
Practical Pivots
Practical Pivots is the go-to source for startup leaders and investors asking, “What do we do next?”. Each episode, we talk with a wide array of experts to guide companies to disrupt the undisruptable, turn setbacks into scale-ups, and transform plateaus into pivots.
Latest episodes

Dec 16, 2020 • 31min
Jason Swenk on 20 Years of Agency Changes and What Comes Next
Jason returns to the show to talk about what he got right—and wrong—with his early pandemic predictions and covers the importance of preparedness, podcasting, and processes.

Dec 9, 2020 • 39min
Wistia’s Chris Savage on Scaling Enthusiasm and Connecting through Content
Learn how the Wistia brand happened by accident and why leading a startup is easier when you have no experience. Also, hear about the scandals took down the former mob boss mayor of Providence, RI.

Dec 2, 2020 • 38min
Mark Organ on What It Takes to Be a Category Creator and His 3-Step Playbook
Hear why Mark prefers creating new playgrounds to building better mousetraps and learn about the three steps of successful category creation: discover, develop, and dominate.

Nov 25, 2020 • 45min
Video’s Versatility and the Power of Partnerships with Gabriel Marguglio
Learn how to use video as a tool, not just a product, and hear how partnerships have helped Gabriel's agency punch above its weight. He also teaches us about the Scandinavian practice of hygge and shares why he is *not* a Florida man.

Nov 18, 2020 • 43min
Changing Algorithms and Changing Company Culture with Agency Owner Kelli Kelley
When it comes to brand building, we have to be patient. When it comes to inclusion and diversity in business, we need change now. Hear Kelli speak to both and learn how her agency navigates the ever-changing world of digital for her clients.

Nov 11, 2020 • 43min
A Theory of Storytelling and a History of Agency.com with Storyvine’s Kyle Shannon
Society is in a storytelling renaissance. Learn why and hear how Kyle is democratizing one particular medium. He also talks entrepreneurship, warns against a major marketing mistake, and serenades us all with his guitar.

Nov 4, 2020 • 40min
Marketing for $10 Million, Alex: Hennessey’s Scott Shrum on Using Content to Dominate Legal SEO
Hear from a recent Jeopardy! champ on the most efficient way to buzz in, life lessons learned from improv, and exactly how much content a leading digital agency is creating for its clients.

Oct 28, 2020 • 44min
The Limits of Digital and the First Aid Kit of the Future with Ogilvy’s Ritesh Patel
Learn why Ritesh is so optimistic about the future of healthcare and hear what most people get wrong about digital. He and Steve also discuss what they want to be when they grow up.

Oct 21, 2020 • 40min
Rand Fishkin on the Evolution of SEO, Audience Intelligence, and Perfect Carbonara
#032: Steve and Rand talk startup myths, problematic duopolies, and Rebel Alliances. Rand also shares the people and brands he’s most excited about right now, and rants about the atrocity of putting cream in carbonara.

Oct 14, 2020 • 37min
Air Fryers and Genie Bras: Direct-to-Consumer Marketing & Creating #1 Products with Matt Fisher
#031: Hear the story behind your favorite “As Seen on TV” products and learn marketing lessons that apply to infomercials and digital alike. Matt also shares his journey from Netscape engineer to COO at one of the biggest direct-to-consumer names in the world.