From Ministry to Marketing with Jeremy LaDuke

"Don't give up. The world needs what you're building." Michael Dargie connects with Jeremy LaDuke, founder of Epic Nine and author of Climb, for a conversation about marketing, reinvention, and what it means to find purpose after leaving everything behind. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Jeremy opens up about transitioning from ministry into the creative business world—with nothing but his design skills and a Craigslist hustle. From freelancing to founding an agency, he's built his career helping small businesses get a grip on marketing and grow without getting scammed. He also shares the story behind his book Climb, a hybrid of business strategy and narrative fiction that gives business owners a step-by-step roadmap to smarter branding and community engagement. This episode is for rebels building the thing that doesn't yet exist—and doing it with heart, hustle, and a view of the Smokies. Quotable Quotes "Hope is what moves the world forward." "Design was the only marketable skill I had after ministry."  "Don't give up. The world needs what you're building." "If you're forgettable, you're wasting your money." "Marketing is about empathy. Full stop." Episode Highlights Craigslist Hustle | Freelance gigs and building a business From Ministry to Marketing | A leap of faith and strategy Epic Nine Origins | Serving businesses under $1M in revenue Writing Climb | A practical guide wrapped in a fictional story Marketing Myths | The truth about SEO, badges, and BS Smoky Mountains | Hiking, waterfalls, and perspective Classic Ride | His pristine 1983 F-150 gets street cred Nerd Alert | Chess club president and sci-fi aficionado Netflix Pick | The Peripheral and quantum mechanics Rebels in Waiting | Your hope is your strategy—don't quit LINKS FROM EPISODE The Climb Book + Community (theclimb.guide) Jeremy on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jeremyladuke) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com