What if you could build a thriving global business — without spending a dime on ads?
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, Utsav Nagori, Founder of DynaPro Global, shares how he grew a VA agency serving clients across the U.S. entirely through trust, relationships, and ridiculous consistency.
From his first few clients to managing a full remote team, Utsav walks through what it really takes to scale when you don’t have funding, investors, or ad budgets — just belief and execution.
🎯 Highlights from the conversation:
💬 As Utsav puts it:
“I didn’t start DynaPro to escape work. I started it to create work worth doing.”This one’s about grit, values, and what happens when founders stop chasing shortcuts and start playing the long game.
🔗 Connect with Utsav:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/utsav-nagori/
Website → https://dynaproglobal.com/
Email → utsav@dynaproglobal.com
🎧 Subscribe to Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? wherever you listen — and if this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear that you can scale without selling your soul.
#IsAnythingReal #PaidAdvertising #VAAgency #Entrepreneurship #BootstrappedGrowth #EnergyOS #ScaleSmarter #Leadership
Tired of chasing clicks and conversions that don’t convert?
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, host Adam W. Barney sits down with Jared Tang, Founder & CEO of Gaggle Social, to talk about breaking the cycle of ad dependency and building brands that grow on real connection, not rented reach.
💡 What We Cover:
🎧 This one’s for founders, marketers, and growth leaders ready to detox from “more ads = more growth” thinking.
🔗 Guest Links
🌐 Gaggle Social: https://gagglesocial.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredtangalejandro/
⚡ About the Host
🎙 Adam W. Barney — Author, Strategist & Energy Coach helping leaders install their EnergyOS to scale sustainably.
👉 Book a clarity call → https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min
What happens when you stop chasing vanity metrics and start running ABM the way it’s meant to be — personal, measurable, and scrappy?
In this episode, Mason Cosby, CEO & Founder of Scrappy ABM, joins Adam W. Barney to unpack how small, focused teams are generating enterprise-level outcomes with smarter, more human strategies.
🔥 Topics we dig into:
🎙 Hosted by Adam W. Barney — author, strategist, and founder of Scale Smarter. No fluff. No funnels. Just what’s real.
🔗 Mason Cosby – Founder & CEO, Scrappy ABM
🌐 Website: https://scrappyabm.com
📧 Email: mason@scrappyabm.com
⚡ Ready to install your Energy-Driven Leadership OS?
Book your 20-minute exploration → https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min
It's time for another Exclusive Drop you don't want to miss!
Leadership isn’t forged at the summit: it’s forged in the storm.
In this powerful conversation, Chuck Garcia, Columbia University professor, author, and founder of Climb Leadership, joins host Adam W. Barney to unpack what it really means to climb with resilience, emotional intelligence, and purpose .
Mountains and boardrooms share the same truth: the climb tests your patience, your team, and your character. Chuck Garcia shares the three rules he learned on Kilimanjaro that every leader needs to adopt: set a goal (and adjust it), take one step at a time, and never go it alone .
🔹 What you’ll learn
🌍 About Chuck Garcia
CEO of Climb Leadership International, Columbia University professor, mountaineer, and TEDx speaker. Author of A Climb to the Top and The Moment That Defines Your Life. Connect at chuckgarcia.com.
🎙 About the Show
Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? cuts through the noise with conversations on leadership, marketing, and the human energy that powers them. Hosted by Adam W. Barney — Energy Coach & Author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full.
🔌 Work with Adam W. Barney
Install the Energy-Driven Leadership OS in 90 days and reclaim your clarity and capacity. Book an exploration call → calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, host Adam W. Barney sits down with Alex Steele, Founder & CEO of Opal, to unpack how agencies can unlock growth by rethinking how they bank.
💡 Alex shares the story of building Opal — the fintech platform redefining how ad agencies and creators manage cash flow and credit.
From partnering with Visa to solving the agency payment bottleneck, this conversation gets real about money, momentum, and the systems that fuel scale.
We cover:
🏦 Why traditional banks don’t understand agency business models
💳 How Opal is modernizing cash flow for ad-driven companies
🚀 Why scaling starts with better financial systems — not just better ads
🧩 How to build tools and partnerships that grow with you
🎙 Host: Adam W. Barney
💼 Guest: Alex Steele, Founder of Opal | a@getopal.co
🔥 Fix your foundation. Scale smarter.
Subscribe for more episodes of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? — where we unpack what’s real in marketing, growth, and leadership.
In a world where ads fight for attention and algorithms dictate visibility, one thing still cuts through the noise: storytelling.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with MK McGowan, Founder of MK McGowan Studios, to explore how narrative isn’t just marketing — it’s the difference between being ignored and being unforgettable.
We dive into:
✨ Why narrative intelligence matters more than vanity metrics
✨ How to tell stories that scale across platforms and audiences
✨ The art of shaping messages that connect with both logic and emotion
✨ Where AI fits in — and where it never will — when it comes to authentic storytelling
MK has built a career around helping leaders and brands clarify their voice and amplify their message in ways that build trust, impact, and long-term influence. This conversation is a masterclass for anyone trying to rise above the noise and lead with narrative power.
📌 Learn more about MK: https://www.mkmcgowanstudios.com/
📌 Connect with MK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkmcgowan/
🎧 Find all episodes of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? by searching your favorite podcast app.
AI in sales and marketing isn’t about replacing people: it’s about amplifying them.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Joe Apfelbaum, Founder of evyAI and CEO of Ajax Union, to unpack what it really takes to scale authentic relationships in the age of AI.
Joe shares his journey from building 100+ websites a year, to scaling Ajax Union into one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., to creating evyAI...now powering 20,000+ users across 37 countries. Along the way, we dig into:
💬 Want to see evyAI in action? Text DEMO to 973-841-8868 and get firsthand access.
🔗 Connect with Joe:
✨ Catch every episode here: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
Most companies pour money into marketing without connecting it to revenue. Jason Kramer, Founder & CEO of Cultivize, shows how to turn CRM, lead scoring, and simple attribution into hard ROI...and why many campaigns should be trimmed, not scaled.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Connect with Jason
Subscribe and find more episodes: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com/
Most entrepreneurs feel the pressure to run ads before they’ve built a foundation. Abu Kamara, Co-Founder of Green Zone Solutions, took a different path. In just 18 months, he built a consulting business around sustainability, logistics, and operational performance - all through relationships, referrals, and trust, not ad spend.
In this episode, we cover:
💡 For any founder wondering if they have to pour cash into ads right away, this conversation will reset your mindset.
👉 Connect with Abu:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abubakarrkamara
Green Zone Solutions: gzsolutions.co
🎧 Explore all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
The AI wave is reshaping industries faster than most leaders can process. Few people have navigated it from as many angles as Mike Todasco, former Head of Innovation at PayPal, Visiting Fellow at the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence at San Diego State University, and holder of 100+ patents.
In this Exclusive Drop episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, host Adam W. Barney and Mike dig into:
If you’ve ever wondered whether AI will kill creativity or ignite it, this conversation gives you the clarity to lead forward.
📨 Connect with Mike Todasco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/
🌐 Learn more about SDSU’s AI initiatives: https://ai.sdsu.edu
🎧 Explore all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
AI that actually delivers.
Vinod Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder of Syntheum AI, joins host Adam W. Barney to talk about clarity, discipline, and why most brands chase paid ads before they’ve earned the right. From building agentic AI tools for merchandisers to pioneering the idea of being “seed-strapped,” Vinod shares how founders can scale smarter without burning budgets.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we cover:
If you’ve ever felt the pull toward shortcuts...or wondered how to future-proof your brand in an AI-driven ad world...this episode is your playbook.
📨 Get in touch with Vinod: vinod@syntheum.ai
🔗 Connect with Vinod: linkedin.com/in/vinodkumar-ai/
🌐 Learn more: syntheum.ai
🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
Forget vanity metrics. Noel Geer, CEO & Founder of Connected Interactive, joins host Adam W. Barney to reveal why most brands are wasting money chasing CPMs and ROAS...and how focusing on lifetime value unlocks real, lasting growth.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:
If you’re tired of chasing impressions that don’t convert and want a smarter way forward, this one’s for you.
📨 Get in touch with Noel: noelg@connectedinteractive.com
🔗 Connect with Noel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-geer-98855915/
🌐 Learn more about Connected Interactive: https://connectedinteractive.com/
🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
Forget paid tricks. Priyanka Mishra, Business Head of Fuzia Talent, joins host Adam W. Barney to break down how she scaled a global, women-led platform to over 10 million users - without relying on gimmicks or inflated metrics.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:
If you’re tired of clickbait and craving real results, this one’s for you.
📨 Get in touch with Priyanka: priyanka.m@fuzia.com
🔗 Follow Priyanka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyankasayshi/
🌐 Learn more about Fuzia Talent: https://www.fuziatalent.com/
🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
“AI without strategy is chaos.”
Lucy Wang, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocketflows, joins me for a straight-talking breakdown of what’s real in small business marketing today. From funnel nightmares to the trap of instant gratification, Lucy calls out the shortcuts that sabotage founders—and shows us what sustainable growth really takes.
Inside this episode, we dig into:
Lucy’s approach is sharp, practical, and refreshingly human. If you’ve ever wondered why your ads aren’t working, or why growth feels stuck in neutral, this is your blueprint for cutting through the noise.
👉 Connect with Lucy Wang:
🎙️ Subscribe to Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? for more no-fluff conversations on what’s real (and what’s just noise).
Too many agencies are drowning clients in dashboards, vanity metrics, and pretty charts that don’t move the needle. Ryan Stevens is here to burn that to the ground.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, Adam W. Barney sits down with Ryan, Founder of Digital Reference and the guy agencies call when they want their data to actually tell the truth.
We dig into:
This is data with teeth: no fluff, no filler. If you’re tired of playing spreadsheet dress-up and want reporting that drives real ROI, this is your episode.
📌 Connect with Ryan Stevens: LinkedIn | Digital Reference
🎧 Listen to more episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?
Anthony Tsigourakos, co-founder of SmartSpend Advertising and growth advisor at Good Name Consulting, knows the hidden costs of scaling. After helping dozens of agencies break through plateaus, he’s learned that real growth isn’t just about adding clients or revenue…it’s about protecting your capacity, your margins, and your energy.
In this episode, we dive into:
Whether you’re running a $250K shop or a multi-million dollar agency, this episode will help you rethink your growth plan, sharpen your focus, and lead with intention.
📍 Connect with Anthony:
🎙 Hosted by Adam W. Barney, Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? explores the truths, myths, and hidden realities behind marketing, growth, and leadership.
💡 If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with one other agency owner, founder, or leader who needs it.
What actually works when paid ads stop performing?
In this episode, Patrick Cumming, Head of Marketing at KleintBoost, joins Adam W. Barney to cut through the noise and talk shop: what’s real, what’s BS, and why most agencies are still chasing vanity metrics.
We go deep on:
Whether you’re an agency founder, media buyer, or brand leader tired of spinning your wheels, this episode gives you the clarity (and fire) to reset your strategy.
🔥 Hosted by Adam W. Barney, Host of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, the show where agency leaders unpack what’s real…and what’s just noise.
🎧 Subscribe + Listen + Rate today!
What do you do when Google, Meta, TikTok, and every other ad platform shut the door in your face? You break the rules, rewrite the playbook, and scale anyway.
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I talk with Pauline Schmiechen: badass founder, consultant, and builder of multiple high-traffic adult platforms, who’s thriving in the shadows of mainstream media.
With 3 million+ users a month and zero access to traditional ad platforms, Pauline isn’t asking for permission...she’s building power in places most marketers are too afraid to look.
Here’s what we dive into:
We also dig into the real reason OnlyFans exploded and why traditional marketing can’t handle industries built on human behavior, emotion, and connection.
This isn’t about adult content. It’s about stigma, scale, and what happens when creators and marketers get locked out of the “acceptable” world...and still thrive.
🔗 Resources & Mentions:
📬 Subscribe to explore what’s real (and what’s just noise):
In Episode 07 of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive deep with Lea Miner, Founder of Intention & Insight, who’s building something truly different: a business rooted in resonance, not just reach.
What started as a small somatic journey experiment on Meetup grew to a thriving 600+ person community in just six months, without a dollar in ad spend.
We unpack:
This episode is a refreshing dose of honesty in a sea of hype. If you’ve ever felt like your marketing efforts were missing soul, or you’re trying to scale without losing your center, this is your permission slip to do things differently.
🔗 Connect with Lea:
→ https://intentionandinsight.com
→ IG: @intentionandinsight
→ Join a Somatic Journey: https://calendly.com/eleah-intentionandinsight/friday-somatic-journey
If you’re an agency founder trying to grow without the grind, check out the Agency Growth Sprint, designed for firms earning $250K–$5M/year, who want real scale with real strategy.
What if the real growth play wasn’t grinding on social media or spending wildly on ads?
In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Ziv Raviv, Founder & CEO of Kivi Media, creator of Daily Cookie, host of Beyond Six Figures, and author of The Fully Booked Coach, for a masterclass in scaling through soul-first strategy.
Ziv built a $600K/year coaching business without burning out on content or ad spend...and he’s here to show you how.
We unpack:
Ziv keeps it real and actionable. This isn’t about hacks. It’s about building real relationships, solving real problems, and scaling with clarity.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your marketing is working, or working against you, this episode is your wake-up call.
🔗 Resources + Mentions:
🔌 Ready to turn your agency into a growth machine?
If you’re running a $250K–$5M/year ad agency and tired of duct-taped systems, the Agency Growth Sprint was built for you.
→ Install a scalable lead gen engine
→ Clean up your offer
→ Ditch chaos for strategy that sticks
Learn more: adamwbarney.com