Podcasts about marketing lessons

In this episode of On Brand: Taylor's Version, we're joined by Ann Handley — Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, and one of IBM's ‘7 people shaping modern marketing.' Ann brings not just her marketer's eye but also her mom's heart to the Swiftiverse. We'll explore how Taylor's storytelling fuels parasocial relationships, why The Eras Tour transformed casual fans into rabid ones, and what smart marketers can learn from the savviest hitmaker of our time. What You'll Learn in This Episode How Taylor Swift's storytelling makes the personal feel universal—and what marketers can borrow from that. Why parasocial relationships don't have to be clinical, and how Taylor transforms them into community. The genius of anticipation, reveals, and Easter eggs in building long-term fan trust. What the Eras Tour can teach marketers about creating inclusive, unforgettable experiences. How Ann Handley's own fandom grew from casual listener to full-on Swiftie devotion. Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:20) Swiftie Story Prompts and the Tortured Poets Era (03:14) Standing Up as a Swiftie (05:40) Taylor as Writer, Storyteller, and Cultural Icon (08:07) Making the Personal Universal (11:00) Marketing Lessons from Taylor Swift (19:25) The Eras Tour as Community Experience (29:41) The Taylor Songs and Albums That Make Ann Smile About Ann Handley Ann Handley is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, digital marketing pioneer, and Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs. Named by IBM as one of seven people shaping modern marketing, Ann is a trusted voice on content, storytelling, and building authentic connections with audiences. She is the author of Everybody Writes, now in its second edition, and a frequent keynote speaker at marketing and business events worldwide. Through her popular newsletter, Total Annarchy, and her leadership at MarketingProfs' B2B Forum, she continues to inspire marketers to approach their work with clarity, creativity, and heart. What Taylor Era Has Made Ann Smile Recently? Ann lights up when she talks about Taylor Swift's most recent projects—The Tortured Poets Department and Midnights. She especially loves “Fortnight,” with its Post Malone collaboration and typewriter aesthetics (a nod to her own collection of typewriters), and “Mastermind” from Midnights, which she admires for its playful storytelling. For Ann, these albums are on constant repeat, blending artistry, narrative, and joy in ways that fuel both her fandom and her creative spirit. Links & Resources Connect with Ann on LinkedIn Check out her website and newsletter Speaking of connecting with community, don't miss the MarketingProfs B2B Forum 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

In this episode of The Russell Brunson Show, I take you inside the vault to share the story behind the very first book in my rare book collection… A first edition Book of Mormon. I paid $150,000 for it, but for me, the value goes way beyond money. This was the book that started my obsession with collecting, but even more than that, it taught me a foundational business principle that I still live by today. If you've ever wanted to build a movement, create a following, or lead a community, then you need to understand this: almost every mass movement in history (religious or otherwise) started with a book. A message…. Some sort of doctrine or manifesto. I break down how this truth applies to you, your business, and your calling. Whether you're a coach, an entrepreneur, or just someone with a message to share, this episode will give you clarity on how to put your stake in the ground. Key Highlights: Why the Book of Mormon was the first book I ever bought for my collection (and what it's worth today) The connection between religious texts and modern marketing movements How books like Dotcom Secrets created the Clickfunnels community Why your “heretic message” is what your people are waiting for How to start writing your book or manifesto (even if you're not a writer) This isn't about converting you to any religion, haha! It's about understanding the power of putting your beliefs into a book, and how that act alone can change the trajectory of your business and your life. Want to see my favorite verses about Christ from the Book of Mormon? Grab them in the show notes below. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://russellbrunson.com/notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sellingonline.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://clickfunnels.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PI advertising is full of hard choices — TV or radio, streaming or podcasts, brand or direct response. Gary Sarner of ROI360+ goes through what's working now, what's overrated, and how to know if your dollars are actually driving cases. You'll learn:  Why TV may not be the crown jewel for PI firms How radio stacks up against streaming for cost and reach The three traits every campaign must have to work What realistic ROI timelines actually look like Why the wrong creative kills results before they start If you like what you hear, hit subscribe. We do this every week. VIP PIMCON Tickets:  Pimcon.org Get Social! Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) is on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Not every launch succeeds on day one, but the brands that endure find ways to win over time.That's why we're turning to Clue, the 1985 murder mystery comedy with three different endings. Despite bombing at the box office, it grew into a beloved cult classic. In this episode, we break down its lessons with the help of special guest Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building strategy before execution, balancing brand and demand, and embracing word-of-mouth to turn audiences into passionate advocates.About our guest, Christine RoystonChristine Royston is a visionary global marketing executive with a proven track record of scaling iconic technology brands, architecting go-to-market transformation, and driving category leadership in the enterprise SaaS space. As Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike, Christine leads the company's worldwide marketing strategy, fueling enterprise growth, brand acceleration, and customer-centric innovation at scale.With more than 20 years of experience across global B2B markets, Christine has built and led high-performing teams at some of the world's most recognized technology companies—including Salesforce, Dropbox, and Imperva—where she helped pioneer marketing strategies during moments of hypergrowth and IPO. She most recently served as Global Head of B2B Marketing at Udemy and as Vice President of Marketing at Bitly, where she was instrumental in repositioning both brands for business adoption and long-term growth.Christine's executive leadership spans Sales-Led and Product-Led Growth (PLG) models, across direct sales, freemium, and self-service go-to-market motions. Her ability to unify global teams, expand into new international markets, and launch cross-functional marketing engines has positioned her as a sought-after leader in growth-stage transformation and scaled enterprise performance.An expert in enterprise marketing strategy, customer lifecycle innovation, and multi-channel demand generation, Christine has driven business results across cloud computing, cybersecurity, financial services, and manufacturing verticals. She is also known for her passion for mentoring future marketing leaders and building diverse, inclusive, and impact-driven teams.Christine holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an International MBA in Global Marketing from the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. She brings a global lens to every challenge, with leadership experience spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Clue:Strategy matters more than star power. Even the best team can't save a weak story. Clue had an all-star cast, but without a clear throughline, it flopped at the box office. Christine draws a parallel to marketing: “Even if you have the best team in the world, without a great strategy, you're not gonna win. You've got to have a really fantastic strategy and a really great team to back it up, so that you can kind of play on everybody's strengths, but you're all pointed in the right direction.” Don't confuse talent or resources with strategy. Success comes from aligning everyone around a clear, shared story.Balance is everything. Clue was billed as both a mystery and a comedy, but leaned heavily into the silliness, confusing audiences who expected a tighter whodunit. Christine sees the same trap in B2B: “The movie was… touted as a mystery and a comedy, but it was definitely way more on the comedy side. And so thinking about that balance… and making sure that you're really being clear with your intent of messaging, your intent of the brand.” Great marketing requires a balance between brand, demand, clarity, and creativity. Overweighting one side leaves your audience uncertain about what you really stand for.Word of mouth is your secret weapon. Despite its failure in theaters, Clue became a cult classic through community and conversation. For Christine, that's a marketing playbook: “The fact that it did become this cult classic highlights the importance of word of mouth. How do you make sure you're getting in front of people who will be interested in your product, or interested in your movie, and making sure that you're leveraging communities [and] social as a way to get in front of people who maybe aren't going to go to the box office.” Buzz builds longevity. Beyond paid campaigns, you need advocates, communities, and conversations that keep your brand alive long after launch.Quote“ How do you differentiate yourself and do something a little different. Bring some humor into what is normally a pretty straight-laced B2B technology type of industry. I think people like a little fun in their day-to-day.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike[01:01] Why Clue?[01:24] The Role of CMO at Wrike[03:05] The Origins of Clue, The Movie[14:04] B2B Marketing Lessons from Clue[28:10] Balancing Brand vs. Demand[29:50] Wrike's Brand and Content Strategy[33:21] AI's Role in Modern Marketing[35:11] Wrike's Survey on AI's Impact[40:20] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Christine on LinkedInLearn more about WrikeAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's episode, we take a look at six marketing lessons writers can learn from TikTok. I also answer questions about my new book BLADE OF FLAMES. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Shield of Storms, Book #1 in the Shield War series, (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store: FALLSHIELD50 The coupon code is valid through October 6, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 270 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September 26th, 2025, and today we are looking at six trends from TikTok that help with marketing books (even if you're not on TikTok). We'll also answer some questions about my new book, Blade of Flames. Before we get to our main topics, we will do Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing projects. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Shield of Storms, Book One in the Shield War series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills), at my Payhip store and that is FALLSHIELD50. And as always, the coupon code and the links to my store will be available in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through October 6, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook to listen to this fall, we have got you covered. Now here is where I'm at with my current writing projects. As I mentioned last week, Blade of Flames is now out and you get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Smashwords, and My Payhip store. Now that it is out and published, my new main project is I'm finally returning to the Nadia series. I am 50,000 words into Cloak of Worlds, which I believe puts me on chapter 10 of 28, though I'll probably split up some of the longer chapters in editing to make them punchier. So hopefully that will be out in October, probably towards the end of October (if all goes well). My secondary project is now Blade of Shadows, which will be the sequel to Blade of Flames and the second book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. And as of this recording, I'm about 4,000 words into it and I'm hoping that'll be out towards the end of November, maybe right before or right after Thanksgiving, depending on how the next couple of weeks go. In audiobook news, Shield of Power is now finally out at all audiobook stores: Audible, Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Kobo, Chirp, Spotify, and all the others. You can listen to that on a platform of your choosing. Recording is almost done on Ghost in the Siege and I should have some audiobook files to proof for that soon. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, audiobook, and publishing projects. Now, Blade of Flames is the first book in a new epic fantasy series with the first new protagonist I've had since I wrote Rivah in Half-Elven Thief back in 2023. So as you might expect, it has generated more than the usual amount of reader questions. So for convenience, I will answer them all right here on the show. Question #1: Is Blade of Flame set in the world of Andomhaim/Owyllain (from Frostborn Sevenfold Sword, Dragontiarna, Dragonskull, and The Shield War)? Yes, it is set in Owyllain, specifically in the Year of Our Lord 1588, so 88 years after the end of The Shield War. Question #2: Is Ridmark the main character? No, the main character is named Talembur. I've written 43 books with Ridmark as either the protagonist or one of the protagonists, and across those books, Ridmark has gone from an angry young man to a grandfather, so it was time to do something different. The poor man deserves a break after 43 books. Question #3: Is Talembur secretly Ridmark in disguise? No. Question #4: Is Talembur secretly…(various character theories)? No, Talembur's a new character. Question #5: Do you need to read any other books before starting Blade of Flames? No. That was one of my intentions in writing it. You can read Blade of Flames without having bred any of the other Andomhaim books, since all the major characters in Blade of Flames are new and we're in a part of Owyllain we've never visited before. Question #6: Are there any recurring characters in Blade of Flames? Exactly one and that character only has, like three lines. Well, two (technically, depending on how you look at it). Question #7: Will other recurring characters return in future Blades of Ruin books? Yes, but we shall have to read and find out after I write them. Question #8: The opening is very similar to Frostborn: The Gray Knight, isn't it? Yes, for reasons that will become clear. Without any spoilers, let's say that this similarity is a significant plot point. Question #9: Is there a dog in this book? Yes. People like dogs, so there is a dog in the book. Question #10: Does the dog die? He does not. Question #11: Seriously, truly, does the dog die? I promise the dog does not die. Question #12: How many Blades of Ruin books will there be? I'm planning for 12, though that might change if I have a good idea that requires an extra book or if I think I can consolidate it down. Question #13: Will there be Blades of Ruin audiobooks? That is the plan, if all goes well. Brad Wills has signed up to narrate the series. Question #14: Are you still going to write Rivah books? Yes. After I publish Cloak of Worlds, which as I mentioned will hopefully be sometime in October, I will start writing the next Rivah book, Elven-Assassin. Question #15: Are you still going to write Caina books? Eventually. I need some time to think about where they're going to go next. I have done this before. There is a two year gap between Ghost in the Sun (the end of the Ghost Night series) and Ghost and the Serpent because I wanted to think about what to do next. At this point in my life, I don't want to have any more than three unfinished series at any one time, so we'll see what I want to do next when either Blades of Ruin, Cloak Mage, or Half-Elven Thief are completed. Question #16: Seriously, Talembur is secretly Ridmark, isn't he? In 1884, retired Civil War General William T. Sherman was approached about running for president. He point blank refused, famously stating, “I will not accept if nominated. I will not serve if elected. Though this usually gets paraphrased to “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.” He really meant it and refused to get involved in politics for the remaining years of his life. I'm not sure if writers of fiction have the equivalent of a Sherman statement, but if there is, this is it. Talembur is a new character and not secretly a character who has appeared before in the Andomhaim/Owyllain books and I cannot be blunter about it than that. So hopefully that will answer any questions you may have had about the Blades of Ruin series and Blade of Flames in particular. 00:05:50 Main Topic: 6 Things BookTok Trends Can Teach You About Marketing Books Now on to our main topic this week, which is six things BookTok trends can teach you about marketing books (even if you don't use TikTok). One thing is clear though, is that books are thriving on the TikTok social media video platform. Readers (very often in the romance, young adult, and fantasy genres) are excited to show off their trips to bookstore and their “hauls” of the latest books in videos. BookTok influencers are even paid to promote new releases in videos in the same way Beauty Gurus have been paid to promote mascara. Some traditional examples of bestselling BookTok books are the Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yaros, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, and the works of Emily Henry. Anecdotes are not the same as data of course, but the last couple of times I've been to a Barnes & Noble, I've been surprised by how young most of the customers there are. Obviously that might be attributed to my own advancing age, where I'm very often the oldest person when I go someplace. But nonetheless, I do think this is a real thing where BookTok and TikTok in particular are drawing more young people into reading because they see it's a trendy thing on TikTok, so they get into it. The BookTok effect can make even an otherwise obscure book the latest bestseller, even one that isn't a new release. Many authors have found success marketing their books on the platform and have seen an increase in their sales from BookTok. Using TikTok as an author is hardly a requirement, though. In fact, I haven't used it in my marketing because I would rather focus on something like my newsletter that I have control over and that isn't vulnerable to bans. TikTok has been threatened with a US ban several times, but it hasn't ultimately been banned (at this time of this recording), and it doesn't look like that's going to happen since in the past few days, it looks like the US government has managed to finalize the sale of the company to an American investor. Now, as I just mentioned, using TikTok as an author is hardly requirement though, but nonetheless, there are lessons to be learned from the success of BookTok when marketing your books. We'll talk about six of those lessons today. #1: Have your highlight-worthy quotes and pitch ready. TikTok is full of action-packed book trailers or short, dramatic reenactments of scenes from books. The most popular of these book-based clips are very short, sometimes even just a single quote or sentence. Some writers write page-length book blurbs, wanting to fit in every detail about their books. In the words of many Internet posters, “too long; didn't read.” You need to be able to explain your book in less than three sentences, to clearly explain the main character and the stakes they face. Having a few snappy or interesting quotes from the book itself as a teaser can also be useful aid in marketing. BookTok is a place to learn that art, as many successful authors and BookTok creators have perfected the short summary and attention-getting clips. #2: Finding Your Readalikes Libraries and bookstores have long championed “readalikes” in their displays, which are books with similar settings, topics, or themes. For example, fans of suspense writer JD Robb might enjoy books by Patricia Briggs, Karin Slaughter, or Louise Penny. You can find authors that might be similar to you by using the “also read” section of your book's Amazon page. You can also think about themes that may connect your books to others such as “cozy mystery set in Wisconsin”, or “friends to lovers romance set in a theme park”. These themes can be broken down into something called tropes. #3: Acknowledging Tropes Acknowledging tropes (such as plot or character types that frequently appear) used to be a sign of creative weakness, which I honestly always thought was misguided because we're all obviously inspired by previous writers, and so there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that inspiration. Now in the BookTok era, it's how many readers search for books, especially in the romance genres, they try to find “enemies to lovers” or “fake dating” titles. If you can break down two or three tropes that match your series, that will give you an advantage in marketing. There are sites and books with lists of tropes if you're not familiar with the ones for your genres. #4 Finding Your Market Segment (You're not for everyone.) My podcast transcriptionist once encountered a new author who insisted they wanted to market their book to all readers and wanted to advertise in every single category Amazon offered since they believed everyone needed to read their gritty memoir about surviving abuse and alcoholism. Whether or not someone believes that everyone needs to read their book, that's a pretty quick way to overspend on advertising while receiving extremely poor results. The key to understanding online advertising is that the basic principle is the narrower you can target your audience, the more effective your ads are likely to be. Advertising that memoir so broadly that it's in the same category as say, children picture books or German language cookbooks is a quick way to disappoint (or even annoy) potential readers. It's okay that your book isn't a match for every category or type of reader. In fact, it's expected. There's a reason that the TikTok algorithm quickly pinpoints what viewers are most interested in and brings them similar content, because it's the quickest and easiest way to engage the user. People watching video game themed videos on endless loop probably aren't going to become suddenly interested in the videos about the benefits of living without electricity, for example. It's more profitable to keep showing variations of what they've already seen, with a little bit of new content mixed in. That's true in book advertising, too. The most effective way to find the readers who are most excited to read your book is to segment your advertising by your subgenres, authors whose books are most similar to yours, and keywords that match your tropes or important features in your book. With enough time and data, you will even be able to segment by a geographic location based on what countries your book sells in the most. The more that you can get specific when creating ads, the more likely you are to limit your spending and find the group of readers who wants to find you the most. And the more you work at marketing, the more you'll realize that the answer is definitely not “everyone.” #5: Don't give up on your backlist. One of the most surprising parts of TikTok is how often something that's decades old suddenly becomes popular for seemingly no reason at all. For example, 1962 Song “Pretty Little Baby” by Connie Francis was one of the top trending songs of this spring after became ubiquitous in TikTok videos. Books have seen the same phenomenon occur on TikTok. Classics by Jane Austen or Stephen King frequently end up in popular recommendation videos, while slightly older bestsellers by Sally Rooney or Susanna Clarke can get surprising second rounds of attention, too. The rules of retiring or even abandoning your backlist books may not apply in a social media-based attention cycle where people are constantly discovering books. You can try to rotate your ads to periodically give your older books attention, or if you see a sudden spike in sales on an older title, check through your sales data and social media to understand if there is a specific reason why that's happening and maybe give it some extra advertising funds during that window of opportunity. I've been an indie author for 14 years now, which means I've built up quite the backlist and I've noticed that very often the backlist will outsell new books. For example, this month (so far as of this recording), Blade of Flames is my new book for the month, and that has been 10% of my revenue for September 2025 so far, which is obviously a significant amount, but 90% of it comes from things I've previously written and I've noticed in previous years as well that for total yearly revenue, the revenue from new books tends to be around 22 to 25% (with the rest of it coming from my accumulated backlist). #6: (To Use Some Internet Vernacular) Don't Give Readers “the Ick” by Being “Cringe” Social media requires at least the appearance of ease and authenticity. People talk about something overly manufactured or awkward as being “cringe” or giving them “the ick.” How does that apply to marketing your books? Simply put, don't try to be what you're not. If you're absolutely terrible at being in front of the camera, don't force yourself to make videos. If you're skilled at explaining the historical or cultural influences behind your books, maybe a newsletter or a Substack would be a better use of your marketing time and effort. You shouldn't have to try every possible form of marketing and you probably shouldn't in order to succeed as an author. Just because someone else in your genre is making good money from TikTok or Instagram doesn't mean that it's what's right for you or that it would work if you tried it. Likewise, be aware of the spaces you're entering and the dynamics of a group when you're entering an online space. Writers who show up in a writing forum, hashtag, or subreddit meant for other writers in order to promote their book aren't in the right spot. In fact, that's why many of those places have a rule against self-promotion. Their time would be better spent in an online space related to their sub-genre where there are readers who are specifically looking for what they have to offer. Begging or using some sort of pity-based story in your social marketing is not a good plan. Approach your marketing from a place of confidence about your book because desperation is not attractive to potential readers who are surrounded with options. At best, it only leads to short-term results, whereas finding the readers interested in your book will be a better use of your time in the long run. Be confident. Very few people are able to finish a book (much less must publish one), and there's at least a few people out there who will enjoy your book without being guilted into doing so. I suppose the best rule of thumb overall for social media is don't beg, don't be needy, and perhaps most importantly of all, be as authentic as possible. By that I mean, I don't mean oversharing details about your personal life or personal opinions and beliefs and so forth, but just simply being authentic and not putting on airs or pretending to be something you're not. So much of what we see on the internet now is fake. Since I published Blade of Flames last week, I've gotten dozens of emails allegedly from “readers” who are interested in helping promote the book, but are actually generated by ChatGPT as a front for various scam services. So the best way to combat that kind of AI generated slop, I think, might just being as authentic as you can without resorting to lies or other fakery. In conclusion, BookTok has changed many of the old rules about book marketing and brought a new, more diverse, and younger group of readers into the market. Even if you don't plan on using the platform yourself for marketing (and I still don't), there's still many lessons you can learn from BookTok and how it has shifted how readers find books and share recommendations. So I hope that has given you some food for thought about how to approach future marketing efforts. So thanks for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Want to hire our team to scale your Lawn, Landscaping or Outdoor Living Business? Book your FREE strategy call now → https://www.savantmarketingagency.com/free-strategy-call Got questions or need help? Text Matt directly: (716) 265-0729 If you're a landscaper or contractor looking to scale past 7 figures and dominate your local market using Facebook Ads, Google Ads, and automation — you're in the right place. In this video, you'll learn: ✅ The top 10 marketing lessons we've learned for landscapers in the past 10 years ✅ Proven strategies we use at Savant Marketing to help landscaping businesses generate consistent, qualified leads ✅ Actionable steps you can take today to improve your marketing results –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Work With Matt & His Team Want us to build a high-converting marketing system for your business? Apply for your free strategy call here → https://www.savantmarketingagency.com/free-strategy-call Join 5,000+ Contractors in Our Free Facebook Community The #1 community for growing your landscaping or contracting business using Facebook Ads and Google Ads → https://www.facebook.com/groups/488948048832631 Listen to Our Podcast: The Landscaper Marketing Show No fluff, just proven strategies → https://www.landscapermarketingshow.com/ Visit Our Website Learn more about how we help contractors grow → https://www.SavantMarketingAgency.com DM Us On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/direct/t/17844629994457721 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– About Matt Thibeau Matt Thibeau is the CEO of Savant Marketing, the #1 Facebook Ads agency for lawn, landscaping, and outdoor-living contractors in North America. His team helps established businesses generate predictable leads, book more jobs, and scale profitably using advanced Facebook Ads and Google Ads.

Send us a textIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, I sit down with Alex Love—VP of Marketing and Communications, adjunct professor, and co-host of the podcast Mastering the Art of Failing. We dive into her unexpected journey into marketing, the lessons learned from failure, and the art of building small but mighty teams.Alex shares how her career evolved from writing grants at a nonprofit to leading marketing teams and teaching the next generation of marketers. We explore:The Power of Learning and TeachingWhy a love of learning keeps marketers adaptable and relevantHow Alex turned her passion for education into a teaching role at GWThe challenges (and joys) of engaging students who just want to “check the box”Lessons in Failure and ResilienceThe rise and fall of Digital District, a pioneering social media communityWhy Alex considers it both her biggest success and her biggest failureHow failure becomes fuel for future opportunities and growthBuilding and Leading Lean TeamsWhy relationship-building is the secret weapon of small marketing departmentsThe importance of hiring for ambition and drive over technical skills aloneHow to communicate that no single marketer can “do it all”Why outsourcing and specialized support free teams to focus on strategyCreativity, Risk-Taking, and Viral WinsHow one “crazy idea” born on a dog walk turned into an award-winning campaignWhy sometimes the riskiest ideas resonate the most with your audienceRedefining what “going viral” really means for niche organizationsKey Takeaways for MarketersMarketing is as much about relationships as it is about tacticsLean teams thrive when curiosity and problem-solving lead the wayFailure is inevitable—but also invaluable in shaping future successSometimes the boldest, quirkiest ideas lead to the greatest impactWhether you're a solo marketer, part of a lean team, or leading communications at a larger organization, this conversation is full of insights into how to stay creative, scrappy, and resilient in an ever-changing landscape.Connect with Alex Love:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexslove/Website: https://rivasolutionsinc.com/

In comedy, the punchline only works if it lands with the audience—and B2B marketing is no different.That's what we can learn from Hacks, a show about a legendary comedian reinventing herself with the help of a Gen Z writer. In this episode, we're breaking down its lessons with the help of special guest Jamie Bell, Chief Marketing Officer at Workshop.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from creating a “writer's room” for fresh ideas, testing content like comedians test their sets, and embracing generational differences as a source of connection rather than division.About our guest, Jamie BellJamie Bell is the CMO at Workshop. She is a marketing leader with a passion for building brands in underestimated industries and demand engines that keep sales teams busy (in a good way!). Over the past 12+ years, Jamie has been lucky enough to work in several early- and growth-stage companies in SaaS, e-commerce, retail, and media.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Hacks:Create a “writer's room” for marketers. Great campaigns don't just come from formal briefs—they need a space for messy, creative riffing. Jamie explains, “We didn't have a writer's room, at least at Workshop, and so when I came back from maternity leave, we added a meeting. We called it the pitch deck… it's just like an open forum for people to do like five-minute pitches, and we just creatively layer on, and it's been a blast.” The lesson? Carve out judgment-free time for brainstorming, where small sparks can snowball into big campaigns.Test your material before scaling. Like comedians who try new jokes on the road, marketers should pilot ideas before investing heavily. Jamie notes, “She does road shows, before to test the set list. So we do some things in like our Happy Monday Club newsletter, where before we'll like super invest in a piece of content, we'll just see if it does better than the other content in that newsletter, and see what the reception of that is before we blow it up a bit.” The takeaway: use small, low-risk formats to gauge response, then double down on what resonates.Bridge generational divides head-on. Hacks thrives on the clash between an aging comedy legend and a Gen Z writer, two perspectives that seem at odds, but create brilliance together. Jamie ties this directly to marketing: “There's so much about marketing and internal communications that I feel is around generational differences… and I think the idea that you take that relationship, you're unapologetic about it and you just talk about it head on… I think it's really great too.” In B2B marketing, don't shy away from generational dynamics; embrace them as a rich source of storytelling and connection.Quote“ Employees are your best brand ambassadors, and you need to spend some effort rolling out things internally. Having employees connected to the mission, the vision, the values.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Jamie Bell, Chief Marketing Officer at Workshop[01:33] Why Hacks?[02:07] The Role of CMO at Workshop[03:07] What is the Happy Monday Club?[04:45] The Concept and Creation of Hacks[20:16] Marketing Lessons from Hacks[41:38] Importance of Community and Events[44:03] Workshops' Content Strategy[45:04] Advice for a first-time CMO[48:38] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Jamie on LinkedInLearn more about WorkshopAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Great marketing isn't just strategy, it's intuition, timing, and a deep understanding of human behavior. That's the beauty of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a movie about erasing your memories. In this episode, we're breaking down its lessons with the help of special guest Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from putting human emotion at the center of their work, trusting intuition alongside data, and embracing mistakes as the path to growth.About our guest, Noha RizkNoha Rizk is the Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. With deep expertise in Marketing, brand management, integrated channel management, product leadership, P&L accountability, and change management, across various industries and launching and leading partnerships, marketing and product in over 50 countries, Noha brings extensive experience and insights into how to execute for brand loyalty, growth and sustainable share of the market. Prior to Incorta, Noha led marketing for Meta AI, launching Llama, and leading other open source projects like PyTorch. She pioneered online banking for Amex and Citi, online booking and revenue optimisations and integrated channel strategies in the hotel industry with Starwood and Marriott, led partnerships and loyalty in emerging markets, launched NGO and Gov projects with US state department, launched and spun off two of her own successful businesses and helped organise PayPals enterprise, Platforms and Developer product offerings and streamline their GTM strategies.Noha loves to solve big problems and create groundbreaking products and services that inspire customers and business partners. She focuses on delivering insights and metrics driven outcomes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and coming up with innovative solutions. She especially enjoys building and developing strong, resilient, and nimble teams that can adapt to changing market needs and customer expectations.Noha is an avid reader, developing painter and pianist, proud mother and animal lover with a passion for helping the private sector thrive in emerging markets.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:Lead with human emotion. Great marketing isn't about features, it's about people. Even in B2B, you're dealing with human psyches, behaviors, and emotions—not faceless corporations. Noha explains, “Even as B2B marketers… you're dealing with individuals. You're dealing with the human psyche, you're dealing with the buying behavior… ultimately that is the objective. The objective is to maintain a relationship with your customers.” The lesson? Build messaging that connects on a human level first, because behind every buying decision is a person making sense of their own emotions.Balance data with intuition. Metrics matter, but numbers can't capture everything. Noha argues that some of the best insights come from being present, listening, and noticing what the data can't show. “Some things can't be measured…A big chunk of marketing has to be intuitive. It's not always purely scientific.” Just as the film's dreamlike narrative reminds us memory isn't linear or logical, B2B marketers need to leave room for creativity, serendipity, and gut instinct, because not everything that counts can be counted.Embrace mistakes as part of growth. Trying to erase failures is as dangerous in marketing as it is in memory. Noha points out, “You can't just erase away the pain… you won't learn if you don't make mistakes. A lot of marketers have to be super buttoned up, their campaigns have to work… there isn't a lot of opportunity for marketers these days to be allowed to make mistakes.” But the best brands learn from experiments that don't go as planned. Failure isn't wasted, it's the raw material for innovation, resilience, and better campaigns down the road.Quote“ As marketers…we explore the human psyche pretty much day in, day out, even if it's not explicitly said. But that's essentially what we do.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta[1:26] Why Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?[5:51] Role of CMO at Incorta[9:07] Breaking Down Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[22:11] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[43:56] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Noha on LinkedInLearn more about IncortaAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not easy to keep pace with constant change. If you want to stand out, you need to pivot (yes, PIVOT!), adapt, and build real connection with your audience.That's the genius of Friends, a cultural phenomenon built on chemistry, community, and conversations that felt timeless. In this episode, we're decoding its lessons with the help of special guest Lisa Cole, Chief Marketing Officer at 2X.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from embracing constant pivots, building your own Central Perk with your community, and why team chemistry often matters more than individual expertise.About our guest, Lisa ColeLisa Cole is currently CMO at 2X. She's a strategic marketing leader with over 24 years of experience driving transformative growth for B2B technology and professional services. As a former CMO at Huron, FARO, and Cellebrite, she has earned industry recognition for enhancing brand positioning, optimizing demand generation, and leveraging AI to accelerate go-to-market strategies. Through her earned accolades from Sirius Decisions, Forrester, and CMO Alliance and her book The Revenue RAMP, she guides B2B leaders in achieving more with less using her proven frameworks. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Friends:Pivot, pivot, pivot. In marketing, staying still isn't an option. New channels, new buyer behaviors, and now AI advancements mean marketers are in a constant state of change. Lisa explains, “Pivot is certainly one, especially now that, it seems like every week there's a new advancement… marketing as a whole is pivot. We're constantly in a period of time in between pivots is compressing.” The same way Ross couldn't move that couch without shouting “Pivot!” every marketer today needs to be ready to shift strategy, adjust direction, and keep moving forward.Create your Central Perk. Every brand needs a place where buyers feel safe, connected, and part of something bigger than a transaction. For the Friends cast, it was Central Perk, a space where they could gather, vent, and support each other without judgment. Lisa says, “You have to create a place… where your target audience, your buyers feel safe to get together and meet and engage as a community… if you care about Central Perk for your buyers, then they'll care about you too.” In B2B, that means investing in communities and experiences where customers can be candid, connect with peers, and build trust—with your brand quietly in the background.Build team chemistry. The Friends cast worked because the chemistry was real—something greater than the sum of its parts. Marketing teams are no different. Lisa says, “Sometimes it's the chemistry that matters more than the expertise. It's not necessarily that I brought together six experts.  It's the way that they work together, sometimes is the real magic.” Great marketing doesn't just come from the smartest experts; it comes from teams (in-house, partners, or both) who click, collaborate, and push each other toward a shared mission.Quote“  I'm not necessarily saying to marketers that this cast needs to be a large in-house marketing team. I'm just simply saying that the people that are in the day-to-day business of executing marketing for your organization, that there is a chemistry between them and that they are working together in a unified way.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Lisa Cole, CMO at 2X[01:09] Why Friends?[01:52] The Role of CMO at 2X[03:34] The Creation of Friends[07:54] The Chemistry and Dynamics of Friends[21:59] Marketing Takeaways from Friends[32:17] The Humble Leader[37:36] Introducing Brand Gravity[48:11] 2X's Content Strategy[49:46] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Lisa on LinkedInLearn more about 2XAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

In this episode, Guy Bauer, founder and creative director of Umault, shares the single biggest lesson he's learned about marketing: never stop. Through analogies ranging from hand-pumped water wells to Top Gun, Guy explains why consistency matters more than perfection, why most marketing efforts will fail before they succeed, and why hitting pause is the most dangerous move a brand can make. If you've ever been tempted to cut spend or stop campaigns because results look flat, this short, punchy episode will remind you why momentum is everything.

Cracker Barrel's logo redesign didn't just spark backlash—it exposed cracks in leadership decision-making. In this episode, Sonia Thompson shares 3 timeless marketing lessons every brand leader needs to keep their business backlash-proof. Discover how decisions around values, who's really in charge, and whose voices guide your strategy can make or break customer trust. Tune in for practical insights to help you lead with clarity, avoid costly missteps, and build a brand that resonates with today's consumers. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter -- www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter

Most brands talk about standing out. Very few actually do it. The ones that win are the ones willing to take a swing, sometimes even a wild one.That's exactly what GoDaddy did with the “Act Like You Know” campaign, a Super Bowl ad that became a cultural moment because of its boldness. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Sydney Sloan, Chief Marketing Officer at G2.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from emotional storytelling, influencer culture, and why building brand in the age of AI requires creativity, boldness, and a willingness to have a little fun.About our guest, Sydney SloanSydney Sloan is a visionary marketing leader with a track record of driving growth and innovation in the tech industry. As CMO of G2, the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, Sydney is at the forefront of shaping the company's strategic direction. Sydney previously held CMO roles at compliance automation software company Drata, sales tech leader Salesloft, and cloud content management visionary Alfresco.What B2B Companies Can Learn From GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign:Take bold swings. Safe marketing doesn't get noticed. To capture attention, B2B brands have to be willing to step outside the comfort zone and take real creative risks. As Sydney shared, “Take a big swing. Go do something outside of your comfort zone.” Boldness is the difference between blending in and breaking through.Your brand is the moat. With paid tactics getting harder, brand is the lasting advantage. It's not about clicks or keywords anymore. It's about the emotional connection people feel. As Sydney says, “Brand is right. It's the emotional connection that you actually build between a brand, which is not a person… and the audience.” In the age of AI, trust and resonance are the true differentiators.Influencers aren't just for B2C. Big-budget companies might hire celebrities, but every B2B brand can find ways to put people at the center of their story. It's about connection, not just reach. Sydney explained, “You can still use influencers, you can still have people connecting to people and doing it in creative ways.” In B2B, credibility often comes best through people, not platforms.Quote“We gotta go back and invest in brand. And what does that mean, and how do I do it? It's not the old playbook. That thing is gone. Display, out the windows. Google search, out the window. We are all at the starting line together. And whoever's the most creative and figures out this new era we're in has an unfair advantage.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Sydney Sloan, CMO at G2[01:17] Why GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[03:55] The Role of Influencers in B2B Marketing[11:39] The Role of CMO at G2[13:19] Understanding GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[19:32] B2B Marketing Lessons from GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[33:29] The Power of Creative Marketing[37:50] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Sydney on LinkedInLearn more about G2About Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

In this episode, you'll hear how the lessons learned from training for American Ninja Warrior can translate into powerful business growth strategies. From crafting a compelling story that resonates with your audience, to showing up with authentic energy, building the right skills, and developing the perseverance to push through setbacks—these insights will help you attract more clients and create lasting impact. Tap in to discover how resilience, storytelling, and passion can elevate both your business and your life.   “There's a quote by the late Pastor John Wesley, and he says, "If you light yourself on fire with passion, people will come from miles to watch you burn.”   Powerful points to remember: Storytelling is your superpower – A compelling story bridges your client's struggles to transformation and makes your message relatable and inspiring. Energy matters – How you show up, especially on camera, influences how people connect with you; passion and authenticity attract the right audience. Skills drive success – From crafting strong hooks to building systems and leading effectively, developing core business skills is essential for growth. Tailor your message – Share the parts of your story that best resonate with your target audience to create deeper connections. Perseverance is key – Success in both business and life requires resilience, commitment, and staying focused on your vision even through challenges. Practical growth comes from focus – Instead of trying to master everything at once, identify one skill to improve now that will make the biggest impact on your leads and business.     Connect with Jason Meland: Email: jason@goliveonlinemastermind.com Website: https://www.growmyvisibility.com/ Instagram: @coachjasonmeland Facebook: Jason Meland - In Demand Coach LinkedIn: Jason Meland

Being the underdog might feel like a disadvantage or your greatest marketing edge.That's the brilliance of Steph Curry's story. He redefined basketball not by being the tallest or strongest, but by mastering the three-pointer, staying relentlessly consistent, and building an empire as the face of an underdog brand. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons from Steph Curry with special guest Brian Gilman, Chief Marketing Officer at ThetaRay.Together, we dig into what B2B marketers can learn from embracing the underdog role, cutting through noise with consistency, and focusing on doing one thing better than anyone else to create real brand gravity.About our guest, Brian GilmanBrian Gilam is the CMO at ThetaRay. He is a visionary Chief Executive with a proven track record in spearheading strategic B2B sales/marketing initiatives and driving robust growth. Brian excels in leading companies through critical transitions, including exit events and funding rounds, while managing large-scale projects and multi-million-dollar budgets. He is an expert in crafting high-ROI programs, fostering C-Level engagements, and negotiating impactful partnerships.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Steph Curry:Play the underdog role. Steph could've gone with Nike or Adidas like every other superstar, but he signed with Under Armour, the underdog, and turned it into a cultural force. Brian says, “His role as an underdog… It's endearing to be able to play the role of underdog as well as he does, and I think that's why people resonate with him as well as they do.” For marketers, especially at scale-ups, that lesson is powerful: people root for challengers who feel accessible and relatable. Positioning your brand as the scrappy player in the game can create emotional connection far beyond features and price.Focus on consistency over noise. Steph's greatness comes from showing up every day and blocking out distractions. Brian says, “He controls what he can control.” In marketing, the same discipline applies. Instead of chasing every channel or campaign, concentrate on the actions that matter most. Steph doesn't let the highs get too high or the lows too low, he just executes. That consistency of effort is what makes him durable and dominant. For B2B, that means resisting the urge to “do it all” and instead building steady momentum with tactics that reliably drive results.Do one thing better than anyone else. Steph didn't try to be everything, he mastered the three-pointer until it broke the NBA. Brian explains, “For me, it's always do one thing really, really well. Forget about the marketing machine, you need that one thing, and then build the next thing.” Just as Curry's deep shooting created “gravity” that opened the floor for teammates, one marketing strength executed brilliantly can lift all your other channels. Don't spread yourself thin, find your version of the 30-foot three-pointer and own it.Quotes“I think that in today's market, successful marketers are gonna throw out the book on convention. I've never seen such a highly competitive environment… and unless you're thinking about speed, cutting out the number of touch points, and getting to that face-to-face interaction as fast as humanly possible, you're never gonna get business anymore.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Brian Gilman, Chief Marketing Officer at ThetaRay[01:03] Why Steph Curry?[04:28] The Role of CMO of Thetaray[06:23] Who is Steph Curry?[26:58] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Steph Curry[39:13] Brian's Marketing Strategy[42:20] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Brian on LinkedInLearn more about ThetaRayAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Episode Overview In this episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Al Stasek dive deep into the power of clarity, consistency, and branding in today's real estate market. From Al's Easy 100 reset challenge that sharpens discipline and eliminates distractions, to the marketing lessons from Alex Hormozi's record-breaking $89M book launch, John and Al unpack how agents can shift their mindset, build trust, and position themselves as the clear choice for clients. This is a no-fluff masterclass on creating clarity in chaos, showing up with energy, and building a brand that wins long after the market shifts. What You'll Learn in This Episode The Easy 100 Reset Why Al Stasek designed his own version of 75 Hard to simplify discipline. How clean living, fitness, and focus eliminate brain fog and sharpen clarity. Why small, consistent wins compound into big results. Clarity and Consistency in Business Why chaos is the enemy of growth and clarity is the cure. How to reset weekly to stay on track with goals and vision. The danger of chasing status instead of freedom and long-term success. Marketing Lessons from Alex Hormozi Breaking down the $89M book launch that set a Guinness World Record. Why “the best marketer always wins”—and how agents can apply it. How branding is really about reputation—and why that's all you'll have in 10 years. The Role of Network and Relationships Why your network truly equals your net worth. How strong vendor, agent, and client relationships save deals and build referrals. Why being an ambassador for your community creates long-term authority. Mindset, Health, and Leadership Why a healthy body is the foundation for a sharp mind. The importance of consistency in both life and business. How to shift from victim thinking to responsibility and leadership. Resources & Mentions John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach Easy 100 Challenge – Al Stasek's personal discipline framework The AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods – A must-read for agents and leaders Scaling Up by Verne Harnish – Systems and clarity for business growth Honey Badger Nation – Training, collaboration, and agent resources Final Takeaway Success in real estate doesn't come from grinding harder—it comes from clarity, consistency, and branding. Agents who reset their focus daily, build a reputation of trust, and embrace modern tools like AI will stand out in any market. As John says:  “Life is easy when you live it the hard way, and hard when you live it the easy way.” Connect with Us: Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach   If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time!

It's not easy to make people rethink their assumptions. If you want to shift perception, you need to challenge expectations, gently, cleverly, and sometimes with a perfectly executed deepfake.That's the brilliance of Orange's Women's Soccer Ad, a mind-bending celebration of women's soccer disguised as a highlight reel of men's soccer. And in this episode, we're decoding its genius with the help of Angie Westbrock, CEO of Standard AI.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from surprising your audience, staying true to both your brand and your customer, and not allowing biases to affect your content.About our guest, Angie WestbrockAngie Westbock's mission is to build high-performance, diverse teams that transform challenges into opportunities. With a solid background as COO and now CEO, she thrives on aligning our company's strengths to create impactful solutions, all while cultivating a culture that celebrates diversity and encourages groundbreaking ideas.Angie is currently serving as the CEO at Standard AI, a startup using AI and computer vision technology to help retailers and brands optimize operations and bottom lines through real-time insights into shoppers' in-store experiences. With a non-traditional background beginning in CPG and then moving into tech, her experience spans from stealth start-ups to IPO to Fortune 500 companies. Leveraging this expertise in commercialization strategy and growth, Angie is able to guide organizations through every phase of development. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Orange's Women's Soccer Ad:Surprise your audience. Great marketing can earn attention through clever misdirection, then deliver a powerful payoff. The Orange ad didn't just say women's sports deserve respect,  it showed it by tricking viewers into watching with existing bias, then rewiring their perception. Angie explains, “Had they not executed the deepfake as well as they did, you would've noticed it from the beginning, and it would've just validated any of the biases that were already there.” The same applies to B2B: stop announcing your message, design it to unfold in a way that surprises and engages.Technology isn't the story; the outcome is. Orange used advanced deepfake technology, but they never made that the headline. The ad wasn't about AI, it was about bias, identity, and respect. The technology was the tool, not the message. “We always try to  tie it to the customer's use cases and ROI versus just about the tech,” says Angie. This is a trap many B2B companies fall into. You're proud of your tech stack, your infrastructure, your proprietary model, and rightly so. But your buyer doesn't care. They care about what your product helps them become. Sell the before and after, not the engine.Don't let your biases affect your content. Too many B2B marketers create content for the people who already agree with them, existing customers, internal stakeholders, or the "safe" ICP. But powerful messaging challenges assumptions. Orange didn't make an ad to celebrate women's soccer for people who already love it, they made an ad to get skeptics to pause and rethink. Angie says, “It wasn't just to the women to honor them and to empower them. It was actually to the men also, to say, you need to revisit your thinking here.” In B2B, you're often selling change: a new workflow, a new tool, a new way of doing things. That means your messaging needs to meet people where they are, not where you wish they were. Quote“ We get so caught up in what we want to say that we don't take into consideration the very specific viewpoints of the customer that you're selling to and making sure that it's going to land with them in a way that aligns with how they're thinking.Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Angie Westbrock, [01:00] Why Orange's Women's Soccer Ad [01:50] What Standard AI Actually Does[05:33] Why Physical Retail Is Still Underrated[11:38] Designed for Rewatching and Social[13:51] Real Tech, Real Players, Real Impact[14:55] Messaging That Reaches the People Who Need to Hear It[21:59] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Why Orange's Women's Soccer Ad [34:38] Not a Cheap Trick — A Trusted Brand Moment[38:13] It All Starts With a Single Shift in Mindset[40:00] What Marketers Want From In-Store Strategy[47:41] Standard AI's Brand Strategy and Differentiation[52:40] Final Thoughts: Break Through the NoiseLinksConnect with Angie on LinkedInLearn more about Standard AIAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Class is officially back in session! In this episode of Marketing Insights, host and career coach Shanita Baraka Akintonde sits down with two powerhouse Gen Z voices—Desmond Walker and Alyssa Gail Martin—to decode what brands must learn if they want to connect with the next generation of consumers.Desmond, a sharp creative strategist with a pulse on cultural shifts, and Alyssa, a dynamic communicator and thought leader for her generation, break down how Gen Z is remixing the rules of marketing. From authentic storytelling to TikTok trends and brand loyalty (or the lack thereof), this conversation is loaded with lessons every marketer needs to hear.What you'll learn in this episode:Why authenticity isn't a buzzword for Gen Z—it's the baseline.How social media has reshaped the branding process What brands keep getting wrong when trying to market to younger audiences.Fresh strategies for engaging Gen Z in “sticky” ways. #GenZ #NextGenMarketing #GenZVoices #GenZMarketing #FutureOfMarketing #YouthCulture #MarketingTrends #BrandSchool MarketingInsights #BrandStrategy #DigitalMarketing #MarketingTips #BrandBuilding #MarketingStrategy #Marketing101 #ContentMarketing #AdvertisingLife #ShanitaSpeaksLLC

Copy and paste content doesn't build a connection. If you want your brand to resonate, you need to go deeper, more human, more emotional, more real.That's executed perfectly by The Last of Us, a post-apocalyptic story that became a global phenomenon not because of monsters, but because of its heart. In this episode, we're taking a closer look with the help of our special guest, Ashley Emery, CMO at VelocityEHS.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from emotional storytelling, breaking traditional formats, and building real resonance with your audience (even in the most unexpected places).About our guest, Ashley EmeryAshley excels in driving growth and innovation in B2B technology organizations, both at the global enterprise and high-growth start-up scale. She holds an Executive MBA and specializes in demand generation and revenue-focused marketing strategies. Ashley has a proven track record of building and leading high-performing marketing teams, having served as Head of Global Campaigns for the Database and Analytics category at AWS, VP of Marketing at Emburse, and most recently, the SVP of Demand Generation at Employ, the parent company of JazzHR, Jobvite, and Lever.What B2B Companies Can Learn From The Last of Us:Story comes before product. In B2B, it's easy to get stuck in the habit of leading with features, capabilities, or technical specs. But as The Last of Us demonstrates, what draws people in is a story they care about, not a list of innovations. Your product may be powerful, but unless your audience understands how it impacts their world or identity, it won't matter. Center the narrative on the customer's journey, pain, and outcome, your product plays a supporting role in that transformation. This shift can completely reframe how you approach content, ads, and even your brand voice. Ashley advises, “Lead with a human-centric storytelling. Don't sell features… the product is the enabler, it's not the hero.”Your audience might not be who you think. “Even if you think you understand your audience, you may not,” said Ashley, who was surprised herself, as she was so drawn to the series. Just as The Last of Us broke out of its presumed “gamer” audience, B2B brands often have unexpected buyers, champions, or influencers they're missing. Assumptions based on firmographics or industry stereotypes can be limiting. VelocityEHS found that their safety-focused customers were actually risk-tolerant thrill-seekers outside of work, which changed how they positioned messaging. This is a call to continuously validate personas, run qualitative interviews, and listen for nuance. Your best buyers may not look like your ICP on paper.The medium shapes the message. It's not enough to have a great story, you have to tailor it to the channel and format. A 60-minute podcast moment doesn't automatically become a good TikTok. Just like a video game plot doesn't translate directly into a TV script, B2B content has to be rewritten for the medium it's living in. That means writing social hooks, designing natively for mobile, and assuming low context. Ian reminds us that, “-if you take an idea that Ashley says in minute 50 of a podcast and drop it onto LinkedIn, and the person has no context at all who this person is or what they do, then the actual insight itself isn't as interesting or valuable.” Meet your audience where they are, mentally, emotionally, and contextually, or risk wasting great content on the wrong canvas.Quotes“Often in marketing, we get scared of emotion. We try to stay very neutral in our language. We don't want to be provocative, we don't want to be bold, and I think we as humans crave that. The show is a perfect example. The boldness, the emotional connection, and the conflict of the characters was really valuable. There's so much raw emotion and connection in the stories that could be told, and not being afraid to tell an uncomfortable story… is powerful.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Ashley Emery, CMO at VelocityEHS.[00:56] Why The Last of Us?[01:42] The Role of CMO at VelocityEHS[02:48] Breaking Down The Last of Us[26:47] B2B Marketing Lessons from The Last of Us[27:36] Human-Centric Storytelling in Marketing[35:16 Understanding Your Audience[38:43] Building an Ecosystem of Content[40:20] The Importance of Star Power[42:14] Embracing Emotional Tension in Marketing[46:11] Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ashley on LinkedInLearn more about VelocityEHSAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

I am going to start this marketing monologue with a story.  I'm going to start with a story. I was about four years old and I went into a bakery with my dad. And while he was ordering breads and pastries, I was standing there looking in the glass counter at these beautiful pastries. Eventually, my dad looked down and he says, Lanie, do you want one? Yes, Daddy. So the woman reaches behind the counter and she gets me a Charlotte Russe. Now, if you're not from New York, you may not know what a Charlotte Russe pastry is. It's a little piece of pound cake stuffed inside a tube about the size of a toilet paper roll filled with whipped cream. And then on the very top, there's a cherry. She hands it to me, and I say thank you—because I was a very polite child. I ate the cherry off the top and as we were leaving, the pastry falls to the ground. Before I had a chance to say anything, the woman came running out from behind the counter and said, Don't cry, sweetie, I'll get you another one. Lanie, do you want another one? Yes, Daddy. And so the woman gave me another pastry. This time, as we were leaving, I ate the cherry off the top, and—yep—you guessed it. I dropped the pastry on the floor. Why did you do that? my father asked. And I probably should mention right about now that my dad was not a patient person. I said, I only wanted the cherry. What we had was a failure to communicate. My dad was talking about pastries. I was talking about cherries. Anyone who has spent time with children knows this feeling—talking about something and realizing halfway through the child has no idea what you mean. That's because children come into a conversation with a smaller worldview. They don't have the same vocabulary, experience, or context. So they focus on the parts that make sense and miss the bigger picture. But here's the thing: adults do the exact same thing. Every networking event, every pitch, every sales call—people nod politely while you talk about your process, your platform, or your proprietary system… but if you're not speaking their language, they check out. They're thinking about their next meeting. Or dinner. Or pastries. So how do you keep them with you? How do you connect, especially when your work is a little technical or complex? Here's how: 1. Simplify your message. Strip out the jargon. Ditch the 12-step framework. Lead with the cherry—the one irresistible thing you know they'll understand and care about. 2. Use familiar comparisons. Find a metaphor, an analogy, something from their world. Talk about what you do the way you'd explain it to a 10-year-old—without being condescending. Just clear. 3. Test your message before the real thing. Before your next networking event or client meeting, practice explaining what you do to a non-marketing friend. Or your kid. Or even out loud in the mirror. If you can't make it land simply, it's too complicated. 4. Lead with benefits, not process. You help clients get more leads, increase visibility, or stop spinning their wheels online. That's what they want to hear. The platform, the tools, the magic—save that for later. 5. Watch for confused faces—and adjust. If someone looks puzzled or politely disengaged, pause. Ask a question. Reframe. Don't just keep steamrolling through your pitch. That's how pastries get dropped. The bottom line? If you want better conversations and better results :Say less. Make it clearer. Make it about them. And when you do, you just might walk away with more sales, more referrals… and the occasional cherry on top. If this sparked an idea or reminded you of your own “cherry on top” moment, I'd love to hear about it. Hit the “Let's Chat” button on all my social profiles or drop by morethanafewwords.com.

When it comes to marketing, the boldest ideas often come from imagining a future no one else can see, then making it real.That's exactly what Stanley Kubrick achieved with 2001: A Space Odyssey, a film that married meticulous research with visionary storytelling to create the most realistic depiction of space the world had ever seen. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Josh Golden, CMO at Quad.Together, we dive into how marketers can embrace risk, iterate through failure, compete on imagination rather than resources, and create experiences—both digital and physical—that deliver the elusive “wow” factor. All while staying relevant, resonant, and ready to invent the future.About our guest, Josh GoldenAs Chief Marketing Officer at Quad, Josh Golden is architecting the evolution of Quad as a marketing experience company. He leads a highly collaborative team that works with marketers around the world to clear the path for a frictionless solution to easily communicate with their optimal audience.Quad's clients are the lifeblood of its operations, driving the company's evolution and influencing its every action. Josh is helping the company combine Quad's history as a manufacturer and commercial printer with this marketer-obsessed philosophy to best support client growth and eliminate the interference that otherwise causes them to lose time, money, and customers.Since assuming his role, Josh has defined the Quad brand narrative, developed the company's “marketing experience” framing, implemented a new Quad design system and initiated brand and product marketing campaigns for key verticals.With more than three decades of experience in marketing, branding, media, and content, Josh is one of the most prolific connectors in the marketing industry. Prior to joining Quad in 2021, Josh was President and Publisher of Ad Age where he spurred transformative growth for the venerable, 90-year trade publication and media brand. His passion for driving evolution was also on display as Vice President, Global Digital Marketing, at Xerox; Group Director of Digital Marketing at NBC Universal; Chief Digital Officer at Grey Group; Managing Director, Digital at Havas; and head of the first digital division at Young & Rubicam.A self-proclaimed “professional groupie,” Josh avidly follows and cheers people who pursue their passions. He likes playing a little semi-aggressive tennis and makes a killer “cheater” banana bread. He lives in Westchester, NY with his wife and two teenage children.Josh received his MBA from New York University and his B.S. in communications from Ithaca College.What B2B Companies Can Learn From 2001: A Space Odyssey:Embrace the process, not just the end product. Kubrick went through a massive number of iterations before landing on the film we know and love today. Josh says, “There is not one singular moment; it's a series of failures.” In marketing, abandoned ideas aren't wasted. They're the iterations that lead to something great. Like Kubrick, be willing to test, discard, and refine until you find the version that truly resonates. The process is the work.AI can execute, but humans inspire. Hal, the AI in 2001, could run the ship, but couldn't imagine a better way forward. Josh says, “ Humans have the capacity to do the wow factor.” AI can give you the exact steps to execute a campaign, but it can't create the unexpected spark that makes it unforgettable. Your job as a marketer is to deliver that human insight and surprise that AI can't replicate.Inspiration doesn't have to start from scratch.2001 began as a loose adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's short story The Sentinel, but evolved far beyond it. Josh reflects, “You're ultimately gonna go rewrite it in your own way.” In marketing, you can take inspiration from existing ideas, but the magic comes from reshaping them into something uniquely yours.Quote“There's moments that we all have as marketers where real ideas happen, and I celebrate those…but in truth…There is not one singular moment. It's a series of failures…That inspiration is evident in the film, and it's evident that in the actual process of trying and failing and trying and failing and trying and failing, and then getting to a point where you're like, wow, this is actually kind of okay.'”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Josh Golden, CMO at Quad[01:27] The Role of CMO at Quad[02:54] Overview of 2001: A Space Odyssey[21:45] B2B Marketing Lessons from 2001: A Space Odyssey[25:28] The AI Character and Its Implications[26:42] AI vs. Human Creativity[43:21] Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Josh on LinkedInLearn more about QuadAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

When small-market teams face off against deep-pocketed competitors, winning means rewriting the rules of the game. That's exactly what happened in Moneyball, where the Oakland A's turned to unconventional metrics and overlooked talent to outsmart the league's biggest spenders. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Scott Greenwald, CMO at Linedata.Together, we dive into how B2B marketers can rethink the metrics that matter, compete asymmetrically against larger rivals, align teams around bold strategies, and tell stories that stick, all while staying credible, prepared, and ready to adapt.About our guest, Scott GreenwaldAt Linedata, Scott's tenure as Chief Marketing Officer has been marked by the successful leadership of a dynamic, multi-lingual team and the creation of transformative digital marketing strategies. Our efforts have resulted in a staggering 600% year-over-year increase in web traffic, contributing significantly to a 20% generation of the sales pipeline.Scott's role extends to overseeing the marketing budget and launching a new CRM and Marketing Automation tool, which has streamlined Linedata's pipeline review process and accelerated the sales cycle. With a focus on driving market visibility and thought leadership, Scott's strategic campaigns across key global markets have empowered Linedata to cement its presence in the competitive financial services industry.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Moneyball:Focus on the outcomes that matter.  In Moneyball, the point wasn't to sign the flashiest “five-tool” players; it was to score runs. The same is true in marketing. Scott says, “In the end, it's how many of the MQLs turn into opportunities or new business? And that's what we focus on.” Metrics that look good in a report mean nothing if they don't turn into real pipeline and closed deals. In B2B, your scoreboard isn't impressions or clicks, it's revenue.Credibility over volume in content. AI makes it easy to crank out more content than ever before, but more isn't always better. “If we suddenly increased our, our, our output fivefold, we, we would lose that credibility,” Scott says. His team uses AI to adapt and reformat high-quality core pieces, not flood the market with fluff. Your audience notices when your content is consistent, credible, and worth their time—and they notice just as fast when it's not.Compete asymmetrically. The A's couldn't outspend the Yankees or Red Sox, so they had to outthink them. That meant challenging every “sacred cow” in baseball and finding value others overlooked. Scott explains, “You can't come in here and say, I'm going to transform this marketing organization into what I had before… you have to assess the talent pool [and] review the best way of spending the marketing budgets you have.” In marketing, the same rule applies: when you can't match your competitors' budget, you win by rewriting the playbook.Quote“It is our responsibility as storytellers of not just giving the business what they want, but also giving the audience what they need to hear.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Scott Greenwal, CMO at Linedata[01:04] Why Moneyball?[06:45] Behind the Scenes of Moneyball[10:00] B2B Marketing Lessons from Moneyball[31:51] The Importance of Storytelling[37:18] The Role of Communication in Change Management[41:02] The Evolution of Marketing Automation[45:30] Balancing Content Quality and Quantity[47:00 Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Scott on LinkedInLearn more about LinedataAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

In a world full of polished content, authenticity is what truly cuts through.That's the secret behind Armchair Expert, the wildly popular podcast from Dax Shepard that mixes candid conversation with crowd-sourced chaos. In this episode, we unpack the marketing insights behind it with special guest Derek Weeks, Chief Marketing Officer at Katalon.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building real connections, inviting community participation, and letting go of perfection to create content people genuinely trust and engage with.About our guest, Derek WeeksDerek Weeks is the Chief Marketing Officer at Katalon. He is a driven, results-oriented CMO with a proven ability to achieve multiple successful exits, build and execute bold go-to-market strategies for each stage of business growth, and demonstrate solid returns on marketing investments. Accomplished at building high-performing teams, driving quality marketing-sourced pipeline, developing massive communities, and collaborating with sales teams to meet business targets.What B2B Companies Can Learn From the Armchair Expert Podcast:Vulnerability builds trust and attention. Derek Weeks emphasizes that Armchair Expert's standout quality is its authentic vulnerability, which creates a powerful emotional connection with listeners. He explains, “It's really about being human… It builds an emotional connection with your brand.” Derek draws a parallel to B2B marketing, highlighting that it's crucial to showcase real people behind the brand to forge trust.Mix long-form and short-form content strategically. Armchair Expert masterfully balances 90-minute conversations with short, snackable segments like Armchair Anonymous. Derek believes this dual-format approach is essential for B2B marketing: “That kind of mix of long and short is something that you have to play into as a marketer and realize your audience expects different things at different times.” He stresses that marketers must go deep when it matters, but also repurpose content aggressively to cater to varied audience behaviors, especially across platforms like TikTok.Empower community-generated content. Derek praises Armchair Expert for its use of community-driven content through Armchair Anonymous, where listeners share personal stories weekly. He says, “They really don't have to spend time creating content at all… believe in your community and the value that they create.” B2B marketers should harness their user-generated content to scale content creation far beyond the limits of a marketing budget.Quotes“ You have to think about what draws people to the next.  What did you do in that moment that got people to say, ‘This is worth following or paying attention to or coming back again?'  Figure out what's going to make people come back, not what makes people appear the first time.  The first time is kind of an easy win. The second time, or third time, or 10th time is the hard part.”Time Stamps[00:55]  Meet Derek Weeks, CMO at Katalon[01:23]  Why Armchair Expert?[03:01] Vulnerability and Trust in B2B[08:58]  Don't Build Campaigns, Build Conversations[13:37] The Long-Form to Short-Form Pipeline[19:05] Unfair Mindshare[21:47] What Armchair Expert Gets Right[24:01] Practical Ways to Bring Personality into B2B[27:38] Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Derek on LinkedInLearn more about KatalonAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Send us a textWhat happens when the world's biggest pop star drops in on an NFL podcast? A marketing masterclass in collaboration, authenticity, and buzz creation. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down the viral Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, and Taylor Swift moment—and turns it into three concrete, locally applicable strategies any sports team can use to sell more tickets and grow their fan base. From cross-audience partnerships to personality-driven content and buzz-worthy activations, you'll walk away with ready-to-run ideas you can launch in your own market.Key Topics CoveredThe “cross-audience moment” and how to find the perfect local partner to expand your reachWhy showing the human side of your players builds deeper fan connectionsCreating quirky, unexpected moments that fans can't help but shareReal-world examples: zoo ice cream shifts, player-chef cook-offs, and mascot mechanic makeoversHow to turn attention into actual ticket sales with bundles, opt-ins, and QR codesAudience verification tips to ensure partnerships drive local resultsBalancing creative activations with bottom-line sales goalsTimestamps 00:00 – Why the Taylor & Travis podcast moment matters for sports marketing 01:33 – Lesson 1: The power of cross-audience partnerships 05:55 – How to bundle game tickets with partner offers for bigger impact 06:21 – Lesson 2: Showing your players' human side 08:44 – Player-chef cook-off activation idea 10:57 – Lesson 3: Give fans something they'll talk about 13:16 – Recap: Turning buzz into ticket salesCall to Action Ready to brainstorm your own collaboration ideas? Visit sportsmarketingmachine.com to schedule a call and map out how these tactics can fit into your ticket sales funnel.Love the podcast? Take a moment to rate or review the podcast on your favorite platform. Quote Pulls / Social Teasers“Don't just partner with brands your fans already love—find ones with a compatible but different audience.”“Your players' content is gold. Show their personality, not just their athletic skill.”“Sometimes the quirky, unexpected ideas create better engagement than polished videos.”Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

Turning into your parents might be your worst fear, or your biggest marketing opportunity.That's the brilliance of Progressive's Dr. Rick campaign. It's hilarious, deeply relatable, and sneakily strategic. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Keri McGhee, Chief Marketing Officer at Attentive.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from character-driven storytelling, embracing creative risk, and using humor and relatability to create campaigns that people actually want to talk about.About our guest, Keri McGheeKeri McGhee is the CMO at Attentive, the AI marketing platform for leading brands. She leads strategic global marketing to further build the Attentive brand, overseeing product marketing, revenue marketing, events, partner marketing, communications and content, and brand creative. Keri's past experiences include leading marketing at various start-ups and as a senior director at Zillow, where she led the B2B marketing team of 60+ people, responsible for strengthening partner loyalty and experience for 60,000+ real estate partners. She got her start in tech at Expedia, leading both consumer and corporate travel marketing teams.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Progressive's Dr. Rick Campaign:Take creative risks. Keri's central message is clear: great brand moments come from taking chances. “We take ourselves way too seriously in B2B.  So I think my advice is to step outside of the comfort zone of what the CFO, and the COO, and the CEO say yes to. And do the work to get the customer validation to pitch in some new idea..” B2B marketers often play it safe, focusing on product features, ROI charts, or thought leadership. But real differentiation happens when you create something unexpected, emotional, or funny. The Dr. Rick campaign could've flopped. Instead, it became a cultural reference point.Make your audience feel seen. The best ads are mirrors, not megaphones. Progressive tapped into a deep, relatable insecurity, “Am I becoming my parents?” Keri shares, “It's incredibly memorable, which I think is the most important thing in marketing right now.” For B2B, this could mean identifying moments of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or job-related stress and playfully reflecting those back to the buyer.Build a fictional persona. A single viral hit is fleeting. A character-driven series builds long-term brand equity. Dr. Rick works because he's a consistent, evolving character. He became a franchise. Most B2B brands invest in one-off videos or campaigns. But serialization keeps audiences coming back, like a show you binge-watch. Keri states, “  I can't think of any B2B that actually has been able to do that…Most of the true B2B play companies are not investing in brand in that way.”Quotes“What we find with B2B buyers is they make decisions as people, not as the companies for which they're spending money for. We undervalue that a lot in B2B marketing…And the reality is, the things that are impossible to measure are where we are starting to place bigger bets because it's the only way to drive differentiation.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Keri McGhee, Chief Marketing Officer at Katalon[01:06] Why Dr. Rick?[02:45] The Psychology of Being Seen[04:02] Who Is Dr. Rick?[11:26] Branding in a Commoditized Industry[13:59] Flow vs. Dr. Rick: A Franchise Strategy[15:26] Why B2B Doesn't Do This[22:14] Parents vs. Homeowners[26:35] Keri's Top B2B Takeaway[28:30] Creating Content Around Insecurity[31:20] Why Brands Don't Take Risks[40:56] Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Keri on LinkedInLearn more about AttentiveAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Two pop culture moments. Two powerful marketing lessons your brand can't afford to miss. In this episode, I breaks down the biggest key takaway for marketers from the American Eagle X Sydney Sweeney controversey, and a viral interview with two stars of Love Island USA season 7. Both examples teach us about what today's customers really want from the brands they buy from. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/newsletter Episode 174: The Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle Campaign Everyone's Talking About - 5 Real Lessons for Marketers On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WpSvXMPSPR4gCxEjQSmsq?si=bc296299d8d24a2a On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/174-the-sydney-sweeney-x-american-eagle-campaign/id1604907821?i=1000720099771

When AI feels like old news, the most remarkable storytellers don't just talk about it, they show you something you've never seen before.That's exactly what happens in Shell Game, the mind-bending podcast where journalist Evan Ratliff clones his voice and lets it interact with the world without anyone knowing it's not really him. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Kelly Starman, Chief Marketing Officer at MasterControl.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from leading with curiosity, making space for creative risk, and crafting weird, emotional stories that people can't help but talk about.About our guest, Kelly StarmanKelly Starman is a results-focused marketing executive with two decades of driving growth and leading high-performing teams. She has a strong track record in leading large-scale organizational change. Expertise in developing and implementing global go-to-market strategies in the healthcare and technology sectors, including positioning, branding & advertising, digital marketing, demand gen, and marketing automation. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Shell Game:Embrace the weird. Evan Ratliff's podcast stands out because it dares to be different. In B2B, weird isn't a liability—it's an asset. “So much of B2B marketing is just boring,” Kelly says. “I love the idea of being weird… tapping into that and being memorable makes for great marketing.” If your content doesn't break the pattern, it won't break through.Lead with curiosity. Shell Game works because it starts with a single, captivating question: what happens when you clone your own voice and let it speak for you? For Kelly, that spirit of experimentation is essential in modern marketing. “I have not had more fun in my career than I've had in the past six months,” she says. “It has been incredible to really step back and think about what is possible with all this new technology.” Curiosity isn't just a mindset, it's a strategy for discovering what's next before your competitors do.Curate, don't just create. In a world of AI overload, audiences don't want more content, they want better content. That's where curation comes in. “I think there's just so much out there that I find myself really turning to like individuals that I trust,” Kelly says. As marketers, “How do you add value for your customers… where do you go for that curated content to stay as current as you can?” Being a trusted curator builds loyalty in a noisy market.Quote“So much of B2B marketing is just boring... I love the idea of being weird. I usually say like, I want this to be really bold. I want this to be really breakthrough and attention-grabbing."Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Kelly Starman, Chief Marketing Officer at MasterControl[01:07] Why Shell Game?[02:53] The Role of CMO at MasterControl[04:33] What is Shell Game?[12:39] Breaking Down the Content in Shell Game[24:57] B2B Marketing Lessons from Shell Game[28:20] Super Accelerated Learning Techniques[41:28] Mastercontrol's Marketing Strategy[44:38] Measuring ROI Strategically[47:56] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Kelly on LinkedInLearn more about MasterControlAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

When your audience thinks they already know your story, the boldest brands flip the script and earn their attention in the process. That's exactly what happens in Wicked, the smash-hit film adaptation that reimagines one of pop culture's most iconic villains. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Allison MacLeod, Chief Marketing Officer & GM of US Education at Flywire.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from reframing brand narratives, building fan-level community, and executing with bold, high-stakes detail that actually gets noticed.About our guest, Allison MacleodAllison Macleod currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer & Head of US Education at Flywire (Nasdaq: FLYW), a global payments enablement & software company. At Flywire, Allison leads global marketing and revenue operations, & US Education sales, relationship management & pre-sales. She played a key role in guiding Flywire to a successful IPO in May 2021.Allison brings nearly 20 years of experience with a background spanning marketing and revenue-focused roles. Prior to Flywire, she spent seven years at Rapid7 (Nasdaq: RPD), where she played a pivotal role in building and scaling demand generation, business development, and analytics. Before that, she held various digital and field-based positions at Forrester, including launching the marketing function in EMEA.Outside of work, Allison sits on the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council and serves as a strategic advisor to early-stage companies through F-Prime & Underscore VC.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Wicked:Reframe what they think they know. Wicked works because it flips a legacy story on its head. The same power lies in brand repositioning. “How do you really reframe what people think they know about you and your brand,” Allison says. Whether it's entering new markets or expanding product lines, your biggest unlock might come from telling your old story in a completely new way.Community is your flywheel. Wicked isn't just a show, it's a movement. Audiences don't just watch it, they live it. That level of advocacy isn't accidental. “How do you really cultivate that community, whether that's your clients, the advocacy, and make people… feel that deep passion for what you do,” Allison asks. In B2B, fandom might look like retention, referrals, or customer-led storytelling, but it starts with emotional connection.Be bold and unforgettable. Every production choice in Wicked is a masterclass in attention to detail. From the live vocals to the stunts, they took creative risks that resonated. “How do you be bold and unforgettable,” Allison says. The safest move in saturated categories? Standing out.Quote“I think that's sort of the lesson and the beauty in this, taking something that everyone already thought they knew, and they thought they knew the story… and completely reframing it. And I think that's where you just think of us as businesses, us as consumers… there's so much clutter. So the brands that stick out and do things differently, and even if it is trying the same channel but in a different way, there's so much power in that."Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Allison MacLeod, Chief Marketing Officer & GM of US Education at Flywire[01:05] Why Wicked?[02:29] The Role of CMO at Flywire[04:00] Breaking Down of Wicked[09:22] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Wicked[21:54] The Appeal of Villains and Taking Risks[23:37] The Power of Visual Design in Branding[24:54] Marketing Strategies for Global Brands[29:26] Flywire's Unique Differentiation Approach[40:03] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Allison on LinkedInLearn more about FlywireAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

When timeless advertising principles meet today's AI-saturated landscape, something surprising happens: the old rules still work.Especially when we're talking about the father of advertising himself, David Ogilvy. In this episode, we dive into his iconic book, Ogilvy on Advertising, with special guest Eric Williamson, CMO at CallMiner.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from Ogilvy's approach: why specificity beats slogans, how research powers emotional storytelling, and why writing for humans is the real differentiator.About our guest, Eric WilliamsonAs CallMiner's Chief Marketing Officer, Eric oversees all global marketing functions from brand and events to demand generation. Eric's marketing team works very closely with channel and sales to drive pipeline and CallMiner's explosive growth. Eric has over 20 years of experience in both technology and consumer products marketing from both the vendor and agency side. Before joining CallMiner, Eric was VP Brand & Digital Marketing at Acquia — an open DXP platform built around Drupal — where he led brand, creative services, webops, editorial, and demand generation. Prior to Acquia, Eric was on the agency side of marketing working as SVP Digital & Social at MullenLowe, and before that as VP Digital Strategy at The Martin Agency. During his career Eric has worked with a variety of B2C and B2B brands including Google, Microsoft, Intel, GEICO, Walmart, P&G, Pizza Hut, Acura, Royal Caribbean, and Hyatt. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Ogilvy on Advertising:Start with the line, not the logo. Great B2B brands don't start with visuals, they start with voice. The sharpest creative begins on the page, not the mood board. “Copy first, research first, copy second, then worry about the visuals,” Eric says. In other words: write the line that earns attention before you pick the font.Write for humans. Most B2B copy dies in a sea of jargon. What buyers actually want is to feel seen. “It's really easy to fall into a place for a technology company to talk about your tech, talk about your features… and there's nothing emotional about that,” Eric says. The fix is to start by writing for humans. Emotion isn't a nice-to-have, it's your edge.Don't guess, ask. You don't need personas when you have real people. The best insights come from your customers, not your whiteboard. Eric says, “Just go talk to them…Why do they keep staying with you? What sort of thing that they worry about at night does this help solve for them?” The answers aren't in your funnel. They're in the field.Quote“ Write for humans because, ultimately, that's who you're selling to, that's who you're trying to influence. It's really understanding their emotions. What are their fears, what are their desires? Even in the B2B world, it's easy to forget that.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Eric Williamson, Chief Marketing Officer at CallMiner[00:58] Why Ogilvy On Advertising?[02:49] The Role of CMO at CallMiner[03:38] Origins of Ogilvy On Advertising[06:56] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Ogilvy on Advertising[21:29] Ogilvy's Predictions[37:23] CallMiner's Marketing Strategies[41:57] AI as a Solution[44:20] Advice for Marketing Leaders[45:38] Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Eric on LinkedInLearn more about CallMinerAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

In this episode of The Russell Brunson Show, I sit down with Tai Lopez… Someone I've watched, learned from, and admired from a marketing and sales perspective for years. We go deep into the mechanics of success, from how to model winning frameworks, to why curiosity is the overlooked engine behind big breakthroughs. We talk about what it really takes to scale businesses fast, how Tai thinks about brand arbitrage, and why speed of execution matters more than having the perfect plan. Tai also opens up about the environments that shaped him early on and how that affects the way he operates today. This is one of those episodes that hits on mindset, strategy, and practicality all at once. Key Highlights: Why learning frameworks is more valuable than memorizing tactics Tai's “four levels” of understanding and how to move up the ladder faster How curiosity drives decision-making, speed, and skill acquisition The role of environment and peer influence in long-term success Why imperfect action always beats perfect planning One thing that stuck with me in this conversation is how intentional Tai is about absorbing ideas (books, mentors, observations) and turning them into frameworks he can use. If you're feeling stuck in the mud with overthinking, slow execution, or wondering what separates good entrepreneurs from great ones… this episode lays it all out. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sellingonline.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://clickfunnels.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to our sponsors: NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/secrets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Northwest Registered Agent: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠northwestregisteredagent.com/russell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your business with Northwest Registered Agent. LinkedIn Marketing Solutions: Get a $100 credit on your next campaign at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.com/CLICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RocketMoney.com/RUSSELL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indeed.com/clicks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When playbooks go stale and everyone's chasing the next big AI breakthrough, the standout B2B brands are doing something else entirely. They're building immersive worlds and inviting their audience in.That's exactly what happens in Silo, the hit Apple TV+ show, where attention to detail creates a gripping, lived-in universe. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with special guest Karen Budell, Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer at Totango.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from crafting immersive brand worlds, creating standout brand visuals, and building trust through curiosity and community.About our guest, Karen BudellKaren Budell is the Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer at Totango, the industry-leading customer revenue suite that turns AI-powered intelligence into customer-led growth. She previously served as the company's CMO, leading the marketing team responsible for brand and content, events, growth marketing, product marketing, and sales enablement. Budell is an active member of various CMO and GTM executive communities, including Pavilion, and serves on the G2 Executive Advisory Board. Budell previously held marketing leadership roles at SurveyMonkey, as Vice President, Brand Marketing, and Google.During her four years with Google, Budell led a team responsible for narratives and brand building for YouTube Ads and was instrumental in launching Google Marketing Platform. Having found success working with businesses of all sizes, both private and public, Budell's 20-plus year career in brand building and leadership has been fueled by her roots in journalism and a passion for storytelling through integrated, content-fueled campaigns.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Silo:Craft your world, don't just explain it. Silo hits because it's immersive. Every dusty set and muted tone pulls you deeper into its reality. That kind of worldbuilding isn't just for TV. “You need to create a unique world for your company, for your customers,” Karen says. In a sea of same-sounding content, your world is your edge and your responsibility.Curiosity is your competitive advantage. In Silo, curiosity is dangerous, but it's also how characters discover the truth. The same holds for marketers. “That is one of the most important traits of a good marketer… curiosity,” Karen says. It's not about having all the answers; it's about asking better questions and letting that inquiry shape your strategy.Emotion is in the details. Silo doesn't rely on big exposition; it builds feeling through design. You don't need to be told life underground is bleak. You feel it. “You feel claustrophobic as a viewer sitting at home watching this,” Karen says. “You feel like you're underground with them and yearning for a glimpse of what's outside.” In B2B, your content should do the same, evoke emotion through setting, tone, and texture, not just copy.Quote"We are in a great period of unlearning and relearning. I think that's what's exciting to me. Being curious. That's your superpower these days.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Karen Budell, Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer at Totango[01:35] Why Silo?[03:17] Understanding Silo[07:51] B2B Marketing Lessons from Silo[22:34] The Power of Asking Questions[30:12] YouTube Strategy for B2B Brands[33:50] The Rise of Video Content[37:43] Totango's Brand & Content Strategies [39:12] Events and Experiences in Marketing[41:26] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Karen on LinkedInLearn more about TotangoAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Want to attract better patients, reduce PPO dependence, and grow your practice with confidence? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share real-world marketing lessons from thriving practices. Discover what actually works, why most dental marketing fails, and how top practices grow with long-term strategy. Book your FREE Marketing Strategy Meeting:    

When everyone's racing to launch big strategies, success takes more than smart tactics. It takes alignment, discipline, and deep cross-functional trust.That's how the heroes in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, the hit animated Marvel kids' show, defeat the villains. In this episode, we unpack marketing lessons from Spidey's universe with the help of our special guest Emily Ferdinando, CMO at Bugcrowd.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from nailing ABM execution, building content grounded in community feedback, and turning shared goals into real, coordinated action.About our guest, Emily FerdinandoEmily Ferdinando is a go-to-market leader with a focus on pipeline and revenue growth. She brings 15 years of GTM leadership experience, specializing in optimizing operational processes and data-driven strategy. With a background in sales and operations, Emily brings a unique approach to Marketing focused on down-funnel impact and top-line growth. Emily joins Bugcrowd from Veracode where she most recently led the Growth Marketing organization. Her background includes leadership roles across the GTM engine, including Global Business Development, GTM Enablement, and Operational Strategy. While there, she led the team through multiple events and two successful exits. Emily lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two young children. She enjoys the outdoors and stretching her creative muscles through painting, fiction writing and guitar.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Spidey and His Amazing Friends:Alignment over silos. In one episode, Spidey, Ghosty, and Miles all chase Rhino with their own plans, each using their powers, none working together. The mission falls apart. “We can say we have the same goal all day, but if we're not aligned on how we get there… that's what it's gonna look like,” Emily says. In marketing and in superhero teams, the difference between success and disaster isn't talent, it's coordination.One-size-fits-all content fits no one. Spidey's world works because it's made for everyone. Each with different powers, personalities, backgrounds, and their own story. That same inclusive mindset should guide your content. “Many people did not fit squarely into one piece,” Emily says. “If we ran our strategy that way, they were missing exposure to a lot of content that was really relevant to them.” Real impact comes from serving the overlaps, not the edges.Simple stories stick. Spidey and His Amazing Friends makes complex ideas—like teamwork, trust, and problem-solving—land through bright colors and clear stakes. For marketers, that's the goal too. “Making internal assumptions without pressure testing with the people who are going to be receiving the output of your team, it's a huge miss,” Emily says. Whether you're leading kids or customers, never assume they're on board. Ask, listen, and build with them.Quote“Spidey and His Amazing Friends, they really teach you what actual in practice, collaboration is supposed to look like and not look like. And it's really as simple as…you step back. We all know what we're supposed to do. It's just really hard in practice sometimes, and sometimes you can learn from the kids' shows. You just step back and go, we know what to do, we just need to do it.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Emily Ferdinando, CMO at Bugcrowd[01:00] Why Spidey and His Amazing Friends?[02:20] The Role of a CMO at Bugcrowd[03:00] Origins of Spidey and His Amazing Friends[19:38] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Spidey and His Amazing Friends[29:21] Bugcrowd's ABM Launch[33:30] Repackaging Content for Better Engagement[40:13] Bugcrowd's Content Strategy and Community Engagement[47:20] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Emily on LinkedInLearn more about BugcrowdAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

When you're outgunned, under-resourced, and facing giants, success takes more than speed. It takes teamwork, message discipline, and relentless coordination.That's how the Rebel Alliance defeats the Galactic Empire, and it's how great B2B marketing teams win in the real world. In this episode, we unpack marketing lessons from the Star Wars saga with special guest Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from thinking like a startup, aligning cross-functional teams, and building content strategies that deliver across every touchpoint.About our guest, Eric HerzogEric Herzog is the Chief Marketing Officer at Infinidat. Prior to joining Infinidat, Herzog was CMO and VP of Global Storage Channels at IBM Storage Solutions. His executive leadership experience also includes: CMO and Senior VP of Alliances for all-flash storage provider Violin Memory, and Senior Vice President of Product Management and Product Marketing for EMC's Enterprise & Mid-range Systems Division.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Star Wars:Business is a team sport. Great marketing doesn't happen in silos. Whether you're a startup or a global enterprise, success depends on alignment across every function. Eric says, “In marketing, having all kinds of people running around with different functions is wrong. They all need to work together in what I call a completely vertically integrated marketing.” Your message, your content, your sales strategy. it all has to move as one.Message discipline wins hearts and minds. When you can't outspend the competition, out-message them. A clear, consistent story can be your greatest weapon. “You need to win the hearts of the minds of your customers, and your prospects, and your channel, and your sales team,” Eric says. If your message isn't aligned, neither is your market.Think like a startup (no matter your size). Speed, focus, and adaptability aren't just startup traits; they're must-haves for any marketing team. Eric explains, “ The most successful big companies in overall functions, as well as in their marketing function, try to act like a startup.” Whether you're leading a lean team or navigating a Fortune 500 org, it's that startup mindset that helps you outmaneuver slower, more bureaucratic competitors.Quote“Business is a team sport, and a subteam of marketing as part of the business is a team sport too. If you don't work as a team, the empire will crush you. You need to be like the Rebel Alliance and all work together.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat[01:08] Why Star Wars?[01:54] Role of CMO at Infinidat[03:03] Origins of Star Wars[08:52] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Star Wars[30:04] Infinidat's Content Strategy[33:39] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Eric on LinkedInLearn more about InfinidatAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Have you ever wondered how Disney characters relate to your medspa's marketing strategy? Today, Andrea and Taleesa are talking about different marketing strategies using Disney characters as metaphors and talking about how you can leverage different marketing channels effectively for your practice.Listen to this fun episode to gain insights into building a strong brand and discover how to approach your marketing with confidence and intentionality - all through the unique lens of Disney character traits.If you enjoyed this episode please share, rate and review it! Also mentioned in today's episode: Belle and email marketing 5:44Rapunzel and video content 30:14Mary Poppins and marketing materials 43:10Woody from Toy Story as the perfect character for Google Reviews 47:37Links:Show transcripts: https://smithandcrawford.com/notesEmail us: hello@smithandcrawford.comJoin our newsletter: https://smithandcrawford.com/newsletterhttps://calendly.com/smithandcrawford/30-min-strategy-session?back=1&month=2024-10https://calendly.com/smithandcrawford/aesthetically-discovery-call?back=1&month=2024-08https://smithandcrawford.com/

Great marketing doesn't start with a message; it starts with a mindset shift. If you want to make people feel something, you need more than a clever campaign. You need a story that invites them in and reflects something true.That's the magic of the “Assume That I Can” campaign, where simplicity meets significance, and storytelling sparks real cultural shift. In this episode, we unpack the power of that message with the help of our special guest, Mike Barton, VP of Corporate Communications and Content Marketing at AudioEye.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building accessible experiences, confronting audience assumptions, and crafting stories that create real connection.About our guest, Mike BartonMike is a marketing and communications leader dedicated to making the internet more accessible for all. As Vice President of Corporate Communication & Content Marketing at AudioEye, Mike leads marketing strategy, driving awareness and demand through blogs, social media, PR, video, and digital storytelling. Previously, at Adobe, he shaped content and executive messaging across Experience Cloud, Creative Cloud enterprise, and Document Cloud. With deep expertise in customer engagement and industry-specific storytelling, Mike excels at aligning business objectives with audience needs—crafting compelling narratives that resonate with C-suite leaders, end users, and decision-makers across industries.What B2B Companies Can Learn From “Assume That I Can” campaign:Start with the barrier, not the message. Before you talk about your product, talk about what's standing in the way. The best campaigns don't lead with features; they lead with mindset shifts. “If your audience already believed what you want them to believe, they'd be acting on it,” Mike explains. “What's the belief barrier that we need to identify and then either bring it down or address it?” Identify the roadblock first. Then your message has somewhere to go.Simplicity scales. Forget the fluff. The most effective campaigns are clear, precise, and emotionally resonant. Mike says, “The best ideas don't need paragraphs, they just need precision.” That's what made the “Assume That I Can” campaign so powerful: four words packed with meaning. Make your message easy to share and impossible to forget.Build stories people can see themselves in. If your marketing is talking at people, you've already lost them. Great content invites the audience into the story. Mike explains, “Connection and empathy really manifest when the person you're talking to sees themself in the story.” Whether it's about accessibility or enterprise software, lead with humanity. That's what makes people care.Quote*“ Data informs, but emotion transforms. And it's not that these are two mutually exclusive delivery mechanisms…it's really bringing data and emotion together. And as we saw in the “Assume That I Can” campaign, it was through the voice of somebody who had Down Syndrome. So we're constantly bringing in blind people or deaf people, or people who have mobility issues and letting them tell their story.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Mike Barton, VP, Corporate Communication & Content Marketing at AudioEye[01:13] Why the 'Assume That I Can' Campaign?[03:04] Mike's Role at Audio Eye[07:23] Breaking Down the 'Assume That I Can' Campaign[11:33] How to Make Your Content Accessible[15:13] B2B Marketing Takeaways from the Campaign[29:44] Addressing Belief Barriers in Marketing[31:58] Connecting Through Empathy and Storytelling[33:09] Marketing Strategy at Audio Eye[35:09] The Importance of Accessibility in Digital Experiences[36:02] Combining Data and Emotion for Impact[46:00] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Mike on LinkedInLearn more about AudioEyeAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Buckle up for a marketing revolution!

Marketing isn't just about pushing a product anymore. If you want to resonate, you need to think creatively, act authentically, and know when to take the spotlight off the brand and onto the people behind it.That's the magic of Jim Henson, where artistry meets innovation, and characters become cultural icons. In this episode, we tap into that enduring creative power with the help of our special guest, Adam Kranitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Resilio.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from narrative consistency, egoless collaboration, and why it's time to stop making “content” and start telling stories that actually matter.About our guest, Adam KranitzAdam leads the marketing organization at Resilio, responsible for demand marketing, brand, and corporate communications. He is an experienced technology marketing leader with expertise in building and leading global marketing teams and strategies that grow revenue, increase product adoption, and build mindshare with competitive differentiation.Adam has led vision, strategy, and execution for all facets of B2B technology marketing, aligned with sales teams, for publicly traded technology firms, including Avid (NASDAQ: AVID) and Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), and SaaS start-ups, including CloudCheckr (acquired by NetApp) and LucidLink.Adam's customer-centric marketing approach has recently produced industry leadership recognition for his companies with a G2 Leader Report for Cloud File Storage and category leader in Cloud Management Wave report by Forrester Research.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Jim Henson Idea Man:Entertainment first, selling second. Jim Henson's early commercials didn't start with a coffee can—they started with chaos, characters, and charm. Adam puts it plainly: “Do we wanna beat people over the head with the technical benefits of the product, or do we wanna entertain and educate our prospects?” The goal isn't to pitch—it's to engage. Use storytelling to earn attention before you explain the value.Narrative consistency pays off. Kermit hasn't changed. Neither should your core brand story. “If we haven't landed our message and are consistently delivering it over time, through multiple channels… what have you created?” Adam asks. Like the Muppets, your brand needs to adapt across formats but stay true to character. A consistent voice builds trust—and keeps you top of mind.Let your experts do the talking. Your audience doesn't want to hear from the brand. They want to hear from the people behind it. “Nobody wants to see an AI talking head avatar… You've got smart people in your organization, it's your job as marketers to coach them up.” For Resilio, spotlighting their CTO, CPO, and CEO on LinkedIn unlocked real results. Empower your experts. That's who your buyers want to meet.Quote*“The best part of my job is when I get to get on a platform like this and do a video interview with one of our customers… and then they kind of unprompted will talk about how much they love Resilio… That magic moment where it clicked for them—that is just magic.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Adam Kranitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Resilio[00:56] Why Jim Henson Idea Man?[04:01] The Role of CMO at Resilio[05:31] Origins of Jim Henson Idea Man Documentary[13:07] The Creative Genius of Jim Henson[25:14] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Jim Henson[38:37] The Power of Serialized Content[42:49] The Importance of Video in Modern Marketing[52:59] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Adam on LinkedInLearn more about ResilioAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

In this episode, we break down the real reasons why your videos might be falling flat, and what truly makes video marketing work. Drawing from insights across hundreds of brand launches, we dive into the psychology behind high-performing video content: from the power of clarity, emotion, and repetition to the role of authenticity in messaging. You'll also learn how to craft videos that not only grab attention but also drive conversions across channels. Tune in now to start creating videos that sell.In today's episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we'll cover:Why video marketing has become non-negotiable for product-based businessesThe psychology behind video's effectiveness and how it taps into human decision-makingHow adding video to landing pages can boost conversions by up to 86%How to repurpose long-form content across multiple channels for maximum ROIAnd so much more!Want the complete roadmap to launching and scaling your products? Grab the full book in hardcover or Kindle on Amazon or get your free digital copy at PerfectLaunch.com.To be a guest on our next podcast, contact us today! Do you have a brand that you'd like to launch or grow? Do you want help from a partner that has successfully launched hundreds of brands totaling over $2 billion in revenues? Visit HarvestGrowth.com and set up a free consultation with us today! 

Subscribe to the show and get weekly tips from Tanya on how to grow, scale and diversify your online business.   In this episode of 'The Wire to Crush It Show,' Tanya interviews Nicole, a successful content creator in the beauty space. Nicole shares her journey from struggling with skin issues to becoming a beauty influencer with over a million followers. She highlights the importance of being real on social media, understanding your audience, and using data analytics to refine your messaging. Nicole also discusses how she and her partner Stacy created the SOS 60 method to help others grow their online presence. They delve into the importance of having your own digital product for long-term success and provide valuable insights into balancing personal and professional lives. Additionally, Tanya shares her personal success story using Nicole's beauty products. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:27 Highlighting Community Success 01:02 Nicole's Social Media Impact 02:19 The Power of Authenticity 02:42 Nicole's Beauty Journey 04:23 From Frustration to Transformation 09:46 Building Influence in the Beauty Industry 10:41 Monetizing Social Media Presence 14:34 Optimizing Content for Growth 19:57 Effective Use of Bio Links 24:10 Owning Your Business: The Importance of Creating Your Own Digital Product 25:21 The Success of the SOS 60 Method 25:39 Transitioning from Beauty to Marketing: Lessons from Shalene Johnson 26:44 Building a Blueprint for Online Business Success 27:47 The Journey of Course Creation and Influencer Marketing 31:33 Balancing Life and Business: Advice for Aspiring Digital Creators 34:43 The Power of Authenticity in Social Media 35:59 Personal Stories and Testimonials: The Impact of Consistency 42:36 The Science Behind Natural Skincare 44:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   START HERE | Learn more about the different ways Tanya can help you in your business. Whether it's starting an online business or growing the one you have: https://www.tanyaaliza.com DIGITAL CREATOR STUDIO | My All-In-One Marketing System To Grow Your Audience, Build Your Email List, Build Amazing Marketing Funnels, Attract Perfect Leads & Sell Digital Products, While Building A Multi-Income Stream Online Brand. https://digitalcreatorstudio.com THE DIGITAL PRODUCT LAB | Transform Your Passion, Knowledge & Regular Content Into A Profitable Digital Product, Course, Coaching Program Or Membership—Even If You Have Limited Tech Skills, A Small Audience, or No Prior Experience. https://www.tanyaaliza.com/creator  MY FAVORITES | My personal camera and video gear, my health, wellness and beauty products, my favorite books and more: https://tanyaaliza.com/amazon  CONNECT WITH NICOLE DOMURET: https://my4oils.com  CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://Instagram.com/tanyaaliza  SUBSCRIBE & WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/TanyaAlizaTV  CAN I FEATURE YOU? Rate and review the show and tag me on social (@tanyaaliza)... I feature a new member of the community each week on my Social Media Platforms. The reviews help us and I'd love to feature you for taking the time to share your feedback.   Disclaimers: The discussions and opinions expressed on this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Results from the strategies or products mentioned can vary and are not guaranteed. Some of the links provided are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Always conduct your own due diligence before making any financial decisions.

Some of the best campaigns don't come from massive budgets or high-gloss production. They come from leaning into what feels real. Currys' Gen Z ads are a perfect example: low-fi, deadpan, and unexpectedly brilliant.In this episode, we're unpacking what made this retail campaign a breakout success with the help of our special guest David Hooker, Director of Brand at Printful and Printify.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from embracing scrappy creativity, building brand affinity over awareness, and trusting that great content doesn't need to sell a product—it just needs to make people care.About our guest, David HookerDavid Hooker is the Director of Brand at Printify and Printful. He's an experienced Creative Director and Brand Manager. Built the Prezi Evangelism and Creative Services teams. Seasoned speaker, including TED-X Talk (see below). David built the Brand and PR function at TravelPerk, securing coverage in Wired, TechCrunch, Sky News, Al Jazeera, Financial Times, Business Insider, Handelsblatt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and the BBC. He's currently helping empower entrepreneurs at Printify and Printful. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Currys' Gen Z ads:You don't need a big budget to make standout content. Some of the most impactful marketing doesn't come from a fancy studio—it comes from a phone camera, an employee, and a smart idea. David says, “You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to make really good, great content that works.” Don't wait for budget approvals. Focus on originality and execution.B2B still means you're selling to people. Behind every buying committee is a group of humans—ones who laugh, scroll, and crave connection just like everyone else. David says, “You are B2B, but that B is a population of people… you can create great quality content that brightens up people's day, that generates awareness and an affinity for your brand.” Lead with humanity, not just logic.Ignore the naysayers—go make something people love. Not every campaign needs to hit every KPI to be worth doing. Sometimes the boldest ideas face the most resistance—and deliver the most impact. David says, “I'm sure there was someone in the meeting room… who went, ‘How are they gonna know where our stores are?' But the naysayer was wrong. If you make really great quality content that people connect with, enjoy—it's going to do good things for your marketing.” Make the thing. Publish the thing. Let the audience prove it out.Quote*“ You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to make really great content that works. Investing in the content and the quality of the content always pays off… Your B2B, but that B is a population of people, right? You've got an ecosystem of decision makers, but they're all human beings at least for the moment…You can create great quality content that brightens up people's day, that generates awareness and an affinity for your brand, without spending a lot if you focus on the content itself.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet David Hooker, Director of Brand at Printify and Printful[01:08] Why Currys' Gen Z ads?[02:35] The Origin Story of Printful and Printify[09:32] The Power of Merch[13:38] The Demand for Personalization[24:11] Understanding the Currys' Gen Z Ad Campaign[33:11] B2B Marketing Lessons from the Gen Z Currys' Ads[40:41] Authenticity in Advertising[52:21] Advice for Brand Leaders[54:26] Importance of Visual LiteracyLinksConnect with David on LinkedInLearn more about PrintifyLearn more about PrintfulAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

What does it take to make a B2B show that lasts 150 episodes—and gets better with age?In this special milestone episode, co-hosts Ian Faison, CEO of Caspian Studios, and Meredith Gooderham, Head of Production at Caspian, reflect on the lessons, mistakes, surprises, and joys of building Remarkable over the last few years. From behind-the-scenes pivots to favorite creative risks, this candid conversation offers a meta-view into what makes B2B content stand out—and what happens when you treat your show like the most important product your marketing team will ever build.Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode is packed with real talk, marketing takeaways, and a few inside stories about what it takes to create content that connects.What We've Learned From Creating 149 Episodes: Original ideas are harder—but worth it. Great content almost always starts with one person pushing an idea through resistance. From Murder in HR to documentary-style storytelling, the best creative work came from taking risks and backing a vision—despite obstacles or skepticism.Passion beats polish. The most compelling episodes are when guests bring personal enthusiasm for a topic—whether it's fishing, Formula 1, or reality TV. That energy translates into richer insights, better marketing takeaways, and more authentic conversations.B2B content doesn't have to look like B2B. Audiences crave genres they already love—like comedy, true crime, or documentary. When B2B brands stop copying each other and start tapping into broader content formats, they unlock massive creative potential.Quotes“ I would do this show if nobody listened because it's so valuable for me to talk to other brilliant marketing people about what inspires them, because it inspires so much of my own creativity.”“ It takes conviction to be able to sell a big idea, and big swings make big hits. And that happens over and over and over again.”“ Playing it safe is not safe.”“ It's so cool to find out what people are excited about outside of work, but also to combine that with their expertise and see what lessons they can draw from it. And how they're using their personal life in their professional life and vice versa has been super cool.”Time Stamps[01:10] Reflecting on 149 Episodes[02:44] Lessons From Creating Great Content[08:29] Partnering for Success[10:55] Taking Risks in Marketing[14:53] Takeaways from 149 Episodes[35:57] Mistakes and Lessons Learned[46:30] Guest Booking Insights[48:24] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ian on LinkedInConnect with Meredith on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch, Ryan Deiss and I dissect the recent hype surrounding two new AI-powered gadgets - the Humane AI pen and the Rabbit. Both products promised to revolutionize our lives with features like real-time feedback and enhanced productivity. However, reviews have been scathing, exposing the devices as clunky, unhelpful, and ultimately a letdown. We delve into the challenges of launching new hardware products in a crowded market and explore the dangers of overpromising and failing to deliver, highlighting how a great marketing campaign can backfire if the product itself isn't exceptional.Highlights:"The people are not stupid long term, we're all a little stupid short term from time to time.""It's a game of replacement, not enhancement.""The better you are at marketing, the better your product better be.”Timestamps:00:54 - Introduction02:36 - Memorial Day05:26 - AI Devices and Hype07:17 - The Future of AI Gadgets12:24 - Apple Vision Goggles14:21 - Lessons Learned16:30 - Nobody Wants More Stuff17:32 - Rabbit Using Chat GPT23:10 - Marketing Lessons (and Mistakes)CONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook• Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Sponsorships aren't just about slapping your logo on something anymore. If you want to make an impact, you need to think bigger, bolder—and know when to step into the driver's seat.That's the appeal of F1 sponsorships, where precision meets pageantry, and brand integration is as strategic as the race itself. In this episode, we tap into that high-speed energy with the help of our special guest, Ondar Tarlow, marketing consultant for action sports. Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from global sponsorships, smart storytelling, and knowing when to go all in—and when to walk away.About our guest, Ondar TarlowOndar Tarlow has over 20 years of experience in marketing and branding. He's known for engaging audiences through data-driven insights and witty, creative storytelling to achieve results. He has been leveraging AI to boost campaign performance results by 5x with propensity models and cutting production time by 75% using Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Adobe Firefly, all while upholding IP standards.As Chief Marketing Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Pacific Premier Bank, he spearheaded award-winning campaigns that resulted in over $1.7 billion in product volume and tens of thousands of new customers. These successes earned him industry recognition, including Diamond Awards for brand awareness and a Top 100 Marketer award.Currently, Ondar serves as a marketing consultant for motorsports, financial, and lifestyle brands, partnering with organizations like Fast Lane Drive. His passion for motorsports, including attending 11 Formula 1 races worldwide, inspires his focus on high-performance teamwork and precision. Ondar's sponsorship expertise - demonstrated through collaborations with the LA Chargers, LA Galaxy, Anaheim Ducks, Luft 10 (Porsche), and BeachLife Music Festival - highlights his ability to connect brands with their ideal target audiences. Ondar holds a BA in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and has earned digital marketing certifications from UCLA and trained with the American Red Cross in Crisis Communications and Media Relations. Ondar is also dedicated to community development, serving on the board of Junior Achievement, which provides youth with financial education and career readiness tools.What B2B Companies Can Learn From F1 Sponsorships:Don't just show up—integrate. It's not enough to slap your logo on something and call it a day. True brand partnerships go deeper. “Really any company that can afford it, can get a logo. But when you're doing a true brand integration like Oracle has done with Red Bull, that's really where things can pay off.” The ROI comes from relevance, not just visibility. Think about how your product can become part of the story.No plan, no payoff. As Ondar puts it: “Plan, plan. plan. And then data, data, and data.” B2B marketers must tie sponsorships to broader company strategy from the very beginning. That means aligning with your CEO and CFO, knowing what problem you're trying to solve, and figuring out how to measure impact—before you sign the dotted line.Go niche to go big. F1's PacSun collaboration proves you don't have to outspend Rolex to make an impact. You just need the right story. “They really thought about it... and what they've been able to create is an interest in F1 from this demographic.” By focusing on Gen Alpha and teenage girls, PacSun built a new fanbase and drove fashion sales—without buying trackside banners. In B2B, the same principle applies: niche audiences, well-served, can generate outsized returns.Quotes*“You have to test. There's going to be periods of time where you're gonna do something new, and you can't be afraid to fail…When you're finding out something that's working, then you need to double down and you need to take the risks. You need to take those risks and move forward with them. Things that aren't working, don't marry yourself to them. Figure out what you need to tweak and then continue to test. Marketing is not an exact science.”*“ Plan, plan, plan, and then data, data, and data. So first off, the plan is you have to make sure you're aware of what the strategy is of the company that you're with. And if you're a CMO, you're obviously responsible for the marketing strategy, and you should have a seat at the table as part of developing the strategy as far as the company, in a whole. So that's first off, and then understanding exactly what the challenge is, and then how are you going to be able to come up with a solution based on the decisions that you're making based on brand integration. And then from there is what data can you capture and how can you utilize that data so that you can drive metrics and those reporting metrics to show exactly what the benefit is of the partnership is that you're involved with.”*“ Brands can really leverage [figuring] out what the storyline is. To get the human aspect to it. And I think that that is a great opportunity for brands to look at is that if they're gonna invest in a driver or they're gonna invest in a team is what personalities are making up that team there.”Time Stamps[0:55] Meet Ondar Tarlow, marketing consultant for action sports. [01:07] Why F1 Sponsorships?[02:59] Ondar's Background[04:50] The Rise of F1 in the US[06:34] Understanding F1 Sponsorships[11:28] ROI on F1 Sponsorships[15:03] Drive to Survive: Impact on F1[18:08] Anatomy of an F1 Sponsorship Deal[24:47] The High Stakes of F1 Sponsorships[28:25] The Appeal of F1 Events[29:32] Strategic Brand Integration in F1 Sponsorships[36:34] The Importance of Planning and Data in Sponsorships[40:53] Leveraging F1 Storylines for Brand Success[45:06] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ondar on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Some performances fade. Others stay with you for decades.Buena Vista Social Club is one of them. It isn't just a musical—it's a masterclass in resonance, memory, and experience.In this episode, we're pulling B2B marketing lessons from that spirit of storytelling with the help of Dan Lowden, Chief Marketing Officer at Blackbird.AI.Together, we explore why content should come first, how honesty builds brand resilience, and what it takes to create live experiences your audience will talk about for years.About our guest, Dan LowdenDan is the CMO at Blackbird.AI and leads the company's strategic marketing efforts, including demand generation and brand leadership. He has over 20 years of strategic experience at the executive level. He has served as CMO at cybersecurity firm HUMAN Security (acquired by Goldman Sachs), named one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2023. Lowden also served as the CMO at Digital Shadows (acquired by Reliaquest) and, before that, CMO at Invincea (acquired by Sophos) and VP of Marketing at vArmour (acquired by Night Dragon). He has held marketing leadership positions at Wayport (acquired by AT&T), IBM ThinkPad (acquired by Lenovo), NEC Technologies, and Sharp Electronics. Lowden holds an MBA in International Business from Rutgers Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science from Rider University.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Buena Vista Social Club:Content is the foundation—not an afterthought. Even in cybersecurity, content is king. Dan says, “My first hire was a content person. You can have the best ABM strategy or tools, but if you don't have really valuable content, you're not going to get anywhere.” His advice? Lead with education, not asks. Thoughtful reports, relevant use cases, and engaging narratives will earn your audience's attention—and their trust.Honesty builds brand resilience. When it comes to trust, marketing can't cut corners. Especially in high-stakes industries like cybersecurity. Dan says, “There's been a lot of overstatement of things by marketers and salespeople. That's when marketing takes a ding.” Instead, he urges CMOs to stay grounded: deliver real value, communicate with clarity, and show your audience you're in it for the long haul.Live experiences create a lasting impact. If you want your brand to be unforgettable, you need to create moments that move people. “People still come up to us today and say that band and that experience 10-plus years ago—they remember. There's not been anything like that,” Dan says, reflecting on a live concert his team produced. Whether it's a concert, a rooftop dinner, or a one-of-a-kind conference, remarkable experiences turn into word-of-mouth—and brand love that lingers.Quotes*“To me, in marketing—B2B or B2C—it's about creating a relationship, trust, even friendship, a community with your audience.”*"If you treat your customers well, if you serve them well, if you're honest with them… then you have a chance of being very successful as a company.”*“Music is really, really important, really powerful… as a marketer, especially in cybersecurity where there's 5,000 cybersecurity companies, you have to do something different. You have to stand out.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Dan Lowden, CMO at Blackbird.AI[03:42] The Magic of Live Theater[06:21] The Role of a CMO in Cybersecurity[10:23] Understanding Narrative Attacks[14:29] The Evolution of Narrative Intelligence[22:36] The Story Behind Buena Vista Social Club[28:31] The Power of Live Music in Marketing[30:33] Creating Remarkable Experiences[39:21] The Importance of Content in Marketing[45:05] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Dan on LinkedInLearn more about Blackbird.AIAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Some stories don't need to be loud to leave a mark. Ordinary People is one of those films—a quiet, deeply human story that lingers long after the credits roll. It's not flashy, but it's unforgettable.In this episode, we're pulling marketing lessons from Robert Redford's directorial debut with the help of our special guest Ruth Zive, CMO of Voices.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from telling emotionally resonant stories, leading with creative conviction, and knowing when to step out of the spotlight to let the work speak for itself.About our guest, Ruth ZiveRuth Zive is the Chief Marketing Officer at Voices. Ruth is a skilled and metrics-driven marketing strategist who believes in evidence-based revenue growth through the coordination and alignment of marketing and sales processes. She has worked for two decades serving B2B clients in the technology, financial services, and nonprofit industries.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Ordinary People:Conviction is part of the job. Strong marketing doesn't come from consensus—it comes from clarity. Ruth says, “Marketing can sometimes devolve into a bit of a crowdsourced exercise. Everybody wants to edit your content or weigh in on the messaging… but we are the experts in marketing and we should make decisions accordingly.” Have conviction in your vision—and own the creative calls that matter.Tell the story of your customer's pain, not just the product. Emotional resonance starts with understanding your buyer's struggle. Ruth says, “The most resonant stories as a B2B marketer are the ones that start with the pain of the person that you're trying to touch. Ultimately, what you're doing is showcasing how you're going to get the prospect to the other side of that pain.” Lead with empathy, not just features.Stretch your team—and your story. Growth comes from pushing beyond the expected. Ruth says, “You never want your marketing to be a rinse and repeat proposition. You always want it to be a little bit provocative and unexpected.” Like casting Mary Tyler Moore in a dramatic role, bold choices unlock surprising results—creatively and commercially.Quotes*“Know your superpower. I talk about this a lot with my marketing colleagues. Robert Redford was the George Clooney of the day. He had very successful movies, he was a fantastic actor, but he was also a heartthrob. And that might have been a distraction in this story. I think that Robert Redford probably had some good self-awareness in that regard, and some of it might have been that he wanted to test his other skills and stretch into new domains for sure, but it might have been a distraction for him to have been the guy on the screen.”*“You don't need the biggest budget to have the biggest impact. [Robert Redford]  didn't have to hire the biggest star, and yet, look at how the movie performed.”*“I think at the end of the day, the folks behind the brand, even in B2B marketing, creating the assets, writing the story, they are humans, and the folks that we are selling to are ultimately humans. And it is our job as the B2B marketers to make those people on the other side of the transaction feel something. That's what we are trying to do is get them to feel something. And there are a lot of different ways we can do that, but I believe wholeheartedly that it starts with the story. The story speaks to their pain. The story showcases how we are going to make that pain go away. It's a simple formula. But I think that if you lead with features and functions, then you've lost the plot.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Voices CMO Ruth Zive[01:30] About 'Ordinary People' the Movie[04:26] What We Learn From Robert Redford's Directorial Debut[08:21] Analyzing Characters and Themes[13:50] Marketing Lessons from the Movie[25:18] Casting Choices and Their Impact[26:51] Marketing Lessons from Unconventional Casting[29:15] Donald Sutherland's Unique Perspective[32:08] Authenticity in Marketing and Storytelling[38:43] The Future of Voice in Branding[44:30] Content Strategy and Vision Videos[47:40] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Ruth on LinkedInLearn more about VoicesAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Polish doesn't build trust—personality does. And no one understands that better than TikTok creators, who turn raw ideas into magnetic, shareable content every day.In this episode, we're pulling marketing lessons from TikTok's creative chaos with the help of Rhonda Hughes, award-winning B2B marketing leader.Together, they explore what B2B marketers can learn from leading with authenticity, embracing low-fi experimentation, and having the courage to make something truly original.About our guest, Rhonda HughesRhonda Hughes is a storyteller and connector of people and ideas with 18 years of experience helping brands engage their customers and audiences. She believes in creating value, not noise, and she has a knack for inspiring teams to push boundaries with fresh, fun, relevant content, campaigns, and programs. Rhonda's team's work has earned recognition from Mashable, Business Insider, Hubspot, Sprout Social, KISSmetrics, Content Marketing Institute, and snagged her a spot on North Bay's 40 under 40 “Ones to Watch” list, noted among the “Top 50 Women in Content”, and awarded for "Best B2B Campaign on TikTok."What B2B Companies Can Learn From TikTok Creators:Fun is a strategy—not a distraction. Brands win when they lean into playfulness—not just performance. “The brands that, to me, the companies that feel like they win are the ones that are really always putting their audience in the center and trying to figure out a way to be useful and be human and be playful,” Rhonda says. This kind of joyful creativity builds connection—and makes your brand memorable.Imperfect content is often the most relatable. Audiences don't crave polish—they crave authenticity. “The most engaging content isn't the most polished… you can tell that this was just a creative idea and somebody with their camera and they're rallying the folks internally around how they bring the story to life,” Rhonda says. “And that's part of what makes it so relatable and likable.” Let your audience in on the process, not just the finished product.Iterate like a creator. TikTok's best creators don't get stuck in strategy mode—they test, tweak, and try again. That mindset is essential for B2B marketers too. “TikTok creators are constantly iterating… they've gotta test formats and hooks and trends and sounds, and they have to move fast and be playful with this,” Rhonda says. The takeaway? Strategy doesn't mean overthinking. It means being in motion.Quotes*“You just never know what's gonna work. So you kind of have to be okay with trying and missing and trying again.”*“You want to build content that's gonna resonate with your audience and also be something they want to share.”*“If you're not enjoying what you're making, your audience probably isn't either.”*“It's not about going viral—it's about showing up over and over again.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Rhonda Hughes, Award-Winning Marketer[03:37] The Power of Authenticity on TikTok[06:00] Engaging Content Strategies[10:34] Spotlight on Successful TikTok Campaigns[16:16] Creative Marketing Examples[27:28] The Power of Authenticity in Social Media[29:37] The Bravery of Unique Marketing Strategies[30:33] TSA's Unexpected Social Media Success[32:39] The Importance of Fun and Experimentation in Marketing[42:03] Creating Value, Not Noise[43:37] The Utility of Content and Audience Engagement[50:03] Final Thoughts and Advice for Marketing LeadersLinksConnect with Rhonda on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

What can a satirical HBO series teach you about building a scalable, high-impact B2B marketing engine? A lot—if you ask Manish Gupta.In this episode, 4-Time CMO Manish Gupta joins Caspian CEO Ian Faison to deconstruct the show Silicon Valley and extract lessons on marketing, storytelling, team dynamics, and startup chaos. Together, they explore how to translate complex technology to engage your audience, prioritizing content in your marketing, and including human moments to build brand trust.About our guest, Manish GuptaManish Gupta is a 4x CMO, having led marketing at companies like LaunchDarkly, Sonar and Redis. Manish brings deep experience scaling B2B technology businesses across public and private markets, including acquisitions and strategic transitions.His leadership spans category-defining companies such as Redis, Sonar, Liaison, Oracle, and Apple, where he has successfully driven both product-led and sales-led growth. With domain expertise in software infrastructure, AI, SaaS, cloud, and communications, Manish is known for navigating complex business models and delivering sustainable growth.He has also served as an advisor, board member, and investor in early-stage startups. Manish holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Santa Clara University.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Silicon Valley:Tech needs a translator. Technology is hard to understand—even for your audience. “Translating really complex technologies into simple-to-deliver messaging is an art form,” Manish says. “Great technology needs a great story, right? The narrative is so important, and how you deliver the narrative and how you package it is key to the success.”Content is the engine. Not the garnish. Manish makes it clear: “The whole marketing engine should be built around content.” That means investing in formats your audience truly wants—like hands-on guides and short-form videos—and making sure every asset is tailored to a specific persona and stage in the journey.Human moments build brand trust. Whether it's the "Not Hotdog" app or the team playing their bizarre “Always Blue” game, Silicon Valley nails the emotional truth of startup life. That same humanity should be visible in your marketing. Quotes*“ We as marketing leaders have to be very mindful that not everything and everybody in every marketing organization can evolve and move at an exponentially improved pace just because you have the tools. Yes, it has to move on that trajectory, but there has to be a level of reality put into the expectation. Otherwise there's gonna be burnout.”*”I think particularly in the B2B tech space, you've got almost a bifurcation of folks that use the technology but don't have any budget ownership, versus people that have the decision-making authority and the budget ownership but aren't necessarily very close to the technology. And I think marketing has to deal with that two-pronged approach in everything that it does and the channels that get activated. The messaging that has to align with the audience is certainly the content that has to be created, and that can be complicated. Balancing that is a nuanced execution for marketing teams.”*”A CMO should run the entire marketing engine around content. And this is not to invoke the old adage of ‘Content is king,' but, you know, what are you at the end of the day? Delivering or communicating to your target audience, whether it's an existing customer or a prospect you're trying to win over. It is content and how you package that content, how you position it, what story and narrative is wrapped around the technology to deliver is really, at the end of the day, what matters.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Manish Gupta, 4-Time CMO[01:05] Why Silicon Valley?[08:22] What is Silicon Valley?[16:01] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Silicon Valley[24:02] Balancing Predictability and Innovation[28:10] Targeting Practitioners vs. Decision Makers[30:26] Creating How-To Content[33:18] Importance of Content[39:33] Measuring ROI Around a Series of Content[42:13] Advice for CMOs on Content Strategy[43:25] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Manish on LinkedInAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Going viral might get you noticed. But consistency is what makes you unforgettable. And no one proves that better than Alix Earle, a TikTok star who turned daily “Get Ready With Me” videos into a personal media empire.In this episode, we're pulling marketing lessons from Alix's rise with the help of Elizabeth Strickert, Director of Content Marketing at A-LIGN.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from staying consistent, growing with (not past) your audience, and making content that's actually fun to create.About our guest, Elizabeth StrickertElizabeth Strickert is Director of Content Marketing at tech-enabled cybersecurity and compliance company A-LIGN. There, Elizabeth is leading content, thought leadership, comms & customer marketing.She has overhauled their SEO program, resulting in top 10 ranking for high-difficulty, high-volume keywords. She also led the creation of an annual benchmark report, reaching 3 million+ impressions. She leverages internal thought leaders for social media, videos, webinars, speaking opps and written content. She previously served as Director of Communications & Content at Ekos and Marketing Communications Manager at Passport.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Alix Earle:Consistency builds credibility. Viral moments come and go, but Alix Earle's staying power lies in her relentless consistency. No shortcuts, just commitment. It's a reminder that content success isn't just about innovation; it's about endurance. Elizabeth says, “Alix, not only did she get rewarded from doing that, she was on TikTok for a long time before she really got big. But even since making it, she's still posting multiple times a day. She is just there doing it, grinding. All the time.” In B2B, the same rule applies: keep posting, keep showing up.Honor your origin story. Growth doesn't mean forgetting who got you there. Alix still makes the content that first drew her audience in, while smartly layering in new formats. In B2B, you must evolve, but stay grounded. Elizabeth reminds us, “You gotta remember who got you here. You gotta remember your core customer base. You gotta remember the people who you know are…the ones that pay the bills.” Make sure to have a balance, especially as you scale.Find the fun and show it. Audiences can feel when you're enjoying what you're creating. It's what makes content magnetic. Alix's success didn't just come from consistency, it came from joy. She leaned into the formats that were fun for her, and her audience leaned in too. Elizabeth puts it plainly: “When someone is excited about the things they're making, it automatically makes them more interesting. And we just have to lean on that.” In B2B, it's easy to default to polished, sanitized messaging. But the real key is letting your content creators tap into what actually excites them. If your team thinks it's boring, your audience will too.Quotes“ We think, B2B, it needs to be polished, it needs to be sanitized. But the story is the interesting part. That's where someone can relate to it. That's where somebody can get hooked in. That's why you care. And I think a lot of times we forget about that.”“We want B2B content to be polished. Sanitized. But the story — that's the interesting part. That's what people actually relate to. We forget that too often. The story is why people care.”“ I think it's good to be a consumer. As a marketer, you're putting content out in the world, you need to consume it. But…you don't need to be going to a B2B workshop. You can watch TikTok. You can watch people like Alix Earle and other folks and get inspiration from what their doing. You can look at what YouTubers are doing. Everything people are doing is a marketing decisions and there's things you can take away from that.”“Influencers start off because they thought, ‘Oh, it'd be kind of fun to make a video.' That's the initial nugget.  And as marketers who, for a living, have chosen to create content and do marketing. We also need to think, ‘Hey, it'd be a little fun to make a video.' That's where the start of it has to come from.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Elizabeth Strickert, Director of Content Marketing at A-LIGN[01:03] Why Alix Earle?[01:56] The Role of Director of Content Marketing at A-LIGN[02:29] The Rise of Alix Earl[13:41] Relatability and Authenticity in Influencer Marketing[21:07] The Power of Parasocial Influence[29:02] B2B Marketing Takeaways From Alix Earle[45:59] A-LIGN's Content Strategy[47:32] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Elizabeth on LinkedInLearn more about A-LIGNAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Scared marketing doesn't stand out. Bold stories do. And no one knows that better than the team behind Animal, a new documentary that challenges everything you think you know about meat, health, and what drives people to change.In this episode, we're pulling lessons from the film's launch with the help of our special guest, Kevin Carter, Producer at H20 Studios.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can steal from the big screen on how to activate communities, take smart creative risks, and stop playing it safe when the goal is to stand out.About our guest, Kevin CarterKevin Carter is an experienced marketing and production executive with a track record of driving significant revenue and audience growth. Currently a Producer at H20 Studios in Los Angeles, he oversees productions, strategically optimizing budgets to achieve substantial savings while delivering high-impact content reaching millions of viewers. Previously, in Global Marketing Strategy at Lionsgate, Kevin spearheaded marketing campaigns for over 117 film and television releases, generating upwards of $100 million in revenue.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Kevin's documentary, Animal:Build evangelists, not just audiences. A film doesn't go viral because it's seen. It goes viral because people can't stop talking about it. That's how Kevin sees it. He says, “The best way is when you really create an army of people that just talk about your film without you doing anything.” For B2B marketers, that means stop chasing impressions and start sparking conversations. If your product solves a real problem, give your users the language, the emotion, and the why. They won't just use it, they'll share it.Give your team space to strike out. You can't hit home runs if you're too scared to swing. Kevin urges leaders to embrace failure in the name of breakthrough: “You have to allow your executives to have three strikeouts before a win… try some crazy things that might cause some virality.” In B2B, too many marketers are stuck playing defense. But virality, innovation, and true brand momentum come from cultures that reward experimentation, not just execution. If you want word of mouth, you have to make room for risk.Challenge the spreadsheet. When executives default to templates, creativity gets sidelined. Kevin puts it bluntly: “Do I use this templated spend calculator… or do I take a chance and try something new to break through all the noise?” Most choose safety and the result is scared content that no one talks about. In B2B, the same trap shows up in recycled campaigns and rinse-repeat strategies. But breakthrough growth doesn't come from playing it safe. It comes from marketers brave enough to break the mold. Because what limits risk often limits reach.Quotes*“The best way is when you really create an army of people that just talk about your film without you doing anything. Every one person that you market to that loves it and then tells three other people. There's so much value to that. And then you expand that out to thousands of people, and they're all sharing with other people. That is the winning formula, really.”*“You finally get that EVP role… you're just loving life, and then you have two options. Do I use this templated spend calculator that we use on films, that's probably solid… limits our downside risk? Or do I take a chance and try something new and fresh, and try to break through all the noise out there, but the downside risk is a bit higher? Most of the time, they pick the latter... I think you get stuck in. Just making scared content all the time versus making like the best content.”*“For Animal, there's been no templated spend at all, we are just doing a totally bespoke campaign. If we do another film after this, it won't be the same either. You have to look at each project and ask, what are our strengths? What are our weaknesses?... And then lean into your strengths and hopefully that carries you to the promised land.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Kevin Carter, Producer at H20 Studios[01:00] Breaking Down Kevin's Documentary, Animal[07:52] Marketing Strategies For Film and TV[14:51] Challenges and Risks in Movie Marketing[21:25] Rethinking Your Target Audience[27:14] Innovative Marketing Techniques For Film and TV[33:40] Creating the Documentary, Animal[35:26] Marketing Animal[40:02 Final Thoughts & TakeawaysLinksConnect with Kevin on LinkedInCheck out AnimalAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.