In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Kelli Kelley, founder and CEO of brndMethod Creative Agency, to talk about why creativity and results don't have to be a tradeoff and why most businesses aren't actually ready for AI even when they think they are.

Kelli started her career in PR in New York at Walmart's Grand Fade of Glory, learned communications on the job sitting in editor lunches with Vogue, Elle, and Bazaar, and eventually built her own agency in Atlanta. She has spent the last 15+ years refining a methodology that anchors every creative decision back to the actual sales process and business goals of the client.

If you run a B2B business, lead a marketing team, or you're a founder trying to figure out how AI fits into your strategy without wasting budget, this episode is for you.

🎙️ We dive into:

• Why the first conversation with any client starts with the sales team, not the brand
• How to bring real creativity into conservative B2B without crossing into cringe
• The real reason most companies aren't ready for AI yet
• Why the AI twin trend missed the point of authentic content
• How the brndMethod AI marketing readiness assessment exposes the gaps before strategy starts
• What happens when leads go to the void because no one connected the form
• Why marketing should never be hung with the responsibility of closing sales
• How Kelli pivoted from traditional PR to digital after seeing the writing on the wall in 2014
• The mindset shift that happens when you stop chasing shiny objects and start asking what is this for
• How to feed the algorithm without sacrificing brand integrity
• Why she sees every platform update as an opportunity instead of a problem
• What the next 3 to 5 years look like for agencies that actually care about brand

Kelli's perspective is sharp because she has lived through every era of marketing from print PR to AI and she understands that the fundamentals never change even when the tools do.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #brndMethod #MarketingAgency #B2BMarketing #AIMarketing #BrandStrategy #CreativeAgency #Entrepreneurship #Leadership

00:00 Introduction to Brand Method Creative Agency
02:35 Merging Creativity with Results
05:05 Navigating the B2B Marketing Landscape
07:53 The Importance of Consistency in Content Creation
10:31 Adapting to Industry Changes and AI
13:16 The Role of Authenticity in Marketing
15:52 Kelly's Journey to Founding Brand Method
18:34 The Shift to Digital PR
21:09 Embracing Change and AI in Marketing
24:00 Assessing Readiness for AI Integration
26:21 Understanding Sales and Marketing Alignment
30:10 The Importance of Process in Business
32:00 Future Vision for Brand Method Creative Agency
36:04 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Haley Hoover, founder of Winnie & Lu and creator of the Airess drying rack, to talk about what it really takes to go from a napkin sketch to retail shelves at Nordstrom.

Haley spent 11 years as a professional nanny before moving into healthcare sales, business development, and practice management. When she became a mom herself, she realized most baby products had not been rethought in 15 to 20 years. That frustration turned into Winnie & Lu, a product brand built around the idea of tools that are strong, elegant, and resilient. She walks through how she designed the Airess, why she chose gold plated stainless steel and food grade silicone, and the expensive early lesson where her first manufacturer fired her for having standards that were too high.

If you are building a physical product, thinking about launching something while raising kids, or navigating the real peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, this one is packed with honest lessons you can actually use.

🎙️ We dive into:

• How 11 years of nannying shaped the design of the Airess drying rack
• Why most bottle racks are designed for the nursery when the baby never touches them
• The napkin sketch to Fiverr CAD to engineer to Alibaba manufacturing path
• Getting fired by her first manufacturer for demanding too much quality
• The reality of being a woman negotiating with overseas factories
• Why service businesses and product businesses are completely different animals
• How to be uncomfortable with uncomfortable decisions, comfortably
• The undertow metaphor for riding out the hard parts of building a business
• Why motherhood and entrepreneurship use almost the same skill set
• Landing Nordstrom, Bye Bye Baby, Walmart, Amazon, and JCPenney
• Her vision for building a company that actually supports working parents
• Why failing publicly is less scary than the fear in your own head

Haley's perspective on building a product brand as a mom, without a business degree and without apologizing for her standards, is the kind of real talk more founders need to hear.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #WinnieAndLu #AiressDryingRack #FounderStory #WomenInBusiness #ProductDesign #MomEntrepreneur #ConsumerProducts #Entrepreneurship #Leadership

00:00 Introduction to Haley Hoover and Winnie & Lu
01:00 The Inspiration Behind the Airess Drying Rack
03:39 Design and Functionality of the Airess Drying Rack
08:03 The Journey of Product Development
11:40 Overcoming Challenges in Manufacturing
15:12 The Entrepreneurial Mindset
18:39 Balancing Business and Personal Life
21:40 Embracing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
27:03 Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Parent
32:17 Creating Supportive Work Environments for Parents
37:11 Future Aspirations and Business Growth
38:44 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Anderson Dos Santos, founder and CEO of Oceanview Building Group, to talk about how he built a healthcare construction brand that doctors actually want to refer their peers to.

Anderson moved from Brazil to South Florida at 16 with zero English, learned the language (and Spanish) on construction sites, and was running entire crews within three years. From there, he built his own company and niched hard into high-end healthcare and plastic surgery buildouts.

00:00 Introduction to Anderson Dos Santos
02:11 Anderson's Journey from Brazil to Construction
06:40 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship in Construction
10:11 Niche Focus: Healthcare Construction
14:12 Creating Unique Patient Experiences in Healthcare
18:31 Integrating Technology in Healthcare Construction
21:28 Embracing Technology in Healthcare Practices
24:19 Balancing Work and Personal Life
25:28 Focusing on Impactful Decisions
29:18 The Importance of Timing in Decision Making
31:56 Navigating the Fast-Paced World of AI
34:11 Leveraging AI for Efficiency
37:11 The Future of AI and Personalization
40:35 Vision for Oceanview's Future

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Digit Murphy, founder of United Women's Sports and a 40-year veteran of women's sports advocacy, to talk about what it really takes to grow women's sports from the ground up and why most people are approaching it the wrong way.

Digit has done it all: coached at Brown University for over two decades, built programs from worst to first, coached professional hockey teams in the US and internationally in China, and now works at the intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and AI to create real opportunity for women athletes. Her perspective on why women's sports shouldn't just copy the men's playbook is something every sports fan and business builder needs to hear.

Whether you're a sports fan, an entrepreneur looking at undervalued markets, or someone who cares about equity and opportunity, this conversation will shift the way you think about the business of women's sports.

🎙️ We dive into:

• How being told "you can't play, but you can keep score" at age 9 became the catalyst for Digit's lifelong mission
• Why she waited three years just to wear a jersey again and how that shaped everything
• The journey from Cornell hockey recruit to 24 years coaching at Brown University
• How Brown's women's hockey went from 11 Division I teams in the sport to nearly 40 during her tenure
• The Title IX lawsuit at Brown and what side Digit was on (hint: the athletes)
• Coaching professional hockey in Toronto, building a team in China, and preparing them for the 2022 Olympics
• Why "shrink it and pink it" is the biggest mistake in women's sports
• Her bold take on why checking shouldn't be in women's hockey OR men's hockey
• How the PWHL adding checking is a step in the wrong direction
• How Click AI is turning every woman athlete into a content creator with a brand deal pathway
• Why brands are sleeping on a massive opportunity in women's sports NIL
• The investment gap: what $5 million can do in women's sports vs. men's
• Why women athletes with Ivy League degrees are making $30K a year as pros
• How Slay Sports is raising capital and sourcing deals for women's sports properties

Digit brings decades of founder energy, coaching wisdom, and a real vision for how women's sports can thrive on its own terms, not as a lesser copy of what already exists.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #WomensSports #DigitMurphy #WomensHockey #NIL #SportsEntrepreneurship #TitleIX #AIinSports #PWHL #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #WomenInBusiness

00:00 Introduction to Digit Murphy and Her Journey 02:44 The Impact of Early Sports Experiences 05:29 Transitioning from Player to Coach 08:19 Championing Change in Women's Sports 10:47 Building Opportunities in Women's Sports 13:29 The Role of AI in Women's Sports 16:06 Creating Unique Value in Women's Sports 18:39 The Future of Women's Sports and Sustainability 21:14 Engaging Brands and Investors in Women's Sports 23:57 The Importance of Representation in Sports 26:37 Conclusion and Future Aspirations 36:47 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Gabriel Müller, professional cyclist, app entrepreneur, and the man legally known in Turkey as Mehmet Şampiyon Bisiklet, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life across borders, stay curious, and keep showing up when comfort tries to kill your edge.
Gabi is one of my closest friends and someone I've looked up to since my Berlin days. He's currently training in Medellín, Colombia, racing under the Turkish flag, running an app business remotely, and navigating everything from cycling team politics to Armenian citizenship applications. This conversation covers a lot of ground, from the inner workings of low-level professional cycling to the mental traps that come with early success in business.

If you're a founder, a creative, or someone trying to figure out how to design a life that actually fits you, this one's for you.

🎙️ We dive into:

Why Medellín might be the best city in the world for cyclists and what Colombia's service culture teaches you about quality
The real story behind legally changing your name to "Champion Cyclist" in Turkey
How cycling team owners pocket sponsor money and what that looks like from the inside
Why Gabi sponsors his own teams and the 50/50 gamble that comes with it
The Armenia citizenship saga, passing a handwritten alphabet test, getting denied, and the lawyer whispering answers
How multiple passports became a survival strategy during COVID
What digital nomad life in Bali actually does to people over time
The naked tea parties of Berlin and why German culture around nudity is a mindfuck for everyone else
How complacency almost destroyed a successful app business during COVID
The therapist who pulled him back to reality and why entrepreneurship and mental health go hand in hand
Why curiosity is the only thing that keeps you improving, in cycling and in business
His five-year vision to own and run a cycling team the right way

Gabi brings a perspective you don't hear often, someone who's lived in five countries, competed professionally in a brutal sport, and built a business entirely on his own terms. This is what building a life looks like when you refuse to settle.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next
🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #ProfessionalCycling #AppEntrepreneur #DigitalNomad #MedellínColombia #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #MentalHealth #CuriosityDriven #BuildYourLife

00:00 Introduction to Gabi and His Journey
00:59 Life and Cycling in Colombia
04:25 The Name Change: Mehmet Champion Bicyclette
07:47 Inside the World of Cycling Teams
09:59 Challenges in Professional Cycling
16:30 Pursuing Citizenship in Armenia
17:14 Navigating Immigration Challenges
19:54 The Allure of Multiple Passports
21:01 Living the Digital Nomad Life in Bali
24:15 Cultural Reflections: Berlin vs. Paris
31:52 Evolving Relationships with Cities
34:49 Looking Ahead: Gabi's Future Aspirations
35:47 The Demands of Competitive Cycling
37:15 The Vision of Team Management
39:30 Understanding the Top Cyclists
43:23 Lessons from Entrepreneurship and Mental Well-Being
52:05 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Kate Holgate, Executive Creative Director, Partner at Noble West and Co-Founder of Secondborn, to explore what happens when a 20-year creative career leads you to launch something entirely new — without leaving behind what you've built.
Kate shares how she went from being one of two women at her first agency job to leading creative teams, building brands in the food and agriculture space, and co-founding Secondborn — a creative incubator designed to close the gap between in-house brand teams and agency-level thinking. We talk design thinking, the culture of fear that's quietly killing innovation, and why Kate believes creativity is more important than ever — even in the age of AI.
If you're a founder, creative leader, or anyone trying to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, this one's for you.

🎙️ We dive into:

How Kate landed her first agency job at 22 because she could make things move on a screen — and what she learned over nearly 20 years from there
Why she made the move to Noble West, an agency that only works in food, agriculture, and sustainability
The gap she kept seeing between in-house marketing teams and the agencies hired to do the "sexy work" — and why that became the seed for Secondborn
What design thinking actually is, and how a teaching gig at Boise State University helped her crystallize the whole idea
The statistic that stopped her: 51% of marketers say a culture of fear is a barrier to creativity — while 56% of Fortune 500 CMOs still expect innovation from their teams
How Secondborn runs creative labs and workshops that bring brand teams into the process rather than just doing it for them
Why AI isn't replacing creativity — and how Kate uses it to prototype faster and free up space for bigger thinking
The creative muscle theory: why you have to keep using it, and what mountain bike trails in Boise have to do with her best ideas
What Noble West is actually fighting for — giving farmers and sustainable food brands the storytelling they deserve
How she leads alongside two business partners who cover the operational and strategic weight she doesn't naturally carry
Why she never wants to stop being in the room when ideas are being made — and what that means for how she leads

Kate's perspective is a reminder that the best creative leaders aren't the ones with all the answers — they're the ones who never stop being curious.
🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next
🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #CreativeLeadership #Branding #Entrepreneurship #FoodIndustry #DesignThinking #Leadership #AgencyLife

00:00 Kate Holgate's Creative Journey
08:28 Introducing Secondborn: Bridging the Gap
14:12 Leadership and Collaboration in Business
17:46 Noble West: A Niche Agency for Food and Sustainability
25:41 Future Aspirations for Secondborn and Noble West
28:11 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Nicolette Miller, founder of Strykur Content and brand messaging strategist, to talk about what it really takes to build a writing business from the ground up — and why your brand voice might be the most important asset you're overlooking right now.
Nicolette shares how she went from helping her dad's real estate office with marketing to launching Strykur Content, cold emailing agencies with the subject line "the content writer you didn't know you needed," and doubling her agency income by year two. We get into how AI is reshaping the content landscape, why generic ChatGPT copy is already losing its edge, and how Nicolette is helping businesses build messaging playbooks that keep their teams consistent and their voice authentic.
If you're a founder, marketer, or business owner trying to figure out how to stand out in a world flooded with AI-generated content, this one's for you.
🎙️ We dive into:

How Nicolette's love of handwritten cards and storytelling led to a career in brand messaging
Starting out in her dad's real estate office and getting her first real exposure to marketing
Why working in-house at a national office furniture company affirmed that writing was her thing
The catch-22 of needing agency experience to get an agency job — and the one that took a gamble on her
How a cold email campaign landed her a client she's still working with eight years later
The origin of the name Strykur — soccer, storytelling, and a childhood dog
Why she pushed back on repurposing the same blog content for different clients and what that taught her about quality
How AI has changed the content game and why brand voice is now your biggest differentiator
The brand messaging playbook she builds for clients — including AI prompt guides for internal teams
Why two salespeople using ChatGPT without a unified strategy creates a messaging mess
The importance of doing the research before you ever open an AI tool
How networking in Dallas pushed her past imposter syndrome all over again
Her upcoming children's book series and why she wants to bring authenticity to fiction
Walking without a phone, listening to classical music, and the creative power of boredom
Her goal to work with nonprofits and help overlooked organizations get their message heard

Nicolette brings a perspective that's equal parts disciplined athlete and empathetic storyteller — and it shows in how she approaches every brand she works with.
🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next
🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast
#FastForwardPodcast #BrandMessaging #ContentStrategy #StrykurContent #Storytelling #BrandVoice #AIinMarketing #SmallBusiness #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #leadership

00:00 Nicolette's Journey to Striker Content
03:11 The Evolution of Brand Messaging
05:53 Navigating Challenges in Entrepreneurship
08:59 The Role of AI in Content Creation
12:05 Building Relationships and Networking
14:51 The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
18:00 Creative Processes and Inspiration
20:54 Future Aspirations and Giving Back

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable agency career, choose the right niche, and grow in a fast changing marketing landscape.

Stewart shares how he pivoted from engineering to marketing, worked his way through the agency world, and eventually found his edge in healthcare. We talk about the power of specialization, why credibility matters more in healthcare than almost anywhere, and how repetition and volume can accelerate mastery faster than almost anything else.

If you are building an agency, considering a pivot, or trying to grow a B2B business through thought leadership, this conversation will give you a clear roadmap of what matters and what does not.

🎙️ We dive into:

• Why Stewart left engineering for marketing and what he learned early in agencies
• The moment healthcare became the obvious niche and why specialization wins
• How credibility and analytical thinking help you earn trust in healthcare
• The advantage of volume, and how 1000 plus consultations sharpen instinct and skill
• Why thought leadership and SEO still drive real business growth over the long term
• The real opportunity and risk of AI for agencies, and who will win as tools improve
• How to use AI to research a niche fast without blindly trusting the output
• Why asking great questions builds more credibility than sounding smart
• Active listening as a competitive advantage, and how tools like Fathom support follow through
• The leadership moment that changed Stewart’s identity and shaped his agency path
• How podcasting builds trust at scale and makes people feel like they already know you

Stewart brings a grounded, practical perspective on agency building that blends strategy, human connection, and long term thinking.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #HealthcareMarketing #MarketingAgency #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ThoughtLeadership #SEO #B2BMarketing #AI #BusinessGrowth

00:00 Introduction to Healthcare Marketing Journey
04:03 The Importance of Niche Marketing
07:50 Leveraging AI in Marketing
11:49 The Art of Asking Questions
16:03 Building Relationships Through Curiosity
20:09 Leadership Evolution and Personal Growth
24:53 The Role of Podcasting in Business Growth
25:30 Introduction to the Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Scott Milano, founder and managing director of Tanj Co. and creator of chatnamer.com, to explore the hidden craft behind brand naming and why one word can carry the weight of an entire business.

Scott shares his unconventional path from studying philosophy in college to working as a copywriter in Tokyo, eventually building a global naming consultancy that has created more than 1000 brand names across industries. We unpack how naming sits at the center of identity, why it is both strategic and emotional, and how the right name can become a company’s most enduring asset.

If you are building a company, launching a product, rebranding, or thinking about how language shapes perception, this conversation will change the way you think about names.

🎙️ We dive into:

• How studying philosophy led Scott into the world of branding and naming
• The shift from long form writing to copywriting to single word impact
• Moving to Japan and discovering the business of naming
• Starting Tanj during the Great Recession and building from scratch
• Why naming is mission critical for new brands and complex renames
• The story behind the Ally Bank rebrand and what makes a name endure
• When a company should rename and when it absolutely should not
• Why naming is more emotional and political than most people realize
• How Tanj structures its process to build alignment and confidence
• The role of AI in creative work and why it is an assistant, not a replacement
• Why human nuance, judgment, and conversation still define great naming
• Building a small, specialized team instead of scaling into a massive agency
• Creating short form content to educate founders about the power of language

Scott brings a thoughtful, disciplined perspective to branding that blends philosophy, strategy, and creativity into one focused craft.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #Branding #Naming #Entrepreneurship #AI #CreativeStrategy #BrandStrategy #Founders #BusinessGrowth #marketingonline

00:00 The Journey into Naming and Branding
04:24 Building Tange: From Layoff to Entrepreneur
06:37 The Importance of Naming in Business
08:31 Successful Renaming: The Ally Financial Case
10:35 Navigating the Challenges of Renaming
12:12 The Role of AI in Naming
14:36 The Future of Naming and Branding
23:36 The Emotional Aspect of Naming
29:13 Looking Ahead: The Future of Tange and Chatnamer

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Danny Gavin, founder and chief strategist of Optidge, host of the Digital Marketing Mentor podcast, and creator of the ODO Academy, to unpack what it takes to build a modern agency in a world where AI is changing search, reputation, and strategy in real time. Danny shares his origin story from immigrating to Houston as a kid to building websites in the early internet era, how an MBA internship at blinds.com helped solidify his path, and why mentorship and education have stayed at the core of everything he has built.

If you are interested in SEO, AI search, digital marketing strategy, or how to actually use AI as a tool without losing your thinking, this one will land.

🎙️ We dive into:

• Growing up in an immigrant family and how early internet curiosity pulled him toward marketing
• Building his first websites in the late nineties and why that foundation still matters
• The MBA turning point at blinds.com and how consulting evolved into Optidge
• Why Danny built Optidge around mentorship, clarity, and long term relationships
• The wild west of search right now and why nobody should pretend it is fully figured out
• What is changing in AI search and why being talked about matters as much as backlinks
• How reviews and third party mentions can impact visibility in LLM driven discovery
• Why diversified marketing is more important than ever and the Facebook lesson founders forget
• Practical AI use cases inside Optidge, including instant client kickoff research decks
• The Zapier workflow that ranks his emails, reduces noise, and protects focus
• What agencies must become in the next three to five years, more consultancy and less commodity fulfillment
• Why AI will not replace you, but someone using AI will
• How schools should teach AI, including using it openly and evaluating thinking, not policing tools

Danny brings a grounded perspective on strategy, search, and education that cuts through hype and puts the focus back on principles, operators, and real outcomes.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #DigitalMarketing #SEO #AI #MarketingStrategy #Entrepreneurship #AgencyLife #ContentStrategy #Education #Automation

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 The Journey Begins: Danny Gavin’s Origin Story
08:08 Building a Different Kind of Agency
11:30 Navigating the Wild West of SEO and AI
16:20 The Importance of Reputation in the Digital Age
17:33 Leveling the Playing Field in Business
19:40 The Importance of Diversification in Marketing Strategies
21:43 Integrating AI into Business Operations
25:57 The Future of Agencies in an AI Driven World
28:27 Rethinking Education in the Age of AI
34:49 Introduction to the Podcast