In the first episode of our newly revamped Get Real podcast, co-hosts (and longtime agency leaders) Cari Baldwin and Dana Harder share what’s new for the show and what’s changing in their world. No guests, no fluff—just two marketers talking candidly about AI’s impact on content strategy, the ups and downs of remote work, and why personal growth matters as much as business growth.

From vision boards and world travel to getting real about networking, they open up about how they’re approaching 2025—and why now is the time to rethink how you connect, create, and lead.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI is reshaping content strategy and search visibility for B2B marketers
• Why remote work changes company culture (and what that means for clients)
• The importance of getting back to in-person networking
• How to balance big business goals with personal wins
• A behind-the-scenes look at what’s ahead for Get Real

During this Marketing Gets Real podcast episode, Cari and Dana sat down with Gemma Hood, Founder and CEO of the company culture consultancy Culturehood. The group discussed imposter syndrome and career growth, workplace happiness versus engagement, and maintaining appropriate work/life balance. Some key takeaways include:

• The importance of employee engagement over happiness and how engagement leads to discretionary effort and commitment to the company's mission.
• The role of leadership in cultivating a positive culture and being involved in employee experience initiatives.  
• Changing employee expectations around work-life balance, personal growth opportunities, and authentic company culture.
• Strategies for keeping culture and engagement top of mind like running engagement surveys and implementing peer recognition.

RELATED LINKS

• Connect with Gemma here!
• Check out Culturehood.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

Nowadays, we are bombarded with vast information, making it crucial to effectively convey complex data in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand manner. This is where the role of data visualization comes in. Data visualization is a powerful tool that allows us to present complex data in a visual format. The main goal is to communicate insights and trends effectively, making it easier for people to understand and make informed decisions.

During this Marketing Gets Real podcast episode, Cari and Dana chatted with Meg Maffitt, VP of Business Strategy, Marketing, and Communications for the water information tech company True Elements. The group discussed how to uncover the powerful techniques and strategies that can transform intricate data into compelling visual narratives. Some key takeaways include:

• Meg’s winding career path from anthropology and art history to pharmaceuticals, environmental advocacy, and water conservation.
• The role of water intelligence in making informed decisions about water resources.
• Visualizing complex water data and educating audiences at different stages of understanding were discussed as important challenges in marketing water intelligence solutions.
• The speaker shared their experience starting a driver training company with a new paradigm focused on safety through highly trained instructors and parental participation.

RELATED LINKS

• Connect with Meg here!
• Check out True Elements.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

Podcasting has become an incredibly practical and strategic approach to fostering meaningful relationships with target audiences and accounts. By featuring industry experts, thought leaders, and influential guests, you can engage prospective buyers throughout the sales funnel and establish a strong rapport — through insightful conversations, valuable insights, and thought-provoking discussions.

During this episode of the Marketing Gets Real podcast, hosts Cari and Dana chat with Devin McDonnell, Founder of Devenio Podcasts, about how podcasting offers a unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, build credibility, and cultivate long-lasting connections with your audience. Some key points discussed include:

• Why podcasting became an important channel for driving engagement and fueling B2B marketing initiatives.
• How video is an emerging trend in podcasting that can boost discoverability and engagement.
• How Account-based marketing strategies using podcasts can help build relationships with target accounts.
• The new tools that allow B2B marketers to accurately measure podcast ROI by tracking listener journeys.
• Why video and derivative content are important for B2B marketers to fuel marketing efforts on a limited budget.

RELATED LINKS

• Connect with Devin here!
• Check out Devenio Podcasts.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

Every decision can be the difference between profit and loss. That’s why the field of Revenue Operations (RevOps) stands as a critical pillar for sustainable growth in modern businesses. As companies strive to streamline their operations and maximize revenue, they encounter intricate challenges requiring sophisticated solutions. 

During this episode of the Marketing Gets Real podcast, hosts Cari and Dana chat with Ellie Cary, Unreal Digital’s Global Head of RevOps, to unravel the complexities of this vital business function. Key talking points include:

• How Marketing and RevOps teams are evolving to support core functions and needs, focusing on unified direction, processes, and strategies. 
• The importance of understanding the customer journey and breaking it down into manageable steps to achieve goals.
• The need for scalable attribution frameworks and data tie-ins to accounts, partners, and contacts.
• How RevOps teams must adapt to changing policies and leverage AI to build logic and track high-intent data.

RELATED LINKS

• Follow Ellie here!
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

The marketing field constantly evolves, presenting new opportunities and challenges for professionals. So when we get a chance to provide valuable insights and strategies to help you navigate the dynamic marketing job market, we take it! 

During this episode of the Marketing Gets Real podcast, hosts Cari and Dana chat with Brenn Scott, Founder of found.Consulting, and Lindsay Warren, the company’s Head of Talent Acquisition, explore everything you need to know to thrive in the competitive marketing world. Key talking points include:

• How the talent market was very competitive in 2021-2022 but has cooled off more recently as some tech companies slowed hiring or laid people off.
• How to significantly impact employee retention, performance, and costs with well-done onboarding.
• Common perceptions and misconceptions of working for an agency. 
• Managing Gen Z employees who want flexibility and new challenges will require balancing excitement with ensuring they thoroughly learn roles before moving forward.

RELATED LINKS

• Follow Brenn and Lindsay!
• Learn more about found.Consulting.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

Alignment between sales and marketing continues to be a prevailing topic of discussion. Despite their shared goal of driving business growth, their distinct approaches often lead to divergent strategies and perspectives.

During this episode of the Marketing Gets Real podcast, hosts Cari and Dana chat with industry pioneer Pam Didner about why this alignment is still a subject of contention and explores the underlying disparities that fuel this conversation. Some key points discussed included:

• Practical ways marketing can better support sales, such as analyzing attendee data from webinars and events to find new leads for salespeople.
• Advice for marketers in the current economic environment, such as focusing on quick wins in the first 90 days at a new job.
• Perspectives on how AI can help but not replace human judgment and the importance of having a unique point of view.

RELATED LINKS

• Connect with Pam on Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Pam’s career.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

In this episode of the Marketing Gets Real podcast, we listen back to Cari and Dana's conversation with Sandra Freeman, VP of Strategic Marketing at Demandbase, a software company helping companies give better account-based experiences (ABX). With all of her experience, she has seen her share of marketing mess-ups! Even seasoned professionals can hit some bumps when working to drive revenue.

Join our hosts, Cari and Dana, as they dive into Sandra's unforgettable moments when everything went wrong, from accidentally misspelling the CEO's name to shedding tears after webinars. The group also discusses their mishaps during in-person events, including the infamous "Silverado Weekend Mistake." Get ready for some real-life stories and valuable lessons learned. Tune in now!

RELATED LINKS

• Connect with Sandra on Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Demandbase.
• Learn more about Unreal Digital.

If you're a marketing pro eager to stay ahead of the cool stuff that happens when AI and marketing collide, this is the place for you! We're here to spill all the juicy insights and practical tips for using AI tools in your marketing adventures. So, let's dive in and discover how AI can supercharge your marketing game without any worries or doubts holding you back.

During this episode, Dana and Cari chat with Lynsey Barron, the newly appointed President at Unreal Digital Group, about artificial intelligence and how it relates to B2B marketing. Tune in to learn:

• The different use cases of AI, like content generation and process efficiencies; 
• Opportunities and challenges around AI discoverability; and 
• Lessons from using AI for consumer research and personalizing content. 

RELATED LINKS

• Follow Lynsey here!
• Learn more about Unreal Digital Group.
• Check out our other episodes!

As many generations coalesce in today's dynamic workplace, colliding perspectives, values, and work styles will either lead to tension or become a powerful catalyst for growth and innovation. But to ensure you’re fostering this innovation, business leaders must be authentic and supportive, and create a nurturing environment where teams can thrive. It’s very similar to parenting!

During this episode, Cari and Dana chat with Hana Jacover, ICF certified coach and advisor for the consulting firm Hype House. The group discusses the intersection of leadership, authenticity, and parenting, uncovering the key principles and strategies to help us become empowered and influential leaders within our workplace and families.

Listeners will learn about:

• What leadership journeys look like for new and experienced professionals.
• How professional development and emotional intelligence play into building leadership acumen.
• Diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as Neurodiversity accommodations and support.

RELATED LINKS

• Follow Hana here!
• Learn more about Unreal Digital Group.
• Check out our other episodes!