The Brand Humanity Show Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/goldenhour-with-anthony-kennada Artificial Intelligence is rewriting every rule in business — and the old marketing playbook no longer works. The Brand Humanity Show explores how B2B founders, CMOs, and operators can build brands that stay human in an age defined by machines — and how the humans behind those brands can stay grounded, creative, and whole while the world accelerates around them. Hosted by Anthony Kennada and Scott Salkin, co-founders of Goldenhour, each episode features honest conversations with influential voices across business, technology, and culture — decoding what’s changing, what still matters, and how authenticity, emotion, and purpose become real competitive advantages. Because in the age of AI, the most human brands — and leaders — will win. © 2025 Goldenhour Brands LLC 7c46a16e-7f7e-5e5c-8a62-d0bb427c5a52 yes en Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:45:14 -0700 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:46:03 -0700 http://www.goldenhour.net https://img.transistorcdn.com/Eo-3ruea2hnMIvwZJGF3AH44tTJCUsaaU5EAws_w6wk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85Njhk/ZDkyZDgwMjc1NjUx/NjZkMDE3ODM1YmM0/OTIxMC5wbmc.jpg The Brand Humanity Show http://www.goldenhour.net episodic Goldenhour Artificial Intelligence is rewriting every rule in business — and the old marketing playbook no longer works. The Brand Humanity Show explores how B2B founders, CMOs, and operators can build brands that stay human in an age defined by machines — and how the humans behind those brands can stay grounded, creative, and whole while the world accelerates around them. Hosted by Anthony Kennada and Scott Salkin, co-founders of Goldenhour, each episode features honest conversations with influential voices across business, technology, and culture — decoding what’s changing, what still matters, and how authenticity, emotion, and purpose become real competitive advantages. Because in the age of AI, the most human brands — and leaders — will win. Artificial Intelligence is rewriting every rule in business — and the old marketing playbook no longer works. marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer Anthony Kennada info@goldenhour.net No No Why Most "AI-Native" Rebrands Aren't Fooling Anyone (w/ Joe Chernov) 17 17 Why Most "AI-Native" Rebrands Aren't Fooling Anyone (w/ Joe Chernov) full 3b282d97-4819-41ba-ba4a-4c56dcecf55f https://share.transistor.fm/s/473b8d53 Joe Chernov has spent his career defining what great B2B marketing looks like — building HubSpot's legendary content engine, then serving as CMO at Pendo, Robin, and InsightSquared. Now, as Operating Partner at Battery Ventures, he advises founders and CMOs across the portfolio on the most disorienting transformation marketing has faced in a generation. He joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada — who calls him one of the most philosophical thinkers in our profession — for a candid conversation about what it actually takes for a SaaS company to become credibly AI-native, and why most attempts fall apart the moment a buyer walks across the floor.

Joe doesn't mince words about the trap most teams fall into: under pressure to "be more AI-first," they slap sparkles and wands across the website, drop "AI-native" into a press release, and check the box. He calls it AI theater — and compares it to laminate flooring. From a distance it looks like hardwood, but nobody buys at a distance anymore. Buyers interact with you in LLMs, on LinkedIn, in the product, and the moment they step on the floor, they know it's fake.

So what separates the real thing from the veneer? Anthony and Joe dig into the structural shifts most marketers haven't internalized — why product development is no longer the constraint, why AI-native pricing signals value rather than seats, and why the best marketers now lead with outcomes and let the technology play a supporting role. They also explore the theme at the heart of this show: why the strongest AI brands — ChatGPT, Anthropic, Lovable — are leaning harder into humanity, and why every marketing leader now has to become a builder again, not metaphorically.

Topics we cover:
 – Why you can't "Control-F your way" to AI leadership, and the SaaSpocalypse forcing the issue
 – AI theater and the laminate floor: why surface-level rebrands fool no one
 – Why product development is no longer the constraint
 – How AI-native pricing signals value, not seats — and how pricing exposes pretenders
 – Marketing outcomes over capabilities, and the "oh, by the way" storytelling framework
 – Why the strongest AI brands are leaning into humanity
 – Why every marketer has to become a builder again — and how to start if you're not technical

If you're a CMO or marketing leader trying to move past AI theater toward something real, this episode is both a gut-check and a roadmap. Because the brands that win this era won't be the ones shouting "AI-native" the loudest — they'll be the ones who do the deeper work, market the outcome, and never lose the humanity underneath the technology.

]]> Joe Chernov has spent his career defining what great B2B marketing looks like — building HubSpot's legendary content engine, then serving as CMO at Pendo, Robin, and InsightSquared. Now, as Operating Partner at Battery Ventures, he advises founders and CMOs across the portfolio on the most disorienting transformation marketing has faced in a generation. He joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada — who calls him one of the most philosophical thinkers in our profession — for a candid conversation about what it actually takes for a SaaS company to become credibly AI-native, and why most attempts fall apart the moment a buyer walks across the floor.

Joe doesn't mince words about the trap most teams fall into: under pressure to "be more AI-first," they slap sparkles and wands across the website, drop "AI-native" into a press release, and check the box. He calls it AI theater — and compares it to laminate flooring. From a distance it looks like hardwood, but nobody buys at a distance anymore. Buyers interact with you in LLMs, on LinkedIn, in the product, and the moment they step on the floor, they know it's fake.

So what separates the real thing from the veneer? Anthony and Joe dig into the structural shifts most marketers haven't internalized — why product development is no longer the constraint, why AI-native pricing signals value rather than seats, and why the best marketers now lead with outcomes and let the technology play a supporting role. They also explore the theme at the heart of this show: why the strongest AI brands — ChatGPT, Anthropic, Lovable — are leaning harder into humanity, and why every marketing leader now has to become a builder again, not metaphorically.

Topics we cover:
 – Why you can't "Control-F your way" to AI leadership, and the SaaSpocalypse forcing the issue
 – AI theater and the laminate floor: why surface-level rebrands fool no one
 – Why product development is no longer the constraint
 – How AI-native pricing signals value, not seats — and how pricing exposes pretenders
 – Marketing outcomes over capabilities, and the "oh, by the way" storytelling framework
 – Why the strongest AI brands are leaning into humanity
 – Why every marketer has to become a builder again — and how to start if you're not technical

If you're a CMO or marketing leader trying to move past AI theater toward something real, this episode is both a gut-check and a roadmap. Because the brands that win this era won't be the ones shouting "AI-native" the loudest — they'll be the ones who do the deeper work, market the outcome, and never lose the humanity underneath the technology.

]]> Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:44:34 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3136 Joe Chernov has spent his career defining what great B2B marketing looks like — building HubSpot's legendary content engine, then serving as CMO at Pendo, Robin, and InsightSquared. Now, as Operating Partner at Battery Ventures, he advises founders and CMOs across the portfolio on the most disorienting transformation marketing has faced in a generation. He joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada — who calls him one of the most philosophical thinkers in our profession — for a candid conversation about what it actually takes for a SaaS company to become credibly AI-native, and why most attempts fall apart the moment a buyer walks across the floor.

Joe doesn't mince words about the trap most teams fall into: under pressure to "be more AI-first," they slap sparkles and wands across the website, drop "AI-native" into a press release, and check the box. He calls it AI theater — and compares it to laminate flooring. From a distance it looks like hardwood, but nobody buys at a distance anymore. Buyers interact with you in LLMs, on LinkedIn, in the product, and the moment they step on the floor, they know it's fake.

So what separates the real thing from the veneer? Anthony and Joe dig into the structural shifts most marketers haven't internalized — why product development is no longer the constraint, why AI-native pricing signals value rather than seats, and why the best marketers now lead with outcomes and let the technology play a supporting role. They also explore the theme at the heart of this show: why the strongest AI brands — ChatGPT, Anthropic, Lovable — are leaning harder into humanity, and why every marketing leader now has to become a builder again, not metaphorically.

Topics we cover:
 – Why you can't "Control-F your way" to AI leadership, and the SaaSpocalypse forcing the issue
 – AI theater and the laminate floor: why surface-level rebrands fool no one
 – Why product development is no longer the constraint
 – How AI-native pricing signals value, not seats — and how pricing exposes pretenders
 – Marketing outcomes over capabilities, and the "oh, by the way" storytelling framework
 – Why the strongest AI brands are leaning into humanity
 – Why every marketer has to become a builder again — and how to start if you're not technical

If you're a CMO or marketing leader trying to move past AI theater toward something real, this episode is both a gut-check and a roadmap. Because the brands that win this era won't be the ones shouting "AI-native" the loudest — they'll be the ones who do the deeper work, market the outcome, and never lose the humanity underneath the technology.

]]> AI native marketing, AI theater, Joe Chernov, Brand Humanity Show, Anthony Kennada, B2B marketing, CMO, AI for marketers, AI marketing strategy, marketing leadership, SaaS marketing, AI native, Battery Ventures, GTM strategy, go to market, demand generation, brand marketing, brand strategy, AI rebrand, marketing podcast, CMO podcast, product marketing, AI in business, vibe coding, AI native pricing, positioning, B2B SaaS, marketing trends 2026, future of marketing No Why the B2B Demand Gen Playbook Is Broken — And What Comes Next (w/ Jon Miller) 16 16 Why the B2B Demand Gen Playbook Is Broken — And What Comes Next (w/ Jon Miller) full 7b0f30df-85ff-43f3-bd85-762e82e5981e https://share.transistor.fm/s/7b68cf05 Jon Miller has had a front-row seat to every major shift in B2B marketing over the past two decades — from co-founding Marketo and helping define the marketing automation category, to pioneering account-based marketing at Engagio, to serving as CMO at Demandbase. Now, he's channeling everything he's learned into Phave, an AI-native startup built to reinvent demand generation from the ground up.

Jon joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a wide-ranging conversation about why the playbook he helped write is no longer working — and what it will take to build the next one.

Jon makes a provocative but data-backed case: a dollar of new ARR costs 70% more to generate today than it did in 2021, pipeline goals are being missed across the board, and SDR-qualified conversations have dropped by more than half since 2014. The old model treated demand generation like a gumball machine — put a dollar of campaign spend in, get leads out — while ignoring the fundamental truth that B2B buying is a complex, nonlinear system that can never be fully attributed or mechanized.

Together, they unpack why MQL-driven thinking produced bad behaviors across the industry, why brand was never optional, and why the shift from rules-based marketing automation to AI-native reasoning represents the most transformative change in the category's history. Jon explains what "rules to reasoning" actually means in practice — and why it makes true one-to-one personalization at scale finally possible after 25 years of chasing that promise.

They also get into the bigger picture: what it means to market in a world where buyers complete most of their journey anonymously, where 80% arrive at a vendor conversation with a preferred choice already made, and where AI agents are increasingly mediating the shortlist. In that world, brand isn't a soft metric — it's existential infrastructure.

Topics we cover:
 – Why the economics of demand generation are broken — and what the data actually shows
 – How B2B buying became a complex, nonlinear system that attribution models can't capture
 – Why MQL-obsessed marketing trained buyers to avoid us
 – The Socratic approach to convincing CFOs and boards that the playbook has to change
 – The shift from rules-based automation to AI-native reasoning — and why it changes everything
 – What Phave is building and why "AI native" means something fundamentally different at the architecture level
 – Why strong brand and product-market fit are the prerequisite — not the bonus — for demand gen to work
 – How the three-layer MarTech stack of the future (data, decisioning, delivery) will reshape the category
 – Why brand recognition is becoming the primary way you get shortlisted by AI agents
 – The cocktail video paradox: why the content that's hardest to measure often has the biggest brand impact
 – How Jon stays grounded — and optimistic — through relentless uncertainty

If you're a CMO, demand gen leader, or founder trying to understand why the old playbook is failing and what an AI-native approach to marketing actually looks like in practice, this is the conversation to start with.

Because the future of B2B demand generation isn't about sending more emails or building better nurture tracks. It's about earning a place on the shortlist before the buyer ever raises their hand — and that requires a fundamentally different way of thinking about brand, trust, and what it means to build a marketing system that actually works.

]]> Jon Miller has had a front-row seat to every major shift in B2B marketing over the past two decades — from co-founding Marketo and helping define the marketing automation category, to pioneering account-based marketing at Engagio, to serving as CMO at Demandbase. Now, he's channeling everything he's learned into Phave, an AI-native startup built to reinvent demand generation from the ground up.

Jon joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a wide-ranging conversation about why the playbook he helped write is no longer working — and what it will take to build the next one.

Jon makes a provocative but data-backed case: a dollar of new ARR costs 70% more to generate today than it did in 2021, pipeline goals are being missed across the board, and SDR-qualified conversations have dropped by more than half since 2014. The old model treated demand generation like a gumball machine — put a dollar of campaign spend in, get leads out — while ignoring the fundamental truth that B2B buying is a complex, nonlinear system that can never be fully attributed or mechanized.

Together, they unpack why MQL-driven thinking produced bad behaviors across the industry, why brand was never optional, and why the shift from rules-based marketing automation to AI-native reasoning represents the most transformative change in the category's history. Jon explains what "rules to reasoning" actually means in practice — and why it makes true one-to-one personalization at scale finally possible after 25 years of chasing that promise.

They also get into the bigger picture: what it means to market in a world where buyers complete most of their journey anonymously, where 80% arrive at a vendor conversation with a preferred choice already made, and where AI agents are increasingly mediating the shortlist. In that world, brand isn't a soft metric — it's existential infrastructure.

Topics we cover:
 – Why the economics of demand generation are broken — and what the data actually shows
 – How B2B buying became a complex, nonlinear system that attribution models can't capture
 – Why MQL-obsessed marketing trained buyers to avoid us
 – The Socratic approach to convincing CFOs and boards that the playbook has to change
 – The shift from rules-based automation to AI-native reasoning — and why it changes everything
 – What Phave is building and why "AI native" means something fundamentally different at the architecture level
 – Why strong brand and product-market fit are the prerequisite — not the bonus — for demand gen to work
 – How the three-layer MarTech stack of the future (data, decisioning, delivery) will reshape the category
 – Why brand recognition is becoming the primary way you get shortlisted by AI agents
 – The cocktail video paradox: why the content that's hardest to measure often has the biggest brand impact
 – How Jon stays grounded — and optimistic — through relentless uncertainty

If you're a CMO, demand gen leader, or founder trying to understand why the old playbook is failing and what an AI-native approach to marketing actually looks like in practice, this is the conversation to start with.

Because the future of B2B demand generation isn't about sending more emails or building better nurture tracks. It's about earning a place on the shortlist before the buyer ever raises their hand — and that requires a fundamentally different way of thinking about brand, trust, and what it means to build a marketing system that actually works.

]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:16:31 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3177 Jon Miller has had a front-row seat to every major shift in B2B marketing over the past two decades — from co-founding Marketo and helping define the marketing automation category, to pioneering account-based marketing at Engagio, to serving as CMO at Demandbase. Now, he's channeling everything he's learned into Phave, an AI-native startup built to reinvent demand generation from the ground up.

Jon joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a wide-ranging conversation about why the playbook he helped write is no longer working — and what it will take to build the next one.

Jon makes a provocative but data-backed case: a dollar of new ARR costs 70% more to generate today than it did in 2021, pipeline goals are being missed across the board, and SDR-qualified conversations have dropped by more than half since 2014. The old model treated demand generation like a gumball machine — put a dollar of campaign spend in, get leads out — while ignoring the fundamental truth that B2B buying is a complex, nonlinear system that can never be fully attributed or mechanized.

Together, they unpack why MQL-driven thinking produced bad behaviors across the industry, why brand was never optional, and why the shift from rules-based marketing automation to AI-native reasoning represents the most transformative change in the category's history. Jon explains what "rules to reasoning" actually means in practice — and why it makes true one-to-one personalization at scale finally possible after 25 years of chasing that promise.

They also get into the bigger picture: what it means to market in a world where buyers complete most of their journey anonymously, where 80% arrive at a vendor conversation with a preferred choice already made, and where AI agents are increasingly mediating the shortlist. In that world, brand isn't a soft metric — it's existential infrastructure.

Topics we cover:
 – Why the economics of demand generation are broken — and what the data actually shows
 – How B2B buying became a complex, nonlinear system that attribution models can't capture
 – Why MQL-obsessed marketing trained buyers to avoid us
 – The Socratic approach to convincing CFOs and boards that the playbook has to change
 – The shift from rules-based automation to AI-native reasoning — and why it changes everything
 – What Phave is building and why "AI native" means something fundamentally different at the architecture level
 – Why strong brand and product-market fit are the prerequisite — not the bonus — for demand gen to work
 – How the three-layer MarTech stack of the future (data, decisioning, delivery) will reshape the category
 – Why brand recognition is becoming the primary way you get shortlisted by AI agents
 – The cocktail video paradox: why the content that's hardest to measure often has the biggest brand impact
 – How Jon stays grounded — and optimistic — through relentless uncertainty

If you're a CMO, demand gen leader, or founder trying to understand why the old playbook is failing and what an AI-native approach to marketing actually looks like in practice, this is the conversation to start with.

Because the future of B2B demand generation isn't about sending more emails or building better nurture tracks. It's about earning a place on the shortlist before the buyer ever raises their hand — and that requires a fundamentally different way of thinking about brand, trust, and what it means to build a marketing system that actually works.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No Operationalizing AI in the Enterprise: Context, Care, and the Agentic Future (w/ Neha Sampat) 15 15 Operationalizing AI in the Enterprise: Context, Care, and the Agentic Future (w/ Neha Sampat) full c922830b-13e9-4599-9f8a-0b9d4bde6ca8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9195cc5d After founding three companies — including Built.io (acquired by Software AG) and now Contentstack, where she's defining the agentic experience platform (AXP) category — Neha Sampat joins host Anthony Kennada for a conversation about what happens when enterprise AI moves beyond experimentation and into operations at scale.

Just two and a half years ago, most enterprise leaders told Neha they weren't allowed to touch AI. Today, more than 90% of enterprises report that AI and agentic strategy are top priorities — but speed without infrastructure has scaled chaos alongside progress. In fact, Contentstack's new research across 700 enterprise AI leaders found that 88% wish they had slowed down and built a foundation first.

Together, Anthony and Neha unpack why context — the combination of an enterprise's content, data, culture, and customer knowledge — is becoming the most valuable asset a company owns, and the difference between agents that create real business value and agents that hallucinate their way into the "sea of sameness." They explore why brand may be the ultimate beneficiary of this moment: AI can match your colors, tone, and voice, but it can never genuinely care. The brands that lead with empathy — for customers, audiences, and the employees navigating this transformation — are the ones positioned to break through.
Neha also shares her vision for adaptive digital experiences that go beyond segment-based personalization to true one-to-one journeys, why a "crawl, walk, run" approach beats boiling the ocean, and how the most effective leaders are learning to stay calm in the chaos and get comfortable living in the gray. They close with a look at the next three to five years — a future where agents create and optimize content alongside humans, brands must feed the right context to the LLMs buyers increasingly consult, and, perhaps counterintuitively, physical and in-person experiences matter more than ever.

Topics we cover:

– Why enterprise AI conversations have shifted from experimentation to operationalization
– What's driving anxiety inside large organizations — and how the "unlock" moment changes everything
– Why most AI pilots stall, and how guardrails-first vs. dive-in-first companies are faring
– Context as the enterprise's most valuable asset: why agents without context hallucinate
– The "sea of sameness" problem — and why generic AI content makes brand differentiation harder
– Adaptive digital experiences vs. traditional segment-based personalization
– Findings from Contentstack's survey of 700 enterprise AI leaders
– Intentional friction: how to move fast without scaling mistakes
– How the marketing job function evolves when agents handle the repeatable work
– Why AI may make brands more human, not less — and why care without compromise wins

If you're a CMO, digital leader, or enterprise executive trying to move AI from pilot to production — safely, intelligently, and on brand — this episode offers both a practical playbook and a hopeful vision for what comes next.

Because in a world where anyone can generate infinite content, the brands that win will be the ones with the foundation to stay unmistakably themselves — and the humanity to genuinely care.

Want to go deeper? Join Anthony and the Contentstack team for an upcoming webinar where they'll unveil the full Agentic Enterprise Report, featuring findings from 700 enterprise AI leaders. Register here: https://explore.contentstack.com/cmo-webinar-goldenhour-07-2026

]]> After founding three companies — including Built.io (acquired by Software AG) and now Contentstack, where she's defining the agentic experience platform (AXP) category — Neha Sampat joins host Anthony Kennada for a conversation about what happens when enterprise AI moves beyond experimentation and into operations at scale.

Just two and a half years ago, most enterprise leaders told Neha they weren't allowed to touch AI. Today, more than 90% of enterprises report that AI and agentic strategy are top priorities — but speed without infrastructure has scaled chaos alongside progress. In fact, Contentstack's new research across 700 enterprise AI leaders found that 88% wish they had slowed down and built a foundation first.

Together, Anthony and Neha unpack why context — the combination of an enterprise's content, data, culture, and customer knowledge — is becoming the most valuable asset a company owns, and the difference between agents that create real business value and agents that hallucinate their way into the "sea of sameness." They explore why brand may be the ultimate beneficiary of this moment: AI can match your colors, tone, and voice, but it can never genuinely care. The brands that lead with empathy — for customers, audiences, and the employees navigating this transformation — are the ones positioned to break through.
Neha also shares her vision for adaptive digital experiences that go beyond segment-based personalization to true one-to-one journeys, why a "crawl, walk, run" approach beats boiling the ocean, and how the most effective leaders are learning to stay calm in the chaos and get comfortable living in the gray. They close with a look at the next three to five years — a future where agents create and optimize content alongside humans, brands must feed the right context to the LLMs buyers increasingly consult, and, perhaps counterintuitively, physical and in-person experiences matter more than ever.

Topics we cover:

– Why enterprise AI conversations have shifted from experimentation to operationalization
– What's driving anxiety inside large organizations — and how the "unlock" moment changes everything
– Why most AI pilots stall, and how guardrails-first vs. dive-in-first companies are faring
– Context as the enterprise's most valuable asset: why agents without context hallucinate
– The "sea of sameness" problem — and why generic AI content makes brand differentiation harder
– Adaptive digital experiences vs. traditional segment-based personalization
– Findings from Contentstack's survey of 700 enterprise AI leaders
– Intentional friction: how to move fast without scaling mistakes
– How the marketing job function evolves when agents handle the repeatable work
– Why AI may make brands more human, not less — and why care without compromise wins

If you're a CMO, digital leader, or enterprise executive trying to move AI from pilot to production — safely, intelligently, and on brand — this episode offers both a practical playbook and a hopeful vision for what comes next.

Because in a world where anyone can generate infinite content, the brands that win will be the ones with the foundation to stay unmistakably themselves — and the humanity to genuinely care.

Want to go deeper? Join Anthony and the Contentstack team for an upcoming webinar where they'll unveil the full Agentic Enterprise Report, featuring findings from 700 enterprise AI leaders. Register here: https://explore.contentstack.com/cmo-webinar-goldenhour-07-2026

]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:51:35 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 2096 After founding three companies — including Built.io (acquired by Software AG) and now Contentstack, where she's defining the agentic experience platform (AXP) category — Neha Sampat joins host Anthony Kennada for a conversation about what happens when enterprise AI moves beyond experimentation and into operations at scale.

Just two and a half years ago, most enterprise leaders told Neha they weren't allowed to touch AI. Today, more than 90% of enterprises report that AI and agentic strategy are top priorities — but speed without infrastructure has scaled chaos alongside progress. In fact, Contentstack's new research across 700 enterprise AI leaders found that 88% wish they had slowed down and built a foundation first.

Together, Anthony and Neha unpack why context — the combination of an enterprise's content, data, culture, and customer knowledge — is becoming the most valuable asset a company owns, and the difference between agents that create real business value and agents that hallucinate their way into the "sea of sameness." They explore why brand may be the ultimate beneficiary of this moment: AI can match your colors, tone, and voice, but it can never genuinely care. The brands that lead with empathy — for customers, audiences, and the employees navigating this transformation — are the ones positioned to break through.
Neha also shares her vision for adaptive digital experiences that go beyond segment-based personalization to true one-to-one journeys, why a "crawl, walk, run" approach beats boiling the ocean, and how the most effective leaders are learning to stay calm in the chaos and get comfortable living in the gray. They close with a look at the next three to five years — a future where agents create and optimize content alongside humans, brands must feed the right context to the LLMs buyers increasingly consult, and, perhaps counterintuitively, physical and in-person experiences matter more than ever.

Topics we cover:

– Why enterprise AI conversations have shifted from experimentation to operationalization
– What's driving anxiety inside large organizations — and how the "unlock" moment changes everything
– Why most AI pilots stall, and how guardrails-first vs. dive-in-first companies are faring
– Context as the enterprise's most valuable asset: why agents without context hallucinate
– The "sea of sameness" problem — and why generic AI content makes brand differentiation harder
– Adaptive digital experiences vs. traditional segment-based personalization
– Findings from Contentstack's survey of 700 enterprise AI leaders
– Intentional friction: how to move fast without scaling mistakes
– How the marketing job function evolves when agents handle the repeatable work
– Why AI may make brands more human, not less — and why care without compromise wins

If you're a CMO, digital leader, or enterprise executive trying to move AI from pilot to production — safely, intelligently, and on brand — this episode offers both a practical playbook and a hopeful vision for what comes next.

Because in a world where anyone can generate infinite content, the brands that win will be the ones with the foundation to stay unmistakably themselves — and the humanity to genuinely care.

Want to go deeper? Join Anthony and the Contentstack team for an upcoming webinar where they'll unveil the full Agentic Enterprise Report, featuring findings from 700 enterprise AI leaders. Register here: https://explore.contentstack.com/cmo-webinar-goldenhour-07-2026

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No How Customer Voice Becomes Brand in the Age of AI (w/ Alexandra London) 14 14 How Customer Voice Becomes Brand in the Age of AI (w/ Alexandra London) full 8ceffc6e-7e72-4390-b5b6-ab49cdb97583 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7da41ed2 After leading marketing at some of the world’s most influential brands — including Expedia, T-Mobile, and Zoom — and now stepping into the CMO role at G2, Alex joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a timely conversation about what marketing looks like when discovery itself is being rewritten by AI.


In a world where buyers increasingly begin their research with chatbots instead of search engines, Alex argues that the rules of brand, trust, and growth are not disappearing — they’re being redefined. 


Together, they unpack why citations are becoming the new clicks, why customer voice is emerging as the most valuable input into AI-driven buying decisions, and why the most human brands may be the ones best positioned to win in an increasingly machine-mediated market.


This episode explores the tension every modern marketer is feeling: how to keep up with relentless technological advancement without losing the authenticity, trust, and human connection that actually drive preference. Alex brings the rare perspective of a marketing leader who has spent her career at the center of discovery and digital transformation, and offers a practical lens on what teams need to unlearn, what they need to rebuild, and how the CMO role itself is evolving in real time.


They discuss how review platforms and verified customer experiences are shaping AI-generated recommendations, why brand and demand are converging into a broader growth mandate, and what it means to build for both human buyers and intelligent agents at once. They also get candid about the emotional side of this moment — the overwhelm, the excitement, and the opportunity for marketers to become more hands-on, more experimental, and more multidimensional than ever before.


Topics we cover:
 – Why AI is changing product discovery faster than most marketers are prepared for
 – How citations are replacing clicks as a new measure of brand visibility
 – Why trusted customer voice and verified reviews matter more in the age of AI
 – What G2 is seeing in the shift from search-based discovery to AI-led shortlisting
 – Why brand is no longer just human perception, but also how AI systems interpret and represent your company
 – The collapse of the old divide between brand, demand gen, and growth
 – What marketers need to unlearn from the old SaaS playbook
 – How modern CMOs are being pushed beyond channel ownership into business-wide accountability
 – Why the best marketers may become builders, operators, and analysts all at once
 – How to stay grounded, authentic, and human while leading through nonstop change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader trying to understand how AI is reshaping discovery, trust, and the future of growth, this episode offers both a strategic framework and a human perspective.


Because as machines increasingly mediate how buyers evaluate products, the brands that win may be the ones that learn to scale trust without sacrificing their humanity.

]]> After leading marketing at some of the world’s most influential brands — including Expedia, T-Mobile, and Zoom — and now stepping into the CMO role at G2, Alex joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a timely conversation about what marketing looks like when discovery itself is being rewritten by AI.


In a world where buyers increasingly begin their research with chatbots instead of search engines, Alex argues that the rules of brand, trust, and growth are not disappearing — they’re being redefined. 


Together, they unpack why citations are becoming the new clicks, why customer voice is emerging as the most valuable input into AI-driven buying decisions, and why the most human brands may be the ones best positioned to win in an increasingly machine-mediated market.


This episode explores the tension every modern marketer is feeling: how to keep up with relentless technological advancement without losing the authenticity, trust, and human connection that actually drive preference. Alex brings the rare perspective of a marketing leader who has spent her career at the center of discovery and digital transformation, and offers a practical lens on what teams need to unlearn, what they need to rebuild, and how the CMO role itself is evolving in real time.


They discuss how review platforms and verified customer experiences are shaping AI-generated recommendations, why brand and demand are converging into a broader growth mandate, and what it means to build for both human buyers and intelligent agents at once. They also get candid about the emotional side of this moment — the overwhelm, the excitement, and the opportunity for marketers to become more hands-on, more experimental, and more multidimensional than ever before.


Topics we cover:
 – Why AI is changing product discovery faster than most marketers are prepared for
 – How citations are replacing clicks as a new measure of brand visibility
 – Why trusted customer voice and verified reviews matter more in the age of AI
 – What G2 is seeing in the shift from search-based discovery to AI-led shortlisting
 – Why brand is no longer just human perception, but also how AI systems interpret and represent your company
 – The collapse of the old divide between brand, demand gen, and growth
 – What marketers need to unlearn from the old SaaS playbook
 – How modern CMOs are being pushed beyond channel ownership into business-wide accountability
 – Why the best marketers may become builders, operators, and analysts all at once
 – How to stay grounded, authentic, and human while leading through nonstop change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader trying to understand how AI is reshaping discovery, trust, and the future of growth, this episode offers both a strategic framework and a human perspective.


Because as machines increasingly mediate how buyers evaluate products, the brands that win may be the ones that learn to scale trust without sacrificing their humanity.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:51:33 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 1573 After leading marketing at some of the world’s most influential brands — including Expedia, T-Mobile, and Zoom — and now stepping into the CMO role at G2, Alex joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a timely conversation about what marketing looks like when discovery itself is being rewritten by AI.


In a world where buyers increasingly begin their research with chatbots instead of search engines, Alex argues that the rules of brand, trust, and growth are not disappearing — they’re being redefined. 


Together, they unpack why citations are becoming the new clicks, why customer voice is emerging as the most valuable input into AI-driven buying decisions, and why the most human brands may be the ones best positioned to win in an increasingly machine-mediated market.


This episode explores the tension every modern marketer is feeling: how to keep up with relentless technological advancement without losing the authenticity, trust, and human connection that actually drive preference. Alex brings the rare perspective of a marketing leader who has spent her career at the center of discovery and digital transformation, and offers a practical lens on what teams need to unlearn, what they need to rebuild, and how the CMO role itself is evolving in real time.


They discuss how review platforms and verified customer experiences are shaping AI-generated recommendations, why brand and demand are converging into a broader growth mandate, and what it means to build for both human buyers and intelligent agents at once. They also get candid about the emotional side of this moment — the overwhelm, the excitement, and the opportunity for marketers to become more hands-on, more experimental, and more multidimensional than ever before.


Topics we cover:
 – Why AI is changing product discovery faster than most marketers are prepared for
 – How citations are replacing clicks as a new measure of brand visibility
 – Why trusted customer voice and verified reviews matter more in the age of AI
 – What G2 is seeing in the shift from search-based discovery to AI-led shortlisting
 – Why brand is no longer just human perception, but also how AI systems interpret and represent your company
 – The collapse of the old divide between brand, demand gen, and growth
 – What marketers need to unlearn from the old SaaS playbook
 – How modern CMOs are being pushed beyond channel ownership into business-wide accountability
 – Why the best marketers may become builders, operators, and analysts all at once
 – How to stay grounded, authentic, and human while leading through nonstop change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader trying to understand how AI is reshaping discovery, trust, and the future of growth, this episode offers both a strategic framework and a human perspective.


Because as machines increasingly mediate how buyers evaluate products, the brands that win may be the ones that learn to scale trust without sacrificing their humanity.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, software, ai, human first No Brand Is the Moat - So Why Does Demand Get the Budget? (w/ Bill Macaitis) 13 13 Brand Is the Moat - So Why Does Demand Get the Budget? (w/ Bill Macaitis) full a7c44b9f-0cd3-42d5-8270-d8a8c188030d https://share.transistor.fm/s/4ede6937 After helping scale three of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in history — Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce — Bill Macaitis joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a candid, data-backed conversation about the tension every B2B leader feels: brand vs. demand in the age of AI.

At a time when the traditional marketing playbook is being rewritten in real time, Bill brings both pattern recognition and proof. Together, they unpack why brand isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the compounding asset that makes demand more efficient, more durable, and more human.

This isn’t theory. It’s a masterclass from someone who has built iconic categories from the inside.

They explore how marketing leaders can defend brand investment in boardrooms obsessed with pipeline, how to balance short-term performance with long-term equity, and why emotional connection may be the last true moat in a world of infinite AI-generated noise.

Topics we cover:
– What scaling Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce taught Bill about brand as a growth lever
– The false binary of brand vs. demand (and how to reframe it with data)
– Why CFOs cut brand first — and how great CMOs win that conversation
– The metrics that actually prove brand impact in B2B
– Category creation, distinctiveness, and standing out in saturated markets
– How AI increases the premium on authenticity and human connection
– Why the future of B2B marketing looks more like consumer than we think

If you’re a founder, CMO, or growth leader trying to navigate efficiency pressure without sacrificing long-term brand equity, this episode is both a strategic playbook and a mindset shift.

Because in a world where everyone has access to the same tools, brand humanity might be the only advantage that compounds.

]]> After helping scale three of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in history — Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce — Bill Macaitis joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a candid, data-backed conversation about the tension every B2B leader feels: brand vs. demand in the age of AI.

At a time when the traditional marketing playbook is being rewritten in real time, Bill brings both pattern recognition and proof. Together, they unpack why brand isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the compounding asset that makes demand more efficient, more durable, and more human.

This isn’t theory. It’s a masterclass from someone who has built iconic categories from the inside.

They explore how marketing leaders can defend brand investment in boardrooms obsessed with pipeline, how to balance short-term performance with long-term equity, and why emotional connection may be the last true moat in a world of infinite AI-generated noise.

Topics we cover:
– What scaling Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce taught Bill about brand as a growth lever
– The false binary of brand vs. demand (and how to reframe it with data)
– Why CFOs cut brand first — and how great CMOs win that conversation
– The metrics that actually prove brand impact in B2B
– Category creation, distinctiveness, and standing out in saturated markets
– How AI increases the premium on authenticity and human connection
– Why the future of B2B marketing looks more like consumer than we think

If you’re a founder, CMO, or growth leader trying to navigate efficiency pressure without sacrificing long-term brand equity, this episode is both a strategic playbook and a mindset shift.

Because in a world where everyone has access to the same tools, brand humanity might be the only advantage that compounds.

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:21:39 -0800 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3321 After helping scale three of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in history — Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce — Bill Macaitis joins Brand Humanity Show host Anthony Kennada for a candid, data-backed conversation about the tension every B2B leader feels: brand vs. demand in the age of AI.

At a time when the traditional marketing playbook is being rewritten in real time, Bill brings both pattern recognition and proof. Together, they unpack why brand isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the compounding asset that makes demand more efficient, more durable, and more human.

This isn’t theory. It’s a masterclass from someone who has built iconic categories from the inside.

They explore how marketing leaders can defend brand investment in boardrooms obsessed with pipeline, how to balance short-term performance with long-term equity, and why emotional connection may be the last true moat in a world of infinite AI-generated noise.

Topics we cover:
– What scaling Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce taught Bill about brand as a growth lever
– The false binary of brand vs. demand (and how to reframe it with data)
– Why CFOs cut brand first — and how great CMOs win that conversation
– The metrics that actually prove brand impact in B2B
– Category creation, distinctiveness, and standing out in saturated markets
– How AI increases the premium on authenticity and human connection
– Why the future of B2B marketing looks more like consumer than we think

If you’re a founder, CMO, or growth leader trying to navigate efficiency pressure without sacrificing long-term brand equity, this episode is both a strategic playbook and a mindset shift.

Because in a world where everyone has access to the same tools, brand humanity might be the only advantage that compounds.

]]> slack, zendesk, salesforce, bill macaitis, brand humanity, human first leadership, thought leadership, human first, marketing, professional development No When Marketing Becomes Product: Inside Intercom’s AI Bet (w/ Paul Adams) 12 12 When Marketing Becomes Product: Inside Intercom’s AI Bet (w/ Paul Adams) full dbfc495b-0a3f-47d6-9da5-d60b11512646 https://share.transistor.fm/s/704e643a Marketing isn’t just changing — it’s collapsing into product.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Paul Adams, Chief Product Officer and Interim CMO at Intercom, to unpack what it actually means to build, market, and lead in an AI-native world. Drawing from Intercom’s bold decision to bet the company on Fin — its AI support agent — Paul shares a rare, inside look at how founder conviction, product obsession, and radically human marketing converged to fuel one of the most consequential pivots in SaaS history  .


Together, they explore why the old SaaS playbook broke, why marketing calendars had to be deleted, and why the future belongs to full-stack marketers who understand AI as deeply as they understand people. From anthropomorphizing agents to rethinking launches, speed, education, and even how hard we should work, this conversation challenges nearly every assumption about modern marketing leadership.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI is collapsing the boundary between product and marketing

– How Intercom bet the company — and culture — on Fin

– The shift from polished marketing to radically human communication

– What “full-stack marketing” looks like in an AI-native company

– Why education is becoming marketing’s most important job

– Launching without Hollywood demos — and why authenticity wins

– Founder mode, speed, and knowing when to burn the calendar

– Why tired leaders make bad decisions (and how creativity actually emerges)


If you’re a CMO, founder, or product-led leader navigating the AI transition, this episode offers a clear signal through the noise — and a reminder that in the intelligence era, the most durable advantage is still deeply human.

]]> Marketing isn’t just changing — it’s collapsing into product.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Paul Adams, Chief Product Officer and Interim CMO at Intercom, to unpack what it actually means to build, market, and lead in an AI-native world. Drawing from Intercom’s bold decision to bet the company on Fin — its AI support agent — Paul shares a rare, inside look at how founder conviction, product obsession, and radically human marketing converged to fuel one of the most consequential pivots in SaaS history  .


Together, they explore why the old SaaS playbook broke, why marketing calendars had to be deleted, and why the future belongs to full-stack marketers who understand AI as deeply as they understand people. From anthropomorphizing agents to rethinking launches, speed, education, and even how hard we should work, this conversation challenges nearly every assumption about modern marketing leadership.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI is collapsing the boundary between product and marketing

– How Intercom bet the company — and culture — on Fin

– The shift from polished marketing to radically human communication

– What “full-stack marketing” looks like in an AI-native company

– Why education is becoming marketing’s most important job

– Launching without Hollywood demos — and why authenticity wins

– Founder mode, speed, and knowing when to burn the calendar

– Why tired leaders make bad decisions (and how creativity actually emerges)


If you’re a CMO, founder, or product-led leader navigating the AI transition, this episode offers a clear signal through the noise — and a reminder that in the intelligence era, the most durable advantage is still deeply human.

]]> Sat, 17 Jan 2026 06:50:09 -0800 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3160 Marketing isn’t just changing — it’s collapsing into product.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Paul Adams, Chief Product Officer and Interim CMO at Intercom, to unpack what it actually means to build, market, and lead in an AI-native world. Drawing from Intercom’s bold decision to bet the company on Fin — its AI support agent — Paul shares a rare, inside look at how founder conviction, product obsession, and radically human marketing converged to fuel one of the most consequential pivots in SaaS history  .


Together, they explore why the old SaaS playbook broke, why marketing calendars had to be deleted, and why the future belongs to full-stack marketers who understand AI as deeply as they understand people. From anthropomorphizing agents to rethinking launches, speed, education, and even how hard we should work, this conversation challenges nearly every assumption about modern marketing leadership.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI is collapsing the boundary between product and marketing

– How Intercom bet the company — and culture — on Fin

– The shift from polished marketing to radically human communication

– What “full-stack marketing” looks like in an AI-native company

– Why education is becoming marketing’s most important job

– Launching without Hollywood demos — and why authenticity wins

– Founder mode, speed, and knowing when to burn the calendar

– Why tired leaders make bad decisions (and how creativity actually emerges)


If you’re a CMO, founder, or product-led leader navigating the AI transition, this episode offers a clear signal through the noise — and a reminder that in the intelligence era, the most durable advantage is still deeply human.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No How to Lead Human-First in an AI World (w/ Nick Mehta) 11 11 How to Lead Human-First in an AI World (w/ Nick Mehta) full e1fa3b8c-eb75-4b17-9689-77feb1c6cf78 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d515f548 After 13 years building Gainsight and pioneering the Customer Success movement, Nick Mehta sits down with Anthony Kennada and Scott Salkin for his first in-depth conversation since stepping down as CEO — and it’s a masterclass in what it means to lead with humanity in a world being rewritten by AI.


They explore the full arc of Nick’s journey — from defining “human-first” leadership and shaping company culture around vulnerability, to learning how to let go, face adversity, and rediscover identity on the other side of success. Nick opens up about what transition really feels like, the myth of linear progress, and how creativity, writing, and humor became anchors through uncertainty.


Together, they examine how AI is challenging every founder and CMO to think from first principles again — to replace the old playbooks with curiosity, humility, and a renewed sense of purpose. They also unpack why Brand Humanity may be the ultimate moat when everything else looks the same.


Topics we cover:

– The untold story behind coining “Human-First”

– What it takes to step away after building a company for 13 years

– Vulnerability as a leadership superpower (and how not to fake it)

– Why “I don’t know” is the new mark of confidence

– How AI is redefining what founders and CMOs need to unlearn

– Creativity, poetry, and humor as outlets for grounded leadership

– The intersection of brand, culture, and authentic connection

– Why humanity might be the ultimate differentiator in business


If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with heart through seasons of uncertainty — or how to stay human in the age of AI — this conversation with Nick Mehta is a rare and deeply honest guide for the journey ahead.

]]> After 13 years building Gainsight and pioneering the Customer Success movement, Nick Mehta sits down with Anthony Kennada and Scott Salkin for his first in-depth conversation since stepping down as CEO — and it’s a masterclass in what it means to lead with humanity in a world being rewritten by AI.


They explore the full arc of Nick’s journey — from defining “human-first” leadership and shaping company culture around vulnerability, to learning how to let go, face adversity, and rediscover identity on the other side of success. Nick opens up about what transition really feels like, the myth of linear progress, and how creativity, writing, and humor became anchors through uncertainty.


Together, they examine how AI is challenging every founder and CMO to think from first principles again — to replace the old playbooks with curiosity, humility, and a renewed sense of purpose. They also unpack why Brand Humanity may be the ultimate moat when everything else looks the same.


Topics we cover:

– The untold story behind coining “Human-First”

– What it takes to step away after building a company for 13 years

– Vulnerability as a leadership superpower (and how not to fake it)

– Why “I don’t know” is the new mark of confidence

– How AI is redefining what founders and CMOs need to unlearn

– Creativity, poetry, and humor as outlets for grounded leadership

– The intersection of brand, culture, and authentic connection

– Why humanity might be the ultimate differentiator in business


If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with heart through seasons of uncertainty — or how to stay human in the age of AI — this conversation with Nick Mehta is a rare and deeply honest guide for the journey ahead.

]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:32:29 -0800 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3282 After 13 years building Gainsight and pioneering the Customer Success movement, Nick Mehta sits down with Anthony Kennada and Scott Salkin for his first in-depth conversation since stepping down as CEO — and it’s a masterclass in what it means to lead with humanity in a world being rewritten by AI.


They explore the full arc of Nick’s journey — from defining “human-first” leadership and shaping company culture around vulnerability, to learning how to let go, face adversity, and rediscover identity on the other side of success. Nick opens up about what transition really feels like, the myth of linear progress, and how creativity, writing, and humor became anchors through uncertainty.


Together, they examine how AI is challenging every founder and CMO to think from first principles again — to replace the old playbooks with curiosity, humility, and a renewed sense of purpose. They also unpack why Brand Humanity may be the ultimate moat when everything else looks the same.


Topics we cover:

– The untold story behind coining “Human-First”

– What it takes to step away after building a company for 13 years

– Vulnerability as a leadership superpower (and how not to fake it)

– Why “I don’t know” is the new mark of confidence

– How AI is redefining what founders and CMOs need to unlearn

– Creativity, poetry, and humor as outlets for grounded leadership

– The intersection of brand, culture, and authentic connection

– Why humanity might be the ultimate differentiator in business


If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with heart through seasons of uncertainty — or how to stay human in the age of AI — this conversation with Nick Mehta is a rare and deeply honest guide for the journey ahead.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No What Boards Really Want from CMOs Now (w/ Jake Saper) 10 10 What Boards Really Want from CMOs Now (w/ Jake Saper) full a00dcf44-b430-450e-9bae-1d519bec242d https://share.transistor.fm/s/e55e99c5 The playbook for modern marketing is being rewritten in real time. Anthony Kennada sits down with Jake Saper, General Partner at Emergence Capital — one of the earliest backers of category-defining companies like Salesforce, Zoom, and Gusto — to explore how AI, market velocity, and boardroom expectations are transforming what it means to be a CMO today.


Jake shares a front-row view of the AI-native startup era, where growth happens faster than ever, capital markets are “bananas,” and differentiation in a sea of sameness has never been harder — or more essential. Together, they unpack why creativity and humor matter in serious industries, why first-principles thinking is beating experience in the boardroom, and how great marketing leaders are re-potting themselves to thrive in a wickedly fast-moving era.


They also dig deep into ICP discipline, channel experimentation, and the surprising power of referrals over events in modern growth strategy — plus, yes, B2B musical theater.


Topics we cover:

– Why creativity and humor build human connection in tech

– How the CMO role is evolving in the AI-native era

– Why boards are favoring slope over experience

– Reinvention case study: Intercom and Finn

– The “bananas” early-stage funding environment

– ICP discipline as a marketing superpower

– Referrals vs. events: what the data actually says

– How great leaders re-pot themselves to thrive in change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader staring down a new era, this conversation will give you both a playbook — and permission — to build differently.

]]> The playbook for modern marketing is being rewritten in real time. Anthony Kennada sits down with Jake Saper, General Partner at Emergence Capital — one of the earliest backers of category-defining companies like Salesforce, Zoom, and Gusto — to explore how AI, market velocity, and boardroom expectations are transforming what it means to be a CMO today.


Jake shares a front-row view of the AI-native startup era, where growth happens faster than ever, capital markets are “bananas,” and differentiation in a sea of sameness has never been harder — or more essential. Together, they unpack why creativity and humor matter in serious industries, why first-principles thinking is beating experience in the boardroom, and how great marketing leaders are re-potting themselves to thrive in a wickedly fast-moving era.


They also dig deep into ICP discipline, channel experimentation, and the surprising power of referrals over events in modern growth strategy — plus, yes, B2B musical theater.


Topics we cover:

– Why creativity and humor build human connection in tech

– How the CMO role is evolving in the AI-native era

– Why boards are favoring slope over experience

– Reinvention case study: Intercom and Finn

– The “bananas” early-stage funding environment

– ICP discipline as a marketing superpower

– Referrals vs. events: what the data actually says

– How great leaders re-pot themselves to thrive in change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader staring down a new era, this conversation will give you both a playbook — and permission — to build differently.

]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:06:05 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3085 The playbook for modern marketing is being rewritten in real time. Anthony Kennada sits down with Jake Saper, General Partner at Emergence Capital — one of the earliest backers of category-defining companies like Salesforce, Zoom, and Gusto — to explore how AI, market velocity, and boardroom expectations are transforming what it means to be a CMO today.


Jake shares a front-row view of the AI-native startup era, where growth happens faster than ever, capital markets are “bananas,” and differentiation in a sea of sameness has never been harder — or more essential. Together, they unpack why creativity and humor matter in serious industries, why first-principles thinking is beating experience in the boardroom, and how great marketing leaders are re-potting themselves to thrive in a wickedly fast-moving era.


They also dig deep into ICP discipline, channel experimentation, and the surprising power of referrals over events in modern growth strategy — plus, yes, B2B musical theater.


Topics we cover:

– Why creativity and humor build human connection in tech

– How the CMO role is evolving in the AI-native era

– Why boards are favoring slope over experience

– Reinvention case study: Intercom and Finn

– The “bananas” early-stage funding environment

– ICP discipline as a marketing superpower

– Referrals vs. events: what the data actually says

– How great leaders re-pot themselves to thrive in change


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader staring down a new era, this conversation will give you both a playbook — and permission — to build differently.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No The CMO Role Is Changing — Fast (with Cameron O’Brien & Amber Weinberg) 9 9 The CMO Role Is Changing — Fast (with Cameron O’Brien & Amber Weinberg) full 350f98bd-0d68-41fc-9e55-2be6c817b52e https://share.transistor.fm/s/68291f5e The CMO role is in the middle of an identity crisis — and a rebirth. AI-first founders are prioritizing distribution, growth, and taste over playbooks of the past. Experience still matters, but today, aptitude, storytelling, and the ability to resonate with first-time founders matter more.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Cameron O’Brien and Amber Weinberg, co-founders of Aperture Partners (a boutique GTM executive search firm behind placements at Elastic, Fivetran, Anthropic, Fal.ai, Synthesia, Retool, and more), to unpack how the marketing leadership search is being rewritten in real time.


They explore how the expectations of CEOs have shifted, why “marketing needs a rebrand,” and what both candidates and companies must do to win in this new era of work.


Topics we cover:

– Why aptitude is outpacing experience in CMO hiring

– How to communicate marketing’s value to first-time founders

– The rebrand marketing desperately needs

– What top candidates are really looking for right now

– How human-first leadership can be a strategic advantage

– Practical advice for CMOs navigating career transitions in the Intelligence Age


If you’re a CMO, founder, or GTM leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will help you see — and seize — the opportunity in the shift.

]]> The CMO role is in the middle of an identity crisis — and a rebirth. AI-first founders are prioritizing distribution, growth, and taste over playbooks of the past. Experience still matters, but today, aptitude, storytelling, and the ability to resonate with first-time founders matter more.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Cameron O’Brien and Amber Weinberg, co-founders of Aperture Partners (a boutique GTM executive search firm behind placements at Elastic, Fivetran, Anthropic, Fal.ai, Synthesia, Retool, and more), to unpack how the marketing leadership search is being rewritten in real time.


They explore how the expectations of CEOs have shifted, why “marketing needs a rebrand,” and what both candidates and companies must do to win in this new era of work.


Topics we cover:

– Why aptitude is outpacing experience in CMO hiring

– How to communicate marketing’s value to first-time founders

– The rebrand marketing desperately needs

– What top candidates are really looking for right now

– How human-first leadership can be a strategic advantage

– Practical advice for CMOs navigating career transitions in the Intelligence Age


If you’re a CMO, founder, or GTM leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will help you see — and seize — the opportunity in the shift.

]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2025 07:23:01 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 2959 The CMO role is in the middle of an identity crisis — and a rebirth. AI-first founders are prioritizing distribution, growth, and taste over playbooks of the past. Experience still matters, but today, aptitude, storytelling, and the ability to resonate with first-time founders matter more.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Cameron O’Brien and Amber Weinberg, co-founders of Aperture Partners (a boutique GTM executive search firm behind placements at Elastic, Fivetran, Anthropic, Fal.ai, Synthesia, Retool, and more), to unpack how the marketing leadership search is being rewritten in real time.


They explore how the expectations of CEOs have shifted, why “marketing needs a rebrand,” and what both candidates and companies must do to win in this new era of work.


Topics we cover:

– Why aptitude is outpacing experience in CMO hiring

– How to communicate marketing’s value to first-time founders

– The rebrand marketing desperately needs

– What top candidates are really looking for right now

– How human-first leadership can be a strategic advantage

– Practical advice for CMOs navigating career transitions in the Intelligence Age


If you’re a CMO, founder, or GTM leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will help you see — and seize — the opportunity in the shift.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No The Power of Story in the Intelligence Age (with Nancy Duarte) 8 8 The Power of Story in the Intelligence Age (with Nancy Duarte) full 26370562-2dd4-4094-bac6-54f085ad9d24 https://share.transistor.fm/s/766ce002 In a world where AI can write, design, and analyze in seconds, one thing remains uniquely human: story. Anthony Kennada sits down with Nancy Duarte — CEO of Duarte, Inc., best-selling author, and the force behind some of the world’s most iconic presentations — to explore why storytelling has never been more essential for brands, leaders, and movements.


Nancy shares timeless insights from decades of helping leaders at Apple, TED, and beyond communicate ideas that move people. Together, they unpack why empathy is the heart of great storytelling, how tension (“what is” vs. “what could be”) transforms messages into movements, and why data alone can’t persuade without emotion.


They also explore the evolving dance between humans and AI in storytelling — and why the future belongs to those who can combine clarity, craft, and connection.


Topics we cover:

– Why storytelling is the most human act in business

– How to use tension and rhythm to move audiences

– The relationship between data and emotion in persuasion

– How to make ideas stick — and get them funded

– Storytelling as a language to build culture inside and outside your company

– What legacy really means in leadership


If you’re a CMO, founder, or leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will remind you why story is still the most powerful tool in your brand’s arsenal.

]]> In a world where AI can write, design, and analyze in seconds, one thing remains uniquely human: story. Anthony Kennada sits down with Nancy Duarte — CEO of Duarte, Inc., best-selling author, and the force behind some of the world’s most iconic presentations — to explore why storytelling has never been more essential for brands, leaders, and movements.


Nancy shares timeless insights from decades of helping leaders at Apple, TED, and beyond communicate ideas that move people. Together, they unpack why empathy is the heart of great storytelling, how tension (“what is” vs. “what could be”) transforms messages into movements, and why data alone can’t persuade without emotion.


They also explore the evolving dance between humans and AI in storytelling — and why the future belongs to those who can combine clarity, craft, and connection.


Topics we cover:

– Why storytelling is the most human act in business

– How to use tension and rhythm to move audiences

– The relationship between data and emotion in persuasion

– How to make ideas stick — and get them funded

– Storytelling as a language to build culture inside and outside your company

– What legacy really means in leadership


If you’re a CMO, founder, or leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will remind you why story is still the most powerful tool in your brand’s arsenal.

]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:41:48 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 2569 In a world where AI can write, design, and analyze in seconds, one thing remains uniquely human: story. Anthony Kennada sits down with Nancy Duarte — CEO of Duarte, Inc., best-selling author, and the force behind some of the world’s most iconic presentations — to explore why storytelling has never been more essential for brands, leaders, and movements.


Nancy shares timeless insights from decades of helping leaders at Apple, TED, and beyond communicate ideas that move people. Together, they unpack why empathy is the heart of great storytelling, how tension (“what is” vs. “what could be”) transforms messages into movements, and why data alone can’t persuade without emotion.


They also explore the evolving dance between humans and AI in storytelling — and why the future belongs to those who can combine clarity, craft, and connection.


Topics we cover:

– Why storytelling is the most human act in business

– How to use tension and rhythm to move audiences

– The relationship between data and emotion in persuasion

– How to make ideas stick — and get them funded

– Storytelling as a language to build culture inside and outside your company

– What legacy really means in leadership


If you’re a CMO, founder, or leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will remind you why story is still the most powerful tool in your brand’s arsenal.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No Redefining Ambition in the AI Age (with Amanda Goetz) 7 7 Redefining Ambition in the AI Age (with Amanda Goetz) full f7cb3008-91c4-4d53-94f3-9b5d8a3adf40 https://share.transistor.fm/s/77a6ac93 mbition has always been a badge of honor in business — but in today’s AI-driven world, the way we pursue it may be breaking us. Anthony Kennada sits down with Amanda Goetz (CMO, founder of House of Wise, and author of the forthcoming Toxic Grit) to explore why modern ambition needs a reset.


They unpack how grit can turn toxic when it ignores the seasons of life, why hustle isn’t always the enemy, and how intentionally stepping into the different “characters” we play — founder, parent, partner, creator — can restore balance and humanity to our work. Amanda also shares lessons from building community-led brands, navigating portfolio careers, and why leaders’ personal health directly shapes the companies they build.


Topics we cover:

– What “toxic grit” really means — and how to avoid it

– Why work-life balance is a myth (and what to do instead)

– How to embrace ambition without burning out

– The role of humanity in how leaders show up and build brands

– Why portfolio careers may define the future of work

– Practical ways to love what you have while pursuing what’s next


If you’re a CMO, founder, or ambitious professional rethinking how to thrive in the Intelligence Age, this episode will challenge you to redefine ambition on your own terms.

Pre-order Amanda's book Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have right here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Grit-have-actually-love/dp/146423325X?sr=8-1 

]]> mbition has always been a badge of honor in business — but in today’s AI-driven world, the way we pursue it may be breaking us. Anthony Kennada sits down with Amanda Goetz (CMO, founder of House of Wise, and author of the forthcoming Toxic Grit) to explore why modern ambition needs a reset.


They unpack how grit can turn toxic when it ignores the seasons of life, why hustle isn’t always the enemy, and how intentionally stepping into the different “characters” we play — founder, parent, partner, creator — can restore balance and humanity to our work. Amanda also shares lessons from building community-led brands, navigating portfolio careers, and why leaders’ personal health directly shapes the companies they build.


Topics we cover:

– What “toxic grit” really means — and how to avoid it

– Why work-life balance is a myth (and what to do instead)

– How to embrace ambition without burning out

– The role of humanity in how leaders show up and build brands

– Why portfolio careers may define the future of work

– Practical ways to love what you have while pursuing what’s next


If you’re a CMO, founder, or ambitious professional rethinking how to thrive in the Intelligence Age, this episode will challenge you to redefine ambition on your own terms.

Pre-order Amanda's book Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have right here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Grit-have-actually-love/dp/146423325X?sr=8-1 

]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:21:52 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 2908 mbition has always been a badge of honor in business — but in today’s AI-driven world, the way we pursue it may be breaking us. Anthony Kennada sits down with Amanda Goetz (CMO, founder of House of Wise, and author of the forthcoming Toxic Grit) to explore why modern ambition needs a reset.


They unpack how grit can turn toxic when it ignores the seasons of life, why hustle isn’t always the enemy, and how intentionally stepping into the different “characters” we play — founder, parent, partner, creator — can restore balance and humanity to our work. Amanda also shares lessons from building community-led brands, navigating portfolio careers, and why leaders’ personal health directly shapes the companies they build.


Topics we cover:

– What “toxic grit” really means — and how to avoid it

– Why work-life balance is a myth (and what to do instead)

– How to embrace ambition without burning out

– The role of humanity in how leaders show up and build brands

– Why portfolio careers may define the future of work

– Practical ways to love what you have while pursuing what’s next


If you’re a CMO, founder, or ambitious professional rethinking how to thrive in the Intelligence Age, this episode will challenge you to redefine ambition on your own terms.

Pre-order Amanda's book Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have right here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Grit-have-actually-love/dp/146423325X?sr=8-1 

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No Why PR Is Existential in the Intelligence Age (with Emilie Gerber) 6 6 Why PR Is Existential in the Intelligence Age (with Emilie Gerber) full 1757dcf0-ea98-4436-977b-6755ff369f11 https://share.transistor.fm/s/037511c3 In a world where AI models are shaping what the market knows—and doesn’t know—about your company, public relations is no longer optional. It’s existential.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Emilie Gerber, founder of Six Eastern and longtime comms leader for startups and venture firms, to explore how PR has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a core survival strategy for B2B brands.


They unpack why credibility and third-party validation are now mission critical, how earned and owned media actually complement (not compete with) one another, and what it takes to build brand trust in an AI-driven world.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI has revived the importance of third-party media citations

– The limits of trying to “game” LLMs with PR coverage

– How owned media and PR should work hand-in-hand

– Practical ways CMOs and founders can build credibility with reporters, podcasts, and niche outlets

– Why authenticity and humanity—not hype—are what resonate most with media


If you’re a founder, CMO, or marketing leader trying to understand how to stay visible and credible in the Intelligence Age, this episode will help you reframe PR as a foundational piece of your go-to-market strategy.

]]> In a world where AI models are shaping what the market knows—and doesn’t know—about your company, public relations is no longer optional. It’s existential.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Emilie Gerber, founder of Six Eastern and longtime comms leader for startups and venture firms, to explore how PR has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a core survival strategy for B2B brands.


They unpack why credibility and third-party validation are now mission critical, how earned and owned media actually complement (not compete with) one another, and what it takes to build brand trust in an AI-driven world.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI has revived the importance of third-party media citations

– The limits of trying to “game” LLMs with PR coverage

– How owned media and PR should work hand-in-hand

– Practical ways CMOs and founders can build credibility with reporters, podcasts, and niche outlets

– Why authenticity and humanity—not hype—are what resonate most with media


If you’re a founder, CMO, or marketing leader trying to understand how to stay visible and credible in the Intelligence Age, this episode will help you reframe PR as a foundational piece of your go-to-market strategy.

]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:17:04 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 2643 In a world where AI models are shaping what the market knows—and doesn’t know—about your company, public relations is no longer optional. It’s existential.


Anthony Kennada sits down with Emilie Gerber, founder of Six Eastern and longtime comms leader for startups and venture firms, to explore how PR has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a core survival strategy for B2B brands.


They unpack why credibility and third-party validation are now mission critical, how earned and owned media actually complement (not compete with) one another, and what it takes to build brand trust in an AI-driven world.


Topics we cover:

– Why AI has revived the importance of third-party media citations

– The limits of trying to “game” LLMs with PR coverage

– How owned media and PR should work hand-in-hand

– Practical ways CMOs and founders can build credibility with reporters, podcasts, and niche outlets

– Why authenticity and humanity—not hype—are what resonate most with media


If you’re a founder, CMO, or marketing leader trying to understand how to stay visible and credible in the Intelligence Age, this episode will help you reframe PR as a foundational piece of your go-to-market strategy.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No Why Marketing Needs Friction to Save Its Soul (with Robert Rose) 5 5 Why Marketing Needs Friction to Save Its Soul (with Robert Rose) full f588b4bf-1044-473a-9c44-360c0eabb32f https://share.transistor.fm/s/22c678cf Speed and efficiency have become the default values in business — but in the process, marketing is losing its creativity, humanity, and soul. Anthony Kennada sits down with Robert Rose (best-selling author of Valuable Friction and co-founder of the Content Marketing Institute) to explore why slowing down might actually be the most radical strategy in today’s AI-driven world.


They unpack the dangers of treating marketing as a machine, the role of authenticity in an era of “feature-function” startups, and how leaders can introduce valuable friction into their work to build brands that last.


Topics we cover:

– Why “real beats perfect” in content and campaigns

– How AI can help (or hurt) creativity and brand trust

– The difference between building for the moment vs. building for the brand

– Why owned media must be treated like a product, not a tactic

– Practical ways to reintroduce friction that sparks creativity


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader feeling trapped in the Cult of Speed, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you create, lead, and build brands with lasting value.

]]> Speed and efficiency have become the default values in business — but in the process, marketing is losing its creativity, humanity, and soul. Anthony Kennada sits down with Robert Rose (best-selling author of Valuable Friction and co-founder of the Content Marketing Institute) to explore why slowing down might actually be the most radical strategy in today’s AI-driven world.


They unpack the dangers of treating marketing as a machine, the role of authenticity in an era of “feature-function” startups, and how leaders can introduce valuable friction into their work to build brands that last.


Topics we cover:

– Why “real beats perfect” in content and campaigns

– How AI can help (or hurt) creativity and brand trust

– The difference between building for the moment vs. building for the brand

– Why owned media must be treated like a product, not a tactic

– Practical ways to reintroduce friction that sparks creativity


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader feeling trapped in the Cult of Speed, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you create, lead, and build brands with lasting value.

]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:09:46 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3041 Speed and efficiency have become the default values in business — but in the process, marketing is losing its creativity, humanity, and soul. Anthony Kennada sits down with Robert Rose (best-selling author of Valuable Friction and co-founder of the Content Marketing Institute) to explore why slowing down might actually be the most radical strategy in today’s AI-driven world.


They unpack the dangers of treating marketing as a machine, the role of authenticity in an era of “feature-function” startups, and how leaders can introduce valuable friction into their work to build brands that last.


Topics we cover:

– Why “real beats perfect” in content and campaigns

– How AI can help (or hurt) creativity and brand trust

– The difference between building for the moment vs. building for the brand

– Why owned media must be treated like a product, not a tactic

– Practical ways to reintroduce friction that sparks creativity


If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader feeling trapped in the Cult of Speed, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you create, lead, and build brands with lasting value.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No Why Executives Must Show Up on LinkedIn (with Melissa Rosenthal) 4 4 Why Executives Must Show Up on LinkedIn (with Melissa Rosenthal) full a7a0b5d1-4437-4a2f-8b60-5a1deb2ea5b2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c7b1e393 Executives today can’t afford to hide behind their company logo. Customers want to buy from people — leaders with a point of view, a vision of the future, and the courage to show up authentically. Anthony Kennada sits down with Melissa Rosenthal (Co-founder & CEO of Outlever, former BuzzFeed, Cheddar, and ClickUp exec) to unpack the shifting role of executives on LinkedIn and beyond. They explore why visibility matters, how to balance authenticity with professionalism, and what it takes to own your brand narrative in the AI era.


Topics we cover:

– The difference between being a “creator” and an executive with a voice

– Why authenticity (without oversharing) is the new currency of trust

– How to fight — or work with — the algorithm without losing your humanity

– The evolving relationship between rented channels (like LinkedIn) and owned media

– Practical ways to prepare leaders to succeed as spokespeople on social


If you’re an executive, founder, or marketing leader wondering how to stand out online without falling into the trap of “creator culture,” this episode will give you the playbook.

]]> Executives today can’t afford to hide behind their company logo. Customers want to buy from people — leaders with a point of view, a vision of the future, and the courage to show up authentically. Anthony Kennada sits down with Melissa Rosenthal (Co-founder & CEO of Outlever, former BuzzFeed, Cheddar, and ClickUp exec) to unpack the shifting role of executives on LinkedIn and beyond. They explore why visibility matters, how to balance authenticity with professionalism, and what it takes to own your brand narrative in the AI era.


Topics we cover:

– The difference between being a “creator” and an executive with a voice

– Why authenticity (without oversharing) is the new currency of trust

– How to fight — or work with — the algorithm without losing your humanity

– The evolving relationship between rented channels (like LinkedIn) and owned media

– Practical ways to prepare leaders to succeed as spokespeople on social


If you’re an executive, founder, or marketing leader wondering how to stand out online without falling into the trap of “creator culture,” this episode will give you the playbook.

]]> Fri, 29 Aug 2025 07:32:37 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3016 Executives today can’t afford to hide behind their company logo. Customers want to buy from people — leaders with a point of view, a vision of the future, and the courage to show up authentically. Anthony Kennada sits down with Melissa Rosenthal (Co-founder & CEO of Outlever, former BuzzFeed, Cheddar, and ClickUp exec) to unpack the shifting role of executives on LinkedIn and beyond. They explore why visibility matters, how to balance authenticity with professionalism, and what it takes to own your brand narrative in the AI era.


Topics we cover:

– The difference between being a “creator” and an executive with a voice

– Why authenticity (without oversharing) is the new currency of trust

– How to fight — or work with — the algorithm without losing your humanity

– The evolving relationship between rented channels (like LinkedIn) and owned media

– Practical ways to prepare leaders to succeed as spokespeople on social


If you’re an executive, founder, or marketing leader wondering how to stand out online without falling into the trap of “creator culture,” this episode will give you the playbook.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No The Temptation of Fractional CMO Freedom (with Sangram Vajre) 3 3 The Temptation of Fractional CMO Freedom (with Sangram Vajre) full 27a2b339-8c72-4506-9d96-7c487722253d https://share.transistor.fm/s/210d101b More CMOs than ever are rethinking the corporate ladder — and choosing a different kind of career path. Anthony Kennada sits down with Sangram Vajre (Co-founder of Terminus, CEO of GTM Partners) to explore why fractional work is on the rise, why now may be the perfect time to make the leap, and how it can be a more future-proof choice than betting your career on another full-time role.


Topics we cover:

– Why fractional work is gaining momentum in the AI era

– How “three to five clients” can replace — or exceed — a CMO salary

– The power of niching down and building a brand without becoming “an influencer”

– The mindset shift to start with the end in mind

– Why fractional freedom can create more stability than chasing the next company


If you’re a marketing leader looking for more control over your time, income, and impact — this one’s for you.

]]> More CMOs than ever are rethinking the corporate ladder — and choosing a different kind of career path. Anthony Kennada sits down with Sangram Vajre (Co-founder of Terminus, CEO of GTM Partners) to explore why fractional work is on the rise, why now may be the perfect time to make the leap, and how it can be a more future-proof choice than betting your career on another full-time role.


Topics we cover:

– Why fractional work is gaining momentum in the AI era

– How “three to five clients” can replace — or exceed — a CMO salary

– The power of niching down and building a brand without becoming “an influencer”

– The mindset shift to start with the end in mind

– Why fractional freedom can create more stability than chasing the next company


If you’re a marketing leader looking for more control over your time, income, and impact — this one’s for you.

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:42:56 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3333 More CMOs than ever are rethinking the corporate ladder — and choosing a different kind of career path. Anthony Kennada sits down with Sangram Vajre (Co-founder of Terminus, CEO of GTM Partners) to explore why fractional work is on the rise, why now may be the perfect time to make the leap, and how it can be a more future-proof choice than betting your career on another full-time role.


Topics we cover:

– Why fractional work is gaining momentum in the AI era

– How “three to five clients” can replace — or exceed — a CMO salary

– The power of niching down and building a brand without becoming “an influencer”

– The mindset shift to start with the end in mind

– Why fractional freedom can create more stability than chasing the next company


If you’re a marketing leader looking for more control over your time, income, and impact — this one’s for you.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No How to Stand Out When AI Makes Every Brand Sound the Same (with Mike Berger & Kevin Wu) 2 2 How to Stand Out When AI Makes Every Brand Sound the Same (with Mike Berger & Kevin Wu) full 756af89c-2266-40fe-a3d2-173bd809b422 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9a1505ba In a world where every B2B company is suddenly “AI-first,” how do you stand out without sounding like everyone else? Anthony Kennada sits down with Mike Berger and Kevin Wu, founders of Harmonic Message, to unpack the craft of strategic storytelling—bridging brand emotion with product reality. They explore why most positioning work fails, how to avoid the AI hype trap, and why the best narratives speak to both head and heart. Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or product marketer, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a story that drives strategy, inspires your team, and cuts through the noise.

]]> In a world where every B2B company is suddenly “AI-first,” how do you stand out without sounding like everyone else? Anthony Kennada sits down with Mike Berger and Kevin Wu, founders of Harmonic Message, to unpack the craft of strategic storytelling—bridging brand emotion with product reality. They explore why most positioning work fails, how to avoid the AI hype trap, and why the best narratives speak to both head and heart. Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or product marketer, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a story that drives strategy, inspires your team, and cuts through the noise.

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2025 07:41:57 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3547 In a world where every B2B company is suddenly “AI-first,” how do you stand out without sounding like everyone else? Anthony Kennada sits down with Mike Berger and Kevin Wu, founders of Harmonic Message, to unpack the craft of strategic storytelling—bridging brand emotion with product reality. They explore why most positioning work fails, how to avoid the AI hype trap, and why the best narratives speak to both head and heart. Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or product marketer, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a story that drives strategy, inspires your team, and cuts through the noise.

]]> brand narrative, positioning, messaging, brand strategy, brand humanity, b2b marketing, saas, AI, ai-first No SEO Is Breaking — But Still Your Best Channel (with John-Henry Scherck) 1 1 SEO Is Breaking — But Still Your Best Channel (with John-Henry Scherck) full bb2c24a4-e76a-46ce-9114-81a35455f2ff https://share.transistor.fm/s/32f4c20f SEO is the worst it’s ever been — and still probably your best channel.


In this episode of Goldenhour, Anthony Kennada sits down with John-Henry Scherck (Founder, Growth Plays) to break down what’s really happening in search right now — and what B2B marketers need to do before AI, GEO, and algorithmic noise leave them behind.


🔍 Topics we cover:

– Why impressions are up but clicks are down

– The myth of top-of-funnel traffic

– What CMOs get wrong about SEO and brand

– How AI is reshaping discoverability

– What actually works in performance marketing today


If you care about SEO, content, or brand strategy in the AI era — this one’s for you.

]]> SEO is the worst it’s ever been — and still probably your best channel.


In this episode of Goldenhour, Anthony Kennada sits down with John-Henry Scherck (Founder, Growth Plays) to break down what’s really happening in search right now — and what B2B marketers need to do before AI, GEO, and algorithmic noise leave them behind.


🔍 Topics we cover:

– Why impressions are up but clicks are down

– The myth of top-of-funnel traffic

– What CMOs get wrong about SEO and brand

– How AI is reshaping discoverability

– What actually works in performance marketing today


If you care about SEO, content, or brand strategy in the AI era — this one’s for you.

]]> Fri, 01 Aug 2025 23:00:01 -0700 Goldenhour Goldenhour 3425 SEO is the worst it’s ever been — and still probably your best channel.


In this episode of Goldenhour, Anthony Kennada sits down with John-Henry Scherck (Founder, Growth Plays) to break down what’s really happening in search right now — and what B2B marketers need to do before AI, GEO, and algorithmic noise leave them behind.


🔍 Topics we cover:

– Why impressions are up but clicks are down

– The myth of top-of-funnel traffic

– What CMOs get wrong about SEO and brand

– How AI is reshaping discoverability

– What actually works in performance marketing today


If you care about SEO, content, or brand strategy in the AI era — this one’s for you.

]]> marketing, brand, brand humanity, b2b, ai, enterprise software, chief marketing officer No