Go Fungal

In high-ticket B2B sales, your reps can’t be in the room every day. Matt sits down with guest Mani Oller, a corporate B2B marketing expert, to unpack how content helps brands stay top of mind, build trust, and support long sales cycles. Mani shares how marketers can move beyond generic messaging and reverse-engineer their content from the real business problem buyers are trying to solve. He explai...

As AI creates more noise than ever, business leaders are under pressure to move fast without chasing every shiny new tool. Matt sits down with guest Mark Rickmeier, CEO of TXI, to unpack how leaders can focus on the right problems before jumping to technology solutions. Mark shares how he spends his time building relationships, learning from competitors, and creating immersive communities that hel...

As AI reshapes how marketing teams work, the fundamentals matter more than ever. Matt sits down with guest Ann Hoeger, a fractional CMO and change management leader, to unpack why better briefs, clearer roles, and stronger agency relationships lead to better creative work. Ann shares what she has learned across CPG, B2B, private equity, innovation, and brand-building environments. She explains why...

Brands are fighting harder than ever to break through a congested landscape. Matt sits down with guest Michael Shmarak to unpack how creative PR, timing, and human connection helped revive the historic Smith Brothers cough drop brand and turn it into a national retail success story. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes thinking that helped transform Smith Brothers from a forgotten legacy brand int...

As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, it’s also quietly changing how people learn to do the work in the first place. Matt sits down with Antonio Garcia to unpack a growing concern: AI may be accelerating output, but it’s also threatening the job experience that junior professionals need to advance.   Drawing from his own experience, he breaks down what actually makes a great mentor, and h...

With the rise of AI tools changing how buyers research, traditional intent-based marketing like Google Ads is losing its edge. Matt travels to Milwaukee to sit down with guest Steve Robinson, a B2B marketing strategist.  Steve discusses why B2B marketers need to return to fundamental branding and audience building to cut through the increasing noise of AI. To help marketing leaders adapt, Steve ha...

An effective way for your audience to make sense of what's new is to connect it to what's known. Today, Mike Bechtel is here to teach you techniques to tell better stories. In his work as a futurist, he helps companies understand what's new and next. His strategies include using silence, a three act structure and analogies to stop from just adding to the noise. Stick around to learn how to impleme...

You’re a Founder who built your agency from the ground up. Congrats on getting this far! The bad news is, what helped you grow, isn’t going to help you scale. At this phase, it’s time to shift priorities, get clearer processes and delegate operations among your Senior people. If stagnancy and heavy workload is bogging you down, Isabelle Papoulias, Head of Operations and Marketing at EliteOps is he...

Is improv your missing leadership skill? Just ask Marcy Freeman, a Global Marketer with over 20 years of experience. She’s developed brand strategies and product campaigns as an Executive Leader. She's also an avid improver who’s performed with Chicago’s Second City. This episode, Marcy walks us through her journey to becoming a performer, and all the ways it has made her a more active listener, l...

In the comms world today, it’s never been harder to stand out. This week, Brooke Kruger of KC Partners is advising you on what interviewers want to hear. Brooke has a variety of interview tips up her sleeve that are going to wow comms leaders. Those include knowing your passions and studying the job you're applying for like you’ve already got it.  We give you all that and more this week!   Check o...

You’re the reason your business isn’t growing (and that’s good news). Take it from Brad Farris who has specialized in coaching agency and marketing leaders for 25 years. Brad encourages leaders to slow down, take time to reflect and assess their process before half-hearted productivity. If you feel like there's something standing in the way of you and your vision, you may actually be the answer yo...

AI is flipping marketing workflow on its head. That’s what Manny Rivera say’s.  He’s led platform transformations for  Coca Cola, Salesforce and Ford Motor Company for over 25 years. Along with how skilled he is in traditional brand functions, he’s guiding his clients into the future on how to integrate AI tools into organizations' everyday operations. His biggest message is the importance of two...

Most leaders aren't happy with how they show up during hard conversations with employees. Sondra Imperati, Founder of Persistent Courage, has spent her career guiding leaders in the corporate setting and now through one-on-one coaching, to help them get unstuck. As it turns out, you need to start with your values. Sondra has her own incredible story of leaving her job and marriage in order to purs...

We live in a digital world. But even the best in-person networkers struggle on LinkedIn. In this episode, we sit down with David J.P. Fisher, a powerful voice in modern sales and the author of Networking in the 21st Century. David walks us through his journey to nailing down social selling and getting started on LinkedIn, the right way. Stick around to find out how networking in the 21st century a...

Marketers are struggling with greenwashing and unclear communication when it comes to sustainability marketing. Nancy Himmelfarb tells her clients the solution starts with transparency and credibility. Since starting her sustainability crusade as the first corporate lawyer at Williams & Sonoma, she has dedicated the rest of her career to helping companies do sustainability marketing well. Most rec...

Starting in the mailroom is more than some movie stereotype for John Geletka, he’s the guy that actually did it. The founder of Geletka+, a full service creative agency in Chicago, IL knows it takes blood, sweat and tears to create things for a living. From his beginnings as an art student from the South Side to creating campaigns for brands. An unconventional path gave him the tools to build dyna...

If you're an executive who thinks they have all the answers, you’re probably wrong. Debra Ceffalio, Founder of Wildwood Communications has guided Senior Leaders for more than 25 years. According to Debra, the best leaders are less concerned with being right and more concerned with creating connection.   Learn how they do it in this episode.   Check out Debra on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/...

One of the job seeker's biggest hurdles is standing out on applications. This week we welcomed Lynn Hazan, a “relationship recruiter” who has spent her career helping her clients best represent themselves. She is a firm believer that it’s not about how often you apply, but where that is going to lead you to your dream role. In this episode Lynn shares her experience in matchmaking applicants to em...

There’s a lot of buzz around one question- “Does AI have what it takes to do my job?”. Annie Rogerson from Artisan Talent had the unique opportunity to test AI capabilities after her copywriter resigned. In this episode we’ll highlight Annie’s experiment using AI as her new copywriter. Her results may shock you, and hopefully soothe that uneasy feeling the question brings.   Tune into this episode...

For marketers, the job search can be a crap shoot. After countless hours chasing job boards and several months applying to random posts, many have nothing to show for it. Ready to stand out from the noise? Marty Gilbert helps candidates land jobs faster by taking a different approach. He shares the play by play on how to do it on this episode! Check out Marty on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/...

Did you know that new car smell is bad for you? It’s a result of harmful VOC’s that are being off gassed from manufactured materials. Global Client Success Manager, Leah McInerney is on this week to drop some knowledge on the indivisible dangers of indoor air, and how Allergy Standards Limited is helping manufacturers launch products that support better air quality.    Tune in to hear about that a...

Traffic is down but impressions are up. What’s happening with SEO in the world of AI? From theater kid to Digital Third Coast CEO, Lyndsey Maddox shares her story and why ChatGPT acts like an arrogant, people pleasing intern.   Tune in for that and more!   Check out Lyndsey on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseykramer/

“Salesperson”. A synonym for sleazy, manipulative and… well dressed? Craig Wortmann, is crushing those stereotypes at his company, Sales Engine and as a professor at the Kellogg Sales Institute. He’s on a mission to change the way the world views sales and help your team succeed. What will it take? Craig shares the answers, plus how losing his leg led to helping others build resilience in their li...

Many smart people are shouting "Search is dead!" but they might not have the whole story. This episode, Andy Crestodina, Co-Founder of Orbit Media, is on to hit you with the facts. We’ll delve into how marketers are adapting to AI. Plus, what does it take to keep and convert your ideal customer on your web page?”. Hear us talk about that and more!   Check out Andy on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin...

From selling wooden swords at Renaissance Festivals, to coaching big names on stage, Eva Daniel has taught countless CEOs in public speaking. She understands the high expectations of leaders to present well. With her business, “The Speak Shop” she’s created a playbook to ensure you’ll crush it at the big company speeches, and beyond.   Learn how to rise to the occasion and more this episode.   Che...