The Content Cocktail Hour

"MarketingOps isn't just marketing—it's a product function," says Mike Rizzo, Community-led Founder & CEO at MarketingOps.comIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, host Jonathan Gandolf is joined by Mike Rizzo for a deep dive into the rising influence—and expanding responsibilities—of MarketingOps. From building community-led ecosystems to redefining what it means to "do more with less," Mike shares how MarketingOps professionals are uniquely positioned to own the go-to-market tech stack in today’s AI-driven landscape. They explore why MarketingOps can’t be reduced to just CRMs or automation platforms, how practitioners can move from order-takers to strategic leaders, and why learning to align with business goals is the real unlock for long-term growth.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why MarketingOps is evolving into a strategic functionHow AI is changing the expectations (and tools) in go-to-market rolesWhat it takes to lead with clarity, alignment, and communityResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedrizzo/Explore MarketingOps: https://www.MarketingOps.comCheck out MOps-Apalooza: https://mopsapalooza.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro (02:00) Building community-led growth(04:38) Starting from a team of one(07:00) MarketingOps in the age of AI(13:00) From order-taker to strategic leader(19:00) The GTM tech stack as a product(24:00) Unpopular opinion: MarketingOps isn’t marketing

“If you think content is a marketing thing, you're already doing it wrong,” says Selma Chauvin, Chief Revenue Officer at AgorapulseIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, host Jonathan Gandolf welcomes Selma Chauvin to discuss how content must evolve from random acts of marketing into a critical tool for revenue growth. As a former marketer turned CRO, Selma unpacks how she flipped Agorapulse’s content strategy—starting at the bottom of the funnel and scaling upward—driven by sales insights and real customer conversations. Selma and Jonathan dive into how to bridge the gap between content creation and sales usage, why marketers should stop obsessing over attribution, and how aligning revenue teams can unlock smarter content strategies.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why the biggest content mistake is prioritizing production over promotionHow to reverse-engineer content from real sales conversationsWhat a CRO can do to finally unite marketing and salesResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://www.agorapulse.com/Connect with Selma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selma-chauvin/Explore Agorapulse: https://www.agorapulse.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:00) Content’s two halves: production vs. promotion(05:00) Why most content never gets used by sales(08:45) Sales as the customer of content(11:30) Flipping the funnel: starting with bottom-of-funnel insights(15:15) Building content with fewer assumptions(20:00) Why CROs should not come from sales(23:45) How Selma leads revenue at Agorapulse(25:30) “Let’s stop marketing ourselves and just do business”

“Out-of-home marketing might be the most underrated B2B channel right now,” says Charlie Riley, Head of Marketing at OneScreen.ai In this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, host Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Charlie Riley to explore the creative resurgence of out-of-home (OOH) advertising—and why it’s becoming a powerful tool for modern marketers. From billboards and digital signage to guerrilla tactics and experiential stunts, Charlie shares real-world examples of brands breaking through the noise with memorable, measurable campaigns.They dive into how OOH has evolved from guesswork to data-driven precision, what B2B marketers can learn from D2C, and why internal storytelling is just as critical as external messaging. Plus, Charlie offers sharp insights on the limits of marketing titles, the value of partners over vendors, and how small teams can make a big impact.In this episode, you’ll learn:How out-of-home fits into modern marketing, and what makes it measurableWhy internal marketing is often more critical than external campaignsHow to use data and instinct to find your ideal customerResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieriley/Explore OneScreen.ai: https://www.onescreen.aiTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:27) Charlie’s path to marketing leadership(03:15) Why out-of-home is more than just billboards(05:30) Creative case studies and real-world OOH impact(07:10) How OneScreen uses data to eliminate the guesswork(10:45) The B2B vs D2C mindset shift(14:15) Using out-of-home for ABM(16:40) Storytelling with data(19:00) Why marketing titles are often misleading(21:10) Internal marketing is your hidden superpower(23:30) Snorkeling vs. deep diving as a modern marketer(25:00) How to partner with OneScreen

“Favor fit over fame for influencer marketing success,” says Vivien Garnès, co-CEO at UpfluenceIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Vivien Garnès, co-founder and co-CEO of Upfluence, joins Jonathan Gandolf to unpack influencer marketing in the B2B and B2B2C space. Vivien shares why aligning your influencer’s audience with your brand matters more than follower counts, how influencer marketing has matured beyond vanity metrics to focus on real business impact, and why brands should give influencers creative freedom to unlock authentic engagement. She also opens up about her entrepreneurial journey launching Upfluence, how the co-CEO model works for her company, and an unpopular marketing opinion that changed their approach to ad spend.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why fit matters more than fame when choosing influencersHow to measure influencer marketing success beyond impressions and likesThe benefits and challenges of sharing creative control with influencersResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Vivien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vgarnes/?locale=en_USExplore Upfluence: https://www.upfluence.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:06) Two schools of thought on B2B influencer marketing(06:20) Favoring fit over fame in influencer partnerships(09:00) Balancing editorial control and influencer freedom(12:15) Tracking meaningful ROI in influencer marketing(14:30) Vivien’s entrepreneurial beginnings and launching Upfluence(18:00) How the co-CEO model works for Upfluence(19:50) Branded ad campaigns and marketing assumptions

“Focus beats frenzy every time,” says Jason Hubbard, founder & CEO of DemandMagicIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jason Hubbard, founder & CEO of DemandMagic, joins Jonathan Gandolf to explore the evolving world of growth marketing for B2B SaaS companies. Jason shares why narrowing your target market is critical to scaling from series A to B, how AI is transforming go-to-market strategies when applied thoughtfully, and why entrepreneurs need more grit than glamour. He also opens up about his journey as a serial founder and offers practical advice on using AI not as a gimmick but as a problem-solving tool.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why tight focus is vital for early-stage startup successHow to approach AI as a tool for solving specific business problemsThe realities and mindset needed to thrive as a serial entrepreneurResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubbardjason/Explore DemandMagic: https://demandmagic.ai/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:00) Jason’s growth marketing origins and bootstrapped startup mindset(04:30) The rise of services as software and AI’s role(08:20) Why focus beats chasing a wide TAM(11:10) Using AI to solve real business problems, not just for show(14:30) Feeding go-to-market data into AI for actionable insights(16:00) Personal uses of AI and digital nomad lifestyle plans(17:30) The entrepreneurial mindset: why most won’t do it twice

“You don’t need to dumb down your message—you need to lift it up,” says Zach Messler, messaging strategistIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Zach Messler to unpack what clarity actually means in product marketing, and why so many companies get it wrong.Zach shares the three deceptively simple questions every founder and marketer should be able to answer: “What is it? What does it do? Why does it matter?” He further discusses how to translate product complexity into compelling messaging, and why features don’t matter unless they’re tied to a deeper narrative. Zach also explains how to test your message in the wild, how to avoid the “everything, everywhere, all at once” trap, and the unlikely branding power of a Friday bourbon toast.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why product marketing starts with positioning, and not performance tacticsHow to talk about your product without actually talking about your productWhat message clarity really means Resources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Zach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmessler/Get Zach’s workbook: https://www.clarityrules.com Check out Zach’s newsletter: https://boomshockalocka.kit.com/e247950337 Explore zachmessler.com: https://zachmessler.com/ Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:18) The bourbon journey begins(05:37) The art of sipping whiskey(07:35) Bourbon collections and their value(13:24) The shift to messaging(14:49) The essence of product marketing(16:40) Defining your product(17:25) The importance of clarity in messaging(17:38) Understanding the power of messaging(18:08) The importance of positioning statements(20:17) Balancing product and problem messaging(25:24) Testing and refining your message(28:45) Connecting features to value(30:28) Creating a messaging guide

“Bold moves get bold results,” says JH Scherck, founder & CEO of Growth PlaysIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, JH Scherck, founder & CEO of Growth Plays, joins Jonathan Gandolf to break down what it really takes to win with content in today’s fragmented, AI-driven search landscape. JH unpacks why traditional SEO still matters—but only if it’s tied to real pipeline—and shares his candid take on how most companies are playing it too safe. From AI-powered discovery to the value of earned media and coined frameworks, he offers a clear-eyed perspective on what’s changing (and what’s not) in B2B content strategy. If you’re tired of surface-level tactics and ready to create content that actually drives results, this one’s for you.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why SEO still works—if you focus on pipelineHow AI is reshaping search behavior and discoveryWhy bold, creative risks outperform safe plays in marketingResources:Connect with Jonathan Gandolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with JH Scherck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhtscherck/Connect with JH Scherck on X: https://x.com/jhtscherckVisit Growth Plays: https://growthplays.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:09) Meet JH Scherck and Growth Plays(02:18) Drinking Dominus and California wine habits(03:06) Is SEO dead? Why it’s evolving, not obsolete(05:18) Fragmented search, new discovery behaviors(06:47) Search as an introduction, not the whole journey(07:44) Differentiation and finding your point of leverage(08:51) Why pipeline matters more than traffic(10:38) Content’s role in qualified lead generation(12:58) How AI and GEO are influencing visibility(14:56) What earns citations in generative engines(15:27) Coining phrases over chasing keywords(16:51) Why no one has GEO figured out—yet(18:36) Personalization, prompts, and user context in AI(20:11) JH’s unpopular opinion: Play it safe, stay stuck(21:29) Career-defining content risks that paid off(22:41) Playing it safe won’t get you promoted(23:16) How to connect with JH and Growth Plays

“Our content should be worth someone’s time—and money,” says David Ebner, founder & CEO of Content WorkshopIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, David J. Ebner, founder & CEO of Content Workshop, returns to chat with Jonathan Gandolf about the evolving expectations for content in a post-AI world. David shares why content should meet a new “threshold of value”—so good people would willingly pay for it—and explains how this mindset influences everything from newsletters to long-form assets. He also unpacks the tension between automation and authenticity, why “moral marketing” matters, and how brands can embrace SEO and backlinks even in a zero-click search environment. If you’re feeling stuck on the AI content hamster wheel, this episode offers a compelling case for slowing down and zigging when everyone else is zagging.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to create content that earns attention and trustWhy brands should rethink the ROI of SEO and backlinksHow to frame content creation as a moral decision, not just a metricResources:Connect with Jonathan Gandolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with David Ebner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjebnerVisit Content Workshop: https://contentworkshop.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:06) David’s background and the origin of Content Workshop(03:27) Ube mocktails and scaling back on drinking(04:01) Why content should be worth paying for(06:13) Valuing time and attention in the age of AI(08:21) The ROI of high-value content(09:57) Content libraries as recurring revenue assets(11:21) Real examples of premium content from David’s team(12:03) Give away the secret sauce(13:54) Standing out with quality, not just quantity(15:55) Why marketers must create with morality in mind(17:22) Who does your content help—and hurt?(20:54) David’s unpopular opinion: SEO still matters(22:24) Why backlinks are more important than ever(24:10) What generative engines reveal about good SEO(25:20) How to connect with David and Content Workshop

“In the age of AI, the only differentiator is how you get your people to scale,” says Rachel Downey, founder and CEO of Share Your GeniusIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Rachel Downey, founder and CEO of Share Your Genius, to explore what it really takes to build a high-impact podcast or content feed in today’s B2B world.Rachel breaks down the difference between launching a “show” and building a “feed,” why downloads don’t tell the whole story, and how marketers should be thinking about ROI in human-first content strategies. She also shares how companies can start small, get scrappy, and make smarter content investments—without sacrificing authenticity.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why a podcast might not be the best place to start—and what to do insteadHow to differentiate between metrics of performance and metrics of successWhat “people-first” content actually looks like and how to scale it effectivelyResources:Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelelstsdowney/Explore Share Your Genius: https://www.shareyourgenius.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:26) The evolution of podcasting(02:24) Personal journey in podcasting(04:38) Show vs. feed(06:29) Measuring success in podcasting(14:08) Building a business case for podcasts(17:21) The role of AI in content creation(21:42) Why LinkedIn works better without a plan

“I don’t think B2B is as boring as people say it is. I think people are just bored in general,” says Brianna Doe, founder and CEO of Verbatim.In this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Jonathan Gandolf sits down with Brianna Doe, founder and CEO of Verbatim, to unpack how B2B brands can show up with the same creative energy as B2C—without chasing trends or bloating their budgets.Brianna shares why influencer marketing deserves a real seat at the B2B table, what a minimum viable pilot program actually looks like, and how building a network on LinkedIn helped her go all-in on her own agency with zero outbound. She also dives into how internal influencers (yes, even your CEO) can drive brand affinity more authentically than any corporate page.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to test influencer marketing in B2B—without a 6-figure budgetWhy internal creators are your brand’s most underutilized assetWhat it takes to confidently build a business and brand from scratchResources: Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/ Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.com Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-doe/ Explore Verbatim: https://www.verbatim.comTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:07) Brianna's background and current work(01:52) From old fashioneds to margaritas(03:06) Journey into influencer marketing(04:42) Influencer marketing strategies for B2B(12:28) Tools and resources for influencer marketing(13:21) Internal influencers and company culture(16:48) The journey to Verbatim