Nothing is ever 'just data.'

Last year, we started featuring the worst charts and visuals the internet has to offer.

We've racked up a fair amount in our collection, so we invited chart champ Amelia Waters to critique some bad charts and give us a few pointers on how to do it right.

Watch the full episode in our YouTube channel next week: youtube.com/channel/UC5DlEn-4CszFJw-aCTcTopQ/

What do nut milk, corporate porridge, and startups have in common?

Seems like a random list, right?

I sat down with Ben Manwaring to talk about his winding career path—from consulting to startups to his current chapter in Amsterdam.

We got into flexibility, risk-taking, and what it really looks like to blend creativity with business growth.

Would you trade a comfortable life in the city for a spot in an RV park? 

Joe Griffith did – and it’s the best decision he made. 

He used his expertise as a former Bain consultant and built Wander New Mexico, now the no.1 rated tour company in New Mexico. 

He’s still running it a decade later while consulting independently on the side. 

The interesting part isn’t just how he’s doing both – it’s how one made the other better. 

Ever heard of a corporate athlete?

I sat down with Mariela Hunter to talk about biomarkers, sleep, and how AI is becoming essential for us to keep ourselves in top shape–personally and professionally.

We also got into her shift into fractional work and why the future of performance is all about human–AI collaboration.

Can you rebuild a legacy business from the ground up?

Not everyone can, but Deborah Whitby did.

Rebecca McDowell and I sat down with the Austin Plumbery CEO to talk about our stories. We discussed the real-life highs and headaches of building a business.

From branding and pricing to hiring and customer experience, we swapped lessons on growth, lifestyle, and what it really takes to run something that lasts.

Here's how you can get a meeting with anyone.

I sat down with my good friend Katie McCormick Lelyveld—founder of MELD and former press secretary to Michelle Obama—to talk about authenticity, networking, and the real work of building lasting relationships.

We also touched on intergenerational conversations, women in leadership, and how small moments lead to big connections.

👉 Join Hey CMO here: https://hey.heycmo.com/a/2148165011/4NwoMab9

Fractional work looks simple – and exciting – from the outside. 

You leave corporate, land a client, and price your time. 

You breathe easier because you do the work you’re passionate about. 

In many ways, it’s wonderful. 

But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough: 

The real challenge of fractional life shows up in about six months. 

In a bonus episode of The 2x2 Podcast, Anna Wondany – founder of Hey CMO – walked me through the network she built to support fractional leaders. 

👉 Watch the FREE Demo here: https://youtu.be/Jem1f7y3tCY

How many tools and platforms do you use in your practice? 

Do you have a graveyard of unused subscriptions, or do you still do everything manually? 

I think you only need four essentials – every one of them useful for everyday tasks. 

Anything else you add should pass the ultimate efficiency test: 

Reach the least number of clicks to get sh*t done. 

The most successful fractional works have tells. 

Amanda Nizzere is a fractional CMO who has reached full capacity in just two years (impressive, right?). But she’s spent that time doing more than just client work for AN Strategy. 

As the host of the Female Fractionals podcast, Amanda has had dozens of candid conversations with fractional executives about what works (and what doesn’t) in a fractional practice. 

If you’re building a fractional or independent consulting practice, this conversation offers a clear framework – and some hard-earned insights – for what actually makes fractional work work. 

The most successful fractional works have tells. 

Amanda Nizzere is a fractional CMO who has reached full capacity in just two years (impressive, right?). But she’s spent that time doing more than just client work for AN Strategy. 

As the host of the Female Fractionals podcast, Amanda has had dozens of candid conversations with fractional executives about what works (and what doesn’t) in a fractional practice. 

If you’re building a fractional or independent consulting practice, this conversation offers a clear framework – and some hard-earned insights – for what actually makes fractional work work.