In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Ivan Janku, CEO of Digital Rocket, the agency famously allergic to marketing waste.
Ivan and his team have helped e-commerce and SaaS brands generate over $250M in client revenue by fixing profit leaks across ads, CRO, email, and tracking. What makes Digital Rocket different? Their No-BS Guarantee: If they don’t deliver, you don’t pay.
This conversation is raw, practical, and unapologetically focused on what actually makes money.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Why most agencies fail by working in silos
• The most common profit leaks killing e-commerce and SaaS brands
• Why ROI is one of the most overrated marketing metrics
• How bad tracking breaks attribution and decision-making
• What founders should audit before scaling ad spend
• How Ivan allocates ad budgets across Meta, Google, TikTok, and SMS
• Why systems and checklists beat “rockstar” marketers every time
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ No-BS Marketing – Why Ivan only gets paid when results show up
✅ The Leaky Bucket Problem – Where revenue disappears between ads and conversion
✅ Mobile UX Blind Spots – Why desktop-first thinking costs brands millions
✅ Tracking Before Tactics – Why server-side tracking is non-negotiable
✅ Channel Strategy Reality – Matching platforms to buying behavior
✅ Systems > Talent – How checklists scale agencies without chaos
🧠 About the Guest
Ivan Janku is the CEO of Digital Rocket, a performance-driven growth agency helping e-commerce and SaaS brands eliminate wasted ad spend and scale profitably. Known for his direct style and obsession with accountability, Ivan has built Digital Rocket around systems, audits, and real business outcomes—not vanity metrics.
🔗 Company Website: https://digitalrocketads.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecommerce-megalomania/?originalSubdomain=rs
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want marketing automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Ollie James, CEO of Adttribution, to unpack one of the most confusing—and most important—topics in modern marketing: how to measure performance without destroying consumer trust.
As cookies crumble, AI reshapes search, and privacy regulations tighten worldwide, Ollie explains how brands can still prove ROI, make smarter ad decisions, and protect the ecosystem that keeps publishers and creators alive.
Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or growth marketer, this episode delivers clarity in a world full of acronyms.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• How to explain complex ad tech concepts to non-technical teams
• Why attribution is still unsolved—and how to think about it correctly
• The real impact of AI on media buying and measurement
• Why brand, not clicks, often drives conversion
• Ethical challenges around data privacy and consent
• What happens to publishers in an AI-first internet
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ “Explain it like I’m 5” – Why simplification is the secret weapon of great marketers
✅ The Cat Analogy – A surprisingly perfect way to understand customer acquisition & retention
✅ Multi-Touch Reality – Why last-click attribution fails modern buyers
✅ AI Media Buyers – How machines are starting to buy ads (and what scares Ollie about it)
✅ Privacy vs Performance – How to balance ROI with consumer trust
✅ Saving Publishers – Why ethical ad tech matters more than ever
🧠 About the Guest
Ollie James is the CEO of adttribution, a next-generation ad tech company helping brands measure ROI across connected TV, mobile, and desktop—without compromising consumer privacy. Previously, Ollie worked at Rockerbox and Rocker Ad, partnering with global brands like Apple, iTunes, and American Express.
🔗 Website: https://adttribution.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/olliejames
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want marketing automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
🚀 Is SEO really dead — or just misunderstood in the age of AI?
In this episode of **Inside Marketing With MarketSurge**, host **Reed Hansen**, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with **Jan Watermann** — SEO and content marketing expert, growth strategist, and co-founder of **Pragmatic Business**.
Jan has been behind **millions in organic growth** for marketers, consultants, and agencies, and is known for blending time-tested SEO fundamentals with a modern, AI-powered lens. In this conversation, we break down what SEO actually looks like in 2025 and beyond — factoring in Google’s evolving algorithms, AI-driven search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and the growing importance of trust, relevance, and systems over shortcuts.
Jan also shares his unconventional journey — from leaving school early and moving across the world with almost nothing, to building scalable growth systems that help businesses escape referral-only growth and short-term gigs.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why SEO is not dead — and why it’s more important than ever
• How AI is changing how people search and consume information
• What modern SEO prioritizes instead of keyword stuffing
• Why trust, authority, and digital PR matter in AI-powered search
• How freelancers can transition into scalable, productized businesses
• The psychology behind content that ranks *and* converts
• Why systems beat hacks for long-term organic growth
If you’re a founder, marketer, consultant, or agency owner navigating SEO in an AI-driven world, this episode delivers clarity and practical insight you can actually apply.
👇 Connect with Jan & Pragmatic Business:
🔗 Pragmatic Business: [https://pragmaticbusiness.com](https://pragmaticbusiness.com)
📍 About the Show
Welcome to **Inside Marketing With MarketSurge** — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas, real-world strategies, and unfiltered conversations shaping modern marketing.
Hosted by **Reed Hansen**, a digital marketing veteran who’s helped scale startups to Fortune 500 brands, this podcast breaks down what’s *actually working* in marketing today — without the fluff.
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see MarketSurge in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
[https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee](https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee)
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: [https://marketsurge.io](https://marketsurge.io)
📘 Facebook Page: [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654)
💼 LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio](https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio)
🐦 X / Twitter: [https://x.com/marketsurging](https://x.com/marketsurging)
🎙️ Podcast: [https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/](https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/)
Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀
🚀 Ready to see how AI is actually transforming performance marketing?
In this episode of Inside Marketing With MarketSurge, host Reed Hansen sits down with Hikari Senju, Founder & CEO of Omneky, an AI-powered creative platform helping brands generate, analyze, and optimize ad creative at scale.
Hikari is a trained computer scientist turned entrepreneur with a mission to bridge the gap between generative AI and measurable marketing performance. Under his leadership, Omneky has helped brands unlock higher ROAS by turning machine creativity into real business results — without sacrificing brand safety or strategy.
In this conversation, we dive deep into:
• Why traditional creative workflows are broken
• How AI-powered creative pipelines outperform “gut-feel” marketing
• The real truth about AI replacing designers (and why it won’t)
• How performance data should guide creative — not the other way around
• Why creative volume is now the #1 driver of ad performance
• The AI “creative feedback loop” every modern marketing team needs
• How generative AI adapts across cultures, platforms, and industries
If you’re a marketer, founder, or growth leader trying to scale paid media without burning budget — this episode is a must-watch.
👇 Connect with Hikari & Omneky:
🔗 Omneky Website: http://www.omneky.com
🔗 Hikari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikari-senju-63780199/
📍 About the Show
Welcome to Inside Marketing With MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game.
Hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, this podcast breaks down what’s actually working in marketing today — from AI and automation to performance strategy and growth systems.
🌐 Learn more about MarketSurge: https://marketsurge.io
🎯 Want to see how MarketSurge helps businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder?
👉 Book a strategy demo: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀
In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Ed Jarecki, a seasoned business growth coach, leadership advisor, and COO, to unpack what it really takes to scale a business without burning out your team—or yourself.
This isn’t fluffy “feel-good” leadership talk. Ed brings real-world experience from the operator’s seat, sharing how founders and executives can:
Build teams that actually execute
Lead with clarity during growth and chaos
Create systems that support scale instead of slowing it down
Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or growth-minded leader, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• The biggest leadership mistakes that quietly stall growth
• How operators think differently than founders (and why you need both)
• Systems, structure, and decision-making frameworks that scale
• Why clarity beats hustle every single time
👤 About the Guest:
Ed Jarecki is a business growth coach, leadership advisor, and COO who works closely with founders and executive teams to align strategy, execution, and leadership.
📧 Connect with Ed:
Email: ed@jarecki.com
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation and strategy that performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see what MarketSurge can do for your business?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
How Top Leaders Land Roles Without Job Boards | Strategic Networking with Penny Pearl
In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Penny Pearl, Founder & CEO of 2Actify, executive career strategist, and trusted advisor to technology leaders and PhD scientists navigating high-stakes career transitions.
With over a decade of experience guiding high performers into roles that truly fit, Penny breaks down why traditional job searching is broken — and what actually works instead.
This conversation goes deep on strategic networking, personal branding, and value proposition clarity, with practical frameworks you can use immediately — whether you’re an executive, emerging leader, or highly specialized professional.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why 85% of your job search should be networking, not applying online
• How to articulate your value proposition so others can advocate for you
• The role of behavioral science, nudge theory, and social proof in career growth
• How to uncover hidden job opportunities that never hit job boards
• Why AI shouldn’t replace human connection — and how to use it wisely
• How Penny helps clients land multiple offers in as little as 90 days
• How to measure ROI on yourself during a career transition
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ Strategic Networking – How to lead conversations that create outcomes
✅ Value Proposition Frameworks – Turn your experience into a repeatable story
✅ Hidden Job Market – Reach decision-makers before roles are posted
✅ Career ROI – Track progress, milestones, and confidence growth
✅ Executive Confidence – Learn how to “lead yourself” through transition
🧠 About Penny Pearl
Penny Pearl is the Founder & CEO of 2Actify and an executive career strategist who helps technology leaders and PhD scientists clarify their value, unlock hidden opportunities, and land roles that light them up. Her work blends behavioral science, strategic networking, and personal branding into a repeatable system clients use for the rest of their careers.
🔗 Connect with Penny:
📧 Email: penny@2actify.com
🌐 Website: https://2actify.com
📞 Free Discovery Call: Available via email (no pressure, real strategy)
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn strategy into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want smarter marketing, better positioning, and results that compound, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see what’s working right now?
🎯 Book your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
#strategicnetworking #leadershipcareers #executivejobs
#careergrowth #networkingtips #hiddenjobmarket #leadershipdevelopment #careersuccess #jobsearchstrategy #professionalnetworking #personalbranding #businessleadership #careerpodcast #thoughtleadership #careeradvice
Today’s guest is someone who’s rewriting the rules for brand growth in one of the most misunderstood — and overlooked — corners of the internet: Reddit.
Meet Danny Kirk, founder of ReddiReach, the bootstrapped agency that’s helped 500+ brands grow organically on Reddit while also future-proofing their visibility across AI search platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.
Danny isn’t just “doing Reddit.”
He’s engineering how brands show up in the age of AI — through what he calls Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — and turning niche community discussions into real-world business results.
If you've ever wondered:
🔥 Why Reddit is one of the most powerful — yet ignored — channels in digital marketing
🔥 How AI search is reshaping visibility and what brands must do now
🔥 Why deep niche engagement beats “reach everyone” marketing
🔥 How Danny quietly built multiple 7-figure companies with zero outside funding
…this conversation is going to hit you like discovering your competitor has been dominating subreddits for years.
Let’s dive in.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Reddit as a Marketing Weapon — Why brands fear it… and why that fear is costing them growth
• The Rise of AI Search — How AI scrapes Reddit and why GEO matters more than SEO ever has
• Comment-Level Influence — The hidden layer of human interaction that AI ranks first
• Ethical Reddit Marketing — Why honesty, rules, and community ethos are the real growth hacks
• Finding Your Thousand True Fans — Deep vs. broad marketing and what actually scales
• Building High-Focus Companies — Danny’s lessons from multiple successful exits
• The Future of Community-Led Visibility — And why being early to AI search matters today
• Tools That Matter — Including Danny’s favorite new edge: Peekaboo for AI search rankings
🔗 Connect With Danny
🌐 ReddiReach: https://reddireach.com
🔗 Danny’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpkirk/
🎯 Want MarketSurge-Style Growth?
If you’re ready to scale smarter, louder, and with actual leverage — let’s talk.
👉 Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
🎯 Book Your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
📢 SurgeCast Guest Placement: https://marketsurge.io/surgecast
In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Nisha Trivedi, one of the top-ranked MBA admissions consultants at MBA Mission, a LinkedIn Learning author, and a leading voice in business etiquette and professional communication.
In a world dominated by hustle, automation, and speed, this conversation zooms in on what many businesses overlook — the art of communication, etiquette, and authentic storytelling — and how mastering these skills can elevate your career, personal brand, and leadership presence.
Nisha has been featured in Poets & Quants, Bloomberg, and the Los Angeles Times, and she helps professionals and organizations communicate with clarity, civility, and confidence. Together, Reed and Nisha explore how strong brands and strong leaders earn trust — not through hype, but through intentional communication.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• What a personal brand really is (and what it’s not)
• How authenticity plays a critical role in storytelling and leadership
• Why vulnerability makes stories more persuasive — not weaker
• How professionals can balance credibility with relatability
• The role storytelling plays in MBA admissions and career growth
• How business etiquette impacts trust, collaboration, and culture
• Common communication mistakes professionals make (and how to fix them)
• Why channel choice (email vs. phone vs. meeting) matters more than you think
• How etiquette and clarity reduce conflict and improve workplace dynamics
🎯 Key Topics Covered
✅ Personal Branding — Defining the essence of who you are (and who you’re not)
✅ Storytelling Frameworks — Turning experiences into authentic narratives
✅ Vulnerability & Trust — Why perfect stories don’t persuade
✅ MBA Admissions Insights — What decision-makers really look for
✅ Business Etiquette — Practical rules for modern professional interactions
✅ Leadership Communication — How clarity and civility elevate influence
👤 About Our Guest: Nisha Trivedi
Nisha Trivedi is a Senior Consultant at MBA Mission, where she helps applicants craft compelling, authentic stories for top MBA and graduate programs. She is also a business etiquette trainer, LinkedIn Learning author, and thought leader focused on helping professionals navigate modern workplace interactions with confidence and grace.
Her LinkedIn Learning courses include:
• Business Etiquette for the Modern Workplace
• Business Etiquette for Gen Z
• Social Cues No One Teaches You
🔗 Connect with Nisha Trivedi
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishatrivedi/
🌐 MBA Mission: https://www.mbamission.com
🎓 LinkedIn Learning: Search “Nisha Trivedi” on LinkedIn Learning
🧠 Business Etiquette Training: https://ntbusetiquette.com
🚀 About MarketSurge
At MarketSurge, we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder by turning marketing tools into systems — and systems into predictable growth.
If you’re tired of guessing and want automation that performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
🎯 Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share — and drop a comment below with your biggest takeaway.
#InsideMarketing #BusinessEtiquette #Storytelling #PersonalBrand #LeadershipDevelopment #MarketingStrategy #MarketSurge
In today’s episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed sits down with Paul Leon — the powerhouse sales enablement trainer who’s transformed 500+ companies, influenced $100M+ in revenue, and built one of Apple’s Top 50 Management Podcasts, The Manager’s Mic.
Paul went from self-described college dropout who never saw himself in corporate to MBA candidate, elite sales trainer, podcaster, and communication strategist. With a 4.9/5 workshop satisfaction score and a teaching style that blends psychology, sales science, and comedy, Paul shows teams how to communicate clearly, lead confidently, and close more business.
This episode gets into why most companies have a broken sales process, how marketing and sales value props drift out of alignment, and how teams can fix all of it through clarity, structure, and volume.
If you sell, lead, or market anything — this one is a masterclass.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Why most sales teams struggle with communication
• The real reason your sales and marketing value props don’t match
• How to craft a punchline-level value proposition buyers instantly “get”
• The psychology behind how vs. why loops in sales & marketing
• Why objections and obstacles are NOT the same thing
• How to rewrite your scripts for clarity and confidence
• Why volume + momentum matter more than “perfecting” your pitch
• How Paul built a Top 50 podcast through grit, repetition, and consistency
🎯 Key Highlights:
✅ Value Proposition Mastery — Why your entire sales process breaks without a clear, shared value prop
✅ How/Why Loops — The simplest explanation you’ve ever heard on marketing vs. sales psychology
✅ Obstacles vs. Objections — And why confusing the two kills deals
✅ Volume Creates Confidence — Why most salespeople don’t do enough reps to improve
✅ Paul’s Story — From toxic corporate experiences to becoming a premier sales trainer
🔗 Connect With Paul Leon
🌐 Website: https://www.themanagersmic.com
📧 Email: paul@themanagersmic.com
🎙 Podcast: The Manager’s Mic (Apple Top 50)
🔗 LinkedIn: (add link if you’d like me to include it)
🧠 Want to level up your marketing + sales systems?
At MarketSurge, we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.
If you're tired of guessing and want automation that performs like a team of 10…
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
Inside Marketing with MarketSurge welcomes Jeff Greenfield — a 3x founder, analytics pioneer, and CEO/co-founder of Prova (getprova.com). If you’ve ever wondered why your marketing data says one thing while your financials scream something else, this episode is your intervention.
Jeff has been fixing attribution chaos for decades — building companies that pioneered multi-touch attribution, created viewability standards, and cracked privacy-safe measurement long before the industry caught up.
Today, he's on a mission to solve the biggest existential crisis in marketing:
👉 There is no single source of truth — and it's costing brands millions.
We unpack:
Why Google, Meta, Amazon, Hulu all claim credit for the same sale
What probabilistic, AI-powered attribution actually looks like
How consumer behavior has shifted into apps + marketplaces
Why the future of search may live inside ChatGPT
What marketers MUST do now to keep up with the next data revolution
👉 Learn more about Prova: https://getprova.com
👉 Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/
📌 Episode Highlights
00:00 — Why marketing data rarely matches financial reality
04:32 — The “six vendors, one sale” problem
09:10 — Multi-touch attribution explained in simple language
13:55 — Why GA4, Meta, and Google all disagree
17:40 — How Prova uses AI without relying on LLMs
25:10 — Walled gardens, clean rooms, and the new fragmented internet
34:20 — The rise of ChatGPT-based shopping
40:00 — How marketers should prepare for the next 3–5 years
45:55 — Where to find Jeff + free attribution certification
🚀 STAY CONNECTED WITH MARKETSURGE
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 Twitter (X): https://x.com/marketsurging
📅 Book Your Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Strap in, founders — today’s episode is a masterclass in building businesses that actually last. We’re joined by Rick Meekins, Managing Partner at Aepiphanni Business Consulting and host of the Relentless Pursuit of Winning Podcast — a guy who’s spent 20+ years helping founders stop running their businesses like a flaming circus and start operating like a well-engineered machine.
Rick has helped leaders navigate growth, fix broken systems, and build companies that scale without the chaos tornado. And today? He’s dropping the exact mindset shifts and operational frameworks founders need to break out of reactive growth cycles.
If you’re scaling fast, feel like you’re white-knuckling the handlebars, or want to build a company that wins today AND 10 years from now, this episode is required listening.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
🔥 Why Founders Stay Stuck in Reactive Growth
And how to get out of the cycle before your business becomes the world’s most stressful full-time job.
⚙️ The “Engine” Model of Operations
Rick breaks down how every business — from software to pool cleaning to light manufacturing — needs the same core operational principles to scale sustainably.
👥 How Visionaries & Executors Can Actually Work Together
And how Rick turns abstract founder vision into tactical, scalable systems.
📈 How to Build a Company with Real Longevity
Not a “cool idea” that dies when the founder gets tired.
🎙️ Rick's Podcasting Journey
Why he started Relentless Pursuit of Winning, how it fuels his business, and what every founder gets wrong about podcasting.
🌟 The Big Takeaway
A stable, scalable business isn’t magic — it’s engineered.
🔗 Connect With Rick Meekins
Website: https://aepiphanni.com/
Podcast: https://rpowpodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmeekins/
Big Scary Vision: https://bigscaryvision.com
🔗 Connect With MarketSurge
Website: https://marketsurge.io
Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
🎯 Want your marketing engine to run like a team of 10 without hiring a team of 10?
Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Today’s guest brings a refreshing — and much-needed — perspective to the world of PR.
Meet Anna Tran, a values-driven PR strategist with 15+ years in sales and 7+ years in marketing, who’s built her career on one core belief:
👉 Marketing creates attention.
PR creates trust.
And trust is what converts.
Anna's approach to PR goes far beyond “get me in a magazine.” Her philosophy centers on purpose-driven storytelling, shaping narratives that actually mean something — and turning brand stories into momentum that compounds over time.
In this episode, we dive into:
✨ How PR connects the gap between traffic and conversion
✨ Why trust is the missing ingredient in most marketing campaigns
✨ What purpose-driven PR looks like (and why most companies get it wrong)
✨ How to find your real story — even if you think you don’t have one
✨ How to polish your narrative without losing authenticity
✨ Why consistency in media visibility builds long-term authority
✨ The future of PR in the age of AI — and what humans still do better
✨ How to leverage major media placements for years of ROI
If you’ve ever wondered how to go from invisible to in demand, Anna lays out the roadmap.
Let’s dive in.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• PR vs. Marketing — Why both matter and how they support each other
• Purpose-Driven PR — Crafting narratives rooted in values and mission
• Real Storytelling — How to shape your journey (even if it’s messy)
• Reputation Management — Why credibility is earned, not assumed
• Long-Term Leverage — Turning one media win into sustained authority
• Entrepreneurial Growth — Anna’s lessons from building her own brand
• AI in PR — The opportunities, the limitations, and the future
🔗 Connect With Anna
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levelupwithanna
🌐 Website: https://levelupwithanna.com/
🔗 MarketSurge Links (Required for All YouTube Show Notes)
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
🎯 Book Your 15-Minute “Value or Free Coffee” Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
📢 SurgeCast Guest Placement: https://marketsurge.io/surgecast
Today, Reed sits down with someone who embodies the phrase “Just Keep Learning” — Justin Nolan, creator and host of the powerful JKL Podcast @justkeeplearningpodcast coach helping creators unlock clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Justin doesn’t just talk about growth. He lives it.
In this episode, we dig into:
How the chaos of COVID sparked Justin’s podcast journey
Why “everyone should have a podcast” (and why most people misunderstand that advice)
How creators can stop overthinking and finally start publishing
Practical confidence-building for entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone sharing their voice
What it really takes to stay motivated when your content isn’t getting traction… yet
The real difference between faking confidence and developing it
And the branding mistakes Justin had to learn the hard way (including an impossible-to-find first podcast name)
This conversation hits that sweet spot between mindset, skillset, and strategy — exactly why Justin’s work resonates with so many creators who want to build something meaningful.
💡 Guest Links
🎧 Justin’s YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@justkeeplearningpodcast
🔗 Justin Nolan on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/justinnolan-justkeeplearning
💬 Topics Covered
Why podcasting is the new “write a book”
Overcoming imposter syndrome (even at higher levels)
Repetition, habits, and how professionals stay consistent
The real ROI of being a podcast guest
Why the world doesn’t have “too many podcasts” — just too many silent creators
How podcasting sharpens your thinking, messaging, and impact
🎯 Want your own marketing breakthroughs?
Smarter. Faster. Louder.
That’s what we help you do at MarketSurge.
🌐 Explore how we help businesses grow: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎤 Want podcast guest placement? https://marketsurge.io/surgecast
📅 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
💥 In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Len Ward — former Wall Street VP, digital marketing pioneer, and Managing Partner at Commexis — to break down what’s really happening at the intersection of AI, marketing, and business strategy.
If you’ve been wondering whether AI is the next dot-com boom or just another tech bubble, Len’s been on both sides — and he’s here to share what business leaders need to know right now.
🎙️ What You’ll Learn
• Why today’s AI wave mirrors the dot-com boom — but is moving way faster
• The shift from search & retrieve to solve my problem, and how it changes marketing forever
• What AI workflow engineering is and how businesses are already using it
• How vibe-coding is turning marketers into builders
• The new role of the AI Pilot — and why every company will need one
• Why most marketing departments won’t survive the next 24 months
• How leaders can adopt AI without blowing up their org structure
🔥 Key Takeaways
✅ AI isn’t coming — it’s already restructuring how business gets done
✅ Companies won’t have a 25-year runway like they did with the internet
✅ AI workflows eliminate bottlenecks and multiply output
✅ Vibe coding lets marketers build tools once reserved for dev teams
✅ “AI Pilots” will become the most valuable roles in modern marketing
🔗 Connect With Len Ward
Website: https://commexis.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenward/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/lenwardNJ
🌐 MarketSurge Links
🚀 MarketSurge Main Site
🎥 YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
📘 Facebook Business Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👥 Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
💼 LinkedIn Page
https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X (Twitter)
🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast
https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📅 Book a Strategy / Demo Call
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Welcome back to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — the show where real entrepreneurs unpack the unfiltered truth about growth, grit, and what actually works in marketing today.
In this episode, Reed Hansen sits down with Jeremy Barker, CEO of Murphy Door, America’s #1 hidden door brand — a company that blew past $56 million, generated 1+ billion views, and grew 117% YoY… all from a product people didn’t even know they needed.
But Jeremy’s story isn’t just about hidden doors, secret rooms, and viral videos.
It’s about bankruptcy, resilience, reinvention, and the psychology behind products that people can’t stop watching.
If you’ve ever wondered how some brands explode while others stall, this episode is a masterclass in creation, positioning, storytelling, and authentic customer-powered marketing.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
• The true power of resilience — and how Jeremy bounced back from two bankruptcies
• The birth of Murphy Door and how a firefighter built a category that didn’t exist
• The “reveal factor” and why it turns average products into viral sensations
• How to engineer attention (even in “boring” categories)
• Why businesses fail at marketing — and how to avoid the race-to-zero price trap
• How Jeremy turned customer honesty into a 41% conversion rate using PureBrand
• The mindset shift every founder must make to build long-term success
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ The Hidden Door Hook: why the reveal creates unbeatable watch time
✅ The 360 Feedback Loop: how past customers fuel future conversions
✅ Scaling Through Transparency: why authenticity builds market-moving trust
✅ Micro Wins > Mega Goals: how Jeremy manages growth with daily course corrections
🔗 Links Mentioned by Jeremy Barker:
Murphy Door Website: https://murphydoor.com
Jeremy’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jbarker482
Jeremy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-g-barker
Jeremy’s Website: https://jeremybarker.com
Books by Jeremy Barker:
• Founder Fallout
• Before You Blow It
• Ashes to Empires
(Available on Amazon)
PureBrand App: https://purebrand.io
🚀 Grow Smarter, Faster & Louder with MarketSurge
Want strategy, systems, and automation that scale like crazy — without the guesswork?
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Strategy Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed sits down with the powerhouse herself — Breyel Banks: keynote speaker, confidence coach, founder of Queen Hood Finance, and the radical mind behind the RAD Methodology (Release, Align, Accomplish, Dream).
If you’ve ever questioned your confidence, felt stuck in a pivot, or battled imposter syndrome while building something meaningful — this conversation is your shot of pure rocket fuel. 🚀
Breyel’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention:
• Dropping out of college… then returning for a psychology degree
• Driving trucks across the country
• Becoming a confidence and leadership keynote speaker
• Empowering entrepreneurs and executives to show up authentically and lead boldly
This episode uncovers:
✨ Why authenticity is a strategic advantage
✨ How the RAD Methodology helps you break mental barriers
✨ Why small accomplishments build unstoppable momentum
✨ How to beat imposter syndrome through action
✨ Why camera confidence is the new business essential
✨ And the #1 skill entrepreneurs MUST master in an AI-driven world (hint: it’s not tech)
Breyel’s perspective is raw, relatable, and radically empowering — and yes, her baby makes a cameo. It’s perfection. 😄
💡 Connect with Breyel Banks
Website: https://breyelbanks.com
Book a discovery call: Visit her site and mention Reed for a special offer
LinkedIn: (insert link if you want me to add it)
Podcast: Create and Grow Your Dream Business
🔗 Stay Connected with MarketSurge
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📅 Book a “15-Minute Value or Free Coffee” Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
This episode is PACKED with high-level insight AND hands-on, practical advice for marketers, founders, and content creators who want to stay ahead of the AI tsunami reshaping how brands communicate, convert, and grow.
Today, Reed sits down with Maria Del Pilar Casal — an award-winning marketing executive with 15+ years leading strategy for Unilever, Toyota, Verizon, and several global brands you definitely recognize. Pilar is known for creating campaigns that don’t just win awards — they move revenue.
This conversation cuts through the noise and gets into:
🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
🔥 How AI Is Reshaping Consumer Behavior
• Why Gen Z is now treating AI like a “third influencer”
• How AI is transforming discovery, purchase decisions, and brand expectations
• What AEO (AI Engine Optimization) means — and why brands must adapt fast
🔥 What Small & Medium Businesses Can Do RIGHT NOW
• Why AI may actually help SMBs more than big brands
• Where AI fits best in your workflow (and where humans are still unbeatable)
• How to identify gaps in your day and delegate them to AI
🔥 The Content Formats Dominating 2025–2026
• Video is king… but not in the way everyone thinks
• When long-form content matters more than viral clips
• How to turn one recording into 10+ pieces of content across every platform
🔥 The Power of Collaboration
• Why creators, influencers, and brand partners amplify results
• How even small businesses can access creator marketing affordably
• What makes micro/nano influencers more valuable than celebrities
🔥 The Near Future of Digital Marketing
• Why website traffic is about to drop (and why it’s not all bad)
• The coming wave of AI-driven referrals and ads
• Why email lists are about to become gold—again
• How brands should diversify content + channels to stay resilient
👤 Connect with Maria Del Pilar Casal
👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapilarcasal/
Pilar offers consulting, brand strategy, and content collaboration opportunities.
📈 Ready to Scale Smarter, Faster, and Louder?
MarketSurge helps businesses build growth systems that generate inbound demand, automate efficiently, and create content that converts.
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎯 Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
Looking to scale your B2B sales? Build a real outbound engine? Or finally crack B2B cold email that actually gets replies (and not just pity opens)?
Then buckle up — this episode is your masterclass.
This week, Reed sits down with Kevin Downey, a Kansas City–based recruitment leader and B2B growth strategist who has sent over 100 million emails, built multiple high-performing sales teams, and perfected repeatable systems for outbound lead generation.
From his early sales days at Slazenger and Callaway to launching his own recruitment and outbound firm, Kevin breaks down — with zero fluff — how companies can scale smart, hire better, and drive predictable revenue with efficient, modern systems.
And yes… he also reveals why your B2B cold email probably sucks (it's okay, we still love you).
🎯 Episode Highlights
🔥 The Entrepreneurial DNA
How growing up in a family of immigrant business owners shaped Kevin’s obsession with systems, work ethic, and owning the outcome.
🔥 Lessons From 100+ Million Cold Emails
Why most B2B cold outreach fails — and the simple cold-call-inspired shift that changed everything.
🔥 The “Personalization Myth”
Why obsessing over quirky personalization is killing your reply rates — and what actually moves the needle.
🔥 The Tech Stack That Wins Right Now
Kevin reveals the real tools behind high-volume, high-deliverability, reply-optimized outbound campaigns.
🔥 Commission-Only Sales Teams
How he recruits, trains, and structures commission-only or hybrid teams — and which business models they fit best.
🔥 Latin America Sales Teams
Why LATAM is becoming a powerhouse for inside sales and SDR roles, and how to blend US + LATAM talent without breaking your ops.
🔥 B2B Sales in the Age of AI
Where AI can help… and where it's still hilariously awful (sorry robots, call us when you can improvise).
💬 Key Takeaways
✅ Cold outreach only works if it mimics a cold call, not a cheesy nurture sequence
✅ Volume matters — most companies aren’t sending enough to get signal
✅ AI can enhance sales, but can’t replace human nuance (yet)
✅ LATAM sales hires offer huge ROI when structured correctly
✅ Every company should have ongoing prospecting — especially when markets get tough
👤 Connect With Kevin Downey
Website & Contact → http://www.kevinmdowney.com
🚀 Level Up Your Marketing & Sales Systems
If you’re ready to scale smarter, faster, louder — with automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10 — MarketSurge has your back.
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎯 Book Your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
In this episode, Reed sits down with Brian Gross, a 32-year veteran of PR, entertainment, and cultural storytelling. Brian has worked with some of the most iconic — and often infamous — names in music, pop culture, and media. From Rick Rubin to Gene Simmons, Vixen Media to Amarosa, Brian has been the guy behind the megaphone shaping how artists and brands show up in the world.
You’ll hear how he went from a 17-year-old intern riding elevators with Rick Rubin…
…to launching BSG PR…
…to becoming the go-to publicist for edgy, unconventional, and high-impact clients.
Brian shares unfiltered insights on the aggressive side of PR, why brands shouldn’t overthink their publicity strategy, and how today’s media landscape rewards boldness more than ever.
If you want to understand the mindset behind modern publicity — and how to stand out in a chaotic content world — this one is packed.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
How Brian accidentally launched his PR career thanks to a lucky phone call
The difference between strategic PR and aggressive PR — and why most brands need the latter
Why “trying stuff fast” beats overthinking every marketing move
The one thing Gene Simmons taught him that changed his entire work ethic
Why AI won’t replace PR — but will challenge the industry
Why every brand, even “boring” ones, needs to outshine their competition
How word-of-mouth has powered Brian’s 500+ client roster
Why PR wins almost always come from taking creative risks
Why podcasts are one of the smartest discovery tools for any brand today
💬 Memorable Quotes
“You don’t hire a publicist and become famous the next day. This is a build.”
“The worst thing that can happen in PR? Nothing.”
“I’m not a gatekeeper — I want to find out what sticks just as much as my clients.”
“PR requires fearlessness. Aggression is part of the job.”
“AI will change things, but media still needs humans.”
🔗 Connect With Brian Gross
Website: https://bsgpr.com
Instagram: @bsgpr
Twitter/X: @bsgpr
🔗 Connect With MarketSurge
Website: https://marketsurge.io
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm
Book a strategy/sales call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Welcome back to Inside Marketing With MarketSurge, your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies in the marketing game — hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge.
Today, Reed is joined by Kirsten Graham, Business Growth Strategist and Co-Founder of Six Figure Business Coaching. With nearly two decades of experience helping entrepreneurs scale through smart outsourcing, Kirsten specializes in helping business owners unlock more freedom and profit by leveraging Marketing VAs, systemizing their business, and delegating the tasks that keep them stuck.
In this episode, Kirsten breaks down exactly how small businesses can scale faster, double their income, and reclaim their time by hiring the right virtual assistant — and leading them the right way.
🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why entrepreneurs struggle with delegation — and how to fix it
• What a Marketing VA is and why it’s one of the highest-ROI hires
• How to set expectations, create SOPs, and build a successful VA workflow
• Why outsourcing early (not late) is the real scaling advantage
• Which tasks business owners should outsource first
• The simple content strategy that fuels growth without burnout
• The difference between managing tasks and leading people
• How to avoid common outsourcing mistakes that waste time and money
• How Kirsten and her team train VAs before placing them with clients
🛠️ Resources Mentioned
Six Figure Business Coaching:
👉 https://sixfigurebusinesscoaching.com
The Marketing VA Advantage:
👉 https://themarketingvaadvantage.com
🧠 Connect With Kirsten Graham
Visit SixFigureBusinessCoaching.com to explore programs, training, and to book a call to determine which type of VA can help you scale the fastest.
🚀 Grow With MarketSurge — Smarter, Faster, Louder
Want to stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing right now?
👉 Website: https://marketsurge.io
👉 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
👉 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
👉 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
👉 Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
👉 Book a Demo / Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess.
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