How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Search is turning into a single question, ad platforms keep getting more expensive, and “going viral” still does not guarantee sales. So what actually cuts through the noise and drives growth for a real business in Charleston? We sit down with Joe Brugman, Director of Sales and Strategy at Media Beast Marketing Group, to unpack the practical side of modern digital marketing: what matters, what to ignore, and how to lead clients with honesty when the numbers get uncomfortable.

We talk about the BEAST framework Joe uses to explain what strong marketing looks like in the real world: budgeting, expertise, attribution, strategy, and transparency. That leads to the messy parts agencies and brands have to face, like why better cost per acquisition does not always mean you should lower spend, how to avoid novelty over function, and how message gaps show up when your culture and service delivery do not match your brand promise. Joe also shares a smart competitive tactic for positioning: read your competitors’ one-star reviews to find what the market hates, then build your differentiation around fixing it.

The conversation goes deeper with a nonprofit marketing sprint from Campaign In A Day, including lessons from building a sensitive, community-driven campaign for the Ari Foss Foundation. We close with a clear-eyed look at AI and marketing, from “search everywhere optimization” to why AI raises the floor but not the ceiling, and what marketers can do now to stay credible as the landscape shifts.

Subscribe for more Charleston marketing stories, share this with a business owner who needs a clearer strategy, and leave a review with your biggest question about AI, ads, or brand growth.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

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How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Craving a story where smoke, music, and community share the same plate? We sit with Aaron Siegel, founder of Home Team BBQ, to trace how a fine-dining chef built a family-first barbecue brand that reimagined what a neighborhood joint can be. From the ingenious “Kid Alley” that won over parents to the creative freedom that brought tacos, nachos, and brisket into the mix, Aaron shows how you evolve a tradition without losing its soul.

We talk about the roots of the Home Team name and the manifesto that still guides the brand’s choices—live music, watch parties, easy outdoor hangs, and a menu that balances chef-driven technique with the speed people need. Aaron opens up about the early grind, the mistakes that taught him to slow down, and the leadership moves that kept talent for nearly a decade or more. If you’re building a hospitality brand, the takeaways are clear: trust your experience, design for real life, and invest in a culture that people want to stick with.

What sets this conversation apart is the impact. Holy Smokes has become a major waterfront festival that benefits Hogs for the Cause, helping fund pediatric cancer care, including a million-dollar oncology wing in Greenville. Purpose-led specials like Queso for Clayson and Tacos for Tom turn everyday orders into meaningful support for blood cancer and ALS. Add a robust catering engine, collaborations with local pitmasters, and a steady hand through rapid expansion, and you get a blueprint for growth that feels good and scales smart.

Hungry for more stories like this? Follow the show, share with a friend who loves barbecue or branding, and leave a quick review so others can find us. Your support helps bring more conversations that feed both the palate and the community.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

A coastal city with global ambitions—this conversation with Soloinsight CEO Carter Kennedy shows what it takes to scale identity governance from Charleston into 41 countries while keeping culture, speed, and profitability intact. We open with the simple promise behind complex infrastructure: connecting visitors, contractors, employees, and tenants to the right places at the right times through compliant, integrated access. From a Class A lobby to a hospital corridor, Carter explains how referenceable customers and network effects turn hard-won first deals into a repeatable enterprise motion.

We dig into what building from Charleston looks like day to day: distributed hiring that complements a rising local scene, the real advantages of quality of life and a convenient airport, and the honest gaps in capital density that still need solving. Carter shares a clear go-to-market framework—industry conferences, channel partners, and word-of-mouth from marquee accounts—plus how a small sales team can land six-figure deals by focusing on value and outcomes. The roadmap for the region is equally direct: attract more investors to fuel proven playbooks, connect founders consistently through platforms like Dignation and Dig South, and turn momentum into that first billion-dollar win that seeds the next generation of companies.

AI threads through the strategy as a practical lever, not a buzzword. Carter breaks it down into three moves: automate internal processes to shorten implementations, enhance existing products so customers pay for smarter results, and launch new AI-driven offerings already in demand across healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure. We close with tangible takeaways—Solo Insight is hiring in Charleston, offering its platform to regional enterprises, and inviting warm introductions to large accounts ready for better identity governance. Want to plug into this movement, grow your network, and help write Charleston’s next tech headline? Subscribe, share this episode with a founder who needs it, and leave a review with the one connection that could move this story forward.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

The energy in Charleston’s tech scene isn’t hype—it’s momentum you can feel. We kick off Silicon Harbor Hot Take with Dig South founder Stanfield Gray to map the forces turning a coastal city into a serious launchpad for scalable startups. From the origin of “Silicon Harbor” to the nuts and bolts of building a summit that founders actually use, we unpack what makes this ecosystem work: practical access, operator‑led insights, and an abundance mindset that rewards collaboration without dulling competitive edge.

We go deep on the strategy behind Dig South’s curation. Instead of celebrity flybys, we bring the people shipping products and signing deals—engineers from OpenAI, Microsoft, Nordstrom AI, and Amazon Prime Video, plus investors like 11 Tribes and long‑time partners from CRDA. You’ll hear how growth‑stage companies find customers and capital, how early founders get hands‑on with platforms, and why legal, cloud, and go‑to‑market lounges matter when you’re moving fast. We also talk timing: LLMs, agentic AI, and world models are exciting, but only some tools move the bottom line today. Learn how to test, adopt, and sequence new tech without derailing your roadmap.

Underneath it all is a simple playbook: “Who Not How.” Swap solo heroics for the right collaborators, advisors, and partners. Leverage year‑round membership, rise‑and‑grind meetups, and a community demo stage to turn introductions into pilots and pilots into revenue. With Dig South anchoring Charleston Tech Week (June 8–12) and the summit set for June 11–12 at the College of Charleston, this is your chance to plug into a network designed for real outcomes, not vanity metrics.

Subscribe for the monthly Hot Take, share this with a founder who should be in the room, and leave a review with the one topic you want us to tackle next.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Curious cities don’t stand still, and Charleston is proof. We sit down with Tyler Wright Friedman, the guide behind Walk and Talk Charleston, to unpack how a walk can become a window into power, preservation, and the pulse of a modern Lowcountry city. Tyler maps out the three pillars she believes define the Charleston brand—history, preservation, and hospitality—and shows how each one lives not just in brochures but in policies, neighborhoods, and the choices residents make to keep a city’s soul intact.

We go beyond pastel facades to highlight Charleston’s civil rights legacy. Tyler connects the dots from Briggs v. Elliott, tried on Meeting Street, to Brown v. Board of Education, and explains Judge Waring’s pivotal dissent and Thurgood Marshall’s role. The takeaway is simple and bracing: when we tell fuller stories, visitors don’t just look; they understand. That honesty also shapes how she guides: present facts clearly, honor the skilled labor—often enslaved—that built what we admire, and invite guests to think rather than react.

Preservation comes into focus as community infrastructure, not museum‑only nostalgia. Tyler details Historic Charleston Foundation’s Common Cause Loan Fund, which helps legacy homeowners stay in place through forgivable exterior repair loans—a practical answer to rising costs and strict building rules. We also explore how tourism taxes fund public projects like the Low Battery wall, and why sustainable tourism must serve residents first if it’s going to last. On the growth front, Tyler shares how word of mouth, creator partnerships, and deep ties to cultural institutions have scaled Walk and Talk Charleston from side gig to standout hospitality brand.

If you’re planning a trip, you’ll leave with a sharper list—seafood at 167 Raw or Bar 167, Rodney Scott’s barbecue—and a better map: add museums, lectures at the Library Society, a Dock Street performance, and a day on the barrier islands. If you call Charleston home, you’ll hear why supporting local culture builds better citizens and a stronger city. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves great cities, and leave a review with your favorite Charleston museum or meal—we’ll feature a few in an upcoming episode.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Want to see what credibility looks like under pressure? We sit down with broadcaster and FEMA reservist Leyla Gulen to unpack the real work behind “overnight” stories, the human stakes of crisis communications, and why attention without accuracy is a losing game. Layla traces her arc from ballet hopeful to radio grinder to TV anchor in Los Angeles and San Francisco, revealing the invisible disciplines that build trust: relentless fact-checking, writing to match an anchor’s voice, and delivering clarity on impossible timelines. When she moved to Charleston, those habits met a city where reputation travels fast and relationships carry weight, reshaping how tough truths are told without turning personal.

We dive into the influencer era and draw a sharp line between virality and veracity. As a co-founder of Tide Point PR, Layla favors senior, crisis-tested strategy over churn. She explains how to steer clients away from performative stunts and toward messages that survive scrutiny. Then the conversation heads straight into the field, where Layla’s FEMA deployments bring communications into disaster zones. She breaks down common myths about FEMA, the life-safety work that starts immediately, and the application steps that trip people up—plus how disaster recovery centers and hotlines actually help. The throughline is empathy: respect for place, patience with process, and thick skin when public narratives get loud and loose with facts.

Amid AI’s rise and shrinking attention spans, Leyla's north star stays steady: human connection and the craft of a story told well. If you care about journalism, public relations, emergency response, or simply want a better filter for what to believe online, this conversation offers practical guardrails and grounded inspiration. Listen, share it with someone who cares about credible communication, and leave a review with your take: what makes you trust a message?

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Big flavor meets big vision. We sat down with Marcus, founder and CEO of the Black Food Truck Festival, to unpack how a community-first idea became a 20,000-person destination weekend that’s now measured at $10.2 million in economic impact for Charleston. He traces the journey from a post-pandemic launch to a two-day experience that brings in 84% of attendees from outside the Tri-County area and 70% from out of state, turning Charleston into a must-visit hub for Black culinary culture and live music.

We go inside the blueprint: why the festival invests in live bands, day parties at multiple bars, and family-friendly spaces to create an immersive, all-day flow. Marcus explains the vendor mix—Gullah-Geechee staples, African cuisine, soul food riffs, hibachi mashups, empanadas, seafood, wings, desserts, and strong vegan options—and the reality of lines at scale. He’s transparent about the headwinds too: sponsorship dollars tighten as alcohol spending dips, venue costs climb, and production expenses grow. The response is smarter marketing: a YouTube strategy for long-form performance videos, storytelling that highlights vendor success, and a 20,000-strong email list that fuels merch, premium offers, and year-round engagement.

You’ll also hear how the team builds a better guest experience with a shaded VIP lounge, private restrooms, early entry, small bites, and an open bar—plus safety upgrades like expanded EMS, water partnerships, and a push for hydration stations. We discuss values-driven choices, including turning down misaligned sponsors to protect a welcoming space, and a forward path that includes expanding to markets like Charlotte while keeping Charleston the heart and home. Marcus’s educator streak shines as he outlines plans for youth basketball and nutrition programs and new on-ramps into culinary and hospitality careers.

Ready to taste, dance, and be part of a growing cultural force in Charleston? Grab your tickets at blackfoodtruckfestival.com, subscribe for more stories with the city’s builders and creators, and leave a review to help others discover the show.

https://www.blackfoodtruckfestival.com

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

What if thinking about death could make your life and work lighter, clearer, and more intentional? We sit down with life and death coach Merridith Crowe to explore how memento mori—the simple, ancient reminder that we will die—can sharpen your choices today. This isn’t a gloomy detour. It’s a practical map for how to love better, lead with empathy, and build a business that matches your values.

Meredith shares the heart of her work: guiding people through hard life changes and helping families plan end-of-life with compassion and detail, from medical preferences to the tone of a celebration. Along the way, we unpack why intentions beat resolutions, how present-tense identity statements shift behavior, and the simple weekly check-in that keeps you honest: How did I live, how did I love, what did I learn? We also look at authentic leadership in a noisy market—choosing your race, limiting clients to go deeper, and communicating with clarity instead of euphemism.

We go there on the hard topics, too: hospice, the cultural distance from death, and the nuanced realities of medical assistance in dying in certain states. Meredith’s inclusive approach meets people where they are, honoring different beliefs while focusing on comfort and agency. For founders and marketers, the surprising takeaway is that mortality awareness makes you a better builder: more present, less reactive, kinder in conflict, and clearer in messaging. That kindness isn’t just nice—it attracts the right people and strengthens your work.

If you’ve felt stuck, spread thin, or unsure what to prioritize, this conversation offers grounded tools you can use today. Listen, share it with someone who needs a gentler frame for big decisions, and then set one intention you’ll live right now. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us: what would you change today if you remembered you’ll die?

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

Ever been asked “So, what do you do?” and felt your answer wobble? We sit down with strategist, mentor, and playwright-composer Thomas Heath to map a cleaner, kinder path to growth: start with foundational messaging, show up in real community, and set boundaries that protect your energy.

Thomas breaks down why most founders can’t deliver a five-second answer and how a tight messaging playbook unlocks everything—LinkedIn visibility, investor confidence, and sales velocity. We get specific on the five LinkedIn fields that matter, why your banner is prime real estate, and how a 220-character headline becomes your everyday elevator speech. Thomas also pulls back the curtain on working with VC, PE, and family offices to align cofounders, sharpen mission language, and ship pitch decks that actually raise money.

We tour Charleston’s startup scene through One Million Cups and the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, where “collision” moments create outsized opportunity. Alongside the tactics, we go deep on burnout: health scares, over-volunteering, and the hard reset toward time blocking, client boundaries, and a gratitude-first mindset. The through-line is sustainable growth—profit with impact, not grind for grind’s sake.

Then the story pivots to Luke and Lucy, a rock musical inspired by ’70s and ’80s legends, now evolving into a docuseries that empowers teens. It tackles toxic relationships, anxiety, and isolation with tools, community, and serious heart—proof that brand craft and storytelling can change lives, not just metrics.

If you want practical scripts, sharper positioning, and a healthier way to scale, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a founder who needs clarity, and leave a review with your 220-character headline—we might read our favorites on the next show.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

YouTube...

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.

What happens when a poet decides to film an entire album live, open a song to the internet, and then knit twenty artists into a single five‑minute piece? We invited Charleston’s own Christian Morant to share how he balances heart‑first art with smart, sustainable marketing without losing the soul of the work.

Christian takes us inside I’m Not A Rapper and the Snappin’ open verse challenge that drew thousands of views and dozens of collaborations. He breaks down why filming twelve live music videos made the project more human, how collaboration in the room changed arrangements on the fly, and why Stage Presence became a love letter to community. We also get candid about mental health: writing through depression, performing heavy poems safely, and letting therapy sit alongside craft so the work heals rather than harms.

For creatives and marketers alike, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. You’ll hear a simple workflow for capturing ideas from phone notes to journals to production docs, a realistic social media strategy that favors focus over burnout, and clear tips for separating the art hat from the business hat. We spotlight Charleston’s venues and festivals that nurture emerging voices, the power of mentorship in schools, and the mindset shift that puts value back into the work instead of the follower count.

If you’re building a career in music, poetry, or any creative field, this is a masterclass in staying authentic while shipping meaningful projects. Listen, share with a friend who needs a push, and tell us: what’s one brave step you’ll take this week? Subscribe for more conversations with the artists and makers shaping Charleston’s creative economy, and leave a review to help others find the show.

The Harbor House Party Vol. II brings together conversation, connection, and live music for one unforgettable night in Charleston - all while raising funds to support the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

On September 23, guests can choose how they experience the night, from an intimate VIP gathering at Share House to the roundtable and live music at Music Farm featuring the Futurebirds.

HarborEC.org

Join Camp Happy Days on Saturday, September 19th for Happy Steps, a 5K run/walk on Sullivan's Island in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The race starts and finishes at The Island Club, where we invite you to stick around for the afterparty featuring food, drinks, raffles, auction items, music, and race awards — all benefiting Camp Happy Days and the children and families we serve. 

https://www.camphappydays.org/happysteps

How can Charleston businesses get noticed, found and chosen? The Charleston Marketing Podcast, brought to you by Charleston AMA and recorded at Charleston Media Solutions, answers the marketing and media questions local business owners are asking. We explore media buying, advertising budgets, radio, digital marketing, storytelling and the customer journey, with practical strategies for growing your business in today’s attention economy. CharlestonMediaSolutions.com

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, 

Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

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