

Marketing Against The Grain
Hubspot Media
Kipp Bodnar (HubSpot’s CMO) and Kieran Flanagan (Hubspot's SVP of Marketing), lead you down the rabbit hole of marketing trends, growth tactics and innovation. On the way you’ll pick up undiscovered strategies to give you that slight edge for success. These are not your typical twitter thread regurgitated marketing tactics that everyone is doing. These are new methods, with unfiltered examination of successful fresh ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books

38 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 45min
How to Start a $1M Business Using Only AI
Greg Isenberg, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Ideabrowser, shares insights on building $1M businesses with AI. He discusses the importance of niche trends and introduces tools for spotting high-potential ideas. Greg emphasizes the need for fast market validation through lean tactics like landing pages and customer interviews. He explores the potential of ChatGPT-native apps and showcases strategies for creating engaging AI-driven content. Listeners will learn how to leverage AI for audience building and the future of multimodal marketing.

66 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 40min
This Ai Agent Turns 1 Image Into A 30 Second Commercial
Join Nate Herk, Co-founder and CGO at TrueHorizon AI, as he dives into the fascinating world of AI automation. He reveals how a simple image can be transformed into a stunning 30-second commercial using advanced tools like n8n and VO3. Learn about the seamlessly integrated workflows that take images from upload to finished ad in no time. Nate emphasizes the importance of prompting for quality outputs and shares his top strategies for automating business processes, making it easier for anyone to boost productivity and achieve impressive ROI.

94 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 51min
AI Tools to Replace Your $10k+ Creative Agency
Rory Flynn, an AI creative specialist and founder of AI-driven systems, shares insights on leveraging AI to revolutionize marketing. He discusses creating high-quality imagery and video with tools like Weavy, emphasizing how prompt formulas can turn one brief into hundreds of assets. Rory explains breaking photos into core elements and using modular prompting to replicate photo shoots. He advocates democratizing skills by sharing prompts, enabling teams to become self-sufficient, and highlights the potential of AI for fast, cost-effective product photography.

75 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 22min
Did OpenAI Just Kill EVERY Social Media Platform?
The discussion kicks off with the revolutionary launch of Sora 2, an AI video model that could challenge TikTok's dominance. It features sophisticated cloning for seamless digital personas and a cameo mechanic for monetizing likenesses. With the rise of AI-generated content, concerns about ownership, creative value, and potential clutter on social feeds are raised. The hosts debate the implications of zero marginal costs for creativity and the necessity for marketers to evolve into prompt engineers in this rapidly changing landscape.

138 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 21min
Marketing Advice You’ll Thank Me for in 12 Months | Neil Patel
Neil Patel, a digital marketing entrepreneur and co-founder of NP Digital, discusses revolutionary marketing tactics for the AI era. He explains how AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) can dramatically boost conversion rates compared to traditional SEO. Neil shares insights on why blogs remain vital for AI platforms, emphasizes the importance of crafting content for both humans and AI, and addresses the shifts in touchpoints along sales cycles. He also advocates for using comparison content and free tools as scalable strategies to engage customers effectively.

74 snips
Sep 25, 2025 • 17min
The #1 Job Needed in the AI Era Right Now
The AI revolution is driving a surge in demand for human consultants. Discover how to set up a consulting business and use AI audits to deliver valuable services quickly. Learn about customer acquisition strategies, including leveraging LinkedIn and YouTube. There's a $100B opportunity for one-person agencies and a growing need for specialized skills to integrate AI effectively. Kipp and Kieran explore how tech-savvy individuals can monetize their knowledge in this exciting new landscape.

119 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 36min
Everything you need to know about AEO in 2025
Discover how Google’s Gemini is ushering in a new era, potentially ending traditional web pages. Learn why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is set to replace SEO, focusing on conversational searches and AI-driven visibility. Explore the shift in marketing strategies as brands adapt to agentic browsing and the demand for AI transformation services. The hosts also discuss the impact of direct engagement by CEOs on PR and how this reshapes brand visibility in an AI-centric world.

56 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 22min
How This AI Startup Grew to $50M ARR in 2 Years (Marketing Playbook)
Discover how an AI startup soared to $50M ARR by harnessing the power of influencer-led marketing. Dive into their strategies that transform traditional marketing into viral sensations. Learn about establishing product feedback loops essential for success in the competitive AI landscape. The hosts share unique insights on operationalizing creator programs and the significance of brand investment in driving performance. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to innovate their marketing approach!

157 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 33min
The Brand NEW AI Marketing Strategy for 2025
In this discussion, Aja Frost, Sr. Director of Global Growth at HubSpot, shares insights on how AI is transforming marketing. She highlights the decline in click-through rates and introduces 'loop marketing' as a game-changing strategy for the future. Aja explains how AI can enhance creativity and personalization in marketing campaigns, especially in email strategies. The conversation also emphasizes adapting content to meet AI-driven demands and the necessity for marketers to take immediate action and continuously learn in an ever-evolving landscape.

120 snips
Sep 11, 2025 • 26min
This is How the Top 1% Marketers are Using AI
Nicholas Holland, Head of AI and SVP Product at HubSpot, shares his expertise on harnessing AI for marketing success. He emphasizes the importance of context in using AI tools effectively, revealing how the top 1% of marketers leverage AI for growth. Discover the potential of AI agents to streamline tasks like competitive analysis and lead qualification. Holland also highlights the shift towards engaging, personal marketing strategies and the need for creativity in adapting to these innovations. Get ready to push beyond traditional limits!