
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

Aug 11, 2021 • 39min
Product Marketing, Hot Markets, and Second Product Syndrome with Crispin Read
Crispin explains what product marketers do and how to hire one. He also breaks down the difference between hot and cold markets and advises on multi-product portfolios.

Aug 4, 2021 • 30min
Authenticity, Alignment, and Anti-Hustle with Master Coach Aprille Franks
Aprille explains the problem with hustle culture and what we're *really* doing when we're scrolling online. She also addresses the gender pay gap.

Jul 28, 2021 • 39min
Discomfort Needs a Hug: Leadership and Content with Animalz CEO Devin Bramhall
Devin shares what it was like becoming CEO of Animalz during a pandemic and the content challenge she's thinking about now. Also, hear what progress and insanity have in common.

Jul 21, 2021 • 53min
Personal Branding, Virtual Presence, and Lessons from Acting with Carol Lempert
Carol explains why you need to know your personal brand, how to establish executive presence, and how to get more from meetings in a virtual or hybrid world.

Jul 14, 2021 • 35min
5 Marketing Competencies to Escape the Sea of Sameness with Stacey Danheiser
Stacey breaks down the 6 factors contributing to the sea of sameness and the 5 competencies marketers need to do better, as well as the major difference between B2B and B2C marketing.

Jul 7, 2021 • 37min
Sonic Logos, the Grateful Dead, and Fanocracy with David Meerman Scott
David shares PR lessons from the Grateful Dead, how the new rules of marketing are continuing to change, and the story behind his latest book Fanocracy.

Jun 30, 2021 • 37min
Journalism isn’t Dead and 1 Content Trend to Follow with Foundation’s Melanie Deziel
Melanie shares how a journalism background shaped her marketing, how to create an endless supply of content ideas, and why how-to content is so big right now.

Jun 23, 2021 • 23min
Stories Make Us Human: 8 Experts on the What, Why, and How of Storytelling
Hear from Ross Simmonds, Kyle Shannon, Andy Raskin, Dave Gerhardt, David Cancel, Nick Dujnic, Kelli Kelley, and Walter Knapp on the role of storytelling in marketing and society.

Jun 16, 2021 • 35min
Peep Laja on CRO, Sameness, and What’s in a Name
Peep defines CRO and gives 3 ways to stand out in a crowded market. He also shares the story behind his latest venture: message testing platform Wynter.

Jun 9, 2021 • 38min
Nonfiction Writing Tips and Subscription Marketing Strategies with Anne Janzer
Anne explains how she saw the initial wave of the subscription economy approaching and why marketing goals need to shift toward retention versus lead gen. She also shares the strategies that helped her become an award-winning author.