Explore every episode of the podcast On the Record by Leadpages

In this episode of On the Record, we’re joined by Chris Schermer, founder of the nationally recognized B2B agency Schermer, to explore why vulnerability isn’t just emotional, it’s a strategic advantage. Inspired by Joni Mitchell’s Blue, we dive into how authenticity builds trust, how brands can use honest storytelling to deepen relationships, and why embracing imperfection can unlock creativity and connection. From impactful campaign work with Red Wing Shoes to lessons on leadership and AI, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the most human brands often make the biggest impact.

Rob Walling, Tinyseed cofounder joins us to delve into the topic. We discuss key AI-driven processes you need to put in place, agentic AI, and ways teams can utilize AI to iterate and test marketing strategies faster.

In this episode, we sit down with Drew Mooney, Data Analyst at Hubspot. We discuss ways AI is enabling businesses to make faster and more informed decisions, the biggest current gains in new tech for marketing and sales teams & even where we see data and analytics heading in the future.

In this episode of On the Record, we dive into how small and mid-sized businesses can harness big business marketing strategies to drive growth, scale impact, and compete in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Joined by Michaela Mueller, Senior Marketing Manager at Tria, we explore how brands of any size can unlock the power of data-driven marketing, AI tools, and customer-centric strategies—drawing parallels to Radiohead’s revolutionary direct-to-fan release of In Rainbows. With insights from Fortune 500 marketing, nonprofit leadership, and SMB innovation, this conversation offers actionable tips for marketers navigating B2B and B2C transitions, leveraging digital advertising, and building authentic brand experiences that resonate and convert.

How do you build a marketing agency that not only lasts—but thrives in a fast-moving, tech-fueled digital world? In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Kulka, Founder and Owner of BOOM! Marketing Agency, to uncover the foundation of over 11 years of agency success. From BOOM!’s early vision to crafting powerful brand strategies and long-term client relationships—including the meteoric rise of Gray Duck Spirits—Ryan shares hard-earned insights into client retention, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and staying agile in the age of AI and automation. We also draw inspiration from Animal Collective’s groundbreaking album Merriweather Post Pavilion, examining how the band’s experimental production, bold sonic identity, and collaborative spirit mirror the mindset needed to build a resilient, innovative agency that stands the test of time.

In this Season Three premiere of On The Record, we explore how marketers can turn overwhelming amounts of data into smarter lead generation with the help of Leadpages’ built-in lead enrichment tools. Inspired by MF DOOM’s conceptual album Mm..Food, we draw powerful parallels between niche branding and targeted marketing, revealing how data segmentation, personalization, and firmographic insights can unlock better leads, higher conversion rates, and scalable growth—even for small businesses.

What do Taylor Swift and top-performing brands have in common? A deep understanding of the power of story. In this episode of On the Record, Ryan and Michael sit down with brand and CX expert Sue Woodard to unpack how emotional connection, storytelling, and smart brand curation can transform leads into passionate brand evangelists. From the re-release of “Red (Taylor’s Version)” to the customer experience strategies of brands like Chewy and Delta, we break down the tactics that help businesses build loyalty, create memorable first impressions, and scale authentic customer relationships. If you’re looking to improve your brand strategy, stand out in a crowded market, or create lasting impact with your audience, this conversation is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of On the Record, we reveal how we added $100K in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) in just one month by leaning into customer segmentation, aligning product strategy with actual usage data, and making bold internal shifts that paid off. From redefining our ideal customer to running pricing experiments and navigating team buy-in, we break down the real-world tactics that helped us achieve rapid SaaS growth—while drawing surprising inspiration from Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. If you’re scaling a SaaS startup, rethinking your pricing model, or trying to grow MRR fast, this behind-the-scenes look at how we made it happen is packed with insights for product-led growth, revenue operations, and customer retention strategy.

What does it take to build and sustain a high-growth team? In this episode, Michael and Ryan sit down with Thomas Knoll, a startup veteran and leadership coach, to explore the secrets behind successful, fast-growing companies. From his time at Zappos to launching multiple startups, Thomas shares insights on company culture, curiosity, and investing in people as the foundation of growth. They also dive into the role of AI in leadership, the power of perspective, and why hard conversations are key to building strong teams. Plus, a unique tie-in to Extreme’s Three Sides to Every Story and its lessons for leadership.

Can AI-generated podcasts replace human hosts? In this episode of On the Record, we explore the rise of botcasting vs. podcasting, breaking down how AI is transforming content creation. We share our experience building an AI-powered daily marketing podcast, discuss the efficiency vs. authenticity debate, and dive into the ethics of AI-generated content. Plus, we look at how small teams can scale with AI, the future of podcasting, and why human creativity still matters. And for music fans—yes, we even connect it all to Queen’s News of the World. So, is AI-powered botcasting the future of podcasting or just a gimmick? Tune in to find out!

What can marketers learn from Beyoncé’s Lemonade? In this episode, Ryan and Michael break down the album’s surprise launch, storytelling genius, and multi-channel strategy, revealing key marketing insights. Special guest Josh Becerra, founder of a Minneapolis-based digital marketing agency, joins to discuss winning strategies, the balance of core vs. edge marketing, and the role of data in decision-making. From audience expansion to overcoming fear in marketing, this episode is packed with lessons on bold risks, strategic execution, and long-term success.

Season 2 of On the Record kicks off with a bold challenge to Google’s dominance in marketing. Inspired by MF Doom’s Take Me to Your Leader, we explore the risks of over-reliance on paid search and the rewards of diversification. We discuss the rising costs of PPC advertising, diminishing ROI in Google’s ecosystem, and why diversifying your marketing strategy is critical for long-term success. If you’re looking to future-proof your digital marketing strategy, boost ROI, and grow beyond Google, this episode is for you.

Discover the secrets of enduring brands in this episode of On the Record. From Coca-Cola's timeless nostalgia to Spotify's personalized connections, we explore how brands evolve, build trust, and captivate audiences. Plus, we draw parallels to The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” and the elusive quest for staying power. Whether you're a marketer or brand enthusiast, tune in for actionable insights and fresh perspectives!

In this bonus episode, Michael, Ryan, and Stacy look into their crystal ball to explore what’s ahead for marketing in 2025. Through the lens of David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, they discuss navigating market shifts, actionable insights in revenue operations, the evolution of influencer marketing, and AI’s transition from buzzword to practical tool. The team also tackles the ethical challenges of AI, lessons from Bowie’s iconic album, and how embracing the unknown can inspire optimism and adaptability in business. Don’t miss this glimpse into the future of marketing and beyond!

Is your marketing too dependent on Google Search? Join Ryan, Michael, and Stacy as they explore the rising costs of paid search, the shift toward social media as the new search engine, and the power of diversifying acquisition channels. Packed with insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from Public Enemy’s groundbreaking messaging, this episode is for marketers ready to challenge convention and embrace innovation.

We dissect the pitfalls of marketing attribution, from flawed models to the growing challenges of tracking in a privacy-focused era. We explore how over-indexing on data risks stifling creativity and why attribution often fails to capture critical interactions like word-of-mouth. Inspired by the layered brilliance of Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys, this episode offers practical tips for marketers to balance data with storytelling and embrace imperfection in the customer journey.

What can a banana teach us about branding? We break down Andy Warhol’s memorable design for The Velvet Underground and explore how businesses can capture that same bold energy. Join us as we discuss the art of standing out in a competitive world.

In this episode, we discuss feature-based selling, why it might be flawed, and whether you should focus more on prioritizing real connections with your customers. We also review the classic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Lauryn focused solely on connecting with her fans in a very meaningful way, and it worked with great success. What if we did the same with our customers?

When Guns N' Roses took over a decade to release new music, they highlighted a key mistake that businesses make: waiting too long to deliver. In this episode, we discuss how fast, frequent product updates and managing customer expectations can keep your brand relevant. Learn how to avoid the dangers of long development cycles and what marketers can take from the band’s missteps.

Simon Alexander Ong is an award-winning entrepreneur and personal development coach. His Book Energize: Make The Most of Every Moment, is a must-read for anyone who wants to get more out of their business, career, and life. 

In this episode, Simon discusses managing your energy instead of time, how to get published, and protecting your personal energy.

Brennan Dunn is the leading expert in making marketing automation more human for creators, service providers, and small business owners like you. He is the founder of the personalization software, Right Message, and the author of the new book This Is Personal. 

During this episode, Brennan shares why you should go all in on email marketing and the key segmentation strategies to get right from the beginning. It’s time to get personal!

Lloyed Lobo, an entrepreneur, podcast host, and community builder. He's the co founder of TractionConf.io and the fintech platform Boast.ai, which recently received over $100 million in growth equity funding. His new book, From Grassroots to Greatness, reveals 13 rules to build iconic brands with community led growth. 

In this conversation, Lloyed shares the lessons he's learned from the ups and downs of life, both personal and entrepreneurial, providing you with a straighter path to your own version of success. 

For the show, notes, transcripts, and more from this and other episodes, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.

If you love to transform the lives of your clients, you'll particularly enjoy this episode. My guest is Lauren Armes, the creator of Beyond Seven business coaching for wellness experts. She's also the founder of Well To Do, which was acquired by Fitt Insider in 2022. In our conversation, Lauren shares lessons she's learned as a startup founder and global traveler, marketing mistakes to avoid, and strategies for getting consistent clients.

For the show notes, transcripts, and resources mentioned in this and other episodes go to Leadpages.com/podcast. 

Rob Walling is a passionate evangelist and mentor for founders of bootstrapped SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies whom he serves through the TinySeed business accelerator and the MicroConf community. He's also the voice behind the podcast Startups for the Rest of Us, with over 600 weekly episodes. He's captured much of his 20 plus years in the industry in his fourth book, The SaaS Playbook. 

In this episode, Rob digs into lessons he's learned as a father, husband, founder and investor, tips that will support your business growth in the months and years ahead.

Show notes, transcripts, and more available here. 

Dr. Sherry Walling is a clinical psychologist serving startup founders, and the creator of ZenFounder.com. She's also the author of Touching Two Worlds: A Guide for Finding Hope in the Landscape of Loss. 

In this episode, Sherry shares her perspective and strategies for becoming a high achieving human up to cool things in our world. She also addresses how to avoid entrepreneurial burnout, and how to process grief and achievement within your personal and professional life. 

Get the transcripts and show notes for this episode: https://www.leadpages.com/blog/sherry-walling-living-a-brighter-life

Our guest this week is Damon Brown. A prolific author, keynote speaker, and business coach, Damon uses his various platforms to encourage nontraditional creatives to build their businesses on their own terms and timelines. 

In this episode, Damon shares his journey as a social and tech journalist to Bootstrapping and then selling two apps. We talk about how fatherhood influenced his approach to business and how you can craft your path within bite-sized entrepreneurship.

For show notes, transcripts, and more, visit https://www.leadpages.com/blog/damon-brown-bite-sized-entrepreneurship

My guest today is Lou Bortone, the video marketing godfather.

For over 20 years, Lou has used his passion and expertise to help companies and entrepreneurs like you expand your message with video strategies that actually work for you. In this episode, we discuss a few of Lou's favorite video creation resources, tips on utilizing AI in your business, and a variety of ways you can reach and serve your ideal clients. 

You'll definitely want to get the show notes for today's episode. For all the resources and tips that Lou shares, you can get those at Leadpages.com/podcast. Let's dig into it. 

If you're a coach or consultant wanting to get more clients through speaking, you are in the right spot. 

Our guest today is Krista Martin, the founder of Six Figure Impact Academy. She shows coaches how to fill their programs through virtual and in person speaking. In this episode, we talk about her jump from pharmaceutical sales to entrepreneurship, strategies for getting audiences to take action, and what to include in your talks to get more people to say yes to your coaching. 

For the show notes, transcripts, and more, visit Leadpages.com/podcast. 

If you want to have a positive impact on more people, you've likely created or thought about creating an online course. 

Introducing Nathalie Lussier, the founder and creator of AccessAlly, one of the best course and membership platforms available for WordPress. 

During our discussion, Nathalie shares lessons from her journey as a software developer turned marketing consultant turned SaaS founder, strategies to create and sell your own online courses, and how to help your students get more value from your programs. 

You can check out the show notes, transcripts and resources for this and other episodes Leadpages.com/podcast, and if you'd like to learn more about Accessally, head over to Leadpages.com/accessally. Now let's get into the conversation.

The words that you use to convince people that what you have is what they need, is what copywriting is all about. 

My guest this episode is Joanna Wiebe, the founder of Copyhackers. Jo discusses her background working for Intuit as she worked herself into the world of entrepreneurship. We also talk about the role of artificial intelligence and copywriting, and her answer may surprise you about that. We also dive deep into what you should be including on your homepages and your landing pages to convert more of those clicks into clients for the show notes, transcripts, and more.

If you've been trying to grow your business online with YouTube but haven't quite cracked the code, you've tuned into the right episode. My guest today is Matt Giovanisci, the founder of Swim University, Brew Cabin, and Money Lab. 

In this episode, Matt shares some of his best strategies for growing a YouTube channel and building your email list from your video content. We also dig into his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he's learned along the way.

If you are an expert or a coach who's wanting to add group coaching to your business, you have tuned into the right episode. Jereshia Hawk teaches her clients how to use their expertise and turn it into a curriculum-based group coaching program that has a high impact on the lives of your clients. 

In this episode, Jereshia shares how she uses her professional background as a civil engineer to design group programs through frameworks and high levels of curriculum to have that high impact on the lives of her clients. She also breaks down how to think through what you put into your offer and what to charge for your group program, and how to think differently about that so that you can have the best results for your own business.

About Leadpages

Leadpages is the top conversion-first lead generation platform, which makes it easy for entrepreneurs, service professionals, small businesses, and the agencies that serve them to turn clicks into customers. Whether you're looking to create landing pages for an ad campaign or a full website to improve your online presence, Leadpages is here to help. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) and Victoria, British Columbia (Canada), Leadpages gets rave reviews from customers that appreciate what they receive: outstanding customer support, reliable and easy-to-use website and landing page builders, and a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs. 

Have you been thinking about creating an online course, but you're just not quite sure where to begin? Well, you're in luck with this episode. My guest today is Gemma Bonham-Carter, the founder of Course Creator School, where she helps smart people like you turn your knowledge and expertise into a course that generates some really great revenue for your business.

During this episode, Gemma shares her best advice on what to include in your course, how to stay focused on the success of your students, and how to price your course. She also shares the tools that she's using to create and deliver her programs.

Show notes and transcripts for this episode

For more episodes of the podcast, visit Leadpages.com/podcast. 

About Leadpages

Leadpages is the top conversion-first lead generation platform, which makes it easy for entrepreneurs, service professionals, small businesses, and the agencies that serve them to turn clicks into customers. Whether you're looking to create landing pages for an ad campaign or a full website to improve your online presence, Leadpages is here to help. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) and Victoria, British Columbia (Canada), Leadpages gets rave reviews from customers that appreciate what they receive: outstanding customer support, reliable and easy-to-use website and landing page builders, and a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs. 

Our brilliant guest today is Laurie Wang, a business strategist, keynote speaker, and consultant who helps businesses harness the power of social media to grow their bottom lines.

In this episode, you'll hear some of Laurie's best advice for growing your YouTube channel, leveraging the power of various social media platforms, taking social media followers and turning them into email subscribers, and becoming a known expert in your field. 

Show notes to this and other episodes available at Leadpages.com/podcast.

Turning your marketing ideas into words that convert strangers into customers can be a real struggle—but it doesn't have to be. We’re excited to share an interview with Alex Cattoni, the founder of Copy Posse and one of the leading voices in online direct response copywriting. 

Last year, she won the prestigious Digital Marketer of the Year award at Traffic & Conversion Summit, and she educates a quarter million subscribers on YouTube with her weekly copywriting lessons. 

In this episode, Alex shares insights from her journey from customer success intern to freelancer to entrepreneur. She shares her perspective on the role of AI in copywriting and discusses how to write effective emails that get readers to become customers. 

Show notes and transcripts for this episode

This week’s guest on The Lead Generation podcast is Miles Beckler. He just recently crossed the 200,000 subscriber mark on his eponymous YouTube channel where he shares strategies, tactics, and resources for online marketing success. Separately, he and his wife Melanie have a 12-year track record in the meditation and spirituality niche. 

In this episode, he and I discuss his journey from Discount Tire mounter to entrepreneur, the importance of delivering value at every turn, and how to combine email and affiliate marketing into a lucrative business.

Show Notes for this and other episodes at Leadpages.com/podcast.

Oliver Kenyon is the co-founder of ConversionWise and has been skyrocketing conversion rates for his clients and students for well over a decade. 

In this episode of the Lead Generation Podcast, Oliver discusses the lessons he's learned during his journey as a serial entrepreneur, shares his key elements for a high-converting landing page, and highlights a few surprising tools he uses in his daily life.

For show notes, transcripts and more, visit Leadpages.com/podcast.

To take advantage of Oliver's offer, visit Leadpages.com/conversionrateacademy and use the code Leadpages to get 50% off your first month.

Have you incorporated affiliate marketing into your business yet? Today’s guest is Igor Kheifets, the author of List Building Lifestyle and a podcast of the same name. His expertise in email strategy and affiliate marketing fueled his achievement as the number one Leadpages affiliate for 2022.  

In today's episode, we dig into the impact online marketing has had on his family (including a delightful comic book project for his daughter). We also discuss how to leverage email in your business and how to use email solo ads to take control of the growth of your income.

Explore the transcripts, show notes, and more

Advertising your business online can be tricky, expensive, and frustrating. Here to help is this week's guest, Jenn Possick. 

Jenn helps coaches and course creators run Facebook and Instagram ads that convert. 

In today's episode, we dig into Jenn's discovery of online marketing as an elementary school teacher, what to include on your landing pages for easier list building, and what's working right now when it comes to advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

Show notes for this and other episodes available at Leadpages.com/podcast.

Tracey Wallace is the Director of Content Strategy at Klaviyo, an ecommerce marketing automation platform for sellers on Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and many more. Tracey's experience over the last decade also includes creating and leading content teams at BigCommerce and MarketerHire. 

In this episode, Tracey discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead in a world of artificial intelligence, how to think more strategically about your content marketing plan, and how to set your brand apart to attract more business in the year ahead.

For show notes to this and other episodes, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.

On this week’s episode of the Lead Generation, we’re excited to introduce you to Gia (Giorgiana) Laudi, a marketing and growth advisor for SaaS who has helped companies like MeetEdgar, SparkToro, MarketerHire and Wistia, grow sustainably. She's the co-author of Forget The Funnel, and in this episode she dives into her journey to entrepreneurship, why customer-led growth is essential for recurring revenue companies, and how to get your ideal customers to fuel your marketing. 

Show notes for this and other episodes

Chris Davis (an alumni of the early days of Leadpages) is the founder of Automation Bridge, a training, consulting, and certification community for automation service professionals and entrepreneurs who are ready to put marketing automation to work the right way. He's also the host of the All Systems Go podcast. 

In this episode, we dive into his journey from electrical engineer and startup employee, to a successful entrepreneur. We also get his take on marketing automation strategies, tactics, and tools that you can put to use right away.

Go to episode show notes and more

Are you an entrepreneur who has another great idea to pursue, but you’re scared of taking the risk? This episode of The Lead Generation podcast is for you. Ruth Soukup is the founder of Ruth Soukup Omnimedia, which includes the brands Living Well, Spending Less, Elite Blog Academy, and Thinlicious. She's also a New York Times bestselling author of Do It Scared and six other books. In this episode, Ruth shares lessons she's learned in her entrepreneurial pursuits, her new venture in helping women with their health and wellness, and an update on how her community is doing after her Hurricane Ian. 

For episode show notes and more, visit the Leadpages podcast page

This week, learn from Vanessa Cabrera, a business coach who helps her clients clear up their marketing mindset so they can attract clients more easily with their social media strategy. Vanessa shares lessons she's learned on her entrepreneurial journey, the four key ingredients to enacting positive change and methods for getting out of your own way so you can have a greater impact on the lives of the people you serve.

Show notes for this and other episodes

This episode features the two sides of freelancing—working as a freelancer or working with a freelancer. 

Our guest is Brooke Markevicius. She’s the founder of Allobee (recently acquired by The Riveter), a freelancer marketplace that serves parents who want to support their families with flexible freelance careers, and the micro small businesses that hire them. 

Brooke shares the lessons she's learned while creating the Allobee platform. She also discusses how people can start and grow their own freelance businesses and how small business owners can earn the greatest ROI working with the right people at the right time.

Show notes for this episode and more

If you run a service-based business serving clients, you're going to love this week's episode. Emylee Williams is the co-founder of Boss Project (along with Abagail Pumphrey). She shares her path to a profitable partnership, how to build a life-first business, and tips for taking your service offerings to the next level. 

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In this episode of The Lead Generation, we're talking about mindset, motivations, and money with Rachel Luna. Rachel is the host of the upcoming Confidence Activated business conference, as well as the host of the Permission to Offend podcast. She’s also a veteran of the US Marine Corps and a breast cancer survivor.

As a powerful coach, Rachel serves women who want to stop letting cultural norms and invisible obstacles get in their way of living amazing lives of impact and wealth. Our conversation digs into Rachel's own history and the lessons she's learned while pursuing dreams that others told her were impossible.

Show notes for this episode and more

Melissa Kwan is the founder of eWebinar, a software platform that marketers and teams use to deliver engaging evergreen webinars to their prospects and customers without spending all their time doing demos. 

In this episode, Melissa shares her journey to nomadic entrepreneurship. She also discusses how creating a SaaS company is different from other types of businesses and what's working right now in the world of automated webinars. 

If you'd like to see how automated webinars could benefit your business, check out a demo of eWebinar. 

Show notes for this and previous episodes are here.

The Personal Part

For the last 20 years, Rand Fishkin has made the world of marketing a better place for both businesses and the customers they serve. He's the co-founder of SparkToro, a tool that does the heavy lifting of market research so brands of all sizes can discover their customers' spheres of influence. 

This interview was packed with both personal and professional wisdom, so we split it up into two episodes for you. 

In part one, we explore Rand's thoughts on issues that impact our human experience beyond the world of business.

In part two, we discuss Rand's ideas for business growth strategies—specifically, which approaches have the biggest payoffs and which channels may be cannibalizing your profits.

Episode Show Notes and More

The Business Part

For the last 20 years, Rand Fishkin has made the world of marketing a better place for both businesses and the customers they serve. He's the co-founder of SparkToro, a tool that does the heavy lifting of market research so brands of all sizes can discover their customers' spheres of influence. 

This interview was packed with both personal and professional wisdom, so we split it up into two episodes for you. This is the second part of the interview.

In part one, we explored Rand's thoughts on issues that impact our human experience beyond the world of business.

In part two, we discuss Rand's ideas for business growth strategies—specifically, which approaches have the biggest payoffs and which channels may be cannibalizing your profits.

Episode Show Notes and More