🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

What if the biggest problems are the ones everyone's ignoring?

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Ellwood, Founder and CEO of Stretch, to talk about building companies that solve real human problems, not just convenient tech problems.

Andy shares how he went from selling life insurance and private jets to building startups acquired by Facebook and Google, why his pandemic-era company Basket didn't survive, and what he learned about falling in love with problems instead of solutions.

Whether you're a founder trying to find product-market fit or someone who believes technology should serve everyday people, this conversation will challenge how you think about building businesses.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Andy Elwood

(00:49) From Selling Private Planes to Entrepreneur

(02:38) Lessons from Life Insurance

(04:25) The Grocery Problem and Stretch’s Mission

(08:25) Challenges and Lessons from Basket

(10:23) How Stretch Works

(17:36) Building and Validating a Startup

(25:48) The Business Idea Test

(27:17) Understanding Your Customers with Surveys

(29:57) The CEO’s Role

(33:51) Fundraising and Maintaining Control

(38:49) Facing Competition from Major AI Players

(42:20) Balancing Life and Work as A Founder

(46:10) Solving Grocery Industry Inefficiencies

🟪 Key Topics Discussed

The "run into the roar" philosophy and why hard things signal opportunityWhy Basket failed during the pandemic and what Andy would do differentlyThe painkiller vs. multivitamin test for business ideasHow 17% of Americans are skipping meals to feed their familiesWhy Stretch is building for shoppers, not retailers (and why that matters)The CEO's only 3 jobs: vision, money, and unblocking the teamHow to launch before you're ready without destroying your reputationWhy falling in love with the problem is more important than the solution

🟪 About the Guest

Andy Ellwood is the founder of Stretch, a new AI platform reimagining how families navigate the grocery aisle. A serial entrepreneur behind companies acquired by Facebook and Google, Andy has built everything from global learning communities to purpose-driven tech startups. His philosophy, Make Room For Many, guides his work as he uses technology to create more access, clarity, and opportunity for everyday consumers.

🟪 Connect with Andy Ellwood

• Website: https://stretchformore.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyellwood/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Most podcasters burn $2000/month duct-taping 30+ tools together. Nathan Gwhilliam felt that pain, had an exit in his pocket, and instead of retiring, invested $5.8 million to solve it.

This isn't a comeback story. It's a deconstruction of what happens when an entrepreneur chooses systems over the beach and why that decision reveals more about building authority than any exit multiple ever could.

Nathan sold adoption.com, the world's most visited adoption website. He could have stopped. But he discovered podcasting required 30+ disconnected technologies costing nearly $2000 monthly. So he built Pot Up, an all-in-one podcasting SaaS platform, raised venture capital, and kept control by maintaining majority equity-a lesson learned from losing a Disney acquisition over a $10,000 early-stage equity mistake.

This episode breaks down:

• Why he won't build anything unless it's recurring revenue (and the constraint this creates)
• The board composition framework: lifters vs destroyers vs maintainers-and why keeping >50% equity isn't greed
• How he cut 100 Facebook pages to 3, removed software features customers never used, and narrowed 65 scripts to 34 using pure data
• The sponsored episode monetization model that charges guests who want to promote (most podcasters give this away)
• "Tectonic shifts"-his framework for finding opportunities where the business landscape is actively transforming
• Why "love as a business strategy" works in competitive SaaS (mechanism, not motivation)

🟪 About the Guest

Nathan Gwhilliam is the founder of Pot Up, an all-in-one podcasting platform that consolidates 60+ tools into a single system. After selling adoption.com and being coached by Russell Brunson he identified the podcasting tool fragmentation problem through lived experience-publishing daily content across audio, video, social, and newsletter formats. Pot Up has raised $5.8 million and serves podcasters seeking to create, grow, and monetize their shows without tool-switching friction.

🟪 Connect with Nathan Gwhilliam

• Pot Up Platform: https://podup.com (includes free trial, 24 Monetization Strategies ebook, and 30-Day Podcast Launch Course)
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

She's coached 24 TEDx speakers across Europe, India, and the US. She's worked with 400+ leaders from 47 nationalities. And she spent her first six months teaching communication skills hoping every class would be canceled.

Ioana (Jo) Jongsma breaks down why everything you've been told about managing stage fright is backwards and what actually works when the stakes are high.

We cover:

• Why "be yourself" destroys nervous speakers
• The neuroscience reframe that changes everything
• What TEDx curators actually look for and the red flag that gets you rejected
• The three words you should never say in the first 10 seconds
• How she accidentally offended a client from stage (and the lesson she'll never forget)
• Why AI can write your speech but will never replace presence

Whether you're pitching investors, leading a team meeting, or dreaming of the red dot this one's for you.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Ioana (Jo) Jongsma

(02:10) From Introvert to Public Speaking

(07:21) Understanding the Stress Response

(13:44) Practical Tips for Managing Stress

(27:27) Aligning Your Values with Your Presentation

(33:51) The TEDx Selection Process

(37:56) Motivation and Effort for TEDx Speakers

(42:26) Identifying Your Target Audience

(44:49) The Importance of Niching Down

(49:28) Learning from Mistakes on Stage

(57:30) The Future of Public Speaking in an AI World

(01:03:30) Pro Tips for TEDx Speakers

🟪 About the Guest

Ioana has been helping speakers find their words since 2008. She has worked with over 400 leaders, experts, founders, and policymakers of 46 different nationalities and across industries ranging from Tech, FMCG, Pharma, and Energy to Finance, Logistics, Agribusiness and European Commission Agencies. To date, Ioana has supported 24 TEDx speakers to deliver the talk of their lives on TEDx stages across Europe, India and the US. Ioana is an ICF Associate Certified Coach, a Gestalt Professional Certified Coach, and a NeuroMindfulness Master Practitioner.

🟪 Connect with Ioana (Jo) Jongsma

• Website: https://www.onspeaking.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Tyler Wagner reveals how he guarantees bestseller status for any book. After dropping out of college at 19 with $80,000 in debt, he built Authors Unite into an 8-figure book marketing agency that has helped 5,000+ authors sell millions of books.

In this episode, Tyler deconstructs the invisible mechanics behind bestseller lists, explaining why Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times all operate on predictable algorithms. He shares the exact system Authors Unite uses to guarantee minimum 10,000+ book sales and exposes why book quality has almost nothing to do with bestseller status.

You'll discover Tyler's contrarian path to success: working for free at conferences, meeting Tim Ferriss backstage, building an entire business through cold outreach and partnerships instead of funnels or Facebook ads, and why he'd literally pay to intern for Ray Dalio. He also reveals the hardest moment in his 15-year journey—refunding $120K when the Wall Street Journal list vanished—and why old school sales principles beat modern marketing tactics.

This conversation breaks down the exact constraints, decisions, and systems that turned a broke college dropout into a bestselling author factory. This conversation is zero fluff, but full with field-tested principles on building authority through substance.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Tyler Wagner

(01:50) Dropping Out of College

(08:57) Writing the First Book

(11:16) Getting Into Conferences for Free

(20:16) Becoming a Bestselling Author

(25:53) Quality vs Algorithm

(36:12) Starting the Podcast

(43:13) The Future of Book Publishing

(47:25) Starting a New Business Today

(49:41) The Hardest No

(52:19) Old School Marketing

(56:11) Connect Tyler Wagner

🟪 Key Topics Discussed

• The exact system behind bestseller lists
• Why he'd literally pay Ray Dalio to work for free
• How he crashed $5K conferences using one email template
• The partnership strategy that replaced all paid advertising
• Why 8,000 sales calls built his business when SEO failed
• The $120K refund story that almost broke him
• How he guarantees bestseller status

🟪 About the Guest

Tyler Wagner is the Founder and CEO of Authors Unite, a hybrid publishing and book marketing agency he started at 19 years old. He's a #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and investor who has helped 5,000+ authors achieve bestseller status across every major platform. Tyler also runs Partner Profits and hosts The Tyler Wagner Show podcast with 2,500+ episodes.

🟪 Connect with Tyler Wagner

• Authors Unite Website: https://authorsunite.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerbwagner/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerbwagner/
• PartnersProfits Website: https://partnerprofits.io/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca/

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Most salespeople give prospects the ick. They check boxes, recite scripts, and reek of commission breath. April Palmer does the opposite and closes enterprise deals by saying no, asking kindergarten-level questions, and letting clients talk 80% of the time.

In this episode, April breaks down the invisible mechanics of sales that actually work: why telling prospects "this isn't right for you" builds more trust than any pitch, how to stop competing on price by solving problems nobody else sees, and the specific words that destroy credibility the moment they leave your mouth.

She reveals her exact process for running discovery calls without feeling like an interrogation, the AI workflow that keeps her present during conversations, and why most salespeople are solving the wrong problem (hint: "I need to save 20%" is never the real issue).

This isn't about tactics. It's about understanding what people actually buy and it's rarely what they say they need.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing April Palmer

(02:08) April’s Early Sales Experience

(04:53) The Importance of Connection in Sales

(10:24) Building Trust and Setting Boundaries

(15:50) Effective Sales Techniques and Tools

(28:03) Creating a Personalized Sales Experience

(29:06) Leveraging Tools and Team Collaboration

(32:16) Understanding Customer Needs and Buying Behaviors

(37:54) Consulting for Small Businesses

(44:18) Effective Communication in Sales

🟪 About the Guest

April Palmer is a sales strategist, educator, and recovering overachiever who helps fast-growing companies make smarter business and technology decisions. She specializes in enterprise sales, negotiation strategy, and making complex topics actually enjoyable to learn. Known for teaching humans how to sell without the sleaze, April turns messy business problems into practical, joyful insights.

🟪 Connect with April Palmer

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hotmessboss
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotmessboss/
• Website: https://www.duckbillhq.com

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Jonathan DeCollibus built 16 companies from the ground up. Most of them failed. But those failures taught him something most investors miss: business is just math plus courage. Now, as an investor in over 30 companies, he reveals the counterintuitive frameworks that separate entrepreneurs who scale from those who stay stuck.

This conversation strips away the pitch deck theater. Jonathan explains why he spends 80% of his time evaluating founders and only 20% on business models. Why TAM slides mean nothing without proof of demand. Why perfectionism is just fear wearing a professional mask. And why his daily "20 minutes of hell" practice keeps him sharper than any morning routine.

We deconstruct his repeatable system for creating irresistible offers, the incentive alignment formula he learned on a napkin from Frank Kern, and why he believes burnout only exists when you're living someone else's priorities. Jonathan breaks down the exact validation method he uses before investing a dollar, the belief that kills more startups than bad ideas, and how he'd rebuild from zero in 90 days using nothing but a phone and two feet.

This isn't motivational content. It's diagnostic. If you're building a company, pitching investors, or trying to understand what actually moves the needle, this conversation reveals the invisible mechanics behind sustainable growth.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Jonathan DeCollibus

(01:10) The California Farm Boy

(06:51) The Transition from Builder to Investor

(09:30) The Importance of Leverage and Clear Thinking

(10:42) Investing in People Over Businesses

(20:54) Creating Irresistible Offers

(27:33) The Challenge of Perfectionism

(32:27) Balancing Entrepreneurship and Personal Life

(37:10) Adapting to Life’s Seasons

(39:39) Rebuilding After a Setback

(45:40) Quick Fire Questions

(49:44) Connect with Jonathan

🟪 Key Topics Discussed

• Why most pitch decks fail the investor test (and what to do instead)
• The 80/20 rule for evaluating investment opportunities
• How to create offers that make saying "no" irrational
• The perfectionism trap that stalls progress
• Door-to-door sales as accelerated business education
• Intrinsic vs extrinsic value in market positioning
• Why proof of demand beats TAM projections
• The "20 minutes of hell" daily discipline practice
• Living by seasons instead of rigid routines
• Rebuilding strategy after losing everything

🟪 About the Guest

Jonathan DeCollibus is a serial founder who has built 16 companies and currently invests in over 30 ventures while sitting on multiple boards. Starting as a California farm boy doing door-to-door carpet cleaning sales, he learned resilience through brutal rejection before building successful companies across multiple industries. His investment philosophy prioritizes founder psychology and clear thinking over traditional metrics.

🟪 Connect with Jonathan DeCollibus

• Website: https://svperior.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-decollibus-deal-maker/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Pura Vida!

Gabe Marusca

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Why creative entrepreneurs who make money often burn out faster than those who don't and the profitability framework that solves both problems simultaneously.

Christian Brim, author of Profit First for Creatives and host of The Profitable Creative podcast, deconstructs the false paradigm that creativity and profit oppose each other. This conversation reveals the operational mechanics behind sustainable creative businesses: value-based pricing that increases as you improve, the cash vault system that enables strategic decision-making, and the fractal application of the 80/20 rule where 1% of activities generate 50% of results.

The conversation breaks down why profitability can mask fundamental business problems, how cost-plus pricing penalizes expertise, and the counterintuitive strategy of deliberately repelling customers to build focused authority. Christian explains the two-problem framework for all business challenges, the three-to-six-month working capital cushion that transforms reactive thinking into strategic planning, and how to identify the single most valuable hour in your business.

Core insights: the difference between creating a job versus building a business, why saying yes to everyone prevents portfolio coherence, how to price based on customer value rather than your time investment, and the systematic application of delegation and automation to high-leverage activities.

No inspirational filler. No motivational narratives. Pure operational clarity for entrepreneurs and creatives building authority through systems, not volume.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Christian Brim

(01:44) The Profit Prophet

(03:42) Profit First for Creatives

(11:31) Value-Based Pricing

(19:34) Building Your Brand

(25:09) How to Stand Out

(33:17) Maximizing Efficiency

(41:24) Connect with Christian Brim

🟪 About the Guest

Christian Brim is the author of Profit First for Creatives, host of The Profitable Creative podcast, and founder of Core Group, a financial services firm specializing in creative businesses. Known as "The Prophet of Profit," Christian helps creative entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses through strategic financial systems and value-based pricing frameworks.

🟪 Connect with Christian Brim

• Website: https://christianbrim.com
• Core Group: https://coregroupus.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianbrim

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Until Next Week,

Pura Vida!

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

Over 1 billion people globally have disabilities. 60 million in the US alone. And 95% of the internet is completely inaccessible to them.

Maxwell Ivey, digital accessibility advisor known as the Blind Blogger, breaks down why accessibility isn't just a compliance checkbox—it's a revenue driver, an SEO multiplier, and a gateway to the most loyal customer base you'll ever build.

In this episode, Maxwell reveals:

• Why accessibility features you use every day (like Dark Mode) were originally built for people with vision loss—and how that principle applies to every accessibility improvement you make
• The three business benefits of accessibility that have nothing to do with lawsuits: improved user experience for all users, higher search and AI bot rankings, and access to a massively underserved market
• Why companies with the biggest budgets are often the worst at accessibility—and how small-to-medium businesses can use this as a competitive advantage
• The real cost of accessibility work (hint: it's not what you think) and which tools can automate 50-70% of the work
• How to navigate a website with a screen reader—and why understanding this changes how you build everything
• The exact process Maxwell uses to audit websites and educate teams, from free checkers to hands-on consulting
• Why "client-first" and "accessibility-first" are the same strategy—and how this approach builds sustainable businesses that don't burn out chasing customers

Maxwell doesn't just talk compliance. He explains mechanisms. He reveals the invisible market dynamics at play. And he provides a clear roadmap for turning accessibility into a business asset, not a burden.

If you operate a website, build software, or run any digital business, this episode exposes a massive leverage point most competitors are ignoring.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Maxwell Ivey

(01:32) Maxwell’s Insights on Business and Accessibility

(02:02) Challenges in Implementing Accessibility

(05:28) Improving User Experience Through Accessibility

(09:07) SEO and Market Reach Benefits

(23:26) Building an Accessibility-First Business

(36:13) Maxwell’s Approach to Helping Businesses

(42:13) Contact Maxwell Ivey

🟪 About the Guest

Maxwell Ivey is a digital accessibility advisor with nearly two decades of experience educating businesses about accessibility. Known as "The Blind Blogger," Maxwell specializes in helping small-to-medium businesses, nonprofits, and SaaS companies build accessible digital experiences that drive growth. He combines technical accessibility audits with team education and content strategy.

🟪 Connect with Maxwell Ivey

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellivey/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: theaccessibilityadvantage.com

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabemarusca
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Until Next Week,

Pura Vida!

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

There's a 7-year gap between what AI can actually do and what people believe it can do—and that gap is costing businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in failed pilots.

Chris Hood is an AI strategist and author with over 20 years of pioneering enterprise AI initiatives at Google Cloud, Fox, Disney, and Domino's. Named a Top 30 Customer Experience Thought Leader by Global Gurus in 2024 and 2025, Chris authored "Infallible" and "The Customer Transformation." He currently advises Fortune 500 companies on AI transformation and teaches AI ethics at Southern New Hampshire University.

In this episode, Chris exposes the invisible mechanics behind AI hype, revealing why "agent washing" has turned every company into an overnight AI expert, why Taco Bell is losing revenue from their AI implementation, and the shocking salary gap that proves data scientists (earning up to $3 million annually) are vastly more valuable than AI engineers.

You'll discover the customer-first framework that prevents costly AI failures, why autonomous AI doesn't actually exist despite the marketing claims, and the exact tools and processes Chris uses to help Fortune 500 companies separate signal from noise. This isn't about chasing trends—it's about building authority through competence and systems that actually work.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Chris Hood

(02:05) The Reality vs. Hype in AI

(07:40) Understanding AI Capabilities and Misalignment

(09:59) The Fear of Missing Out in AI Adoption

(16:58) Practical AI Implementations

(20:24) Leveraging AI for Customer Insights

(24:39) Tools for AI Research and Implementation

(31:01) Chris Hood’s AI Strategy Frameworks

(35:42) Career Advice in AI and Tech

(40:20) The Value of Data Scientists

(42:43) Cybersecurity and AI

(46:30) Ethics in AI

(55:11) Connect with Chris Hood

🟪 Key Topics Discussed

• Why data scientists command $3 million annual salaries while AI engineers top out at $600K
• The concept of "agent washing"
• Why Taco Bell's revenue declined after implementing AI in their drive-throughs
• The exact framework Chris uses with Fortune 500 companies
• Why autonomous AI literally doesn't exist, despite it being the most overhyped concept in tech

🟪 About the Guest

Chris Hood is an AI keynote speaker, strategist, and author recognized as a top leader in AI-driven customer experience. With over 20 years pioneering enterprise AI initiatives, he has led AI strategy at Google Cloud, deployed production AI models, and developed innovative recommendation systems at Fox, Disney, and Domino's. He currently advises Fortune 500 companies on AI transformation and intelligent CX platforms while teaching AI ethics and business strategy at Southern New Hampshire University.

🟪 Connect with Chris Hood

• Website: https://chrishood.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishood/

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: ⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com⁠
• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/⁠
• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/⁠
• X/Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/gabemarusca⁠
• Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/maruscagabe/⁠
• TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Until Next Week,

Pura Vida!

🟪 Join 500+ Smart Entrepreneurs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com ⁠⁠and learn each week for free, how to build client acquisition systems that scale revenue and impact, without burning out or breaking down.

AI is destroying authentic marketing—and most brands don't even realize it. In this episode, Caleb Roche, Marketing Professor and CEO of Group Creative, reveals why 99.9% of TV commercials are likely AI-written and what that means for the future of advertising.

Caleb operates at the rare intersection of academia and real-world execution. As an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Oklahoma Baptist University, he teaches future marketers how to think strategically. As CEO of Group Creative, he's generated over $10 million in revenue for clients by building systems that actually perform. This dual perspective gives him unique insights into consumer behavior, particularly Gen Z trends, and what separates theory from results.

We deconstruct why American companies catastrophically fail when entering international markets—Walmart lost $1-3 billion in Germany because they didn't understand that friendly greeters are creepy there. We examine why consumers can't remember video content from 7 days ago and what that means for brand building. Caleb shares the Red Napkin Theory for creating unforgettable customer experiences and explains why customer retention is now more valuable than acquisition in today's economic climate.

This isn't motivational content. It's a diagnostic look at invisible mechanics: how AI has made marketing narcissistic, why "guaranteed leads" promises destroy industry trust, when to say no to prospects even when you need revenue, and how to extract real consumer insights instead of surface-level pain points.

🟪 Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Caleb Roche

(01:52) One Foot in The Classroom and One in The Boardroom

(03:52) Marketing Trends and Consumer Behavior

(07:51) Challenges in Entering New Markets

(14:59) The Role of AI in Market Research

(20:55) The Importance of Humanity in Marketing

(23:56) Understanding Pain Points in Business

(25:19) In-Depth Conversations for Better Insights

(27:14) Go-To-Market Strategy for Different Markets

(31:34) Surviving Economic Challenges

(36:41) The Red Napkin Theory in Marketing

(39:15) Common Mistakes in Customer Relationships

(43:07) Connect with Caleb

🟪 Key Topics Discussed

• Why AI produces narcissistic marketing copy and how to spot it
• The cultural disasters that cost Walmart billions in Germany
• How trends die in 7 days and what that means for your brand
• Why customer retention beats acquisition in economic downturns
• The Red Napkin Theory for exceptional customer experiences
• Market entry strategies that don't require Walmart's budget
• How to extract authentic consumer insights through storytelling
• When guaranteed lead promises are destroying marketing trust
• Why saying no to clients builds stronger agencies
• The shift from quality to quantity and how to reverse it

🟪 About the Guest

Caleb Roche, MBA, is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Oklahoma Baptist University and CEO of Group Creative. He helps entrepreneurs and consultants build data-driven marketing systems that generate measurable results. His agency has driven over $10 million in revenue for clients while launching entire product categories.

🟪 Connect with Caleb Roche

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-roche/
• Website: https://www.goclubcreative.com

🟪 Connect with Gabe Marusca

• Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabemarusca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemarusca/
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabemarusca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maruscagabe/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca

Until Next Week,

Pura Vida!