Explore every episode of the podcast Nerd Marketing

In this special Nerd Marketing episode, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein break down everything new in PostPilot's Fall Editions, the biggest feature drop yet.
Featuring AI Benchmarks, Halo (Amazon attribution), and AcquisitionAI, the automation tool transforming how brands acquire customers.
Learn how PostPilot is making direct mail smarter, more measurable, and fully multichannel.

In this episode, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein explain how brands can finally measure direct mail's full impact—not just on Shopify, but on Amazon too. 

They share how PostPilot Halo brings true multichannel attribution to life, why direct mail performs best when digital CPAs spike, and how leading brands are using it to win Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Harvard-published marketing professor Jonathan Zhang joins Drew and Mike to unpack research showing how direct mail drives lower CAC and higher lifetime value than digital channels.
They dig into the psychology of touch, why Gen Z actually loves mail, and how brands like Amazon and Warby Parker proved it first.
A data-driven roadmap for the next five years of marketing.

Preston Rutherford, Cofounder of Chubbies, joins Drew and Michael to share how the brand went from the brink of bankruptcy to a nine-figure exit. They dive into the dangers of ROAS obsession, the shift to a 50/50 brand vs. performance strategy, aligning teams around contribution, and the hard lessons that turned Chubbies into a durable, beloved brand.

Think Black Friday prep starts in the fall? Think again. In this episode, Drew and Michael explain why Back to School is the ultimate test window for Q4 success. They break down four actionable strategies you can launch this summer to identify your most profitable customer segments, validate your creative, and lower acquisition costs—before the holiday rush drives up competition and ad prices.

Recorded on Memorial Day, Drew opens up about the top lessons he learned as a Navy intelligence officer - lessons that shape how he leads today. He and Michael also reflect on personal regrets, from family and risk-taking to life metrics that matter most.

After auditing hundreds of Shopify brands, Zak Cassady-Dorion has a clear message: You're missing easy revenue. He joins Drew to reveal his retention-first approach, killer Klaviyo playbook, and why PostPilot is his secret weapon.

This week, Drew and Michael unpack the latest tariff relief and what it means for DTC operators, break down Zuck's vision for Meta as a fully automated ad platform, and explore the tension between brand and performance marketing. Plus, a deep dive into Aviator Nation's remarkable rise—from Venice Beach to Forbes' richest list.

What really changes when your DTC brand scales from 10 to 120 people - remotely? Drew and Michael break down the systems, rituals, and mindset shifts that helped PostPilot grow fast without losing culture, speed, or clarity. From all-hands to offsites to decision frameworks, this is a behind-the-scenes look at scaling alignment in a distributed team.

Drew and Michael are joined by PostPilot's Head of Finance, Daan Harmsen, to unpack what the latest eCommerce data reveals about consumer behavior and shifting market sentiment. They dive into lessons from past tariff disruptions and share practical strategies for leading through uncertainty—emphasizing transparency, adaptability, and keeping momentum when it matters most.

Performance marketing gets all the spend—but is it driving real growth? Bonobos CEO John Hutchison talks with Drew & Mike about how rebalancing the mix toward brand led to stronger revenue, better retention, and long-term customer loyalty. Plus, they dive into his leadership style, navigating culture during change, and what younger marketers should focus on today to someday run the brands they love.

Mike gives a full rundown of Shoptalk, from the Vegas suite party to the AI trends in DTC. Plus, the Nerds talk about Vera Bradley unloading Pura Vida for... only $1 million?

What's driving eCommerce valuations today? Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris Finance, reveals the latest trends in M&A, what makes a Shopify store attractive to buyers, and the financial strategies that separate high-growth brands from struggling ones. If you're a CEO or CFO thinking about scaling or selling, this episode is a must-listen.

Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein break down PostPilot's Series A journey - why they chose growth equity over VC, the challenges of raising capital, and how it impacted their business strategy. They also dive into Cozy Earth's winning direct mail strategy, revealing how the brand optimized its catalog program for faster, more effective customer acquisition. Plus, they introduce the Email Echo Strategy, a powerful way for brands to extend their email marketing impact using direct mail.

Shopify has made a huge push into the enterprise market, but why are so many big brands still hesitant to make the switch? Drew and Michael break down key insights from eTail, explore why legacy brands remain stuck on outdated tech stacks, and highlight the massive opportunity Shopify is missing. They also debunk common loyalty program myths and share smarter retention strategies that actually drive results.

Klaviyo just launched its first-ever CRM built for B2C brands, and Drew was on the ground at the event. He and Michael break down what this means for eCommerce, Klaviyo's competitive landscape, and whether this signals a major shift in the industry. Plus, they dive into two major DTC acquisitions and reveal how Four Sigmatic leveraged direct mail to drive retail success.

Super Bowl ads are the biggest marketing stage of the year - but are they actually driving new customer acquisition? Drew and Mike break down why most ads focused on brand retention over acquisition and what that means for DTC brands. Plus, they dive into the CFO-CMO dynamic - how alignment between these roles drives real, profitable growth - and why apparel brands like Vuori and Buck Mason are scaling direct mail into a multimillion-dollar acquisition channel.

The DTC landscape is shifting fast: tariffs are disrupting supply chains, Meta's ad platform is more unpredictable than ever, and DTC brands are feeling the pressure. Drew and Michael break down the five major ways tariffs are impacting eCommerce, how Meta's latest changes are frustrating advertisers, and  why brands like Hexclad are scaling smarter—with strategies like direct mail and a Super Bowl commercial.

Drew and Michael break down why over-relying on one channel is risky, why ROAS is flawed, and how cutting costs can backfire. Plus, insights on driving high AOV in acquisition, beauty brand demographics, and the Jonathan Adler acquisition.

Introducing Nerd Marketing Live, our new format where Drew and Mike break down key insights and trends in the eComm/retail space and answer audience questions. In this episode, they spotlight how True Religion and Abercrombie achieved remarkable turnarounds and what other businesses can learn from their success. They discuss key trends shaping 2025, including the role of AI, the retail comeback for DTC brands, and the growing importance of efficient marketing strategies. Plus, get insights into benchmarks and key trends that will help brands thrive in the year ahead. 

Drew and Michael welcome Tim Curtis, CEO of CohereOne, to discuss the often-overlooked advantages of direct mail. Learn how catalogs create a halo effect on other marketing channels, boost online sales, and enhance customer lifetime value. Get practical tips on launching your own catalog campaign and see why direct mail is a game-changer for modern marketing.

Drew and Michael sit down with Brad Darooge, CEO of www.baudville.com/. Learn how Baudville went all-in on direct mail: how they did it, why they did it, and gives some actionable tips to incorporate direct mail into your marketing mix.

Drew chats with Tracey Migliaccio, Sr. Manager of Direct Mail at Humann about. Tracy's been in the eComm game for several years (previously at Wolverine Worldwide, parent company of Sperry, Keds, Wolverine, Saucony, and others), and like Drew, has been doing direct mail way before it was cool. 

Drew and Michael break down the Series A process for PostPilot, offering valuable tips and insights for anyone looking to raise capital in the market today.

Drew + Michael nerd out on retention marketing with the rainmaker, Chris Orzechowski. Learn how to convert first-time buyers into believers, crush email campaigns, and build a brand identity to beat the competition. Chris shares insights from his newest book, The Moat, and his experience at brands like Carnivore Snax.

Join Drew & Michael as they lay out the direct mail playbook that propelled brands like Dr. Squatch, Hexclad to glory. Steal their tactics to add 10% to your top line.

They're not done sharing secrets. Drew and Mike discuss the next 15 of Drew's 30 turnaround tips, based on their time together turning around big, busted eComm brands.

TLDR: Profits, fast. Drew and Mike discuss 15 of Drew's 30 turnaround tips, based on their time together turning around big, busted eComm brands.

The Turnaround legends, Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein, are joined by Bill D'Alessandro of Natural Dog to talk buying brands, the perils and rewards of retail, eCom-economics + finance, and the earlier days of eCommerce.

Every brand wants to be Apple, and they can be—at least when it comes to avoiding discounts. In this episode, PostPilot CEOs Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein discuss discounting alternatives that ecommerce brands can use to juice sales while preserving profit margins.

Men's grooming brand Huron has become a phenomenon with a team of just four. Co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenax joins hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein to discuss maniacal focus, the importance of brand, and why Huron isn't rushing to get into retail. CPG founders and marketers won't want to miss this episode.

How do you stand out in a crowded market? What propelled Ka'Chava's growth from startup to nine-figure brand? And how are they strategizing around Black Friday? Katie Hanna, director of retention at Ka'Chava, spills some tea on the rocketship business with hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein.

Together Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein been through almost 50 Black Fridays. In this episode, they share the big, hard lessons they've learned over the years—not the tactical moves, but principles for winning Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Tune in to learn why brands often lose money on offers, how to avoid bleeding cash on high CPCs, and more.

Why do you need to know your tribe? What makes smart investors buy into an ecommerce business? How should founders approach brand-building? Visionary investor Anthony Choe lets Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein pick his very large brain. You don't want to miss the insights in this episode!

Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein chat with Julia Perez, CMO of plant-based protein-shake brand OWYN. She shares her route to the C-suite, why retail is much more than a sales channel, the three keys to becoming a nine-figure brand, and how she ID's job candidates who are trailblazers.  

Drew Sanocki talks with Brandon Park, CMO of 100 Thieves and former CEO of Homesick, about creating brands, rolling up ecom companies, and always showing a profit.

Drew Sanocki and guest host Mike Maher talk with Morgen Newman, co-founder of period-care brand Cora, about why he tries to scare potential hires, how to stay premium on Amazon, and what they did to survive a cash crunch.

Jacques Spitzer has generated more than a billion views and $1 billion in sales for brands like Dr. Squatch, Manscaped and Native. He shares why the "green Lamborghini" is key to impactful ads, big mistakes brands make, and how businesses need to change their marketing approach as they grow.

In this episode, we go deep on how Garret bootstrapped the brand he started with his wife to a big private equity exit. Hear the details of the deal process and his role post-exit. He also shares tips on hiring and building a great remote team.

Drew & Michael interview Mark Ritz, co-founder of Carnivore Snax on the secrets to scaling from 3 to 12 million profitably. Learn his strategies for working with influencers, successfully executing trade show events and why he's not planning on going into retail.

Drew and Michael interview Alisa Pospekhova who does double duty as head of brand marketing for the massive, publicly traded haircare brand Olaplex and founder & CEO of kindroot, an omnichannel herbal supplement brand. Learn how she applies learnings from the mega brand to her startup and vice versa, how brands should think about direct response vs brand marketing, and how newer brands can compete against larger incumbents.

As the big ecom aggregators mostly flame out, is the roll-up model destined to fail? Learn how Mike Maher, founder of online apparel innovator Taylor Stitch, is making it work and creating accretive enterprise value.

We often hear brands ask about discounting strategies…When is the right time? What's the right amount? What are alternatives to coupons? We asked Oren Charnoff, one of the founders of Fondue, a cash back alternative to discounts. Hear lots of actionable advice, plus breaking news on their acquisition by Postscript!

Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein sit down with Joseph Siegel, Director of Retention at Mr. Beast's Feastables. Joseph gets into what it's like to work for Mr. Beast, why gamifying marketing works and how they've grown their brand within a massive media company.

Data-driven marketing strategies scale the success of mattress sales in the e-commerce space. Eric Hutchinson, the co-founder of Resident Home, an $800 million mattress company, knows a bit about marketing best practices. He discussed the importance of using data to drive sales and experiences that resonate with consumers. Cozy up to this episode with hosts Drew Sanocki and Mike Maher, Drew's buddy, and CEO and founder of Taylor Stitch.

Ed Han and Laura Ching sit down with hosts Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein. Ed and Laura are the brains behind the $333 million exit success story, TinyPrints. They discuss their early days of brainstorming business ideas with friends, their passion for entrepreneurship, and the role of the internet in their success.

Host and ecom guru Drew Sanocki joined Eric Dyck on the DTC podcast to talk about the world of ecommerce success. Known for his obsession with profitability (sorry, growth-obsessed folks) and his love with Marginal CAC, Drew is helping brands unlock a new profitable channel: Direct mail. Yup, good ol' snail mail is making a powerful comeback in the DTC industry.

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