The Agency Leadership Podcast with Gini Dietrich and Chip Griffin

Agency owners who show up prepared to have a real conversation before pitching solutions will stand out.Continue Reading → The post ALP 303: Preparing for your agency’s group presentations and pitches appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini dig into what's happening with entry-level hiring right now, and why the answer can’t be to stop hiring junior staff altogether.Continue Reading → The post ALP 302: Rethink entry-level hiring to succeed in the AI era appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini dig into five words that should matter to agency owners: leadership, management, accountability, responsibility, and authority.Continue Reading → The post ALP 301: Five words every agency owner needs to understand appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini review the themes that have defined the show and reflect on how their thinking has shifted.Continue Reading → The post ALP 300: 300 episodes in: what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what we got wrong appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini break down why problem-solving ability should be the primary hiring criterion, especially as AI makes technical skills easier to acquire and offload.Continue Reading → The post ALP 299: Hire people who understand how to solve problems appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss Chip’s “Build to Own” philosophy as a counterpoint to the built-to-sell mindset.Continue Reading → The post ALP 298: Build the business you want to own, not the one you hope to sell appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini dissect the holding company's "brilliant innovation" with the appropriate level of sarcasm, then pivot to the actually interesting question buried in the announcement: how should agencies price around AI?Continue Reading → The post ALP 297: Holding companies discover retainers, call them “subscriptions” appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip interviews Gini about the newly updated PESO Model certification and what’s changed in how organizations should think about paid, earned, shared, and owned media.Continue Reading → The post ALP 296: The PESO Model evolves for the AI era (and why your website isn’t dead) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini dig into why ideas that sound compelling in theory often create unintended consequences in practice.Continue Reading → The post ALP 295: Building the ideal agency: wrestling with the tough decisions appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini come out swinging with a wake-up call for the agency community: the ground is shifting faster than most are willing to admit, and the window for meaningful adaptation is closing.Continue Reading → The post ALP 294: Wake up or get left behind: AI is forcing your hand appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini tackle the unsexy but critical task of auditing your agency's website content.Continue Reading → The post ALP 293: Stop letting your website embarrass you appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of agency owners reflecting on the reasons they started their businesses and how those motivations can inform current strategies.Continue Reading → The post ALP 292: Rediscovering your agency’s founding spark appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of strategic planning for 2026.Continue Reading → The post ALP 291: Embracing innovation to survive and thrive in 2026 appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the  the challenges of finding skilled, reliable employees who align with agency values.Continue Reading → The post ALP 290: Balancing skills and personality when hiring a new team member appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini tackle the difficult subject of firing an underperforming and problematic employee.Continue Reading → The post ALP 289: Firing underperforming team members appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the growing concerns surrounding AI in the agency world.Continue Reading → The post ALP 288: AI myths agencies must avoid appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, inspired by a newsletter from David C. Baker, Chip and Gini discuss the authentic motivations and realities behind agency mission statements and values.Continue Reading → The post ALP 287: Do agency mission and values statements matter? And is yours even accurate? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss a Reddit post about an agency leader going MIA and the repercussions for the team.Continue Reading → The post ALP 286: Are you ghosting your own agency? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini address a listener’s question about the opportunities for growing an agency through outbound sales.Continue Reading → The post ALP 285: Outbound sales & your agency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the impact of AI on small agencies, focusing on the high expectations and possible disappointments it poses.Continue Reading → The post ALP 284: Avoiding your agency’s own AI bubble appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to handle situations when the problems affecting an agency’s client relationship stem from external contacts like procurement, IT, or the sales team. They emphasize treating client contacts as allies and not enemies, and provide strategies to navigate bureaucratic hurdles and internal politics. The discussion covers creative problem-solving... Continue Reading → The post ALP 283: What to do when your client contact isn’t the problem appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the common practice of providing free proposals and baseline ideas to clients.Continue Reading → The post ALP 282: Stop providing solutions before understanding your client’s challenges appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how agency owners should handle employees with physical and mental health concerns.Continue Reading → The post ALP 281: Supporting team members with mental and physical health challenges appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to manage situations where clients want to terminate contracts early.Continue Reading → The post ALP 280: Handling early client contract terminations with finesse appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini explore the impact of AI on client expectations.Continue Reading → The post ALP 279: Setting client expectations in the AI era appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini focus on the issue of employees over-servicing clients.Continue Reading → The post ALP 278: What to do when agency employees continue to over-service clients appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of having a clear vision for where an agency is headed while also acknowledging the need for strong operational skills.Continue Reading → The post ALP 277: You don’t need to be a visionary, but it helps to have a vision for your agency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the frequent occurrence of receiving offers to buy agencies and how to handle these communications.Continue Reading → The post ALP 276: How to handle unsolicited agency acquisition emails appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the challenges of dealing with team members who may not be enthusiastic about the clients or the work your agency is doing.Continue Reading → The post ALP 275: How to handle your team when they don’t love your clients appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how agency owners should handle situations when an employee resigns.Continue Reading → The post ALP 274: Turning employee departures into opportunities appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini highlight the challenges and potential pitfalls of over-relying on AI for content creation in PR and marketing.Continue Reading → The post ALP 273: Ensuring AI is an asset — not a liability — for your agency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the challenge of agencies being brought in late on client projects.Continue Reading → The post ALP 272: Why agencies get brought in too late by clients — and what to do about it appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss whether or not employees can be encouraged to be “more strategic”.Continue Reading → The post ALP 271: Can agency team members be more strategic? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the topic of scope creep in agencies.Continue Reading → The post ALP 270: Limiting scope creep from the start appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the psychology of pricing within agencies.Continue Reading → The post ALP 269: Pricing psychology for agency clients appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Chip and Gini explore the different types of burnout, including cyclical and long-term burnout, and offer strategies to identify, cope with, and prevent it.Continue Reading → The post ALP 268: Identifying and managing agency owner burnout appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the latest quarterly SAGA owner survey, which provides a mixed bag of results for agencies.Continue Reading → The post ALP 267: Agency owners review 2024 performance, assess outlook appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss what agency owners can do to weather the current climate of economic uncertainty and potential recession.Continue Reading → The post ALP 266: Preparing your agency for an uncertain future appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini explore strategies for agency owners contemplating an exit plan.Continue Reading → The post ALP 265: Choosing the right exit strategy as an agency owner appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the ongoing challenge of managing remote workers in the PR and marketing agency world.Continue Reading → The post ALP 264: Managing remote workers without micromanaging appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the practical uses and pitfalls of AI in agency lead generation and business development.Continue Reading → The post ALP 263: Using AI the right way for agency biz dev appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the transition from being a freelancer to an agency owner.Continue Reading → The post ALP 262: What freelancers should know before they become agency owners appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Chip and Gini discuss the need for managers to support and mentor their employees, leveraging both internal and external resources, and the value of making time to mentor individuals outside one's own organization.Continue Reading → The post ALP 261: How to get your team the mentorship they need appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the complaint from owners that AI is preventing junior employees from learning how to do their jobs the right way.Continue Reading → The post ALP 260: AI no threat to agency employees learning fundamental skills appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of satisfaction from the work you do for clients, both for agency owners and their teams.Continue Reading → The post ALP 259: The value of getting satisfaction from client work appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini address the topic of pivoting for small agencies in response to changing economic and political climates.Continue Reading → The post ALP 258: Should your agency pivot to a new focus amid economic shifts? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the pros and cons of agencies doing subcontracted work for other agencies.Continue Reading → The post ALP 257: Should your small agency be subcontracting for larger agencies? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Chip and Gini discuss a Reddit user’s question about managing a $2 million account and emphasize the importance of involving key team members throughout the business development process, rather than afterward.Continue Reading → The post ALP 256: Mastering Client Staffing for Small Agency Success appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the findings from the SAGA quarterly survey of small agency owners.Continue Reading → The post ALP 255: What the Q4 SAGA Survey tells us about agency talent appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the importance of empathy in agency management.Continue Reading → The post ALP 254: Agency owners need to put themselves in other people’s shoes appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.