The Story Power Marketing Show

Justin Inman is the Founder and CEO of Emberos, the first operating system built to orchestrate paid, owned, and earned signals for AI visibility. He works at the intersection of brand strategy, AI systems, and predictive analytics, helping companies understand and influence how they appear inside generative AI platforms.

Justin explains that consumers increasingly ask tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews rather than the old Google search. He Tom talk about how SEO fundamentals still matter, but brands must optimize across their fcampaigns to ensure they appear in AI-generated responses - and appear ac...

Jerry Levinson is an entrepreneur, business growth strategist, and founder of Profit Now. After spending 20 years building Blind Devotion, a window covering company in Chandler, Arizona, Jerry learned firsthand that expertise alone doesn’t guarantee business success. Following the 2009 financial crisis and the loss of his business, he committed himself to mastering marketing, sales, and business operations. Within three years, he rebuilt Blind Devotion into a company generating more than $1.2 million in annual revenue before successfully selling it.

Jerry later entered the flooring industry with no prior experience and founded Carpets of Arizona in 2015. By applying the bu...

Aaron Hale is a US Army EOD veteran, real estate investor, business owner, podcaster, and ultra-endurance athlete. After a tragic injury on deployment overseas took his eyesight and hearing, Aaron hit rock bottom. Instead of staying there, Aaron resolved to not allow his circumstances to dictate the rest of his life. Since the injury, Aaron has become a husband, a father, a real estate investor, a successful entrepreneur, a speaker, and a top-rated podcast host.

Hale describes moving from “I can’t” thinking and depression at Walter Reed to rebuilding his life through discipline, adaptive skills, and pursui...

Ryan Ferrier is the CEO of Lob, the direct mail automation platform that brings the power of digital to direct mail. He leads the company’s mission to automate every step of direct mail campaigns from creation to delivery. Lob’s platform enables personalization and real-time measurement for over 12,000 businesses, including L'Occitane, Ro and Simplisafe. 

In this episode, he and Tom discuss why direct mail is still critical and is resurging amid digital fatigue and lower mailbox competition. They get into how to use it in an omnichannel strategy, how to treat operational mail like statements and bills...

Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on transformation. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork, the workforce transformation system that turns AI into ROI by reinventing how people work. A lifelong learner, Nikki holds three master’s degrees, is fluent in five languages, and brings relentless curiosity to every endeavor. She believes we are all limitless and is committed to helping people live up to their fullest potential.

In this episode, she and Tom discuss how AI is a lasting “cognitive contagion,” urging people to avoid denial, become early adopte...

Erika Andresen, JD, CBCP, MPA, is a recognized expert and consultant in Business Continuity. She has nearly two decades of experience as a lawyer in both the corporate finance world and the military. Erika became a subject matter expert in national security and disaster preparedness and response while advising different commands including during high-risk situations while deployed in Afghanistan and in response to natural disasters. Erika left active duty in 2020 and started EaaS Consulting, LLC, with the goal of keeping businesses in business. She is also a professor of emergency management for the MPA program at the University of Texas...

Peet Van Niekerk is the CEO of Designer Needed, a firm empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide with affordable, cohesive branding that makes them feel proud and confident in every aspect of their brand.

In this week's episode, Peet explains that inconsistent logos, colors, fonts, messaging, and user experiences across touchpoints (website, social, print, networking profiles) create mixed messages, reduce trust, and increase costs when businesses juggle multiple designers. He argues that cohesive branding builds recognition through repeated exposure and signals commitment, helping the right clients resonate.

He and Tom discuss AI and tools like...

Gal S. Borenstein is the Founder and CEO of The Borenstein Group, a Washington, DC-area branding, marketing, and public relations firm that has advised B2B, B2G, defense, cybersecurity, and technology organizations since 1994. With more than 28 years of experience, he is recognized for helping complex and highly technical companies transform from overlooked vendors into credible, trust-driven brands that can compete with larger and more established competitors.

On this week's episode, he and Tom discuss how trust can become a competitive advantage amid AI-led misinformation and short attention spans.

Together, they teach how to lead...

Ray Jang is the Founder & CEO of Atria, the world’s first AI Creative Strategist platform. He’s leading a new wave in marketing innovation, using AI to help brands create smarter, more effective campaigns without losing the human touch. Known as “the ads guy who hates ads,” Ray challenges how marketers think about testing, scaling, and storytelling in an age of AI-generated content overload. His insights have earned him an audience of over 50,000 followers on LinkedIn, where he shares practical frameworks for marketers navigating this new era.

Ray shares his transition from TikTok’s global growth strategy t...

Dr. Laura Sicola is a leadership communication and influence expert, speaker, author of Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice, and host of the Global Top 1% podcast, Speaking to Influence: Communication Secrets of the C-Suite and the podcast ALPHAWHISPERERS: Genesis. Her mission is to transform executives into confident, inspiring leaders. A cognitive linguist by background, she has trained and coached executives at Fortune 500 companies and non-profit leaders from around the world. Laura’s TEDx talk, “Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start by Saying Your Name Right,” has nearly 7 million views.

In this episode, Sicola explains that expert...

Jim Goetz is a dedicated expert in human performance optimization, holding certifications as a chiropractor, physiotherapist, and strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA, alongside numerous other credentials in the field. With a robust background in strength and conditioning, Jim has coached an impressive range of athletes, including high school wrestling champions, NCAA Division I football players, NFL and MLB professionals, Olympic athletes, and more. His philosophy centers on living as a champion in all aspects of life, giving 110% effort without excuses, and building success through consistent, disciplined habits.

In this episode, he and Tom discuss how...

Michael Hauge is a story expert, author and lecturer who helps writers, speakers, entrepreneurs and filmmakers grow their businesses by telling better stories.

Michael has presented seminars, lectures and keynotes in person and online to more than 600,000 participants worldwide. As a Hollywood script consultant, he has worked on projects starring Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon.

In this episode, Michael shares his path from a childhood love of movies to teaching screenwriting, consulting on major films, and later applying movie storytelling principles to marketing. He and Tom discuss core business...

Skip Wilson is an advertising luminary and the founder of DRAFT Media Partners, but his journey truly began as a storyteller at age 16. Starting his career as a copywriter, Skip learned early on that the most effective marketing isn't about "pitching and prodding"—it’s about human connection.

Skip champions a "Draft Mentality," empowering leaders to stop guessing and start building predictable, science-backed marketing results through the power of connection.

In this episode, he and Tom discuss how many business owners use a “spray and pray” approach, jumping between platforms without planning, execution, or iteration and then...

Everett O'Keefe is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and International #1 bestselling author and the founder of Ignite Press, a hybrid publishing company that helps entrepreneurs, business leaders, and medical professionals grow their authority and revenue through publishing.

His most recent solo book, The Power of the Published, explores how rapidly authoring and launching a book can transform a business — and a life. Over the years, Everett has helped create and launch more than 200 bestselling books for his clients. He speaks nationally on the power of publishing and is passionate about helping experts become the one who wr...

Sean Jordan is the President and Principal Investigator for the Research & Planning Group. As a 2009 graduate and current faculty member of the Master of Marketing Research (MMR) program at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (one of the only professional marketing research post-graduate programs offered in the nation), Sean is equipped with a wide array of quantitative and qualitative research techniques and possesses a number of skills that aid him in research design, data analysis and report presentation.

In this episode, Sean explains the difference between quantitative research (numbers like averages and percentages) and qualitative research (listening to...

Cybersecurity expert, good guy hacker, and private investigator Robert Siciliano delivers “straight talk” on safety and security, stripping away jargon to empower everyday protection. A bestselling author and CEO of Safr.Me, and head trainer at Protectnowllc.com he is a trusted commentator featured on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and the Today Show, decoding complex threats for mass audiences.

Robert shares his journey from physical security to cybersecurity, providing insights on the evolution of cyber threats, the role of AI in scaled operations, and the emotional aspects that make individuals and businesses vulnerable. He outlines practical steps for...

Brandon N. Towl is a marketing strategist, founder, self-described nerd and “Master of Questions.” After years of working closely with marketing teams, Brandon started noticing a deeper pattern: Many marketing teams were “spinning their wheels” because they were working from guesses. That realization led Brandon to launch Human Driven Understanding, a consultancy dedicated to deep customer interviews and pattern analysis, uncovering the real motivations, fears, language, and decision dynamics that rarely show up in dashboards or surveys.

In this episode, he and Tom discuss the importance of asking better questions to understand what truly drives customer decisions. Brandon...

Danny Kirk is the serial founder of ReddiReach, a profitable marketing agency specializing in Reddit marketing, AI search and growth hacking strategies. He's revolutionizing how brands leverage Reddit for organic growth while optimizing for AI search platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. ReddiReach has served over 500 brands, startups and SMBs and helped achieve incredible results such as 9 figure exits.

In this episode, he and Tom dive into Reddit's evolution as a marketing platform, its importance in AI training, and practical strategies for businesses to use Reddit effectively. Whether you're a product-based company or a professional service provider, you'll...

Steve Turner is the Principal and Owner of Solomon Turner PR in St. Louis. The firm, now in its 35th year, is known for its expertise in media relations and has received numerous awards, including recognition as one of the top PR firms in St. Louis for 17 consecutive years by Small Business Monthly.

Steve shares his journey from broadcasting to PR, discussing the evolution of the industry and offering valuable insights for leveraging traditional and digital media. He and Tom discuss Steve's book, 'PR That Works', which provides practical strategies and real-world case studies for PR professionals...

Amos Balongo has been a corporate motivational speaking sensation since moving to the United States from Africa. He has presented at several leadership conferences and summits and traveled to over 32 countries motivating and transforming leaders with his message.

In this episode, Amos shares his journey from Africa to the United States, his shift from management consulting to leadership coaching, and the pivotal role of effective communication in leadership. He and Tom discuss common communication mistakes leaders make, the importance of authenticity, and the power of storytelling. Amos also outlines his coaching processes and offers resources for improving...

David Garfinkel has helped copywriters and businesses in more than 100 industries increase profits. His book Breakthrough Copywriting is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon. Way back in 2004, he created and published the first widely used set of Copywriting Templates. Since 1993, he's written sales letters that have brought in as much as $40 million to one business. These days, his main client work is coaching professional copywriters, business owners, and in-house copywriters for organizations.

In this episode, David discusses his book The Persuasion Story Code and explains why short, simple persuasion stories are more powerful than lengthy, dramatic tales. He breaks...

Neil Rogers is an author, speaker, and business leader with over 37 years of experience in marketing & sales, generating revenue and guiding clients through highly effective & result-oriented marketing campaigns.

In this episode, Neil shares insights from his book 'Bar Tips: Everything I Needed to Know in Sales I Learned Behind the Bar,' illustrating how his early experiences as a bartender shaped his success in business. He and Tom discuss the importance of systems and processes, the power of hospitality, and how connecting with clients on a personal level can drive business success.

Neil emphasizes the...

Jeff has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of Republican politics, direct response strategy, fundraising, copywriting, design, donor acquisition, list selection, segmentation and analysis. His direct mail fundraising appeals have been recognized with more than a dozen industry awards.

In this episode, he and Tom cover the importance of making mail skimmable, emotionally engaging, and urgent, and touching on how these principles apply across political, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors, including real estate. They explore the importance of multi-channel strategies and integrating print with digital media to maximize impact.

Whether you're a fundraiser or...

Doug is a brand specialist and an accomplished writer having contributed articles to Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and the Seattle Times, along with authoring several #1 best selling books. He's also been featured on broadcast media including CBS & FOX News. He hosted his own show radio program, “The Real Estate Coach” to ABC’s powerhouse, WLS AM 890 radio in Chicago.

Through his “future-proof” marketing and relationship-driven initiatives he works to give leaders "blue ocean" opportunities to expand their reach & impact.

In this episode, Doug elaborates on how entrepreneurs and busine...

Vance is a former birth control factory security guard turned Disney leader, turned bankrupt out-of-work executive, turned carpet cleaner, turned successful entrepreneur. He helps business owners get, serve, and keep clients for life through creating experiences and response required marketing.

He and Tom discuss the importance of systems and processes, customer retention, and practical steps to wow clients without breaking the bank. Tune in for valuable insights and actionable tips to captivate prospects and keep customers for life.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

~00:57 Meet Vance Morris: From Disney Leader to Entrepreneur

Hunter co-founded SimpleCheck and SmartForm, tools that show you whether a lead can actually buy before your sales team wastes a minute.

In this episode, he shares insights on how their tools help businesses identify leads with the desire, authority, and resources to buy, ensuring legal compliance. He and Tom explore techniques to get more qualified leads, such as enhancing ad targeting through consumer report consent and leveraging custom APIs for instant data. A must-listen for business owners and marketers looking to optimize their sales processes and increase ROI.

DISCUSSED IN THIS...

Dave Valentine built 10 businesses that have collectively driven over $1 billion in revenue for 1,200+ clients—including Fortune 100 giants like Target, Time Magazine, and American Express. He now leads a global agency from a house by a river in the mountains—complete with three waterfalls—where strategy meets serenity. Merging conscious capitalism with unconventional marketing, he guides businesses toward growth that’s not just exponential, but holistic.

Dave faced a severe health scare at 29 due to excessive stress. This led him to make crucial lifestyle changes, including daily walks, meditation, and drinking more water. These changes not only improved his pers...

Scott Desgrosseilliers is the founder and CEO of Wicked Reports, a leading first-party marketing attribution platform for high-growth eCommerce brands. With over a decade of experience analyzing billions in ad spend, Scott helps marketers cut through the noise to find what’s really driving ROI. He’s the creator of the 5 Forces System, a proven framework that turns messy marketing data into clear, confident decisions.

Scott shares his expertise in marketing attribution and how to make sense of complex marketing data to drive ROI. He introduces the Five Forces System, a framework for turning messy data into clear...

Glenn recently retired as the EVP and GM of NWS and the co-founder of Gap Wireless Inc., where he spent his career at the intersection of sales, marketing, and business leadership. With a proven track record in driving growth in the telecom and tech distribution industries, Glenn is also the author of Never Sit in the Lobby: 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow a Business and Build a Career. He has now embarked on a new journey exploring new opportunities in areas such AI automation and Electric Power Generation.

Glenn shares his extensive experience from his career in...

Jessie Fernández is a highly skilled marketing strategist with extensive experience working with brands across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. With expertise in branding, multichannel campaigns, and go-to-market strategies, Jessie has a solid foundation in media, print, and television and has been recognized as an award-winning professor of marketing in Honduras. Currently, Jessie works as a marketing coach and serves as the Marketing Director and Independent Strategist at Jessie Fernandez – Marketing Solutions.

She and Tom discuss the importance of defining a brand, evaluating existing branding strategies, and the steps to take for those who hav...

Dr Raewyn Sleeman is a renowned Canadian business strategist, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience in the world of small business development and growth. She holds a doctorate in Business Administration, with a focus on small business marketing strategies. Having built multiple businesses herself, Dr Sleeman knows first-hand the obstacles entrepreneurs encounter and the strategies required to overcome them. er startup, Stratagease, has developed the Marketing Strategy App, a new tool designed to help micro business owners create and execute effective marketing plans.

Dr. Sleeman emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between strategies and tactics...

Co-Founders of Tipton Franklin Marketing Strategies, Angela and Travis redefine the possible for AgTech and Biotech businesses. Together they deliver bold marketing strategies with an ethical approach and measurable results.

Tom talks to them about using AI to fuel marketing growth in agtech and biotech industries. They dive into their strategic approach to AI adoption and discuss AI's potential, security concerns, and various applications in content creation, process optimization, and business strategy.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

~01:07 Meet the Guests: Angela Tipton and Travis Franklin

~02:15 The Importance of AI in...

Kasim Aslam is a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, including two successful exits. He is the co-founder of Driven Mastermind, creator of Digital Marketer's Paid Traffic Certification, and author of three bestselling books, including You vs Google, a #1 international bestseller in marketing and advertising. Named one of the top 50 Digital Marketing Thought Leaders in the U.S., Kasim is also the founder of Pareto Talent, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time by matching them with world-class executive assistants.

He and Tom discuss the benefits of deep work, efficient delegation...

Sam Nelson is the CEO of Downstreet Digital, an award-winning, digital marketing agency specializing in high-impact advertising and branding. With nearly 15 years of experience in digital strategy, Sam has led campaigns for national food chains, major media organizations, and high-stakes political races.

Sam shares valuable insights from his political and marketing experience, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing audience needs. He and Tom discuss leveraging digital tools like CTV and social media to target and engage audiences effectively to optimize marketing efforts for small and medium-sized businesses.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE<...

Amber Briggle is the CEO of B-Well Enterprises and the founder and owner of Soma Massage Therapy, a multi-award-winning business and the nation's most exciting new franchise opportunity. Amber became a massage therapist in 2004 and began Soma Massage Therapy in 2011. Through tenacity and determination she has literally built (and rebuilt, thanks to the pandemic) a thriving massage therapy business and a promising new franchise brand.

Amber shares her incredible journey of rebuilding her business after the COVID-19 pandemic almost shut it down. She and Tom discuss the challenges she faced, including losing her staff and having no...

Sara Nay is the CEO at Duct Tape Marketing. Since her start in December 2010, she has consulted and advised thousands of small business owners on how to build, grow, and scale a profitable business. She has a passion for helping small business owners focus on their zone of genius and build a team around them to support their growth goals.

She and Tom discuss the common marketing challenges faced by small business owners and how business strategy should guide marketing strategy, the role of fractional CMOs in helping businesses achieve their growth goals, and how AI can...

Atiba de Souza is your secret weapon when your team is underperforming. As a CEO Strategist and Team Productivity Expert, he transforms struggling organizations into productivity powerhouses through proven leadership frameworks that deliver immediate results.

Atiba shares his unique CASE method and other tactical strategies that help business owners delegate more effectively, eliminate bottlenecks, and boost employee efficiency. He and Tom explore ways to teach employees how to think rather than just what to do, why that can improve team productivity, and how to enhance overall business growth.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE<...

Corey has 15 years of in-house agency experience, including as Scorpion's CMO, where he helped grow revenue from $20M to $150M in 6 years. He just published his bestselling book: Anyone, Not Everyone: a Proven System for Agencies to Escape Founder-Led Sales. Today, he helps digital agency founders scale revenue and profits with Deep Specialization.

He and Tom dive into strategies to escape the rut of founder-led sales. They also discuss Corey's bestselling book, which offers a proven system for agencies to escape founder-led sales and scale successfully.

Through real-life examples and practical advice, Corey teaches how t...

Annie M. Wyatt is the author and illustrator of A Horse in the Castle. Her passion for creating children’s books stems from a lifelong love of reading, a joy that has continued into adulthood. As a mother of two young children, she has witnessed firsthand the magic a captivating book can bring to young minds. She currently leads a marketing team for a large corporation, though her greatest joy comes from sharing her books with children and reading to young audiences.

She and Tom discuss the critical role of storytelling in both business and children's literature, th...

Nikki Lindgren, an agency founder and startup advisor, is reshaping the landscape of beauty and lifestyle brand marketing with a human-centric approach. Over two decades, she has left her mark on the strategies of more than 228 brands.

Nikki has overseen the management of over $100 million in digital media. Her extensive experience spans everything from search engine marketing and paid social to display advertising and influencer/blogger relationships.

She and Tom cover the distinctions and strategies of SEO and paid search, the evolving landscape of AI in marketing, and actionable insights for optimizing content to enhance...