The Marketing Companion

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.

Douglas Burdett, a seasoned podcast host known for The Marketing Book Podcast, reunites from retirement with Mark Schaefer to discuss his latest book, "Audacious." They highlight the need for audacity over mere competence in a world dominated by AI, insisting that marketers must unleash their creativity. Topics range from the vitality of user-generated content to the emotional power of awe in marketing. Mark emphasizes the importance of storytelling, even in B2B spaces, and advocates for empowering communities and employees to advocate authentically.

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

Join Dana Malstaff, Founder of the Boss Mom community, as she explores the intersection of AI and human connection. She shares why authentic marketing trumps automation and discusses her pivot from Facebook to community ownership. Delve into the intriguing concept of dark social and its effects on brand advocacy. Dana also introduces non-prompt AI, a method tailored to personal context, and emphasizes the importance of treating AI as a teammate. Discover practical ways to build loyalty and meaningful connections with audiences in this insightful conversation.

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

In this mind-bending episode, Mark Schaefer demonstrates why NotebookLM has taken the AI world by storm.

Keith Jennings, vice president of community impact at Jackson Healthcare, shares insights on career reinvention. He discusses how Mark Schaefer's new book sparked his reflection on stagnation and the importance of audacity in professional growth. They dive into three transformative questions for career development, emphasizing the difference between working in your job versus on it. Keith also highlights the need to stretch beyond your strengths and embrace new technologies, urging listeners to disrupt their routines to achieve meaningful impact.