Rethinking Communication

This week's conversation with Jay Acunzo, founder of Marketing Showrunners and author of Break the Wheel , is one of my favorite interviews I've done to date.   I got goosebumps when he says that it is healthier to say "I have questions" than it is to say "I have answers."   Jay is as passionate about the art of storytelling and bucking perceived best practices as anyone I've come across, and he's...

Jeremy Ryan Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, a show to help people create life on their own terms.   At the age of 19, Jeremy had a near-death experience as a routine surgery led him to receive last rites from a priest. He recovered and graduated with his masters degree into one of the worst job markets in history. When he finally landed his "dream job" as a teacher, he re...

Jordan Harbinger is one of the most well-known podcasters in the world, with one of the most listened-to shows, The Jordan Harbinger Show.   He's been podcasting and doing interviews for more than 13 years, and over that time, he's interviews some of the biggest names in culture, as well as authors, scientists, researchers, and experts in hundreds of fields of study.   In this episode, Jordan and...

Back in college at Kansas State when I first changed my major from civil engineering to mass communications and journalism, I wanted to work for today's guest, Tim Fitzgerald.   Tim operates the website, GoPowercat.com, and at the time he published a K-State sports magazine, Powercat Illustrated. I approached Tim to see if I could work for him, and he gave me advice that ultimately made me a much...

Lindsay Tjepkema is the CEO and Co-Founder of Casted ( https://casted.us/ ), a B2B podcasting platform. Getting Casted off and running is a bit of a unique story since Lindsay rose through the marketing ranks to become CEO rather than through the more traditional sales or operations routes.   Lindsay's perspective is further heightened since she is a female CEO in the male-dominated B2B tech space...

Jesse Newell is an award-winning sports writer as the University of Kansas athletics beat writer for the Kansas City Star and a former colleague of mine when he and I first got our start in journalism out of college at The Emporia Gazette in Emporia, Kan.   Jesse is one of the best writers and storytellers I've ever met, and as a sports writer during a pandemic when no sports were happening, I was...

In 2005, Dr. Kimetris Baltrip was named the student newspaper faculty advisor at Kansas State University amid a firestorm. A year prior, the Kansas State Collegian's former advisor, Ron Johnson, had been dismissed from his position. School administrators said Johnson was removed because of a decline in the overall quality of the newspaper. Student editors believed it was because the school was try...

Welcome to The Follow-Up Question, with your host, Michael Ashford, a former journalist and veteran podcaster setting out to uncover amazing stories simply by asking questions. Each show's aim will be to not only bring you insightful interviews with people from all different backgrounds and perspectives, but to also help you become a better listener and question-asker.