The Accidental Marketer Podcast

When Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down, competing airlines were forced to respond almost immediately. In this episode, Tom and Mary examine how carriers such as United, Southwest, Delta, and JetBlue reacted in ways that were remarkably consistent with their positioning and target customers. The discussion explores what those responses reveal about strategy, competitive preparedness, and the value...

A $7 bag of Doritos sparked a broader discussion about one of the most common pricing mistakes in business. In this episode, Mary and Tom explore why customers often define competitors and alternatives differently than companies do, and how that gap can lead to pricing and commercialization challenges. The conversation highlights a simple question that can improve strategic decision-making across...

In this episode, the team explores how companies like Nvidia are redefining competition by partnering with competitors to build full ecosystem solutions. Rather than fighting for share within existing categories, they are expanding the market itself by helping customers succeed end-to-end. The discussion highlights how B2B companies can identify when co-opetition makes sense and how to apply it st...

In this episode, the team breaks down the surprising outcome of the Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war and why Netflix—despite a strong strategic position—didn’t win. What began as a logical, best-fit decision quickly shifted as Paramount reframed the deal around certainty and risk. The conversation explores how strategy evolves through competitor moves, stakeholder priorities, and external pressu...

In this episode, the team explores why growth in B2B doesn’t always come from adding more products, brands, or acquisitions — it often comes from trimming. From product lines to brand names, organizations tend to hold onto legacy assets long after their strategic value fades. The group unpacks how to think more objectively about what to double down on, what to maintain, and what to let go — and wh...

In this episode, Mary and Tom unpack the backlash surrounding Ring’s Super Bowl ad for its new “Search Party” feature — a tool designed to help locate lost dogs through Ring cameras. On the surface, the idea felt like a winner: people love dogs, and technology that helps reunite pets with owners sounds inherently positive. But the reaction exposed deeper issues around privacy, positioning, and cul...

Search, as most B2B marketers learned it, is no longer the center of gravity. In this episode, the team explores how AI-driven answer engines are changing the way buyers discover, evaluate, and narrow options — often before a salesperson or website ever enters the picture. What starts as a conversation about SEO quickly becomes a strategic discussion about needs-based segmentation, decision logic,...

In this episode, Mary, Tom, and Sean are joined by special guest Ginny Ertl, a change management and leadership development expert, to explore why generational labels fall short as a way to understand how people actually behave at work. What starts as a discussion about Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers quickly moves past age-based assumptions and into a more useful lens: segmentation. Drawin...

In this episode, Mary, Tom, and Sean look ahead to 2026 by exploring how digital health, AI-driven micro-segmentation, and workforce shifts are beginning to intersect. Rather than focusing on a single dominant trend, they discuss why understanding second-order effects — and viewing change through the eyes of customers and stakeholders — will be critical for effective strategy in the years ahead.

In this year-end discussion, the team unpacks what 2025 really highlighted about organizational strategy. They examine how high-performing teams used AI to widen the range of strategic choices, why uneven economic shifts made scenario planning a necessity, and how Nike’s distribution reset underscored the importance of understanding influence systems. The episode emphasizes that the organizations...

This episode breaks down the rise and fall of Quibi — and the strategic lessons behind its rapid collapse. You’ll learn how trend shifts, assumptions, and lack of customer testing can undermine even the strongest ideas.

This episode explores why great companies fall behind — and how to avoid the same mistakes. The team breaks down the forces that cause once-dominant brands to lose their way and the practices that keep customer-aware companies on top.

This episode tackles the year-end dilemma: use it or lose it. Learn how to turn your budget surplus into strategic advantage with smart investments in insight, innovation, and team capability.

This episode explores why your best storytelling might not mention your product at all. Learn how to craft stories that build credibility, spark curiosity, and make audiences want to hear more.

This episode explores the storytelling tools that transform strategy into narratives customers believe in. From trends and personas to competitor analysis and AI, the team shows how to craft stories that resonate, persuade, and stick.

Too many B2B “stories” are just fact dumps. In this episode, we explore why real storytelling matters in strategy — and how to make your customer the hero, build around tension, and use emotion to make your message stick.

How do you price with confidence when markets shift, competitors undercut, and customers demand more for less? In this episode, the team explores how AI—combined with the right strategic tools—is making pricing smarter, more precise, and more aligned to real customer value.

Sales and strategy often operate in silos. But with AI-enhanced playbooks, the handoff becomes a continuous loop—where strategy shapes execution, and sales sharpens strategy.

Many B2B firms stop short of customizing their value props—even after strong segmentation. This episode explores how AI, used with the right strategic tools, can transform value props from generic to segment-specific—and prove ROI before you launch.

Positioning is where strategy turns into story. In this episode, the team explains how AI helps sharpen your message, pressure-test its uniqueness, and connect it to execution across teams and channels. Want better stories? Start here.

The team shares how AI accelerates the development of differentiation strategies by generating ideas, offering analogies, and simulating impact on market share. It’s not just about brainstorming better—it’s about building and testing better strategies, faster.

In this episode, the team explores the “fog of AI war”—the disorienting rush toward new technologies without clear strategic purpose. Drawing on lessons from the early days of the internet and CRM systems, they reveal how companies often repeat the same missteps: chasing hype instead of focusing on customer needs.

SWOT is out. Seeing yourself through the customer’s eyes is in. This episode breaks down how AI supercharges the Ability to Win framework, helping you prioritize more effectively, invest smarter, and compete with clarity.

AI takes the Attractiveness Criteria tool to the next level—removing bias, speeding analysis, and helping teams make smarter decisions. This episode explores how AI can uncover overlooked opportunities, align cross-functional teams, and bring strategic clarity to the table.

In this episode, the team explores how AI is transforming segmentation from a strategic theory into a practical, scalable reality. Learn how AI makes the hard parts of segmentation—like identifying, bucketing, and acting on customer needs—faster, smarter, and finally actionable.