The Content Cocktail Hour

“I think AI is not the future. Human-led content is the future. Authentic stories are the future,” says Tim Rath, co-founder and CEO of YOYABAIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Tim Rath, co-founder and CEO of YOYABA, joins Jonathan to discuss the rise of revenue marketing—and why it’s much more than a buzzword. From co-founding an agency with his dad to working with powerhouse brands like HubSpot and Personio, Tim shares what it really takes to scale smartly in today’s B2B environment. He also explains why marketing teams need to think beyond MQLs and focus on what actually drives revenue, retention, and growth.In this episode, you’ll learn:How revenue marketing shifts focus from lead gen to business outcomesThe importance of product-market fit and message-market fitThe underrated power of personal branding in a noisy AI-driven worldResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timrathofficial/ Explore YOYABA: https://www.yoyaba.com/ Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:52) The concept of revenue marketing(07:22) Aligning marketing and sales for success(12:20) The role of brand marketing(13:37) Keys to rapid business growth(17:01) Founding a business with family(18:32) Building a marketing career from scratch(19:58) AI is not the future

“Don’t ask for the meeting. People aren’t dumb. Your job is to help them do theirs better,” says Mason Cosby, CEO and co-founder of Scrappy ABMIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Mason Cosby, CEO and co-founder of Scrappy ABM, to break down what account-based marketing really looks like without six-figure software. Mason shares how his team generated $3M in revenue in 18 months using little more than a podcast and LinkedIn—and why most companies get ABM wrong by focusing on tools instead of strategy. He also outlines the criteria for who should and shouldn’t be running ABM, and how aligning with finance, sales, and customer success is the real game-changer.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why tooling isn’t what makes or breaks your ABM program—and what actually doesHow to build a content-led ABM engine using what you already haveThe critical signals that mean your company is (or isn’t) ready for ABMResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Mason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masoncosby/ Explore Scrappy ABM: https://scrappyabm.com Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:20) Marketing insights(01:49) The essence of Scrappy ABM(04:01) Building effective ABM programs(16:28) The role of content in ABM programs(16:56) Starting with what you have(19:23) Mapping content to buyer journeys(26:43) Don’t ask for the meeting

“You can’t expect customers to come back if they’re not getting a good experience,” says Christian Burne, CTO of OshynIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Christian Burne, CTO of Oshyn, to explore the world of digital trust and its critical role in creating exceptional website experiences. From performance and accessibility to security, Christian explains how companies can build trust with their users by focusing on these three key pillars.Christian shares insights from Oshyn’s Digital Trust Index, which measures how well websites perform across these areas, and discusses why companies with the best security scores aren’t always excelling in other areas. He also explores the implications of headless websites, sharing when they make sense and when they might not be the right fit for every business. The conversation touches on how small adjustments can make a big difference in customer experience and why prioritizing digital hygiene is more important than ever.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why security alone isn’t enough for a great website experienceHow the Digital Trust Index helps brands measure their online performanceWhen to choose headless websites—and when to reconsiderResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianburne/Explore Oshyn: https://www.oshyn.com/Check out the Oshyn Digital Trust Index: https://lp.oshyn.com/o/oshyn-digital-trust-index-report/Analyze your site’s performance using Oshyn’s AI-Enabled Reliability Report: https://www.oshyn.com/reliability-report?utm_source=chatgpt.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:12) Christian’s role at Oshyn and the Digital Trust Index(03:00) The importance of performance, accessibility, and security(06:10) When headless websites make sense(09:30) Key findings from the Digital Trust Index report(12:20) Measuring what matters in web performance(15:00) The role of AI in web experiences(17:00) What companies often overlook in their websites

“The easiest and most reliable way to get amazing talent is to work with your network and your employees’ networks,” says Emeric Ernoult, co-founder and CEO of AgorapulseIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Emeric Ernoult, co-founder and CEO of Agorapulse, to explore the power of leveraging social media and networks to build a successful business. Emeric shares how his journey as a SaaS entrepreneur has led him to discover the critical role that social media plays in attracting top talent, driving brand awareness, and generating quality leads.From Agorapulse’s early product-led growth to its transformation into a marketing and sales-led company, Emeric discusses how the company shifted its approach and why leveraging your employees and their networks is key to achieving greater success. He also shares his unique take on why branding is just as important as lead generation and how the right social media strategies can yield impressive results.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to effectively leverage your employees’ networks to hire top talentWhy social media isn’t just about posting content, but about creating genuine connectionsThe balance between branding and lead generation in B2B marketingResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Emeric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernoult/Explore Agorapulse: https://www.agorapulse.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:10) Emeric’s background and entrepreneurial journey(03:00) The evolution from product-led to marketing and sales-led at Agorapulse(06:45) The importance of leveraging your employees’ networks for growth(10:20) Balancing branding with lead generation(13:30) Measuring social media success and ROI(17:10) The future of social media marketing in B2B(21:00) Key lessons learned from failures and successes in business

“People relate to people, not tasting notes,” says Haley Moore, founder of AcquireIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf welcomes Haley Moore, founder of Acquire, to explore the intersection of hospitality and B2B marketing. From her Michelin-star sommelier roots to reimagining virtual and in-person events for top brands, Haley shares how human connection—not decks or tasting notes—is the key to unforgettable customer experiences.She shares her belief that the best events aren’t necessarily the biggest or most expensive—they’re the most personal. Haley breaks down why surprise-and-delight isn’t just a hospitality trick, but a scalable B2B strategy, and why the smallest gestures often make the biggest impressions.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Acquire brings Michelin-level hospitality to virtual and in-person B2B eventsWhy personalization at scale beats templated “event in a box” strategiesThe power of follow-up: what happens after the event matters mostResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Haley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-moore-9606711a6/Explore Acquire: https://acquire-wine.com Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:15) Haley's journey in the restaurant business(02:01) The birth of Acquire during the pandemic(02:25) The evolution of virtual events(03:13) The magic of wine and storytelling(05:33) Jonathan's background and insights(08:52) The power of hospitality in business(15:44) Learnings about founding and scaling a business(18:50) How salespeople are missing what actually matters

“Video is a tool for democratizing creative storytelling,” shares Drew Brucker, Director of Brand & Content at GoldcastIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Drew Brucker, Head of Brand and Content at Goldcast, shares how B2B marketing has evolved in a video-first world, and why companies can no longer afford to avoid using video as a key content strategy. Drew discusses Goldcast’s shift from being an event platform to a comprehensive B2B video content solution, and how AI is playing a huge role in making video production more accessible and scalable for marketers. He explores the power of video for building mindshare, the importance of creating memorable content, and why marketers need to adapt to the growing trend of video-first strategies.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why video-first content strategies are the future of B2B marketingHow to leverage AI to make video production more efficientThe shift from transactional marketing to relationship-building with mindshareResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Drew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbrucker/Explore Goldcast: https://goldcast.ioExplore Content Lab: https://www.goldcast.io/contentlab Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:33) Drew’s journey and Goldcast’s evolution(03:00) The role of AI in content creation(06:00) Shifting to a video-first content strategy(10:00) Building mindshare with video(14:20) Why marketers need to rethink ROI(17:00) The impact of video on brand awareness(20:00) Tips for successfully integrating video in B2B marketing

“Great content is content that’s worth 10x the reader’s time,” says Ryan Allis, CEO and Founder of SaasRiseIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Ryan Allis, Founder of SaasRise, shares the playbook behind scaling a content-led B2B growth engine in 2025. He breaks down why traditional inbound and SEO strategies are losing steam, and how AI-personalized outbound and ABM are becoming the new standards for driving qualified leads.Ryan also walks through his weekly content creation workflow, SaasRise’s approach to LinkedIn thought leadership, and the underrated power of tracking content impressions across every touchpoint.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why inbound marketing and SEO need a major update in the age of AIHow SaasRise uses AI-personalized outbound to achieve high-performing lead genWhat a modern B2B content machine looks like and how to build one from scratchResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanallis/Explore SaasRise: https://www.saasrise.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:52) Inbound marketing is losing ground(06:31) Reaching cold leads that convert(11:28) How Ryan creates weekly content fast(13:18) Why AI outbound works better now(16:20) What Ryan tracks across all channels(21:38) AI emails are driving most leads

“Marketers are sociologists. We see the entire market. Sales are psychologists. They focus on one thing in front of them,” shares Nadia Davis, VP of Marketing at CaliberMindIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Nadia Davis, VP of Marketing at CaliberMind, unpacks the realities of ABM, revenue marketing, and why marketing leaders need to align with the language of the boardroom. Nadia shares how ABM has always existed—long before platforms tried to "productize" it—why MQLs aren’t actually dead, and the biggest mistake companies make when implementing account-based strategies.She also explores the operational side of marketing, offering insights on why instrumentation and process matter just as much as creativity, and how marketers can set themselves up for success when stepping into new leadership roles.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why ABM isn’t as new as people think—and how to actually make it workHow to prove marketing’s value in the boardroom and tie impact to revenueThe biggest tech trap ABM marketers fall into—and how to avoid itResources: Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/ Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.com Connect with Nadia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiadavis/ Explore CaliberMind: https://www.calibermind.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:33) Nadia's marketing journey and insights(03:56) The evolution and misconceptions of ABM(05:16) Defining ABM and its practical applications(08:21) Challenges and strategies in ABM implementation(15:28) Tracking success in ABM and marketing(20:35) Nadia's first 90 Days at CaliberMind(23:41) Why MQLs aren’t dead

“The smartest brands are the ones rallying people around a cause—not just selling a product.” says Karthi Ratnam, Co-Founder of Audience HausIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Karthi Ratnam, co-founder of Audience Haus, joins Jonathan Gandolf to explore the power of Movement Marketing in B2B. Karthi shares how brands can break free from the “sea of sameness” by building authentic, engaged communities that drive lasting demand.She talks about why founder-led movements are the future of B2B marketing, how human psychology plays a crucial role in brand-building, and why traditional marketing tactics are failing in today’s landscape. Karthi also discusses the role of AI in sales and marketing, explaining how businesses can leverage AI while keeping human connection at the core of their strategies.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Movement Marketing is the key to standing out in B2BHow AI can enhance, not replace, human-led marketingThe importance of founder-led sales and why leaders should be the face of their brandResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Karthi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthiratnam/Explore Audience Haus: https://www.audiencehaus.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:12) What is Movement Marketing?(03:28) Why traditional B2B marketing is failing(06:45) The psychology behind movement-driven branding(10:02) The rise of founder-led sales and why it matters(14:30) How AI can support human-first marketing(19:20) The challenges of building a brand-led community(24:05) Karthi’s unpopular opinion on B2B marketing

“You wouldn’t send your AI to a sales dinner to close a deal. You would still go, but the AI can do so much work for you to prepare and even get you that dinner.” says Garrett Scott, VP of Marketing at Bounti.aiIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Garrett Scott, VP of Marketing at Bounti.ai joins Jonathan Gandolf to discuss how AI is reshaping B2B sales and marketing. Garrett shares insights on how AI augments—not replaces—human decision-making, how Bounti.ai approaches go-to-market strategies, and why personalization and efficiency are the keys to success in the evolving AI landscape.Garrett also dives into the practical ways AI enhances marketing workflows, from eliminating the “blank page” problem to accelerating content production, and explains why the future isn’t just about AI—it’s about the synergy between AI and human expertise.In this episode, you’ll learn:How AI can eliminate the “blank page” problem and accelerate content creationWhy AI should be used to augment human decision-making rather than replace itThe strategy behind Bounti.ai’s unique approach to launching multiple AI-driven brandsResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Garrett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettscott/Explore Bounti.ai: https://bounti.aiTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:09) AI's role in marketing(01:56) The human touch in AI(03:29) AI in sales and marketing(08:13) Bounti Labs' unique approach(13:25) Using AI in daily marketing tasks(15:15) Challenges and success metrics(19:01) Skepticism about LinkedIn