Mayhem & Masterplans

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, vision, and way too much business jargon are best tackled with a microphone and a good sense of humor. This week, we’re charting our course, defining our North Stars, and figuring out if ICPs are actually useful—or just another buzzword for business bingo.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Got lost in the concept of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) – Are they an essential tool or just a fancy way to pretend you have your business under control? Andreas breaks down how defining ICPs helped Forward Momentum sharpen its focus, while Max and Simon debate whether companies should focus less on personas and more on just doing the work.

🔹 Argued about strategy vs. action – Should businesses spend more time figuring out who they’re selling to, or should they just hit the ground running and adjust along the way? Max takes a strong stance against startup books and frameworks, and Simon wonders if ICPs are just a distraction from actually getting customers.

🔹 Got philosophical about our own North Stars – What drives us? What keeps us going? And should a North Star be something you can actually reach, or an impossible goal that keeps you moving forward? Simon’s got his vision sealed in an envelope, Andreas wants to leave a lasting impact, and Max just wants to be the Jimmy Iovine of corporate podcasting.

🔹 Debated external vs. internal motivation – Does success come from within, or do we need validation from others? Are we driven by personal growth, financial success, or the legacy we leave behind? Spoiler: we still don’t agree.

🔹 Got deep into business psychology – From visualization techniques to breaking through obstacles (or just chopping them down), we explore how mindset shapes success—and whether we should all be writing down our North Stars.

🔹 Complained about too much self-promotion – Yes, we mentioned Hypecast and Forward Momentum too many times, and yes, Max is already tired of it.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been listening to, because strategy discussions need soundtracks too:

🎵 The Answer – Bad Religion (Andreas throwing it back to punk rock wisdom)

🎵 If You’re Happy and You Know It – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s weekly kids’ music streak continues)

🎵 You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with heavy desert rock vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #NorthStar #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, vision, and way too much business jargon are best tackled with a microphone and a good sense of humor. This week, we’re charting our course, defining our North Stars, and figuring out if ICPs are actually useful—or just another buzzword for business bingo.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Got lost in the concept of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) – Are they an essential tool or just a fancy way to pretend you have your business under control? Andreas breaks down how defining ICPs helped Forward Momentum sharpen its focus, while Max and Simon debate whether companies should focus less on personas and more on just doing the work.

🔹 Argued about strategy vs. action – Should businesses spend more time figuring out who they’re selling to, or should they just hit the ground running and adjust along the way? Max takes a strong stance against startup books and frameworks, and Simon wonders if ICPs are just a distraction from actually getting customers.

🔹 Got philosophical about our own North Stars – What drives us? What keeps us going? And should a North Star be something you can actually reach, or an impossible goal that keeps you moving forward? Simon’s got his vision sealed in an envelope, Andreas wants to leave a lasting impact, and Max just wants to be the Jimmy Iovine of corporate podcasting.

🔹 Debated external vs. internal motivation – Does success come from within, or do we need validation from others? Are we driven by personal growth, financial success, or the legacy we leave behind? Spoiler: we still don’t agree.

🔹 Got deep into business psychology – From visualization techniques to breaking through obstacles (or just chopping them down), we explore how mindset shapes success—and whether we should all be writing down our North Stars.

🔹 Complained about too much self-promotion – Yes, we mentioned Hypecast and Forward Momentum too many times, and yes, Max is already tired of it.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been listening to, because strategy discussions need soundtracks too:

🎵 The Answer – Bad Religion (Andreas throwing it back to punk rock wisdom)

🎵 If You’re Happy and You Know It – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s weekly kids’ music streak continues)

🎵 You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with heavy desert rock vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #NorthStar #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that time zones, weather, and corporate jargon are no match for their dedication to talking into microphones. This week, we take on New York rain, Greek hospitality, and the wild world of corporate comms—all while attempting to sound like we know what we’re doing.

In this episode, we:

• Took on NYC’s apocalyptic weather – Max landed in the Big Apple just in time for a torrential downpour. Because nothing says “welcome” like getting soaked in front of a conference full of senior executives.
• Rubbed elbows with corporate royalty – We infiltrated a room full of C-suite comms leaders from Coca-Cola, Walmart, and the NFL. Turns out, CEOs care a lot about their reputation, internal comms matter more than ever, and employees are the new media.
• Explored the business of trust – Forget CNN—employees are more likely to trust company emails over traditional news. The real question: Does that mean your boss is now your most reliable journalist?
• Turned into full-blown salesmen – Simon preps for Radio Days Europe in Athens, a podcast summit where he’ll be pitching our huge upcoming audio event, Amplify—because if you don’t shamelessly plug your own projects, who will?
• Watched podcasters lose money (again) – Spotify’s big video podcasting experiment is flopping, with creators realizing they’re making less money and spending more on production. Who could’ve seen that coming? (Spoiler: everyone.)
• Celebrated International Women’s Day – Special shoutout to Mary Mooney, who turned corporate comms into a musical and somehow made it work. Broadway, take notes.
• Debated whether Broadway is worth it – Max considers seeing a show in NYC, only to realize that ticket prices are basically rent payments.

Wrapped it up with music recommendations – From kid-friendly bops to desert rock anthems, here’s what we’re listening to this week:

🎵 North Star – Nungara (Andreas supporting friends & good tunes)

🎵 Seven Steps – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s “definitely-for-his-kids” playlist)

🎵 Made to Parade – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with his all-time favorite band)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and possibly Max getting drenched in NYC again:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that time zones, weather, and corporate jargon are no match for their dedication to talking into microphones. This week, we take on New York rain, Greek hospitality, and the wild world of corporate comms—all while attempting to sound like we know what we’re doing.

In this episode, we:

• Took on NYC’s apocalyptic weather – Max landed in the Big Apple just in time for a torrential downpour. Because nothing says “welcome” like getting soaked in front of a conference full of senior executives.

• Rubbed elbows with corporate royalty – We infiltrated a room full of C-suite comms leaders from Coca-Cola, Walmart, and the NFL. Turns out, CEOs care a lot about their reputation, internal comms matter more than ever, and employees are the new media.

• Explored the business of trust – Forget CNN—employees are more likely to trust company emails over traditional news. The real question: Does that mean your boss is now your most reliable journalist?

• Turned into full-blown salesmen – Simon preps for Radio Days Europe in Athens, a podcast summit where he’ll be pitching our huge upcoming audio event, Amplify—because if you don’t shamelessly plug your own projects, who will?

• Watched podcasters lose money (again) – Spotify’s big video podcasting experiment is flopping, with creators realizing they’re making less money and spending more on production. Who could’ve seen that coming? (Spoiler: everyone.)

• Celebrated International Women’s Day – Special shoutout to Mary Mooney, who turned corporate comms into a musical and somehow made it work. Broadway, take notes.

• Debated whether Broadway is worth it – Max considers seeing a show in NYC, only to realize that ticket prices are basically rent payments.

Wrapped it up with music recommendations – From kid-friendly bops to desert rock anthems, here’s what we’re listening to this week:

🎵 North Star – Nungara (Andreas supporting friends & good tunes)

🎵 Seven Steps – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s “definitely-for-his-kids” playlist)

🎵 Made to Parade – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with his all-time favorite band)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and possibly Max getting drenched in NYC again:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas are still figuring out if this podcast is a brilliant idea or just a very well-documented midlife crisis. Either way, episode one is here—and it’s got everything from technical meltdowns to global politics.

In this episode, we:

• Survived global tech mayhem – Internet outages, government shutdowns, and remote recording from three countries. If chaos had a podcast, this would be it.
• Checked in on Germany’s election aftermath – What happens when record voter turnout meets a political landscape in flux? We break down the results, the narratives, and why Friedrich Merz was grinning like a kid who found the last piece of cake.
• Talked about voting patterns and East-West divides – 35 years after unification, why do voters in eastern Germany still feel left behind? We explore the historical baggage, missed opportunities, and why throwing money at the problem never solves it all.
• Dove into the future of podcasting – With Netflix entering the podcast space, we debate whether this is the golden age of podcasts or the beginning of “scripted reality 2.0.” Plus, what makes a good recommendation engine—and why YouTube might quietly be winning that race.
• Debated leadership vs. management – Is Friedrich Merz actually a leader? Or just the guy who happened to be standing there when the music stopped? We reflect on what real leadership looks like—in politics, business, and beyond.
• Talked about what we’re watching – Max is craving epic historical movies (think Braveheart and The Patriot), Andreas wants smarter content recommendations, and Simon just wants to watch something without an existential crisis attached.
• 
  

As always, we wrapped it up with music recommendations, because every great podcast needs a soundtrack:

🎵 Find a Way – Kadinski (from Simon’s trusty Lofi Boombap Vibes 2025 playlist)

🎵 TMHC – Aether Realm (Andreas repping his shirt and his playlist)

🎵 Don’t You Miss – Redman (Max staying true to 90s hip hop roots)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes chaos and bonus content:

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Mayhem & Masterplans, the podcast where three sharp-minded entrepreneurs navigate the fine line between strategy and spontaneity. Think of it as an insider’s look at the juggling act of business, life, and everything in between.

In this episode, we:

Introduce ourselves – Meet Max, Simon, and Andreas, three founders balancing business, family, and the ever-changing world around them.

Explain the podcast concept – We named it Mayhem & Masterplans because every great achievement starts with a little chaos.

Balance chaos and order – Running companies, raising kids, and still making time to keep up with the world (and maybe some late-night Twitter scrolling).

Tackle voting while abroad – The logistical puzzle of casting your vote from overseas and why democracy sometimes requires express shipping.

Break down social media weirdness – Simon’s Instagram feed went rogue, Max is reminiscing about MySpace, and Andreas is still trying to make Mastodon happen.

Talk sports (sort of) – Simon is obsessed with soccer, Max nods politely, and Andreas wonders if he can somehow turn this conversation into a tax deduction.

Wrap it up with music – Because every good podcast needs a playlist. Or at least a questionable mix of prog rock, lofi beats, and country heartbreak anthems.

We’re excited to kick this off and see where it takes us. Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on social media - because great ideas (and a little mayhem) thrive in good company.

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Music Recommendations from this Episode:

🎵 Bend the Clock – Dream Theater (because why settle for a normal time signature?)

🎵 Vara – Simba & Alivi (ideal for deep thoughts or zoning out completely)

🎵 Loving You on My Mind – Chris Stapleton (for when you want to feel something but aren’t sure what)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas are still figuring out if this podcast is a brilliant idea or just a very well-documented midlife crisis. Either way, episode one is here—and it’s got everything from technical meltdowns to global politics.

In this episode, we:

• Survived global tech mayhem – Internet outages, government shutdowns, and remote recording from three countries. If chaos had a podcast, this would be it.

• Checked in on Germany’s election aftermath – What happens when record voter turnout meets a political landscape in flux? We break down the results, the narratives, and why Friedrich Merz was grinning like a kid who found the last piece of cake.

• Talked about voting patterns and East-West divides – 35 years after unification, why do voters in eastern Germany still feel left behind? We explore the historical baggage, missed opportunities, and why throwing money at the problem never solves it all.

• Dove into the future of podcasting – With Netflix entering the podcast space, we debate whether this is the golden age of podcasts or the beginning of “scripted reality 2.0.” Plus, what makes a good recommendation engine—and why YouTube might quietly be winning that race.

• Debated leadership vs. management – Is Friedrich Merz actually a leader? Or just the guy who happened to be standing there when the music stopped? We reflect on what real leadership looks like—in politics, business, and beyond.

• Talked about what we’re watching – Max is craving epic historical movies (think Braveheart and The Patriot), Andreas wants smarter content recommendations, and Simon just wants to watch something without an existential crisis attached.

As always, we wrapped it up with music recommendations, because every great podcast needs a soundtrack:

🎵 Find a Way – Kadinski (from Simon’s trusty Lofi Boombap Vibes 2025 playlist)

🎵 TMHC – Aether Realm (Andreas repping his shirt and his playlist)

🎵 Don’t You Miss – Redman (Max staying true to 90s hip hop roots)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes chaos and bonus content:

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Mayhem & Masterplans, the podcast where three sharp-minded entrepreneurs navigate the fine line between strategy and spontaneity. Think of it as an insider’s look at the juggling act of business, life, and everything in between.

In this episode, we:

Introduce ourselves – Meet Max, Simon, and Andreas, three founders balancing business, family, and the ever-changing world around them.

Explain the podcast concept – We named it Mayhem & Masterplans because every great achievement starts with a little chaos.

Balance chaos and order – Running companies, raising kids, and still making time to keep up with the world (and maybe some late-night Twitter scrolling).

Tackle voting while abroad – The logistical puzzle of casting your vote from overseas and why democracy sometimes requires express shipping.

Break down social media weirdness – Simon’s Instagram feed went rogue, Max is reminiscing about MySpace, and Andreas is still trying to make Mastodon happen.

Talk sports (sort of) – Simon is obsessed with soccer, Max nods politely, and Andreas wonders if he can somehow turn this conversation into a tax deduction.

Wrap it up with music – Because every good podcast needs a playlist. Or at least a questionable mix of prog rock, lofi beats, and country heartbreak anthems.

We’re excited to kick this off and see where it takes us. Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on social media - because great ideas (and a little mayhem) thrive in good company.

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Music Recommendations from this Episode:

🎵 Bend the Clock – Dream Theater (because why settle for a normal time signature?)

🎵 Vara – Simba & Alivi (ideal for deep thoughts or zoning out completely)

🎵 Loving You on My Mind – Chris Stapleton (for when you want to feel something but aren’t sure what)