Marketing vs The World

How do you navigate organisational change and build strategic partnerships? In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Duke and Chaya Mistry, communications experts who empower in-house teams to lead change and influence stakeholders. From their unique blend of coaching and PR expertise, they share how to overcome resistance, foster trust, and drive impact in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Wha...

How do you turn a kitchen experiment into the UK’s top collagen brand? In this episode, I am joined by Darcy Laceby, the 27-year-old co-founder of Absolute Collagen, who built a beauty empire with her Mum, Maxine. From a quirky art project at 19, Darcy sparked a direct-to-consumer hit, growing from a £350,000 first year to millions, even landing in Boots stores. What You’ll Learn Authentic Storyte...

Can marketing drive real change? Join me as I sit down with Shannon Walker, founder of Social Disruption, who’s revolutionising brand storytelling with purpose. From her Caribbean roots in a close-knit family, Shannon shares her pivot from luxury PR to building a business cantered on impact. We dive into digital fatigue and why audiences crave authentic, inclusive narratives—think stories champion...

Curious if your website could save the planet? I’m joined with Matt Wheeler, eco-warrior behind Made by Studio and Green Tech Gathering, who’s slashing the web’s carbon footprint. In this episode, we’re unpacking how to build lean, green websites—ditching bloated code and energy-hogging videos. Matt drops jaw-dropping stats, like a homepage pumping out 360 tons of CO2 a year, and gets real about h...

Curious about cracking the wild beast of Amazon marketing? I’m diving into the chaos with Michael Doroszuk, Holistic Search Senior Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, back by demand after last year’s agency-brand breakdown. In this episode, we’re unpacking Amazon’s ad ecosystem, SEO quirks, and sales hacks—a raw guide for brands hungry to shine. Michael’s spilling the unfiltered truth on why it’s his fa...

How do some people master social media algorithms while we’re just double-tapping memes? In this episode, Tash Courtenay-Smith—strategist, non-exec director, and algorithm geek who’s been outsmarting platforms since the early days joins me. From Google to TikTok (24 million views, anyone?), Tash spills how she did it. Spoiler: it’s not viral luck—it’s grit, consistency, and reading the rules. What...

What happens when a Mum with no business degree takes a kitchen-table idea and turns it into a £3.5 million beauty empire? In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Pearce, the fearless founder of House of Amour, a DIY beauty brand that’s rewritten the rules of at-home glamour. Lucy’s not here with a polished pitch or corporate buzzwords—she’s bringing raw, unfiltered hustle, showing how she built a l...

What happens when you combine the complexities of running a franchise with the challenges of growing in a competitive digital landscape? In this episode, I sit down with Danny Hall, founder of FSE Digital, to explore the ins and outs of franchise marketing in 2025. Danny shares his expert insights on how franchises can thrive with the right local SEO strategies, optimise Google My Business listing...

How can TikTok’s SEO strategies boost your brand visibility? In this episode, I sit down with Victoria Douglas from Curious Social, a seasoned social media consultant, to explore how TikTok’s powerful search capabilities are reshaping brand connections. Vic shares how TikTok is more than just an entertainment platform—it’s a discovery tool that can significantly elevate your brand, ...

How can a solid brand strategy and personal resilience transform both your business and your life? In this episode, we sit down with Adam, co-founder of Pink Leopard and Studio 3.5, to explore why refining your brand strategy is essential as your business grows. Adam explains that brand strategy should be an ongoing focus, offering insights on how understanding your ‘why’ leads to greater clarity,...

In this episode of Marketing vs. The World, host Abbie Dando sits down with Jake, Managing Director at Curated, to discuss why 2025 might be the year your business should take a step back to take a step forward. Jake shares his unconventional journey into leadership, his experience of transforming Curated into a consultancy-driven agency, and why adopting a holistic, connected marketing strategy i...

In this episode of Marketing vs. The World, host Abbie Dando chats with Michael Bird, Head of Audio at a US-based tech company, about the power of podcasting for brands. Michael shares his journey into audio, insights into launching a successful podcast and why this medium is a game-changer for businesses. Michael Bird’s Background Michael shares his non-linear career...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World, host Abbie Dando chats with Paulo Andraus, tech SEO expert and creator of the SEO Game Show. Together, they dive into the importance of technical SEO and share actionable tips for businesses. They also explore Paulo’s experiences as an immigrant in the workplace.   Paulo Andraus’ Background and the SEO Game Show Paulo shares his journey from Bra...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World, host Abbie Dando chats with Gareth Dunlop, a seasoned UX expert and entrepreneur, about the critical balance between desirability and usability in user experience design. Gareth shares practical insights on designing digital products that create desire while ensuring ease of use, alongside his experience of building and selling two successful marketi...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World , Abbie sits down with Nick Houchin, Marketing Director at Musto, to explore the art of safeguarding an iconic heritage brand. They discuss Musto’s remarkable 60-year journey, its innovative product development, and the importance of staying true to the brand’s DNA amidst modern marketing challenges. Nick also opens up about his sailing roots, the joys and...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World, Abbie Dando sits down with Natasha Hill, Managing Director and Co-owner of Bottle, to explore how PR can influence every stage of the funnel—not just brand awareness. They delve into the evolving landscape of digital PR, its impact on SEO, and how to integrate it across marketing strategies. On a more personal note, Natasha shares her experiences pus...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World, host Abbie Dando sits down with Ash Pollak, founder of Teodophobes, to explore the art of storytelling in marketing. Ash explains why brands, particularly in B2B, must move away from traditional advertising and instead focus on entertaining their customers to build authentic connections. Ash also shares his insights on living and working remotely in...

In this episode of  Marketing vs The World , host Abbie Dando chats with Fiona Brennan, founder of Indie Essentials, about sustainable content creation and how it can prevent burnout in marketing teams. They also explore Fiona's unique journey from the music industry to content marketing, and how creativity has influenced her approach to business and life. In this episode, Abbie and Fiona dis...

In this episode of  Marketing vs The World , host Abbie Dando is joined by Oliver Thomas, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager at Nomad Foods, to delve into the frozen food industry and discuss Nomad Foods' mission to serve the world better food. They also tackle the challenges of sustainability, the misconceptions surrounding ultra-processed foods, and how to manage a demanding corporate career...

Get ready to dive deep into the world of strategic content and redefine what success means to you in this episode of Marketing Versus the World. Host Abbie Dando welcomes Rin Hamburgh, founder of RH & Co., for an insightful and thought-provoking conversation.  Rin shares her expert advice on the importance of interviewing stakeholders and authoritative figures before creating any content....

Welcome to another insightful episode of Marketing Versus the World! This week, host Abbie Dando sits down with Jaye Cowle, the founder of Launch Online, a dynamic paid search agency. Together, they dive into the debate on branded versus non-branded search and explore Jaye’s proven formula for happiness at work. Tune in to discover expert strategies, industry insights, and actionable tips to eleva...

In this episode of Marketing vs The World, we’re joined by Marius Tudor, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at National Express, to discuss one of the hottest topics in the digital marketing world: Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE). We dive into whether SGE could signal the end of traditional search engines and what this means for marketers. But that’s not all—we also tackle the criti...

Welcome to Marketing Versus the World! In this episode, host Abbie Dando chats with Ali Wallace, founder of DNA Recruit, about the best strategies for hiring top talent in the marketing field for 2024. Alongside this, Ali opens up about his journey with ADHD and how it impacts his role as a business owner. In this episode, Abbie and Ali discuss: Ali’s Journey: Founder of DNA Recruit, with 16 years...

Get ready for an eye-opening episode of Marketing Versus the World! Join Abbie as she chats with Barney Durrant, the mastermind behind Bluebell Marketing and a former Google insider. Barney shares his invaluable experience from the heart of Google, revealing the secrets of Google Ads for tech brands. But that's not all – they also dive into a topic close to Barney's heart: digital poverty and the...

In this insightful episode of Marketing vs The World, host Abbie Dando sits down with Caroline Orr, co-owner of Program, to discuss the complexities of marketing in 2024 and the realities of balancing a career with motherhood. In this episode, Abbie and Caroline (Kaz) discuss: Caroline Orr’s background Journey from working in the travel industry to co-owning a marketing agency. The organic growth...