The Marketing Companion

In this highly intimate and vulnerable show, Mark Schaefer and Dana Malstaff discuss the times in their lives when they've had to keep a business running through illness, loss, and betrayal. To be human is to suffer and the world doesn't stop for us when the suffering comes. Mark and Dana share how they have kept going even through the hardest moments in their lives. A Marketing Companion episode you won't soon forget.

Carla Johnson, a speaker, educator, and author known for her expertise in innovation, joins the conversation to tackle the crisis of imagination in marketing. They explore the need to break through industry dullness, discussing the importance of playful, childlike creativity. Insights on cultivating creativity amidst work pressures and leveraging AI for innovation are shared, alongside an inspiring journey from selling t-shirts to launching themed bakeries. With anecdotes and practical habits, they encourage marketers to embrace audacity in their strategies.

Jay Acunzo, a vibrant content creator and entrepreneur, joins Mark Schaefer to explore strategies for staying relevant in a rapidly evolving world. They share personal anecdotes and emphasize the value of continuous learning and collaboration. The conversation transitions from tactical marketing tips to the significance of strategy and creative communication. They also highlight the transformative power of engaging with art, showcasing how active creation enhances understanding and keeps professionals ahead of the curve.

Amanda Russell, a marketing expert and educator, shares her journey of pivoting her personal brand toward real-time marketing experiments and community building. She candidly discusses the emotional challenges of evolving one's identity and the necessity of taking risks. Russell emphasizes the power of collaboration and iterative learning, reflecting on her plans for a new YouTube show that focuses on connection and experimentation. The conversation also touches on crowdsourcing ideas and maintaining consistency in content creation.

Join Andy Crestodina, a digital marketing expert and author of 'Content Chemistry,' as he dives into the seismic shifts AI is causing in the SEO landscape. Discover how AI impacts consumer search behavior and the necessity for high-quality content in this evolving market. The conversation also tackles the potential of LinkedIn newsletters for content marketing alongside traditional SEO methods. Lastly, learn about the importance of personal storytelling and authenticity in a world increasingly dominated by AI.

In this special episode, the legendary host of the Marketing Book podcast, Douglas Burdett, comes out of retirement to interview Mark Schaefer about his new book "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World." From now on, "competent" doesn't cut it. The bots are coming but we still own crazy. This is a time to ignite the human fireworks of creativity if marketing professionals are to transcend the threat from artificial intelligence.

As we hurtle into the AI Era, there will be many unintended consequences, and one of them might be a cognitive decline. Early research shows that as we increasingly depend on AI for our thinking and decisions, our brains become lazy. What are the implications for education? Are we re-defining humanity or returning to a simpler time before information overload?   Paul Roetzer and Mark Schaefer also discuss the DeepSeek outfall, Ai marketing fails, and more

In an AI world, the need for human connection will be more profound than ever. Dana Malstaff and Mark Schaefer talk about new ideas to integrate a human connection into AI prompts, communities, and content strategies. Here are some truly unique ideas that will make you re-think how you connect with customers and audiences.

Mathew Sweezey, Co-Founder of Salesforce's Web3 Studio and best-selling author, joins Mark Schaefer for a deep dive into future marketing trends. They discuss the transformative impact of AI on business operations and content creation, stressing the need for authenticity as technology advances. The duo also highlights the significance of immersive events for B2B marketing. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of change management to fully harness AI's potential and the challenges of fostering community engagement in an evolving marketing landscape.

In this fun and thought-provoking show, Mark Schaefer and Jay Acunzo challenge each other with the best questions they could ask each other — and then dissect the beauty of the question. Amp up you content game by listening to this extraordinary debate!   Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.   For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog. Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.   Jay Acunzo consults experts and entrepreneurs to differentiate their messages and content. He hosts the podcast How Stories Happen, where guests dissect signature stories piece by piece, and runs the Creator Kitchen, where experts learn to become stronger storytellers. Learn more at jayacunzo.com