Good Marketing with Stephanie

Product visuals influence 83% of shoppers' purchase decisions — yet most B2B and manufacturing marketers still treat them as an afterthought. In this episode, Stephanie talks with Mark Worger, Founder and CEO of MarTech3D, about why visual content is a make-or-break part of the customer journey (and media pickup).

Mark explains how MarTech3D transforms raw engineering files into photorealistic 3D models, images, animations, and AR experiences for manufacturers producing thousands of SKUs. The conversation covers where AI speeds up visual content production, where it still falls short on accuracy and differentiation, and how brands can avoid the "sameness" trap as AI-generated content becomes ubiquitous. Mark and Stephanie also discuss applying lean manufacturing principles to marketing workflows, and how to shift from producing one-off assets to building scalable, board-ready visual content systems.

Connect with Mark Worger:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-w-63a34a1b4 Company: www.martech3d.com 

Connect with Stephanie / Spry PR:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/

Website: sprypr.co 

Show Note:

The A.I.-Design Aesthetic That's Taking Over the Internet by Kyle Chayka

Link: www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-ai-design-aesthetic-thats-taking-over-the-internet 

Marketing and comms teams are often the first hit in a downturn — over 440,000 job cuts were announced by U.S. employers in the first half of 2026 alone. In this Agency Edit, Stephanie talks with Jill Vaughan, founder of JLV Communications, about the mindset shift that got her from an unexpected layoff at the Virginia Lottery to running her own award-winning agency.

They dig into abundance vs. scarcity thinking, why your job title isn't your identity, the power of your network, and how Jill hired her first team members.

Connect with Jill Vaughan:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jilll1/ Company: www.linkedin.com/company/jlv-communications-llc/  | jlvcoms.net

Connect with Stephanie / Spry PR:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ Website: sprypr.co 

Show Notes:

• The CFO Circle: https://go.sumofallnumbers.com/the-cfo-circle-michelle 

• PRSA Independent Practitioners Alliance: https://www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections/independent-practitioners-alliance-section 

• The Proximity Principle: https://www.amazon.com/Proximity-Principle-Proven-Strategy-Career/dp/0978562038 

• Who Not How: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/who-not-how-dan-sullivan/1136703973 

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Madison Square Garden wedding generated nearly as much media coverage as America's 250th birthday — happening the very same weekend. Was it a PR triumph or a case of overexposure?

In this episode of Good Marketing with Stephanie, host Stephanie Pryor sits down with 20-year communications veteran Matt See (Disney, Nicki Minaj, Gatorade, Lowe's Motor Racing, and Fortune 20 healthcare clients) to unpack the wedding as a full-blown PR case study. They cover the strategic NDAs, the $26M in donations, the one stakeholder misstep that almost went unnoticed, and how to tell the difference between online noise and the audience that actually matters. They also dig into whether Taylor Swift is at risk of overexposure and what her handling of the Scooter Braun masters dispute reveals about her long-term brand strategy.

Whether or not you're a Swiftie, this conversation offers real lessons in reputation management, stakeholder communication, and brand trust that apply well beyond celebrity culture.

Connect with Matt See:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matt-see/

Website: mattseecommunications.com/ 

Connect with Stephanie / Spry PR:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/

Website: sprypr.co 

The information universe has never been more fragmented — and for communications professionals, that means the stakes have never been higher. In this episode, host Stephanie Pryor is joined by sociologist and consultant Stephanie Devitt of SDK Strategic Services for a candid conversation about information pollution, the collapse of shared narrative, and what communicators in both the public and private sectors can actually do about it.

Stephanie draws on her background in political sociology and two decades of consulting work — including listening sessions with communities that can't get online — to explore why building shared understanding has become so difficult, and why the governance of our information infrastructure hasn't kept pace with the technology shaping it.

Packed with practical insights and a few memorable analogies, this is a must-listen for anyone trying to reach audiences, build trust, and do meaningful communications work in today's noisy world.

Connect with Stephanie Devitt:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniedevitt/ 

https://www.sdkstrategicservices.com/ 

Connect with Stephanie Pryor:

lancmarketing.com 

linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Happy Earth Day! This episode is coming to you at a complex moment for sustainability—and for the professionals tasked with communicating it.

Sustainability author, consultant, and speaker John Pabon joins Stephanie to talk about why sustainability isn't losing steam; it's just evolved. From greenwashing to green hushing and from outdated scare tactics to radical transparency, John breaks down what's working, what isn't, and what communications professionals need to know right now.

Along the way, they get into why the "train has already left the station" on sustainability, the tactics you need to leave behind, and why radical transparency is your best crisis prevention strategy and growth opportunity. John also shares how to map your stakeholder groups in just 20 minutes, real-world examples from Atlassian and Patagonia, and where he sees sustainability heading in the next 10 to 15 years.

John's new book, Strategic Sustainability: A Pragmatic Blueprint for Responsible Business, is out globally now and in North America at the end of April 2026. Find it and more at johnpabon.com.

Connect with John: 

johnpabon.com 

linkedin.com/in/johnpabon/ 

TikTok: @johnapabon

Connect with Stephanie:

lancmarketing.com 

linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Show Notes:

Get the book! Strategic Sustainability: A Pragmatic Blueprint for Responsible Business 

The marketing playbook is being rewritten in real time — and Sophie Buonassisi has a front-row seat. As SVP of Marketing at GTMfund and the driving force behind GTMnow, Sophie works directly with the startups and founders who are shaping the future of go-to-market strategy.

In this episode, Stephanie and Sophie dig into how AI is transforming marketing teams, what the new talent profile of a marketer looks like, and why systems thinking is quickly becoming the most valuable skill in the industry. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned marketing leader, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of where marketing is headed and how to position yourself for what's next.

Topics covered: AI and marketing teams · go-to-market strategy · startup marketing · systems thinking · the future of marketing jobs · GTMfund · GTMnow

Find Sophie at gtmnow.com and subscribe to the GTMnow newsletter for weekly insights on go-to-market strategy.

Connect with Sophie:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebuonassisi/

https://x.com/sophiebuona 

Connect with Stephanie:

https://lancmarketing.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Show Notes:

https://www.gtmfund.com/ 

https://gtmnow.com/ 

What do you do when your product is technical, your industry is traditional, and your competitors all look the same? You build a brand people actually remember. Stephanie sits down with Josh Rozman of Oberlin Filter Company, USA to unpack how a one-person marketing team introduced Phil—a spokes-character that made industrial filtration feel approachable, human, and impossible to ignore. They cover the real risk of playing it safe, how to pitch bold ideas internally, and why buyers are still buyers… because they’re still human.

Connect with Josh: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshrozman/ 

Connect with Stephanie:

https://lancmarketing.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Show Notes:

Oberlin Filter Company, USA - https://www.oberlinfilter.com/ 

See Josh and other amazing industrial marketing experts speak at the Industrial Marketing Summit (IMS) 2026 - https://industrialmarketingsummit.com/ 

Klunk & Millan Advertising - https://klunkmillan.com/ 

Why is “storytelling” suddenly showing up in tens of thousands of marketing and communications job listings?

Stephanie Pryor is joined by Sooraj Shah, Head of Content Marketing at Aikido Security and a former journalist, to break down a Wall Street Journal article arguing that companies are desperately seeking storytellers. They discuss what storytelling really means in practice, how narratives are built and scaled across channels, why consistency matters in a fragmented media universe, and why AI has actually increased — not reduced — the value of strong storytelling skills.

Connect with Sooraj:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/soorajshah/ 

Connect with Stephanie:

https://lancmarketing.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Show Notes:

Wall Street Journal - Companies Are Desperately Seeking ‘Storytellers’

https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-are-desperately-seeking-storytellers-7b79f54e?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcfyiaKLwlSd1S6_iwizYDTgbpHJPibmIBIViDJG6KtCSHdt-l1RwzORp0wF-4%3D&gaa_ts=698a0b50&gaa_sig=JUIjDVE5Q6WanOP3dEWdPn0ayarp3ee8ZGbS4nC8Q_1a5Vx1-B9tyzkngqWu37iQygnNXWM7K5hnmLqDeVRBzQ%3D%3D

Marketing has become obsessed with what’s measurable—and brands are paying the price.

Stephanie Pryor talks with legendary advertising leader Ellis Verdi (DeVito/Verdi) about why classic, truth-rooted creative still matters, how performance marketing created an imbalance that weakened brand saliency, and why “clever” isn’t the same as creative. They also unpack how AI can support production—but can’t replace big ideas—and Ellis shares advice for marketers who feel anxious about the future of creativity.

Connect with Ellis:

https://www.devitoverdi.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellis-verdi-85b329/ 

Connect with Stephanie:

https://lancmarketing.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/

2025 was weird — and if running your business felt harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it.

In this episode of Good Marketing with Stephanie, Stephanie Pryor talks directly to freelancers, solopreneurs, and small agency owners who survived a turbulent year of economic uncertainty, shrinking budgets, AI disruption, and nonstop pressure to adapt.

If you’ve caught yourself thinking:

• “Is it just me, or is this harder than it used to be?”

• “Should I just go back to a full-time job?”

• “Why does it look like everyone else is winning on LinkedIn?”

...you're not alone!

This episode is about what the hard moments of 2025 actually taught us — and how to use those lessons to make calmer, smarter, more intentional decisions heading into 2026. Stephanie breaks down the emotional reality of freelancing, why slower years don’t mean failed businesses, and the unsexy but critical systems that help small businesses survive and scale.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why a down year doesn’t mean your business is broken

• How to stop taking hard moments personally — and start learning from them

• Why clarity of vision matters more than hustle right now

• How frameworks like EOS and Traction support sustainable growth

• Why a great accountant can be one of your highest-ROI relationships

This isn’t about louder marketing or chasing the next shiny object. It’s about building something steadier, clearer, and more resilient — especially if you’re self-funded and every dollar counts.

If you’re a freelancer or small business owner looking for a reset, this episode is for you.

Follow Good Marketing with Stephanie for honest conversations about marketing, business ownership, and growth — without the hype.

Connect with Stephanie:

https://lancmarketing.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieapryor/ 

Show Notes

Good Marketing with Stephanie: #Talk Tariffs: Why Marketing Still Matters in a Downturn:

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman 

Crystal Bridal Boutique Manhattan