Forget retainers and bloated decks: Dana Hork is building a better agency model from the ground up. In this episode, the Beers with Friends founder shares how productized services, sprint-based delivery, and brand clarity are reshaping the agency world. You’ll learn why mind reading is for suckers, what a “beer run” is in marketing, and how to get marketers and founders to finally speak the same language.

You’ll hear:

• Why trust and collaboration beat the black-box agency mode

• How to talk to your founder without reading their mind

• Why marketers should fall in love with the problem, not the solution

• What it means to build brand from the inside out
  
  

If you're tired of bloated campaigns, vague retainers, or founder-marketer misalignment, this episode will feel like a crisp, cold one at the end of a long sprint. Cheers.

In this episode, Jake Goldman, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at Beta Technologies, shares how his team communicates credibility in the high-stakes world of electric aviation. “This isn’t an app,” he explains—it’s about putting people in planes, managing regulators, and proving the tech works. Jake covers how public affairs, lean teams, and political comms experience shape the strategy, and why the press release is just the last part of the story.

Join us for this fascinating conversation about the intersection of breakthrough technology and strategic communications with one of the industry's rising communications leaders.

Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

Sabra Willner brings decades of experience across agencies, Fortune 500s, and startups into one of the most dynamic interviews of the series. She breaks down the role of marketing not just as a growth engine, but as a driver of business transformation. From customer advisory boards to brand mascots to the underutilized power of BDRs, Sabra explains how strategic creativity and close collaboration across teams can set startups apart—without blowing their budget. Her episode is packed with actionable insights and controversial takes sure to get you thinking about your own brand strategy.

In this episode, Genean Jones lays down a masterclass in modern go-to-market (GTM) strategy. Drawing from her deep experience in startups and Fortune 50s alike, she defines GTM not as a marketing function or a sales plan, but as a strategic machine that unites product, sales, marketing, customer success, and finance. She emphasizes that post-sale growth is often the most overlooked opportunity in a startup’s revenue strategy—and explains why marketers must not just embrace data, but speak the language of finance to prove their value. Whether she’s talking about putting CS under marketing or why she’d hire a strategist over a CMO at Series B, Genean challenges outdated org structures with sharp, cross-functional insights.

Wade Prince never planned on becoming a marketer. As the Chief Market Intelligence Officer at The Gormley Group, a consultancy specializing in helping companies land federal contracts, Wade found himself unexpectedly leading the marketing charge. With no formal marketing background, he bootstrapped a strategy from scratch in a traditionally marketing-averse industry. In this episode, he opens up about educating internal stakeholders, building visibility in a niche market, and learning to attribute impact even when ROI is tough to track.

Wade’s story is a case study in grassroots marketing leadership. From launching SEO and LinkedIn campaigns to creating testimonial videos in an industry that values confidentiality, he shares real talk on what it takes to build credibility and drive results in government contracting.

Michael Veras Mora, founder and CEO of digital agency Yellow Lion, unpacks how branding, websites, and collaboration need to function as living systems. Drawing from his roots in fashion and his experience leading branding and web projects for clients like Hello Sunshine and NYU, he challenges the static approach to web development and calls for cross-functional clarity. This episode is a crash course in how marketers—and their agencies—can better partner to build tools that evolve alongside the business, not just aesthetic statements.

SUM Disruptors co-host, Heidi Keele, joined the podcast from the other side of the table this week. She sat down with Mack McKelvey for a candid conversation about how her strengths and passions have shaped her career. By being true to herself she’s been able to navigate challenges throughout her journey while doing incredible, fulfilling work as a marketer and entrepreneur. Whether you are new to marketing, or shaping the latter half of your career, this episode is a great listen.

Heidi is also a prominent voice and trusted expert in the Startup Marketerer community. Learn more about the Startup Marketer here: https://thestartupmarketer.com/

In this episode, Brian O’Shaughnessy, a seasoned communications strategist with roots in both massive corporations and early-stage startups, shares why storytelling is not just a marketing tool. It's a foundational element of business strategy. With decades of experience across Google, VeriSign, Skype, and startups alike, Brian emphasizes that the best storytelling begins internally. He unpacks how narrative clarity can build internal alignment, drive brand trust, and become a lever for long-term differentiation.

Brian also explores how the media landscape has shifted—no longer dictated by traditional press but by communities, Substacks, Discords, and decentralized influence. The conversation spans tactical lessons for founders, philosophical takes on authenticity, and the exciting frontier of AI-powered creativity. As Brian says, “Authenticity isn't a tone—it's the truth well told."