“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

“Social media programs that are built solely for driving awareness are almost always destined to fail, not because they don’t achieve their objective, but that they are almost always misaligned,” says Darien Payton, founder and CEO at AntidoteIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Darien Payton, Founder and CEO of Antidote, challenges the way B2B brands think about social media. Darien breaks down why social media should drive demand—not just awareness—and why creativity is the key to capturing attention and fueling pipeline growth. Darien introduces the concept of Creative Demand, shares real-world examples of unconventional marketing tactics, and explains why taking a clear stance in content is the most effective way to stand out.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why traditional social media strategies in B2B are failing—and how to fix themHow Creative Demand combines storytelling and strategy to drive revenueThe role of strategic campaigns in turning social into a demand engineResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comFollow Darien on X: https://x.com/DarienPaytonConnect with Darien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darienpayton/Explore Antidote: https://www.antidotemedia.co/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:18) Creative demand explained(03:18) The role of creativity in demand generation(06:14) Successful creative campaigns(08:10) Social media strategies for B2B(14:56) Converting social media into demand(18:47) Misalignment of social media and business objectives

“The minute you put down a sales motion on paper, it’s already broken. Like it’s no longer relevant, right? It’s no longer relevant because your buyer has moved on,” says Ashar Rizqi, co-founder at Bounti.ai.In this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Matt Cooley and Ashar Rizqi, co-founders of Bounti.ai, break down the evolving landscape of B2B go-to-market strategies and how AI is shifting the way businesses acquire and engage customers. They share why traditional BDR motions are failing, why agility beats enterprise sales, and how their AI-powered approach is scaling smarter, not harder. They talk about the dangers of AI-generated content flooding marketing channels, why email as a sales tool might be dying, and how product-led strategies are the future of B2B growth.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Bounti.ai is building an alternative to enterprise sales motionsWhy AI-driven content saturation could kill email and web marketingThe role of proprietary AI models in reshaping sales and marketingResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooley-12b2682/Connect with Ashar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashar-rizqi-6614487/Explore Bounti.ai: http://Bounti.aiTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:06) Why traditional go-to-market strategies are broken(04:14) The problem with forecasting in sales(06:32) How Bounty AI automates sales prospecting and outreach(09:46) Why AI should focus on delighting customers, not just efficiency(14:16) The impact of AI on buyer behavior and marketing channels(19:33) Why B2B sales needs a new model

“People read three-star reviews. They don't read five-star reviews. People are looking for truth. They're looking for actual helpful content, and nothing's five stars,” says Allyson Havener, CMO at TrustRadiusIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Allyson Havener, CMO at TrustRadius, explores how reviews, AI, and data-driven content are shaping modern B2B marketing. Allyson shares why quality beats quantity when it comes to reviews, how TrustRadius is setting the industry standard for authenticity in customer voice, and why proprietary data is a brand’s secret weapon in the age of AI. She also offers her unique perspective on why CMOs, not CROs, should lead go-to-market teams and how aligning marketing with finance is a game-changer.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why TrustRadius rejects nearly half of its submitted reviews to maintain quality and credibilityHow AI is affecting buyer trust—and how businesses can protect their content from becoming commoditizedThe hidden power of proprietary data and how it fuels content, product, and marketing strategyResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Allyson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-havenerExplore TrustRadius: https://www.trustradius.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:16) Understanding TrustRadius(02:04) Balancing vendor and buyer solutions(04:54) The importance of quality reviews(05:53) Philosophy and strategy at TrustRadius(08:52) AI's role in reviews(12:39) TrustRadius' data-driven content strategy(17:32) The value of content marketing(23:38) Why CMOs may be better suited to lead revenue teams

“Identify the things that are eating away at people's time to do the jobs that they are getting paid to do,” says Josh Carter, Senior Director of Demand Generation at PavilionIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Josh Carter, Senior Director of Demand Generation at Pavilion, explores the unique challenges of marketing a professional membership community. Josh shares how Pavilion approaches demand generation differently than traditional B2B companies, why referrals are their most powerful growth engine, and how AI is transforming both internal efficiency and the buyer experience. He also explains the crucial role of a brand in long-term marketing success and why companies need to rethink how they leverage AI in their content strategies.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why referrals drive 60-70% of Pavilion’s new memberships - and how they activate that channelHow AI is helping sales teams personalize outreach and improve conversion ratesThe role of brand investment in building long-term demand and trustResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcarter1116Explore Pavilion: https://www.joinpavilion.com/2024 B2B Buying Disconnect Report by TrustRadius and Pavilion: https://www.joinpavilion.com/resource/trustradius-2024-b2b-buying-disconnect-reportTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:00) Understanding Pavilion's unique DemandGen approach(04:06) The role of AI in Pavilion's sales process(04:57) Optimizing the sales funnel with AI(06:02) Leveraging AI for personalized marketing(15:17) Building a centralized AI knowledge repository(17:29) Balancing AI and brand authenticity(21:55) The importance of brand in B2B marketing