I sat down with Josiah Swank, a creator strategist who's worked on channels with billions of views, to talk about the AI takeover everyone in media is either panicking about or profiting from. 

We got into why so many creators are suddenly leaning on AI tools, what it can actually do for YouTubers trying to grow, and where it falls flat. 

Josiah broke down the biggest mistake creators make when they treat AI output as a finished product instead of a starting point, and why storytelling, not data, is still driving ninety-five percent of what goes viral. 

Where do you draw the line between using AI to work smarter and letting it replace the human parts of your content?

I sat down with Maya Middlemiss, a writer, speaker, and remote work storyteller who's spent years helping freelancers and solopreneurs navigate every wave of tech disruption, and this time the wave is generative AI. 

We talked about her new venture, Solopreneur Superpowers, and why the barrier to building something real has never been lower, not financially, not technically, just psychologically. 

We got into why storytelling is what makes us human, why the smartest move any entrepreneur can make right now is simply having an open, curious conversation with an AI tool instead of overthinking everything alone.

What's one idea you've been sitting on because you weren't sure you had the skills to bring it to life? 

In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I welcome podcast host and producer Will Tarashuk back for a wildly unexpected journey through content creation, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and The Lord of the Rings. We explore what Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, Saruman, and the rest of the Fellowship can teach modern creators about storytelling, leadership, teamwork, influence, and staying grounded.

Will explains why business owners should be the guests telling their stories instead of hiding behind interviews, why creators must escape the comfort of their own “Shire,” and why nobody builds a successful brand alone. We also discuss cooperation over competition, creating a diverse team, using AI without losing your humanity, and avoiding fear-driven content that sacrifices trust for clicks.

Most importantly, we confront the “One Ring” nearly every modern creator carries: the phone. When algorithms, notifications, and performance metrics begin controlling your mood, it may be time to create stronger boundaries between your business and your life.

What is one habit, platform, or distraction you need to throw into Mount Doom?

I sat down with Noemi Beres, founder of Podcast Connections, and walked away reminded of something we all know but rarely practice - people don't remember what you said, they remember how you made them feel. 

Noemi has spent six years helping entrepreneurs get booked on the right podcasts, and her philosophy goes way deeper than strategy. It's about showing up as a real human being, not a polished pitch machine. 

We talked about why smart people stay invisible online even when they have something valuable to offer, and why vulnerability and consistency matter more than credentials. 

What's one conversation that changed the way you see yourself or your work?

I sat down with Jill Nordquist, a marketing and licensing veteran with over two decades of experience in consumer packaged goods and a self-described branding nerd, to dig into what actually makes a brand stick. 

We talked about why the best brands aren't just selling products - they're selling feelings, memories, and a sense of belonging.

 Jill broke down what 14 years at Mattel taught her about putting the consumer experience first, how timing and emotion are the two secret ingredients behind every product that becomes a cultural moment. 

 What's one brand that makes you feel something every time you see it, and why?

I sat down with podcast producer Emma Krebs to uncover what actually separates a successful podcast from one that disappears after only a few episodes. Emma shares how creating her own show eventually led to a full-circle opportunity working for The Minimalists Podcast, the very show that first inspired her career. We break down the hidden work behind podcast production, including research, guest outreach, scheduling, pre-interviews, audience strategy, post-production, and building trust with hosts and creative teams.

Emma explains why creators cannot simply upload an audio podcast to YouTube and expect it to grow. We explore the importance of YouTube podcast packaging, powerful titles and thumbnails, engaging introductions, consistent publishing, and conversations that only the host and guest could genuinely have. We also discuss why credibility is becoming increasingly important, how producers balance structure with natural conversation, and why understanding your reason for starting a podcast can help you push past the point where most creators quit.

What do you think matters most for podcast growth: the guest, the conversation, or the packaging?

I sat down with Brandon Keys, founder of Green Candle Media and YouTube growth strategist, to break down why so many great videos never get the views they deserve, and what it actually takes to build momentum on YouTube from scratch. 

Brandon has helped founders, real estate developers, and niche creators go from a few hundred views to tens of thousands, and in this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on everything. 

We talk about why title and thumbnail will always outperform content quality, how a single packaging change took one of his old podcast episodes from 900 views to 56,000, and what the CCN audience framework can do for your channel strategy.

What part of your content strategy do you think needs the most work right now: your packaging, your consistency, or your hook?

In this episode, I sit down with Joni Deutsch, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Audience Development at The Podglomerate, to uncover what it actually takes to grow a successful podcast. We discuss why so many creators experience podcast burnout, how unrealistic download goals can kill momentum, and why understanding your audience should come before trying to dominate every social media platform.

Joni breaks down the key pillars of podcast marketing, including cross-promotions, publicity, paid advertising, podcast app features, SEO, GEO, and audience data. We also explore the difference between downloads and genuine listens, why completion rates matter, and how analytics can help creators improve their content instead of relying on guesswork. From distributing your show across podcast apps to deciding whether video adds real value, this conversation offers practical strategies for both new and experienced podcasters. We also examine the importance of titles, thumbnails, branding, audience personas, and setting realistic growth benchmarks.

What is the biggest challenge currently stopping your podcast from reaching its next level?

In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I sit down with Devon Thomas, who helps business owners fire their ad agencies and learn how to run their own ads. 

What I loved about this conversation is how honest Devon was about why so many businesses spend money on marketing but still do not get customers. It usually is not because the business is bad. It is because the message is unclear, generic, or too focused on the company instead of the customer. We talked about Google Ads, small business marketing, content creation, customer psychology, websites that fail to convert, and why simple content with a strong message can outperform fancy production. Devon also shared how he started with almost no budget, learned through trial and error, and built his skill by treating advertising like a muscle. 

This episode is a reminder that great marketing is not about bragging louder. It is about understanding what people care about and communicating it clearly.

What is one part of your marketing that might be clear to you, but confusing to your customer?

In this episode of the Full Battery Media Podcast, I sat down with Olivia Allen, founder and CEO of Village Financial Services, to talk about something that changed the trajectory of her entire business - showing up on LinkedIn without a perfect plan and just starting.

Olivia built a 45-client firm by sharing what she knew about Schwab operations openly and consistently, without gatekeeping, without a content calendar, and without waiting until everything was polished. 

We got into why leading with education beats selling every time, how she identified the specific type of post that converted followers into actual clients, and what she did to keep showing up even when running a business with a newborn at home made everything harder. 

What's been stopping you from posting online about your work?