Agency Giants
Jordan Platten
Welcome to Agency Giants, the podcast that delves into the minds of the world's top 1% agency owners. Join us as we explore the secrets behind their remarkable success and gain invaluable insights from their unique journeys.Hosted by Jordan Platten, an industry-leading UK Youtuber and agency owner who has generated over $100 million in return on investment for a diverse variety of brands around the globe.Each episode of the podcast features in-depth conversations with visionary agency owners who have achieved unparalleled heights in their respective fields. From digital marketing to advertising, branding to PR, we cover a diverse range of agency specialties, ensuring a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for all listeners.Through engaging discussions, we uncover the strategies, philosophies, and innovative approaches that set these exceptional entrepreneurs apart. How did they overcome obstacles and build their agencies from the ground up? What bold decisions propelled their growth? What lessons did they learn along the way? Find out as we delve into their triumphs, failures, and everything in between.The Agency Giants podcast goes beyond surface-level success stories. We explore the nuances of scaling agencies, managing teams, nurturing client relationships, and staying ahead of industry trends. Whether you're an aspiring agency owner, a seasoned professional seeking fresh perspectives, or simply curious about the inner workings of top-performing agencies, this podcast offers the actionable insights you crave.Join us on this captivating journey as we unlock the strategies that drive the world's most successful agencies. Discover firsthand how these extraordinary leaders are shaping the future of the industry and learn how you can apply their wisdom to your own entrepreneurial endeavors.If you're ready to challenge the status quo and gain a competitive edge in the world of agencies, subscribe to Agency Giants and prepare to be inspired. Get ready to unleash your potential, elevate your business acumen, and unlock the secrets to agency success with the remarkable individuals who are reshaping the industry, one groundbreaking idea at a time.So, whether you're commuting, working out, or enjoying a moment of quiet reflection, tune in to Agency Giants and immerse yourself in the captivating stories of those who have conquered the world of agencies and are ready to share their invaluable insights with you.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 12, 2026 • 1h 32min
How I’d Build a 1-Person AI Web Design Agency from Scratch | Gautam Khorana | #41
Gautam Khorana, co-founder of global WordPress agency Seahawk Media, shares how he’d launch a one-person AI web design business today. They explore AI tools, headless WordPress, custom internal software, white-label services, and maintenance plans worth $49 to $600 monthly. The conversation also tackles remote teams, programmatic SEO, crawl budgets, and why AEO hype may be getting ahead of reality.
Sep 23, 2026 • 1h 20min
I Lost £300k/Month... So I Cloned My Team With AI Agents | Kelly Allison | #40
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 40 (Kelly Allison)__________________________________________This week on Agency Giants, I sat down with Kelly, founder of KVA.She started the agency in the back bedroom of a tiny flat, on maternity leave, with £100 in the bank.Over a decade later, KVA is one of the UK's top digital transformation agencies & one of the 50 Most Inspiring Places to Work in the UK.But it's not been a smooth ride. Trust me.Almost overnight, revenue dropped from £300K a month to £20K. She was losing £100K+ a month & had no choice but to pivot.So she rebuilt the agency around a fully agentic AI workforce, trained by her senior team, & cut her prices in half.Kelly's IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.culturequeen/KVA: https://www.kvadigital.co.uk/__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Intro01:11 What an In-House Agentic AI Workforce Actually Looks Like03:11 From Junior Designer to Starting an Agency on Maternity Leave10:44 Why Headcount Is the Wrong Measure of Success & Sacking a £1M Client14:53 People Problems, Burnout, Divorce & Learning to Live in the Present19:33 From Healthcare Niche to Humanising AI Adoption for Clients25:12 Building the Internal AI System: Training Agents on Your Senior Team's Thinking29:36 "The Agency Model Is Dead": Halving Prices & Losing 90% of Revenue in Two Weeks38:53 Using AI in Regulated Industries: Guardrails & Human Quality Control43:03 Essential AI Tools, Model Choices & Licensing Your System to Other Agencies50:14 Culture Queen: Unlimited Holiday, Team Trips to Saint Lucia & Richard Branson57:31 Women-Owned Businesses, LinkedIn Algorithm Bias & Hiring for Balance1:11:28 The Five-Year Plan, Four-Day Week & Commission for Every Employee1:18:01 Starting From Scratch Today & Quick-Fire Questions
Sep 11, 2026 • 1h 8min
How We Scaled Our SEO Agency From £1M to £6M+/Year | Ben Foster | #39
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 39 (Ben Foster)__________________________________________This week on Agency Giants, I sit down with Ben from The SEO Works, one of the UK's leading SEO agencies.When Ben joined the business, it was doing just under £1M in turnover & making zero profit.Fast forward to today, they've grown to £6M+, a team of 65, & over 20,000 top-three Google rankings for their clients.Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfoster99The SEO Works: https://www.seoworks.co.uk/FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Introduction01:09 Joining an Existing Agency: Ben's Path to Managing Director10:05 Restructuring for Scale: Pods, Going National & New Services12:36 Marketing an SEO Agency: LinkedIn, Paid Search & EGC19:03 Hiring Lessons & Promoting Leaders from Within24:23 Inside the Pod Structure at 60+ Staff31:06 The Secret Behind 20,000 Top-Three Google Rankings36:18 ChatGPT, AI Overviews & Optimising for AI Search51:02 Employee Ownership: Selling the Agency to Its Staff56:42 The Future of Agencies in an AI World1:03:59 Quickfire Questions
Aug 30, 2026 • 1h 22min
Why Apps Are the REAL AI Gold Rush (13x Incoming) | Sam Olsson | #38
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 38 (Sam Olsson)__________________________________________Websites went from 150 million to 2 billion once Shopify & simple website builders made them easier to build. Apps are about to do the same thing, because AI has made building one effortless.That's a projected 13x wave of new apps, & every one of them needs an agency to grow it.Sam Olsson saw it coming. He pivoted Kurve into app growth when most agencies wouldn't touch it, & built the go-to, award-winning agency in the market.Sam's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/niall-ratcliffeKurve: https://kurve.co.uk/__________________________________________Work With Me 👉 https://www.affluent.academy/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=agencypod&utm_term=interview&utm_content=563d__________________________________________FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Intro01:10 Curiosity, Failure & the Road from Potatoes to Digital10:43 How Kurve Became an Agency & Won Its First Clients16:10 Inbound Strategy: Creating Content to Rank in LLM Search19:08 Creative-Led Growth: Why Targeting Died & What Replaced It23:31 App Marketing vs B2C: Living in the Apple & Google Duopoly29:04 When Ads Don't Work: Telling Founders the Hard Truth37:05 Niche Specialisation & Building an App Ecosystem49:13 AI's Impact on Agencies & the Future of Software58:27 What's Next for Kurve & the Rise of Operator Agencies1:00:29 Will AI Drive Prices Down? Where Agency Value Really Lies1:09:22 Advice for New Starters & Building Toward an Exit1:13:25 Rapid Fire: Stop Doing This, Dream Clients & Must-Reads1:18:37 The Biggest Lesson in Managing Managers
Aug 7, 2026 • 1h 22min
We Send 100,000 LinkedIn DMs a Month (Here's What Works) | Niall Ratcliffe | #37
Niall Ratcliffe, founder of Noticed. and builder of LinkedIn-first GTM systems, explains why LinkedIn is a rolodex, not social media. He covers content types that actually start conversations, outreach that converts at scale, safe automation limits, and the positioning-plus-outreach pyramid that scaled his agency. Expect practical takes on content process, AI use, and hiring to boost reach.
Jul 16, 2026 • 55min
How We Manage 100+ B2B Podcasts & Make $4.5M/yr | Tom Hunt | #36
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 36 (Tom Hunt)__________________________________________Most people think scaling content means...More views.More downloads.More followers.Not entirely true.I sat down with Tom Hunt this week (founder of Fame, a $4M/year podcast agency), and he told me about a client that stopped me in my tracks.Cybersecurity software company. About 100 people listen per episode. That's it.Sounds like a flop, until you realize their entire buyer pool in the US is around 1,000 people.100 of them tuning in every month isn't a small audience. That's still 10% of the entire market!Over five years, that podcast landed them one deal worth half a million dollars.Most agency owners are grinding for 50,000 downloads to sell a $2k retainer, while this guy quietly closes half a million from 100.If your content isn't landing clients, the fix probably isn't more views.It's the right 100 people watching.Learn how in today's episode!Tom's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tomhuntioFame: https://www.fame.so/__________________________________________Get your next 10 clients, guaranteed 👉 https://www.affluent.academy/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=agencypod&utm_term=interview&utm_content=552d__________________________________________FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Intro01:11 From Frying Chips to a $4M+ B2B Podcast Agency09:15 Why a Tiny Niche Audience Can Drive Big Revenue11:39 Pricing, Guarantees & How to Grow a Podcast17:28 Guests, Revenue Channels & Monetisation Strategies22:27 What Separates Great Hosts From Bad Ones30:05 Difficult Clients, Host Coaching & Team Structure36:09 Focus, Fatherhood & Scaling Past the 100-Client Barrier44:44 Adopting AI, Agency Growth Advice & Rapid Fire
Jul 3, 2026 • 1h 13min
How I'd Start a 1-Person AI Agency With Claude AI (2026) | Ricky Solanki | #35
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 35 (Ricky Solanki)__________________________________________He's spent 17 years building an agency: 50 staff, 400 clients at its peak.If he were starting again in 2026, he'd run the whole thing with one person… & make more money!In this episode of Agency Giants, Ricky Solanki, founder of Push Group, walks through exactly how he'd build a 1-person AI agency from scratch.• Why one person & a few AI agents can now run an entire client end to end.• How he'd actually start from $0 using Claude Code.• The marketing engine he'd build from day one (Automated funnels, lead magnets, & the free channel almost every agency still ignores!)Ricky's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickysolanki/Push Group: https://www.pushgroup.co.uk/__________________________________________Get your next 10 clients, guaranteed 👉 https://www.affluent.academy/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=agencypod&utm_term=interview&utm_content=549&el=youtubeorganic__________________________________________FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Ricky's 17-Year Journey Building Push06:26 The AI Catalyst: Repositioning the Agency & Winning Over the Team09:05 Core Services, Client Acquisition & Paid Growth Roadmaps18:55 Expanding Internationally: Greece, Dubai & Lessons Learned22:31 Change Management & Building the "DIAL" AI Operating System31:04 Build vs Buy: Software Costs, Claude Code & Margin Pressure38:50 Licensing Your Tech, Facilitating In-House Moves & Pricing46:53 Protecting Human Brilliance & the New "Diamond" Team Structure52:34 Where to Start With AI: Begin With Claude & One Process55:10 The Next Five Years: Two Businesses & Building From $01:04:29 Prioritising, Productizing Internal Tools & Staying Nimble1:08:59 Exit Plans, Life at 50 & Rapid Fire Questions
May 11, 2026 • 1h 34min
Why We're The Agency Netflix, Amazon & Spotify All Hired | David Ogiste | #34
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 34 (David Ogiste)__________________________________________How is it possible that brands are reaching more people than ever & being remembered less than ever?AI.It doesn't just make content cheaper. It makes it forgettable.The more brands flood every screen with AI-generated ads, the more consumers tune out.In this week's Agency Giants, I sat down with David Ogiste - founder of Nobody's Cafe, working with Amazon, Spotify, Netflix & Red Bull. He built his entire agency around the one format AI can never replicate.David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidogiste/Nobody's Café: https://www.nobodyscafe.com/__________________________________________Get your next 10 clients, guaranteed 👉 https://www.affluent.academy/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=agencypod&utm_term=interview&utm_content=541&el=youtubeorganic__________________________________________FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________00:00 Intro01:33 Building Nobody's Cafe During Lockdown04:50 The Clubhouse Strategy That Won Amazon Prime09:06 Why Clubhouse Died & the Pull of Real Connection15:01 What Experiential Marketing Actually Is20:06 Winning Hearts and Minds: Brand Community Over Reach27:23 Why You Remember Gigs But Forget Every Advert31:28 Pricing, Measurement & Scaling a Creative Agency43:02 The Founder Journey vs. The Highlight Reel58:41 The AI Threat & Why Only Real Experiences Are Trusted1:10:04 The Industry's Growth & Long-Term Brand Thinking1:21:53 How Small DTC Brands Can Use Experiential1:27:28 Building an Agency Brand People Want to Join1:33:10 Rapid Fire Questions
Apr 30, 2026 • 1h 5min
How We've Generated £41M+ From Cold Emails (4-Step Strategy) | Ashleigh Holmes | #33
Ashleigh Holmes, co-founder of Flowd and outbound email expert who has driven £41M+ in client returns. She talks about turning telesales roots into a high-performing outbound agency. Topics include the four essentials of outbound, deliverability and domain strategy, scaling a remote team, and using AI as a thinking partner for outreach.
Apr 1, 2026 • 1h 8min
How Our Small Agency Lands Brands Like BBC & Marvel | Dan Knowlton | #32
Send us Fan MailThe Agency Giants Podcast - Episode 32 (Dan Knowlton)__________________________________________Most agencies do great work…Then they share it once, move on, and hope referrals magically appear.𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.That’s how you stay invisible.In the latest episode of Agency Giants, I sat down with Dan Knowlton, who went from starting an agency in his parents’ spare room… to working with brands like BBC & Marvel.His “unfair advantage” isn’t a secret funnel.It’s a simple rule. 🤫If you’re doing good work but it’s not translating into better clients…This episode is your fix.Dan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielknowlton1/Knowlton: https://knowltonmarketing.co.uk/__________________________________________Get your next 10 clients, guaranteed 👉 https://www.affluent.academy/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=general&utm_term=sales&utm_content=533&el=youtubeorganic__________________________________________FREE Agency Owners Community: https://www.skool.com/agencyowners__________________________________________https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdO5xp5occOyeEZ2GCD21gqDKLz8Z8-Ak__________________________________________🎧 Stream on your favorite audio platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agency-podcast/id1755717870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jmr989Mkl4EJQ6AyAzJfEAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/64e31809-88d4-43a3-b2e3-e59caf73aec4/the-agency-podcast__________________________________________Follow us on all platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencygiantspodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencygiantspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agencygiants__________________________________________0:00:00 The Breakdown That Started an Agency0:07:25 The Embarrassing Mistakes Nobody Talks About0:09:28 The Strategy Behind Their Big Brand Wins0:14:48 How a Fake Moustache Changed Everything0:19:14 From Local Restaurants to BBC & Marvel0:28:05 Why a Brother Co-Founder Is an Unfair Advantage0:36:27 The Real Reason Behind the Hockey Stick Growth0:40:04 Why Staying Small-Town Beat the London Agencies0:50:49 How AI Completely Transformed Their Sales Process1:05:37 Quick Fire Round
