In this solo episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I’m diving into something that’s been on every entrepreneur’s mind this year: do goals still matter in 2026? The world is changing fast, and with the rise of AI, shifting priorities, and burnout creeping in, it’s easy to lose sight of your direction.

But here’s the truth: goals still matter—when you know how to set them right.

I’ll share how to:

• Get crystal-clear on your directional goals
• Push through the doubt that creeps in
• Recommit to goals that align with who you are (not just what everyone else is doing)
• Use the momentum of Q1 to build sustainable progress—not just productivity

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Embracing the Uncertainty of Goal Setting

00:38 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

01:08 The Reality of Goal Setting in 2026

04:29 The Importance of Writing Down Goals

09:33 Setting Directional Goals

10:34 Marketing Goals for 2026

11:39 Behavior Goals: The Key to Consistency

14:23 The Role of AI in Achieving Goals

20:28 Final Thoughts: Protecting Your Time and Staying Focused

21:54 Conclusion and Call to Action

If you’re looking to reclaim your focus, strengthen your strategy, and finally commit to what matters this year, this episode is for you.

Let’s reset your strategy for 2026 and start taking aligned action—together.

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

As 2025 wraps up, I’m taking you behind the data to reveal the top 10 most downloaded episodes of Rocky Mountain Marketing this year—and the biggest theme that kept emerging: trust-first strategy over trends.

In this year-end special, you’ll hear from brilliant guests like Gordon Firemark, Megan Dougherty, Mike Swenson, Lisanne Murphy, Sarah Nay, and more. We cover everything from building trust in the age of AI, creating human-first content, crisis-proofing your brand, to leveraging SEO and podcasting for sustainable growth.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by marketing "shoulds"—this episode is your permission slip to slow down and get strategic.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What 2025 taught us about audience trust and authentic marketing
• Why AI without strategy won't work in the long run
• How to get more ROI from your marketing efforts
• How your podcast can become a powerful business driver
• What real business owners did to simplify, grow, and lead effectively

Timestamps:

00:00 Reflecting on a Year of Intentional Marketing

00:21 Introduction to Rocky Mountain Marketing

00:51 Year-End Review: Key Insights from 2025

02:18 Top 10 Episodes Countdown: Legal Protection for Podcasters

05:54 Podcast Blueprints for Business Success

08:54 Crisis-Proofing Your Brand

11:45 Transforming Your Website into a Sales Machine

15:29 Sustainable Growth Strategies for Small Businesses

18:19 Using Psychology to Attract Dream Clients

20:40 Finding Clarity and Passion in Entrepreneurship

21:37 Getting Your Local Business on Google's First Page

25:25 Human-First AI Marketing with Mike Monte

29:06 Turning Cold DMs into Warm Conversations

33:54 Trust-First Marketing Without Posting Every Day

38:44 Final Thoughts and Year-End Reflections

Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, this recap is packed with timeless advice to guide your 2026 strategy.

Hit follow and subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss the powerful conversations we have coming next year!

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

Let me guess—you didn’t start your business to spend hours copying and pasting, chasing down leads, or drowning in admin work. In this episode, I sit down with Mike Allton, Director of Partner-Led Growth at Agorapulse and founder of The AI Hat, to uncover how AI can truly give you back your most valuable resource: time.

We break down how to move beyond using AI just for content creation and explore how it can reduce “admin drag,” support revenue-driving activities, and elevate your strategic thinking. Mike shares what revenue architecture really means and how solopreneurs and sales teams can use AI to scale smarter—not louder.

If you’re ready to reclaim your schedule and protect the human side of your business, this episode is your roadmap.

What You’ll Learn:

• What “admin drag” is and why it’s killing your creativity
• How to audit your workflow and identify where AI can support you
• The difference between AI as a replacement vs. a revenue partner
• How AI can free up emotional energy and rebuild trust
• Practical examples of AI in sales and proposal processes
• What the “revenue architecture” framework actually looks like
• Why reclaiming your time is the new ROI

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The AI Time-Saving Revolution

00:34 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

01:04 The Real Opportunity with AI

01:46 Introducing Mike Alton: AI and Revenue Architecture

02:37 Understanding Admin Drag and AI Solutions

05:23 The Role of AI in Sales and Marketing

08:12 Implementing AI: Practical Steps and Benefits

18:57 Revenue Architecture: Integrating AI into Processes

25:18 The True ROI of AI: Time and Trust

33:49 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Ready to take back your time?

Subscribe to Rocky Mountain Marketing and never miss an episode packed with strategies to scale your business with purpose—and less stress.

Visit Mike Allton's social media pages:

Website: https://theaihat.com/connect/

Agorapulse: https://www.agorapulse.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeallton

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

What makes some creators cut through the noise while others just… fade into the scroll?

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Jay Acunzo, international speaker, storytelling coach, and the mastermind behind the “resonance over reach” philosophy. Jay has worked with brands like Google, HubSpot, and ESPN—and today, he shares what really helps coaches, creators, and business leaders connect with their audience in a meaningful, profitable way.

We talk about how to uncover clarity in your message, why most “signature talks” miss the mark, and how you can structure your communication to inspire change—not just attention.

If you’re trying to grow your thought leadership, book speaking gigs, or create content that sticks, this conversation is a masterclass.

What you'll learn:

• Why clarity is more important than consistency
• The 4-part storytelling framework to boost resonance
• How to refine your thought leadership on LinkedIn
• The right way to test, tweak, and ship your ideas
• Why a "signature talk" is really an argument for change

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The Key to Effortless Attention

00:27 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

00:58 Introducing Jay Acunzo: Master of Clarity

06:43 The Importance of Public Speaking

14:12 Crafting Memorable Stories

19:19 The Four Beats of Storytelling

19:54 Align: Understanding Your Audience

20:07 Agitate: Highlighting the Problems

21:00 Assert: Presenting Your Solution

21:32 Invite: Engaging Your Audience

22:36 The Importance of Personal Branding

23:14 Finding Your Unique Speaking Voice

24:28 The Role of Authenticity in Speaking

25:59 Developing and Refining Your Ideas

28:37 Practical Tips for Nervous Speakers

31:17 The Power of a Creative Practice

33:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tune in now, and let’s help you build a message that actually moves people.

Visit Jay Acunzo online:

Website: https://jayacunzo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo/

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-stories-happen/id1736586770

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jayacunzo

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

Ready to stop doing it all yourself and build a high-performing team?

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, Katie Brinkley sits down with Shawn Quintero, COO and co-owner of Next Step Social & Podcasting, to share exactly how they scaled a remote team that runs on clarity, collaboration, and strong company culture.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The Real Challenge in Business

00:45 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

01:19 Meet the COO: Sean Quintero

02:38 The Importance of Hiring and Onboarding

04:01 Building Effective Systems and Culture

05:27 Managing People: Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence

06:35 Making Tough Decisions: Letting Go and Hiring Right

15:16 Onboarding and Training: Setting Up for Success

20:09 Addressing Performance Issues

24:03 Creating a Positive Remote Work Culture

29:10 Conclusion: People Are People

30:20 Outro: Subscribe and Stay Connected

If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or agency owner who’s tired of bottlenecking your business, this is the episode that will help you step fully into your leadership role.

Don’t miss it—hit play now and discover what it takes to scale your team with confidence.

Visit Shawn Quintero online:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyshawnq/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeyShawnQ/

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

Every time Austin Armstrong joins me on the show, he’s leveled up—and this time is no different. From billions (yes, billions) of organic views to launching tools like Syllabi and ThreadMaster, Austin’s name is now synonymous with AI-powered content creation and repeatable virality.

In this episode, we dive into the systems, frameworks, and mindset behind Virality—his new book that breaks down how to stop chasing vanity metrics and start building real business leverage with your content.

You’ll hear about:

• Why “stop chasing views” is his first message
• The power of thinking like a business owner who creates content—not just a content creator
• His START Video Framework for strategic posts
• How he uses AI tools to create 20+ pieces of content a day (without burnout!)
• The leverage behind vanity metrics when paired with the right backend strategy
• A practical AI prompt you can copy to generate a 30-day content plan

Austin also unpacks what’s actually working right now on social—and how you can implement the same systems to grow your brand, your revenue, and your reach.

If you’re tired of posting with no results, this episode is for you.

Visit Austin Armstrong online:

Website: https://syllaby.io/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Owwstin/

Virality! (Book): https://a.co/d/4UnuJ0x

Threadmaster.AI: https://threadmaster.ai/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialtyPro

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with the incredible Jenn Herman—Instagram strategist, author of Instagram for Dummies, and founder of the Profit Your Profile community. We unpack what’s actually working for organic Instagram growth in 2025 and beyond.

If you’ve ever felt like your content isn’t gaining traction or that the Instagram algorithm is working against you, this episode is your wake-up call. Jenn reveals:

• Why organic reach isn’t dead—it’s just different
• The secret to reels that stop the scroll
• How to balance short-form content with authenticity
• The growing importance of recommended content
• How to keep trust while leveraging AI in your content strategy

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Is Organic Reach Dead on Instagram?

01:09 Guest Introduction: Jen Herman on Instagram Strategy

02:36 The Evolution of Instagram: Features and Functions

05:48 Adapting to Algorithm Changes

08:31 Creating Authentic and Engaging Content

16:56 Leveraging Instagram Stories and AI

24:45 Building Private Communities and Memberships

29:55 Future Trends and Final Thoughts

We also talk about how micro-communities, subscriber-only content, and even Stories are still the highest-converting tools on Instagram when done right.

Ready to future-proof your Instagram strategy? Tune in to hear how you can grow with less, stay real, and leverage what’s actually working right now.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

Visit Jenn Herman online:

Website: https://jennstrends.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenns_trends/

Profit Your Profile Community: https://profityourprofile.com/

Jenn Herman's Books: https://jennstrends.com/books/

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

Running a business on sticky notes, late nights, and last-minute decisions? I’ve been there. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down once again with my operational other half and COO, Shawn Quintero, to share the behind-the-scenes journey of turning Next Step Social & Podcasting from a founder-dependent business into a scalable, framework-driven company.

We get real about what it takes to stop doing it all and start leading intentionally. From the CEO-COO relationship, to daily huddles, GWC evaluations, and how we use the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to guide every move—we're pulling back the curtain on the systems and rhythms that power sustainable growth.

Whether you're a solopreneur with a team or a visionary ready to scale, this episode is your blueprint.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The turning point when we shifted from solopreneurship to a true business model
• How hiring for growth (not relief) changes everything
• What it really means to become a CEO vs. just being a founder
• Why EOS became our growth framework
• How we run our business with vision, data, and process clarity
• Daily huddle structure that keeps our team aligned and efficient

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction to Business Scaling

00:00:00 Introduction to Business Scaling

00:03:00 Transitioning from Solopreneurship

00:06:00 Strategic Hiring and Systematization 

00:09:00 Understanding EOS and Its Components

00:12:00 Building a Strong Business Partnership

00:15:00 The Role of Vision and Delegation

00:18:00 Implementing Daily Huddles and GWC Test

00:21:00 The Importance of Complementary Skills

00:24:00 Maintaining Alignment and Communication

00:27:00 Scaling with Structure and Systems

00:30:00 Conclusion and Call to Action

Visit Shawn Quintero online:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyshawnq/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeyShawnQ/

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with Matthew Rouse—author, agency owner, and AI startup founder—to talk about the real state of AI in business. Forget the hype—Matt and I dive into practical AI tools, how to build better automations, and how small businesses can scale smarter without sacrificing authenticity.

We explore:

• What AI is actually doing for businesses right now
• Creative AI workflows that go beyond social media posts
• Why automating your reporting could save you hundreds of hours
• How to train AI to support your team without replacing them
• The #1 automation every small business should implement before the year ends

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to AI and Job Security

00:30 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

01:00 Meet Matt Rouse: AI Expert and Entrepreneur

01:26 The Reality of AI for Entrepreneurs

06:18 AI Tools and Their Applications

14:03 Using AI for Creative Processes

18:32 Automating Business Tasks with AI

23:28 The Future of AI in Business

28:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Matt also shares insights from his book Will AI Take My Job Too?, plus his approach to building powerful AI agents and automations that actually move the needle.

Tune in to learn how to stop fearing AI—and start using it to make your business more efficient, impactful, and human.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform and don’t forget to subscribe!

Visit Matt Rouse online:

Website: https://matthewrouse.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmrouse/

SMB Autopilot: https://smbautopilot.ai/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Take-Job-Predictions-Corporations/dp/B0CL9NWGGL

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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

In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I sit down with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and a personal branding strategist, to unpack what it really means to build an authentic brand in today’s AI-saturated world.

Kelly shares how she accidentally built her personal brand over 15 years ago, and how that journey led her to help other professionals turn their expertise into influence. We dive into the importance of authenticity, how AI tools like ChatGPT and Quso can elevate your voice—not replace it—and why your story still matters more than ever.

We also explore:

• What the “Authority X-Factor” is and how to find yours
• Why AI-generated content lacks the human touch
• How to use AI tools the right way for repurposing your content
• Whether writing a book still holds power in building thought leadership (spoiler: YES)
• Tactical tips to grow your personal brand using speaking, podcasting, and LinkedIn

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to AI and Personal Branding

00:24 Welcome to Rocky Mountain Marketing

00:54 Meet Today's Guest: Kelly Schuknecht

01:25 The Importance of Personal Branding in the Age of AI

02:36 Kelly's Journey to Personal Branding

04:14 Challenges in Defining Personal Brand

08:47 The Role of AI in Content Creation

14:56 AI Tools for Personal Branding

18:51 The Power of Writing a Book for Personal Branding

25:06 Getting Started with Personal Branding

28:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Want to know if your personal brand is working for you? Take Kelly’s Thought Leadership Scorecard at twomilehighmarketing.com

Visit Kelly Kelly Schuknecht online:

Website: https://kellyschuknecht.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kellyschuknecht

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social & Podcasting:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://yournextstep.agency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

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