Digital channels may dominate the marketing playbook, but nothing replaces the impact of a well-crafted, in-person experience.

This week, I sit down with Ashlee Nelson—event strategist, experience curator, and founder of Curated by Ashlee
—to dig into why live, high-quality events are still one of the smartest moves you can make for your brand. Even better? She shares how to actually calculate their ROI so you can prove the value to your team, clients, or investors.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
💡 Why face-to-face connection builds trust faster than any ad campaign
💡 How to design events that deliver unforgettable experiences and measurable results
💡 A practical framework for calculating ROI (beyond ticket sales)
💡 The most common mistakes businesses make with events—and how to avoid them

👉 Connect with Ashlee:
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleenelson

🌐 Website: curatedbyashlee.com

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems—and systems into growth.

🧠 Want to see it in action? Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 Book Here

🔗 Useful Links:
🌐 Website: MarketSurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast: Inside Marketing with MarketSurge

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, we’re diving into something every founder, CEO, and marketing leader needs but often ignores: operational systems that actually work.

📍 Guest: Erica Dill, founder of Operationally Up
and the ultimate behind-the-scenes builder of scalable, sustainable business ops. From helping brands grow from $2M to $50M+, to designing workflows that free up leadership time, Erica is the operations whisperer you didn’t know you needed.

If your business feels like it’s running you — instead of the other way around — this conversation is your wake-up call. 💡

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The #1 mistake holding back 7-figure businesses
• How to document processes without losing your mind
• When to delegate, automate, or outsource — and how to choose wisely
• How Erica systematized her podcast to run in 2 hours a month for $50
• The Venn Diagram framework every overwhelmed founder should try

👉 Key Highlights:

✅ Process Design for Growth – SOPs, workflows, and systems built for scale
✅ Owner Time Management – The “Like / Good At / Business Needs” delegation framework
✅ Delegation vs. Outsourcing vs. AI – How to choose the right lever for your business
✅ Podcast Ops Mastery – Erica’s $50/month system to produce episodes like a pro

📈 At MarketSurge, we help businesses build marketing systems that don’t rely on guesswork or grind.

🧠 Want to see how it works?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🎙️ About the Guest

🔗 Website: https://operationallyup.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

👩‍💼 LinkedIn: Erica Dill

🔗 Useful Links

🌐 MarketSurge: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast Hub: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

📅 Book a Demo: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

Hashtags:
#InsideMarketing #MarketSurge #Operations #EricaDill #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSystems #ScaleSmart #SOPs #Delegation #PodcastOps #MarketingStrategy #MarketingPodcast #SmallBusinessGrowth #ReedHansen

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, host Reed Hansen sits down with Steven Werley, Army Ranger-turned-AI founder of Closable.ai — and let’s just say, this one’s not your typical tech bro interview.
Steven breaks down how AI isn’t here to replace your sales team — it’s here to supercharge it. From pipeline insights to next-gen follow-up systems, Closable.ai is quietly (and effectively) transforming how sales-led teams convert.
Whether you’re a VP of Sales trying to get your reps to update the CRM, or a founder wondering if AI can finally help you sleep at night — this one’s for you.
👊 Expect tactical insights, a no-BS breakdown of AI in sales, and some real talk about leadership, discipline, and how to win with (not against) your tech stack.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Steven’s journey from Army Ranger to tech founder
• What sales teams get wrong about AI
• Why B-players with the right tools outperform flaky A-players
• How AI dashboards can save hours of pipeline guesswork
• Where AI is headed in the next 3–5 years (hint: glasses and superintelligence?)
🎯 Key Highlights:
✅ AI Coaching for Sales Teams – Real-time insights without micromanaging
✅ Sales Ops Dashboards – Customized views that drive actual adoption
✅ Human + AI Partnership – Automating admin, not eliminating your closers
✅ Military Discipline in Business – Why leadership culture makes or breaks sales
🧠 Want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10?
Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call here:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Connect with Steven Werley
Website: https://closable.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenwerley/
🎙️ Hosted by Reed Hansen
Chief Growth Officer, MarketSurge.io
📌 Learn more: https://marketsurge.io
📅 Book a demo: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
🔔 Subscribe for Weekly Marketing Truth Bombs:
• No fluff. No theory. Just what’s working right now.
• New episodes weekly: AI, automation, leadership, and growth strategy.
🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
Hashtags:
#InsideMarketing #MarketSurge #AIinSales #SalesLeadership #ClosableAI #StevenWerley #B2BSales #SalesOps #ArtificialIntelligence #SalesCulture #MarketingPodcast #ReedHansen #CRM #SalesEnablement #TechLeadership #SalesAutomation #FutureOfWork

If you’ve ever felt like content marketing is just posting random things and hoping for engagement… this episode is your wake-up call.

This week, Ashley DiBiase, founder & CEO of Dash of Social, joins us to break down how she built a full-service marketing agency from her college dorm room — and why content ecosystems, not content chaos, are the key to sustainable growth.

From TEDx speaker to 40 Under 40 honoree to integrated marketing partner for nonprofits, startups, and scaling brands — Ashley proves that marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming to be effective.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
• The “Content Marketing Trifecta” — Social, Email, and Blogging done right
• Why personal brand = business growth (and how to build one with purpose)
• How to work with AI without sounding robotic
• The best process for defining your voice and scaling content without burning out
• Why most businesses don’t need more content — they need better connections

👉 Key Highlights:
✅ Marketing Ecosystem Strategy – Aligning channels to drive consistent leads
✅ Real-Talk on AI – When to use it, when to ditch it, and how to keep content human
✅ Creative Process Behind the Scenes – Where inspiration actually comes from
✅ Who Should DIY vs. Who Should Outsource – Practical advice for business owners

📇 Guest Info – Ashley DiBiase
🌐 Website: https://dashofsocial.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjeanmason

📱 Social: @DashofSocial on all major platforms

🎙️ Hosted by Reed Hansen
Chief Growth Officer, MarketSurge
📅 Book a strategy session: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

🎧 Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

In this episode, we're going analog in a digital world with Travis Lee, co-founder and president of 3DMailResults.com, and one of the sharpest minds in direct response marketing.

Since 2008, Travis has helped businesses—from solo entrepreneurs to global brands—generate jaw-dropping returns of 200% to over 3500% through creative, tactile direct mail campaigns that actually get opened.

We break down:
✅ Why physical mail still wins trust (and attention)
✅ The psychology of tactile marketing and “shelf life” advantage
✅ How 3D Mail (think pill bottles, boomerangs, and pocket constitutions) cuts through digital noise
✅ Real-world case studies for digital service providers, coaches, and contractors
✅ How to build automated mail funnels just like email autoresponders
✅ The Simple 3-Step Framework: List, Offer, Media — and how to nail each one

📈 Whether you’re a digital marketer looking to stand out, a service provider looking for real ROI, or just someone who wants to stop being ignored — this episode will change the way you think about mail.

🧠 What You’ll Learn
• The true shelf life of direct mail vs email (you’ll be shocked)
• Why Gen Z is craving analog experiences — and how to leverage that
• How to reactivate cold leads or webinar no-shows with tactile follow-up
• The marketing formula that should start with your mailing list
• Why more marketers should be thinking like Dan Kennedy in 2025

💡 Key Highlights
✅ 3D Mail Defined – What it is and why it works
✅ Retention by Touch – Why physical items beat digital distractions
✅ Systems, Not One-Offs – How to build repeatable, scalable campaigns
✅ Marketing Funnels + Direct Mail – How to plug leaks in your digital pipeline with print

📍 Guest Info – Travis Lee
🌐 Website: https://3dmailresults.com

📘 Get his book: https://travisalee.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisalee/

🎙️ Host
Reed Hansen – Chief Growth Officer, MarketSurge
📅 Book a strategy session: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

🎧 Podcast: Inside Marketing with MarketSurge

In this episode, we sit down with Gil Golan, founder of Zenith Marketing Group, to dive deep into what it really takes to grow your business online — without fluff, false promises, or funnel fatigue.
From avoiding rookie mistakes in digital strategy to balancing AI with human creativity, Gil drops gold for business owners, marketers, and founders who want measurable marketing results.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Why most brands mess up digital marketing from the start (and how to fix it)
• Which social channels actually make sense in 2025
• The right way to use AI for speed and quality in content
• How to set realistic expectations in SEO, PPC, and brand building
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ Strategy First – Why jumping into SEO or PPC without a clear goal is a money pit
✅ Platform Smarts – The platforms to use for different industries (yes, TikTok and Meta both have their place)
✅ AI as Assistant, Not Authority – Where Gil sees ChatGPT working with humans, not replacing them
✅ Personal Brand vs Business Brand – How Gil balances building trust with his name and his agency
🎯 Connect with Gil Golan
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: zenithmarketinggroup.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Gil Golan on LinkedIn
📸 Instagram: @ggolan23 & @zenithmarketinggroup
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
Subscribe for weekly marketing insights, tech trends, and bold business conversations — all without the BS. Let’s scale something legendary. 💥
#digitalmarketing #marketingpodcast #gilgolan #zenithmarketing #marketsurge #seo #socialmedia #aiinmarketing #contentstrategy #founderinterviews #InsideMarketing

In today’s episode, we sit down with Blendi Muriqi — founder & CEO of Delegate.co, a company that’s changing the game in remote staffing and business scaling.

With over a decade of experience helping founders streamline operations and free up their time, Blendi is on a mission to prove that the right global talent can transform the way we work.

We dive into:

• The future of entrepreneurship in a remote-first world 🌍
• How to build efficient systems powered by global virtual teams ⚙️
• Leadership strategies for scaling beyond task delegation 🧑‍💼
• How AI and outsourcing intersect in the future of business 🤖

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale smarter, not harder — this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How Delegate.co sources and develops top-tier overseas talent
• What founders should consider before offshoring tasks
• How to lead, manage, and grow remote-first teams
• Why outsourcing + AI isn’t a threat but a powerful combo

👉 Connect with Blendi Muriqi (The Delegate Dude):
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blendi-muriqi-a286799a/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thedelegatedude/

🐦 Twitter / X: https://x.com/thedelegatedude

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@delegateco

🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge
Your front-row seat to bold business insights, marketing breakthroughs, and entrepreneurial real talk. Hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge.

🧠 Want to see how we help businesses build lead machines that scale?
🎯 Book a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Useful Links:
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

📈 At MarketSurge, we don’t just do marketing — we build lead machines that grow your business.

Today’s guest: Paul Morton, founder of Practical-Leadership.Academy — a straight-talking leadership operator who helps managers become leaders and leaders become visionaries. We get brutally practical about leading parallel teams(like sales), running pipeline meetings people don’t hate, balancing empathy with accountability, and how AI is changing the game for A, B, and… let’s say “learning” players.

🎁 Free Gift from Paul: practical playbooks & tools for high-autonomy teams
👉 https://practical-leadership.academy/gift

🌐 Learn more: Practical-Leadership.Academy

What You’ll Learn

• Parallel vs. “football” teams: Why most sales orgs aren’t truly interdependent—and why that changes how you lead.
• Pipeline meetings that don’t suck: The “Win/Learn, Who-Do, Standard-of-the-Week” format you can steal tomorrow.
• Tight–Loose–Tight: The cleanest accountability framework you’ll ever use.
• AI & performance: Why AI turns A players into A+… and C players into D.
• Promotion traps: Why your best seller rarely makes your best sales leader—and who to promote instead.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro — Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge
1:12 Who is Paul Morton? From revenue leader to Practical Leadership Academy
4:55 Practical leadership vs. theory: what changes in the real world
8:30 “Parallel teams” explained (why sales ≠ football)
13:10 AI’s impact on A/B/C players (and how to use it without spamming the world)
18:42 Why top sellers often make average leaders (and vice versa)
23:05 Pipeline meetings that create learning (not soul drain)
29:18 Balancing empathy & accountability using Tight–Loose–Tight
34:47 Rethinking President’s Club: reward what lifts the whole org
40:25 Action steps you can implement this week
43:10 Where to find Paul + free toolkit

(Adjust timestamps after final edit if needed.)

Guest Links

• 🎁 Free Power-Up Playbook: https://practical-leadership.academy/gift

• 🌐 Paul’s site: Practical-Leadership.Academy
• 🎙️ Podcast: Leadership That Sells (search on your favorite app)
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: (search “Paul Morton Practical Leadership Academy”)

Key Takeaways (Clip-Worthy)

• “You don’t rise to your goals—you fall to your identity.”
• “Most ‘sales teams’ are parallel performers. Lead them like that.”
• “Tight on the why and what, loose on the how, tight on the deadline.”
• “AI amplifies what’s already there. A players get sharper. C players spam faster.”
• “President’s Club should reward collective impact, not just top-line output.”

Try This This Week

• Replace your next pipeline review with:
  1. Significant Win/Loss deep dive (copy the email/subject line)
  2. Who-Do block (Who do you need to do what by when?)
  3. Standard of the Week (one tactic everyone tries; report back)

About Inside Marketing with MarketSurge

We break down what’s actually working in marketing and leadership—minus the fluff. New episodes weekly.

🧠 Want strategy or a live demo?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

Useful Links

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — Featuring Bernie Wagenblast
Episode theme: The voice behind NYC transit, the craft of clear communication, and how technology (AI, autonomy, digital media) is reshaping transportation—and our daily lives.
Guest: Bernie Wagenblast — veteran broadcaster, transportation communications pioneer, and the iconic voice riders hear across New York’s subway platforms and transit systems.
🔎 Episode Summary
From a fifth-grade dream of radio to becoming the friendly voice guiding millions on the New York City Subway, Bernie shares how she built a career at the intersection of broadcasting, transit, and public service. We talk:
The evolution from live traffic reporting to platform announcements and public information systems
The editorial discipline behind daily transportation newsletters & podcasts
Transitioning publicly and thoughtfully reintroducing her voice and story
What’s next in mobility: autonomy, safety tech, and human-centered comms
💡 What You’ll Learn
How to craft messages that reduce confusion and anxiety in complex systems
The hidden editorial workflow behind “simple” rider information
Why tone (even a “smile in your voice”) changes how people experience a brand
Practical realities of personal brand and public transition
Where transportation communication is headed (AI, AVs, safety, transit loyalty)
🧭 Chapters 
Bernie’s radio origin story
From traffic reporter to transit voice
How platform announcements are actually built
Newsletters & niche media that last
Personal brand, transition, and voice work
The future of transportation communication
Advice for communicators and founders
🔗 Links & Resources
Contact Bernie: [email protected]
CBS Mornings – “Note to Self” (Bernie’s letter to her 18-year-old self):
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/note-to-self-bernie-wagenblast-a-transgender-woman-shares-story-to-her-18-year-old-self/
In Transit (Short Film):
https://www.intransit.nyc/short-film
👤 About Bernie Wagenblast
Bernie is the founder of the Transportation Communications Newsletter and host/producer behind multiple transportation podcasts. Her voice is heard on NYC’s numbered subway lines, Newark AirTrain, and other systems. She’s recognized for making complex information feel clear, calm, and human.
🧰 Key Takeaways
Clarity is kindness: Simple, friendly phrasing reduces friction for riders and customers.
Editorial discipline wins: Aggregation, selection, and tone matter as much as raw info.
Tech is a tool, not a replacement: AI and autonomy can boost safety and service—keep humans at the center.
📈 About MarketSurge
At MarketSurge, we help founders and brands turn tools into systems—and systems into growth. If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

🚀 Ready to rethink how events, media, and experiential marketing fuel real business growth?
In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Jessica Dalka, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Chicago Planner Magazine, to unpack how storytelling, hospitality, and digital media intersect to build brands that truly resonate.

Jessica’s journey from advertising to hospitality to running her own publication is packed with lessons on resilience, innovation, and creating experiences that people don’t just attend — they remember.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
• How Jessica turned a side project into a thriving digital media brand
• The new role of experiential & in-person marketing post-pandemic
• Why communication gaps create opportunity in events and business
• The future of media, hospitality, and AI in shaping how we connect

👉 Key Highlights:
✅ The surprising link between hospitality training and entrepreneurial success
✅ Why “unskilled labor” doesn’t exist — and why that mindset kills growth
✅ How event planners and professionals in ANY industry can leverage media for impact
✅ Crisis PR insights: what brands can learn from very public missteps

🔗 Connect with Jessica:
📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalka/

📧 Email: [email protected]

🌐 Website: www.chicagoplannermagazine.com

📈 At MarketSurge, we help founders, coaches, and brands turn tools into systems — and systems into growth. If you’re ready for automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to see how it works?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Useful Links
🌐 MarketSurge Website: https://marketsurge.io

📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging

🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/