Udi Ledergor is back on the pod—and this time, he’s bringing the fire behind Courageous Marketing, his new book that challenges everything safe, stale, and same-same in today’s crowded GTM world.As the former CMO of Gong during its hypergrowth years (multi-billion-dollar valuation, anyone?), and now Chief Evangelist, Udi knows firsthand how to build brands people actually love. In this episode, he and John dig deep into what separates average from iconic in today’s AI-drenched world of “best practices.”You’ll hear:

1. Why courageous marketing requires risk, not just reach
2. The 10-20% “crazy idea” budget every brand needs
3. How sales and marketing can truly work together
4. The real difference between vanity metrics and valuable growth
5. How to craft a brand people feel, not just see

Whether you’re a marketer looking to break the mold or a seller tired of lead-gen lip service—this episode is for you.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Udi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/udiledergor/

Get Udi's book Courageous Marketing: https://mybook.to/courageousmarketing

Check out Gong's Website: https://www.gong.io/

What happens when 25 years of corporate procurement experience meets elite business school teaching? You get Giuseppe Conti—a world-class negotiation expert with a gift for turning complex tactics into everyday skills.In this episode, Giuseppe shares his journey from growing up in a family of teachers in Southern Italy to teaching negotiation and influence at institutions like Oxford and Cambridge. His new book, Negotiation + Influence = Success, distills a career’s worth of hard-earned wisdom into actionable strategies—and we break several of them down in this conversation.We cover tactical topics like:

1. Who should make the first offer in a negotiation?
2. How to handle procurement teams obsessed with price.
3. How to influence internal stakeholders when you don’t have authority.

Giuseppe blends humility, academic insight, and battle-tested experience in one of the most practical negotiation discussions we’ve had on the podcast. Whether you’re negotiating with a client, a boss, or your own team—this episode will sharpen your skills and change how you think about influence.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Giuseppe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppeconti/

Check out Giuseppe's book: https://www.amazon.com/Negotiation-Influence-Success-Lessons-Corporate-ebook/dp/B0FNSKZ9F5/

Eugene “Blue” Bowen joins John Barrows to unpack one of the most important AI sales reports of the year—straight from G2’s research desk. As a Research Principal focused on sales, tech, and AI, Blue co-authored G2’s latest study exploring how sales teams are actually using (or not using) AI in their day-to-day.

Together, they dig into:

1. Why most pipeline numbers are a lie
2. The myth of “fully automated” sales cycles
3. How AI’s most powerful use case might be coaching—not prospecting
4. The real reason RevOps should be at the table (not in the backroom)
5. What reps need to learn now before AI makes them irrelevant

They also explore the future of the SDR role, the strategic rise of RevOps, and why data quality is still the biggest thing holding teams back. If you’re trying to separate AI hype from real-world impact, this episode is your guide.

Whether you’re in sales, RevOps, or leadership, don’t miss this insight-packed episode—and make sure to check out G2’s full report for even more data-driven takeaways.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Blue Bowen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-blue-bowen-42958713b/

Check out the G2 Report Here: https://company.g2.com/news/ais-net-impact-on-sales

Check out the G2 Website: https://www.g2.com/

Lori Richardson is a powerhouse in the sales world—and one of John’s favorite humans, period.In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Lori opens up about her incredible journey: escaping an abusive relationship at 19, raising a child on her own, and diving headfirst into a 100% commission sales role with no safety net. Her story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a masterclass in resilience, grit, and self-belief.Today, Lori is the founder of Score More Sales, a sales strategy and training company that starts with data—not guesswork—to help companies build truly effective sales teams. She’s also the host of the Conversations with Women in Sales podcast and one of the most impactful advocates for women in the profession.In this conversation, John and Lori discuss:

1. What it takes to bet on yourself when the odds are stacked against you
2. Why sales fundamentals still matter more than ever
3. The real role of data in driving sales performance
4. How far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go—for women in sales
5. Why the sales world needs fewer “bros” and more authentic leadership

Whether you’re just getting started in your sales career or you’re leading a team, this one is packed with perspective, purpose, and practical advice.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scoremoresales/

Check out Lori's Website: https://www.scoremoresales.com/

Marcus Chan is a walking masterclass in disciplined growth. As CEO of Venli Consulting, he’s helped sales teams uncover $2M–$10M+ in hidden revenue through what he calls a Revenue Operating System—a system that’s generated $950M+ in results (and counting).In this episode, John Barrows reconnects with Marcus Chan to explore the grit, strategy, and mindset behind high-performing sales orgs. From his early days working in his family’s Chinese restaurant to turning underperforming teams into market leaders at Cintas, Marcus shares the frameworks that built his legacy—and are helping companies win big today.They dive into:

1. How to diagnose revenue leaks and plug them fast
2. Why most sales teams are leaving millions on the table
3. The power of direct feedback in a world that avoids it
4. Switching gears between B2B and B2C models
5. Why “not being in sales” is often the biggest sales lie

If you’re ready to challenge soft habits, sharpen your process, and uncover revenue you didn’t even know existed—this episode delivers.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuschanmba/

Connect with Marcus on IG: https://www.instagram.com/therealmarcuschan/

Check out Marcus's Websites : https://venliconsulting.com/ and https://venliconsulting.com/teams-book-your-call-489379

Check out Marcus's Youtube Channel: https://urlgeni.us/youtube/channel/marcuschan

Vince Beese knows how to close. As a fractional CRO and author of Red Zone Selling, Vince helps early-stage startups and fast-growing sales teams stop spinning their wheels and start running the plays that actually move deals across the finish line.In this conversation, John and Vince ditch the fluff and dive straight into what separates elite sellers from the rest. From his days in enterprise sales to building scalable GTM systems, Vince shares hard-earned insights on:

1. Why sales has swung too far into science—and what it takes to bring the art back
2. How top reps lean into friction instead of avoiding it
3. Why false confidence from a bloated pipeline is killing your forecast
4. The power of disqualifying early and often
5. What sales leaders should focus on instead of just top-of-funnel metrics

They also unpack Vince’s Red Zone Selling framework, breaking down how to qualify faster, sell smarter, and finish stronger—no matter your deal size or sales cycle.If you’re in enterprise sales, trying to move upstream, or just tired of chasing unqualified leads, this is the episode to get you back to the fundamentals that win.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Vince on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbeese/

Check out Vince's Websites: https://www.vincebeese.com/ & http://redzoneselling.co/

Get Vince's Book "Red Zone Selling: The Ultimate Playbook for High-Performing Enterprise Sellers" here: https://a.co/d/cbkoWT1

Jake Mannino isn’t your average sales leader. As a Global Sales Director at Microsoft, he leads a team responsible for over $1B in annual revenue—but his true superpower lies in understanding people.In this deeply insightful episode, Jake joins John Barrows to unpack the psychology of motivation, the neuroscience of behavior change, and what it takes to build a high-performance culture in today’s AI-driven world. In 2025, Jake helped Microsoft set a Guinness World Record by coaching nearly 5,000 employees through its MCAPS Executive Coaching initiative—giving him a unique lens into what truly drives change.John and Jake dive into:

1. The difference between motivation and inspiration
2. Why most managers shouldn’t be coaches
3. The rising importance of emotional intelligence (EQ)
4. Why authenticity and active listening matter more than ever

Whether you’re leading a team or looking to lead yourself better, this conversation blends science, story, and strategy in a way that will leave you thinking—and acting—differently.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakemannino/

Check out Jake's Website: https://jakemannino.com/

On this week’s episode, John Barrows hits the floor at Rev Fest—a one-of-a-kind event hosted by Go Nimbly’s CEO, Jen, at the iconic House of Yes in Brooklyn. This isn’t your typical sales conference. It’s loud, unconventional, and hyper-focused on RevOps—the unsung heroes of modern GTM strategy.In a series of quick-hit, high-impact interviews with leaders from Snowflake, Clay, G2, StrongDM, and Figma, John asks each guest the same three questions:

1. What should sales stop doing?
2. What should sales do more of?
3. And if you had a magic wand, what would you change about the sales & RevOps relationship?

The answers? Candid, surprising, and exactly what sales pros and leaders need to hear.Whether you’re a rep trying to work better with ops, or a leader looking to scale smarter, this episode delivers direct insights from the RevOps trenches.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Monica Stewart has spent 15 years helping B2B SaaS founders escape survival mode and build scalable revenue systems—generating $25M+ in revenue and influencing over $200M in valuations along the way. In this episode, John and Monica dig into what really holds founders back from scaling past the $1–10M mark.

They explore why so many founders—especially technical ones—see sales as a necessary evil, and the dangerous misconceptions this creates. Monica shares why doing the right things in the wrong order derails growth, how to create processes that don’t depend on a founder’s charisma, and why she believes most traditional sales methodologies are garbage in today’s market.They also discuss how shifting your belief systems—not just tactics—can unlock long-term success, and how AI is changing the playbook for founder-led sales forever.

If you’re a founder who wants to step out of the weeds and build a company that scales, this conversation is packed with straight talk and actionable insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Monica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-stewart/

Connect with Monica on IG: https://www.instagram.com/monicastewartsales/

In this episode John Barrows sits down with Zoltan Vardy, B2B sales advisor, author of The Launch Code, and the go-to expert for helping tech founders turn their ideas into scalable revenue.With over $2 billion in closed sales and 30 years of C-suite and entrepreneurial experience, Zoltan breaks down why so many founders still treat sales like a necessary evil and why that mindset kills more startups than any lack of product-market fit ever will.

They dive into his founder-led sales framework, unpack how to pinpoint your real problem-solution connection, and explore why trying to be everything to everyone is the fastest way to fail. Zoltan shares why passion is the only fuel that can sustain you on the brutal road of entrepreneurship and how to make the critical shift from pitching to problem-solving.

If you’re a founder—or thinking about becoming one—this conversation is a masterclass in building a sales motion that actually works. No fluff. No shortcuts. Just proven strategies to help you grow.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Zoltan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoltanvardy/

Connect with Zoltan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/zoltanvardy/

Check out Zoltan's Website: https://www.zoltanvardy.com/

Check out The Launch Code's Website: http://www.thelaunchcode.net/

Check out The Launch Code on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW1D96G1

Get a FREE Chapter of The Launch Code: https://zoltanvardy.com/book/