth: Expanding with Distinction52:06 Word of Mouth: Building a Loyal Customer Base55:34 Lessons from Converse: Brand Stewardship and Leadership01:00:37 The Balance of Profit and Purpose01:04:03 Caring for Community: Building a Better WorldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Karl and Erum sit down with Amy Trejo and Jose Carlos Garcia Garcia from Procter & Gamble to uncover how one of the world's largest consumer goods companies is leveraging biotechnology to innovate at unprecedented scale. Founded 189 years ago as a bio-waste upcycling partnership between a candle maker and a soap maker, P&G has always been rooted in biomaterials innovation—from pioneering laundry enzymes in the 1960s to developing cold water enzyme technologies that have saved billions in energy costs. Amy and JC reveal what makes biotech innovations stick in the marketplace (hint: it's all about performance), share candid advice for startups hoping to partner with P&G, and explain why the company views biotech as a critical enabler of both sustainability and superior consumer experiences. They discuss common misconceptions about working with large CPG companies, the importance of reducing ideas to practice, and how P&G's connect-and-develop model creates win-win partnerships that can impact billions of consumers worldwide. Whether you're a biotech founder, investor, or enthusiast curious about how innovative materials make it from lab to everyday products, this conversation offers rare insights into the intersection of consumer goods, biotechnology, and global scale manufacturing.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction and Opening Remarks(00:01:00) - Erum's Article on Industrial Biomanufacturing for Lichen Ventures(00:04:00) - The Vision of Boom Towns and Interplanetary Innovation(00:07:00) - Introduction to Amy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia from P&G(00:11:00) - Amy and JC's Backgrounds and Roles at P&G(00:13:00) - Biotech Innovations Throughout P&G's 189-Year History(00:19:00) - What Makes Biotech Innovations Stick: Performance Over Everything(00:22:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Partnering with Large CPG Companies(00:29:00) - How to Approach P&G: Show Product, Generate Data, Demonstrate Performance(00:31:00) - The Power of Reapplication Across Product Categories(00:35:00) - Successful Biotech Partnerships: SK-II, Align, New Chapter, Base Camp Research(00:39:00) - What Catches P&G's Attention at Conferences and Trade Shows(00:42:00) - The Role of Storytelling in Biotech Innovation and Consumer Engagement(00:47:00) - Five-Year Vision: The Future of CPG and Biotech Partnerships(00:49:00) - One Piece of Advice for Biotech Innovators: Reduce Ideas to Practice(00:52:00) - Quickfire Questions with Amy and JC(00:53:00) - Closing Thoughts: Impacting Billions of Lives Through Partnership(00:54:00) - Karl and Erum's Recap and Key TakeawaysLinks and Resources:Procter & Gamble (P&G)P&G Connect + DevelopP&G PartnershipsStellar: A World Beyond Limits and How To Get ThereIndustrial Biomanufacturing Needs Its Manhattan Project Moment by Erum Azeez Khan107. Glow Big or Go Home: Andy Bass's Journey with Glowing Oceans17. Beauty and the Biome with Jasmina Aganovic of ArcaeaTopics Covered: biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineeringHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 Music by: Nihilore Production by:  Amplafy Media

In dieser Episode von selbst&frei teilt Alvaro Gellings, Mitgründer von Day One, erstmals die ungeschminkte Wahrheit über den Aufbau einer der am schnellsten wachsenden Sportmarken Deutschlands. Von null auf 100.000 verkaufte Produkte in nur 15 Monaten – mit einer Launch-Kampagne, die über eine Milliarde organische Views im deutschsprachigen Raum generiert hat. Alvaro erklärt, wie er gemeinsam mit Extremsportler Arda Saatçi Day One gegründet hat, ohne jemals ein klassisches Pitch-Deck zu erstellen. Er spricht offen über die Realität hinter den Kulissen: Zwei Jahre Vorbereitung, hunderte Iterationsstufen bei der Produktentwicklung, und eine Marketingkampagne, die 3000 Kilometer durch Amerika und quer durch Japan führte – alles dokumentiert, geklippt und viral verbreitet durch tausende Videos auf Social Media. Besonders wertvoll: Seine ehrliche Reflexion über den Unterschied zwischen Creator Economy und klassischem E-Commerce. Während andere Brands langsam hochskalieren können, musste Day One vom ersten Tag an perfekt sein – weil Millionen zuschauen. Alvaro erklärt, warum Qualitätsmanagement der Schlüssel ist, wenn man mit Creatorn launcht, und wie sie trotz kleinem Team siebenstellige Umsätze im ersten Monat erreicht haben. Er teilt die genauen Zahlen: sechsstellige Kundenanzahl, durchschnittliche Warenkörbe von 100-120 Euro, und wie sie es geschafft haben, bereits im ersten Jahr unabhängig von Ardas Reichweite zu wachsen. Die wichtigste Strategie: Paid Media, Out-of-Home-Campaigns, weitere Athleten – und das klare Ziel, dass Ardas Anteil am Gesamtumsatz relativ immer kleiner wird, während die absolute Zahl weiter wächst. Besonders eindrucksvoll: Seine persönliche Journey vom Kellner und Kickboxtrainer über Trinkspiel-Entwicklung während des Studiums bis zum erfolgreichen Exit und schließlich Day One. Alvaro spricht offen über seine frühe Zeit – sehr früh aus dem Elternhaus ausgezogen, mit Schüler-BAföG durchs Abi gekommen, und wie er durch Studentenpartys, Abercrombie & Fitch-Modeling und die ersten unternehmerischen Versuche die Social Ladder hochgestiegen ist. Er erklärt, warum er seine erste Firma für einen siebenstelligen Betrag an einen Inkubator verkauft hat – und warum er trotz 20.000-50.000 Euro Monatsgehalt in der Immobilienbranche den Sprung ins Vollzeit-Unternehmertum gewagt hat. Die wichtigste Erkenntnis: "Einfach machen" – egal ob Trinkspiele, Fashion oder Sportmarke. Jedes Projekt lehrt dich Produktentwicklung, Performance Marketing, Supply Chain – und diese Skills sind übertragbar. Ein radikales Plädoyer für You vs. You, authentisches Storytelling und die Kunst, eine Brand zu bauen, die nicht von einem Creator abhängt, sondern von echter Mission und kompromissloser Qualität. Kapitel: (00:00:00) Intro: Alvaro Gellings und die Day One Story (00:02:07) Die Cyborg Season: 1 Milliarde Views und der Launch (00:06:09) Creator Economy: Warum Perfektion von Anfang an nötig ist (00:09:04) Produktentwicklung: Von Stoffen bis Hangtags (00:13:07) Das erste Jahr in Zahlen: 100.000 verkaufte Produkte (00:20:13) Marketing-Mix: Vom Creator zur skalierbaren Brand (00:25:25) Personal Branding: Warum Alvaro aus dem Hintergrund trat (00:52:33) Für wen lohnt sich Personal Branding wirklich? (01:06:23) Der größte Fehler: Zeit vs. Mission (01:16:40) Storytelling: Die Hero-Story und You vs. You (01:25:12) Der Weg zu 100 Millionen Euro Umsatz (01:42:46) Athletenprogramm: Große Creator vs. kleine Athleten (00:35:58) Alvaros unternehmerische Reise: Von Bildern für Pesetas zu Day One (01:49:50) Der Blueprint für Anfänger: Einfach machen (01:58:25) Outro: Die wichtigste Lektion selbst&frei wird im Auftrag von Vivid Money produziert – dem Geschäftskonto für Unternehmer.

In this episode, Donny discusses the multifaceted nature of branding in today's society, touching on political issues, cultural icons, and the evolution of industries such as fashion and sports. The conversation highlights the disconnect between political actions and public sentiment, particularly regarding immigration and gun laws, while also celebrating achievements in entertainment and sports. The episode concludes with insights into health benefits associated with sports and innovative solutions in the airline industry. Takeaways: The political climate is affecting public perception of immigration. Gun laws are a contentious issue with a majority favoring stricter regulations. Economic policies, particularly tariffs, have a direct impact on consumers. Cultural icons like Taylor Swift and Zoe Saldana shape public discourse. The fashion industry is evolving, with fewer new designers emerging. Sports coaching dynamics are shifting with high-profile firings. Tennis is linked to longevity, highlighting the health benefits of sports. Public sentiment often clashes with political priorities. Innovations in the airline industry can lead to significant cost savings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textEverything old is new again — just sharper, louder, and somehow filtered. From memes and music to mid-2010s fashion, UI throwbacks, and recycled internet trends, the culture has hit rewind in full 4K. This week on Mike & Blaine, we dig into why nostalgia is suddenly everywhere, why 2016 feels like the internet's emotional support year, and whether this is a harmless vibe shift or a deeper signal about how people respond to uncertainty.We explore nostalgia not just as a cultural trend, but as a strategy. In business, nostalgia lowers risk, shortens decision cycles, and builds instant emotional trust — which is why brands keep relaunching “classic” products, rebooting old formats, and leaning hard into familiarity when the future feels noisy. From Vine-era humor to retro design language, we unpack why looking backward often feels safer than innovating forward, and how companies can intentionally use nostalgia without getting stuck in it.Along the way, we connect the dots between meme cycles, product strategy, and leadership decision-making. When markets are volatile and attention is scarce, repeating what once worked can feel smarter than experimenting — but is it actually? Mike & Blaine talk about when nostalgia becomes a competitive advantage, when it becomes a crutch, and how smart operators balance comfort with progress so they don't end up building yesterday's business for today's problems.If you've ever wondered why trends won't stay dead, why “throwback” keeps outperforming “new,” or what business leaders can learn from the internet's obsession with the past, this episode is for you. And yes, we absolutely ask whether Vine should come back — and whether cheap beer can, too.If you enjoyed the episode, head over to mikeandblaine.com and buy us a beer. It helps keep the nostalgia flowing.#NostalgiaMarketing #BrandStrategy #CultureTrends #InternetCulture #RebootEconomy #MarketingStrategy #BusinessPodcast #MikeAndBlaine #ThrowbackCulture #DigitalTrends #LeadershipLessons #InnovationVsComfort #Snapchat #Instagram #TikTok #YouTube #Spotify #Netflix #AppleMusic #2016core #FeelsLike2016 #2016Vs2026Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0ZA5cemkX9EBuy us a beer and keep the show rolling at mikeandblaine.com!Featured Beer: @StarbaseBrewing @OuterRangeBrewing Mike: Two Pitchers Brewing “No Funny Business” RadlerBlaine: Pinnacle Brewing “Rescued” Hazy IPA in support of Foothills Animal Rescue in Scottsdale hfoothillsanimal.org @foothillsanimalThanks to our Beer Sponsors: • Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting: 3ssmartconsulting.com• Neighbor Pat• DevinListen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.comcashflowmike.comdryrun.comhttps://mikeandblaine.comMikeandblaine, smallbusiness, cashflow, finance, beer, entrepreneur, craftbeerSupport the showCatch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

Many brands are finding that the growth strategies that once worked aren't delivering the same results anymore. In this episode, Sonia Thompson breaks down the marketplace shifts reshaping brand growth strategy in 2026 and beyond — and why traditional growth playbooks are falling flat. From trust becoming a real constraint on growth, to discovery happening in entirely new ways, this episode explains what's changed in the market — and what brands need to do differently to grow today. If your brand's growth feels harder than it used to, this episode will help you understand why — and how to adapt your brand growth strategy for the market we're actually in. Take the Frictionless Growth Quiz to identify where your brand may be creating hidden friction: frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz Also mentioned in this episode: Episode 198: The Growth Strategy Behind Crayola's Global Initiative Engaging 17 Million Kids | Brand Strategy and Customer Acquisition Case Study - https://www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/brand-ecosystem-crayola/

In this episode, Rick Saez sits down with Marin Hamilton, an outdoor industry marketing expert known for helping iconic brands like The North Face build communities that genuinely connect — not just "engage." Show Notes Marin is a SHORTY Award winner, an Oregon Outdoor Alliance board member, and the founder of Outdoor Industry Coffee and Coworking. She's also led social strategy at brands like Starbucks and The North Face, and today she's helping outdoor brands and creators thrive through her work at Popfly. From the early days of Instagram and Starbucks' viral Pink Drink, to flying a helicopter to deliver a replacement rain jacket in New Zealand, Marin shares what it really takes to be a social-first brand — and why community management is one of the most overlooked growth opportunities in outdoor marketing. In This Episode, You'll Learn How Marin broke into the outdoor industry and landed at The North Face What the early days of social media marketing looked like inside Starbucks corporate How "social listening" helped inspire what became the Starbucks Pink Drink What it means to be a social-first brand (and not just treat social like another channel) Why community management is the most underrated growth lever for outdoor brands How The North Face pulled off a real-time viral moment with a helicopter jacket delivery How Marin thinks about balancing brand integrity with clickable content What makes a strong creator or athlete partnership — and what red flags to avoid The biggest challenges marketers are navigating right now (AI, creators, and trust) Why representation and inclusion still matter — even when the world gets louder Advice for smaller outdoor brands trying to make a real impact without a huge budget

In today's episode, I'm sharing a core concept I've been teaching recently around what it actually takes to become an unignorable brand. I break down the three Cs—clarity, conviction, and consistency—and why attention alone isn't enough without trust behind it. I talk about how to get clearer on what you stand for, how to bring real conviction into your messaging, and how consistency goes beyond just posting regularly. If your marketing feels a little too safe, watered down, or like it's blending in, this episode will get you thinking differently about how you show up and lead with your message.

In this episode, Ally and I break down the marketing and brand lessons hidden inside Disneyland Handcrafted, the new documentary directed by Leslie Iwerks that captures the extraordinary effort, craftsmanship, and storytelling behind the creation of Disneyland. Using never-before-seen footage and audio, the film elevates the often unnamed people who brought Walt Disney's impossible idea to life — and offers a masterclass in legacy brand storytelling. Whether you're a Disney fan or not, this conversation explores why the best brands are built on emotional resonance, attention to detail, and stories that actually need to be told — and how marketers today can apply those lessons to content, customer experience, and the products they're building.Key Takeaways:// Every brand is built on story — but not every story has been told yet: The most compelling marketing often comes from uncovering overlooked perspectives: your team, your customers, or the behind-the-scenes work that rarely gets credit.// Behind-the-scenes content builds trust, not just engagement: Showing the process — the challenges, pivots, and craftsmanship — creates authenticity and emotional connection far more than polished outputs alone.// Attention to detail isn't optional — it is the brand: From product design to social media responses, every interaction teaches your audience what to expect from you.// Happiness is future-proof: Brands that create moments of joy, escape, or ease — even through content — build lasting relevance in uncertain times.// Great marketing is hospitality: How you treat your audience, respond to feedback, and show up consistently matters just as much as the message itself.// Legacy brands last because they invest in craft, not shortcuts: Long-term trust is built through care, patience, and respect for the people behind the work — not trend-chasing.Connect with Cassie: LinkedInConnect with Ally: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠Join the MHH Collective: ⁠Join now⁠Get the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our email list!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow MHH on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

PPC Strategies for Small B2B Brands to Beat Big Competitors So many B2B companies and marketing teams waste budget on tactics that don't drive results or support core business goals. Smaller B2B brands often compete against much larger companies while working with less internal bandwidth, tighter budgets, and limited resources. The key being successful lies in their ability to be strategic, efficient, and resourceful despite these obvious constraints. So how can small B2B brands outmaneuver big competitors using PPC and smarter marketing strategies? That's why we're talking to Andy Janaitis (Founder and Chief Strategist, PPC Pitbulls), who shared his experience and PPC strategies for small B2B brands to beat big competitors. During our conversation, Andy discussed the importance of foundational B2B marketing elements like high-converting landing pages, automated email flows, and a well-structured PPC strategy. He highlighted why targeted messaging and measurement are essential to compete more effectively against competitors. Andy also underscored the value of understanding B2B audience pain points, having a well-designed website, and leveraging key metrics such as first-order profitability and customer lifetime growth. He emphasized the importance of transparency and authenticity in B2B marketing strategies and advocated for a data-driven approach that achieves scalable, profitable growth. https://youtu.be/DR6d_dFfnVI Topics discussed in episode: [03:06] The Small Brand Advantage: Why being smaller allows for more targeted messaging that resonates better than broad, big-brand ads. [05:05] Avoid the Testing Trap: Why splitting a small budget across too many creative tests leads to insufficient data and wasted spend. [07:14] Winning the Auction: How the real-time ad auction rewards quality and specificity, allowing you to pay less than big brands for premium placements. [09:50] The Conversion Ecosystem: The critical role of landing pages and automated email flows in nurturing leads who aren’t ready to buy yet. [14:58] 5 Essentials for Ad Readiness: A checklist of what you need (from audience understanding to goal clarity) before launching your first campaign. [21:55] AI in PPC: How AI-driven automation has powered platforms for years and where it is heading next. [25:34] Better Metrics: Why you should look past ROAS and focus on first-order profitability and customer lifetime growth. Companies and links mentioned: Andy Janaitis on LinkedIn  PPC Pitbulls  Transcript Andy Janaitis, Christian Klepp Andy Janaitis  00:00 If you’re sending people to a landing page that’s not built to convert, if it doesn’t have the social proof that gives somebody the trust in your product or your service, you may be able to get folks to your site, but they’re not ultimately going to purchase for you, and that’s just one other component. Something else we see all the time is email flows, so making sure that you have automated welcome flows, that if they don’t purchase the first time they’re on your site, they have a lower value touch point, whether it be downloading a free lead magnet or something like that, that brings them into your ecosystem and allows you to start nurturing the relationship over time. Those are two things that we see all the time, landing pages and email flows that are fundamentals that get overlooked and people say, hey, the ads aren’t working, you know, I gotta, you know, try more creative. I gotta keep tweaking. I gotta change, you know, the different structure that some YouTube Guru told me that I need to be running, when in reality, it’s like, no, there’s some key fundamentals that you’ve got to get right about your business first. And getting those things right is going to have 100 times more impact than tweaking little bits of the creative here and there. Christian Klepp  01:04 So many B2B companies and their marketing teams waste money on marketing that doesn’t match their business goals. They go up against much larger competitors, while also having to contend with limited budgets, resources and bandwidth. So how can smaller B2B brands outsmart their biggest counterparts and win? Welcome to this episode of the B2B Marketers on the Mission podcast, and I’m your host, Christian Klepp, today, I’ll be talking to Andy Janaitis, who will be answering this question. He’s the Founder and Chief Strategist of PPC Pitbulls, a boutique digital marketing agency that helps B2B businesses grow past seven figures through leveraging Google and Meta ads. Tune in to find out more about what the speed to be Marketers Mission is. All right, and off we go. Mr. Andy Janaitis, welcome to the show, sir. Andy Janaitis  01:50 Thanks for having me, Christian. Christian Klepp  01:51 Really enjoyed our pre-interview conversation, Andy. We talked about a lot of things that range from B2B Marketing to family and hobbies and the different cities that we’re living in, and what have you. But I am really looking forward to this conversation, because it’s something that I think a lot of people in the B2B Marketing world can relate to. And if they can’t relate, they should all right, so let’s dive right in, because I think this is going to be a really interesting conversation, right? Andy Janaitis  02:19 Definitely. Christian Klepp  02:20 Okay. So Andy, you’re on a Mission to help scale independent B2B brands with data driven Google and Meta ads. But for this conversation, I’d like to zero in on the topic of how smaller B2B brands can outsmart the bigger competitors by being strategic with PPC. If we’re going to use military terms, it almost sounds like you have to learn how to use Guerrilla warfare instead of conventional war tactics, right? So I’m going to kick-off the conversation with two questions, and I’m happy to repeat them all right? So the first question is, what is it about PPC or Pay Per Click that you wish more people understood? And the second question is, why do you think small brands fail when they try to copy big brand ad strategies? Andy Janaitis  03:06 There’s a lot, a lot there to unpack, and I think, you know, there’s, I think you touched on it there, but there’s a lot of anxiety among small brands. We work with Founders and Marketing Directors of these independent brands, and oftentimes there’s a fear of a Google Ads or Meta ads, because they say, Hey, there’s some big competitors out there in my space that are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. And if I’ve got my little budget, if I’m trying to spend $5 or $10,000 a month, how do I have any chance of competing with them? You know, surely they’re going to outbid me on every single keyword, every single ad placement that I could be in, and what gets missed there is that you actually do have a big advantage in that being smaller. Your product probably has a smaller niche than you think, because you’re not distributed to everybody, you’re speaking to a smaller audience, which allows you to be much more targeted in your messaging. So in that way, where you might have some of these bigger brands that are, of course, way out investing, you that investment is being spread across so many different audiences and so many different placements, whereas you have the ability to say, Hey, I’ve got a limited budget. Let me only target, you know, the most likely people to purchase from me, and the people who are, you know, who I’m most likely to resonate with, and then give them a message that really speaks directly to them. So I think that’s the first and foremost thing to remember, is that you can take this, you know, supposedly disadvantage, and really turn it into an advantage when you when you focus in on, you know, who is your smallest, tightest, ideal client, that that you can target and speak to. I think that’s really, really important and gets missed and to your second question around, you know, the big brand tactics. I think a lot of times people see these in Instagram reels, LinkedIn posts that come up with a lot of different strategies that could work well, but are only going to work well on those larger budgets. So one great example of this. A lot of times I see people talking about creative testing and talking about needing we tested across 100 different assets, talk about, you know, let’s use AI so that we have the model in this particular influencer ad. You know, we can change the hair color and the shirt color and all these different combinations and test all these different things. The problem with that is, if you try that with a much smaller budget, you’re necessarily going to split, you know, the budget that many different ways. So say you run 100 different combinations, 100 different messages targets, you’re splitting your budget that many different ways, and you’re not building up enough data about any one of those individual combinations to make a good decision. So I always kind of tell people focus on the fundamentals. First worry about your top level messaging. What is it that really matters most and makes your product different, you know, and your really key differentiators to your to your most ideal audience, forget about, you know, button colors, or, you know, with these smaller budgets, don’t worry about testing. You know, what’s the color of the shirt that the model is wearing kind of thing, you know, you’ll have time to test those things in the future. But, you know, I think people get too caught up in those, those types of practices that, you know, big brands are spending a lot of time and money on and forget about, you know, the fundamentals themselves. Christian Klepp  06:35 Absolutely, absolutely. You brought up some really great points. I like to go back to like, two of them that you mentioned, I think the first one, short of getting too granular or getting too in the weeds, but you brought up something that I thought was really important to discuss further about, like the worry or the concern the Marketers have that people are gonna outbid us for those, for those keyboards, For example, talk us through, if you can, even from a top level perspective, how does a small B2B Company navigate through that? Because it sounds like it can. It can be an exercise that could potentially become very complex. Andy Janaitis  07:14 And the nice thing about this is it’s all automated these days. So, you know, realistically, when you are putting, you know, saying, hey, I want to run an Ad, whether it be on Google or on Meta. What’s happening is a real time auction where they’re saying, Hey, there’s this particular placement or this particular search, in the case of Google, so anybody who could possibly run an Ad on that, we’re going to let them, you know, put their ad forth and how much they’re willing to bid on it, and see, you know, who kind of gets in the top position and gets to show their ad. Now the thing that’s interesting there is it’s not based only on how much you’re about to pay for the ad. It’s also based on the quality of the ad, or how good of a match the ad is for that particular person or that particular search that’s coming in. And that’s where your ad can be more targeted, can be a higher quality ad, because it’s more specific. So you actually are going to be paying a little bit less for that placement than even some of these really big brands that are necessarily speaking a little bit broader language and not as niche down of a message. So that’s one, one big way. The other big thing is, as I mentioned, it’s in real time on every single on every single potential ad placement, or every potential search. So what that means is you probably aren’t going to compete with the big guys across all of the searches they’re running, but you don’t have to, because you may only show up, you know, you may only overlap in 5% of the placement. So where their budgets are going out there to every single potential placement or search that they could show up for, you only need to compete with them in that small, small percentage that is most relevant to your specific audience. Christian Klepp  08:55 Okay, fantastic, fantastic. Okay, second follow up question, and again, got to be careful, because we could potentially go down the deep rabbit hole with this one. But one thing that we all know about PPC is that there’s a lot behind it. And what I mean by that is, it shouldn’t be viewed as this one and done exercise. There’s a there’s a bit of an ecosystem behind it. And what I mean by that is, if somebody goes and sees the ad on Google or Meta and clicks on it, well, that clicks got to redirect people somewhere, right, be that a landing page or a website or whatnot, what’s on? What’s on the co you know, what kind of content are we talking about? What kind of CTA are we talking about? Walk us through that about why, why is it so important for B2B Marketers to understand that PPC is a component in this, this ecosystem? Andy Janaitis  09:50 That’s so, so important, and it’s, it’s important, especially as we talk about, you know, smaller brands, smaller budgets. You know, in that $10,000 to. $20,000 ad spend range. What we find is that, first of all, as you mentioned, it’s a holistic ecosystem. So, yeah, the ads are one part, and you got to make sure that you’ve got your ad copy, you’ve got your placements, you’ve got your you know, your strategy in the ad platforms down. But as you mentioned, if you’re sending people to a landing page that’s not built to convert, if it doesn’t have the social proof that gives somebody the trust in your product or your service. They’re not you may be able to get folks to your site, but they’re not ultimately going to purchase for you. And that’s just one other component. Something else we see all the time is email flows, so making sure that you have automated welcome flows, that if they don’t purchase the first time they’re on your site, they have a lower value touch point, whether it be downloading a free lead magnet or something like that, that brings them into your ecosystem and allows you to start nurturing the relationship over time. Those are two things that we see all the time, landing pages and email flows that are fundamentals that get overlooked. And people say, you know, hey, the ads aren’t working. You know, I gotta, you know, try more creative. I gotta, I gotta keep tweaking. I gotta change. You know, the the different structure that some YouTube Guru told me that I need to be running, when, in reality, it’s like, no, there’s some key fundamentals that you’ve got to get right about your business first. And getting those things right is going to have, you know, 100 times more impact than tweaking little bits of the creative here and there. Christian Klepp  11:26 You brought up one word that I think is worth repeating. It’s nurturing, right? Like, and I think that gets, um, that gets ignored or overlooked a lot in B2B, especially like, when, when the organization’s very sales driven. So it’s all about like, volume, volume, volume, right? Like we gotta, like, I mean, just to use the the old adage of like, you know, gonna hit that phone right, or pound the pavement and just get those numbers up right? But at the end of the day, especially if we’re talking about B2B, not everybody is ready to buy at the first contact. In fact, that would, I would almost go as far as to say, like, 97%, 98% of the time, they’re not, not, they’re not in buying mode, right? They’re probably still in an investigative mode. They’re still looking at what the options are out there. They’re probably doing their own research. That’s how they have landed on those ads. So it’s to your point. It’s so important to like, nurture that at that that lead rather in a non-pushy, non-intrusive way that helps to build that trust, to give them that confidence that this is, in fact, the right company that we should be perhaps having a conversation with, right? Andy Janaitis  12:33 Exactly, yeah, and I think sometimes people spend so much time on their messaging and their differentiators, and then they forget to tell their customers that, you know, they spent all this time working through what exactly it is that made their business better than the competitor. But if you don’t take the time to, you know, set up a welcome email flow it or, you know, build a presence on build an organic presence on Google, on Instagram or Facebook, you’re not necessarily getting that message out and giving people a chance to get to know you and fall in love with your brand. So I think that’s so, so important and often overlooked. Christian Klepp  13:12 Absolutely, absolutely. You brought up some of these already, but talk to us about some of these key pitfalls that Marketing Teams should be avoiding when it comes to PPC, and what should they be doing instead? Andy Janaitis  13:24 So we talked about a few of them. You know, some of the fundamentals that exist outside of the ad ecosystem. But one pitfall that I really want to focus on, that that is really closely tied to the ad ecosystem is measurement. So making sure that once somebody hit your site, you understand where they came from and ultimately what they did so that might be filling out a lead form. That might be purchasing a product, if you’re in kind of the E-commerce space, might be adding a product to their cart. You’ve got to make sure that you’re measuring all those independent events for two purposes, one, passing that data back to a Google or a Meta is the only way that those platforms can optimize and continue to get you better and better results. And two, you need to have that data to be able to report on and understand where your ad dollars are going and whether they’re working or not. That’s how you make the decision of, should I be putting more budget into Google or into Meta or hey, are neither of them working? And I got to try something totally different that’s often overlooked. We see clients coming to us that have spent untold amounts of money, and they’re not really even sure how it worked because they weren’t measuring it in the first place. So they’re just basing it on getting the cheapest clicks possible and not focusing on, you know, really optimizing for conversion? Christian Klepp  14:44 Yeah, no, absolutely. Those are, those are some very important points. In our last conversation, you talked about these five essentials that B2B brands need to have before they run their first ad campaign. Can you talk to us about that? Andy Janaitis  14:58 Yeah, definitely. I. So yeah, I’ll kind of walk through, and I don’t know if we’ll end up on four or six, but we’ll shoot for five here. The number one thing as you’re going through or selling online, obviously, you need to have an understanding of who your audience is and who you’re going to be targeting from that and what comes out of that is having an understanding of what are the main pain points that they have, and making sure that you’re speaking to those on a really well designed website that’s designed for, I say, designed for conversion, but what I mean by that is it helps guide somebody through that buyer’s journey, taking them from the point of just getting to know your brand to understanding what you do, to understanding how you solve their pain points, and then some social proof about why you’re better than others. So a you know, understanding your audience, having a well developed website that speaks to the audience, and importantly, speaks to the real symptoms and pain points that they’re dealing with, and how you can help solve them. Number three, I would say, is measurement. That’s, that’s a big piece that, you know, we just talked about in depth, but making sure you’re understanding once somebody hits the site, what are they, you know, what are they doing? Where are they going? What pages are they viewing? Do they ultimately fill out a lead form? Do they ultimately, you know, add the product to their cart and then leave? You’ve got to be able to measure what’s happening once they hit the site. Beyond that, I would say maybe, maybe item number four will group together a lot of those other fundamentals. So things that even outside of the website, things like a nurture flow and email, a presence on social, these are all so, so important, and even if you’re focused on paid ads running to a website to get a conversion, all of these other things are going to help that process. It’s a holistic marketing process, because we know today that people see you across a number of channels. It’s not that they’re only going to see your ad, come to your website, make a decision and buy. They’re going to, you know, hopefully see your ad later on, maybe see an organic post that you made on your socials. Maybe they bump into you at a trade show or a conference, and ultimately get to your website, make the decision there so making sure that those other fundamentals, like a an email nurture flow or a good organic social present are available, and then number five, and I think this is most important. And what I see people get wrong all the time is, understand your goals. So people will say, hey, I need to run ads. I want to run ads because I want more leads. Ultimately, you know, obviously we can, can run ads, and that could be an outcome. But if you’re not able to say, you know, what type of leads do you want, why are you not getting enough leads today? What’s your capacity? How many leads can you handle? You know, what type of behaviors are you trying to get more of, whether it be leads versus, you know, sales versus, you know, people buying a purchase or even downloading a lead magnet so that we can begin the nurture process. These are all viable, viable directions to go. And if you’re not thinking through specifically for your business, what’s the very specific goal that you that you have, and more importantly, what are the constraints you have? What’s your budget? What how much creative do you have available? Do you have a team on staff that can create more creative or work with your marketing strategy, understanding the goals and the constraints? A lot of people get caught up and just say, Hey, I got to run some ads and go for it. I want more revenue, when, in reality, there’s all these different nuances to it, and you really need to know what your specific goal is. Christian Klepp  18:39 Yeah, no, no, that’s great stuff. So let me just quickly recap for the benefit of the listeners, right? So you were talking about understand who the audience is, which is, which is imperative. I mean, you know, you almost shouldn’t start anything without knowing that, right? The second one was a well developed website, and I’ve got a follow up question for you on that one. Third one is measurement. So metrics like, know what to measure, and we will have a separate question about metrics later on in the conversation. Four is nurture, flow and email and organic and a presence on social. And the last one is understanding your goals, right? Like, what is it you want to achieve with this? Right? So on the topic of websites, when you say, well, developed website, I’m I have this feeling that you’re not referring to it’s got to be this incredibly expensive and complex website. That’s not what you’re talking about, right? Andy Janaitis  19:34 No and oftentimes, the simpler it is, the better it’s going to convert. So I think that’s really important what we think about. And I think the way I think of it is, in the old days, you might have a salesperson who’s going to get in front of a potential lead and then help kind of, you know, work through the objections they might have. So hey, you know, I’m not sure this might be a little too expensive for me. Or, Hey, I’m not sure if you know, you really serve people in my niche. Or if you know you you work with somebody, somebody different. I don’t know that this is a great fit for me. And the salesperson would have all the answers, right? They would say, hey, if this is their objection, this is how we answer that. If this is their objection, this is how we answer that. This is how we tell them about how we solve their problems. In today’s day and age, you may still have some sales people, but your website needs to do a lot of that work itself. So that’s what we need to think through is, what are all the things that a buyer needs to know before they’re ready to make that purchase and make sure that we’re putting that in front of them in a way that’s super easy to understand. A confused buyer is not a buyer. There’s a better way to use that statement. I’m sure you’ve probably heard that somebody, if they find confusion, they’re not going to be ultimately making a purchase with you. So make sure it’s really, really clear what is your product or service, how does it solve the customer’s problem? And hopefully some social proof too, and making sure that there’s some confidence that you’ve solved this problem for other people, like the potential buyer. Christian Klepp  20:57 And when you say social proof, you’re, of course, referring to things like in the form of case studies, testimonials, maybe even reviews on like platforms like Clutch and the like. Andy Janaitis  21:07 Exactly. All of those are great. You know, if you have a partner badge that, hey, you’ve done good work, or you’re certified to do particular work, that could be another one. If you’ve been featured in particular publications, that can be another one. But yeah, ultimately, all of these different ways that help give confidence that you can do the job. Christian Klepp  21:24 Fantastic, fantastic. You kind of scratch the surface a little bit in the beginning of the conversation, but PPC and AI, right? I mean, you kind of, you kind of cannot avoid this topic, right? Because it permeates across the entire marketing spectrum. But you know, from your perspective and in your experience, to what degree do you find AI harmful and helpful when it comes to PPC? Andy Janaitis  21:55 So I would say, on kind of the helpful side, and this is something that’s what’s interesting is we think of AI, you know, in the last, say, three years since chatGPT released, was it three? Five was the first, you know, kind of big milestone, breaking model where people said, Oh my gosh, this is, you know, this can really do a lot of, you know, can sound like a real human kind of thing. But long before that, AI has been implemented in these platforms, in Google and Meta, and for probably the last 10 years, we’ve been moving in the direction of more automation, more AI. So earlier, we talked about that ad auction, where every single time a keyword is searched or a placement pops up on Facebook or Instagram, you have to have a particular bid of how much you’re willing to spend to get your ad there. These days, you’re not putting any of those bids in manually. You’re just telling Meta or Google, hey, here’s the budget I want, and here’s the data coming from my website to let people know if they’re purchasing or filling out a lead form or not. And now Google or Meta, go out there and run with it. You know, go ahead and optimize with the ad assets that I’ve given you and the budget that I’ve given you. Go ahead and put me wherever you need to put me in order to get the most possible, you know, results, goals that that you can and that’s all AI driven. Then it’s been that way for a long time. We’ve been moving in that kind of direction. So that’s on the helpful side. That’s where, you know, AI is really driving, driving success for us. On the hurtful side. You know, you hear a lot of times people talking about, you know, now, especially in Google, when somebody makes a search, they’re getting the information. They’re getting an answer right up front. Or maybe they’re not even going to Google. Maybe they’re in ChatGPT or Perplexity, so, Christian Klepp  23:44 It’s a summary at the top right? Yeah. Andy Janaitis  23:47 Exactly, yeah. So they don’t even need to come to your website. From a PPC perspective, there’s not that click that you can go ahead and bid on and put your ad in front of, and that can be a concern, honestly, from a services and product perspective, I find that to be a little bit less of an issue. It’s definitely more of an issue for publishers. So if you have an information content kind of business that’s really harmful for you right now, because, you know, people are getting that information without ever having to make the click onto your website. But ultimately, if somebody is going to want to hire you for your services or buy one of your products, they still have to click through at some point. They’re not necessarily making that purchase, or they’re definitely not making that purchase out of the Google results summary. That being said, the other kind of big thing, and why I’m not super, super concerned about that development, is that whether it be on chatGPT or on Google, they really haven’t started monetizing yet, and that’s where I think you’re still going to see ads up in that area, we know that you’re going to be seeing ads up there. In fact, chatGPT is already hiring up and staffing up an ad organization, so it’s just going to be one more platform, one more area where you can run ads and get in. Front of your ideal customers. Because ultimately, you know, a subscription model can work to a degree, but you know, these companies, from an economic basis, need to have ads in order to kind of fund the type of growth that they that they need to see over the coming years. Christian Klepp  25:15 Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely, all right, previously, like when we talked about this, you mentioned this one thing, right? Kind of sounds like a song, right? Like this one metric that every B2B brand must know before scaling. So what is it? And why do you think B2B brands should have it? Andy Janaitis  25:35 So I’ll maybe take a little bit of a cop out. And they’re a couple different metrics. You know, we, especially on the e-commerce side, we look at four key metrics. One of the people get caught up when they’re thinking about on in the PPC world, a lot of times, people talk about ROAs (Return On Ad Spend) or CPA (Cost Per Acquisition/Action). So ROAs would be the amount of revenue that you’re getting in for every ad dollar your spend return on ad spend and CPA would be cost per action, or essentially, you know, if somebody is looking to get lead forms filled out, how many dollars of ad spend are you putting in for every lead form that you’re getting filled out? And those can be important metrics, but they abstract away a lot of important nuance, and it’s very possible to look good in those metrics and still not make a ton of money. So we have these four key metrics, especially on the e-commerce side, that we focus in on, and it’s things like first order profitability. So yeah, your ROAs may be high, but if it’s a lot of people making repeat purchases, you may still be spending too much money to acquire that that first customer so first order profitability is going to be the first time somebody makes a purchase. Are you profitable? Or are you not? You know that that one individual purchase even before you start to look at customer lifetime growth. Is it profitable for you? Another key metric that we look at is that customer lifetime growth. So okay, perfect. You’ve profitably gotten that first purchase, but are you building enough customer lifetime value so that over time it’s going to pay off what you had to put in to acquire that customer in the first place. Another key one that really applies, whether it be e-commerce or elsewhere, is the percentage of your revenue, the percentage of your leads that are coming from organic channels versus paid channels. So we love to focus on the paid side. We help people find scalable, profitable results in the paid channels, but if you’re too over indexed in those, if you’re getting too much of your revenue or your leads from paid channels, that tells you that you’re probably paying a little bit too much for it. And you need to develop that organic you know, from your your social from people just finding you via regular old Google search, making sure that you’re not over indexed towards the paid channel, if you want to be able to scale that profitably. Christian Klepp  28:06 Okay, okay, well, there’s some really great points, and I’m glad that you pointed that out about like, you know how everybody is very obsessed with ROAs and CPA, but there are actually, in fact, other metrics that they really should be paying more attention to, or that need, that deserve some of that limelight as well. Right? Andy Janaitis  28:23 Exactly. Christian Klepp  28:24 Fantastic. So we get to the point in the conversation, my friend, where we’re talking about actionable tips, and you’ve given us a ton already within these past like, 30 minutes. But just imagine there’s a B2B Marketer out there that’s listening to this conversation between you and I, and there are three to five things that you can tell them. You know, you can take action on this right now, right after listening to this conversation, what would those things be? Andy Janaitis  28:48 Yeah. So first and foremost, we talked about your measurement. So the action there is use GA for Google Analytics. If you don’t have Google Analytics installed on your website already. Make sure you go ahead and get that installed. It’s a free tool. There’s some other paid tools that are better in certain ways. But you know, for my money, as you’re getting started out, Google Analytics is absolutely table stakes. You’ve got to have that installed on your site and set up properly to measure the behavior of what’s what’s happening on your site. If we’re talking PPC, similar to that, is making sure that everything is technically configured correctly, so that when somebody makes executes a behavior, makes a purchase, fills out a lead form, that data is getting back to, you know, either Google or Meta. So those are, you know, kind of the some of the key things that you got to do right out the gate and GA for Google Analytics. It’s a free tool, so there’s no, really no excuse not to have that set up. The other thing that I think is a first step that a lot of folks really got to got to figure out is getting crystal clear on who your customer is, what their main pain point that you can solve is. Is, and then ultimately, what’s your goal for for ads. So those kind of three, three components all tied together a lot of times. You know, we find people that are either, hey, we’re just looking for leads, but they can’t really give a good answer on, you know, who their customers or what type of leads would be a good lead for them. Or, you know, maybe they they’re really tight on who their customer is. And they say, Hey, we just, we just got to run some ads, but understanding kind of where ads fit into overall ecosystem. How are you doing organically? How do you close the leads once you get them you know? How often do people who make that first purchase end up coming back and making an additional purchase? Make sure you understand what you’re actually trying to get out of the ads. I think that’s probably the number one thing, and you can’t do that without the measurement piece that we that we discussed earlier. But I would really, you know, kind of start from a measurement component. Make sure you understand what’s happening when folks at your site, and then, before you spend $1 in paid ads, make sure you understand what you’re trying to get out of those paid ads and what gap in your marketing, you’re trying to solve. Christian Klepp  31:02 Absolutely, and it’s such a dangerous mindset to have that, you know, we just want to quickly do this right, and we just want to, like, generate some quick leads so we can show some numbers. But if you, you know, to your point, and you’ve raised it a couple of times in this conversation, if you don’t do this heavy lifting up front with understanding who your target audience is and understanding what the actual goals of this exercise are, then all of this is gonna go like, down the drain at some point, right? I mean, like, I’ll have to tell you, this is your this is your area of expertise. But if you don’t know what you’re doing with paid ads, that budgets gonna, like, evaporate fairly quickly. Andy Janaitis  31:40 Exactly, yeah. Christian Klepp  31:42 We’re gonna move on to the soapbox question. I’m gonna say I was, I was, I was trying to think about, well, how to describe this, but, yeah, that’s the best description. What is the status quo in your area of expertise that you passionately disagree with, and why? Andy Janaitis  32:02 That’s a great question. I think we talked about some of the individual components earlier. You know, folks kind of listening to Gurus, kind of coming we still to this day, you know, have clients, or prospective clients coming in and say, Hey, I saw this YouTube video that told me I’ve got to do this. And it’s, you know, just bad advice for them kind of thing, you know, where they didn’t really, you know, get that good advice and take it one step further to see how that fits for their specific business. I think that happens all too often. The other big thing that we, we see, especially in marketing in general, I think there’s a lot of suspicion of, you know, marketing, you know, we people are really, really looking for authenticity these days. And I think there’s a fear that, you know, marketing as an industry is all about telling lies or not giving, you know, an authentic answer, trying to trick somebody into buying a product or a service. And a lot of that, you know, it’s kind of our own fault, honestly. You know, there’s a lot of Gurus out there that give the industry a bad name, when in reality, you know, all of this is about you should have a valuable product or a valuable service, and what we’re doing, you know, whether it be via paid ads or organic or you know those email nurture flows is just educating The customer on how your product authentically solves their specific pain points. So I think that’s, you know, something I would really like to kind of dispel that myth that marketing agencies say, you know, are not able to, are all charlatans and not able to give you good, authentic support. You know, we like to kind of think of it almost like when you bring your car to a mechanic, that old trusted mechanic thing, right? You don’t know what’s going on under the hood. You don’t know what that clunking sound is. So you better find a mechanic that you can trust to shoot it to you straight, not sell you something you don’t need. We like to think of ourselves like that in the marketing world, you know, in a world where there’s a lot of suspicion of the practitioners, you know, making sure that you can find somebody who is transparent and that you can trust to tell you the truth, I think that’s, you know, there’s a lot of good people out there and a lot of a lot of good businesses, agencies out there, you know, I’d like to kind of, you know, dispel that myth that there isn’t, you know, a trustworthy marketing agency that can really help you, guide your business to success, and help you find, you know, find the right answers for you, not what’s just profitable for the agency. Christian Klepp  34:33 This is gonna sound so biased coming from me, but yes, I agree with you. There are some good Marketers out there, right? I mean, we have to believe that too, because, you know, not, not all of us are, are out there to, like, just, you know, make some quick profit. In fact, like the way that I work with my clients, I always say up front, honesty and transparency. Andy Janaitis  34:52 Exactly. Christian Klepp  34:53 You know. And every time they asked me for for advice and or what I would do in this situation, I always start. Answer by saying full transparency, right? This is how I would do it, or I wouldn’t recommend you do this right now, because it’s not a good user for your budget, for example, right? And we and we know that, and we know that there are agencies out there that wouldn’t do that, right? They won’t say that, right? They’ll just say, oh, yeah, absolutely, go do it. Okay? But those relationships don’t tend to last very long in my experience. Okay, so here comes the bonus question, and we talked a little bit about this before I hit record. But rumor has it that you started your agency three months before your first child was born. So the question is, what important lesson to that experience teach you, both personally and professionally, like, like, it was almost like there was, there were two things coming into this world at that point in time as a war, right? Andy Janaitis  35:51 Yeah, it’s a great question. And certainly there’s been, you know, a lot that I’ve learned from, you know, both the business and and the parenting journeys, you know, I think kind of the crossover there, you know, we think about, like, the time component, right? You know, there’s only so many hours in the day. One big thing is, it definitely gives you perspective. You know, we always think about, you know, the perspective, hey, family matters the most and kind of what it means to, you know, now I know what’s really important, as opposed to getting worried or bent out of shape about, you know, some of the little things. But I think that really applies to the whole, you know, the holistic person, and, you know, the whole lifestyle, whether it be, you know, how we spend time with family or how we spend time, you know, working on the business and growing the business, it really forces you, because you have a limited time horizon, you know, forces you to kind of really focus in on what’s most important and not waste your time on, you know, either spending time on the things that aren’t going to be impactful or don’t matter so much, and especially not wasting your worry and your anxiety on, you know, things that are going to solve themselves and you really don’t need to be worried about. Christian Klepp  37:04 And just my two cents worth, because we kind of both started our businesses around the same time, but it kind of teaches you to prioritize and manage your time a little bit better. Not that we didn’t know how to manage our time previously, but it’s a different type of time management, right? Like, time management to take care of the family and time management to, like, run the business. Right? Andy Janaitis  37:26 Exactly. Yep. Christian Klepp  37:28 Yeah. No. Fantastic, fantastic. Andy, this has been such a great conversation. I really enjoyed it. Thanks so much for coming on and for sharing your experience and expertise with the listeners. Please. Quick intro to yourself and how folks out there can get in touch with you. Andy Janaitis  37:43 Yeah, so we’re at ppcpitbulls.com at PPC Pitbulls. We’re really focused on helping e-commerce Directors, Marketing Directors, and just small businesses in general, figure out, you know, kind of demystify the world of digital marketing, and go from confused, not knowing where the next dollars are going to come in, to having a really good, stable strategy, and, you know, confidence in, you know, a strategy for profitable growth. So if you want to learn more, come check us out. We’ll actually have a special page, ppcpitbulls.com/mission, and that will be for listeners of this particular podcast. I talked about those four key metrics that we really care about. We’ve got that all put down in kind of a self guide that you can go through. We call it our paid ads reality checklist you can go through step by step. And I’ll show you exactly how to calculate each one of those metrics and how to analyze it on the back end. If that’s too much for you, can always just book a time with me too. I love sitting down with and meeting new small businesses, learning about your niche and you know, talking about where you can go next with your digital marketing. Christian Klepp  38:52 Fantastic, fantastic. So once again, Andy, thanks so much for coming on. Take care, stay safe and talk to you soon. Andy Janaitis  38:59 Talk to you soon. Thanks for having me.

Whether you love AI or hate it, one thing is clear: IT'S HERE TO STAY. We've all seen the AI and deepfake videos floating around the internet lately and they're equal parts fascinating and terrifying! And no, the creator industry is not exempt from this shift. In fact… it's already showing up inside brand deal contracts! In this episode, I'm walking you through what I'm actually seeing right now when it comes to AI and brand partnerships from both the brand side and the creator side so you can think bigger about how you negotiate, protect yourself, and future-proof your business. Because here's the part most creators don't realize yet: If it's not in the contract, it can arguably be allowed.

AI in franchise marketing is shifting from experimental to essential. As competition grows and margins tighten, franchisors are searching for smarter, more efficient ways to reach the right leads, tell better brand stories, and scale with authenticity. The next phase of growth won't be built on outdated marketing tactics. It will be led by those who embrace innovation, data, and tools that work in real time. Angela Olea knows that space well. As the founder of the nation's first senior placement franchise, she not only pioneered an industry, she built and scaled it into a national brand. Her background gives her unique insight into both sides of the franchise equation—from what franchisees need to succeed to what franchisors must prioritize to protect and grow the brand. After successfully exiting that venture, she turned her attention to one of the most overlooked growth drivers in franchising: marketing. Through her latest company, Sweet Influencers, Angela is now building the first AI-powered influencer marketing platform created by franchisors for franchisors. The platform focuses on helping brands reach qualified prospects through authentic, localized content that connects. Unlike traditional influencer networks that prioritize reach over relevance, Sweet Influencers is designed to deliver performance through credibility, trust, and data-driven storytelling. AI in franchise marketing isn't just about automation. It's about creating more effective communication between brands and the audiences they serve. It's also about freeing franchise teams from low-yield tactics and redirecting their focus toward scalable systems. Sweet Influencers uses artificial intelligence not to replace human creativity, but to enhance it. From selecting the right voices to measuring campaign performance, the technology allows franchisors to operate with greater precision and confidence. Angela's approach emphasizes that profitability and authenticity must be baked into a franchise from the start. That mindset carries over into marketing strategy. Brands that succeed in today's landscape are those that lead with transparency, serve with intention, and build systems that are as smart as they are sustainable. AI becomes a tool for alignment—ensuring the message matches the mission. Franchise marketing has traditionally relied heavily on manual campaigns, long cycles, and fragmented insights. With AI, that model is evolving. Now, marketing leaders can test faster, target better, and scale what works. Sweet Influencers gives franchisors a platform that integrates into their broader strategy rather than operating as a disconnected service. That kind of integration is key in an environment where every marketing dollar must be accounted for and every lead must be qualified. What sets Angela apart is her ability to translate operational experience into marketing solutions that actually make sense. She doesn't speak in jargon or generic frameworks. She brings lessons from the real world—what it's like to scale a brand, protect margins, and still find ways to stand out. Her work at the intersection of franchising, marketing, and AI is part of a larger movement pushing the industry toward smarter growth. Franchisors no longer have to choose between efficiency and authenticity. With platforms like Sweet Influencers, they can have both. By using AI to elevate the quality of their marketing and the clarity of their messaging, they set themselves—and their franchisees—up for long-term success. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Don't miss future episodes. Join Fordify LIVE! every Wednesday at 11AM Central on your favorite social platforms and catch The Business Growth Show Podcast every Thursday for a weekly dose of business growth wisdom. About Angela Olea Angela Olea is the Founder and CEO of Sweet Influencers, the first AI-powered influencer marketing platform built specifically for franchisors. She previously founded and scaled the nation's first senior placement franchise and brings deep experience in franchise development, brand building, and marketing strategy. About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator with over two decades of experience helping organizations scale smarter and faster. As President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., he's credited with generating over one billion dollars in sales for start-ups, franchise systems, and Fortune 500 companies. A serial entrepreneur, Ford has founded more than ten businesses, authored five books, earned three U.S. patents, and received multiple industry awards. Known for his strategic thinking and down-to-earth style, Ford helps brands expand awareness, attract loyal customers, and drive measurable results. His expertise also extends to AI prompt engineering, where he trains artificial intelligence to create high-impact marketing, operations, and sales content. Ford recently showcased this expertise at the "Unleash AI for Business Summit," sharing insights on how ChatGPT is transforming the customer experience. Learn more at ProfitRichResults.com and tune in to his TV show at Fordify.tv.

Album 8 Track 3 - What's Poppin? Why Commerce Media is the New Golden Child w/Tim SpenglerIn this episode of Brands, Beats and Bytes, hosts DC and LT sit down with Scale Team Advisory Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tim Spengler, to talk all things Retail and Commerce Media Networks, the "What's Poppin" topic that is rapidly reshaping the advertising landscape.We are dropping this special edition as a companion piece to our recent Jack Myers episode, and we've got the unofficial "third co-host" of the show to break it all down. We are talking about why performance marketing acolytes are shifting their gaze to this new horizon, the "virtual consumption" lie that traditional data couldn't catch, and why the ability to track "identity" is the new currency of the realm.Whether you're a C-Suite leader or a junior marketer, this conversation dives into why commerce media has exploded into a $67 billion industry (overtaking traditional TV!) and why smart brands are going all in to achieve both scale and precision.Key Takeaways:Truth Over Talk: How "data-led, tech-enabled" purchase history eliminates the gap between what consumers say they do and what they actually buy.The Holy Grail Found: How Retail Media Networks finally solve the age-old marketing dilemma by delivering both high-volume scale and laser-focused precision across the full funnel.Build and Borrow: Why brands entering this space cannot afford "learning curve" mistakes and must blend internal teams with external expertise to launch successfully.Mentioned in this Episode:Lead Human Podcast: Hosted by Tim Spengler & Jack Myers Jack Myers Episode: Check out our first drop of 2026 for the companion conversation! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

In the last 2 weeks alone I've had three brand owners come to me, all with the same story. They've been told by marketing "experts" that every single EDM, every Meta ad needs a discount incentive. Every website needs a countdown timer or some other kind of FOMO bells and whistles. One of them showed me her email marketing calendar. Every. Single. Week. A different discount code. Flash sale this, 20% off that, "last chance" the other thing. And here's the part that really gets me — some of these countdown timers? They're not even counting down to anything real. They literally reset when you refresh the page. It's manufactured urgency. It's fake scarcity. And it's everywhere. So today, I'm going to be blunt with you. This advice? This "discount everything, all the time" approach? It's not just lazy marketing. It's actively destroying premium brands. Over the next half hour or so, I'm going to unpack why constant discounting is eroding your profits, repelling your best customers, and training shoppers to never buy from you at full price. And I'll share what's actually working for quality-focused brands right now. Spoiler alert: it's not another 20% off code.   Links mentioned in this episode: If you'd like help to achieve your goals, I invite you to have a chat to find out how we can make that happen together HERE By booking a Free Growth Strategy https://productpreneurmarketing.com/lets-talk   Book Your Ecommerce Website Audit   Other Ways To Enjoy This Episode: Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Youtube  

Meteorology Reporting, Trying to Pair up struggling College Programs with Brands, & Reactions to Last Night's Grizzlies' Loss; Is the Grizzlies' Brand at an All Time Low Locally?

In this episode of the Cardone Zone, Grant Cardone sits down with two powerhouse entrepreneurs from very different worlds: Jimmy John, founder of the iconic sandwich empire, and business legend Martha Stewart. Together, they break down what it takes to build brands that endure—speed, consistency, discipline, and relentless execution. Jimmy John shares how focus, simplicity, and operational intensity helped him scale one of the most recognizable food brands in America. Martha Stewart brings decades of experience in media, lifestyle, and entrepreneurship, offering insights into brand longevity, reinvention, and staying relevant through changing markets. From fast-growth entrepreneurship to legacy brand building, this episode delivers practical lessons on scaling, reputation, and sustaining success over time. Follow us on all our social platforms and visit GrantCardone.com for event dates, business resources, and upcoming opportunities.

With the NFL season in full swing and the Super Bowl just weeks away, Jim sits down with Tim Ellis, Chief Marketing Officer of the National Football League, for a timely conversation about leading one of the most powerful brands in the world. Recorded live at the ANA Masters of Marketing in Orlando, this episode explores how the NFL continues to evolve beyond the game itself into a cultural force that brings people together. Since joining the league in 2018, Tim has helped reshape how the NFL shows up — making it more human, more inclusive, and more connected to fans across generations and communities.Tune in for a conversation around creativity, courage, and what it takes to steward a brand that means so much to so many.---Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/almPromo Code for $500 of ticket prices: ALMCMOPOD26---The CMO Podcast is a vYve Production.This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte, TransUnion and the IAB.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin Lawton welcomes Jonathan Briggs, Senior Vice President of Sales at ShipMonk. With peak season just behind them, Briggs shares insight into how ShipMonk has matured over the past decade, what brands misunderstand about automation, and why fulfillment has become a defining factor in long-term growth. From technology decisions to carrier performance and global expansion, the conversation shows how fulfillment is evolving. Today, an eCommerce fulfillment strategy is no longer a back-end function; it's a competitive advantage when executed correctly.Find more information about our sponsors here: Peak Technologies, Masterplan Communications, TGW Logistics, YMX Logistics Learn more about The Brecham Group here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Most e-commerce brands think they have a traffic problem.They don't.They have a leakage problem, and it's draining their bank accounts every single day.In this episode of Think Millions, Dr. Alexa D'Agostino sits down with Matthew Stafford, an E-commerce Growth Expert who has helped hundreds of brands cross the million-dollar mark without dumping more money into ads.Matthew has seen the backend of more Shopify stores than most founders ever will — and what he sees over and over again is the same pattern: brands blame ads, social, and platforms while ignoring what's actually broken after the click.In this conversation, we break down:Why most stores are failing before the first clickThe #1 revenue leak hiding in plain sightWhy ads get blamed for website failuresHow clarity beats persuasion every timeWhy redesigns don't fix conversion problemsThe mindset block keeping founders stuck at 6–7 figuresHow data (not design trends) actually drives scaleThis episode isn't about hacks or tactics.It's about fixing the real mechanics of growth, and getting out of your own way.Keys Parts of the Conversation:(0:10–0:52) | You Don't Have a Traffic Problem Why most Shopify stores are leaking money after the click.(4:12–4:31) | Ads Aren't Broken, Websites Are The real reason paid traffic doesn't convert. (3:18–3:28) | Why Confused Buyers Don't Buy Clarity vs persuasion in modern e-commerce.(5:19–5:35) | High-Converting Sites Are Built With Data Why redesigns fail and analytics matter.(6:44–7:05) | The Biggest Revenue Leak: Navigation How buyers actually find (or don't find) products.(9:42–10:23) | How to Identify Where Your Store Is Bleeding Money Using add-to-cart, checkout, and conversion data correctly.(10:45–11:15) | What “Good” Conversion Rates Actually Look Like Benchmarks based on AOV. (12:03–14:05) | Why Brands Stall at 6–7 Figures The mindset issue that founders don't want to admit.(16:45–17:32) | Scaling Isn't Magic, It's Mechanics The real formula behind sustainable growth.Great Quotes from the Podcast:“Most e-commerce brands don't have a traffic problem. They have a leakage problem.”“If people are clicking but not buying, the ads aren't broken, the site is.”“Confused buyers don't convert. They bounce.”“A high-converting site isn't built with design tools. It's built with data.”“Pretty doesn't scale. Clarity does.”“You can't fix what you don't measure.”“Most founders would rather redesign their site than read their own metrics.”“Businesses don't have business problems — they have people problems.”“Scaling isn't magic. It's mechanics.”“Stop throwing money at traffic before you fix the leaks.”Resources:All Episodes: Think Millions PodcastQuestions or Comments: support@thynkconsultinggroup.comAlexa's Instagram: @dralexadagostinoAlexa's Website: AlexaD'Agostino.comBook a Discovery Call with Alexa: Discovery CallThynkFuel Agency: ThynkFuelMedia.com

In this 100th episode, MichaelAaron and Richard look back on their favorite moments from the podcast so far, including standout brand case studies like Guinness and Aperol, and key behavioral science principles like the generation effect and reverse benchmarking. They also share a preview of what's ahead.

Hacking the Human Mind authors Richard Shotton and MichaelAaron Flicker reveal ways brands exploit human psychology and how we can use this to our benefit!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1273What We Discuss with Richard Shotton & MichaelAaron Flicker:Five Guys built a $1.6 billion empire on a single insight: doing one thing exceptionally well signals expertise. The company's refusal to add chicken, salads, or ice cream is strategic proof that specialization creates perceived mastery in the consumer's mind.Counterintuitively, the "goal dilution effect" shows that adding more benefits to your pitch actually weakens it. When tomatoes were described as preventing cancer and improving eye health, people rated the cancer benefit 12% lower, suggesting that focus beats feature-stuffing every time.As a species of "cognitive misers," our brains evolved to conserve energy, so we rely on mental shortcuts rather than deliberate analysis. Brands that understand these heuristics work with human nature instead of against it, making persuasion feel effortless rather than forced.Environmental cues shape our experiences more than we realize. Classical music makes wine taste more expensive, heavier cutlery makes food seem more premium, and tempo controls how fast we eat. Our senses are constantly being orchestrated without our awareness.Next time you're pitching yourself or your idea, resist the urge to list every qualification and benefit. Pick your strongest single message and let it breathe. Your audience's brain will reward clarity with credibility, turning restraint into your most persuasive tool.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: SimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanRag & Bone: 20% off: Rag-Bone.com, code JORDANProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's episode, I'm joined by Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn, the hosts of the Breaking Beauty Podcast, for a deep dive into what's really worth your time and money when it comes to skincare. We break down celebrity beauty brands and what makes some succeed while others fall flat, unpack the rise (and fatigue) of the clean girl aesthetic, and discuss where to save vs. splurge in your skincare routine. Carlene and Jill also share their personal retinol routines, thoughts on ingredient-driven brands, K-beauty favorites, and how to think about skincare maintenance on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. From smart investing in actives to beauty trends we're ready to leave behind, this episode is packed with practical, expert-backed insights for navigating the beauty industry with confidence. Enjoy!To connect with Siff on Instagram, click HERE.To connect with Siff on Tiktok, click HERE.To learn more about Arrae, click HERE. To check out Siff's LTK, click HERE.To check out Siff's Amazon StoreFront, click HERE. To listen to the Breaking Beauty Podcast, click HERE.To check out Breaking Beauty on Youtube, click HERE.To connect with Breaking Beauty Podcast on Instagram, click HERE.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Don't wait. Go to Quince.com/dreambigger for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. That's Quince.com/dreambigger to get free shipping and 365-day returns. Visit durable.com/dream and get started with Durable for free today. When you're ready to publish your website, use code DREAMBIGGER for 30% off all plans. Caraway's cookware set is a favorite for a reason, it can save you up to $190 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit Carawayhome.com/BIGGER you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. This deal is exclusive for our listeners, so visit Carawayhome.com/BIGGER or use code BIGGER at checkout. Caraway. Non-Toxic cookware made modern.Get started with the Experian App now! Text TRANSFORM to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You may have seen on social media that Amazon recently scrapped dozens of small business e-commerce websites and added people's products to the Amazon Buy for Me platform. This is a new platform that Amazon rolled out and they did this without consent from the brands.  Now, as you can imagine, this has created a lot of outrage from small businesses that sell online and who intentionally chose not to sell on Amazon. To find your products listed on Amazon when you did not choose to do so, that's a lot to swallow, right?  But it also creates a lot of logistical headaches. So as an example, items were listed on Amazon with incorrect photos or product descriptions. Discontinued or no longer in stock items were listed and many brands did not even know that their products had been added to Amazon until they heard about it on social media and searched for their brand.  My guest today is Angie Chua of bobo designs. Angie has been vocal on social media, sharing information and the steps that she's taken to protect her products and brand. This is a developing story, but Angie shares what she's learned, the steps she has taken to remove her products from Amazon and we talk about why this is bad for small businesses.  There's a lot of folks out there that are thinking, isn't this great visibility for small business? And the answer is, no, it's not.  If you are looking for a community of folks who are talking about current events that affect product businesses in real time, come join us in LABS. We have trainings, templates,  coaching calls and all the things, but we also share solutions for real time issues and we also celebrate real time wins. So if you're looking for that kind of community, join us! REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/426  Quick Links: Google Form for if your catalog was on Amazon without your consent Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Burlap & Barrel didn't chase scale – and that's why it's winning. In this episode, Ori Zohar, co-founder and co-CEO of the single-origin spice brand, explains how resisting the urge to go mass, staying profitable, and focusing on quality and relationships helped build a durable CPG brand. Show notes: 0:25: Ori Zohar, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Burlap & Barrel – Ori joins Ray at the inaugural Winter FancyFaire* in San Diego, where the entrepreneur recounts his long friendship with Burlap & Barrel co-founder Ethan Frisch and their first business, a socially driven ice cream cart. He explains how Frisch's work in international development and frustrations with nonprofit impact, and his own disillusionment with venture capital, helped spur the creation of Burlap & Barrel. Ori talks about the founders' emphasis on a bootstrapped, values-driven approach and direct trade, trust-based farmer relationships. He highlights early validation from chefs, followed by a pivotal New York Times mention. Ori discusses the brand's focus on DTC e-commerce, thoughtful media relationships, and an educational approach that demystified spices as agricultural products. He also explains how the company has maintained profitability without outside investors, pays premium prices to its partner farmers, positions itself as a "third wave" spice company and how it evaluates collaborations with other CPG brands. Brands in this episode: Burlap & Barrel, Rancho Gordo, Anjali's Cup

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Jordan Youkilis is joined by Joe Bayern, newly appointed CEO of MM Brands Inc., following their acquisition of BellRock Brand's portfolio.Joe shares his career path from consumer packaged goods and beverage turnarounds to senior leadership roles across cannabis, including taking Indus Holdings public and scaling Curaleaf through its most aggressive growth phase. Drawing on experience across both vertically-integrated operations and brand-led platforms, he explains why trust, efficacy, consistency, and execution, not simply scale,  will define the industry's next chapter.The conversation covers the opportunity Mary's Medicinals and Dixie Brands have to stand out as national brands. With industry normalization beginning Schedule III momentum, 280E relief, and evolving regulation could reshape distribution, banking, and consumer education. In closing, Joe and Jordan also discuss the future of cannabinoid research, product consistency, and building an omni-channel, asset-light brand model in a state-by-state market.Please enjoy the episode!

In the 377th episode of 40 and 20, The Watch Clicker Podcast, we discuss some things that caught our attention over the last couple of weeks. Hamilton Resident Evil Requiem LE TAG Heuer Glassbox Carrera TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer Maurice de Mauriac X Racquet Gerald Genta Geneva Time Only Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph H Zenith Defy Revival A3643 Yema Skin Diver Slim Bronze Omega Speedmaster Pro Black & White Kurono Tokyo Meteorite Oris Bullseye VPC Type 39VM Andrew: 11.22.63 Everett: Frankenstein ***********************************  This Episode's Sponsors: Escapement Media: https://escapementmedia.com Foster Watch Co: https://fosterwatches.com Frank Affronti Photography: https://www.affrontography.com ***********************************  Check out all of Watch Clicker's content, including columns, reviews, and fantastic photography at: watchclicker.com Check out the Watch Clicker Shop with all your favorite gear, fully branded, here. Our full catalog of podcasts is at watchclicker.com/4020-the-watch-clicker-podcast/ On instagram: 40and20 (@40and20_watchclicker): https://www.instagram.com/40and20_watchclicker/ WatchClicker (@watchclicker): www.instagram.com/watchclicker/?hl=en You can support Watch Clicker and 40 and 20 here: Patreon Intro/Outro Music: Bummin on Tremelo, by Kevin MacLeod (incompetch.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Creativecommons.org/licenses/by.3.0/

Jason Anderson is the COO of Andzen, a global customer journey and AI-powered CRM agency. In his role, he oversees operational execution and helps drive the agency's growth and client success across email, SMS, and loyalty programs. Jason has over a decade of experience in the e-commerce lifecycle and CRM marketing. In this episode… Scaling an e-commerce business can feel like combining tactics without experiencing momentum. Brands add more channels, push more messages, and chase efficiency metrics, yet retention stalls and growth plateaus. What separates brands that break through from those that remain stuck? According to e-commerce retention expert and CRM strategist Jason Anderson, the difference lies in designing intentional customer journeys. He emphasizes valuing your work, attracting ideal customers — not just the least expensive ones — and building systems that drive repeat purchases. Additionally, brands should segment customers by intent and engagement, integrate their tech stacks to uncover meaningful data, and use loyalty programs to reward behavior. In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris sits down with Jason Anderson, COO of Andzen, to discuss how intentional customer journeys fuel e-commerce growth. Jason shares lessons from Andzen's near-failure, smarter segmentation and reengagement strategies, and how loyalty programs can increase lifetime value without eroding margins.

In this powerful episode of the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, host Wize El Jefe welcomes visionary entrepreneur Greg Selkoe, best known for founding the influential streetwear brand Karma Loop, leading the esports powerhouse Faze Clan, and now steering the cutting-edge gaming lifestyle brand XSET as CEO and co-founder. This honest, inspiring conversation is a masterclass for creators, culture builders, and anyone pursuing a dream against the odds. From the jump, Wize El Jefe sets the stage, giving listeners a glimpse into Greg Selkoe's cultural impact—from collaborations with icons like Lil Wayne, Osuna, and Pharrell's camp, to partnerships with brands like the Boston Red Sox and HyperX. But as the episode unfolds, it's clear this story goes much deeper than flashy names and million-dollar deals—it's about authentic passion, grit, resilience, and growth. The Roots of Culture Building The episode kicks off as Greg Selkoe traces his journey from Boston's vibrant street culture to global entrepreneurship. He reveals how an early obsession with breakdancing, graffiti art, skateboarding, punk rock, and hip hop influenced his worldview. Rather than seeing these movements as separate lanes, he felt at home in all of them—setting the stage for Karma Loop, which wasn't just about selling clothes, but celebrating the energy and diversity of urban culture. Greg Selkoe describes how this merged into his approach at XSET, aiming to build “a media company” that puts culture first, amplifies creators, and tells compelling brand stories. Resilience Through Setbacks One of the episode's major themes is resilience. Both Greg Selkoe and Wize El Jefe reflect on their entrepreneurial journeys, emphasizing that setbacks and failures are inevitable. Greg Selkoe shares candidly about Karma Loop's highs and lows—from its $150 million peak to private equity challenges that forced him to rebuild from scratch. He offers hard-earned lessons: “Don't think someone's going to come along and save you if you're having trouble in your business, you got to rely on yourself.” The best way not to fail? Keep going. Wize El Jefe reciprocates, sharing his own risk-taking path in podcasting, internet radio, and launching a media company. The key takeaway is treating each setback as a learning experience—a stepping stone rather than an endpoint. Business Lessons That Transcend Formal Education Unlike many entrepreneurs, Greg Selkoe didn't start with a business degree—he studied urban planning at Harvard, inspired by his mother's work. But he credits this background for shaping his community-first approach. “Passion for what I was doing came from another part of me than what normally would be... I think that authenticity came through everything we did.” Rather than targeting a market, he built organically around what he loved—and learned the other business skills on the job and through mentorship. This authenticity, he believes, gave his brands a unique edge and fostered community. Building XSET and Shifting Strategies When it came to launching XSET, Greg Selkoe and team faced fresh challenges: securing investment, building a fanbase, and educating skeptical investors about the true scale of gaming and streaming culture. Greg Selkoe recognized a major opportunity—gaming needed a lifestyle brand that felt as dynamic as Overtime, Complex, or Barstool. The vision from day one: XSET would be a lifestyle media company at the crossroads of gaming, music, fashion, entertainment, and traditional sports. However, this path wasn't linear. Initially, XSET tried to replicate Karma Loop's retail-first model, but the lack of an established fanbase made traction difficult. After two years, they made a pivotal shift—refocusing on media, content, and creator empowerment. This willingness to pivot, rather than stubbornly sticking to a plan, is a recurring lesson for entrepreneurs highlighted in the episode. Collaboration, Community, and Advice for Creators Both host and guest agree: entrepreneurship is not a solo sport. Greg Selkoe stresses the importance of asking for help, seeking mentorship, and learning from those who have traveled similar paths: “If you don't know something... that's power to say you don't know it.” He shares stories of leaning on collaborators and mentors—even in public adversity—while cautioning against burning bridges or stepping on others to succeed. Public Challenges, Private Pain, and the Power of Community The episode delves into the emotional toll of public failure. Greg Selkoe recounts the fallout from Karma Loop's bankruptcy, facing media scrutiny and industry criticism. Yet, a pivotal moment at a high-powered Silicon Valley barbecue hosted by Steve Stout and Ben Horowitz transformed his outlook. Instead of derision, he found encouragement and solidarity from fellow entrepreneurs—reminding him that to build is to stumble, but also to rise again. This network of support propelled him towards new ventures, from consulting gigs with Pharrell and streetwear legend Jeff Staple to co-founding XSET. He credits his collaborative, generous approach for attracting support in hard times, when more ruthless operators might find themselves isolated. Mental Health, Health Scares, and Resilience No journey is without personal cost. Greg Selkoe opens up about dealing with serious health issues—a genetic autoimmune condition affecting his heart, kidneys, and lungs—during a stressful business period. While stress didn't cause the problem, it certainly didn't help, underscoring the importance of self-care and resilience. Ultimately, he recovered and continued building, demonstrating that recovery—like business—requires persistence. Championing Female Gamers: The Queen's Gaming Collective A highlight of the discussion is XSET's acquisition of Queens Gaming Collective—a female-empowerment initiative in the gaming space. Greg Selkoe breaks down the significance: with 45% of gamers being female, the mainstream still overlooks their influence. By integrating Queens into XSET, they've built a more inclusive brand, landed major deals (like with Samsung), and shown that gaming culture is far broader than stereotypes suggest. The conversation paints a vision of gaming culture that's welcoming, intergenerational, and intersectional. What Does the Next Gen Media Company Look Like? As XSET grows, the company is evolving into a “next gen media studio.” Greg Selkoe explains that they now co-own YouTube deals with creators, market talent, and focus heavily on original content—streaming, recorded, and branded collaborations. Their difference? They don't operate as an agency, but as true partners—bringing creators and brands into culture-focused campaigns that move audiences and foster community. He notes that platforms like YouTube are the new TV, dominating content consumption and discovery. The Power of Unfiltered, Authentic Creation Wize El Jefe and Greg Selkoe agree: today's audiences crave authenticity. The democratization of media—through podcasting, YouTube, Twitch—enables creators to bypass gatekeepers and build direct relationships. Both reflect on their own pivots: adding video to podcasting, discovering new opportunities, and reaching audiences in meaningful ways. In a media landscape full of “agendas,” the episode champions authenticity, encouragement, and diversity. Actionable Advice for Creators and Entrepreneurs The episode closes with practical wisdom. For young creatives or those feeling stuck: Media and social media are essential for telling your story and promoting your product. Find a reason for your brand to exist—don't just copy what's out there. Expect the journey to be long and hard, not an overnight success. Seek mentorship from experienced people in your field. Write down your goals, risks, and rewards—plan, but be ready to adapt. Don't be afraid to seek help, admit what you don't know, or pivot. As Greg Selkoe puts it, most businesses fail—but resilience, authenticity, and collaboration are the keys to enduring and thriving. — In Summary This episode of Stuck In My Mind Podcast is far more than an entrepreneurial profile—it's a deep exploration of culture, community, failure, growth, and the evolving media landscape. Listeners will come away with a sense of what it truly takes to build something meaningful in today's world: honesty, resilience, a willingness to adapt, and a commitment to authentic culture. Whether you're launching a brand, leveling up your content, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation delivers actionable insights, relatable stories, and a call to stay connected, creative, and true to yourself. Make sure to follow XSET on all major platforms, connect with Greg Selkoe, and keep tuning in to Wize El Jefe for conversations that are shaping the next generation of culture.

Explore how fashion brands can thrive in 2026 with hosts Bret Schnitker and Emily Lane as they dissect strategies focused on optimization, technological integration, and supply chain collaboration. Delve into the impacts of AI in fashion and learn how to balance innovation with creativity. Understand consumer psychology trends and how building trust and maintaining brand integrity are vital. With insights on smart growth, efficiency, and adaptability, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating the swiftly evolving fashion landscape, emphasizing doing better rather than more for sustainable success.

Host Myrna Young is joined by Pamela Madsen, a certified somatic sex educator, to explore enhancing female orgasms through somatic sexology. They delve into understanding women's arousal processes, the impact of cultural conditioning on pleasure, and how women can explore their full erotic potential. Pamela shares insights from her Back to Body retreats and underscores the importance of focusing on arousal and pleasure rather than just orgasms. With anecdotes and expert advice, this conversation sheds light on overcoming barriers to pleasure and reclaiming a fulfilling sexual identity.Throughout the conversation, Pamela explores how conventional misconceptions about sex and orgasms can impede genuine pleasure, emphasizing the importance of focusing on bodily experiences rather than climax alone. She introduces listeners to the intricate journey of achieving sexual fulfillment and healing, sharing captivating anecdotes of women transforming their intimate lives at her retreats. Key Takeaways:Understanding Arousal: Women need to focus on the complete arousal arc, emphasizing the importance of awakening the body and welcoming arousal before reaching climax.Somatic Sex Education: Somatic sex education involves engaging the body through sound, movement, and touch to reconnect with sexual pleasure beyond just the mind.Healing Through Experience: Personalized retreats and somatic practices can help women discover personal barriers to pleasure rooted in childhood experiences and social conditioning.Self-awareness and Communication: Successfully enhancing pleasure requires clear self-awareness, communication about individual needs, and an understanding of one's erotic identity.Reframing Orgasm: The journey to orgasm is more fulfilling when arousal and pleasure are prioritized, challenging the traditional focus on orgasm as the ultimate goal.Partner with the Podcast Today, brands don't have an awareness problem—they have a trust problem. People are overwhelmed by ads. Let's tell your story in a way that actually resonates.”Brands partner with the Transform Your Mind Podcast because this isn't just advertising — it's trusted influence.Your brand is featured through:• A CEO or expert interview that positions you as a thought leader• Host-read pre-roll and mid-roll ads woven naturally into other episodes• And long-term visibility across our full media ecosystemTo explore a brand partnership, visit myhelps.us/partner.See this video on The Transform Your Mind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MyhelpsUs/videosTo see a transcripts of this audio as well as links to all the advertisers on the show page https://myhelps.us/Follow Transform Your Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myrnamyoung/Follow Transform Your mind on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738390977Please leave a rating and review on iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transform-your-mind/id1144973094 https://podcast.feedspot.com/personal_development_podcasts/

In today's episode, I sit down with Shaan Rais, a high-integrity brand builder and event creator who understands how energy, intention, and consistency shape real influence. We talk about why brand is not a logo or a tagline, but the ability to capture your essence through skills, knowledge, and desire. I share how community is built through frequency, why 10 percent of people will love you and 10 percent will never align, and how that tension actually strengthens trust. We also cover non-negotiable behaviors, faith as a daily practice, sleep as a performance advantage, and how shortening resistance creates happiness, clarity, and sustainable success.

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Cabral HouseCall of the weekend!   I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of our community's questions that have come in over the past few weeks…   Spencer: Hello Dr. Cabral, I've followed you for some time, and have now read both of your books. It seems overall, you tend to recommend less animal foods in the diet. Not that you have anything against them per se, but its likely based on some of the research I'm sure youve looked at on longetvity as well as environmental and moral reasons. Intsead of consuming a lot of animals, you eat a lot of plants, and supplement your way to nutrients. This seems odd to me, although I understand the reasoining. I venture to say, there are so many things in animal foods we dont even know of yet, just like at one time we didnt know about b vitamins, or prebiotics in breast milk etc. It just seems like a modern of way making this work, avoiding the animal food and band aiding it with supplements. I get that the soil is deplted etc, but still. Can you clarify here. I know that wasn't Youve helped another person and your struggle wasnt for nothing.                                                Ashley: Hi Dr. Cabral - Great meeting you at RHS this year and thanks for all of your incredible work! My question is: do you have a lab/test you recommend for mold and mycotoxin testing outside of EquiLife? I am an IHP L2 based in Seattle, WA and  cannot obtain EquiLife tests in WA state still. In the past 18 months I have completed the CBO protocol twice to rid myself of SIBO, E. Coli and H. Pylori (including heal + seal post CBO) and have leveraged your protocols to rebalance my hormones after a partial thyroidectomy, however I still have persistent inflammation, puffiness in my face, post nasal drip and my H Pylori recently returned for the third time. I've also had new onset of hives that turn into pustules that antihistamines do not address. We had severe water damage in our home in 2022 (in our bedroom and attached bathroom) and I am wondering if mold or environmental issues are my true root cause given the work I've already done. I travel extensively overseas for work (2-3 weeks at a time) and symptoms are always better when I am away from my home. I am planning to have our house tested for mold but want to test my body too if you believe it is warranted. Any advice is appreciated as a next step - THANK YOU!                                                                                                                          Marissa: Hi Dr. Cabral!! I did your 14 day detox and loved it! Question, is Kachava protein brand clean?                                 Anonymous: Hi Dr. C  I did the SMMT in June,  cbo protocol, addressed low am cortisol and adrenal issues , did the mold prot.,  I do have lyme ebv, both no symptoms in a while.  Off HRT, numbers were very high,  doing estrogen sup and prog. supp.  dhea low ad u an supplementing with that.   T 4 optimal but T3 2.9 and not addressed on consult. Tsh 2.6 I've been doing the foundational protocol for a year now.  my chiro keeps saying to check my thyroid, he feels it.   I started daily thyroid support and i am one month in.   Im noticing so much skin sagging in the last year (using One Skin) and also my vision keeps getting worse quickly.  I also do the vision support   i went from looking like i was in my 40's when i was 50s  to looking sagging and old in my early 60s.  i feel so much better than i did but what's happening?  .  I use collagen, I eat sufficient protein, i train , all the boxes checked.  The only thing i did not do was HMProtocol   Mercury and Aluminum elevated  .057 and 1.04 but I wanted to take the mercury filling out before doing protocol.   i have another Stress mood metab.test also that im waiting on doing . Should i do it sooner. Everything else was not of that concern.  Any ideas or supplement suggestions?? my sleep has been much better as well.  it's very depressing when you feel you are addressing what you can address.  Thank you for all your guidance and support.      Darren: Good day Dr. Cabral. Hope all is well with you and family. Given your experience with TCM, what are your thoughts on the use of Polyrhachis Ant powder, He Shou Wu/Fo-Ti, Pine Pollen, Sichisandra extract and Pycnogenol (pine bark extract)? Of course it'd be too lengthy to go in detail on the weekend show but maybe consider a Friday review? Thanks.         Thank you for tuning into this weekend's Cabral HouseCalls and be sure to check back tomorrow for our Mindset & Motivation Monday show to get your week started off right! - - - Show Notes and Resources: StephenCabral.com/3635 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!