

Customer Success Talks
Real Challenges, Experts Advice
Welcome to Customer Success Talks: Real Challenges, Expert Advice – the podcast for everyone passionate about CS! Whether you're transitioning into CS or a CSM with around three years of experience, this podcast is here for you. Our discussions tackle day-to-day CSM challenges in a practical way, ensuring value for everyone. Hosted by Bayron Toruno, a true CS enthusiast, each episode features in-depth conversations with industry experts, real-life stories, and actionable advice. Join us and be part of our community, where we grow and succeed together!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 19, 2025 • 10min
CSM Quick Lesson: Career Growth with Marija Skobe-Pille
In today's CSM Quick Lesson with Marija Skobe-Pille you will discover unlock career potential! Explore how expanding your role, offering solutions, and envisioning long-term goals can lead to advancement. Don't just aim for a 9-to-5; bring value and watch opportunities unfold. 'Bring me solutions, not problems.' You can find the full conversation below:YouTube - https://youtu.be/iTHdf-qYWIYSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GepzXfaMyiBufhAUq1EpU?si=nQaOQV_SQvugetgg3C_0lALinkedin:Marija Skobe-Pille - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mspilley/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Check out Women in Customer Success - https://www.womenincs.co/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/

Nov 12, 2025 • 44min
How to Speak Memorably: Communication & Presentation Skills with Bill McGowan
In this episode, I had the pleasure of recording with Bill McGowan—Emmy Award-winning journalist, bestselling author of Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience, and communication coach to leaders at Amazon, Facebook, Uber, LinkedIn, and more.We dive deep into what it really takes to communicate memorably in today’s remote-first business world. From avoiding jargon and filler words to mastering storytelling and empathy, Bill shares practical strategies for making every conversation, presentation, and client interaction impactful.You’ll learn:- The art of listening with empathy to build trust.- How storytelling makes you stand out from the noise.- Ways to structure a presentation like a filmmaker for maximum impact.- A simple technique to deliver bad news without damaging relationships.Whether you’re an early-career Customer Success Manager or a professional who wants to sharpen communication skills, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you rise above the noise, engage your audience, and be remembered.Check out Bill's website, where you can find his book and more resources - https://www.claritymediagroup.com/speakmemorablyConnect with Us:Bill McGowan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-mcgowan-7103b/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/

Nov 5, 2025 • 11min
CSM Quick Lesson: Building Loyal Relationships with Ali Cudby
In today's CSM Quick Lesson with Ali Cudby you will discover the secrets to transforming casual customers into dedicated advocates. Learn strategies for recognition, celebration, and leveraging data to build lasting relationships and drive revenue growth. 'It's not always necessary to over-engineer stuff.' You can find the full conversation below:YouTube - https://youtu.be/d8XNsK7F-oYSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sRCJDKXImSsoa14PyEYEU?si=h2wwXmhqT-2npTFyBZhGfwIn today's CSM Quick Lesson with Ali Cudby you will discover the secrets to transforming casual customers into dedicated advocates. Learn strategies for recognition, celebration, and leveraging data to build lasting relationships and drive revenue growth. 'It's not always necessary to over-engineer stuff.' You can find the full conversation below:YouTube - https://youtu.be/d8XNsK7F-oYSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sRCJDKXImSsoa14PyEYEU?si=h2wwXmhqT-2npTFyBZhGfwLinkedin:Ali Cudby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicudby/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Check our Ali's book: Keep your customers - https://alignmintforgrowth.com/book/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/

Oct 29, 2025 • 52min
Strategic Customer Success: How CSMs Win Trust & Influence Action | Chad Horenfeldt
Chad Horenfeldt, VP of Customer Success and author of The Strategic Customer Success Manager, shares insights from his 20 years in SaaS. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and becoming a strategic advisor rather than just a problem-solver. Discover how AI tools can streamline preparation and the significance of clear agendas in meetings. Chad also reveals the SOON Funnel technique for collaborative success, and he highlights essential skills like growth mindset and business acumen for CSMs aspiring to advance their careers.

Oct 22, 2025 • 13min
CSM Quick Lesson: Boost Customer Onboarding Strategies with Donna Weber
Donna Weber, a customer onboarding expert and author of "Onboarding Matters," shares her insights on fostering trust and long-term partnerships. She emphasizes the importance of engaging stakeholders early and tailoring communication to executives. Donna discusses managing change resistance and the value of respectful, efficient meetings. She highlights the effectiveness of digital communication in maintaining momentum and suggests visualizing the onboarding journey to set clear expectations. Tune in for actionable strategies that drive customer success!

Oct 15, 2025 • 41min
Thriving as a New Customer Success Manager in a Startup with Priscila Fletcher
Priscila Fletcher, a seasoned Customer Success leader and founder of Latinos in Customer Success, shares her insights on thriving as a new CSM in startups. She discusses the critical first 90 days, highlighting a structured 30/60/90-day plan for success. Priscila emphasizes the importance of prioritization, building influence maps, and seeking mentors early on. She also offers practical tips for demonstrating impact and aligning with management goals, helping listeners navigate the chaos of startup life with confidence.

5 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 12min
CSM Quick Lesson: Upselling Tactics with Jan Young
Jan Young, a seasoned customer experience and success practitioner, shares powerful upselling tactics. She emphasizes the importance of timing and the right approach to maintain trust with customers. Selling too early can erode relationships, so focusing on needs post-sale is crucial. Jan discusses the balance between advocacy and expansion targets, warning against quota pressure that can lead to premature selling and increased churn. She also suggests proactive strategies for spotting upsell opportunities and highlights the value of effective negotiation skills.

Oct 1, 2025 • 48min
Why Do NPS Surveys Make or Break Your Job? with Myriam Hirt
In this episode, I sit down with Miriam Hirt, Head of Customer Success, to explore the true power of NPS surveys. With 7+ years of experience building CS teams and processes, Miriam shares her candid love-hate relationship with NPS, why feedback often goes unacted upon, and how her team transformed a bumpy survey journey into a structured, scalable voice of the customer program.You’ll learn:- When and how to send surveys for maximum response and impact- Why feedback is only valuable if you act on it and how to do that- The importance of segmenting your users and feedback types- How to collaborate cross-functionally to drive change- A practical, step-by-step guide to launching or improving your own survey strategyWhether you're just starting with surveys or want to improve how your org listens to customers, this episode is packed with real-world insights you can implement immediately.Mentioned: How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life by Michael LeBoeufConnect with Us:Myriam Hirt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-hirt/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/

Sep 17, 2025 • 43min
Customer Experience vs Customer Success: How to Design a Journey That Drives Loyalty |Vaishali Dialani
Vaishali Dialani, a seasoned customer experience strategist and co-author of CX5, shares insights on the vital differences between Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Success (CS). She outlines the three pillars of a successful customer journey: onboarding, proactive engagement, and advocacy. Vaishali emphasizes the importance of active customer listening and utilizing AI for a personalized experience. She also stresses the need for dedicated CX roles to break down silos and genuinely represent customer perspectives.

5 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 49min
The Invisible Game of Negotiation: How Psychology Wins Deals with Kai-Markus Mueller
Kai-Markus Mueller, a neuroscientist and consumer behavior expert, discusses the hidden dynamics of negotiation that can make or break deals. He reveals how framing can influence perceptions of value, using the Prada sweater strategy to illustrate this. The power of anchoring, why silence can be your secret weapon, and the psychology behind decision-making are explored in depth. Listeners gain insights on effective negotiation tactics that can be applied immediately, enhancing their sales and customer success strategies.


