Fast Forward Podcast

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Jillian Mason Shannon, founder of Neotopia, a nonprofit reimagining how we engage with theology, philosophy, and culture, to talk about making the deepest questions in life feel accessible instead of intimidating. Jillian spent 14 years in New York before relocating to San Antonio, where she earned her Master of Divinity from SMU's Perkins School of...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Lael Berry, founder of Ecolux Goods, to talk about why a 22 karat gold straw is actually one of the most practical products on the market. Lael is a 20+ year entrepreneur, former hairdresser, and survivor whose entire business exists because of what she lived through. She walked me through how a disintegrating paper straw on a rooftop in California...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Kelli Kelley, founder and CEO of brndMethod Creative Agency, to talk about why creativity and results don't have to be a tradeoff and why most businesses aren't actually ready for AI even when they think they are. Kelli started her career in PR in New York at Walmart's Grand Fade of Glory, learned communications on the job sitting in editor lunches...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Haley Hoover, founder of Winnie & Lu and creator of the Airess drying rack, to talk about what it really takes to go from a napkin sketch to retail shelves at Nordstrom. Haley spent 11 years as a professional nanny before moving into healthcare sales, business development, and practice management. When she became a mom herself, she realized most...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Anderson Dos Santos, founder and CEO of Oceanview Building Group, to talk about how he built a healthcare construction brand that doctors actually want to refer their peers to. Anderson moved from Brazil to South Florida at 16 with zero English, learned the language (and Spanish) on construction sites, and was running entire crews within three years...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Digit Murphy, founder of United Women's Sports and a 40-year veteran of women's sports advocacy, to talk about what it really takes to grow women's sports from the ground up and why most people are approaching it the wrong way. Digit has done it all: coached at Brown University for over two decades, built programs from worst to first, coached profes...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Gabriel Müller, professional cyclist, app entrepreneur, and the man legally known in Turkey as Mehmet Şampiyon Bisiklet, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life across borders, stay curious, and keep showing up when comfort tries to kill your edge. Gabi is one of my closest friends and someone I've looked up to since my Berlin days....

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Kate Holgate, Executive Creative Director, Partner at Noble West and Co-Founder of Secondborn, to explore what happens when a 20-year creative career leads you to launch something entirely new — without leaving behind what you've built. Kate shares how she went from being one of two women at her first agency job to leading creative teams, building b...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Nicolette Miller, founder of Strykur Content and brand messaging strategist, to talk about what it really takes to build a writing business from the ground up — and why your brand voice might be the most important asset you're overlooking right now. Nicolette shares how she went from helping her dad's real estate office with marketing to launching S...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable agency career, choose the right niche, and grow in a fast changing marketing landscape. Stewart shares how he pivoted from engineering to marketing, worked his way through the agency world, and eventually found his edge in healthcare. We talk about the powe...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Scott Milano, founder and managing director of Tanj Co. and creator of chatnamer.com , to explore the hidden craft behind brand naming and why one word can carry the weight of an entire business. Scott shares his unconventional path from studying philosophy in college to working as a copywriter in Tokyo, eventually building a global naming consultan...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Danny Gavin, founder and chief strategist of Optidge, host of the Digital Marketing Mentor podcast, and creator of the ODO Academy, to unpack what it takes to build a modern agency in a world where AI is changing search, reputation, and strategy in real time. Danny shares his origin story from immigrating to Houston as a kid to building websites in...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Danielle Neumann and Kristine Scichilone, co founders of OOO Marketing, to unpack how they turned a sudden mass layoff into a clear, values driven marketing studio that helps content forward brands grow without burning out. They share the story behind launching OOO less than two weeks after losing their jobs, how years inside top media titles shaped...

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Carl LaFever, founder of Improve and Grow, to unpack how he turned two decades in corporate process improvement into a data driven digital marketing agency that has been operating for more than ten years. Carl shares how Lean Six Sigma, a season of burnout, six months overseas with his family, and a Christian retreat center all shaped his philosophy...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Eric Blankenship, founder and president of MindStone Marketing, to explore what it really takes to build marketing leadership rooted in culture, relationships, and fearless creativity. Eric's journey spans the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, hospitality marketing, and ultimately launching his own fractional CMO practice. From learning that intern...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with James Kaatz, co-founder and CEO of Illumination Marketing, to explore what it really takes to build a marketing agency rooted in trust, ethics, and long-term thinking. James’ journey spans entertainment, agency leadership, healthcare marketing, and ultimately founding Illumination Marketing after a personal moment that reshaped how he viewed busine...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Mark Labriola, founder and CEO of Brand Viva Media, to talk about the long road of building a creative business without shortcuts. Mark’s journey spans from touring as the lead singer of a band to teaching himself photography and video, grinding nights and weekends while working day jobs, and ultimately being laid off with no safety net before goin...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Chandler Lyles, co founder of High Beam Marketing and a multi time entrepreneur who has built, crashed, rebuilt, and scaled businesses across food, marketing, and ecommerce. Chandler’s journey spans from running a barbecue restaurant that ultimately failed to building a high performance marketing agency serving hundreds of brands. This conversation...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Chase Joliet, co founder of Two Socks Creative and the writer, director, and lead actor of the feature film Grapefruit. Chase and I go way back, long before either of us stepped into creative careers. This conversation is personal, reflective, and wide ranging, touching on creativity, risk, failure, and what it really takes to build a life around m...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with David Arato, founder of Lexicon Legal Content, a specialized content agency helping law firms navigate AI, SEO, and the changing world of digital marketing. 🎙️ We dive into • How Lexicon Legal Content started and why David left traditional practice • The real impact of AI on legal work, from hallucinations to malpractice risk • Why the verification...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Kaitlyn Talamante, CEO of LadyBoss, the mission driven wellness brand built for women who want to transform their health, confidence, and community. 🎙️ We dive into: • How Kaitlyn went from customer to CEO • Why community is the missing piece in most wellness journeys • The emotional and spiritual side of entrepreneurship • Reviving LadyBoss and le...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Kevin Gaumitz, CEO and Creative Director of Purple Cow Brands, the agency helping companies stand out through story driven design, creative SEO, and high performing digital strategy. 🎙️ We dive into: • How Kevin left engineering to build a creative agency with global reach • Why Creative SEO is transforming how websites rank and convert • The hidde...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Paul Jorg, co founder of Nalo Seed, the creator partnership platform helping brands and creators build long term collaborations rooted in trust, alignment, and real performance. 🎙️ We dive into: • Why most creator partnerships collapse before they ever gain traction • How Nalo Seed empowers creators to win meaningful brand deals • What brands actua...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Taylor Adams, co-founder of The Creative Agency, the content and influencer marketing firm helping brands scale through strategy, storytelling, and real audience connection. 🎙️ We dive into: • Why most brands fail at influencer marketing • How Taylor built an agency around creators instead of corporations • The real metrics that matter for social g...

In this episode of Fast Forward, we sit down with Lance Junck, founder of Ugly Sleep Club — the sleepwear brand built for burnout, honesty, and unapologetic rest. 🎙️ We dive into: • The real reason most people struggle with sleep • How Ugly Sleep Club breaks the mold of “perfect wellness” • Lance’s journey from burnout to bold brand-builder • Where AI fits into the future of rest and recovery • Bu...