Response Drivers podcast

45:41

Andrew Lee Miller is the Founder of GrowthExpertz, a boutique marketing agency that helps startups scale quickly and cost-effectively without hiring in-house teams. A veteran growth marketer, he has led growth for three VC-backed startup exits and consulted for nearly 100 companies across 15 countries. Since founding GrowthExpertz in 2016, he’s helped clients reach major milestones, including acquisitions and 8-9 figure valuations. Andrew is also a global speaker, author, and host of the podcast Funded, Now What?! . In this episode… What’s the smartest way for a startup to grow without burning through their funding? With so many tools, platforms, and opinions out there, early-stage founders often get overwhelmed and misallocate their budgets. How can you prioritize marketing strategies that actually scale your startup sustainably? According to Andrew Lee Miller, a globally recognized startup growth expert and marketing strategist, the key is building a strong marketing foundation before spending a dime on ads. He highlights the importance of getting your website, analytics, SEO, and messaging right before layering on scalable organic strategies. This method reduces failure rates, saves capital, and sets the stage for long-term growth. Andrew also emphasizes that startups often waste money by hiring high-profile talent who aren’t equipped for the roll-up-your-sleeves environment early-stage ventures require. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Andrew Lee Miller, Founder of GrowthExpertz, to talk about growth strategies and tools to scale early-stage startups. Andrew shares how to test marketing channels without a large budget, why organic growth outperforms paid ads early on, and the key elements of a high-converting marketing foundation. Andrew also gives advice on using AI and fractional teams to drive results efficiently.…

Response Drivers

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Why Clarity and Customer Insight Drive Scalable Startup Marketing With Maria Botta 34:10

8 days ago34:10

34:10

Maria Botta is a seasoned marketing strategist and fractional Chief Marketing Officer who partners with startups and established businesses to drive growth through innovative branding and digital strategies. Over the past decade, she has advised more than 200 founders, particularly supporting Black, Latino, and female entrepreneurs through roles with Techstars, Builders + Backers, and ACT House. Beyond her consulting work, Maria is a published writer and speaker, contributing to platforms like Latin Business Today and Thrive Global on topics such as entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the future of marketing. In this episode… Startup founders often pour their energy into building innovative products — but too many stall when it comes time to scale. Flashy features and complex roadmaps can’t replace the one thing that actually drives growth: a clear, compelling message that resonates with real customers. So how can ambitious leaders cut through noise and uncertainty to create marketing that actually moves the needle? According to Maria Botta, a seasoned marketing strategist and fractional CMO, scalable marketing starts with message clarity and deep customer insight. She highlights that many founders assume product-market fit without validating demand through direct conversations with their audience. This gap leads to misaligned campaigns and missed opportunities. The brands that scale, she says, are led by teams who continuously engage their customers, simplify their messaging, and align execution with real-world capacity. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, Rick Rappe sits down with marketing strategist and fractional Chief Marketing Officer Maria Botta to talk about clarity, customer research, and startup marketing that actually works. They discuss how to validate ideas through interviews, why emotional connection beats feature lists, and how to balance bold vision with executable strategy. Maria also shares how founders can avoid stalling by prioritizing the right marketing leadership early.…

Response Drivers

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How Purpose-Driven Storytelling Builds Brands That Inspire and Scale With Christopher Erkelens 45:01

15 days ago45:01

45:01

Christopher Erkelens is the Founder and Chief Storyteller at Marketing Impact, a California-based consultancy that helps purpose-driven organizations clarify their brand narratives and align marketing strategies to inspire measurable impact. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, he specializes in crafting compelling stories that drive audience engagement and business growth. Prior to launching Marketing Impact in 2023, Christopher served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & The Inland Empire, where he led initiatives to boost brand awareness and community involvement. In this episode… What makes a brand truly unforgettable in a crowded, hyper-competitive market? It’s not just a better product or a bigger ad budget — it’s the story that stirs emotion and sparks connection. But how do you tell a story that not only resonates, but also drives real growth? According to Christopher Erkelens, a marketing strategist with nearly two decades of experience across nonprofit, B2B, and B2C sectors, the secret lies in anchoring your brand around a powerful point of view. He highlights that today’s most impactful brands go beyond promotion — they embody purpose. When a brand leads with mission and meaning, it inspires loyalty, drives conversions, and creates advocates. Christopher shares how defining emotional triggers, leveraging long-form storytelling, and integrating AI tools like custom GPTs enable brands to scale without losing authenticity. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, Rick Rappe is joined by Christopher Erkelens, Founder and Chief Storyteller at Marketing Impact, to discuss how purpose-driven storytelling helps brands inspire and scale. They explore why emotion beats logic in marketing, how AI can enhance — but not replace — human creativity, and what makes long-form storytelling so effective in direct mail. Christopher also shares practical advice for crafting a brand voice that truly connects.…

Response Drivers

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Making Marketing More Human-Centered, Strategic, and Effective With Sarah Oyungu 48:57

22 days ago48:57

48:57

Sarah Oyungu is the Principal Alchemist and Founder of The MRKTing Alchemist, a marketing consultancy that empowers visionary founders and business leaders with bespoke strategies to drive revenue growth and elevate brand authority. Drawing from her extensive experience across global teams and industries, she specializes in making enterprise-level marketing accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses. Her firm offers a range of services, including campaign strategy, social media campaigns, AI marketing optimization, business profiling, content and creative development, branding, sales and content development, upskilling and training, and coaching. Sarah's mission is to unlock the inner magic of each client, guiding them toward transformative growth through creativity, insight, and strategic execution. In this episode… In an era where attention is scarce and trust is fragile, many companies struggle to reach the right people with the right message. How can businesses create marketing that feels personal, strategic, and actually works — without getting lost in the noise? According to Sarah Oyungu, a seasoned global marketing strategist, the key lies in deeply understanding your audience’s emotional drivers and daily decision-making context. She highlights the importance of crafting messaging that fits within the “matrix of their life,” rather than chasing one-size-fits-all trends or every new digital tool. When businesses focus on what truly matters to their target customer, they unlock more meaningful engagement and better results. Sarah also stresses the value of blending digital and offline tactics, strategic testing, and maintaining clarity on what you want to achieve before choosing the tools to get there. In this episode of the Response Drivers Podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Sarah Oyungu, Principal Alchemist and Founder of The MRKTing Alchemist, to talk about building strategic, human-centered marketing that resonates. They dive into audience-first thinking, avoiding the “spray and pray” trap, and how to align messaging with human motivation. Sarah also shares how AI and direct mail fit into a modern marketer’s toolkit.…

Response Drivers

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Using DRTV To Build Billion-Dollar Brands With Rick Cesari 36:21

29 days ago36:21

36:21

Rick Cesari is the Chief Marketing Officer at Direct Branding, a marketing agency specializing in direct-to-consumer strategies and video marketing to help consumer brands scale and drive measurable sales growth. A pioneer in direct response advertising since the early 1990s, Rick has played a pivotal role in building iconic brands such as Juiceman, Sonicare, The George Foreman Grill, OxiClean, and GoPro, contributing to several companies achieving over a billion dollars in sales. He is also the author of multiple marketing books, including Buy Now and Video Persuasion , which offer insights into leveraging video to boost customer engagement and conversions. In this episode… How do you take a product no one’s heard of and turn it into a household name? In a crowded marketplace, cutting through the noise requires more than flashy ads or clever slogans. What if the key to building billion-dollar brands lies in the power of education and storytelling? According to Rick Cesari, a pioneer in direct response television marketing, educating consumers is essential to driving product adoption. He highlights the importance of communicating clear, relatable benefits rather than overwhelming audiences with technical features. By focusing on how a product solves a problem, brands can connect emotionally with buyers and inspire action. This approach not only differentiates products but also builds long-term trust and loyalty. Throughout his career, Rick has proven this formula across multiple iconic brands. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Rick Cesari, Chief Marketing Officer at Direct Branding, to discuss using DRTV to build billion-dollar brands. They explore how to transform product features into benefits, why educating consumers boosts sales, and the role of storytelling in direct response campaigns. Rick also shares insights on adapting direct response principles to today’s digital platforms.…

Response Drivers

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Digital Overload (And How to Break Through!) 15:15

5 weeks ago15:15

15:15

Josh Gold is the Vice President of Client Services at RPM Direct Marketing, a Seattle-based agency specializing in performance-driven direct mail campaigns that help clients increase response rates and sales. In his role, Josh oversees client relationships and ensures the successful execution of tailored direct marketing solutions. He also contributes to the company's blog, offering insights on industry trends and strategies for effective direct mail marketing. In this episode… We’re living in a time of unprecedented digital saturation. From constant social media scrolling to endless streams of emails and banner ads, the average consumer is bombarded with thousands of messages every single day. With attention so fragmented and trust in digital channels waning, how can marketers break through the noise and truly connect? According to Josh Gold, a seasoned direct marketing strategist, the answer lies in the tangible power of direct mail. He highlights that physical mail not only earns more trust from consumers but also commands deeper engagement — activating different parts of the brain and leaving a lasting impression. With cluttered inboxes and fading faith in digital ads, direct mail stands out as a more credible and effective medium. Josh also emphasizes the critical role of targeting and testing in crafting campaigns that are both strategic and scalable. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Josh Gold, Vice President of Client Services at RPM Direct Marketing, to talk about how direct mail can break through digital overload. They explore why consumers trust print more than pixels, how targeting and testing improve ROI, and why physical engagement still matters. Josh also shares how to turn direct mail into a predictable, high-performing sales channel.…

Response Drivers

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The Neuroscience of Direct Mail and Human+AI Teaming With Russell Kern 45:09

6 weeks ago45:09

45:09

Russell Kern is the Founder and CEO of Kern and Partners, a leadership development consultancy that specializes in neuroscience-based, strength-centric programs designed to elevate team dynamics, collaboration, and innovation within organizations. With over four decades of experience, including leading a 400-person national advertising agency, Russell brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational development and human capital optimization. He is renowned for creating the K.E.R.N. Leadership Development Method, which fosters high-value teaming cultures aligned with strategic business objectives. Russell's client portfolio includes global enterprises such as Caterpillar, Procter & Gamble, SAP, American Express, and AAA Auto Club, reflecting his broad impact across various industries. In this episode… The marketing world is noisier than ever, so how can brands truly capture attention and inspire action? With digital fatigue rising and inboxes overflowing, it is getting harder to stand out. Could the secret lie in something as traditional as direct mail, and how does cutting-edge tech like AI fit into the picture? According to Russell Kern, a direct marketing pioneer with decades of experience, the key to breaking through the noise lies in understanding how the human brain responds to physical experiences. He highlights that direct mail engages more of our senses than digital channels and creates a lasting impact when executed with precision. The result is higher engagement and better ROI, especially when neuroscience and behavioral insights inform the creative strategy. Russell also emphasizes that while AI tools can supercharge ideation and efficiency, they work best when paired with human intuition, empathy, and emotional intelligence. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Russell Kern, Founder and CEO of Kern and Partners, to discuss the neuroscience behind direct mail and the role of Human+AI collaboration in modern marketing. They explore why physical mail is making a comeback, how to blend creativity with data, and ways to improve strategic thinking using AI. Russell also shares his approach to building unbeatable, high-performing teams.…

Response Drivers

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Building a Global B2B Marketing Powerhouse With Mike Kichline 1:03:06

7 weeks ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Mike Kichline was the CEO and Co-founder of Yesler, Inc., a global B2B marketing agency offering services such as content marketing, marketing automation, sales enablement, and analytics. Under his leadership, Yesler expanded to over 350 employees across 14 countries, serving prominent clients including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. In 2020, Accenture acquired Yesler, integrating its capabilities into Accenture's broader marketing services. Post-acquisition, Mike continues to contribute his expertise as a strategic advisor in the business services sector. In this episode… Building a business from the ground up is no small feat, but scaling it into a global industry leader is an entirely different challenge. What does it take to transform a company into a powerhouse in the B2B marketing space? And how can a strong company culture and strategic foresight fuel that growth? According to Mike Kichline, a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing leader, success comes from a mix of strategic execution, culture-driven leadership, and anticipating industry trends before they take hold. He highlights how his company Yesler leveraged deep expertise in B2B marketing and a commitment to measurable results to differentiate itself in a competitive landscape. By prioritizing both talent development and innovation, the agency quickly became a trusted partner for some of the biggest global brands. The ability to scale effectively while maintaining a strong internal culture was key to Yesler’s rapid rise and eventual acquisition by Accenture. In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Mike Kichline to discuss how he built Yesler into a global B2B marketing powerhouse. They explore the challenges of scaling a high-growth agency, the importance of aligning services with emerging market needs, and why company culture is a critical growth driver. Mike also shares insights on the future of B2B marketing and how AI is reshaping the industry.…

Response Drivers

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Why Direct Mail Still Works in a Digital World With Rick Rappe 20:21

9 weeks ago20:21