What Makes a Marketing Agency Worth Trusting?

A Candid Conversation with Jordan West

I’ve been wanting to have this conversation for a long time.

Jordan West is someone I’ve known of for years - and recently reconnected with through LinkedIn. He’s worn many hats but is currently the CEO of Social Commerce Club, the founder of UpGrowth Commerce, host of the Secrets to Scaling podcast, and someone who has built brands from scratch, scaled them with heart, and never shied away from honest conversations about what’s working - and what’s absolutely not - in marketing today.

This episode? It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s packed with the kind of truth that doesn’t always make it into marketing conversations.

🎯 Here’s what we get into:

• Why so many agencies suck - and what trust really looks like in this space

• The moment Jordan realized how broken most client-agency relationships are

• What internal teams really need to hear right now (especially if they’re overwhelmed or burned out)

• How we’ve both failed forward - and what those moments taught us

• What to look for if you’re trying to find an agency that won’t ghost, overpromise, or leave you stranded

We don’t hold back. We talk candidly about lessons learned, what we’d do differently, and how small businesses and internal teams can protect themselves from empty promises and recycled strategies.

Jordan’s story - from buying a Taco Del Mar franchise at 22 to building one of the top 10 baby brands in Canada with his wife - is just one part of what makes him such a valuable voice. He gets it. He’s been on both sides. And his insights are gold for anyone trying to figure out who to trust with their brand.

📍This one’s for the marketers who’ve been burned, the business owners who’ve felt ghosted, and the creatives who just want to do meaningful work without all the BS.

🎧 Hit play now. You’ll walk away with real talk, not just tactics.

💥 If this episode gave you something to think about, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💌 Want to be a guest? Have a future episode idea? Or want me on your podcast? I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at borck@theog.co.

🔗 You can find Jordan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-west-marketer/

And connect with me, Matt Borck, right here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattborck/

🎙️ The Marketing Mirror Podcast is proudly presented by the brilliant team at One Group Agency. If you’re serious about marketing that actually connects - check us out at TheOG.co

Reclaiming Creativity: How Optimism Can Save Your Marketing Team

With guest: Tiana Langedyk, Digital Marketing Specialist at Okanagan College

Let’s be honest - marketing teams are tired. Creative energy is getting drained. And in a world that pushes for “faster, cheaper, more,” optimism feels like a luxury.

But what if optimism isn’t fluff?

What if it’s the exact tool we need to protect creativity, lead with courage, and actually build a team that wants to keep creating?

This episode is a real conversation - honest, reflective, and human. I’m joined by the incredibly thoughtful Tiana Langedyk, and we talk about what it actually looks like to reclaim creativity on the inside of marketing teams.

Here’s what we get into:

✅ Tiana’s unforgettable story about her grandmother and how it shaped her view of optimism

✅ The pressure to perform in environments where creativity is crushed

✅ Why silence from your team isn’t always a good thing - and what leaders need to pay attention to

✅ How optimism can change culture - not just mood

✅ Practical insights for small business owners, team leaders, and anyone trying to keep the spark alive

🎯 One of the moments that really hit me was around silence.

As a leader, it’s easy to think a quiet team means things are good. But Tiana reminded me - that’s not always true. Sometimes silence means people have stopped feeling safe enough to speak.

This episode is for anyone navigating hard environments, anyone who feels like they’re constantly pushing uphill, and anyone who’s trying to lead (or just survive) with heart.

🛠️ Optimism isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about finding a way forward that honors your people.

And after this conversation, I truly believe it can save more than just our creativity - it can save the relationships behind the work.

🎧 Hit play now. This one’s worth your time.

🔥 If this episode gave you something to think about, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💌 Want to be a guest or have an idea for a future episode? I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at borck@theog.co or on Linkedin

Tiana Langedyk on LinkedIn

🎙️ The Marketing Mirror Podcast is proudly presented by the brilliant team at One Group Agency. If you’re serious about marketing that deeply and truly connects, check them out at TheOG.co

AI is everywhere. It’s powerful. It’s efficient. But is it changing your brand’s voice?

Be honest: when was the last time you read a brand’s post and thought,

💭 “Wow. That actually speaks to me.”

Can’t remember? You’re not alone.

🔹 Here’s the hard truth:

AI-generated content is EVERYWHERE. And while AI is an incredible tool, brands are falling into the trap of outsourcing their voice to machines. The result? A sea of content that sounds the same—polished, structured, and utterly forgettable.

🚨 The problem?
More content ≠ better content. More connection = better content.

When brands lose their authentic voice, they lose the only thing that truly builds trust, connection, and loyalty.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

🔢 How AI is creating an authenticity crisis (and why audiences are tuning out)
🔢 Why brands are prioritizing speed over strategy—and how it’s killing engagement
🔢 The biggest mistake brands make when using AI for content (spoiler: it’s not what you think)
🔢 How to reclaim your brand’s voice while STILL using AI as a tool
🔢 3 simple, powerful strategies to make your content feel real, human, and authentic

🚀 Want to stand out in an AI-driven world?

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a practical, no-BS roadmap to keep AI working for you - without letting it steal what makes your brand you.

👀 PLUS: The shocking thing real prompt engineers say you’re doing wrong (hint: your AI prompts are WAY too short). I am not sure if Long prompts mean better prompts - and I talk about that in the episode. :)

🎡 The Challenge:

This week, audit your content. Does it actually sound like YOU? If not, it’s time to take your voice back.

🎧 Hit play now - because your brand’s voice is too important to lose.

🔥 If this episode gave you something to think about, share it with someone who needs to hear it!

💡 Got thoughts, feedback, or want to be a guest? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at borck@theog.co.

🎧 The Marketing Mirror Podcast is proudly presented by the brilliant team at One Group Agency. If you’re serious about marketing that deeply and truly connects, check them out at TheOG.co.