In Clear Focus

IN CLEAR FOCUS: In a zero-click world, reputation can shift instantly. Our guest, Kathleen Lucente, CEO of Red Fan Communications, reveals how to turn PR into a measurable revenue driver. She details the "crisis trinity" of speed, transparency, and messaging, and how to avoid the "announcement trap" during M&A. We discuss why brands need an authority reality check to survive in the AI era, and how to identify hidden thought leaders to help build credibility and weather social media storms.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is strategy consultant Kyle Austin Young, who discusses his new book, "Success is a Numbers Game." Kyle explains Probability Hacking: a framework to systematically de-risk goals. We also explore Kyle's 'Success Diagram,' discuss why "Bic For Her" pens failed, and hear how to use keyword research to validate market needs. Learn how to identify potential bad outcomes and tilt the odds in your favor, whether you're launching a product or training for a marathon.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jon-Stephen Stansel, the author of the Bigeye Book Club selection, "The 10 Principles of Social Media Marketing," explains why human judgment remains essential: "AI can do a lot, but it doesn't have taste." Jon also discusses timeless principles for effective social media, drawn from his work on franchises such as "The Lord of the Rings." Learn why social media is not a one-person job, how to create a consistent brand voice, and why there's no such thing as a boring brand.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Forget chasing big-name podcasts. This week's guest, publicist Christina Lenkowski, reveals why the real money is in guesting on niche shows packed with your ideal audience. She explains how to use podcast guesting as powerful earned media to be someone prospects "know, like, and trust." Learn the secrets to a successful pitch, the importance of service over self-promotion, how to avoid common mistakes, and why this strategy is a long-game for generating warm, qualified leads.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Thom Mozloom of The M Network discusses why brands like Bud Light and Cracker Barrel face backlash. He argues their marketers don't understand, or even like, their core audience. Thom explains how to navigate controversy with honesty and why values-driven marketing, not just purpose-led, is key to building loyalty. He also shares fresh research on news consumption and why he believes attention spans haven't shrunk but tolerance for bad content has.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jessica Gillingham, author of "Tech-Enabled Hospitality," explores how tech is reshaping hospitality marketing and the guest journey. She discusses the challenge of marketing to digital natives who expect a seamless journey from search to booking. Jessica explains how data silos and reliance on OTAs prevent true personalization and building direct guest relationships. Learn how marketers can create loyalty beyond points and shift from per-night transactions to customer LTV.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: For our 300th episode, strategist Ulli Appelbaum, author of "The Science of Brand Associations," reveals why brand associations are the operating system of marketing. He explains how brands exist as memory networks, and why their strength predicts 80% of future purchases. Ulli also discusses his evidence-based framework, grounded in neuroscience, for building stronger associations that drive growth and command premium prices. Hear why advertising should reinforce brand memory through associations.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Amanda Patterson, founder of Rocket Fuel Labs, discusses the rise of fractional CMOs and shares practical tips on developing effective marketing for startups and scaleups. Drawing from her experience scaling MINDBODY from $30M to $200M, Amanda details a data-driven "bottoms-up" plan for efficient growth. She explains why "brand builds demand," the underrated power of customer journey mapping, and how to de-risk marketing spend for quick wins in a high-stakes environment.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Veteran copywriter Nick Usborne explains how to combat "brand drift" with a story-first, AI-powered content strategy. Nick introduces his Story Aligned framework, arguing that a brand's unique story is its only defensible moat against the "sameness trap." He reveals why marketers must lead with story when prompting AI. Learn how to use structured prompts to scale content while preserving the human touch and authentic brand communication that builds lasting trust.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: To mark Hispanic Heritage Month, strategists Kathy Guzmán Galloway and Alex Santiago join host Karen Jimenez to explore how brands can authentically connect with Hispanic consumers. They discuss why cultural context matters more than literal translation, the importance of diverse teams, and how consumer immersions uncover deep insights. Learn why "multicultural is mainstream" and how to move beyond superficial tactics to build genuine relationships with this influential audience.