PODCAST · business
Nerd Marketing
by Nerd Marketing
The Nerd Marketing Ecommerce Podcast is a series of conversations about growing an ecommerce business. It's by CEOs and CMOs for CEOs and CMOs. Ecommerce veterans and 20-year operators Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein deliver clear, actionable, data-driven strategies.
Episodes
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PostPilot Fall Editions 2025
In this special Nerd Marketing episode, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein break down everything new in PostPilot's Fall Editions, the biggest feature drop yet. Featuring AI Benchmarks, Halo (Amazon attribution), and AcquisitionAI, the automation tool transforming how brands acquire customers.…
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Direct Mail Goes Multichannel
In this episode, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein explain how brands can finally measure direct mail's full impact—not just on Shopify, but on Amazon too. They share how PostPilot Halo brings true multichannel attribution to life, why direct mail performs best when digital CPAs spike, and how...
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The Cost Per Impression Era Is Over featuring Prof. Jonathan Zhang
Harvard-published marketing professor Jonathan Zhang joins Drew and Mike to unpack research showing how direct mail drives lower CAC and higher lifetime value than digital channels. They dig into the psychology of touch, why Gen Z actually loves mail, and how brands like Amazon and Warby Parker...
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How Chubbies Avoided Bankruptcy and Built a Nine-Figure Brand with Preston Rutherford
Preston Rutherford, Cofounder of Chubbies, joins Drew and Michael to share how the brand went from the brink of bankruptcy to a nine-figure exit. They dive into the dangers of ROAS obsession, the shift to a 50/50 brand vs. performance strategy, aligning teams around contribution, and the hard...
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NM Live: Back to School Campaigns and How to Leverage Them for Black Friday
Think Black Friday prep starts in the fall? Think again. In this episode, Drew and Michael explain why Back to School is the ultimate test window for Q4 success. They break down four actionable strategies you can launch this summer to identify your most profitable customer segments, validate your...
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NM Live: Leadership Lessons from the Navy and What We've Learned Along the Way
Recorded on Memorial Day, Drew opens up about the top lessons he learned as a Navy intelligence officer - lessons that shape how he leads today. He and Michael also reflect on personal regrets, from family and risk-taking to life metrics that matter most.
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NM Live: Turn Retention into Your Most Profitable Channel with Zak Cassady-Dorion, CEO of ECD Digital Strategy
After auditing hundreds of Shopify brands, Zak Cassady-Dorion has a clear message: You're missing easy revenue. He joins Drew to reveal his retention-first approach, killer Klaviyo playbook, and why PostPilot is his secret weapon.
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NM Live: Touchland's Big Exit, Meta's Future, and What Brands Can Learn from Aviator Nation
This week, Drew and Michael unpack the latest tariff relief and what it means for DTC operators, break down Zuck's vision for Meta as a fully automated ad platform, and explore the tension between brand and performance marketing. Plus, a deep dive into Aviator Nation's remarkable rise—from Venice...
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NM Live: How We Run a Remote Company Without Losing Alignment
What really changes when your DTC brand scales from 10 to 120 people - remotely? Drew and Michael break down the systems, rituals, and mindset shifts that helped PostPilot grow fast without losing culture, speed, or clarity. From all-hands to offsites to decision frameworks, this is a...
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NM Live: Navigating Uncertainty — What Tariffs & Consumer Trends Mean for DTC
Drew and Michael are joined by PostPilot's Head of Finance, Daan Harmsen, to unpack what the latest eCommerce data reveals about consumer behavior and shifting market sentiment. They dive into lessons from past tariff disruptions and share practical strategies for leading through...
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NM Live: Balancing Brand and Performance Marketing With John Hutchison, CEO of Bonobos
Performance marketing gets all the spend—but is it driving real growth? Bonobos CEO John Hutchison talks with Drew & Mike about how rebalancing the mix toward brand led to stronger revenue, better retention, and long-term customer loyalty. Plus, they dive into his leadership style, navigating...
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Tariff Insanity: How DTC Brands Can Make It Through
Drew and Mike react in real time to the Tariffs on China and break down how a number of tips from their DTC turnaround days apply more than ever. Get 30 turnaround tips in one place at https://www.postpilot.com/turnaround. (edited)
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NM Live: Shoptalk Recap (Suite Party, AI, Unified Commerce) + Unloading Pura Vida
Mike gives a full rundown of Shoptalk, from the Vegas suite party to the AI trends in DTC. Plus, the Nerds talk about Vera Bradley unloading Pura Vida for... only $1 million?
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NM Live: Maximizing Your Shopify Store's Valuation with Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris
What's driving eCommerce valuations today? Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris Finance, reveals the latest trends in M&A, what makes a Shopify store attractive to buyers, and the financial strategies that separate high-growth brands from struggling ones. If you're a CEO or CFO thinking about scaling or...
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NM Live: Series A Success, Cozy Earth's Direct Mail Wins & Email + Direct Mail Synergy
Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein break down PostPilot's Series A journey - why they chose growth equity over VC, the challenges of raising capital, and how it impacted their business strategy. They also dive into Cozy Earth's winning direct mail strategy, revealing how the brand optimized its...
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NM Live: Shopify's Enterprise Gap, Loyalty Myths & Smarter eCommerce Playbooks
Shopify has made a huge push into the enterprise market, but why are so many big brands still hesitant to make the switch? Drew and Michael break down key insights from eTail, explore why legacy brands remain stuck on outdated tech stacks, and highlight the massive opportunity Shopify is missing....
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NM Live: Klaviyo's Big CRM Launch & Why Direct Mail is a Retail Growth Hack
Klaviyo just launched its first-ever CRM built for B2C brands, and Drew was on the ground at the event. He and Michael break down what this means for eCommerce, Klaviyo's competitive landscape, and whether this signals a major shift in the industry. Plus, they dive into two major DTC acquisitions...
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NM LIVE: DTC Super Bowl, CFO-CMO Synergy & Scaling Apparel Brands
Super Bowl ads are the biggest marketing stage of the year - but are they actually driving new customer acquisition? Drew and Mike break down why most ads focused on brand retention over acquisition and what that means for DTC brands. Plus, they dive into the CFO-CMO dynamic - how alignment…
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NM Live: Surviving Tariffs, Meta Madness & Hexclad's Super Bowl Play
The DTC landscape is shifting fast: tariffs are disrupting supply chains, Meta's ad platform is more unpredictable than ever, and DTC brands are feeling the pressure. Drew and Michael break down the five major ways tariffs are impacting eCommerce, how Meta's latest changes are frustrating...
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NM Live: The CMO Playbook – Smarter Customer Acquisition, First-Party Data, Marketing Efficiency
Drew and Michael break down why over-relying on one channel is risky, why ROAS is flawed, and how cutting costs can backfire. Plus, insights on driving high AOV in acquisition, beauty brand demographics, and the Jonathan Adler acquisition.
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NM Live: 2025 Predictions, Abercrombie & True Religion's Successes, Trends & Turnarounds
Introducing Nerd Marketing Live, our new format where Drew and Mike break down key insights and trends in the eComm/retail space and answer audience questions. In this episode, they spotlight how True Religion and Abercrombie achieved remarkable turnarounds and what other businesses can learn…
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Synergies Between Direct Mail and Digital Marketing: 1 + 1 = 3
Drew and Michael welcome Tim Curtis, CEO of CohereOne, to discuss the often-overlooked advantages of direct mail. Learn how catalogs create a halo effect on other marketing channels, boost online sales, and enhance customer lifetime value. Get practical tips on launching your own catalog campaign...
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Meta Who? Building a Direct Mail Marketing-First Business like Baudville Brands
Drew and Michael sit down with Brad Darooge, CEO of www.baudville.com/. Learn how Baudville went all-in on direct mail: how they did it, why they did it, and gives some actionable tips to incorporate direct mail into your marketing mix.
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50 Years of Direct Mail Experience, 1 Podcast
Drew chats with Tracey Migliaccio, Sr. Manager of Direct Mail at Humann about. Tracy's been in the eComm game for several years (previously at Wolverine Worldwide, parent company of Sperry, Keds, Wolverine, Saucony, and others), and like Drew, has been doing direct mail way before it was cool.
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The Nerd Fundraising Guide: Tips, Advice, and lessons from PostPilot's Series A
Drew and Michael break down the Series A process for PostPilot, offering valuable tips and insights for anyone looking to raise capital in the market today.
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Retention Marketing Masterclass with Chris Orzechowski
Drew + Michael nerd out on retention marketing with the rainmaker, Chris Orzechowski. Learn how to convert first-time buyers into believers, crush email campaigns, and build a brand identity to beat the competition. Chris shares insights from his newest book, The Moat, and his experience at…
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Unlocking 10% Growth with Direct Mail
Join Drew & Michael as they lay out the direct mail playbook that propelled brands like Dr. Squatch, Hexclad to glory. Steal their tactics to add 10% to your top line.
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Turnaround Secrets Pt. 2
They're not done sharing secrets. Drew and Mike discuss the next 15 of Drew's 30 turnaround tips, based on their time together turning around big, busted eComm brands.
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Turnaround Secrets, Pt. 1
TLDR: Profits, fast. Drew and Mike discuss 15 of Drew's 30 turnaround tips, based on their time together turning around big, busted eComm brands.
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Masterclass in eCom-Economics + Finance with Bill D'Alessandro of Natural Dog
The Turnaround legends, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein, are joined by Bill D'Alessandro of Natural Dog to talk buying brands, the perils and rewards of retail, eCom-economics + finance, and the earlier days of eCommerce.
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How to Get Customers to Buy Without Discounting
Every brand wants to be Apple, and they can be—at least when it comes to avoiding discounts. In this episode, PostPilot CEOs Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein discuss discounting alternatives that ecommerce brands can use to juice sales while preserving profit margins.
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Building a Big Brand with a Small Team with Matt Mullenax of Huron
Men's grooming brand Huron has become a phenomenon with a team of just four. Co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenax joins hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein to discuss maniacal focus, the importance of brand, and why Huron isn't rushing to get into retail. CPG founders and marketers won't want to...
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Thinking Outside the Black Friday Box with Luke McAlpine of Taylor Stitch
The VP of brand for cult menswear label Taylor Stitch joins Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein to go deep on Black Friday strategies. They talk about why you should think hard about your holiday objectives, how promos can be dangerous to your financial health, why you should have a plan B (and C)...
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Making Your Brand Ubiquitous with Katie Hanna of Ka'Chava
How do you stand out in a crowded market? What propelled Ka'Chava's growth from startup to nine-figure brand? And how are they strategizing around Black Friday? Katie Hanna, director of retention at Ka'Chava, spills some tea on the rocketship business with hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein.
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Lessons from 45 Black Fridays in Ecommerce
Together Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein been through almost 50 Black Fridays. In this episode, they share the big, hard lessons they've learned over the years—not the tactical moves, but principles for winning Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Tune in to learn why brands often lose money on offers…
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What Successful Ecom Brands Know with Anthony Choe, Founder of Provenance
Why do you need to know your tribe? What makes smart investors buy into an ecommerce business? How should founders approach brand-building? Visionary investor Anthony Choe lets Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein pick his very large brain. You don't want to miss the insights in this episode!
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Marketing a $100M Brand with Julia Perez, CMO of OWYN
Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein chat with Julia Perez, CMO of plant-based protein-shake brand OWYN. She shares her route to the C-suite, why retail is much more than a sales channel, the three keys to becoming a nine-figure brand, and how she ID's job candidates who are trailblazers.
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How to Grow a Brand Profitably with Brandon Park of 100 Thieves
Drew Sanocki talks with Brandon Park, CMO of 100 Thieves and former CEO of Homesick, about creating brands, rolling up ecom companies, and always showing a profit.
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How to Change an Industry with Morgen Newman, CEO of Cora
Drew Sanocki and guest host Mike Maher talk with Morgen Newman, co-founder of period-care brand Cora, about why he tries to scare potential hires, how to stay premium on Amazon, and what they did to survive a cash crunch.
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Secrets of Successful Ads with Jacques Spitzer, CEO of Raindrop
Jacques Spitzer has generated more than a billion views and $1 billion in sales for brands like Dr. Squatch, Manscaped and Native. He shares why the "green Lamborghini" is key to impactful ads, big mistakes brands make, and how businesses need to change their marketing approach as they grow.
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The Pura Vida story: How a surfing trip turned into a 9-figure lifestyle brand with co-founder Griffin Thall
From the vault, Drew and guest host Mike Maher interview Griffin Thall, co-founder of Pura Vida, shortly after their sale to Vera Bradley. Hear the origin story of how Griffin and Paul bootstrapped all the way to a $100M valuation, how Pura Vida entered new categories, and what he thinks about...
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Bootstrapped to big exit with Garret Akerson of DTC maternity brand Kindred Bravely.
In this episode, we go deep on how Garret bootstrapped the brand he started with his wife to a big private equity exit. Hear the details of the deal process and his role post-exit. He also shares tips on hiring and building a great remote team.
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Crushing conferences and collabs with Joe Rogan: The Carnivore Snax story
Drew & Michael interview Mark Ritz, co-founder of Carnivore Snax on the secrets to scaling from 3 to 12 million profitably. Learn his strategies for working with influencers, successfully executing trade show events and why he's not planning on going into retail.
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How $2.5 BILLION CPG haircare brand Olaplex manages marketing with Alisa Pospekhova, head of brand marketing.
Drew and Michael interview Alisa Pospekhova who does double duty as head of brand marketing for the massive, publicly traded haircare brand Olaplex and founder & CEO of kindroot, an omnichannel herbal supplement brand. Learn how she applies learnings from the mega brand to her startup and vice...
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Executing a successful DTC roll-up with Taylor Stitch's Mike Maher
As the big ecom aggregators mostly flame out, is the roll-up model destined to fail? Learn how Mike Maher, founder of online apparel innovator Taylor Stitch, is making it work and creating accretive enterprise value.
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Discounting strategies and coupon alternatives with Oren Charnoff
We often hear brands ask about discounting strategies…When is the right time? What's the right amount? What are alternatives to coupons? We asked Oren Charnoff, one of the founders of Fondue, a cash back alternative to discounts. Hear lots of actionable advice, plus breaking news on their...
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How Mr. Beast's Feastables Skyrocketed Brand Revenue
Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein sit down with Joseph Siegel, Director of Retention at Mr. Beast's Feastables. Joseph gets into what it's like to work for Mr. Beast, why gamifying marketing works and how they've grown their brand within a massive media company.
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The Mattress Titan: How Resident Conquers the Sales Game
Data-driven marketing strategies scale the success of mattress sales in the e-commerce space. Eric Hutchinson, the co-founder of Resident Home, an $800 million mattress company, knows a bit about marketing best practices. He discussed the importance of using data to drive sales and experiences…
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From TinyPrints to Big Success: How Ed Han and Laura Ching Sold a $333 Million Business
Ed Han and Laura Ching sit down with hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein. Ed and Laura are the brains behind the $333 million exit success story, TinyPrints. They discuss their early days of brainstorming business ideas with friends, their passion for entrepreneurship, and the role of the...
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The Future of Direct Mail and Marketing | DTC Podcast Interview with Drew Sanocki
Host and ecom guru Drew Sanocki joined Eric Dyck on the DTC podcast to talk about the world of ecommerce success. Known for his obsession with profitability (sorry, growth-obsessed folks) and his love with Marginal CAC, Drew is helping brands unlock a new profitable channel: Direct mail. Yup…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Nerd Marketing Ecommerce Podcast is a series of conversations about growing an ecommerce business. It's by CEOs and CMOs for CEOs and CMOs. Ecommerce veterans and 20-year operators Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein deliver clear, actionable, data-driven strategies.
HOSTED BY
Nerd Marketing
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Nerd Marketing have?
Nerd Marketing currently has 84 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Nerd Marketing about?
The Nerd Marketing Ecommerce Podcast is a series of conversations about growing an ecommerce business. It's by CEOs and CMOs for CEOs and CMOs. Ecommerce veterans and 20-year operators Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein deliver clear, actionable, data-driven strategies.
How often does Nerd Marketing release new episodes?
Nerd Marketing has 84 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Nerd Marketing?
You can listen to Nerd Marketing on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Nerd Marketing?
Nerd Marketing is created and hosted by Nerd Marketing.
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