Best Brett Hollenbeck Podcasts (2025)

Brain Hurt Scale = 3/10. Explore all the pros, cons of in-housing your marketing team vs outsourcing to an agency. Packed with real life examples this discussion is suitable for anyone and everyone in the industry. Including senior non-marketing executives who approve/fund the function through to the most green, juniors. We talk with in-housing con…

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Henry Innis - MMM & The Mutintex Growth Story - S5 Ep14 47:26

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4M ago47:26

47:26

Brain Hurt Scale = 7/10. Henry Innis, founder of MMM platform Mutinex has caused a stir in APAC and more recently overseas. But with media headlines aside, what was the real growth story behind their success? What are the dynamics of the MMM industry and as we both peer into the future of AI, measurement and marketing in general - how should we be …

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Paz Pisarski - Building High-value Communities - Community Strategy - S5 Ep13 1:02:23

6M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10 - Did you know, one of the biggest growth channels tech companies invest in is community? The same goes for companies outside of SaaS as well. Companies like Sephora and Nike have massive communities of customers that act as the glue for their entire promotional model. But how do you create them? What are the do's and don'ts…

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Ken Roberts - Emotions in Advertising - S5 Ep12 46:00

6M ago46:00

46:00

Brain Hurt Scale = 3/10 - Do you need your advertising to be emotional in order for it to work? Ken Roberts has spent decades researching this with colleagues and is one of the world's authorities on this topic. In this wide-ranging interview we separate fact from fiction about everything from brand tracking, to the creative process, market-share d…

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Scott Thomas - Hybrid and crowdsourced creative production - S5 Ep11 53:01

8M ago53:01

53:01

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10. Dealing with creative fills up a good chunk of any marketing department's time. But do you really have a binary choice between in-house vs agency? Or is there a better way? We interview co-founder of Creatively Squared, Scott Thomas to talk about the awkward creative production transition many companies are faced with. From…

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Unlock the Secrets of Storytelling: Jill McCorkle on Regret, Resilience, and Creativity 55:34

9M ago55:34

55:34

Summary In this episode of The Impact Code, host Brett Hollenbeck engages with acclaimed author Jill McCorkle, exploring her insights on storytelling, the themes of regret and resilience, and the influence of fairy tales on modern narratives. Jill shares her creative process, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in writing and the need to bal…

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How Local Leaders Are Creating Thriving Communities—And What You Can Learn | Beth Lothers 1:10:30

9M ago1:10:30

1:10:30

Summary In this conversation, Brett Hollenbeck speaks with Beth Lothers, a former mayor of Nolensville, Tennessee, about her journey in local politics, community leadership, and her passion for history and music. They discuss the importance of self-discovery, the challenges of engaging a community in change, and the balance between honoring traditi…

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Sam Redfern - Canva's shift from digital attribution to world-class model - Part 3 29:08

12M ago29:08

29:08

Brain Hurt Scale = 6/10 - full episode featuring San Redfern from Canva who details how the company transitioned from a digital marketing attribution mindset into something far more world-leading and sophisticated. Where part 1 of the Digital Marketing Apocalypse series focused on the technical and legal changes that have occurred over time. And pa…

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Daniel McCarthy & Brett Hollenbeck - Digital Marketing Apocalypse - Part 2 37:59

1y ago37:59

37:59

Brain Hurt Scale = 5/10. Following on from part 1, we explore a paper that studied thousands of online retailers between 2020 and 2022. The findings from this study have massive implications on the digital marketing industry, decision-makers, executives and investors. They analyzed 100's of billions of digital marketing expenditure and looked at ho…

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Keaton Garnet - Digital Marketing Apocalypse - Part 1 45:06

1y ago45:06

45:06

Brain Hurt Scale = 8/10. Why is Apple all about privacy all of a sudden? Why is it so vogue for governments around the world to legislate user data protections? Take a trip back in time all the way through to the present to understand where it all started and where it's going. From the birth of Google Analytics, the cookie, UTMs through to Meta and…

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Mike Taylor - A crash course in AI - S5 Ep7 1:15:25

1y ago1:15:25

1:15:25

Brain Hurt Scale = 5/10. Want a crash course in AI without the sale pitch? Listen to people who have actually used it for years without the buzzword consulting BS getting in the way. Listen to this episode and get the perfect grounding in what you need to know. The terms you need to know. The history you need to understand in order to be confident …

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Sean Swarner on The Power of Hope in Overcoming Challenges 1:14:28

1y ago1:14:28

1:14:28

Summary In this episode of The Impact Code, host Brett interviews Sean Swarner, a cancer survivor and world-renowned adventurer. Sean shares his incredible journey of defying the odds and overcoming unimaginable challenges. The conversation revolves around the power of hope, defining personal core values, and the importance of mindset in achieving …

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Mike Harris - The politics of growth #1 - Turnarounds, hugs and chugs - S5 Ep6 52:50

1y ago52:50

52:50

Brain Hurt Scale - 2/10 - The first of a world-wide mini-series exposing true life stories behind the number 1 impediment to workplace success - politics. Mike Harris is an accomplished former executive and consultant with deep personal skills in consulting, sales, marketing, operations and product. He gives us three examples from a storied career.…

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Zak Hazlett on Believing in Your Worth: Practicing Self Compassion 1:09:39

1y ago1:09:39

1:09:39

Summary Zak Hazlett, also known as the Outdoor Therapist, combines his love for the outdoors with his professional training in therapy to bring healing and growth to individuals and relationships. He emphasizes the importance of love, kindness, and understanding in his work, aiming to be the friend to himself that he needed during his own difficult…

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Nikolay Timoshchuk Jr on The Power of Taking Action and Working Hard 47:10

1y ago47:10

47:10

Summary Nikolay shares his journey from teaching to traveling the world and becoming a YouTuber. He emphasizes the importance of taking action and creating a positive routine to live a fulfilling life. He encourages gratitude and positive self-talk as essential practices for overcoming challenges and finding happiness. Nikolay emphasizes the import…

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Zach Bitter on Pushing Limits: Ultra Endurance and Personal Growth 1:12:26

1y ago1:12:26

1:12:26

Summary In this episode, ultra marathon runner Zach Bitter discusses his record-breaking achievements and his approach to training, nutrition, and mental resilience. He shares his journey from breaking world records to inspiring others to push their limits. Zach emphasizes the importance of balance and multiple outlets in his life, as well as the e…

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Eric Hinman on Mastering Discomfort and Crafting Authentic Success 57:06

1+ y ago57:06

57:06

Summary Eric Hinman, an athlete, entrepreneur, and influencer, shares his perspective on mindset, resilience, and wellness. He has created a space in his backyard called Muscle Mountain where he invites people to work out, do contrast therapy, and have meaningful conversations. Eric believes in the power of discomfort and pushing physical and menta…

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Kate Kavanaugh on Weaving Connections: Regenerative Agriculture to Deep Interconnectedness 1:05:47

1+ y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Summary In this conversation, Kate Kavanaugh discusses her journey to regenerative agriculture and the importance of curiosity and storytelling. She emphasizes the need for safe spaces and intentional conversations to explore deep topics. Kate also explores the overwhelming nature of modernity and the importance of finding spaces of enough. She sha…

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Brett Friedman - Applied creative strategy in an AI world - S5 Ep5 1:03:44

1+ y ago1:03:44

1:03:44

Brain Hurt Scale = 4/10. Why does ChatGPT provide me with terrible responses. Why does DALL-E give me an image that's terrible? Learning how to brief creatives is an art form. After all, their job is to create artwork so this probably shouldn't come as a surprise. But if you've never created something yourself, you'll be oblivious as to how it all …

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John James - brand first principles. Avoiding the brand scam - Repost from Cognism's podcast 38:07

1+ y ago38:07

38:07

Brain Hurt Scale = 6/10. Republished with permission of an interview John James did with Cognism's Jamie Skeels on The Loop podcast. The Brandingmag articles caused quite a stir and Jamie was keen to dig a little deeper into some of the issues it raised for practitioners. How do we target people to build brand and sales at the same time? Which chan…

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John James - Live SXSW Sydney 2023 interview - repost from Komo Technologies podcast 26:13

1+ y ago26:13

26:13

Brain Hurt Scale = 3/10. A live recording of that time I was invited by James Pember to speak at the inaugural SXSW Sydney 2023. Note: this is a repost with permission of an episode of the Own The Moment podcast by Komo Technologies. James interviews me on-stage in front of 70+people and I try to answer a series of questions completely impromptu. J…

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Eileen Canney on Conquering Performance Anxiety and Empowering Athletes 1:01:27

1+ y ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Summary Eileen Canney Linnehan, a former collegiate softball player and performance coach, shares her journey with performance anxiety, also known as the YIPS. She discusses how the YIPS manifested in her own career and how she overcame them. Eileen emphasizes the importance of acceptance and self-compassion in dealing with the YIPS. She also explo…

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Dale W. Harrison - Exposing the hidden incentives behind B2B purchases. Understanding procurement and buying committee dynamics - S5 Ep2 1:28:53

1+ y ago1:28:53

1:28:53

Brain Hurt Scale = 5/10. No one in B2B buys based on value. Procurement and buying committees don't operate how you think they do. And why do 50%+ of B2B purchases end in a no-decision? If you want your career to be occupied with creating ads, rely on correlation, work status and manipulate company politics to get ahead. Nothing wrong with that, it…

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Colin Lewis - How to be an effective marketer. Executive director-level thinking - S5 Ep1 1:08:35

1+ y ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10. Racing car driver, Marketing Week columnist, retail media speaker and coach to marketing directors. Colin Lewis joins us for the first episode of 2024. While we were supposed to talk about retail media, this was one of those rare chances to tap into someone's mind that's experienced a depth and breadth of experience that's …

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Benjamin Herold on Challenging the Suburban Dream: Insights from "Disillusioned" 57:43

1+ y ago57:43

57:43

Summary Benjamin Harreld discusses his book 'Disillusioned' which critiques the American suburban dream and reveals the racial injustices and unsustainable promises hidden beneath. He shares his personal experiences and the inspiration behind the book, as well as the surprising findings about the changing demographics and histories of suburban comm…

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Benjamin Michael on Revolutionizing Party Culture with Know Fun Club: A Journey from Introvert to Influencer 1:13:58

1+ y ago1:13:58

1:13:58

Summary Benjamin Michael shares his journey into the EDM scene and how it transformed his perspective on fun and socializing. He discusses the impact of community and the power of finding joy in music. Benjamin also talks about his career and entrepreneurial aspirations, highlighting the importance of learning and mindset shifts. He introduces Know…

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Craig Goldberg on Harnessing Vibroacoustic Therapy for Deep Relaxation and Healing 57:52

1+ y ago57:52

57:52

Summary Craig Goldberg, a relaxation expert and certified vibroacoustic therapy practitioner, shares his mindfulness journey and the transformative power of sound and vibration on the human body. He emphasizes the prevalence of stress and anxiety in society and the impact it has on health. Craig discusses the importance of conditioning the nervous …

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Topaz Adizes on Deep Listening, Storytelling, and Cultivating Intimate Connections 1:09:48

1+ y ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Summary In this conversation with Topaz Adizes, a visionary filmmaker and experienced designer, the focus is on human connection and the power of intimate conversations. Topaz shares how his childhood experiences shaped his hunger for connection and how he uses film and other mediums to bridge the gap between people. The concept of creating emotion…

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Part 5.3 - Actually Thinking Different about Think Different - Apple's real growth factor revealed 46:05

1+ y ago46:05

46:05

Brain Hurt Factor = 4/10. The conclusion and penultimate episode of a 6 part series which explores brand campaigns. Questioning whether Apple's famous Think Different brand campaign was as successful as everyone thinks it is. This episode starts with a short recap of where we left off in 5.2. Then goes into revealing THE key growth factor behind Ap…

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Part 5.2 - Thinking Different about Think Different - What exactly did it do? - S4 E22 42:29

1+ y ago42:29

42:29

Brand hurt scale = 6/10. This is a direct follow on from the previous episode 5.1 which continues the story behind Apple's famous Think Different campaign. Here we go much deeper, analyzing the campaign's impact on Apple financially, both short and long term. Which is hard in audio form because a lot of the visuals are missing. But you'll learn way…

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Part 5.1 - Thinking Different about Think Different - S4 Ep21 35:07

1+ y ago35:07

35:07

Brand hurt scale = 2/10. The episode everyone has been waiting for is here. This is the story behind the famous Apple Think Different campaign. Touted as one of the best brand advertising campaigns in history. But is it? This is the first of three parts which explores the history of this campaign and analyzes whether it was as successful for the co…

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Part 4 - What does a brand campaign do? 8 pros and 8 cons - S4 Ep20 1:05:42

1+ y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Brain hurt score = 3/10. If you've been listening to the series so far, you should know what a brand campaign is, where they came from and how advertising and branding works. So what does a brand campaign do? Or not do? In part 4 of the Brand Campaign mini-series we explore 8 legitimate reasons for a brand campaign and 8 red-flags you need to be aw…

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Part 2 - Where did brand campaigns came from? The history of advertising agencies, marketing & growth - S4 Ep16 47:12

1+ y ago47:12

47:12

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10. Note - this is the audio version which is an extended yet similar and different version of the written article which includes diagrams and videos. If reading is your thing go here https://www.brandingmag.com/john-james/brand-campaigns-part-2-where-did-they-come-from/ - but this audio version is more story-like so it makes f…

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Gregory Kennedy - Confessions of two fractional CMOs - Trials, tribulations & opportunities - S4 Ep19 56:23

1+ y ago56:23

56:23

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10. Learn all the hot topics, struggles and opportunities in the current environment from the perspective of two fractional CMO's. After shooting the breeze about coffee (Skip to 4mins in to miss the coffee talk intro) Gregory Kennedy and John sit down to talk about what they're both seeing on the ground right now. With signifi…

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Part 3.2 - How does advertising & branding? (2 of 2) - S4 Ep18 41:43

1+ y ago41:43

41:43

Brain hurt scale = 6/10. This is the second half of the former episode which will complete the audio version of Part 3's article. In the former episode we covered in detail the first determinant of effective advertising - reach. In this one, we explain what is 'brand' and how 'branding' actually works or doesn't work. Then we explore the third fact…

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Part 3.1 - How does advertising & branding work? (1 of 2) - S4 Ep17 35:11

2y ago35:11

35:11

Brain hurt scale = 7/10. Isn't it funny how we all think we know how advertising works, but very few of us know about the scientific side. Even fewer have married up science with the practical considerations of what it's like in an applied work setting. Until now! After learning about what brand campaigns are in part 1 and understanding the etymolo…

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Part 1 - What is a brand campaign? (Audio Version) - S4 Ep15 18:25

2y ago18:25

18:25

Brain Hurt Scale = 4/10. Here's a quick synopsis of the first part of six. An article series that tries to answer a very basic question. What is a brand campaign? Go to https://www.brandingmag.com/john-james/brand-campaigns-part-1-what-exactly-are-they/ to read the full article which includes a lot of useful diagrams, videos, links and extended exp…

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Raj Nathan - Pitching the power of music - Sonic branding, events and can't sleep content - S4 Ep14 53:56

2y ago53:56

53:56

We'll spend thousands of dollars a month on ads yet routinely underinvest in the quality of the creative. Even the biggest agencies do it. They cheapen out on the quality of the audio track. But great music can make or break a movie or TV series. It can also be the difference between advertising and promotions that your audience either remembers or…

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Anthony Garone - Exposing the murky world of Ghostwriting - S4 Ep13 56:57

2y ago56:57

56:57

You know all those famous authors and people on social media with posts that are wildly successful? You may be surprised to learn, it's probably not them. Most don't even manage their own accounts. But, who's work then are we really reading? Who's DM's are we really slipping into? Today we're going to delve into the murky world of ghostwriting. And…

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Matt Watkinson - Mastering your potential in an uncertain world - S4 Ep12 1:04:41

2y ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Brain Hurt = 6/10. Do you want your effort to translate into maximum reward without change getting in the way? If so, embracing inherent uncertainty in the world is arguably the best way to go about it. Matt Watkinson published his third book this year which explores the concept of probabilistic thinking, systems, determinism and more. We don't rea…

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John James & Meqa Smith - Culture, brand, internal marketing and core strategy - S4 Ep11 36:44

2y ago36:44

36:44

Brain Hurt Level = 2/10. "Great interview...I've often thought someone needed to interview you, put all of that red-pill business and marketing chat into one cohesive conversation. Your definition of marketing should actually be a front-slide of every conversation I have now." Note: This episode best serves the interests of executives, founders, ow…

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Shay Howe - Chasing growth in the AI era - Confessions of a tech CMO - S4 Ep10 1:10:10

2y ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Brain Hurt level = 5/10. Note: this episode is best for those interested in marketing or growth within the SaaS tech sector. Especially if you work in marketing, growth or as a senior marketing leader or founder. And even more so if that's B2B or Martech. But... With that said, it's rare to find someone who has worked in design, engineering develop…

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Rick Huffines on Conserving Tennessee's River Gorge 1:00:40

2y ago1:00:40

1:00:40

Rick Huffines joined the Tennessee River Gorge Trust on January 7, 2013 after retiring from a 26-year career of public service with the US Fish and Wildlife Service where he has worked throughout the Southeast in five different states in various capacities. Most recently, Rick served as the Deputy Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge Syst…

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Baiba Matisone - Strategists in advertising - How agencies and clients can work better together - S4 Ep9 1:06:48

2y ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Baiba’s career is varied to say the least. Starting with a bachelor of visual arts at university where she was dissuaded from pursuing a career in this field, to later attempts at breaking the small glass ceiling of male advertising strategists in her native Latvia. After some account management experience at both Ogilvy and Grey group she landed a…

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Kevin Wilson on Finding Your Place in the World 1:10:08

2y ago1:10:08

1:10:08

Kevin Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Nothing to See Here, which was a Read with Jenna book club selection; The Family Fang, which was adapted into an acclaimed film starring Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman; and Perfect Little World; as well as the story collections Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, winner of the S…

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Jon Evans - Marketing on a shoestring budget. Turning $440 into $940 000 - S4 Ep8 18:27

2y ago18:27

18:27

A recent article, some skeptical Twitterati and a belated Champagne film scene prompted the two Johns to join forces once again. In this episode, we put some of the doubters at bay. So if Jon Evan's recent Marketing Week article took your fancy, or you don't believe it, then you can hear the extended story of exactly how it all went down right here…

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Eden Bidani - Messaging Strategy - The forgotten jigsaw piece of product market fit, PLG and growth - S4 Ep7 1:01:56

2y ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Have you ever found it difficult to brief and agency, a copywriter or a designer and get back the words you were expecting? This is really hard when you don't have a messaging strategy which sits at the top of your workflow. Working alongside your brand voice and tone, your positioning, brand story and strategic narrative. It's the missing piece th…

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Susan Caminez on Building Access to the Arts, Growth Mindset, and Acting Against Ableism 1:02:09

2y ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Susan Caminez thought for sure she was going to grow up and be a forest ranger, but her love of music flourished and she was soon bitten by the acting bug. She went to The Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT, where she received her BFA in music theatre. From there she moved to the Big Apple with her precious Maine coon cat the summer after 9/11. …

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Mike Rizzo - Marketing Operations Strategy - ignore at your entire function's own cost - S4 Ep6 49:49

2y ago49:49

49:49

Brain Hurt Scale = 2/10 There's a famous quote by Kleiner Perkins' OG John Doer, "Ideas are easy. Execution is everything. It takes a team to win". If you've ever been responsible for bottom line results, you'll agree and nod because you know this quote to be true. Unfortunately, mastering the craft of execution is not politically advantageous. Ins…