Brilliantly Wrong: Marketing. Creativity. Startups.

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Tim Bradley, Founder of Pennant Video, a mid-funnel video agency behind some of the most emotionally resonant and strategically sharp videos in B2B.Tim’s story is one of clarity, craft, and conviction. From answering a Craigslist job post in 2011 to building one of the most recognizable creative brands in B2B video today, Tim breaks down how the industry evolved, why video is the most misunderstood medium in the marketing toolkit, and why the “messy middle” of a buyer’s journey is where trust is truly won.Together, Alex and Tim unpack:Why top-of-funnel ads sell the click, but mid-funnel video earns the beliefThe Video Marketing Trifecta: Differentiation, Demonstration, and ValidationHow Anthem, Explainer, and Customer Story videos work together to build momentumWhy care, craft, and creative risk outperform shortcuts and AI-driven samenessHow to use video to strengthen sales, sharpen positioning, and unify a go-to-market engineThe mindset behind Pennant’s powerful tagline: “Raise the Banner”Whether you're a founder, a marketer, a creative, or someone realizing your brand needs to earn trust long before a demo request, this episode will change how you think about video, strategy, and storytelling.

In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Megan Whitehouse, a freelance designer and endurance athlete based in Seattle, to discuss her unconventional journey from Wisconsin to the Pacific Northwest. Megan shares how she transitioned from studying consumer behavior to pursuing design full-timeThe conversation explores Megan's approach to creative work, including her philosophy that great design goes beyond aesthetics to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of freelancing, her process for working with clients, and how she's working to align her career with her passion for cycling and the outdoors.The episode takes an inspiring turn as Megan recounts her solo 2,000-mile bike-packing journey down the Pacific Coast—a 27-day adventure that took her from Seattle to the Mexican border. She discusses the profound moments of solitude, unexpected connections with strangers, and how endurance sports have become her form of therapy and creative problem-solving.Megan also reflects on training for Ironman competitions, leading women's cycling groups in Seattle, and her philosophy of saying yes to challenges before knowing exactly how she'll accomplish them. The conversation touches on the importance of disconnecting from constant stimulation, the value of life experiences in fueling creativity, and her goal to merge her professional work with her athletic pursuits in the outdoor industry.

In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sits down with David Somerville, Principal at Smrvl, to explore the philosophy behind great design and why the best work doesn’t just look good, it tells a story.David shares lessons from his time leading creative direction at The Atlantic, Defense One, and beyond, before building his own design studio rooted in curiosity, play, and lateral thinking.Together, they unpack how emotion, imperfection, and intuition bring design to life, and why every brand needs to make people feel something before asking them to do something.You’ll hear:- How design and storytelling work together- Why flaws can make brands more human- The tension between structure and spontaneity- What brands can learn from the way we play gamesThis is a conversation about creativity, connection, and the messy, magical process of making design that feels alive.

What makes a marketing partner more than just another agency? Amanda Wallman, founder of Alpine Edge Marketing, joins Alex Stonehouse to share her journey from alpine ski racing to running a founder-led consultancy helping startups and small businesses grow.We talk about:Why being founder-led creates deeper trust and stronger partnerships.How lessons from ski racing apply to marketing, growth, and testing strategies.The importance of clarity, consistency, and momentum in building brands.Why marketing is a business solution, not just campaigns.And how to bring back the fun, creativity, and energy that unlock better results.Whether you’re a founder, a marketer, or somewhere in between, Amanda’s insights on building authentic, human-centered marketing strategies will leave you inspired.

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Sarah Schaffer, Founder & CEO of Bond Studios, to explore The Three Cs of Modern Marketing: Content, Communications, and Creative.Sarah brings a journalist’s eye for truth and storytelling into the marketing world, building brands rooted in trust, clarity, and authenticity. We talk about how journalistic ethics translate into communications strategy, why listening is the most underrated agency superpower, how to avoid the “hot take express” on LinkedIn, and why the future of marketing depends on both market savvy and storytelling substance.Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or comms leader, Sarah’s perspective will sharpen the way you think about brand, trust, and how to connect with your audience in meaningful ways.

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Peyton Tackes, Director of Marketing and Communications at Ross • Scalise, to explore her journey through agency life, entrepreneurship, and in-house legal marketing.Peyton shares how she balances data-driven marketing with authentic storytelling, why educating clients can be the most powerful form of marketing, and what it’s like to build a personal brand while being a military spouse who moves every two years.We cover everything from navigating attorney buy-in and using data to drive change, to the importance of resilience shaped by athletics, and Peyton’s insights into the evolving role of marketing leaders.Enjoy!

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, I sit down with Alyssa Olerud, Founder and CEO of Fearlyss Media, to talk about how service-based entrepreneurs and leaders can build powerful personal brands without overcomplicating social media.Alyssa shares how she left her corporate career to start her own business, why she believes in “feeling the fear and doing it anyway,” and how she created her signature F.L.O.W. Framework (Foundation, Lifestyle, Offer, Wisdom) to help clients find their voice, tell their story, and attract business through authentic content.Along with host, Alex Stonehouse, they discuss:What it takes to start a business without a safety netWhy mindset matters more than a marketing planThe role of storytelling in turning social media into revenueHow to balance authenticity with professionalism onlineThe origin of the FLOW Framework, and how to implement it to improve your personal brand and presence onlineHope you enjoy! Don't forget to subscribe, share, and give us a 5-star rating if you enjoy this episode with Alyssa.

What does it take to build a career around storytelling in B2B SaaS while still keeping your own creative spark alive? In this episode, I sit down with Kerri Linsenbigler — writer, editor, marketer, and self-described content chameleon.We talk about:How to balance your personal voice with brand voice.Why embracing variety across channels makes you a stronger writer.What B2B brands still get wrong about content and messaging.The role of community-driven content in making customers feel a sense of belonging.Kerri’s creative side project, Kerri On Travel, and why passion projects matter.If you’ve ever wrestled with finding your voice as a marketer, or wondered how to create content that’s clear, human, and memorable, Kerri offers great advice that you can act on immediately.

What if loyalty programs weren’t about points, but about people?In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Regan Jayne Plekenpol, Co-Founder of rediem, to explore how brands can transform customers into active communities that have a positive impact on the world, and why co-creation is the next frontier in brand loyalty.They dive into Regan’s transition from public policy to tech entrepreneurship, the moment she and her co-founder, Sarah Ganzenmuller, realized they could replace loyalty programs altogether, and why behavior change is more powerful than any discount code.If you’ve ever felt uninspired by the way brands "reward" loyalty, this conversation will change your perspective.Topics Covered:The death of transactional loyaltyWhy community and co-creation are the futureHow rediem empowers customers without asking them to spend moreThe pivot from consumer app to B2B SaaSWhat brands like Olipop and Sun Bum are doing differentlyRegan's entrepreneurial journey of founding and growing rediem

In this episode, I sit down with Renee Lopez-Cantera, SVP of Sales at EKN Solutions, a performance media agency specializing in multicultural audiences and programmatic strategy.We dive into what most marketers get wrong about multicultural marketing, and how to get it right. From targeting with nuance to building campaigns that reflect the complexity of real audiences, Renee shares insights on what’s working today, what’s changing fast, and why performance marketers need to pay more attention to audience identity, geography, and cultural context.We talk about:– Why multicultural isn’t just a “special project”– How media buying is evolving with AI– Why agencies are getting more niche– The power of curated publishers– Why Miami is a growing business hubIf you're trying to reach 100% of your market, not just 75%, listen up!

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Kathleen Lucente, CEO of Red Fan Communications, to talk about why brand narrative is the most overlooked growth lever in B2B tech.Kathleen shares how companies can turn what feels like a marketing “sinkhole” into a revenue engine by crafting a compelling story that breaks through silos, builds trust, and drives real business outcomes.We explore:Why most startups misunderstand PR and how to fix itThe difference between experts and true thought leadersThe role of narrative in M&A, IPOs, and fundraisingWhy memory-bait beats clickbait in the AI eraHow internal comms can make or break growthIf your startup is scaling and you think “we’ll get to brand later,” think again.

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with SEO expert Kristan Bauer—former SEO leader at Zillow and Amazon Web Services, agency founder, and coach to freelancers and agency owners.We dive into:How she went from entry-level SEO to building (and selling) her boutique agency, Conifr.What it’s really like running SEO at enterprise scale (160M+ visits/month at Zillow).Why the rise of AI search, AEO, and GEO is the biggest shift in 15 years, and how to adapt.Why traffic is becoming a vanity metric and what brands should really measure.How to build a resilient brand that survives search algorithm turbulence.If you’re a founder, marketer, or consultant trying to navigate the new SEO landscape, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away.

Too many startups treat brand as an afterthought. Leads first, brand later. But according to Ashley Johnston, founder of Moonshot Marketer, that mindset is exactly why so many startups plateau.In this episode, Ashley shares why brand isn’t just a “nice-to-have," it’s the foundation that makes everything else in marketing and sales work better. We talk about:Why brand has to come before leads and performance marketing.The difference between brand-driven growth and “throw spaghetti at the wall” tactics.Ashley’s Brand SPACE Framework (Survey, Pinpoint, Articulate, Connect, Evaluate).How trust, consistency, and perception shape the entire customer journey.Real-world brand campaigns that cut through the noise.This conversation will shift how you think about brand as the growth engine of your startup.

When Natalie Marcotullio joined Navattic, most people had never even heard of an “interactive demo.” The category was new, the brand was unknown, and there was no giant marketing budget to buy attention.Instead of chasing competitors with splashy spend, Natalie focused on building trust with marketers, with prospects, and with the market itself.In this episode, we unpack how she:Grew a category from scratch with consistent, useful content.Became the human face of the Navattic brand.Launched a freemium plan without killing pipeline.Uses her “unique + valuable” filter to decide what marketing is worth doing.Creates content marketers can use to win internal battles with their CEOs.Whether you’re building in a new category or trying to make your brand memorable without deep pockets, Natalie’s advice will change how you think about growth.----------Brilliantly Wrong helps early-stage startups clarify their brand, positioning, and go-to-market strategy to get traction, accelerate growth, and raise capital without unnecessary complexity. We are challenging the safe, incremental, play-it-by-the-book mindset in marketing and startups. To be "brilliantly wrong" is to take a bold, unconventional shot, not because it’s safe or certain, but because it’s original, intuitive, and driven by conviction.

What’s the difference between product marketing and commercialization? According to Nicole R. Ferrera, Owner and Chief Commercialization Officer of NRF Media, it’s the difference between launching a product and building a business.In this episode, Nicole shares her journey from running departments and major accounts at Paramount and OMD to launching her own consultancy, where she helps companies bridge the gap between product and revenue. We talk about burnout, the rise of fractional leadership, bloated MarTech stacks, and why attribution-obsessed marketing is killing creativity.Nicole doesn’t mince words, so listen up if you’re a founder, CMO, or product marketer wondering how to make your marketing efforts actually drive growth.

"Just because you're not a trillion-dollar company doesn't mean you don't have a great story to tell."After more than a decade in the PR trenches at Microsoft, Facebook, and Google, Pete Voss walked away from Big Tech to start his own PR firm and hasn’t looked back.In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Pete shares why he left the corporate world to help startups in AI and cybersecurity tell their stories, how he landed his first clients, and what founders consistently misunderstand about PR. We explore the difference between earned media and advertising, why a press release isn’t a strategy, and how Pete built a thriving solo business in one of the fastest-moving spaces in tech.Give this one a listen to learn what it takes to go freelance, or how to actually get your company noticed by journalists.

Writing the Stories Only You Can Tell with Camille TuuttiIn this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, journalist-turned-ghostwriter, Camille Tuutti, joins Alex Stonehouse for a wide-ranging conversation on writing with purpose, honoring your unique voice, and navigating between personal expression and commercial storytelling.Camille shares how she knew she wanted to be a writer from the age of five, how growing up as a Finnish girl in Sweden shaped her creative worldview, and why she’s now helping tech leaders tell better stories—often from the shadows.We also dig into:Why exceptional writing sometimes isn’t what companies want (and what to do about it)The difference between writing with soul and writing for SEOHow Camille approaches ghostwriting for founders, executives, and brandsThe rise of AI slop and what it means for quality contentHer upcoming novel that blends Southern Gothic with Nordic NoirWhether you’re a founder, marketer, writer, or just someone trying to share more honestly, give this one a listen. You can learn more about Camille at: https://tuuttifrutti.com/

In a world where AI can churn out one hundred blog posts before lunch, content alone is no longer a competitive advantage. What you say, and what you stand for, matters more than ever.Lindsay King, Head of Integrated Marketing and Brand Strategy at Sifflet, shares insights from 14 years in marketing, spanning early-stage startups to IPOs, Uber to AI-first SaaS. In this conversation, we unpack how brand is making a comeback, why messaging with conviction beats content volume, and how taste is the new moat.We cover:Why the pendulum is swinging back toward brand, away from performance marketingThe underrated power of a strong editorial and brand point of viewHow AI is accelerating the need for human authenticityBrand as a “revenue shield," and why founders can’t ignore itThe rise of marketers as the founders of the futureIf you’re a founder, startup marketer, or creative leader trying to navigate the noisy, AI-saturated world we’re in, this episode is for you.

Agentic AI and the End of BusyworkIn this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, I sit down with Aubriana Alvarez Lopez, Co-Founder and COO of Agnitio, to talk about what it really means to build with agentic AI, and why it might just be the operating system the media and marketing world has been missing.We get into the weeds on startup life, moving fast without breaking everything, and how Agnitio’s platform is transforming media operations that used to take weeks into workflows that take just minutes.Key Takeaways:Why agentic AI is different from the AI tools you're used toThe biggest time-wasting tasks in ad ops (and how to automate them)Fundraising and building with clarity in the early-stage chaosWhat explainable and responsible AI actually looks like in practiceWhy “fail fast” is more than a motto—it’s a survival tacticThe mindset shift required to lead in an AI-powered futureAubriana brings insight, honesty, and vision to a conversation that cuts through the hype. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or just trying to keep up with the pace of innovation, this episode will challenge how you think about AI, and about your own time.

What if your industry’s most “inclusive” networking events were actually leaving people out?In this episode, I’m joined by The Kay Prince — Director of Growth Marketing at Extreme Reach (XR) and founder of Buzz-Free Network (BFN) — the first sober community for the ad tech industry.We talk about:Why so much of ad world culture revolves around alcoholThe rise of the “sober-curious” Gen Z executiveHow to build inclusive events without killing the vibeThe future of professional communities built around values, not vodkaKay shares her personal story, how BFN is gaining traction at major conferences, and why the time for change is now.If you’ve ever felt out of place at a happy hour, or want to build more inclusive communities in your industry, this one’s for you.

Toni Collis is on a mission to change the tech industry by building better leaders. As the host of Leading Women in Tech and an executive coach for women in the C-suite, Toni shares what she's learned from working with hundreds of brilliant, ambitious leaders who are often the only woman in the room.In this conversation, we unpack the hidden costs of people-pleasing and the power of authentic leadership. If you've ever struggled to balance assertiveness with likability, or felt like leadership requires a tradeoff with your personal life, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:– Why people-pleasing leads to burnout, underperformance, and lost respect– The real reason women are still underrepresented in tech leadership– How to set boundaries without sacrificing career growth– Why good confrontation builds better teams and better technology– The difference between mentorship and coaching—and why it matters– What executives can learn from transparency– How to stop waiting to be noticed and start leading on your own termsWhether you're climbing the ladder or building one for others, Toni’s insights will help you lead more powerfully, sustainably, and authentically.

What do most startup partnerships get wrong? Tim Condon, Chief Revenue Officer at Clutch, joins the show to break down what actually drives partnership success, and why the best deals are built by putting the other party first.Drawing on lessons from his time at The Washington Post and now leading the revenue and client functions at Clutch, Tim shares a no-BS look at how partnerships scale, where they stall, and what it means to create something truly valuable in B2B.In this episode, we cover:Why most partnerships fail, and how to avoid common trapsThe surprising difference between big-name partners and scrappy onesHow Clutch is helping B2B influencers build monetized directoriesThe power of clear structure, defined roles, and aligned incentivesWhy Google isn’t the only growth channel that matters anymoreHow to think like an entrepreneur inside your organizationWhether you're in growth, sales, marketing, or partnerships, this one’s packed with hard-earned wisdom and fresh ideas.

What happens when you embed a creative agency inside a private equity firm? Brian Wakabayashi, Head of Brand at CōLab, joins Alexander to explore this unique model and share hard-won insights about startup marketing. CōLab creative studio reimagined for startups and built inside WestCap, a private equity investor. In this episode: Startup Marketing Reality Check: From seed stage to near-IPO, Brian shares what actually works at different company stages, why founders don't understand brand strategy, and how to train boards to measure more than just short-term metrics.The Dating Analogy: Brian's memorable framework for balancing brand and performance: "Performance is going out and asking for a date. Brand is working on yourself to become someone worthy of a relationship." Both matter, but the balance is everything.Beyond CAC and LTV: Why relying solely on Meta and Google for customer acquisition makes you "essentially a subsidiary" of those platforms. Brian explains the hidden costs of performance-only marketing and how rising ad rates are crushing profit margins.The CōLab Experiment: How WestCap built an internal creative studio to actually do the work for portfolio companies, not just give advice. Brian breaks down why most PE/VC "operating platforms" fall short and how their embedded model creates real value for startups.Key takeaways:Why diversifying beyond Meta/Google isn't just smart—it's survivalHow to sell long-term brand investments to numbers-focused boardsThe three-tier framework: business strategy → marketing strategy → brand strategyWhy startup marketing leaders need to think like consultants, not just tacticiansHow to build for your company's next growth stage, not just where you are todayAbout Brian: Brian Wakabayashi is Head of Brand at CōLab, WestCap's internal creative studio. Before joining the private equity world, he spent over a decade at major agencies including McCann and BBDO, working on brands like Xbox, LinkedIn, Taco Bell, and Mars Petcare. He's passionate about helping startups build lasting marketing strategies and memorable brands. About Brilliantly Wrong: Brilliantly Wrong is part of The StartUp Marketer podcast network for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional.Visit https://thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

Ever feel like you're drowning in marketing tasks as a solo marketer or small team? David Cardiel knows exactly how that feels. As a fractional marketing leader, he found himself managing everything from SDR teams to executive reporting while keeping the marketing engine running, all while still being responsible for the overall marketing strategy and execution.His solution? Building an entire AI marketing team with custom assistants for every discipline. Discover how David created specialized AI assistants for product marketing, content creation, competitive analysis, and more - each with their own personality and expertise.In this conversation, David shares his practical approach to AI automation, including his favorite tools beyond ChatGPT, how to start small and build up, and why he treats AI implementation like jazz - iterative, creative, and uniquely yours.Whether you're a team of one or leading a small marketing department, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to automate the busywork so you can focus on what really moves the needle.Key Topics:Building custom AI assistants for different marketing functionsEssential AI tools for solo marketers and small teamsTransitioning from traditional marketing to AI-powered workflowsFractional marketing leadership insightsStarting your AI journey without waiting for perfectionGuest: David Cardiel is a fractional marketing leader who has built and scaled marketing engines at multiple high-growth startups. He specializes in helping companies navigate tough market conditions with limited resources and smart AI implementation.

What happens when you're crushing it on paper but feel completely disconnected from your work?Kelly Ramirez, Founder of Elemental Leadership, knows exactly what that feels like. In this transformative conversation, she shares her journey from Google executive to seven-figure agency owner to executive coach—and the pivotal moment that changed everything.Kelly's story begins in the early days of digital marketing at Google, where she worked with massive travel clients like Expedia, managing hundreds of millions in ad spend. After nearly a decade riding the Google rocket ship, she took the leap to start her own growth agency and scaled it to seven figures.But success on paper doesn't always equal fulfillment. Kelly describes the defining moment when she was pitching a $70 million company and suddenly felt like she was watching herself from outside her body. That's when she looked up and said the words that would change her life: "I don't want to do this anymore."In this episode, Kelly gives listeners the tools to: Question your currency - Success isn't just about salary, equity, or status. Ask yourself what you're actually trading in and whether it aligns with your values.Create space to listen - High achievers often measure themselves against external benchmarks for decades. You need intentional space away from execution mode to hear your inner voice.Stop blindly charging ahead - The biggest thing holding leaders back is the inability to slow down and gain perspective on how they're showing up.Identify hidden fears and limiting beliefs - Kelly discovered her hidden fear was being "a spineless mediocre failure," which drove her to take over situations instead of truly leading.Leadership is about nervous system regulation - People don't remember what you said, they remember how you made them feel. Creating psychological safety enables creativity and better problem-solving.True transformation comes from within - Tactical solutions don't fix deeper issues. Real change happens when you generate your own answers through powerful questions.The power of purposeful stillness - Kelly and Alex discuss his artist father who would sit in his rocking chair to study his work, taking creative pauses is essential for breakthrough insights.Embrace the uncomfortable conversations - Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is create pause and ask "What's going on with me?" before reacting.Kelly is an executive coach who works with founders and business leaders in six-month intensives, helping them identify what's truly holding them back from having the impact they want to have. After 15+ years building and scaling businesses, she now focuses on unlocking human potential and supporting transformational change.This episode is perfect for anyone feeling successful on paper but unfulfilled in reality, leaders who want to understand what's really driving their behavior, or anyone considering a major career transition.Brilliantly Wrong is part of The StartUp Marketer podcast network for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional.Visit https://thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

In this enlightening conversation, host Alex Stonehouse sits down with Ashley Hernandez, a product marketing leader and entrepreneur with an impressive career in the cybersecurity and tech space. Ashley shares her journey from marketing generalist to finding her true calling in product marketing, where she discovered "all the things I've liked is the product marketing piece of being the generalist."Ashley takes us through her career evolution, including how she first recognized product marketing as her ideal path after seeing a job description that perfectly aligned with her passions for writing, strategy, and collaboration. She discusses the meaningful mission she found in cybersecurity, particularly in her current role helping smaller companies with DoD contracts achieve compliance and security.Beyond her full-time career, Ashley offers valuable insights into building her business, October Dreams Studios. She shares practical wisdom about carving out dedicated time for entrepreneurial pursuits while balancing family life with two young children.The conversation touches on creativity both in marketing and personal life, the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people who understand your goals, and setting boundaries to protect what matters most. Ashley's approach to building a multifaceted career while staying true to her priorities offers inspiration for marketers at any stage of their professional journey.Whether you're looking to specialize in a marketing niche, start a side business, or simply find more balance between work and personal growth, Ashley's thoughtful perspective provides a roadmap for finding your own marketing home.Brilliantly Wrong is part of The StartUp Marketer podcast network for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional.Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

In this insightful conversation, Alexander Stonehouse sits down with Nathalie Pramanik, the founder and CEO of Little Chompions, a company dedicated to making feeding babies fun and stress-free. Nathalie shares her journey from successful marketing executive to passionate entrepreneur, discussing how motherhood inspired her career pivot and the challenges of building a business from the ground up.Episode highlights include:Self-funding strategy: Nathalie's deliberate decision to bootstrap her business rather than seeking outside investmentThe Little Chompions mission: How Nathalie and her business partner Monica are creating expert-backed solutions to make mealtime less stressful for parents and more enjoyable for babiesThe power of expertise: How Nathalie partnered with a speech language pathologist and feeding therapist to create products with solid professional backingFinding a gap in the market: Why the transition to solid foods catches many parents off guard and how limited guidance from pediatricians creates confusionEducation first approach: Why Little Chompions focuses on knowledge and guidance as their primary product, with physical items supporting their educational missionThe Good Housekeeping seal: Winning the 2024 Parenting Award and using it as a strategic tool to build consumer trustThe engineering mindset: How her Dartmouth engineering background helps her break down complex problems and approach product designEntrepreneurial challenges: The surprising loneliness of decision-making and the difficulties of wearing every hat in the companyThe connection to Next Day: The unexpected way Nathalie met her business partner through advising an alcohol recovery beverage companyFuture plans: Expanding Little Chompions' educational resources and developing one-on-one support options for parents.Brilliantly Wrong is part of The StartUp Marketer podcast network for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional.Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Amber Winter, former CEO of Web Courseworks and current Chief Revenue Officer at SuiteDynamics, to explore how trust-based leadership drives sustainable business growth. From scaling a company from $3M to $9M in annual revenue to successfully leading a business through a merger, Amber shares her unique journey across marketing, sales, and executive leadership positions. She reveals how transparent communication, deliberate delegation, and strategic team-building create the foundation for accelerated revenue growth.Amber's transition from aspiring veterinarian to marketing professional and eventual CEOHow focusing on recurring revenue helped Web Courseworks triple in sizeThe challenges and rewards of building an executive leadership teamNavigating company acquisition while prioritizing both clients and employeesBalancing perfectionism with progress in a growth environmentCreating complementary leadership dynamics that amplify company strengthsLeveraging professional services expertise to build stronger software products

In this episode, Alexander Stonehouse interviews Bernadette Van Gieson, Growth Marketing Manager at Stories Inc., about the power of authentic storytelling in marketing and employer branding. Bernadette shares insights from her experience helping global brands bring their workplace culture to life through employee stories and discusses how storytelling builds trust, creates emotional connections, and makes content more memorable.Stories are 22 times more memorable than statistics alone, making storytelling the most effective communication mediumAuthentic employee stories build trust with candidates by providing real examples of workplace cultureThe most effective employer branding strategies align internal and external communications across the employee lifecycleIn a noisy digital landscape, focus on creating content that genuinely adds value to your audienceFor marketers on small teams: identify your strengths, seek feedback, and find alignment between personal passions and brand voiceBrilliantly Wrong is a StartUp Marketer podcast for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional.Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Matt Vanderlinden and Chris Vanderlinden, founders of Detonator, to discuss their journey from creative collaborators to brand storytelling specialists.Highlighted Topics: Origin Story: How two brothers with backgrounds in copywriting and cinematography joined forces to tell authentic brand stories Creative Process: The art of selecting perfect voiceovers, crafting soundtracks that drive narrative, and creating memorable visual compositions Art & Marketing: Exploring the meaningful parallels between artistic expression and effective brand communication Taking Calculated Risks: Why the most impactful brand content often requires stepping outside comfort zones B2B vs B2C Communication: Breaking down the misconception that business marketing can't be emotional or compelling The Client Relationship: How Detonator adapts to different client needs while maintaining creative integrity Starting Points: Advice for early-stage companies looking to establish their brand story and visual identityWhether you're an early-stage startup or an established company looking to refresh your brand narrative, the Vanderlinden brothers offer valuable insights on creating content that resonates with authenticity and purpose.Brilliantly Wrong is a StartUp Marketer podcast for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional. Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

Host Alex Stonehouse sits down with product marketing expert Christine Moore to demystify the often misunderstood world of product marketing. Christine, with her background transitioning from publishing to tech, offers valuable insights on what product marketing truly entails, how it differs across organizations, and practical strategies for success in this dynamic field.The discussion covers everything from effectively managing cross-functional relationships to conducting meaningful research and leveraging AI tools. Whether you're considering a career in product marketing or looking to enhance your current approach, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and rewards of this critical business function.Defining Product Marketing: Christine breaks down what product marketing is (and isn't), explaining how it "exists to drive both growth and retention by delivering the right product to the right audience using the right message."The Circle of Influence: How product marketers serve as the "connective tissue" between product, sales, customer success, and marketing teams.Research Strategies: The importance of competitive research, win/loss analysis, and customer conversations - particularly with churned customers.Product Launches: Why launches matter and the strategic value of both introducing and sunsetting features.From Publishing to Product Marketing: Christine's personal journey from book publishing to product management and eventually product marketing.Small Company vs. Large Company Experience: The contrast between working at established corporations and smaller, more agile companies.Challenging the Status Quo: The value of questioning "why do we do things this way?" and how to effectively drive change.Leveraging AI in Product Marketing: Practical applications of AI tools for research, content creation, and streamlining repetitive tasks.Common Misconceptions: Why product marketing isn't just sales enablement or "making slides pretty."Career Advice: Insights for professionals considering or new to product marketing careers.

On this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, host Alex Stonehouse is joined by Caitlin Bartley, CEO and Founder of cred, an event impact agency that has helped over 200 thought leaders share their voices across thousands of global stages. shares her entrepreneurial journey from competitive athlete to successful agency founder. Together, they discuss: Why Caitlin started her business, and how she’s grown it over the past decade. Her decision to bootstrap and grow without venture capital investments. The importance of saying “yes” as an entrepreneur and business leader Much, much more.Founded in 2015, cred has grown from a solo operation to a team of now 22, specializing in strategic speaker programs and event management. Under Caitlin's leadership, the bootstrapped agency has maintained an impressive 50% four-year employee retention rate while revolutionizing how companies build thought leadership through events.A former Division I soccer player, she brings the same competitive drive and resilience to entrepreneurship that shaped her athletic career.Before founding cred, Caitlin led marketing at LiveRamp where she helped create RampUp, now a cornerstone event in the MarTech industry. Caitlin also serves as the entrepreneurship liaison for Women of Dartmouth and recently managed speaker programming for the inaugural TEDxAI conference, continuing her mission to elevate diverse voices and perspectives in technology and business.Brilliantly Wrong is a StartUp Marketer podcast for marketers, founders, creatives, and anyone willing to embrace risk for extraordinary outcomes. Alex Stonehouse and his guests regularly dive deep into the art and science of marketing, startup growth, creativity, and mastery from a perspective that challenges the conventional. Visit www.thestartupmarketer.com to learn more and be part of the community.

The days of a clueless buyer who needs to be educated from scratch are long gone! Modern B2B buyers come armed with research, reviews, and comparisons before they ever talk to Sales.The question is - how are Marketing and Sales teams adapting?In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sat down with veteran sales leaders Matt Harpold and Nate Scherer to explore how successful Go-To-Market teams are evolving to meet buyers where they are.Primary topics include:Why sharing product specs and pricing transparency online is no longer optional How to personalize outreach for C-suite buyers who get hundreds of emails dailyWhy small GTM teams often have advantages in staying nimbleHow Marketing and Sales can build mutually beneficial relationshipsUsing AI strategically to enhance communication and prioritize the work that matters

In this solo episode of Brilliantly Wrong, host Alex Stonehouse dives into three critical topics shaping the future of startup marketing: Getting Comfortable Turning Things Off – Why scaling back outdated or ineffective strategies is a sign of leadership, not failure, and how to focus on what truly matters for your team and business. Mastering Experimentation Metrics – The importance of tracking and learning from your experiments to foster innovation and make informed decisions as a marketing leader. The Simplicity Paradox – How B2B SaaS startups can balance backend complexity with the simplicity customers crave, and why emphasizing ease of use can drive higher value.

Is a startup the right move for your marketing career? Startups offer a unique blend of challenges and rewards, but they aren’t for everyone. In this episode, I break down the 5 Ws (and 1 H) for marketers considering a leap into the startup world. Why startups are a playground for creativity and impact. What the day-to-day looks like for a startup marketer. When the timing might be right for your career stage. Who thrives in the fast-paced, flexible startup environment. Where to find startup opportunities, no matter your location. How to land the role that lets you make a real difference. Whether you’re a curious newbie or a seasoned marketer craving a fresh challenge, this episode is packed with insights to help you decide if startup life is your next big move. #MarketingCareers #Startups #Podcast #Growth

If you aren’t embracing the “Younger Brother Mentality” it’s time to start now!  In Originals by Adam Grant, he shares a striking stat: younger brothers in pro baseball are 10.6X more likely to attempt stealing a base and 3.2X more likely to succeed than their older siblings. Why? They’re purposeful risk-takers. Not reckless—but rather wired to take calculated chances. They have a fundamentally different approach to risk than their older brothers. And because they are constantly seeking opportunities to steal, they find more good ones and are more successful. Startup leaders and marketers are the "younger brothers" of the business world. To thrive, we take bold, unconventional moves that lead to outsized success. Whether it’s a daring product launch or a risky-but-rewarding campaign, staying safe means staying stuck. Play it safe, and you stay on first base. Take the calculated risk. It’s worth it. #Startups #Marketing #Leadership #Innovation #Risk #Creativity 

In this enlightening episode of Brilliantly Wrong, we're joined by dynamic Sales leader, Dustin Posey. Dustin shares how he ventured into the world of sales and quickly discovered his knack for it, setting the stage for a series of transformative roles.  During his time at Sunpro, his career blossomed in lockstep with the company’s revenue growth, scaling to incredible heights.  Dustin provides an insider's view on the unique hurdles of the solar industry, what technologies he prefers for sales and CRM, and his proud moments during Sunpro’s rapid growth.  We also explore Sunpro’s sale to global security giant, ADT, along with his current focus as the founder of PV Elite, shedding light on the evolving interplay between sales and marketing and the impact of new technologies like generative AI on sales enablement. Don’t miss our discussion on the philosophy of being "Brilliantly Wrong" — where Dustin shares personal anecdotes about taking bold risks that defy conventional wisdom. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to step into sales or navigate the complexities of a growth-stage company. Tune in for an episode filled with practical wisdom, inspiring stories, and Dustin’s invaluable advice for aspiring sales professionals.

Exciting News: I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new podcast, Brilliantly Wrong! Why Tune In? "Brilliantly Wrong" is more than just a podcast; it's a mindset shift. It's about daring to be different in marketing and embracing the kind of risks that lead to extraordinary outcomes. Whether you're a marketer, a founder, or just someone curious about the creative process, this podcast is for you. Join me as we challenge the norms and discover that sometimes, the best path to success is to be brilliantly wrong. I will be joined weekly by guest experts in marketing, GTM, sales, product, and design from across the startup world, along with creative masters who are bringing their work to life to share with the world.  🎧 Please listen, enjoy, and subscribe to get new episodes in your feed each week. #BrilliantlyWrong #Marketing #Podcast #Innovation #SaaS #StartupGrowth #Creativity #Mastery #Startups #DigitalMarketing #DemandGen

In this episode of Brilliantly Wrong, Alex Stonehouse sits down with Becca Moran, a luminary in the tech and startup space, currently steering the helm at Procurated as Vice President of Product & Engagement. With a career that spans over nearly a decade in diverse roles from technical project management at POLITICO to leading product management teams at Xometry, Becca’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. At POLITICO, early in her career, Becca cultivated her knack for managing complex projects and navigating the multifaceted demands of a burgeoning media outlet. Transitioning to Xometry, she embraced the challenges of the manufacturing sector, where she was pivotal in revolutionizing away from traditional practices toward innovative digital solutions. Her leadership significantly enhanced the platform’s quoting and modeling capabilities, setting new industry standards. Today, at Procurated, Becca leads with a visionary approach, managing the product, design, engineering, and marketing functions. Since its inception, she has been instrumental in evolving the platform that not only connects public procurement professionals with top-notch suppliers but also fosters a community based on transparency and trust. Under her leadership, Procurated has seen rapid growth and expansion, including the exciting launch of Canary (https://home.procurated.com/canary/).  Becca’s story is a powerful testament to the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in one’s career. Join us as we delve into her experiences transitioning from media to tech, scaling new heights in product development, and leading innovative projects that redefine industry norms. We’ll also uncover what drives Becca, her perspectives on growth, and how she continues to influence the startup landscape.