Welcome to a special New Years edition of the podcast! As we kick off a new year, we’re revisiting one of our most timely and strategic LinkedIn Live conversations! This discussion with Paul Jones, Moderator of the Connect To Market Community & Founder of Bridgio, explores why podcasts are becoming a critical pillar of B2B go-to-market strategies heading into 2026 and beyond.
This episode is a powerful reminder that podcasts aren’t just another content channel. They’re a relationship-building engine, one rooted in generosity, trust, and long-term value. With markets getting noisier, buyers more resistant, and AI flooding feeds with sameness, this conversation reframes podcasts as a “give-first” GTM lever that helps brands stand out by actually connecting.
In this episode, we delve into:
✨ As we move into 2026 and beyond, it’s time to break old myths, drive real impact, and connect with people in ways that actually matter.
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Connect with Paul Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljones101/
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
Welcome to a special holiday edition of the podcast! This week, it’s just me, Casey, taking a moment to slow down, reflect, and send some genuine holiday love your way. No guests, no agenda just a heartfelt solo episode centered on gratitude, connection, and why you and what you do truly matter.
As the year winds down, I’m sharing reflections on how gratitude has become a powerful antidote to anxiety, fear, doubt, and frustration, especially during the holidays. This episode is about more than feeling thankful; it’s about expressing it openly and building a culture of appreciation in our work, our marketing, and our lives.
In this episode:
Thank you for being a part of this journey, and as we move into 2026, let’s continue smashing myths, making a real impact, and connecting in ways that matter.
✨ Happy Holidays! Wishing you all peace, love, and gratitude this season.
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketing teams succeed when budgets shrink, expectations rise, and the pressure to perform intensifies?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Matt Hummel, Chief Marketing Officer at Pipeline 360. Matt shares firsthand insights into why the modern environment is more challenging and dynamic than ever and what leaders must do differently to help their teams thrive. With deep experience navigating resource constraints, motivating teams, and driving performance in uncertain conditions, Matt sheds light on what it truly means to lead in high-pressure marketing environments.
He breaks down why simply letting people achieve what they believe is possible is no longer enough. Instead, leaders must set higher expectations, push teams beyond their comfort zones, and foster a culture where adaptability and innovation aren’t just encouraged, they’re essential. We also explore the critical role of transparency, creative problem-solving, and clear communication in helping marketers stay resilient and effective, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to strengthen your leadership approach and help your marketing team excel, even in the most challenging environments, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can deep customer understanding drive more effective B2B marketing strategies?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Greg Perotto, VP of Global Marketing at Poggio to explore the power of deep customer understanding in shaping successful B2B go-to-market efforts. Greg emphasizes the critical need to move beyond surface-level personas and truly understand customer needs, priorities, and challenges to drive meaningful marketing and sales alignment.
He shares how AI technologies can be leveraged to continuously update and deliver relevant, real-time context about customers, helping teams create more personalized and impactful experiences. Greg also reflects on his own career journey, offering advice on mentorship, self-awareness, and finding purpose in your work.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketers ensure their brand remains visible in an AI-dominated digital landscape?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with David Reske, Founder and CEO of Nowspeed to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way companies achieve visibility and connect with customers. David emphasizes the urgency for marketers to adapt to AI technologies, especially large language models like ChatGPT, or risk becoming invisible in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
He shares actionable strategies for creating an LLM briefing book to teach AI systems about your company, ensuring your brand appears in AI-driven search results. David also explains how to conduct AI-focused content audits, implement strategic content plans, and align SEO efforts with AI capabilities to stay ahead of the curve.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can a smarter email strategy, not just more emails, transform your customer engagement and revenue?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Megan Brewster, co-founder and lifecycle marketing expert at Bright Iris Marketing. Megan brings deep expertise in lifecycle marketing, data-driven decision-making, and automated email flows, sharing the strategies businesses need to scale their email performance without overwhelming their audiences.
Megan breaks down why blasting your list with more emails isn’t the path to growth. She reveals the importance of targeted, timely messaging and why understanding your audience segments, especially your highest-value buyers, is essential. Megan also dives into the massive, often untapped potential of automated flows, the importance of clear design and strong calls to action, and how to use data and testing to continuously refine your communication strategy.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to upgrade your email marketing with strategies that are both practical and proven, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketers master urgency to accelerate growth and boost sales performance?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Steve Kahan, Marketing Advisor at Insight Partners and bestselling author, to uncover the key to creating urgency in modern marketing. Drawing from his latest book, Steve shares proven strategies to spark action in potential customers and drive real business results.
The conversation explores the psychology behind urgency, how to align marketing efforts with revenue goals, and why inaction can be your biggest competitor. Through engaging stories and practical frameworks, Steve reveals the exact playbook he’s used to help multiple companies achieve explosive growth.
Steve breaks down how to highlight customer pain points, build constructive discomfort, and tailor urgency for both personal and market-level motivation. He also addresses how to bring urgency into “boring” industries and how marketing teams can apply these methods using scalable tools and organic traffic.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketers harness AI to create personalized, scalable, and effective marketing strategies?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Mike Montague, Founder of Avenue9 and Host of Human-First AI Marketing Podcast, to explore how AI-driven marketing can unlock new levels of connection and efficiency. The conversation dives into how storytelling, audience understanding, and AI tools come together to elevate marketing efforts.
Mike shares actionable strategies for building trust through storytelling, qualifying audience personas, integrating AI for automation and scaling, and tailoring communications using personality insights. He also highlights the importance of continually refining your approach to discover the ‘aha’ moments that resonate deeply with your audience.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketers use empathy and customer storytelling to drive B2B growth?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Rob Freedman, Vice President of Marketing and Partnership at EZO, to explore the power of empathetic marketing and authentic customer storytelling. The conversation centers on how listening deeply to customers can transform them into brand champions and fuel sustainable B2B growth.
He shares actionable strategies for mining customer stories, leading customer interviews, and creating internal alignment to strengthen go-to-market efforts. Rob also emphasizes the value of measuring engagement and leveraging data without losing the human connection that drives great marketing.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketing leaders shift from tactical execution to strategic business alignment?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Alan Gonsenhauser, founder and CEO of Demand Revenue, LLC and experienced CMO advisor, to explore the transformation of marketing leadership. Alan emphasizes the critical need for marketing efforts to align tightly with overall business strategy, moving beyond mere tactics to drive measurable business outcomes.
He shares actionable insights on creating remarkable customer experiences, prioritizing retention and upsell, and leveraging AI as a tool to enhance but not replace innovative thinking. Alan also explains the importance of speaking the language of the C-suite and focusing on net revenue retention to elevate marketing’s role in the organization.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can customer connection transform your marketing strategy and drive authentic growth?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Lina Tonk, CMO at Recurly and seasoned marketing leader. Lina shares her expertise on why regular, direct conversations with customers are essential to building meaningful marketing strategies that truly resonate.
Lina breaks down the myth that marketing strategies can succeed without customer interaction and explains how repeated engagement uncovers evolving customer needs. She dives into the importance of tailoring events and campaigns based on customer preferences, balancing virtual and in-person connections, and fostering a community that turns customers into authentic brand advocates.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to build a customer-first marketing approach that drives long-term growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can B2B marketers succeed when every deal involves 11 or more stakeholders?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Adam Needles, CEO and Co-Founder of ANNUITAS, Inc., to unpack the game-changing concept of Buyer Unit Demand (BUD). Adam challenges the outdated reliance on MQLs and ABM and introduces a new framework for engaging the full buying unit, with multiple stakeholders who have diverse roles and needs throughout the journey.
He shares how marketers can design conversation tracks that align with real-world buying dynamics and explains why buyer-led orchestration, not sales-led tactics, is the key to driving meaningful engagement and revenue. Adam also discusses the organizational shifts and mindset changes required to fully adopt this buyer-first approach.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
What if cold calling isn’t dead and SDRs are not just seen as “entry-level”?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Gabe Lullo, sales leader and CEO of Alleyoop. Gabe brings decades of experience to the table and delivers a no-nonsense perspective on what makes modern sales development succeed and why human connection still matters in an age of automation.
Gabe breaks down the biggest myths about Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), cold calling, and who really “owns” sales development. He shares why SDRs should be treated as a unique, strategic function, not just a stepping stone to closing roles, and how the best reps focus on active listening, authenticity, and building trust. We also dive into the power of multi-channel outreach, the right way to use AI, and what industries actually do respond to outbound efforts.
In this episode, we cover:
If you want to sharpen your sales strategy, elevate your SDR team, or just prove that cold calling isn’t dead, this episode is packed with real-world tactics and takeaways you can use today.
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
What does it take to build authentic communities that truly connect with your market?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Paul Jones, Moderator of the Connect To Market Community & Founder of Bridgio. Paul shares lessons from building over 40 successful communities and explains why real market connection goes beyond launching products or campaigns.
He emphasizes the importance of deeply understanding your Ideal Client Persona (ICP), using empathy to craft resonant messaging, and creating space for meaningful, value-driven interactions. Paul also challenges the overreliance on technology, encouraging marketers to start simple and stay focused on human connection.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can structured brainstorming and rapid testing transform your team’s creativity and innovation?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Brandon Redlinger, a Fractional Marketing Leader to multiple B2B tech companies and Co-Founder of The Forge. Brandon shares his approach to generating high-impact ideas without falling into the common traps of overthinking or endless iteration. His insights offer a refreshing roadmap for leaders and communicators who want to foster creativity while staying focused on results.
Brandon breaks down why suspending judgment during brainstorming is critical, and how the ICE framework, Impact, Confidence, and Ease, can be a game-changer when it comes to prioritizing ideas. He also unpacks how to test concepts quickly, define success up front, and avoid wasting time on strategies that don't deliver.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to bring structure to your creativity and boost your team's ability to innovate effectively, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can marketers stay discoverable as AI reshapes the search landscape?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Al Sargent, Senior Director, Product, Solution & Partner Marketing at ZEDEDA, to explore the evolving field of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Al delivers a strategic and practical breakdown of how marketers can adapt to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini- tools that are reshaping how content is discovered and consumed.
He explains how GEO differs from traditional SEO, why documentation matters more than ever, and how to leverage content repetition and high-authority sites to maintain discoverability. Al also shares his personal journey in tech and marketing, emphasizing the role of empathy, mentorship, and community-building in professional growth.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can strong business fundamentals, cross-functional alignment, and a focus on planning drive sustainable growth in today’s tech-saturated world?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Brendan Leonard, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Crews & Co., to unpack the real drivers of business success. Brendan brings deep experience across sales, marketing, and leadership, having held roles at Samsonite, Hasbro, and Capital One, and shares why getting back to the basics is more important than ever, even in the age of AI and automation.
We dig into the myth that technology can solve everything, and why chasing trends without a clear strategy is a major growth killer. Brendan reveals how setting structured goals, aligning your sales and marketing efforts, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration can significantly improve business outcomes. With practical takeaways and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to cut through the noise and refocus on what truly moves the needle.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to refocus your business strategy, realign your teams, and make smarter decisions in a tech-driven world, this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately.
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
What does it take to master B2B marketing with empathy and precision?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Cole Field, VP of Marketing at Beryllium InfoSec. Cole offers a thoughtful and tactical breakdown of how marketers can move beyond isolated tactics and create more unified, human-centered B2B strategies.
He shares why attributing success to individual efforts can create unnecessary tension, and how aligning sales and marketing unlocks better outcomes. Cole also explains the power of empathy in mapping the customer journey, the role of automation in streamlining efforts, and how Account-Based Marketing (ABM) is simply good, focused marketing when done right.
Throughout the conversation, Cole highlights actionable strategies for improving team alignment, defining an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), and approaching B2B marketing with clarity and intention.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect with Cole:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colefield/
Beryllium InfoSec, Inc: https://www.berylliuminfosec.com/
Ways to Tune In:
Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
How can AI drive real impact in your marketing and sales teams beyond just ROI?
In this episode of The Hard Corps Marketing Show, I sat down with Craig Rosenberg, a B2B marketing thought leader and Chief Platform Officer at Scale Venture Partners. Craig brings his deep experience in go-to-market strategy and AI transformation, sharing how companies can truly leverage artificial intelligence to increase productivity, empower teams, and prepare for the next wave of innovation.
Craig challenges the misconception that AI isn’t delivering results, explaining why the focus shouldn’t be on ROI alone. Instead, he highlights the massive productivity gains AI is already bringing to marketing teams; automating tasks like messaging, research, and workflows. He also breaks down the phases of AI adoption, the rise of the “go-to-market engineer,” and why companies must invest in AI literacy and experimentation to stay competitive.
In this episode, we cover:
If you’re ready to move past the AI hype and start seeing real, team-level results, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
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Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hard-corps-marketing-show/
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Hard Corps Marketing is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
What does it take for marketers to truly connect with their audience and harness AI for impactful strategies?
This special Hard Corps Marketing Show takeover episode features an episode from the Connect To Market podcast, hosted by Casey Cheshire. In this conversation, Casey sits down with Megan Ward, SVP of Marketing and Product Management at 360Factors. Megan offers a thoughtful and tactical breakdown of how marketers can deepen their understanding of target audiences by engaging directly and using AI-driven insights.
She shares why marketing leaders must spend time with “real people” to uncover authentic needs, the importance of attending industry events for firsthand market observation, and how AI analysis of call recordings can reveal key customer questions and concerns. Megan also reflects on her career journey and the lessons that helped her overcome limiting beliefs.
Throughout the conversation, Megan highlights actionable insights on connecting with customers, harnessing AI for smarter marketing, and documenting knowledge to empower teams.
In this episode, we cover:
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Connect with Megan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radiantmegan/
Substack: https://substack.com/@meganward989011
360factors: https://www.360factors.com/
Ways to Tune In:
Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/