IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is Brett Farmiloe, CEO of Featured, who explores the link between earned media and AI visibility. Discover why Featured acquired Help A Reporter Out (HARO), how to unlock internal subject matter experts, and why human-written pitches perform three times better than AI-generated ones. Brett explains how public relations drives generative search results and shares practical ways to use AI co-pilots without sacrificing authentic human authority.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Katie King, CEO of AI in Business, discusses the all-new, second edition of her book, "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing". Discover how brands can move from AI experimentation to scaled transformation by prioritizing strategy over technology. Katie explains the importance of consent-first, ambient personalization and how ethical AI acts as a trust multiplier rather than a cost center. Listen now to learn how to implement Katie's AI Playbook framework and prepare for Agentic AI.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: World-renowned architect Alexander Josephson, co-founder of PARTISANS, discusses his approach to retail architecture as brand strategy. The physical space a customer enters is the most concentrated expression of a brand. Discover why separating architecture and marketing budgets damages credibility. From Bar Raval to Union Station, learn how treating store environments as brand infrastructure shapes customer behavior, builds authentic connections, and drives commercial success.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Daniela Bolzmann, founder of Mindful Goods and the Design Proof Substack, explores how data-driven creative optimization transforms e-commerce conversions. Drawing from over 1,000 consumer polls, Daniela shares how Amazon split testing, A+ Content, and main image tweaks reveal what shoppers actually want. Discover how to bridge the say-do gap, leverage AI for data analysis, and build a repeatable experimentation practice that converts testing into predictable sales lifts.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Park Howell, founder of Business of Story, and author of "Brand Bewitchery," explores the DNA of brand storytelling. Discover why narrative clarity must precede the creative brief and how to use the 10-step Story Cycle System™ to build compelling messaging. Park explains the AND, BUT, THEREFORE (ABT) framework, why brands must make the customer the hero, and how the StoryCycle Genie™ uses AI to elevate brand narratives rather than flattening them into "a sea of sameness."

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week, Melissa Swift, author of "Effective: How to Do Great Work in a Fast-Changing World," explores the modern reality of work intensification. Discover why today's workplace mirrors the early Industrial Revolution and how the "curse of competence" impacts top performers. Melissa shares actionable strategies to navigate complex interdependence, manage AI anxiety, and build team effectiveness. Learn why hope is a vital leadership skill in a fast-changing world.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Columbia Business School professor Paul Ingram explains why shared values are the most powerful force in authentic brand-consumer relationships. Drawing from his book, "What Do You Really Stand For?", Paul reveals how to uncover core values, apply value homophily for consumer segmentation, and the benefits of aligning internal culture with external messaging. Learn practical frameworks to build strong, resilient brands rooted in genuine human connection and intrinsic motivation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Visha Kudhail is the author of our featured book for August: "Authentic Marketing." In this episode, Visha explains why authenticity should be an always-on operating model, not a social media trend. As AI content floods feeds, consumers crave genuine connection. Discover how to move past vanity metrics, turn data into real human insight, and embrace brand flaws. Hear how authentic marketing builds measurable competitive advantage and lasting trust in an era of digital fatigue.