Go Fungal

Brands are fighting harder than ever to break through a congested landscape. Matt sits down with guest Michael Shmarak to unpack how creative PR, timing, and human connection helped revive the historic Smith Brothers cough drop brand and turn it into a national retail success story. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes thinking that helped transform Smith Brothers from a forgotten legacy brand into a product carried in over 42,000 stores across the US and Canada. Michael explains how great marketing happens when brands tap into emotion, personality, and culture—not just product features.  What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why personality and storytelling matter more than product specs in marketing  - How Michael took a cultural moment from the Chicago Blackhawks and leveraged it into a success campaign.  - Why human connection still beats technology when it comes to building trust and brand loyalty  - Michael’s perspective on “moments-based marketing” and creating cultural relevance in real time Check out Michael on LinkedIn!

As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, it’s also quietly changing how people learn to do the work in the first place. Matt sits down with Antonio Garcia to unpack a growing concern: AI may be accelerating output, but it’s also threatening the job experience that junior professionals need to advance.   Drawing from his own experience, he breaks down what actually makes a great mentor, and how intentional guidance can be career defining. In an attempt to bridge the generational gap, Antonio has helped start a mentorship program, Strength in Numbers. It’s a Chicago based group focusing on senior professionals taking accountability for young people's progress.     What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why AI may be limiting early-career, on-the-job learning opportunities - The key traits that separate good mentors from great ones - How mentorship can be the defining factor in a young professional's careers.   Check out Antonio on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/amgarcia/ Don't forget to check out Strength in Numbers below.  https://strengthinnumbers.cargo.site/

With the rise of AI tools changing how buyers research, traditional intent-based marketing like Google Ads is losing its edge. Matt travels to Milwaukee to sit down with guest Steve Robinson, a B2B marketing strategist.  Steve discusses why B2B marketers need to return to fundamental branding and audience building to cut through the increasing noise of AI. To help marketing leaders adapt, Steve has developed Path3. This platform empowers B2B marketers to execute self-service advertising across multiple channels without needing deep technical expertise in each individual platform. What you'll learn in this episode:  - Why B2B marketers must shift their focus from catching intent to building an audience. - How Path three allows marketers to push creative out to various platforms and pull metrics back in.  - The growing importance of authentic social proof and a strong brand position in an AI-saturated world.    Check out Steve on Linkedin!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedrobinson/

An effective way for your audience to make sense of what's new is to connect it to what's known. Today, Mike Bechtel is here to teach you techniques to tell better stories. In his work as a futurist, he helps companies understand what's new and next. His strategies include using silence, a three act structure and analogies to stop from just adding to the noise. Stick around to learn how to implement these into your own storytelling.  Learn something new in this week's episode!    Check out Mike on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebechtel/

You’re a Founder who built your agency from the ground up. Congrats on getting this far! The bad news is, what helped you grow, isn’t going to help you scale. At this phase, it’s time to shift priorities, get clearer processes and delegate operations among your Senior people. If stagnancy and heavy workload is bogging you down, Isabelle Papoulias, Head of Operations and Marketing at EliteOps is here to help. With sharp experience as a COO, she’s bringing tips and tricks for getting yourself unstuck while generating lasting improvement with your team. This episode, expand your perspective! Check out Isabelle on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellepapoulias/

Is improv your missing leadership skill? Just ask Marcy Freeman, a Global Marketer with over 20 years of experience. She’s developed brand strategies and product campaigns as an Executive Leader. She's also an avid improver who’s performed with Chicago’s Second City. This episode, Marcy walks us through her journey to becoming a performer, and all the ways it has made her a more active listener, leader and brainstormer. As crazy as it sounds, spontaneity may be the quality your leadership style is desperately lacking. Figure out how to use it this episode! Check out Marcy on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcyefreeman/

In the comms world today, it’s never been harder to stand out. This week, Brooke Kruger of KC Partners is advising you on what interviewers want to hear. Brooke has a variety of interview tips up her sleeve that are going to wow comms leaders. Those include knowing your passions and studying the job you're applying for like you’ve already got it. We give you all that and more this week! Check out Brooke on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brookechilenkruger/ 

You’re the reason your business isn’t growing (and that’s good news). Take it from Brad Farris who has specialized in coaching agency and marketing leaders for 25 years. Brad encourages leaders to slow down, take time to reflect and assess their process before half-hearted productivity. If you feel like there's something standing in the way of you and your vision, you may actually be the answer you’re looking for. Tune in this week for more! Check out Brad on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfarris/

AI is flipping marketing workflow on its head. That’s what Manny Rivera say’s.  He’s led platform transformations for  Coca Cola, Salesforce and Ford Motor Company for over 25 years. Along with how skilled he is in traditional brand functions, he’s guiding his clients into the future on how to integrate AI tools into organizations' everyday operations. His biggest message is the importance of two significant skillsets that are emerging. Learn what they are this episode Check out Manny on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannyrivera1/

Most leaders aren't happy with how they show up during hard conversations with employees. Sondra Imperati, Founder of Persistent Courage, has spent her career guiding leaders in the corporate setting and now through one-on-one coaching, to help them get unstuck. As it turns out, you need to start with your values. Sondra has her own incredible story of leaving her job and marriage in order to pursue a life of persistent courage. In this episode, she teaches us where to start when we're stuck by analyzing your core self.  We dive deeper in this episode!  Find Sondra on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondraimperati/

We live in a digital world. But even the best in-person networkers struggle on LinkedIn. In this episode, we sit down with David J.P. Fisher, a powerful voice in modern sales and the author of Networking in the 21st Century. David walks us through his journey to nailing down social selling and getting started on LinkedIn, the right way. Stick around to find out how networking in the 21st century actually works.Listen to the full episode now!Check out David on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamdfish/

Marketers are struggling with greenwashing and unclear communication when it comes to sustainability marketing. Nancy Himmelfarb tells her clients the solution starts with transparency and credibility. Since starting her sustainability crusade as the first corporate lawyer at Williams & Sonoma, she has dedicated the rest of her career to helping companies do sustainability marketing well. Most recently she spoke at the Chicken Marketing Summit on sustainability in the poultry industry. This week, Nancy will tell you all about that and more.  Check out Nancy on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyhimmelfarb/

Starting in the mailroom is more than some movie stereotype for John Geletka, he’s the guy that actually did it. The founder of Geletka+, a full service creative agency in Chicago, IL knows it takes blood, sweat and tears to create things for a living. From his beginnings as an art student from the South Side to creating campaigns for brands. An unconventional path gave him the tools to build dynamic teams and one hell on an agency from the ground up.In this episode, John is going to tell you how he succeeded. Check out John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngeletka/Also, check out Geletka+https://geletkaplus.com/

If you're an executive who thinks they have all the answers, you’re probably wrong. Debra Ceffalio, Founder of Wildwood Communications has guided Senior Leaders for more than 25 years. According to Debra, the best leaders are less concerned with being right and more concerned with creating connection. Learn how they do it in this episode. Check out Debra on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraceffalio/

One of the job seeker's biggest hurdles is standing out on applications. This week we welcomed Lynn Hazan, a “relationship recruiter” who has spent her career helping her clients best represent themselves. She is a firm believer that it’s not about how often you apply, but where that is going to lead you to your dream role. In this episode Lynn shares her experience in matchmaking applicants to employers and how both sides should be spending their time.  Tune in for advice from a seasoned pro! Check out Lynn on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhazan/

There’s a lot of buzz around one question- “Does AI have what it takes to do my job?”. Annie Rogerson from Artisan Talent had the unique opportunity to test AI capabilities after her copywriter resigned. In this episode we’ll highlight Annie’s experiment using AI as her new copywriter. Her results may shock you, and hopefully soothe that uneasy feeling the question brings. Tune into this episode to learn more! Check out Annie on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/annierogerson/

For marketers, the job search can be a crap shoot. After countless hours chasing job boards and several months applying to random posts, many have nothing to show for it. Ready to stand out from the noise? Marty Gilbert helps candidates land jobs faster by taking a different approach. He shares the play by play on how to do it on this episode!Check out Marty on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/martygilbert/

Did you know that new car smell is bad for you? It’s a result of harmful VOC’s that are being off gassed from manufactured materials. Global Client Success Manager, Leah McInerney is on this week to drop some knowledge on the indivisible dangers of indoor air, and how Allergy Standards Limited is helping manufacturers launch products that support better air quality.  Tune in to hear about that and more! Check out Leah on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcinerneyleah/

Traffic is down but impressions are up. What’s happening with SEO in the world of AI? From theater kid to Digital Third Coast CEO, Lyndsey Maddox shares her story and why ChatGPT acts like an arrogant, people pleasing intern. Tune in for that and more! Check out Lyndsey on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseykramer/

“Salesperson”. A synonym for sleazy, manipulative and… well dressed? Craig Wortmann, is crushing those stereotypes at his company, Sales Engine and as a professor at the Kellogg Sales Institute. He’s on a mission to change the way the world views sales and help your team succeed. What will it take? Craig shares the answers, plus how losing his leg led to helping others build resilience in their lives. Tune in this episode to hear his story! Check out Craig on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigwortmann/

Many smart people are shouting "Search is dead!" but they might not have the whole story. This episode, Andy Crestodina, Co-Founder of Orbit Media, is on to hit you with the facts. We’ll delve into how marketers are adapting to AI. Plus, what does it take to keep and convert your ideal customer on your web page?”.Hear us talk about that and more! Check out Andy on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrestodina/

From selling wooden swords at Renaissance Festivals, to coaching big names on stage, Eva Daniel has taught countless CEOs in public speaking. She understands the high expectations of leaders to present well. With her business, “The Speak Shop” she’s created a playbook to ensure you’ll crush it at the big company speeches, and beyond. Learn how to rise to the occasion and more this episode. Checkout Eva on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-rose-daniel/

Miscommunication within a Fortune 500 can be dangerous. Which begs the question: What makes a good internal communicator? Kaitlyn Pacchini, is a corporate communications leader at McDonald’s and knows a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t. Her secret recipe for success is bringing constant curiosity to every story she tells. Learn what it takes and more in this episode. Check Kaitlyn out on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynpacchini/

Microsoft Social Media Strategist, Chad Israel had no idea the impact a Myspace post would have on his career, or becoming an early adopter of AI. Since then, his creative toolbox has been filling up with the new ways to use AI for social and beyond. He walks us through his journey and sneak peek inside his toolbox.Tune in to hear all about it!Make sure to check out Chad on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadisrael/

”We'll fail a little bit along the way. We'll probably also succeed too.” Tanu unpacks how to recognize when a product launch is failing. The turn around can be tricky. In a world where time and resources are never enough, what's going to get you ahead is ruthless prioritization. We talk about ways to do that and more!Make sure to check out Tanu on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanugrewal/

Are you tracking the right metrics, are you up to date with the latest algorithm changes, and is your social team setup to deliver meaningful ROI? Taylor shares her social media checklist to help you make the right adjustments for the new year. Impress your boss by getting ahead of the curve. Follow social media and marketing expert Taylor Ion on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-marie-ion-82b31961/ 

The U.S. only recycles 47% of their aluminum cans! Which begs the question, how do you get more people recycling? Make a cartoon for kids! Jessica Alexanderson is the president of “Recycling is like Magic” which teaches and inspires kids to recycle through their programs, books and now a cartoon series called Heavy Metal Elementary. And here’s something cool – they got the band Pearl Jam to support it. You can find more of Jessica Alexanderson here on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scubajess/

"If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevancy even less." John Crosby tells it like it is for building materials manufacturers trying to figure out how to bridge the gap between their sales and marketing organizations. We talk about how to gain alignment and break through the noise by truly understanding your target audience. Listen and learn! John Crosby is the VP of sales at SANDOW and they focus on growing top-line revenue from a mix of research/insights, marketing, events, and other services and experiences for the architecture and design community. Follow John on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcrosby4/

You have to check your ego at the door if you want to run a successful Account Based Marketing (ABM) campaign. That's the first thing Hayley Parr told us after her team ran 47 ABM campaigns in a year. She shares what works, what doesn't and how to get everyone to commit. No small task!Follow Hayley on LI 

“This campaign feels like the heartbeat of our entire organization.” Words from a senior leader at Cushman & Wakefield after launching their social selling campaign. Today we're talking with Laurie Hayes and Oliver Arscott and taking you behind the scenes of a campaign that contributed to winning new business, significantly grew social media engagement and helped marketing leaders bring the soul of the organization to life in a new and exciting way.Follow Laurie Hayes and Oliver Arscott on LinkedIn as well as Cushman and Wakefield if you want see the campaign in action.If you're interested in learning how social selling works, check out the program here and take the assessment - https://www.fungimedia.com/social-selling-boot-camp 

Do you have the right agency? And do they make your life easier or are they missing the mark? Speaking of “Marks” today's guest is B2B marketing veteran Mark Joseph who specializes in helping CMOs select their agencies. In this episode, he's sharing the “Dos and Don’ts” of agency partnerships.You can find Mark at: linkedin.com/in/markmjoseph

"We are becoming the cyborgs that 1980s movies talked about." Marketing Technology Strategist Crystal Washington gives us a glimpse into the future of brand marketing. It turns out that brands will have to change their tune if they want to engage their audience. Follow Crystal on LI https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalwashington/

"Why are we not seeing results with our marketing efforts?" It turns out the first place to look is your GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy. According to marketing strategy expert Tom Arduino "You might get lightning in a bottle at first, but without a solid GTM strategy it's not sustainable." In this episode, Tom breaks down the big 3 pieces of your GTM strategy, where to start and why many fail. As a bonus, Tom is dropping his white paper that breaks all of this insight down into even more detail. Download it here:  Go To Market Strategy Sheet Follow Tom on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomarduino/

Doom scrolling is on it's deathbed, the demand for long-form video is on the rise and and employees are the new influencers. You'll learn how to take advantage of these social media trends and more in this special edition of the podcast with social expert and marketing strategist Taylor Marie Ion. Follow Taylor on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-marie-ion-82b31961/

"If you do not have a CEO sponsorship around the brand strategy, it's going to be dead on arrival." Julie Koewler is the CMO for Alegeus and has led brand strategy during big moments of transition for blue chip brands including Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Airlines, and many more. In this episode, Julie shares the key pieces to launching a successful brand strategy and why many fail when those pieces are missing. Follow Julie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekoewler/

Who do you trust more with your health, your doctor or TikTok influencers? Surprisingly, the answers are all over the map. In a world where trust is eroding, Lynn Hanessian is on a mission to move health forward. She's the Chief Health Strategist at Edelman and says "Healthcare is behind when it comes to engaging with consumers and we have to catch up." We talk about ways to do that and more!  Follow and engage with Lynn on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhanessian/ 

By day, Kaitlyn Chock launches wellness programs into fortune 500 companies on behalf of WebMD Health Services. By night, she coaches people with ADHD to help them get work done and avoid burnout. Is she a wellness superhero of sorts? We say yes!In this episode, Kaitlyn teaches us how WebMD runs account-based marketing for big clients to adopt their wellness programs and shares her passion for helping people with ADHD and disabilities. She’s amazing and will make you want to be a better person. Enjoy!You can find Kaitlyn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynchock/

From Brazilian immigrant to dumpster diving in Queens to getting the electricity shut off to now Senior Director of Corporate Communications for one of the most successful Corporate Real Estate companies in the country...this is story about overcoming failure. Thiago Viana has an incredible story and an even more incredible attitude when it comes to facing controversy by being yourself. You don't want to miss this.Follow Thiago on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiago-viana/Check out his company Savillis https://www.linkedin.com/company/savills-north-america/

The skills gap is widening for manufacturing companies and most of the trades. And we're approaching a major due date that will make it even more challenging...retirement age for a large portion of those skilled workers. There's one company on a mission to bridge that gap through new forms of training. Rebecca Oistad leads marketing for Certus. Today we talk about how they're bringing that training to the market and keep it fun!Follow Rebecca on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaoistad/Check out Certus - https://www.certus.com/

"I don't do arts and crafts (aka marketing)". From chemist to Chief Marketing Officer, Johan Abadie is using his data analytics skills to deliver real demand generation. And the data is telling him exactly what insights and answers to deliver to his company's prospects. We're no longer in a selling era, we're in a helping era. And the data is telling us what our customers need help with. Unlock the data and unlock the demand. You can find Johan on LinkedIn at: linkedin.com/in/johanabadie/

"You don't look or sound any different than your competitors." No marketer wants to hear that statement, especially from their customers. Unfortunately, it's a more common problem than you might think. Margie Agin is an expert in brand positioning and helps companies stand out from your competitors. She's here to tell you that "Your target audience is TOO broad" and it's getting in the way of generating new leads and new business.Check out the Go Fungal podcast at fungimedia.com/podcast You can find Margie on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/marjorieagin

Some of the most successful company leaders are often some of the most curious people. It's because they go out of their way to learn, meet new people, try new things and to have new experiences that lead to growth. Isabelle Papoulias speaks 4 languages, teaches Salsa (and other dances) and is a Global CMO for a growing tech company. She'll be the first to admit that her career path was anything but linear. And that's why she's killing it in life and leadership. If you're curious about how to become a better leader and impact more people, listen close.You can find Isabelle on LinkedIn at: linkedin.com/in/isabellepapoulias

Social and SEO are very different. In fact, they’re opposites. Why do so many content marketers treat them the same ?  Andy Crestodina is a digital strategist and content marketing genius. He is co-founder and CMO of Orbit Media, an award-winning 50-person digital agency in Chicago. In this episode, Andy breaks down the big differences (there are 9) between social and search and shares the best content marketing strategy for...well everyone getting started today.You can find Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrestodina/

The role of a global marketing exec demands an intense level of drive. Just think about what it takes to climb that far up the corporate ladder! Very few do it, especially people who started their careers as touring musicians in punk rock bands. Our guest Brad Kreiger shares his unlikely career path from punk rocker to global CMO at Cushman & Wakefield and eventually...to farmer in Indiana.Brad talks about bringing his unique experiences to his role and how he bridges business with creative. Plus, he shares what it takes to run a global marketing machine for one of the largest (and most successful) commercial real estate companies in the world (Cushman & Wakefield).You can find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-kreiger-7434822/

Purposeful growth doesn't start with "why", it starts with "who". Simon Sinek had it backwards and so did we. If you're a brand builder on a mission to grow your company's brand or even your own personal brand, you need to listen to this. Former CMO of Noodles & Company, Schlotzsky's and The Cheesecake Factory (among others), Mark Mears is a self-proclaimed "GROWTH junkie" and best selling author of the book "The Purposeful Growth Revolution". He's on a mission to help you fulfill your true growth potential and we talk all about how to do it in this episode. You can find Mark at the links below...Mark's book - https://www.markamears.com/Mark's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/

"People’s opinions of you are none of your business." - Brandi Corbello. Maybe that's why so many people are unable to bring their real, whole, human, authentic selves to work...they're afraid. Afraid of what others will think? Let's find out. Today's guest is tech leader, people manager and an unapologetically unfiltered human...Brandi Corbello. Brandi shares her story of transformation after being diagnosed with cancer and some helpful advice on how to be a human as a leader. She's the SVP of Global Delivery at Indico Data and you should follow her refreshingly authentic posts on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandicorbello/.  

What happens when your company grows up and evolves what they do? How do you tell your customers and prospects in a way that doesn't confuse them? We talked to the Director of Marketing at TXI, Esther Galantowicz who recently helped lead her organization through a brand repositioning of epic proportions. And as it turns out, it's hard to do...like really hard.TXI is a product innovation firm that Ranks No. 45 on Fast Company’s Coveted 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators List and can be found at txi.com.Esther Galantowicz is a brand, marketing and communications strategist with a breadth of experience across industries. She even built and sold an award-winning floral event company in an earlier chapter of her career. Check her out on LI https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherg/.

Oatly’s brand marketing can be summarized in 2 words “Predictably Unpredictable” according to their EVP of Global Communications, Brendan Lewis. In this episode, we share a deliciously dairy-free inside scoop of how a small Swedish startup took over the globe by going against the grain (Well technically they went with the grain since oats are grains…you get the idea)You can find Brendan Lewis on LinkedIn here.Check out Oatly and fckOatly.com (make sure to go down the rabbit hole)

Storytelling is basically "Once" "But" "Until" and "At Last". Our expert storytelling teacher David Ayling shows you how both "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and the best leaders use this technique to connect and influence others and lead them to action.You can find Dave on LinkedIn here.

It seems like there is a new AI tool being released every day. It’s almost impossible to keep up with and it can feel like the worst case of FOMO if you’re a marketing leader that doesn’t even know where to begin. Today’s episode features our very own Head of Post Production, Demian Krentz to share how Fungi Media is using AI for video and other content creation. We’re here to get you on the right track!You can find  some of Demian Krentz's best work at this link here.Check out the entire podcast, including video versions of our episodes, at fungimedia.com/podcast.