Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

Send us a textIn this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, host Mike Montague sits down with Tim Brewer and Damian Bramanis from Functionly to unpack one of the most urgent questions facing modern leaders: how do you structure a business when AI changes what people actually do? Spoiler alert: it’s not about mass layoffs or robot takeovers. It’s about faster org design cycles, rethinking roles, and helping humans focus on work that matters.If you’re a small marketing director, founder, or executive feeling the squeeze between rapid AI evolution and stagnant org charts, this episode is for you. We explore how AI is exposing blind spots, automating busywork, and forcing leaders to replace reorgs with real-time agility. Plus, we share practical, human-first strategies to help your team thrive by focusing less on job titles and more on what gives people energy. It’s time to lead differently.Top Takeaways 1. AI won’t take your job, but it will take your tasksYour job is made up of many tasks, and AI is already handling parts of it faster and more efficiently than you can.2. Org design must become continuous, not cyclical.Traditional 3-year reorganizations are too slow; organizational structures now need to evolve in real-time as work shifts.3. Blind spots and bottlenecks are AI’s sweet spot.AI surfaces inefficiencies that leaders often overlook, such as duplicate roles, unclear reporting lines, or forgotten projects.4. Most org charts already have ‘gaps, cracks, and overlaps’These inefficiencies exist in every business; AI accelerates the need to fix them rather than cover them up.5. AI’s pace is like the Industrial Revolution on fast forwardThe changes we’re seeing today are similar to past revolutions, but happening 10x faster, over 7 years instead of 70.6. AI agents might soon have a “seat” in the org chartThe line between tool and teammate is blurring, and some roles will eventually be owned by software, not staff.7. Humans should focus on energy-giving, creative workLeaders should redesign roles based on what tasks give people energy, and automate what drains them.8. Taste, judgment, and leadership still belong to humansAs AI handles more execution, humans will lead by defining vision, setting priorities, and applying context.9. Change management is now a leadership competency, not a projectLeaders must create adaptable teams that can shift quickly, instead of just reacting every few years.10. Reorganizations should feel like Lego, not a PowerPoint presentation.Good org design should be hands-on, collaborative, and modular, not a top-down, static plan from consultants.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textIn this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with Vinod Kumar, founder of Syntheum.ai, to explore how AI is transforming one of the most overlooked but essential roles in retail and e-commerce: merchandising. They dig into how AI tools are finally giving merchandisers the support they deserve, freeing them from spreadsheets, synonyms, and search-engine gymnastics, and putting the focus back on strategy, creativity, and buyer experience.Whether you're selling mugs or monogrammed license plates, this conversation is packed with insights on how AI can help small businesses compete like big brands. You’ll hear how smart search, predictive analytics, and intent-based personalization are not just buzzwords, they’re tools SMBs can actually use today to test faster, waste less, and serve better. If you're ready to stop guessing and start merchandising smarter, this episode is your roadmap.Top Takeaways:1. Merchandisers are the glue between brand and buyer.They shape the shopping experience online or in-store by deciding what products people see and how they're presented.2. Most merchandising tools are outdated or nonexistent.Merchandisers often rely on clunky sub-features buried in e-commerce platforms, leaving them stuck with manual, repetitive tasks.3. AI can personalize product discovery in real time.AI-powered systems can surface the most relevant, available, and profitable items based on shopper behavior and intent, not just keywords.4. Natural language search improves the buyer journey.New AI search tools can understand conversational queries, slang, and even misspellings, helping shoppers find what they mean, not just what they typed.5. Color and size variants create merchandising chaos.AI simplifies how products like “Blue Sky Mugs” are tagged, found, and sorted—something that used to require tons of manual intervention.6. Predictive analytics helps SMBs avoid costly mistakes.Small brands can now use AI to test product-market fit and spot trends before investing in inventory that doesn’t sell.7. AI unlocks smarter product testing and fast pivots.Instead of losing time and money experimenting manually, businesses can now test ideas, pricing, and messaging virtually and iteratively.8. Search results should be optimized for margin and availability.AI can prioritize products with better profit margins or faster fulfillment, improving business outcomes without compromising shopper relevance.9. Just-in-time production is becoming more viable.On-demand manufacturing, combined with AI demand forecasting, points to a future where businesses don’t need to hold risky inventory.10. Future commerce will be more localized and sustainable.Vinod envisions AI-driven ecosystems that match buyer intent with nearby, ethical production tThe Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textEthical AI isn't just a philosophy; it’s a practical framework for building better digital experiences. In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Warren Wilansky, founder of Plank and the Ethical Web Collective, to explore what ethics actually look like in web design and development. From accessibility and inclusion to sustainable coding and responsible data collection, Warren shares real-world examples and tools that small marketing teams can use today, without needing a massive tech budget.You’ll learn why accessibility is more than a compliance checklist, how AI can open new doors for users with different abilities, and why bloated websites and passive data collection could silently drain your resources. Whether you’re leading marketing for an SMB or managing your organization’s online presence, this conversation will help you rethink how your digital footprint affects real people and how to make it more human.Top Takeaways:1. Ethics in design is about alignment, not judgment.Ethics shouldn’t feel like a moral high ground; it’s about defining and living by values that align with your brand and customers.2. Accessibility expands your reach and reflects your values.Making your website usable for people with disabilities or limited connectivity isn't just right; it’s good business.3. Optimize your site for low bandwidth, not just high-end devices.A fast, lightweight website serves people in rural areas, on mobile, or with unreliable internet, and audiences are often overlooked.4. Follow real accessibility standards, not just automated scores.Tools like Google Lighthouse are a starting point, but true inclusion comes from understanding WCAG guidelines and user experience.5. Responsible development means planning for handoffs.Write clean, well-documented code and interfaces so future developers or your client aren’t left with digital debt.6. Environmental impact matters even online.Every page load and AI query consumes energy; minimizing bloat and heavy media is a quiet but powerful way to reduce your carbon footprint.7. Auto-playing videos and giant images can do more harm than good.Design choices that look slick may slow down performance and hurt accessibility, especially on mobile.8. Don’t hoard data you’re not using.Storing outdated or unused customer data is a risk and a liability; only collect what you can actually use to improve the experience.9. Open-source and portable tools build long-term trust.Use platforms like WordPress and avoid proprietary lock-ins so your clients (or future self) aren't stuck.10. Ethical handoffs create better referrals and reputations.Warren sees passing on well-documented, functional websites as a professional responsibility, not a missed opportunity.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textForget clicks. What your customers feel matters more than what they say or do. In this episode, Alexandra Gonzalez of Savvy Marketers joins us to explore how sentiment analysis, facial recognition, and biometric data can reveal the emotional truth behind your marketing. We dig into why 93% of communication happens beyond words, how to uncover hidden emotional signals in your campaigns, and how SMB marketers can apply neuroscience, not guesswork, to craft messages that actually resonate.You’ll hear why some big brands went viral for the wrong reasons, how to avoid tone-deaf campaigns, and why putting your customer at the center of your strategy is both smart and human-first. Whether you're working with a lean team or looking for smarter ways to validate messaging before launch, this conversation will shift how you think about “engagement.” The future of marketing isn’t more noise; it’s a deeper connection. Let’s talk about how AI can help you get there.Top Takeaways 1. 93% of customer emotion isn’t verbalFacial expressions, tone, and eye movement reveal more than words; if you're only listening to surveys, you're missing the real data.2. Sentiment ≠ AffinityHigh engagement can mean love or hate; what matters is why someone clicks, not just that they did.3. Human + AI = Smarter MarketingAI can detect micro-reactions at scale, but human marketers are essential for adding context, empathy, and cultural relevance.4. Bad campaigns cost millions, but they’re avoidable.Iconic failures like Pepsi and Bud Light show what happens when brands skip emotional testing and make assumptions about their audience.5. Pre-testing isn’t a luxury; it’s a filterUsing biometrics and AI sentiment tools before launch helps avoid wasted media spend and public backlash.6. Consumers don’t mind being asked they mind being misrepresentedPeople are more open to sharing when they feel seen and understood; skipping research creates resentment, not savings.7. The future isn’t AI vs. humans, it’s augmented intuitionGreat marketing combines machine precision with human insight to create real emotional resonance.8. Students and interns are untapped trendspotters.Younger teams bring emerging perspectives on cultural shifts that can fuel next-gen marketing relevance.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textIn this episode of the Human First AI Marketing podcast, host Mike Monague sits down with Zeke Camusio, founder of Data Speaks AI, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can unlock the true potential of their marketing data. With decades of experience in both marketing and data science, Zeke breaks down how AI-powered analytics can help SMBs cut through complexity, eliminate guesswork, and make smarter, ROI-driven decisions without replacing the human expertise that makes marketing truly impactful.Together, Mike and Zeke dive into the critical difference between accurate data and meaningful insights, the shortcomings of traditional attribution models, and the rising importance of accessible, real-time reporting. You'll hear about the evolving role of the marketer in an AI-assisted world, the value of human-in-the-loop systems, and how to build a culture that treats data as a tool for learning, not a weapon for judgment. If your business wants to work smarter, not harder, with its ad spend and analytics stack, this episode is your roadmap.Top Takeaways 1. AI amplifies, not replaces, human marketers.Zeke emphasizes that AI is best used to supercharge human decision-making, not to automate creativity or eliminate strategic thinking.2. Marketing data is often siloed and overwhelming.Most businesses use 12+ platforms, making it nearly impossible to manually analyze performance and optimize in real time without help.3. Your source of truth is your revenue, not your pixels.Relying on pixel-based attribution leads to misleading data; marketers must anchor insights to real financial outcomes.4. AI can monitor millions of data points and prioritize insights.Instead of drowning in dashboards, AI systems can filter noise and surface the 2–3 actions that will move the needle.5. Accurate, accessible data is a competitive advantage.Companies that make it easy for teams to access and understand data are 3x more likely to make better marketing decisions.6. The most valuable insights come from human-AI collaboration.Marketers must provide context and judgment while AI handles the heavy data lifting; this synergy leads to smarter actions.7. Multi-touch attribution models often lack scientific grounding.Tools that arbitrarily divide credit between platforms miss the nuanced, real-world customer journey that influences purchases.8. Great analytics needs a balance of platform, process, and people.Data Speaks AI uses this triad to structure its approach, delivering scalable, self-service analytics without losing strategic depth.9. Running experiments builds a healthy data culture.Teams should test hypotheses, measure impact, and learn from outcomes to foster a learning environment instead of a blame culture.10. The future of marketing is AI-connected, real-time, and assistive.Zeke predictsThe Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textAre you feeling pressure to “keep up with AI”? You’re not alone and you’re not crazy for being skeptical.In this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with former Google strategist and author of Infailable, Chris Hood, to talk about what AI can actually do for small businesses and what it can’t. Spoiler: it’s not as “autonomous” as everyone’s saying.We break down real ways you can use AI to grow your business, boost your content, and support your customers, without wasting time or money on tools that don’t serve your goals.This is the AI reality check every small business owner needs.Top Takeaways 1. There’s no such thing as autonomous AI.Many AI tools promise to “run things for you,” but they still need your guidance and input. Don’t expect them to work magic on their own.2. Don’t get fooled by marketing buzzwords.Just because something sounds futuristic (like “swarm intelligence” or “AI agents”) doesn’t mean it’s useful or necessary for your business.3. Different AIs do different jobs.Chatbots, content tools, prediction engines, and customer insights software all fall under “AI,” but they work in totally different ways. Learn what you actually need before you commit.4. Use AI to support your business, not replace your people.The smartest use of AI is to save time on repetitive tasks so your team can focus on serving customers, building relationships, and growing your brand.5. Start with your customer, not the tool.Before jumping into AI or automation, ask: “What’s my customer struggling with?” The right solution might be simpler—and cheaper—than you think.6. You don’t need a big “digital transformation” plan.Focus on quick wins. Test small improvements, one step at a time. That’s what Chris calls digital acceleration, and it’s a perfect fit for lean teams.7. Ask better questions before you buy new tools.A lot of AI products sound exciting, but don’t actually solve real problems. Be clear about the result you want first, then shop for tools.8. Human-first businesses build more trust and grow faster.AI is a great assistant, but people still want to buy from people. Your job is to use technology to enhance your customer experience, not complicate it.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textIf you're building or thinking about building a membership community, this episode will change the way you approach it. Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of The Membership Lab, joins Mike Montague for a human-first conversation on what really makes membership communities thrive. Spoiler: it's not content volume or fancy platforms; it's alignment, authenticity, and intentional activation. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or SMB marketing director, you'll walk away with fresh insights on how to turn passive sign-ups into active advocates.Together, Nathalie and Mike unpack how to use AI as an accelerator, not a replacement. You'll learn how to personalize onboarding, increase engagement through smart automation, and create a community your members actually want to show up for. Discover how to combine AI with emotional intelligence to scale your impact without burning out. This one’s for the builders, the brand leaders, and the brave few ready to lead from the heart.Key Takeaways 1. Don’t start a community if you don’t want to run one.Many communities fail because they’re built for scale, not passion; you need genuine energy behind your offer to sustain it long-term.2. AI should accelerate decisions, not replace them.AI works best when it helps members make quicker, more confident choices, not when it tries to be the coach or consultant.3. Excitement and alignment beat flashy tools.Before choosing tech or content models, make sure your offer aligns with your own goals and actually solves a meaningful problem for your members.4. Onboarding is where engagement begins.Use the first moments in your membership to create personalized experiences based on members' goals, so they feel seen and supported from day one.5. Smaller, paid communities often perform better than large, free ones.When people pay, they pay attention; smaller, focused groups with skin in the game tend to engage more deeply and consistently.6. AI-enhanced prompts can accelerate content creation and confidence.From email writing to sales roleplay, AI can reduce the friction that keeps your members stuck, while giving them a starting point to move forward faster.7. If you don’t remind people why they joined, they’ll forget.Behavioral nudges, regular check-ins, and contextual content help members stay connected to their own “why” inside your program.8. Ask members what they want, then build with them.Co-creation isn’t a gimmicThe Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textMike Montague sits down with Greg Wasserman, a self-proclaimed "relationship broker," to explore how AI is changing the way we build trust, make introductions, and grow our businesses. They unpack why automation isn’t enough, how referrals and warm intros still outperform cold leads, and why understanding context beats simply generating content. If you're tired of playing the algorithm game, this is your permission slip to market more humanly.Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or sales leader, you’ll walk away with real strategies for blending AI tools with emotional intelligence. Discover how to save time without losing connection, how podcasting builds community (not just content), and how curating meaningful relationships will be your biggest differentiator in 2025 and beyond. This episode is for anyone who believes that smarter marketing starts with stronger relationships.Top Takeaways1. Warm intros are still the highest-converting leads.AI can match people, but a personal introduction builds instant trust and shortens the sales cycle.2. AI lacks human context.Tools can analyze data, but they don’t understand personalities, goals, or the nuances behind a real connection.3. Automation should free up time for connection, not replace it.Use AI to handle repetitive tasks so you can spend more time building meaningful relationships.4. Podcasting builds community, not just content.When paired with AI tools like CastMagic, podcast interviews can be repurposed into relationship-nurturing content at scale.5. Spam is at an all-time high, and buyers are tuning out.In a world flooded with AI-generated messages, human-first outreach is how you stand out.6. Referrals from people who know both parties are 10x more valuable.A true relationship broker adds value by curating connections, not just making introductions.7. Influencers work because they feel human.The rise of influencer marketing proves people still buy from people they know, like, and trust, even at scale.8. Community beats cold outreach.Creating connection-rich environments (virtual or in-person) leads to more trust, collaboration, and long-term business.9. The future of sales is back to basics.AI won’t replace the need for relationship-building; it will just expose who’s doing it poorly.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textWhat makes a story resonate?Tim Kalinowski, founder of Lore Creative, joins Mike Montague to unpack the storytelling strategies that actually connect with real people and how SMBs can use AI to amplify them without losing the human heartbeat of their brand. From five-star reviews as a narrative starting point to the “aha moments” that trigger buyer action, this episode explores how modern tools like AI can help you find your story, but not tell it for you.You’ll hear how to test story arcs with AI, the psychology behind memorable content, and why Tim believes brand storytelling still drives the best results in a world obsessed with quick content and clickbait. If you're a small business owner or marketing director trying to make your content feel more authentic, more scalable, and more effective, this conversation will change how you see both AI and storytelling. CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome Mike introduces Tim Kalinowski, founder of Lore Creative, and sets the stage for the AI + storytelling conversation.01:00 – The Truth About AI and Storytelling Tim explains why AI can help tell a story, but it can’t create the experience that makes it human.02:00 – The “Five-Star Review” Method How asking clients to describe a five-star review reveals your real brand narrative.03:30 – Testing Stories with AI Tim shares how Lore uses AI to test story resonance, ad performance, and audience fit—without losing authenticity.04:45 – Creating “Aha” and “Hell Yes” Moments The psychology behind stories that instantly make customers want to act.06:00 – Finding Your Brand’s Core Experience Why your story needs to be rooted in lived moments to feel real—and how to capture them.07:00 – The Evolution of Storytelling Formats From TikTok to long-form podcasts: how the medium is shifting, but the fundamentals stay the same.08:30 – Scaling Creative Output with AI Tools The difference between using AI as a crutch vs. a force multiplier for creative teams.10:00 – The Power of Personalization in Modern Storytelling How AI allows brands to tell many versions of the same story—to the right person, at the right time.12:00 – The Future of Story-Driven Marketing Tim and Mike explore where AI-driven creative is heading, and why human-first brands will win the long game.14:00 – Building Content Ecosystems Around Stories How one great conversation or customer quote can generate weeks of content across formats and platforms.15:30 – Final Thoughts: Creativity, Connection & Clarity Why marketers need to think like mentors, not machines—and how to turn experience into engagement.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Send us a textMost marketing teams pour time, money, and AI tools into tactics, email sequences, content engines, and funnel hacks without realizing their core offer is the real problem. In this episode, Mike Montague sits down with Jessica Miller, award-winning host of It’s Your Offer, to unpack how to create "Hell Yes" offers that act as the most profitable lever in your business, especially under $1M in revenue. Together, they break down the myths of overcomplication, the pitfalls of copycat offers, and why your marketing will never convert if your offer isn’t magnetic.Whether you’re a CMO trying to optimize pipeline efficiency or a founder chasing product-market fit, this conversation is your shortcut to clarity. You’ll learn how to tap into what you actually want to sell, why most buyers decide without needing a 27-scroll landing page, and how to use AI to support, not replace, your human-first instincts. Get ready to rethink how your best offer finds your best buyer.CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: What is a “Hell Yes” Offer?01:30 – Most businesses overcomplicate their offers03:00 – Why hard work ≠ profits (and what it does)05:00 – The leaky funnel problem07:15 – How to know when you’ve found a Hell Yes Offer09:00 – Energy, not just strategy, drives conversion10:45 – Don’t copy the market, create from what lights you up13:00 – AI can’t fix a broken offer, but it can multiply a working one15:30 – Offer validation tips: talk to real people17:00 – The role of speed, simplicity, and specificity in offer design19:30 – Human-first AI marketing tips for CMOs22:00 – Final thoughts: Where to start with offer optimizationThe Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.We’re not just another AI company trying to build robots to replace you. We will help make you the hero. We’re marketers, too, and we get how important creativity, empathy, and human insight are when connecting with your ideal clients. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!