Three Valuable Lessons from the Episode:

Pick a niche — then build your circles.

Focus on a specific audience and become a leader in that space. Once you’ve earned trust, expand your influence with intention instead of distraction.

Interrupt with purpose.

Jason compares great advertising to Angry Elmo — loud, hilarious, but relatable. If your ad stops someone in their tracks and makes them curious, you’ve won the game.

Surround yourself with people who challenge you.

Don’t hire yes-men. Build a team (and life) that inspires you to grow — morally, mentally, and professionally. If you’re the smartest one in the room, find a new room.

Listen now to learn how Jason built an agency by combining data, storytelling, and the ability to actually make people care — all while reading two books a week and dodging bad tea in Hawaii.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Three Valuable Lessons from the Episode:

Friction isn’t always bad — it’s engagement.

Instead of minimizing every second of user interaction, Playably leans into 15–20 seconds of gameplay to create memorable, rewarding experiences that boost email opt-ins and time on site.

Games personalize the shopping experience.

By customizing games to match brand personas — from swiping denim like Tinder for older shoppers to drag-and-drop safety kits for medical emergencies — Playably transforms product education into something fun, sticky, and story-driven.

Every game tells a story (and collects smart data).

Whether it’s teaching proper use of a tennis machine, justifying a premium first-aid kit, or sparking joy in fine china matching, Playably’s games aren’t gimmicks — they’re conversion tools that bridge emotion, behavior, and brand values.

Listen now to learn how gamification goes far beyond “spin the wheel” — and how thoughtful, playful design can turn casual visitors into lifelong fans.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

But this conversation quickly turns into a masterclass on integrity-driven growth, transparency, and sustainable marketing systems. Whether you’re running an agency, hiring one, or somewhere in between, this episode is a must-listen.

Three Valuable Lessons from the Episode:

Your results are your niche.

Michael explains why you don’t need to hyper-specialize when your agency is truly performance-driven. By focusing on results and building systems that work across industries, EZ grew organically into legal and medical markets through word-of-mouth alone.

Referrals beat reach.

The best leads don’t come from cold outreach — they come from doing great work. Michael shares how client retention and reputation have become EZ’s greatest growth engines, with medical clients staying on for 36–48+ months.

Plan before you push.

Most agencies throw money at ads and hope something sticks. Michael breaks down how EZ starts with a comprehensive, paid marketing audit before ever launching a campaign — ensuring alignment, accountability, and clarity for every client.

Listen now to hear why “just doing what you say you’re going to do” is still the most powerful strategy in the book — and how embracing AI and integrity can help agencies stand out in a noisy, impatient world.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

We also talk about content burnout, the truth behind social media algorithms, and how small businesses can still grow without chasing vanity metrics. 

In this episode: 

The unfiltered truth about small business failures and restarts 

How to scale smarter: what to do (and not do) when you’re overwhelmed 

Why she built Bridge Insights to fix a massive marketing gap 

The difference between being a freelancer and a true CMO 

What every founder should know about content strategy in 2025 

This episode is packed with wisdom from someone who’s walked the walk—from painting heels in college to launching marketing dashboards powered by AI. 

 

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

John shares unfiltered insights from over 15 years in business — including lessons from failed ventures, controversial marketing takes, and how he gauges a company’s value based on its people.

In this episode, we cover:

Why long-term client success has nothing to do with performance metrics

The real impact of AI on agencies (and how most aren’t prepared)

Why culture, character, and cursing (yes, cursing) define business relationships

And the wildest marketing failures we’ve ever heard (yes, that one about the airline…)

This one’s full of sharp takes, business wisdom, and candid stories about agency life, leadership, and what it really means to manage people well.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

We kicked things off with a rapid-fire Q&A to get to know the real Shira — you can catch that fun moment as a standalone reel on our socials.

What You’ll Learn:

- How Shira used TikTok to generate her first wave of sales

- Why her customers come to her — not the other way around

- How customer feedback led to product innovation across demographics

Whether you’re a product founder, Gen Z entrepreneur, or just love seeing powerful missions meet smart branding — this story will inspire your next move.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

In this episode, Melina dives deep into how she built The Brainy Business, what behavioral economics means for entrepreneurs and marketers, and how launching a podcast led to global recognition, book deals, and consulting work with major brands.

You’ll also hear:

How to build a podcast that generates real business

Tips to avoid burnout as an agency owner or entrepreneur

Why solo episodes are harder than they look

The importance of experimentation and letting go of what’s not working

And what to do before you take the leap from your 9–5

Whether you’re thinking about launching a podcast, scaling your agency, or just love brainy marketing talk – this one’s for you.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

First, Johnny plays a rapid-fire game: Real or Fake Website? (Spoiler: poop is involved 💩)

Then we dive into:

How Johnny built a full-time agency while raising 4 kids

Why most business owners get their websites wrong

The power of setting clear expectations early

How to avoid miscommunication in client projects

What to do when a project completely goes off the rails

Why you should always call, not email, when things go bad

How to train clients to communicate problems (not just “fixes”)
 

Whether you’re a designer, a developer, or just trying to run a better business — this episode is a must-listen for anyone who works with clients.

Fully Managed is a podcast by Penji, where we talk to marketing professionals and agency owners about the real challenges they face and the strategies they use to grow.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

First, Harrison plays a rapid-fire game: Super Speed Q&A—where we test if he can beat the one-minute leaderboard. (Spoiler: he tries 👀)

Then we dive into:

The overlap between marketing for dating apps, furniture, legal tech, and real estate

Why search works for TurboTenant and discovery works for fashion

How to go from 0 → 100 customers using lean, no-fluff strategies

What makes good product marketers (hint: it’s not fancy tools)

When to hire full-time vs. freelance vs. agency support

Why “doing it all” will stop you from winning

Real advice on managing bandwidth, team structure, and scaling

Whether you’re a solo founder, marketing a SaaS, or trying to build a scrappy team that actually works—this is a must-watch episode.

Fully Managed is a podcast by Penji, spotlighting how founders, creators, and marketers got their first 100 customers—and the lessons that came with them.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

They discuss:

Why B2B marketers are still underestimating podcasting

The biggest mistakes new podcasters make (and how to avoid them)

How podcasting creates long-term value beyond content

How to turn a podcast into a relationship-building machine

What it actually takes to launch a successful podcast at an agency

Whether you’re a marketing leader, agency owner, or content strategist, this conversation is packed with real-world insights and lessons from someone who’s done it all—from in-house marketing director to founder.

Fully Managed is a podcast by Penji, where we talk to marketing professionals and agency owners about the real challenges they face and the strategies they use to grow.

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast