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In Clear Focus

Podcasts

IN CLEAR FOCUS is a weekly podcast offering fresh perspectives on marketing and advertising from experienced practitioners and notable thought leaders. With topics relevant to B2C and B2B marketers, we discuss strategy, branding, media, creative, and analytics. And there's a monthly book club featuring exclusive interviews with authors and discounts on featured titles. Level up your marketing with IN CLEAR FOCUS. New episodes every Tuesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Podcasts

Description:

IN CLEAR FOCUS is a weekly podcast offering fresh perspectives on marketing and advertising from experienced practitioners and notable thought leaders. With topics relevant to B2C and B2B marketers, we discuss strategy, branding, media, creative, and analytics. And there's a monthly book club featuring exclusive interviews with authors and discounts on featured titles. Level up your marketing with IN CLEAR FOCUS. New episodes every Tuesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Language:

English

Contact:

407.720.3328


Episodes
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In Clear Focus: The Science of Brand Associations with Ulli Appelbaum

11/4/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: For our 300th episode, strategist Ulli Appelbaum, author of "The Science of Brand Associations," reveals why brand associations are the operating system of marketing. He explains how brands exist as memory networks, and why their strength predicts 80% of future purchases. Ulli also discusses his evidence-based framework, grounded in neuroscience, for building stronger associations that drive growth and command premium prices. Hear why advertising should reinforce brand memory through associations.

Duration:00:37:39

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In Clear Focus: Rocket Fuel for Startups with Amanda Patterson

10/28/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Amanda Patterson, founder of Rocket Fuel Labs, discusses the rise of fractional CMOs and shares practical tips on developing effective marketing for startups and scaleups. Drawing from her experience scaling MINDBODY from $30M to $200M, Amanda details a data-driven "bottoms-up" plan for efficient growth. She explains why "brand builds demand," the underrated power of customer journey mapping, and how to de-risk marketing spend for quick wins in a high-stakes environment.

Duration:00:26:24

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In Clear Focus: Brand Authenticity in the Age of AI with Nick Usborne

10/21/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Veteran copywriter Nick Usborne explains how to combat "brand drift" with a story-first, AI-powered content strategy. Nick introduces his Story Aligned framework, arguing that a brand's unique story is its only defensible moat against the "sameness trap." He reveals why marketers must lead with story when prompting AI. Learn how to use structured prompts to scale content while preserving the human touch and authentic brand communication that builds lasting trust.

Duration:00:30:09

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In Clear Focus: Hispanic Heritage Month

10/14/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: To mark Hispanic Heritage Month, strategists Kathy Guzmán Galloway and Alex Santiago join host Karen Jimenez to explore how brands can authentically connect with Hispanic consumers. They discuss why cultural context matters more than literal translation, the importance of diverse teams, and how consumer immersions uncover deep insights. Learn why "multicultural is mainstream" and how to move beyond superficial tactics to build genuine relationships with this influential audience.

Duration:00:28:14

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In Clear Focus: Marketing Effectiveness with Sorin Patilinet

10/7/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Sorin Patilinet of PepsiCo and author of "Marketing Effectiveness" shares his scientific approach to brand growth. Sorin explains why marketers must look beyond just advertising to all levers of effectiveness, from pricing to packaging. He introduces his Engineering Marketing Framework, discusses why brands grow through penetration, not loyalty, and explores the balance between creativity and analytics. Hear Sorin's evidence-based principles for creating sustainable brand growth.

Duration:00:29:05

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In Clear Focus: Creating Branded Podcasts with Jen Moss

9/29/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jen Moss of JAR Podcast Solutions explains how brands can create podcasts audiences love. Jen reveals why most branded podcasts fail—they're boring and too promotional—and shares her "JAR" (Job, Audience, Result) system for success. Using case studies from clients like Amazon, she details how to offer true value instead of a sales pitch. Learn how to choose between audio and video, engage specific audiences, and achieve measurable business results through strategic storytelling.

Duration:00:31:26

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In Clear Focus: Flow States and Hollywood Productivity Techniques with Steven Puri

9/23/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Hollywood executive turned tech CEO Steven Puri of The Sukha Co shares his playbook for leading remote creative teams. Drawing lessons from producing special effects for blockbuster films like Independence Day, Steven reveals the science behind "flow states" and how to create conditions for deep, meaningful work. He discusses overcoming procrastination, the creative power of working on "the other thing," and why leaders must protect uninterrupted time for their teams to thrive.

Duration:00:33:18

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In Clear Focus: Content Strategy and Execution with Kristen Sweeney

9/16/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kristen Sweeney, founder of B2B content agency Every Little Word, joins us to explore common content strategy challenges and how brands can overcome internal roadblocks. She shares how to identify and empower internal subject matter experts, extract authentic thought leadership, and repurpose content effectively. Kristen also offers practical insights for marketing teams seeking to scale their content efforts without compromising quality.

Duration:00:29:59

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In Clear Focus: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance with Ari Paparo

9/9/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Author and ad tech veteran Ari Paparo joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "Yield: How Google Bought, Built and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance." Hear how Google became the center of the digital ad ecosystem by controlling the publisher ad server, ad exchange, and ad network. Ari also reveals how the company leveraged its power with secret initiatives like 'Project Bernanke' and what the ongoing antitrust trial and a potential breakup could mean for the industry.

Duration:00:27:38

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In Clear Focus: Brand Desire with Kevin Perlmutter

9/2/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kevin Perlmutter, author of the new book, "Brand Desire," returns to discuss emotional insights in brand strategy. Kevin shares his Limbic Sparks methodology, emphasizing a shift from "about us" to "for you" thinking. Learn how brands can uncover shared emotional motivations, craft compelling benefits, and design experiences that truly resonate. Discover how to avoid clichés, apply emotional intelligence, and lead with a customer-centric mindset for lasting brand evolution.

Duration:00:29:48

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In Clear Focus: AI-Powered Work Communication with Richard White

8/26/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Richard White, CEO of AI meeting assistant Fathom, discusses his counterintuitive marketing strategy that generated 70% of signups via word-of-mouth. Richard explains why he waited nearly five years to hire a marketer, focusing instead on creating "superfans" through a robust free product and exceptional customer delight. He shares why marketing is "rocket fuel" that can be disastrous without product-market fit and details the future of AI in transforming meeting productivity.

Duration:00:29:40

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In Clear Focus: Neuromarketing for Brands with Nicole Powell

8/19/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Nicole Powell, founder of Halcon Marketing Solutions, reveals how neuromarketing uncovers the subconscious drivers behind purchasing decisions. Nicole explains how to create "magnetic" brand messaging by focusing on emotion over logic. She contrasts neuromarketing with traditional research, discusses common marketing mistakes, and details the cyclical relationship between brand strategy and marketing tactics. Learn how to build a strategically relevant brand that resonates.

Duration:00:30:35

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In Clear Focus: AI and Brand Discoverability with Shane H. Tepper

8/12/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Shane H. Tepper, co-founder of AI Friendly, details how generative AI impacts brand discoverability and why now is a "peak ideas person" moment for creative professionals. He outlines the shift from traditional SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), where AI synthesizes real-time responses. Shane also highlights the importance of adapting content for AI platforms, leveraging third-party validation, and prioritizing continuous relevance for brands in an evolving landscape.

Duration:00:29:40

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In Clear Focus: The Science of Shopping with Kate Hardcastle MBE

8/5/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kate Hardcastle MBE, aka "The Customer Whisperer," is the author of "The Science of Shopping," exploring how consumer psychology and innovation are reshaping retail. Kate discusses "The Buyerarchy of Needs," emotional drivers, digital transformation, personalization, and the theatrical evolution of brick-and-mortar stores. Learn key pricing strategies and the biggest mistakes brands make in consumer engagement, emphasizing the importance of listening and building authentic trust.

Duration:00:30:47

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In Clear Focus: Marketing Accountability with Jay Mandel

7/29/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jay Mandel, founder of the Marketing Accountability Council, makes a return appearance to address the erosion of consumer trust in today's marketing landscape. Jay explains why the traditional playbook is dead, sharing outdated tactics for the "marketing graveyard." He discusses strategic restraint, using examples from Nike and Lush, and warns of the "Great Attention Heist" in the AI era. Learn how accountability, transparency, and value can build sincere, lasting brands.

Duration:00:29:04

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In Clear Focus: Modern PR Strategies with Shanté Micah and Joshua Moody

7/22/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guests Shanté Micah and Joshua Moody, co-founders of Good News, reveal how earned media builds unmatched credibility in today's fragmented attention landscape. They discuss the Good News Blueprint for systematic PR success, outdated practices to avoid, data-driven audience targeting, and creating compelling pitches under 200 words. Listen now to discover strategies for turning earned media coverage into lasting business assets.

Duration:00:34:54

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In Clear Focus: Endless Customers with Marcus Sheridan

7/15/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Marcus Sheridan, the author of "Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader," explores thriving in the zero-click economy where customers get answers without visiting websites. Marcus discusses four pillars from his book: addressing "the big five" topics, leveraging video content, creating seller-free experiences, and humanizing brands. Discover strategies for building trust when AI recommendations dominate the zero-click landscape.

Duration:00:33:30

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In Clear Focus: B2B Marketing Fundamentals with Kate Mackie

7/8/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kate Mackie, EY partner and the author of July's Bigeye Book Club selection "B2B Marketing Fundamentals," explores four pillars of success: brand, reputation, relationships, and revenue. Kate discusses why brand matters in B2B Marketing, managing complex buyer journeys, leveraging AI for connected data, and translating marketing impact into business language. Kate shares her proven strategies for building stronger B2B brands and driving measurable revenue outcomes.

Duration:00:28:23

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In Clear Focus: AI-Powered Video Ad Creation with John Gargiulo

7/1/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: John Gargiulo, founder and CEO of Airpost.ai, explores how AI is revolutionizing video ad creation for brands. With 400,000+ UGC clips and advanced computer vision, Airpost enables professional video ads at scale. John discusses the shift from static to dynamic content, maintaining authenticity in AI-generated ads, and why he believes AI agents will replace traditional agencies within the next decade. Discover how brands can unlock consistent, high-quality video content creation.

Duration:00:27:58

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In Clear Focus: Inclusive Marketing with Wilberline Previlon

6/24/2025
IN CLEAR FOCUS: For Juneteenth and Pride Month, Bigeye Strategy intern Wilberline Previlon explores inclusive marketing. We revisit podcast interviews wth thought leaders, including Pepper Miller and Sonia Thompson, and rediscover how understanding history, language, and identity can shape authentic brand strategies. We hear from Sandy Skees about the difference between being an ally, advocate, or activist, and why cultural nuance is essential for connecting with LGBTQIA+ and minority audiences.

Duration:00:34:15