The Jo Show is where real marketing meets real stories. Hosted by Jo McKee — marketing strategist, agency owner and queen of ROI — this is a space for business owners who want to grow without losing their sanity.
Each episode dives into what really works in marketing today. Jo shares strategies that get results, and chats with business owners who open up about the highs, lows and lessons from building their brands. You’ll hear how they’ve grown their sales, what hasn’t worked, and how they turned things around.
Expect sharp insights, smart conversations and a good dose of Aussie humour. Whether you’re running an eCommerce store, service business or startup, The Jo Show gives you the kind of marketing & business resilience know-how that keeps your brand relevant and your revenue strong.
Jo draws on her experience as Mentor in the Queensland Government's Mentoring 4 Growth program, as well as building businesses in film distribution, telecommunications and marine tourism.
The Jo Show is where real marketing meets real stories. Hosted by Jo McKee — marketing strategist, agency owner and queen of ROI — this is a space for business owners who want to grow without losing their sanity.
Each episode dives into what really works in marketing today. Jo shares strategies that get results, and chats with business owners who open up about the highs, lows and lessons from building their brands. You’ll hear how they’ve grown their sales, what hasn’t worked, and how they turned things around.
Expect sharp insights, smart conversations and a good dose of Aussie humour. Whether you’re running an eCommerce store, service business or startup, The Jo Show gives you the kind of marketing & business resilience know-how that keeps your brand relevant and your revenue strong.
Jo draws on her experience as Mentor in the Queensland Government's Mentoring 4 Growth program, as well as building businesses in film distribution, telecommunications and marine tourism.
Zak Ali, US GM of Finder.com, didn’t take the traditional career path by getting a college degree. However, his full-stack marketing skills and ability to keep pace with change makes him an effective leader.
Zak shares ways that small businesses owners can keep their brands visible in an era of AI search.
Thank you for joining us. Check out our sponsors in the description below.
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback or send questions to Jo.
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CONTACT JO:
Feedback → give feedback to Jo: grow@mckeecreative.store
Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/
CONNECT WITH ZAK
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-ali44/
BlueSky → https://bsky.app/profile/zakali.bsky.social
Zak’s “Will AI Search Make You Throw Away Your SEO Playbooks?” on Forbes→ https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2025/11/20/will-ai-search-make-you-throw-away-your-seo-playbooks/
OTHER LINKS
After the show we were talking about Zak’s wife, Cassie’s, handmade Rug Store and it’s gorgeous so I’m sharing there here too … check it out → shop-jubi.com
Claude’s “Keep Thinking” campaign → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDNkDBNR7AM
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Zach Ali's Unconventional Career Path
02:47 The Evolution of SEO and Marketing
05:49 Small Business Opportunities in the Digital Age
08:58 The Importance of Authenticity in Content Creation
12:03 Adapting to Change: Skills for the Future
14:45 The Role of AI in Marketing
17:33 Building Trust Through Video Content
20:33 Navigating the New Marketing Landscape
23:32 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
26:37 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook
Vicki Apodaca brings a fresh perspective to startup growth in the SaaS field, covering negotiating equity, the difference an ownership mindset makes, self-care and initiative.
EPISODE LINKS:
Vicki Apodaca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaapodaca/
SendTurtle: https://sendturtle.com/
Carta: https://carta.com/equity-management/
SPONSOR:
McKee Creative → Done-for-you marketing systems that create revenue growth and bring real peace of mind. https://mckeecreative.store
OUTLINE:
00:00 Introduction to Vicky Apodaca and Her Journey
05:50 Transitioning from Startups to Growth Roles
11:01 The Importance of Equity in Startups
14:03 Building a Strong Team for Startups
21:33 Navigating Growth and Market Fit
25:30 Understanding Send Turtle's Offerings
28:42 Challenges in Customer Engagement and Retention
38:11 Personal Reflections and Work-Life Balance
43:56 Final Thoughts on Surrounding Yourself with Good People
If you’ve ever wondered whether your oddly specific obsession could become a real product, this one’s for you. Margaret C Beeler took two things she loves – books and cocktails – and turned them into Tropetails: the world’s first cocktail and mocktail recipe book inspired by literary tropes, now a full product line after a successful crowdfunding run.
Today we unpack how she did it, what worked, what didn’t, and what you can steal for your own business. Thank you for joining us.
Check out our sponsors in the description below. See below for timestamps, and to give feedback or send questions to Jo. ________________________________________________________________CONTACT JO: Feedback → give feedback to Jo: grow@mckeecreative.store
Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/ ________________________________________________________________EPISODE LINKS:
Margaret C Beeler: https://linktr.ee/margaretcbeeler
Tropetails: https://tropetails.com/ ________________________________________________________________ SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsor: McKee Creative → Done-for-you marketing systems that create revenue growth and bring real peace of mind.
Go to: https://mckeecreative.store ________________________________________________________________ OUTLINE:
00:00:03 Introduction to Tropetails
00:02:23 Launching on Kickstarter
00:03:24 Understanding Kickstarter’s Platform
00:05:15 Community Engagement and Success
00:09:26 Diversifying with Instant Cocktails
00:17:19 Challenges and Triumphs in Product Development 00:26:44 Advice for Niche Market Success
In this conversation, Jon discusses his innovative approach to generating clean drinking water from humidity in the air through Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs). He shares his journey from a corporate career in the video gaming industry to entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to provide sustainable water solutions.
The discussion covers the technology behind AWGs, real-life impact stories, marketing strategies for small businesses, and the importance of cash flow management.
John emphasizes the need for innovative solutions to address global water scarcity and shares valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ever wondered what it really takes to grow a skincare brand that customers fall in love with — and keep coming back to?
In this first episode of The Jo Show, I chat with Kim Guseli, founder of Botanical Skincare Lab, about the behind-the-scenes reality of turning passion into a thriving business.
Kim shares how she built a loyal customer base in a saturated market, what worked (and what didn’t) in her marketing, and why listening to her audience has been the key to lasting growth.
We talk about:
If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to stand out in your niche, Kim’s experience of building according to her unique strengths will inspire you to find your way.
Listen in for real insights from a small business owner who’s built something beautiful, inside and out.
Botanical Skincare Lab
Buy direct: https://botanicalskincarelab.com.au
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanicalskincarelab/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotanicalSkincareLabHerveyBay
And shoutout to Replenish Refill for believing in Botanical Skincare Labs from the beginning: https://www.instagram.com/replenishrefill/
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McKee Creative
Get Jo to build and maintain her powerful done-for-you flywheel marketing system for your business, with the Economy Marketing Package: https://mckeecreative.store
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Music
Epidemic Sound Intro and Outro: ‘Talk Talk’, Wendy Marcini
Get a free trial of Epidemic Sound here: https://share.epidemicsound.com/et3uqe
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Incredibly comfortable clothing
Jo wears 100% mulberry silk blouse, handcrafted from Tara Sartoria: https://tarasartoria.com
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Want to be a guest?
Spill your story + marketing wins: apply at https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/