What do you do when Google, Meta, TikTok, and every other ad platform shut the door in your face? You break the rules, rewrite the playbook, and scale anyway.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I talk with Pauline Schmiechen: badass founder, consultant, and builder of multiple high-traffic adult platforms, who’s thriving in the shadows of mainstream media.

With 3 million+ users a month and zero access to traditional ad platforms, Pauline isn’t asking for permission...she’s building power in places most marketers are too afraid to look.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Why “intimacy is the new currency” in digital marketing
• How TrafficJunky, Telegram groups, and SEO still outperform when used right
• Creative campaigns like billboards, Discords, and even a plane over Coachella
• Fanblast, the WhatsApp/iMessage platform giving creators a direct line to fans (and revenue) and why Pauline’s all-in on it
• The myth that “nobody pays for porn” (they do...and, shocker, it’s billions)
• The backlash, the double standards, and why Pauline still shows up fully clothed at her laptop like every other founder you know

We also dig into the real reason OnlyFans exploded and why traditional marketing can’t handle industries built on human behavior, emotion, and connection.

This isn’t about adult content. It’s about stigma, scale, and what happens when creators and marketers get locked out of the “acceptable” world...and still thrive.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Pauline’s LinkedIn
• Kotti Konsulting
• Fanblast – WhatsApp/iMessage for creators

📬 Subscribe to explore what’s real (and what’s just noise):

https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com

In Episode 07 of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive deep with Lea Miner, Founder of Intention & Insight, who’s building something truly different: a business rooted in resonance, not just reach.

What started as a small somatic journey experiment on Meetup grew to a thriving 600+ person community in just six months, without a dollar in ad spend.

We unpack:

• Why marketing fails when you skip the “why”
• The cost of ignoring message–market alignment
• How Lea uses AI to deepen, not dilute, authentic connection
• The rise of AI-optimized content (and why it beats SEO for real humans)
• Her bold shift from “audience-first” to “alignment-first” creation

This episode is a refreshing dose of honesty in a sea of hype. If you’ve ever felt like your marketing efforts were missing soul, or you’re trying to scale without losing your center, this is your permission slip to do things differently.

🔗 Connect with Lea:

→ https://intentionandinsight.com

→ IG: @intentionandinsight

→ Join a Somatic Journey: https://calendly.com/eleah-intentionandinsight/friday-somatic-journey

If you’re an agency founder trying to grow without the grind, check out the Agency Growth Sprint, designed for firms earning $250K–$5M/year, who want real scale with real strategy.

👉 Book a clarity call

What if the real growth play wasn’t grinding on social media or spending wildly on ads?

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Ziv Raviv, Founder & CEO of Kivi Media, creator of Daily Cookie, host of Beyond Six Figures, and author of The Fully Booked Coach, for a masterclass in scaling through soul-first strategy.

Ziv built a $600K/year coaching business without burning out on content or ad spend...and he’s here to show you how.

We unpack:

• Why most coaches and agencies overestimate the value of social media
• How to use micro-niching sideways to increase authority and fees
• Why “daily emails” aren’t dead—and the secret to writing ones that actually convert
• Two brutally honest failures that reshaped his growth strategy
• When to start spending on paid ads (and when to absolutely not)

Ziv keeps it real and actionable. This isn’t about hacks. It’s about building real relationships, solving real problems, and scaling with clarity.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your marketing is working, or working against you, this episode is your wake-up call.

🔗 Resources + Mentions:

• zivraviv.com
• kivimedia.co
• The Fully Booked Coach – Buy the Book
• adamwbarney.com

🔌 Ready to turn your agency into a growth machine?

If you’re running a $250K–$5M/year ad agency and tired of duct-taped systems, the Agency Growth Sprint was built for you.

→ Install a scalable lead gen engine

→ Clean up your offer

→ Ditch chaos for strategy that sticks

Learn more: adamwbarney.com

Nuria Garcia of NbN Marketing joins me for a raw dive into the behind-the-scenes reality of creator-led growth. From ad platform bias to client miseducation, this episode unpacks the truth about scaling creative work with integrity, even when it gets messy.

We cover:

• The hidden constraints behind Meta Ads and TikTok
• What Nuria does when client scripts kill performance
• Why real storytelling still wins in 2025
• Building an agency while creating content for 3M+ views

🔗 Learn more about Nuria’s work: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nbnmarketing/

🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com

AI may be getting flashier, but is it making your creative work better or just…blobbier?

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Christina Magaña, Founder of Modish Creative and creative strategist behind some of the most vibrant, soulful branding campaigns in the game.

We dive into:

• Why AI-generated visuals are hitting a ceiling (and sometimes a wall)
• What agencies are missing when it comes to real creative impact
• How short-form video is helping founders cross from creator to closer
• The one underrated content format every agency should lean into

Plus: the 2010 Instagram personality that still lives inside ChatGPT and how Christina trains her clients to break free from emoji-and-em-dash chaos.

It’s raw, real, and wildly creative.

🔗 Follow Christina & Modish Creative

Instagram: @modishcreativeco

Website: modishcreative.com
Christina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinamodish/

🎯 Subscribe & explore more at: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com/

Is AI driving deeper connections, or just more noise?

In this episode, I’m joined by Nathalie Doremieux, Co-Founder of Podcast LeadFlow, who reveals how to transform podcast listeners into qualified leads through strategic AI-powered conversations. We unpack how the Human → AI → Human model outperforms generic automation, and why quality, not quantity is the future of podcast monetization.

From membership site mastery to funnel strategy that doesn’t sacrifice humanity, Nathalie breaks down what most agency owners are missing and how to fix it.

🎯 Topics we dig into:

• What most podcasters are getting wrong about ROI
• How to train AI to think like you using context and prompts
• The future of lead gen through audio: Podcast LeadFlow’s approach
• Moving from passive listeners to high-intent leads
• Why personalization scales better than spam

🔗 Learn more about Podcast LeadFlow: https://podcastleadflow.com

👋 Say hi to Nathalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaliedoremieux/

🚨 Subscribe for more: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com

Performance Max can scale. But only if you control the inputs.

Otherwise? You’re handing the wheel to a robot with no map.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I’m joined by Ben Lund, founder of Rise Marketing Group and ex-Googler, to unpack what’s real...and what’s wildly misunderstood...about AI-driven campaigns in 2025.

We get into:

⚙️ The real value of human strategy in an AI world

📉 Why Performance Max fails when left unchecked

🧠 The mindset behind building a 7-figure agency that’s still human-first

👀 Why automation without alignment is just budget drain

💡 If you’ve ever felt the gap between AI promise and real ROI…this one’s for you.

🔗 Listen + learn more at risemkg.com and connect with Ben

In this kickoff episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Kristi Broom, Co-Founder of Rising Tide Cooperative to talk candidly about building inclusive cultures, evolving leadership identities, and embracing AI without losing your edge.

We dive into:

• Scaling while staying grounded in your values
• Using transparency and empathy as strategic tools
• Why “being in the weeds” on purpose is part of Kristi’s leadership playbook
• The magic of brave spaces over just “safe” ones

📬 Kristi’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristibroom

🌱 Rising Tide Cooperative: risingtidecooperative.com

📅 June Intensive (June 24–25): risingtidecooperative.com/#workshops

💸 Use code June2025RTC for $500 off — valid through June 30, 2025.

—

🎧 Listen + subscribe: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com/subscribe

⚡ Host: Adam W. Barney – Energy Coach | adamwbarney.com

🎯 Running a $250K–$5M agency? Join the mastermind.

🎙 Want to be a guest on "Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?"

If you’re an agency founder, marketer, or platform expert with strong opinions and battle-tested strategies, we want to hear from you.

You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve heard the hype. You’ve probably even burned budget on a “proven funnel.”

But let’s be honest: is anything in paid advertising even real?

In this kickoff episode, host Adam W. Barney (author, strategist, energy coach, and $100M+ ad spend veteran) lays out why this podcast exists, who it’s for, and what to expect in the episodes ahead.

🎙️ Expect unfiltered conversations with agency founders, marketers, and skeptics who’ve been in the trenches—plus real systems, real insight, and no fluff.

If you’re building a $250K–$5M agency and want to scale smarter (without burning out), here’s where it starts.

👉 Join the Agency Growth Mastermind

📌 New episodes drop weekly.

🔔 Subscribe, share, and follow @adamwbarney for the behind-the-scenes.

What actually works when paid ads stop performing?

In this episode, Patrick Cumming, Head of Marketing at KleintBoost, joins Adam W. Barney to cut through the noise and talk shop: what’s real, what’s BS, and why most agencies are still chasing vanity metrics.

We go deep on:

• 💥 How to audit your funnel without losing your mind
• 📊 The real KPIs that matter for sustainable growth
• 🧠 Client psychology, performance myths, and decision-making under pressure
• 🤖 Why attribution is broken, and how to market anyway

Whether you’re an agency founder, media buyer, or brand leader tired of spinning your wheels, this episode gives you the clarity (and fire) to reset your strategy.

🔥 Hosted by Adam W. Barney, Host of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, the show where agency leaders unpack what’s real…and what’s just noise.

🎧 Subscribe + Listen + Rate today!

Anthony Tsigourakos, co-founder of SmartSpend Advertising and growth advisor at Good Name Consulting, knows the hidden costs of scaling. After helping dozens of agencies break through plateaus, he’s learned that real growth isn’t just about adding clients or revenue…it’s about protecting your capacity, your margins, and your energy.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why most agencies think they’re scaling when they’re actually stalling
• The balance between execution, strategy, and personal energy
• Real ROI versus vanity metrics...and how to track what truly matters
• Building a business that fuels your life instead of draining it

Whether you’re running a $250K shop or a multi-million dollar agency, this episode will help you rethink your growth plan, sharpen your focus, and lead with intention.

📍 Connect with Anthony:

• SmartSpend Advertising: https://smartspendadvertising.com
• Good Name Consulting: https://goodnameconsulting.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonytsigourakos/

🎙 Hosted by Adam W. Barney, Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? explores the truths, myths, and hidden realities behind marketing, growth, and leadership.

💡 If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with one other agency owner, founder, or leader who needs it.

Too many agencies are drowning clients in dashboards, vanity metrics, and pretty charts that don’t move the needle. Ryan Stevens is here to burn that to the ground.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, Adam W. Barney sits down with Ryan, Founder of Digital Reference and the guy agencies call when they want their data to actually tell the truth.

We dig into:

• The difference between “reporting” and real insight
• How to kill useless KPIs before they waste your budget
• Why clean attribution is the ultimate trust-builder
• The metrics clients actually care about

This is data with teeth: no fluff, no filler. If you’re tired of playing spreadsheet dress-up and want reporting that drives real ROI, this is your episode.

📌 Connect with Ryan Stevens: LinkedIn | Digital Reference

🎧 Listen to more episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

“AI without strategy is chaos.”

Lucy Wang, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocketflows, joins me for a straight-talking breakdown of what’s real in small business marketing today. From funnel nightmares to the trap of instant gratification, Lucy calls out the shortcuts that sabotage founders—and shows us what sustainable growth really takes.

Inside this episode, we dig into:

• 🚦 Why “cookie-cutter” AI marketing fails small businesses.
• 🧩 The hidden costs of shortcut thinking (spam, over-automation, blind ROAS chasing).
• 📈 The smarter path: building loyalty, visibility, and a repeatable flow for growth.
• 💡 Real stories of how businesses can ditch chaos and unlock clarity.

Lucy’s approach is sharp, practical, and refreshingly human. If you’ve ever wondered why your ads aren’t working, or why growth feels stuck in neutral, this is your blueprint for cutting through the noise.

👉 Connect with Lucy Wang:

• Pocketflows
• Lucy on LinkedIn
• 📧 lucy@pocketflows.com

🎙️ Subscribe to Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising? for more no-fluff conversations on what’s real (and what’s just noise).

Forget paid tricks. Priyanka Mishra, Business Head of Fuzia Talent, joins host Adam W. Barney to break down how she scaled a global, women-led platform to over 10 million users - without relying on gimmicks or inflated metrics.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:

• Building emotional trust in a data-obsessed ecosystem
• How Fuzia empowers creators across 35+ countries
• Why most ad impressions aren’t worth what you think
• What EQ + community storytelling can do that paid ads never will

If you’re tired of clickbait and craving real results, this one’s for you.

📨 Get in touch with Priyanka: priyanka.m@fuzia.com

🔗 Follow Priyanka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyankasayshi/

🌐 Learn more about Fuzia Talent: https://www.fuziatalent.com/

🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?

Forget vanity metrics. Noel Geer, CEO & Founder of Connected Interactive, joins host Adam W. Barney to reveal why most brands are wasting money chasing CPMs and ROAS...and how focusing on lifetime value unlocks real, lasting growth.

In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, we dive into:

• Why 84% of purchases still happen offline - and how to tie them back to digital
• The hidden cost of ad fraud (and how to filter it out before you spend a dime)
• What happens when you prioritize quality audiences over inflated reach
• Why lifetime value is the only metric worth obsessing over

If you’re tired of chasing impressions that don’t convert and want a smarter way forward, this one’s for you.

📨 Get in touch with Noel: noelg@connectedinteractive.com

🔗 Connect with Noel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-geer-98855915/

🌐 Learn more about Connected Interactive: https://connectedinteractive.com/

🎧 Listen to all episodes: Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?