The Spark Podcast: Nashville

What does the future look like for agencies navigating AI, shifting client expectations, and a rapidly changing economy? In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with Agency Management Institute founder Drew McLellan to unpack the biggest findings from his latest agency research and why the next few years will fundamentally reshape the agency landscape.

Drew shares what today's clients actually value, why strategic thinking matters more than execution, and how agencies can evolve before they become obsolete. From AI implementation and operational efficiency to niche positioning, talent development, and leadership evolution, this conversation is packed with practical insights for agency owners, marketers, and creative leaders trying to stay ahead.

Whether you run an agency, lead a marketing team, or simply want to understand where the creative industry is headed, this episode offers a clear look at what's changing, and what agencies must do to thrive.

00:01 – Why agencies are entering a year of massive change 03:23 – Clients are demanding strategic thinking over task execution 06:21 – How top-performing agencies are using AI operationally 10:37 – What clients say they'll buy from agencies in the future 15:16 – Why trust, transparency, and measurement matter more than ever 19:24 – The agency roles AI can't replace 27:34 – The hard truth agencies need to face right now

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Drew McLellan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewmclellan | https://agencymanagementinstitute.com

Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care.

In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with communication expert, keynote speaker, and ADHD advocate Dave Delaney to unpack what great communication actually looks like inside growing organizations. From the early startup days at Emma and Griffin Technology to coaching leaders at some of the world's biggest companies, Dave shares hard-earned lessons about culture, collaboration, and building teams that truly connect.

The conversation also dives deep into Dave's personal ADHD diagnosis later in life and how it reshaped the way he approaches work, leadership, productivity, and self-awareness. Together, Mark and Dave explore communication breakdowns, workplace culture, employee retention, dopamine-driven behavior, and why understanding your own operating system may be the key to unlocking your strengths.

00:01 — Dave shares how networking in Nashville led him to Emma and the early startup scene 00:06 — Discovering communication as the foundation of his career and coaching work 00:12 — A workshop exercise that transformed collaboration and boosted sales inside a tech company 00:18 — How poor communication creates "turnover contagion" inside organizations 00:23 — Why "stay interviews" can dramatically improve employee retention and culture 00:37 — Dave explains how being diagnosed with ADHD at 50 changed his perspective on work and life 00:44 — Why Dave believes ADHD is not a superpower without support, access, and privilege

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Dave Delaney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davedelaney | https://davedelaney.me Listen to Dave's podcast, ADHD Wise Squirrels: https://wisesquirrels.com/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care.

In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with entrepreneur and investor Mark Montgomery to unpack a career shaped by risk, reinvention, and hard-earned perspective.

From quitting his job on the spot to build a competing business, to scaling Echo Music into a major player and eventually exiting, Mark shares the raw realities behind building something from nothing.

But this conversation goes deeper than business. Mark reflects on personal loss, fatherhood, and how sitting with life's hardest moments reshaped his definition of success. The result is a grounded, honest look at entrepreneurship, not just as a pursuit of growth, but as a vehicle for meaning, resilience, and impact.

Timestamps: 00:16 – "I never give up": fighting for what you've earned 01:03 – Realizing entrepreneurship was the only path 02:58 – Quitting on the spot and starting from scratch 06:22 – Discovering the power of the internet early 13:38 – How loss reshaped priorities and perspective 16:13 – The true mindset of an entrepreneur 49:26 – Why nothing really matters—and why that's freeing

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/

Connect With Mark Montgomery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hellomarko/ | https://www.hellomarko.com/

Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/

Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/

#TheSparkPodcast #Marketing #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #Leadership #CreativeJourney

From writing the jingles you can't get out of your head to scaling agencies nationwide, Tom Woodard has done it all. Now, he's on a mission to disrupt the creative status quo with The Ability Machine.

In this episode, Mark Scrivner talks with Tom about his shift from building businesses to building a movement, creating a studio where neurodiversity and disability are the catalysts for better work.

For agency owners and builders, this is a masterclass in leadership, purpose, and the power of radical inclusion.

Timestamped Highlights:

00:00 – Tom's journey from jingles to advertising career beginnings

02:23 – Creating the iconic Budweiser frogs campaign

05:24 – The origin story behind The Ability Machine

07:56 – Why agencies struggle to adopt inclusive creative models

10:18 – Rethinking productivity and collaboration with disabilities

15:32 – How the mission reshaped Tom's definition of success

27:29 – Advice for young creatives: answering the call and knowing your audience

Learn More & Connect:

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/

Connect With Tom Woodard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-woodard-b347673/ | https://theabilitymachine.com/

Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health

Our Sponsor - https://snapshot.agency/health

In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with digital music entrepreneur John Bolton to unpack a career built on identifying paradigm shifts before they become obvious. From pioneering early mobile music streaming to helping launch TikTok globally, John shares what it takes to build products and platforms that reshape industries.

The conversation explores how AI is transforming work, why industries resist automation, and how Super Hi-Fi is bringing personality and intelligence back into audio through AI-powered radio. This is a practical, forward-looking conversation for anyone navigating rapid change in technology, media, and business.

Timestamps: 00:00 – John's journey from music streaming to AI innovation 00:48 – Building an early mobile music service before Spotify 02:08 – Flippagram's rise and ByteDance acquisition 07:20 – Inside TikTok's early strategy and algorithm 15:06 – Why TikTok is built for entertainment 21:39 – Reinventing radio with AI at Super Hi-Fi 30:21 – AI agents and the future of work

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With John Bolton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbbolton/ | https://www.superhifi.com/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode of The Spark, Katie Stix—Partner and Design Director at Anderson Design Studio—shares her journey from unpaid intern to firm owner, offering a grounded look at what it takes to build a lasting career in design. She unpacks how creativity, persistence, and strong client relationships shape both her work and leadership style.

Katie dives into the balance between honoring history and embracing modern design, the details that make or break a space, and why excitement and conviction are essential when pushing creative boundaries. She also explores how AI is influencing the industry—and why human expertise is more valuable than ever.

Whether you're a creative professional, business owner, or someone passionate about design, this episode offers practical insights on leadership, collaboration, and creating work that stands the test of time.

Timestamps: 00:00 – Using excitement and confidence to win client buy-in 01:07 – Katie's journey from intern to owning the firm 06:19 – Why Nashville's creative energy shaped her career 11:08 – Balancing historic preservation with modern design 17:29 – Why lighting is the most overlooked design detail 25:13 – Leadership lessons: staying calm under pressure 29:00 – AI in design and why human expertise still matters

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Katie Stix: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-stix-70982122/ | https://andersondesignstudio.com Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

What does it take to build brands that truly connect with consumers while still delivering measurable business results?

In this episode of The Spark, host Mark Scrivner sits down with Tricia Nichols—founder of Wellbent Co and a seasoned marketing executive whose career spans brands like Gap, Estée Lauder, PepsiCo, and Belk. Tricia shares insights from both the agency and brand side, exploring how the most successful marketing strategies balance creativity, data, and deep consumer understanding.

The conversation dives into how marketers can uncover new growth opportunities, why agencies lose trust with clients faster than they realize, and how emerging wellness trends are shaping the future of consumer experiences. From brand bonding frameworks to the growing non-alcoholic market, Tricia offers a practical perspective on building brands that resonate and endure.

Episode Highlights

00:23 — How brands can create experiences that trigger natural wellness and emotional connection 03:41 — The inspiration behind Wellbent Co and the idea of "hellbent on wellness" 11:27 — Tricia's "brand bonding" approach for stretching brands into new growth areas 16:50 — Why agencies lose trust when they stop investigating problems 32:18 — Emerging wellness trends shaping the future of food and consumer behavior 33:39 — Why the non-alcoholic beverage movement is a massive opportunity for brands

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Tricia Nichols: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricianichols/ | https://www.wellbentco.com Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with Trevor Emerson, Founder & CEO of LSM, to unpack what it really takes to build and scale an agency over two decades. From launching at a kitchen table with no experience to leading a nationally recognized franchise marketing firm, Trevor shares the hard lessons, pivotal relationships, and strategic pivots that shaped his journey.

They dive into niching down into franchising, surviving multimillion-dollar client losses, navigating acquisitions, and why return on investment—not vanity metrics—must anchor every agency relationship. Trevor also breaks down how AI, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and operational tech are reshaping both marketing and the franchise model itself.

If you're an agency owner, creative entrepreneur, or growth-focused leader, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, evolution, and disciplined scaling.

Key Moments: 00:10 – From education degree to selling Google Ads in 2006 06:28 – The pivot into franchise marketing and scalable growth 11:10 – Why employees aren't your best friends—and what leadership really means 27:06 – Losing multimillion-dollar clients overnight and navigating agency volatility 29:17 – Making ROI the center of every franchise pitch 32:50 – SEO vs. GEO: How AI is reshaping content and search strategy 40:49 – Moving beyond leads: Helping franchisees optimize operations with AI

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Trevor Emerson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevoremerson/ | https://www.lsm.works/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode of The Spark, actor, writer, producer, director, and voiceover artist D.B. Sweeney joins host Mark Scrivner for a wide-ranging conversation about building a lasting creative career with intention, humility, and grit. From his unlikely start at NYU to starring in landmark films like The Cutting Edge, Eight Men Out, and Lonesome Dove, Sweeney reflects on the moments that shaped both his craft and his character.

The conversation also dives into Sweeney's newest film, Protector, an action thriller hitting theaters soon, and what it's like to prepare for roles today with less runway but deeper instinct. Along the way, he shares powerful lessons from working with legends like James Earl Jones, discusses why he continues to make independent films, and explains how creative work can be a form of service—especially to veterans and underserved communities.

Episode Highlights

• 02:57 – Choosing acting "because it seemed easy" and getting into NYU

• 05:39 – Francis Ford Coppola, Gardens of Stone, and the break that changed everything

• 09:04 – Inside Protector: story, cast, and why the film feels different

• 14:12 – How role preparation has changed over a 40-year career

• 18:16 – James Earl Jones and the power of simply showing up

• 21:00 – Making films for people Hollywood often overlooks

• 45:55 – Advice for young creatives: stop waiting, start making

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With D.B. Sweeney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-b-sweeney-b436b513/ | https://www.dbsweeney.com/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode of The Spark, host Mark Scrivner sits down with Sam Davidson, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, to explore what truly makes an entrepreneurial ecosystem thrive. From launching multiple ventures to leading one of the city's most impactful founder communities, Sam shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, generosity, and building businesses that matter.

Sam reflects on his journey as a four-time entrepreneur, including founding and scaling Batch, navigating pivots and acquisitions, and ultimately stepping into a role that allows him to support thousands of founders across Nashville. Along the way, he breaks down what separates ideas from action, why community is a competitive advantage, and how entrepreneurs can increase their odds of success.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Why Nashville's songwriting culture shaped its collaborative business mindset

• 01:32 – Sam's entrepreneurial journey and early career lessons

• 08:11 – Pivoting from ideas to real businesses and following customer demand

• 18:51 – Scaling Batch, surviving COVID, and leading through uncertainty

• 25:46 – Rethinking who entrepreneurship support is really for

• 34:26 – The two traits that determine whether founders have a real shot

Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Sam Davidson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdavidson/ | https://www.ec.co Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com