Your Marketing Mates
by Isabelle Debnam & Liz Ballantyne
Meet Your Marketing Mates - Belle and Liz. Finding a mentor can be difficult, particularly early on in your marketing career. We want you to think of us as your marketing mentors, or mates. In each episode we will discuss a single theme by sharing personal experiences and marketing advice. Sit back, relax and settle in for a chat with your mates.
Episodes
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S7E9 - The 3 skills that will make you hard to replace
Hey marketing mates! This week we're getting into job security and the truth about which skills actually protect it. The playbook that used to guarantee career stability, showing up, being reliable, doing solid work, isn't landing the same way anymore. It's not that people are doing anything…
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S7E8 - Productivity rituals and focus hacks
Hey marketing mates! In this episode, we're talking about productivity and the small rituals that help us actually get things done. From the morning coffee (or decaf!) that gets us into work mode, to the systems and habits that keep the day on track, we're unpacking our simple productivity hacks...
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S7E7 - Little treat and nostalgia culture
Hey marketing mates! This episode feels like a warm hug in podcast form. Today we're diving into little treats and nostalgia culture… because let's be honest, the world feels like a lot right now. People are actively craving comfort. Online chatter around nostalgia grew by 18% in 2025. That's…
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S7E6 - Hey 2026! We're back with our word of the year...
Happy New Year, marketing mates! It's been a hot minute since we've been on the pod, but we are (finally) back and ready to share our word of the year and what's been happening. Staying true to tradition, we haven't shared our WOTY ahead of time, so grab a coffee and join us for a chat. Plot…
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S7E5 - Resource roundup: From AI to Art
Hey there marketing mates! We're back with a long-overdue Resource Roundup, so we're making up for lost time with a jam-packed episode full of our latest faves. We're talking everything from chunky brand strategy books to quick-hit productivity hacks, creative inspo, AI deep dives, and even...
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S7E4 - GROW Time: A mentorship model that actually works
In this episode, we're unpacking a tool that can take your mentorship conversations from "nice chat" to "game-changing": the GROW model. Whether you're formally mentoring someone or just the go-to person for career advice in your team, the GROW framework is a simple but powerful way to guide your...
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S7E3 - Why stay interviews matter (more than exit interviews)
In this episode, we're diving into a topic that we think more leaders and people managers should know about: stay interviews. You've probably heard of exit interviews - those conversations you have when someone has already decided to leave. The problem? By then, it's too late to change anything....
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S7E2 - Chats with our mate Ashton Tuckerman: MBA Musings
Welcome back, Marketing Mates! In S7E1, we hinted at some incredible guests this season, and we're thrilled to kick things off with our friend, industry mentor, and all-around marketing powerhouse, Ashton Tuckerman. With over a decade of industry experience, Ashton's career has spanned everything...
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S7E1 - We're back! What's been happening & 2025 word of the year
Hello Marketing Mates! It's great to be back. We were a little MIA in 2024 with some exciting professional and personal milestones and life events, but we are back for another season (Season 7 - can you believe it!) and spicing up our content a little this year. After taking a look at our…
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S6E10 - Email etiquette dos and don'ts
Emails are often a huge part of our life as marketers, whether it's outbound comms, campaign-based, or even in the day-to-day of account and stakeholder management. In this episode, we are spilling the tea on our 10 tips for writing better emails – from emojis to weasel words and the use of...
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S6E9 - The ABCs of common marketing terms
Mates, we're back! It's been a hot minute between episodes because life has been all kinds of busy, but we're here and happy to be back in your ears. This week we're channeling some Sesame Street energy and sharing the A-Z of 26 common marketing terms that you need in your vocabulary. We know as...
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S6E8 - Resource Roundup: Social media tips, thought leadership podcasts, books and tech!
For those of you that have been tuning in for a while, you'll know we always look forward to our Resource Roundup episodes. Settle in for a special roundup for your week ahead. Culture Amp - Culture First podcast Women In Digital Membership Marketing Millennials - Socials, podcast, and newsletter...
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S6E7 - Chats with our mate Linh Diep: Assisterhood expansion & application tips!
This week we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Linh Diep, two-time B&T 30 Under 30 Winner, Founder of Assisterhood and all-round amazing human being! For those of you that aren't familiar with Assisterhood, it's a mentorship program for up-and-coming talent in creative industries....
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S6E6 - The Pomodoro Technique: Your solution to procrastination
As we enter the new work week, you're likely sitting down with a cuppa and starting to plan out the next few days. Guesses are you're feeling one of two things - energised and ready for the week ahead, or a sense of overwhelm and decision paralysis. If you're in Group B, our old friend...
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S6E5 - How readability can improve your marketing copy: Tools and frameworks
Put simply, readability determines how easy or difficult it is to understand a piece of text. When you consider how much copy a marketer writes in a day, whether that's social posts, emails, blogs, or website copy, readability is pretty darn important. The tools we explore in this episode…
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S6E4 - Ten things I hate about work-life
Although the title of this episode is pretty bold, we've got something a little different and fun in store for you this week… We've compiled our top 10 ten list of things that are triggering (and incredibly relatable) in the workplace. If you've got something that hasn't made our list, please…
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S6E3 - New year new you: Auditing your personal brand
It's still relatively early in the new year (although March is creeping up incredibly quickly!), which means it's the perfect time for you to undertake a little personal brand audit. Did you have a Myspace when you were younger (gah, cringe)? Or maybe you're like Belle and have had sporadic…
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S6E2 - Have you used ChatGPT?
Chances are you've heard about ChatGPT by now…the OpenAI chatbot that is taking the internet by storm! As a marketer you're likely on one of 2 teams: Oh no, it's happening, robots are here to take my job. The answer to my writer's block prayers have been answered. In this episode, Belle shares…
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S6E1 - Welcome to 2023: Word of the year & what we've been up to…
Welcome back, marketing mates! Oh we've missed you, and it's delightful to be back in your regular podcast schedule. We're kicking off 2023 (and Season 6!), sharing our word of the year, and reflecting on whether we achieved our 2022 intentions (see S4E5). For those of you new to the Your…
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S5E10 - Resource roundup: Christmas holiday edition
Welcome to the final episode of Season 5 AND 2022 marketing mates! What better way to round out the year than with one of our favourite types of episodes…a resource roundup! If you're a book lover that's looking for some quality reading over the holidays, we've got some goodies for you! Liz's...
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S5E9 - What is emotional intelligence and why should you care?
You've probably heard the term "emotional intelligence" and you may be wondering what this means and why it's helpful in the workplace (and life in general)! In Jamilla Rizvi's book 'Not Just Lucky,' she gives a great breakdown: "In basic terms, having emotional intelligence means you're able to...
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S5E8 - 5 simple networking hacks for your next event
Welcome back, marketing mates! It's the time of year when there are events happening left, right and centre - industry awards, Christmas parties, social meetups… If you're looking to expand your professional network (and get a head start on 2023), in this week's ep we share 5 networking hacks to...
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S5E7 - Let's BeReal: Hot or not?
If you're yet to adopt the new social media kid on the block, this week we give a rundown of the BeReal social media app - what it is, who is using it and how brands are embracing it as a marketing channel. It's nice to (finally) see an authentic, unfiltered, ad-free social app but only time will...
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S5E6 - Resource roundup: Motivational books, podcasts and software to have in your marketing toolkit!
It's that time again! Resource Roundup o'clock. If you're looking for some new books, this episode is certainly for you… Liz's resource recommendations: I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam (book) Meltwater (media monitoring) The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett (podcast) Pretty Little...
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S5E5 - The never-ending to-do list
Raise your hand if you've ever felt guilty about not completing your ever-growing to-do list... Same friend, same. This week we're discussing a fabulous article from the Harvard Business Review - "You're Never Going to Be "Caught Up" at Work. Stop Feeling Guilty About It." Shame and guilt can…
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S5E4 - What is competitor analysis? The 4 steps of strategic stalking...
Competitive analysis is all about assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your current and potential competitors. This allows you to identify strategic opportunities and threats... yes, your marketing senses are probably tingling: a SWOT analysis does play a part in this process. In this…
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S5E3 - Strategic planning: OKRs, KPIs and the importance of having a long-term vision
More often than not strategic planning is put in the "too hard basket", but it's essential that you carve the time out of your business-as-usual (BAU) routine to set the long-term vision for your business. Spoiler: it also helps to make your short-term more effective and efficient! In this week's...
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S5E2 - Oops emails! Why and when you need them…
Being in marketing, we have all experienced that dreaded "oops" moment after we've hit send on an important email - forgetting to link an attachment, typos in the subject line, broken links, sending to the wrong email segment…we could go on. After you've taken a big breath and identified the...
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S5E1 - Social media updates hot off the press! The latest changes to Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter
Welcome back, marketing mates! We're back from our break and kicking off Season 5 with all the social media updates that have been rolling out over the last little while. This episode is a great way to quickly get up to speed and impress Gen Z in your next team meeting. ;) We truly have…
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S4E13 - Resource Roundup: Marketing tools, websites and inspiration that you need in your life
Hey mates! Welcome to the final episode of Season 4. We're wrapping the season with one of our favourite types of episodes and each sharing four marketing resources that we're loving right now. Belle's resources: Adam Mosseri - Head of Instagram (IGTV) @mosseri Answerthepublic.com - social...
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S4E12 - Chats with our mate Brooke Dobbie: Crafting a freelance career
We're delighted to share our second episode in the "Chats with our mates" series. We had the pleasure of chatting with Brooke Dobbie, a Gold Coast based creative who has successfully established her freelance career and lifestyle. If you're exploring the possibility of going out on your own or...
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S4E11 - QR Codes: The marketing comeback of the century!
Imagine telling yourself 3 years ago that someday in the near future you'd be using QR codes on a daily basis! We certainly never would have believed it… QR (quick response) codes are now considered one of the most effective tools for personalising your marketing campaigns and user experience...
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S4E10 - Marketing trends: Consumers in control, short-form video, the Cookiepocalypse, inclusive advertising, and more!
The digital marketing world moves incredibly fast! New channels and marketing trends are popping up every couple of months, consumer needs and expectations have shifted dramatically, and we are definitely not out of the woods when it comes to changes with data and privacy. In this episode we're...
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S4E9 - Why you need multiple mentors: 6 mentor types and how to approach them
We know it sounds controversial, but did you know you're allowed to have more than one mentor?! Yes, really. Having multiple mentors allows you to tap into their skills and experience for different problems. In this episode, we discuss mentor mapping, how to approach a prospective mentor, and the…
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S4E8 - Becoming an influential brand: Tips for Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is all about leveraging an individual with a community or following to share their recommendations about your brand or product. Before you rush out and find the nearest influencer, make sure you're thinking strategically and ensuring this person will speak to the right…
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S4E7 - Are you a T-Shaped Marketer?
If you've got broad knowledge and skills across a range of marketing tactics, with in-depth knowledge in a couple of areas, chances are you're a T-Shaped Marketer! In our opinion being a T-Shaped Marketer is incredibly valuable. Particularly if you're wanting to move into management or a…
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S4E6 - Productivity hack: The Ivy Lee method
This week we're sharing a simple and super effective productivity hack to help you be your best self this year! If you lead a marketing team, or just want to improve your efficiency and workflow, listen up. The Ivy Lee method is a 100-year-old strategy for helping people become more productive at...
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S4E5 - Hello 2022: Word of the year
Welcome to 2022 marketing mates! Instead of setting a New Year's resolution, this year we've each adopted a 'Word of the Year'. In our opinion, this is a kinder, more wholesome way to approach 2022 and set the tone for our personal goals. We're not sharing any spoilers. You'll have to tune in to...
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S4E4 - Resource roundup: Christmas edition 2021
Ho, ho, how are you marketing mates? To wrap up the year, we're gifting you with a Resource Roundup: Christmas Edition! Belle's resources: Oh My Digital - emails and social content LinkedIn Marketing Labs (free!) Webflow FigJam collaboration software (Figma) Liz's resources: verygoodcopy.com...
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S4E3 - The 5Cs of Personal Brand
You've probably heard the term Personal Brand before and you're likely in one of two groups. 1) What the heck is that? or 2) Oh yeah, I've been meaning to do something about that… Well buckle up mates, we're breaking down the 5Cs of personal branding and sharing the reason's why it helps to build...
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S4E2 - Why applying for awards should be at the top of your 2022 goals
We'll be the first to admit that we regret not applying for awards earlier in our careers. But...it's never too late, and we're here to tell you why you should consider applying for awards next year. Some hot awards tips straight off the press: Be prepared. Look at past categories to see what you...
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S4E1 - Happy birthday to us! A trip down memory lane...
Hi there mates, we're back (and we missed you)! 🎉 To kick off Season 4 we're celebrating the first birthday of Your Marketing Mates! Grab a cupcake, a glass of bubbles, or a cup of coffee and take a trip down memory lane with us. This week we're sharing our favourite parts of the last year, our...
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S3E11 - Communicating and demonstrating your value in the workplace
Often as marketers, we can get caught up in the tactics and the numbers and forget the bigger picture. In this episode, we're chatting about the importance of building relationships with your key stakeholders (managers, executives, clients, and so on) and ways you can demonstrate your value…
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S3E10 - Making friends with finance
Welcome to another episode marketing mates! This week we're talking money and how to talk the "finance talk" to your CFO, accountant, or sales team. Often things can get a bit lost in translation between marketing acronyms and financial terms, but it's important to clearly demonstrate the value...
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S3E9 - Using Google Analytics data to make informed decisions
The word "data" can sound a little scary. So let's start with the fundamentals. As a marketer, Google Analytics is an excellent tool and source of data to inform your strategies, personas, and website user journeys. In this episode, Belle is grilling Liz about the 4 fundamentals of Google…
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S3E8 - Why Marketing & Sales are Batman & Robin
Let's talk about sales! Regardless of whether you're doing in-house marketing or marketing for clients, at some point, you're going to work with salespeople to track and generate leads from your marketing activity. Salespeople also have so much insight about your customers that you can leverage -...
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S3E7 - 4 tips for strategic content marketing
This week we're talking about one of our favourite topics - content marketing! This marketing technique is all about creating and sharing valuable and relevant content pieces to attract your audience. As Belle puts it in this episode - "Content is basically whatever you share to your channels"…
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S3E6 - Chats with our mate Malcolm Auld: Copywriting tips, upskilling advice and resources
Drum roll, please! Welcome to the first episode of the "Chats with our mates" series, where we sit down with industry experts to hear about their specialist skills, career journeys and of course, extract as many gems of wisdom as we can. In this episode, we're chatting with our friend, mentor…
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S3E5 - Social media (Part 2): Paid vs organic content
Last week we left you in a bit of suspense…but, the wait is over! Part 2 of our social media episode is ready for you to dive into. In our last episode, we spoke about social channel demographics and data (LOTS of data!). This week we are discussing the difference between paid and organic social...
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S3E4 - Social Media (Part 1): Channel demographics and data
Following on from last week's channel strategy episode, we wanted to cover off social media marketing as its own topic. Can you believe there are 40+ social media channels (and counting?!)… We had a lot to say on this topic - from running through the long list of social channels to discussing...
About this show
Meet Your Marketing Mates - Belle and Liz. Finding a mentor can be difficult, particularly early on in your marketing career. We want you to think of us as your marketing mentors, or mates. In each episode we will discuss a single theme by sharing personal experiences and marketing advice. Sit back, relax and settle in for a chat with your mates.
Hosted by
Isabelle Debnam & Liz Ballantyne