In this episode of Marketing Spotlight, host Alison Ver Halen talks with Andrew Gottlieb, CEO and founder of No Typical Moments, a digital marketing agency serving e-learning organizations and B2B tech companies. Andrew shares how a winding path through Wall Street internships and political campaigns led him to marketing — and how door-to-door canvassing taught him lessons about permission-based marketing that still shape his work today.

The conversation covers the origin of "No Typical Moments" (pulled from a line in Dan Millman's Way of the Peaceful Warrior), Andrew's early entrepreneurial instincts, and the deal-making energy that still drives him 13 years into running his agency. Alison and Andrew also dig deep into AI's growing role in marketing — from AI video tools cutting a 7-10-hour content workflow down to under an hour, to the ongoing question of whether AI agents could someday threaten the agency model itself. They close with a candid discussion of why cheap creative work often costs more in the long run, and what actually separates good AI-assisted content from the flood of generic output.

In this episode:

• How a chain email about a podcast in 2011 sparked Andrew's interest in marketing
• What door-to-door political canvassing taught him about permission-based marketing
• The story behind the name "No Typical Moments"
• His biggest entrepreneurial near miss (almost booking Wiz Khalifa for a college show)
• What he loves — and doesn't love — about running an agency
• Where AI is genuinely changing marketing workflows, and where human strategy still wins
• Why the cheapest creative option often isn't the cheapest in the end

Connect with Andrew: notypicalmoments.com | LinkedIn: Andrew Gottlieb

Connect with Alison: avwritingservices.com | LinkedIn: Alison Ver Halen

About Andrew

Andrew Gottlieb is the Founder & CEO at No Typical Moments (NTM), a highly specialized digital marketing agency that works exclusively with purpose-driven and social impact focused businesses to collectively advance humanity as a California Benefit Corporation. Our talented team members are passionate about issues like climate change, personal development, gender equality and animal welfare among others. When Andrew isn’t working, he enjoys hiking, running, playing soccer and tennis, practicing Muay-Thai and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What if the words you use to talk about your business were quietly working against you? In this episode of Marketing Spotlight, host Alison Ver Halen sits down with portrait photographer Meka Hammonds of Spider Meka Portraits for a conversation that goes way beyond photography.

Meka shares her journey from nearly a decade behind the scenes at The Oprah Show — where she spent her days retouching celebrities to fit an impossible standard of "perfect" — to building a portrait business rooted in the opposite idea: that people are already enough exactly as they are. She opens up about the origin of her brand name, the childhood memory that inspired it, and why she deliberately avoids words like "headshot" and "shoot" in favor of language that feels safe rather than violent.

Alison and Meka also dig into what makes a portrait session with Meka feel more like therapy than a photoshoot, why luxury is about experience and trust rather than price, and how showing up authentically — messy desk and all — beats the polished, filtered version every time on social media.

In this episode:

• How an unexpected layoff became the push Meka needed to start her own business
• The story behind the "Spider Meka" name
• Why the language of photography ("shoot," "capture," "headshot") can make people feel unsafe — and what to say instead
• What actually happens in a portrait session built on trust and vulnerability
• Why "imperfect" social posts often outperform polished ones

Connect with Meka: spiderMeka.com | Podcast: Strings of Silk

Connect with Alison: avwritingservices.com | info@avwritingservices.com

About Meka:

Internationally recognized portrait photographer “Spider” Meka Hemmons wields her camera like a heart surgeon’s scalpel, revealing deep truths, disrupting what we think about the beauty industry, and changing belief systems behind what we see in the mirror. With 25 years of experience in communication, branding, and human studies, Meka moved from A-list celebrity retouching into building a platform of artistry, education, consulting, and speaking to help everyday people celebrate their natural attributes and prove that beauty is more than skin-deep.

AI Companion Accuracy and Branding Journey
Karrie is the owner of Karrie Belle Designs, a full-service branding agency that helps clients with visual communications, brand setup, and communication style across various platforms.

Consistent Branding for Emotional Connection
Karrie discusses her transition from corporate to smaller businesses, emphasizing the importance of consistency in branding. She explains that a brand is an emotional connection with people, influenced by various touchpoints such as website, marketing material, and social media interactions. Karrie stresses the need for a consistent brand voice and visual representation, like a logo, which should be simple, readable, and adaptable to different contexts. She advises against quick logo creation, emphasizing the importance of a deep understanding of the brand before designing a logo.

Consistent Brand Image and AI
We discusse the importance of maintaining a consistent brand image. Karrie emphasizes the need to avoid AI-regurgitated logos and instead opt for custom designs. She also highlights the importance of building a team of trusted professionals who understand the brand and can help with various aspects of branding. We also discuss the potential pitfalls of using AI for branding, such as the need for training and refining the model. We also talked about the importance of investing time in defining a brand's identity to ensure long-term success.

Podcasting and Authentic Video Content
We even discuss the importance of branding and visual content in podcasting! Karrie shares her expertise on branding and encourages others to start using video content, even if they're initially uncomfortable showing their faces.

About Karrie:

KarrieBelle Designs is a branding and marketing consultancy specializing in branding, brand strategy, social media content, and design. We help businesses create a cohesive identity across digital and print platforms, ensuring their messaging aligns with their core values and resonates with their audience. Our services include brand audits, content creation, digital skills coaching, and strategy development. With over eight years of experience, we work with businesses to refine their brand presence, improve visibility, and drive meaningful engagement.

Where to follow Karrie:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karrie-pittman/
https://karriebelledesigns.com/