AI in sales and marketing isn’t about replacing people: it’s about amplifying them.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Joe Apfelbaum, Founder of evyAI and CEO of Ajax Union, to unpack what it really takes to scale authentic relationships in the age of AI.

Joe shares his journey from building 100+ websites a year, to scaling Ajax Union into one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., to creating evyAI...now powering 20,000+ users across 37 countries. Along the way, we dig into:

• 🚀 Why authenticity (not automation) is the real differentiator in AI
• 🧠 How evyAI helps turn LinkedIn into a revenue channel without turning you into a robot
• 🌍 Building a global SaaS product from scratch (and why it almost broke him)
• 🤝 The future of community-driven growth, leadership, and personal branding

💬 Want to see evyAI in action? Text DEMO to 973-841-8868 and get firsthand access.

🔗 Connect with Joe:

• LinkedIn: Joe Apfelbaum
• evyAI: app.evyai.com
• Ajax Union: ajaxunion.com

✨ Catch every episode here: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

Most companies pour money into marketing without connecting it to revenue. Jason Kramer, Founder & CEO of Cultivize, shows how to turn CRM, lead scoring, and simple attribution into hard ROI...and why many campaigns should be trimmed, not scaled.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a 25-year roofing company cut ~$50k in wasted ad spend by tracking every channel (QRs, call prompts, landing pages) and tying it back to sales activity.
• “Hand raisers,” lead scoring, and seeing buying signals in real time (opens, site visits, video views).
• Why most teams fail CRM roll-outs, and the fast path to a functional build in 4–6 weeks.
• How agencies white-label CRM services to protect LTV, conversion, and retention.

Connect with Jason

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleighkramer/
• Cultivize: https://cultivize.com/

Subscribe and find more episodes: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com/

Most entrepreneurs feel the pressure to run ads before they’ve built a foundation. Abu Kamara, Co-Founder of Green Zone Solutions, took a different path. In just 18 months, he built a consulting business around sustainability, logistics, and operational performance - all through relationships, referrals, and trust, not ad spend.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Green Zone went from wide-net consulting to honing in on manufacturing and distribution niches.
• Why referrals and word-of-mouth still outpace cold ads in today’s noisy market.
• The systems Abu is putting in place to make referrals predictable and scalable.
• The biggest misconceptions about “slow growth” and what it really takes to build traction.

💡 For any founder wondering if they have to pour cash into ads right away, this conversation will reset your mindset.

👉 Connect with Abu:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abubakarrkamara

Green Zone Solutions: gzsolutions.co

🎧 Explore all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

The AI wave is reshaping industries faster than most leaders can process. Few people have navigated it from as many angles as Mike Todasco, former Head of Innovation at PayPal, Visiting Fellow at the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence at San Diego State University, and holder of 100+ patents.

In this Exclusive Drop episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, host Adam W. Barney and Mike dig into:

• The real implications of AI for human creativity
• How corporate innovation at PayPal informs the future of AI adoption
• Why today’s students at SDSU might hold the most accurate lens on what’s coming
• The hard truths marketing leaders must face if they want to stay relevant

If you’ve ever wondered whether AI will kill creativity or ignite it, this conversation gives you the clarity to lead forward.

📨 Connect with Mike Todasco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/

🌐 Learn more about SDSU’s AI initiatives: https://ai.sdsu.edu

🎧 Explore all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

AI that actually delivers.

Vinod Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder of Syntheum AI, joins host Adam W. Barney to talk about clarity, discipline, and why most brands chase paid ads before they’ve earned the right. From building agentic AI tools for merchandisers to pioneering the idea of being “seed-strapped,” Vinod shares how founders can scale smarter without burning budgets.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we cover:

• How AI merchandising agents are changing the way e-commerce brands work
• Why being “seed-strapped” forces clarity and better decisions
• The case for organic momentum before paid ads (and why shortcuts stall growth)
• How Syntheum’s AVA audit tool reveals brand visibility inside AI platforms
• Why long-term trust and brand presence will outlast today’s quick-fix ad hacks

If you’ve ever felt the pull toward shortcuts...or wondered how to future-proof your brand in an AI-driven ad world...this episode is your playbook.

📨 Get in touch with Vinod: vinod@syntheum.ai

🔗 Connect with Vinod: linkedin.com/in/vinodkumar-ai/

🌐 Learn more: syntheum.ai

🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

Forget vanity metrics. Noel Geer, CEO & Founder of Connected Interactive, joins host Adam W. Barney to reveal why most brands are wasting money chasing CPMs and ROAS...and how focusing on lifetime value unlocks real, lasting growth.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:

• Why 84% of purchases still happen offline - and how to tie them back to digital
• The hidden cost of ad fraud (and how to filter it out before you spend a dime)
• What happens when you prioritize quality audiences over inflated reach
• Why lifetime value is the only metric worth obsessing over

If you’re tired of chasing impressions that don’t convert and want a smarter way forward, this one’s for you.

📨 Get in touch with Noel: noelg@connectedinteractive.com

🔗 Connect with Noel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-geer-98855915/

🌐 Learn more about Connected Interactive: https://connectedinteractive.com/

🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

Forget paid tricks. Priyanka Mishra, Business Head of Fuzia Talent, joins host Adam W. Barney to break down how she scaled a global, women-led platform to over 10 million users - without relying on gimmicks or inflated metrics.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:

• Building emotional trust in a data-obsessed ecosystem
• How Fuzia empowers creators across 35+ countries
• Why most ad impressions aren’t worth what you think
• What EQ + community storytelling can do that paid ads never will

If you’re tired of clickbait and craving real results, this one’s for you.

📨 Get in touch with Priyanka: priyanka.m@fuzia.com

🔗 Follow Priyanka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyankasayshi/

🌐 Learn more about Fuzia Talent: https://www.fuziatalent.com/

🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

“AI without strategy is chaos.”

Lucy Wang, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocketflows, joins me for a straight-talking breakdown of what’s real in small business marketing today. From funnel nightmares to the trap of instant gratification, Lucy calls out the shortcuts that sabotage founders—and shows us what sustainable growth really takes.

Inside this episode, we dig into:

• 🚦 Why “cookie-cutter” AI marketing fails small businesses.
• 🧩 The hidden costs of shortcut thinking (spam, over-automation, blind ROAS chasing).
• 📈 The smarter path: building loyalty, visibility, and a repeatable flow for growth.
• 💡 Real stories of how businesses can ditch chaos and unlock clarity.

Lucy’s approach is sharp, practical, and refreshingly human. If you’ve ever wondered why your ads aren’t working, or why growth feels stuck in neutral, this is your blueprint for cutting through the noise.

👉 Connect with Lucy Wang:

• Pocketflows
• Lucy on LinkedIn
• 📧 lucy@pocketflows.com

🎙️ Subscribe to Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? for more no-fluff conversations on what’s real (and what’s just noise).