#295 Messaging | Dave is joined by Emma Stratton, founder of Punchy, where she helps B2B tech companies sharpen their positioning and write messaging that actually connects. Emma’s worked with hundreds of teams to cut through vague, abstract copy and turn it into language buyers instantly get.

Dave and Emma cover:

How to go from vague to punchy using specificity and buyer empathy
Why most B2B messaging blends into the “sea of sameness” (and how to stand out)
How customer research and real conversations create message–market fit

They wrap with a candid chat on journaling, focus, and how managing your mental energy can make you a better marketer and human.

Timestamps

(00:00) - – Intro to Emma
(04:49) - – What makes B2B messaging actually good
(08:31) - – Common messaging mistakes (and why “clarity > clever”)
(11:29) - – Positioning vs. messaging: what’s the difference?
(15:42) - – Why it’s hard to name great B2B marketing examples
(18:06) - – How to sharpen weak messaging and fix vague positioning statements
(21:14) - – Simplifying complex products without dumbing it down
(24:24) - – How to write for buyers (not just execs)
(29:20) - – Using customer interviews and research to build strong messaging
(33:58) - – Standing out in a crowded, buzzword-filled market
(36:42) - – How storytelling fits into B2B messaging
(39:48) - – Messaging advice for early-stage founders and startups
(43:03) - – How often should you revisit and update messaging?
(45:13) - – Productivity, managing your energy, and staying focused
(48:28) - – Journaling, mindfulness, and being intentional with your time
(52:23) - – Final takeaways

Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter
Learn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/

***

Brought to you by:

Optimizely - A no-code AI platform where autonomous agents execute marketing work across webpages, email, SEO, and campaigns. Get a free, personalized 45-minute AI workshop to help you identify the best AI use cases for your marketing team and map out where agents can save you time at optimizely.com/exitfive.

AirOps - The content engineering platform that helps marketers create and maintain high-quality, on-brand content that wins AI search. Go to airops.com/exitfive to start creating content that reflects your expertise, stays true to your brand, and is engineered for performance across human and AI discovery.

Visit exitfive.com/retreat to apply for Exit Five’s first-ever, in-person Marketing Leadership Retreat, March 18–20, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Join 100 CMOs and VPs of Marketing from companies like like Zoom, Snowflake, Manychat, Bitly, G2, HP, and more for two days of thinking bigger around a trusted group of peers in marketing.

***

Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.

They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.
Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.
Visit hatch.fm to learn more

Nutrition on the MIND: Alzheimer's and Diet

Mayo Clinic on Nutrition

Leafy greens, berries and antioxidants

The AI-powered Podcast Player