Presentation Thinking

Entrepreneurs and startups everywhere love following Shark Tank—the reality show where passionate pitchers bring their product to a group of wealthy “sharks”—well-known Venture Capitalists—in hopes of investment funds and expert business guidance. 

Continuing from Episode 69, we break down another great round of pitches from 2023, “3 Biggest deals Season 14”.

Oogiebear had all of the sharks fighting over an investment, Collars & Co. showed a lesson in what NOT to do and Legacy Shave knew exactly how to tell their story. 

While this high stakes pitch environment isn’t the norm, the pitch structure and presentation of each product or service is well-worth examining—and learning from. 

This is an episode for: entrepreneurs, presenters and people that love Shark Tank.

What’s in the Spice Cabinet??

Checkout the 3 pitch products:

Mikey talks my ear off about wassail, a holiday drink you might be enjoying as you tune in. 

Keep an eye on PoolSnacks.com, one of many in Mikey’s random domain collection.

You have a favorite Shark Tank episode or pitch you want us to dissect? 

For our hundredth episode of Presentation Thinking AKA the Storyteller’s Study Club AKA Pitchin’ Ain’t Easy, we’re reflecting on our ~metaphorical~ hero’s journey thus far. 

We’ve learned so much about storytelling, presenting, speaking, product marketing, design and, of course, podcasting throughout the last two years. 

From meeting fellow presentation nerds online to growing our audience over 3x the amount from the previous year, we feel more and more like true story experts primed to help presenters and product marketers everywhere. (You may hear us say “um” and “like” but hey, we know our way around a story framework. We’re learning!)

While we can check off the “centenary” milestone, we’ve got a lot more of our plot to play out! Buckle up—let’s keep pitchin’.
This is an episode for: friends of the pod, story nerds and anyone who produces their own (or wants to!) podcast.

What's in the Spice Cabinet??

Tis the season for SKOs (Sales KickOffs)! 

After years in various roles in B2B marketing most recently the Director of Product Marketing at RingCentral, Ashima calls herself a “Product Storyteller.” 

We discuss her path into product marketing management and the necessary elements needed for SKOs to really be a success. In fact, she even wrote a blog about it—"6 Tips & Tricks to Survive (and Thrive) SKO 2024 as a PMM." 

From aligning on goals to building a memorable agenda, SKOs really can be FUN and we’re here to help you through it.

This is an episode for: product marketers, sales teams and anyone in need of SKO inspiration.

What’s in the Spice Cabinet?? 

Folks planning for SKOs - you need this blog, "6 Tips & Tricks to Survive (and Thrive) SKO 2024 as a PMM.”

Ashima’s favorite coffee table book? 

Product Marketing Leaders to follow:

Fave SKO memory?

Ashima’s presentation preparation practice

Walkout song? 

What does “Presentation Thinking” mean to you? 

“Presentation Summit” is the annual presentation party—a place where all things PowerPoint, presentation design and speaker inspiration come together. 

Created by our friend Rick Altman, we’ve had several Rancheros from GhostRanch attend this annual conference that’s turned into a community. What they bring back is not only fresh insights but hilarious stories—and we wanted to highlight them on the ‘cast. 

GhostRanch Presentation Designers Ashante DuJour and Breece Justice are now “PreSum” alum and they're here to share their experiences, favorite speakers and most useful takeaways for you.

This is an episode for: speakers, presentation designers and the Presentation Summit fam.

What's in the Spice Cabinet??

Do YOU want to join the Presentation Party?? 

People, books & more that will give you ~Presentation Inspiration~

Ashante & Breece’s Walkout songs??

Having started a career in broadcast journalism, VP of Marketing Garrett Denney knows how to communicate effectively. 

When we met Garrett as the MC for a Product Marketing Alliance event in New York, we knew he was a natural presenter.  

So when he shifted into the tech and marketing world, what skills did he take with him? 

Through his role as a Product Marketing Manager and now VP of Marketing at Crayon, Garrett shares the lessons he’s learned, the importance of leaning into presentation soft skills and how to get ready for SKO season.  

This is an episode for: Product Marketers, broadcast media nerds and Bon Iver fans.

What's in the Spice Cabinet?

Keep up with Garrett on LinkedIn 

Reading reccos? 

What’s the ‘Hype Cycle’? 

Garrett’s walkout song?

It’s Thanksgiving here in the United States but we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to create a special (and short) holiday episode in which Mikey and Molly riff on everything they’re thankful for within our podcast and presentation world.

From our mascot, Shakespeare, to the pilgrims who invented PowerPoint (just kidding), we run through our “Favorites” short-list. 

We are especially appreciative for our weekly episode art illustrator, NoNo Flores—an unbelievably talented artist. 

And we’d be nowhere without our audio editor Will Kommor who has graciously edited out Mikey & Molly’s “ums” and “likes” for almost 100 episodes now. 

Friends of the Ranch, let’s gather round the table. 

Spice Cabinet 

Kaarin Howard is a B2B marketing professional passionate about building webinars, among other strategic content, for your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile).

With a background in marketing events and launching startups, she came into the B2B marketing world ready to wear the 5 (or 50!) hats typically thrust upon them.

When Mikey and Kaarin connected on the popular marketing forum, Exit Five, we were excited to hear about the success of her and her team’s webinars.

What are key components to consider? How can we collaborate and leverage partnerships? And how do you build intentional, authentic content—not just for the sake of putting out content? 

This is an episode for: B2B marketers looking to freshen up their content, brand strategists and Shrek fans. 

What's in the Spice Cabinet??

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of viral memoir Eat, Pray, Love acknowledges in her 2009 TED Talk that her best work might very well be behind her. As an artist, however, she’s stuck with the challenge of “topping” her last work. 

Why are artists and creative people burdened with these crazy-making tropes? In ancient Greece and Rome, “genius” referred to the divine entity that visited artists—not the artist themselves. 

Gilbert challenges us to reframe the narrative around creativity—putting less of the burden on the individual and moreso on the energetic creative spirit that exists in all of us. 

This is an episode for: Speakers working on a new presentation, Eat, Pray, Love fans, artists and anyone working through a creative block.

What's in the Spice Cabinet?

WATCH Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2009 TED Talk, “Your Elusive Creative Genius”

Elizabeth’s walkout song?

Want more Elizabeth Gilbert? 

Startup hubs are an amazing place for community, innovation and inspiration. 

Few know this better than Jenna Blaszczykiewicz, the Senior Director of Marketing for global innovation hub based in Chicago, 1871. Jenna started her career in architecture design, shifted to the tech space and now merges all of that with marketing.

Jenna is brilliant at identifying new opportunities for narrative strategy and offering that to both 1871 and many of the startups that come through its doors. 

In this conversation, we chat about the Jobs to be Done framework, the intersection of tech & design and story strategy for pitch decks. 

This is an episode for: storytellers, founders and startup nerds.

What's sizzlin' in the Spice Cabinet??

15 slide decks, 2 designers and a couple of days—What is it like to work on-site as a presentation designer??

GhostRanch designer Tamara Jarvi is here to share her experience with us! Tamara recently joined a GhostRanch client at an amazing event to help pull off over a dozen decks she and her team worked on. 

From last-minute edits and additions to fonts breaking down from PC to Macs, we discuss what she learned and why this kind of in-person experience is beneficial to any designer. 

This is an episode for: presentation designers or aspiring designers, people that work live events and anyone that enjoys a good interview.

What's in the Spice Cabinet?