The Marketing Companion
Mark Schaefer explains a process that started 25 years ago to begin moving his business decisions from money to activities that brought joy. Keith Jennings compares this to a five-step career journey that starts with "don't mess up" to "meaningful work that brings joy." Where are you in the process?

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog.

Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Keith Jennings is an executive and writer who equips professionals to serve with values, generosity, and social impact.He serves as vice president of community impact with Jackson Healthcare. Connect with him at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithjennings/

Direct download: MarkFINALDec27.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 6:52pm GMT

In this new episode of The Marketing Companion, Mark Schaefer was faced with a crisis and he asked AI to solve it for him. You'll just have to hear it to believe it.

Direct download: MarkDec18.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Creators are building brands, businesses, and loyal communities faster than the largest brands in the world. This is undoubtedly one of the most important trends of our lifetime, with vast implications for the future of marketing. Mark Schaefer and Sara Wilson team up to dissect this development and dissect research with vast implications for our commercial strategies. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog. Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Sara Wilson is a journalist-turned-social-marketer (former Facebook & Instagram) who works with brands, publications, and platforms like YouTube, Nike, Bumble, the New York Times and many others find, engage and grow obsessive communities across digital channels through her consultancy SW Projects. Sara also writes frequently on the subject of digital marketing trends; she coined the term "digital campfires" in the Harvard Business Review to describe the types of spaces where young audiences are gathering online today, and often speaks and leads workshops on this and other topics related to social innovation, web3, and Gen Z consumption trends to companies around the world such as Microsoft and McKinsey.

Direct download: FINAL_Mark_Dec_4.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

With OpenAi's revolutionary new offering, everyone has the ability to create custom applications -- just by typing commands in your own style. You can create whatever you can imagine! Everyone can be a coder now. Let's cut through the hype and explore the possibilities and constraints of this remarkable technology. Mark Schaefer hosts Paul Roetzer, founder of the Marketing AI Institute. 

Direct download: Mark_Nov_20_Final.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

In an unprecedented solo performance, Mark Schaefer discusses his thoughts on where our marketing priorities will be in the next few years. is the metaverse still alive and kicking? Tune it to find out! 

Direct download: Mark_NOV6-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and Amanda Russell explore the Pratfall Effect, a psychological model that says we gain trust and credibility through revealing our mistakes. In this fascinating episode, they look at case studies from Mark's dressing habits and a weird burger commercial, to cookies and Mark Zuckerberg's hoodie. Mistakes in marketing can work, but only within a certain context.

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog. Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Amanda Russell is the founder of the Global Center for Influence (C4In), launching (2023) at the University of Texas at Austin with a mission to help brands & people learn how to position themselves and their companies for success, bridging the gap between academia and practice. Amanda's mission is to enhance how we do 'higher education. 

Former Olympic-level athlete, Founder-to-sale Entrepreneur and Marketing Consultant who still loves the brain gymnastics of helping people and companies become more influential among their desired audience. Professor, Author "The Influencer Code", Speaker, Board Member and Director of C4In

Direct download: Mark_OCT21.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Can you base a marketing strategy on generosity? It's complex, exciting, and perhaps a key part of our future in business. Keith Jennings has studied the psychology and sociology of generosity and is convinced it should be a core strategy. Mark and Keith explore this idea and a multitude of angles when kindness counts most of all in this unusual episode!

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog. Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Keith Jennings is an executive and writer who equips professionals to serve with values, generosity, and social impact. He serves as vice president of community impact with Jackson Healthcare. Connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithjennings/

Direct download: MarkOCT9-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

As marketers sort through the new bag of AI magic tricks, it's important to stay centered on real value and the human connection at the center of marketing. In this episode, Mark Schaefer and Dennis Yu take a fresh look at the Human-Centered Marketing Manifesto and debate its relevance in the new digital landscape

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog.

Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Dennis Yu is on a mission to create a million jobs by training up international workers to serve American companies. Former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on ads. Best-selling author and speaker.

Direct download: MarkSep25-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Sara Wilson and Mark Schaefer attended Z Con, the first conference fully dedicated to Gen Z -- up on by Gen Z leaders. It provided a fascinating glimpse into the minds and memes of a generation that punched above its weight when it comes to cultural influence. In this show you'll get an eye-popping look at what it takes to achieve business and brand success when it comes to this new generation of consumers. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog. Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Sara Wilson is a journalist-turned-social-marketer (former Facebook & Instagram) who works with brands, publications, and platforms like YouTube, Nike, Bumble, the New York Times and many others find, engage and grow obsessive communities across digital channels through her consultancy SW Projects. Sara also writes frequently on the subject of digital marketing trends; she coined the term "digital campfires" in the Harvard Business Review to describe the types of spaces where young audiences are gathering online today, and often speaks and leads workshops on this and other topics related to social innovation, web3, and Gen Z consumption trends to companies around the world such as Microsoft and McKinsey.

Direct download: MarkSEP11-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and Mathew Sweezey discuss how the AI revolution is impacting them as business leaders, entrepreneurs, and simply individuals trying to make their way in the world. Mark and Mathew discuss their current AI priorities, hacks, and the aspects of this development keeping them up at night. Where do they see the pitfalls and opportunities? Find out in this fascinating episode! 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog.

Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking

Mathew Sweezey is the Co-Founder of Salesforces Web3 Studio where he helped Salesforce and their top customers transition into Web3. Mathew an independent consultant, a best selling author, and avid adventurer. 
Direct download: MarkAUG28-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

There are plenty of frameworks for successful content creation, but can ANYBODY breakthrough with a successful blog, podcast, or video series these days ... or does it take some "special sauce?" Mark Schaefer and Jay Acunzo debate the issue and don't always agree in this fascinating episode.
 
Mark and Jay cover what it takes to create a defensible content property, the importance of being pissed off, why marketers create the worst content, and the importance of "awe" in the content world.

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

For more of Mark’s insights every week, subcribe to his award-winning blog.

Mark also offers classes in personal branding and professional speaking.

Jay Acunzo is an author, speaker, and host of the podcast Unthinkable -- the show about marketers who trusted their intuition, not the best practices, and all the unconventional, refreshing things they did to build their brands and leave their legacies. Learn more and find a Starter Pack of episodes at https://jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast

Direct download: MarkAUG14-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

AI is moving quickly into every crevice of the marketing world but the impact on content has been immediate and profound. Where does AI matter, and where will humans persist and thrive? Mark Schaefer and Amanda Russell discuss a hierarchy of content in the AI world and the impact on the personal brand.

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Amanda Russell is the founder of the Global Center for Influence (C4In), launching (2023) at the University of Texas at Austin with a mission to help brands & people learn how to position themselves and their companies for success, bridging the gap between academia and practice. Amanda's mission is to enhance how we do higher education. 

Direct download: MarkJuly-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and Ketih Jennings reveal the difference between story and narrative as it relates to business strategy. In this wide-ranging discussion, they unpack the role of narrative in branding and corporate influence, Eastern versus Western storytelling style, and more. This episode has special bonus content going deeper on this subject from RISE community members. 
 
Direct download: Mark-July14.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Dennis Yu and Mark Schaefer explore why public speaking is becoming a more important in the marketing mix. Speaking builds authority and trust and can cut through the disinformation of our world. Mark and Dennis also reveal some of their public speaking highs and lows and reveal their secrets to battle onstage nerves. This episode is a fascinating and fun collection of tips and stories!

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Dennis Yu is on a mission to create a million jobs by training up international workers to serve American companies. Former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on ads. Best-selling author and speaker.

Direct download: Mark_July3_FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

This episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a singularly unique content marketing project. Mark Schaefer pulled together 35 subject matter experts from ten countries to create one of the most unique content experiments in history. Jump into this show to discover Mark Schaefer's biggest personal business risk. There was no going back when these experts decided to move forward with a project that would change their lives. Featuring Daniel Nestle, Frank Prendergast and Anna Bravington.
Direct download: MarkJune19-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

"Open Loyalty" is an exciting new idea that transforms traditional notions of loyalty with cutting edge technology. Some of the biggest brands are experimenting with the idea. Let's learn about the future of loyalty with Mathew Sweezey and Mark Schaefer.

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Mathew Sweezey is the Co-Founder of Salesforces Web3 Studio where he helped Salesforce and their top customers transition into Web3. Mathew an independent consultant, a best selling author, and avid adventurer. 
Direct download: MarkJune-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

In this era where AI is nipping at the heels of our marketing careers, there is no more important idea than defining how you fit into this new eco-system, or, ad Jay Acunzo puts it, "What is the gist of you?" Jay and Mark Schaefer take a deep dive into the meaning of brand and personal relevance in a world exploding with new creative output. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," “Belonging to the Brand,” and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Jay Acunzo is an author, speaker, and host of the podcast Unthinkable -- the show about marketers who trusted their intuition, not the best practices, and all the unconventional, refreshing things they did to build their brands and leave their legacies. Learn more and find a Starter Pack of episodes at 
https://jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast

Direct download: MarkMay22-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

In this unique episode. Amanda Russell and Mark Schaefer offer an exclusive look at the extraordinary marketing challenges in the field of marketing. In a world where taste, scarcity, and exclusivity rule, the foundations of mass marketing are meaningless. How do luxury brands connect in a personal way that builds community? There are important lessons here for any marketer!

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN" and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Amanda Russell is the founder of the Global Center for Influence (C4In), launching (2023) at the University of Texas at Austin with a mission to help brands & people learn how to position themselves and their companies for success, bridging the gap between academia and practice. Amanda's mission is to enhance how we do 'higher education. Former Olympic-level athlete, Founder-to-sale Entrepreneur and Marketing Consultant who still loves the brain gymnastics of helping people and companies become more influential among their desired audience. Professor, Author "The Influencer Code", Speaker, Board Member and Director of C4In

Direct download: MarkMay8-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Should we bring our "whole self" to the marketing profession? A powerful sociological trend is changing norms and expectations of our customers and employees. What are the advantages and disadvantages of vulnerability and self-disclosure? Mark Schaefer and Keith Jennings weigh in!

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "Belonging to the Brand" and "Marketing Rebellion." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Keith Jennings is an executive and writer who equips professionals to serve with values, generosity, and social impact.He serves as vice president of community impact with Jackson Healthcare. Connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithjennings/

Direct download: MarkApril24mp3.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and social media marketing expert Denis Yu dive into the most important trends including the true value of the blue check mark, the most powerful platforms right now, the future of TikTok, and the truth behind Facebook's foray into the metaverse. You'll also hear some hair-raising stories about information and privacy! 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "Marketing Rebellion" and "Belonging to the Brand." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Dennis Yu is on a mission to create a million jobs by training up international workers to serve American companies. Former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on ads. Best-selling author and speaker.

Direct download: Mark-April7-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

AI is everywhere and seemingly everything these days in the world of marketing. But now that we're getting through the magic trick phase of AI we're beginning to observe the powerful impact it could have on culture, community, and careers. Let's begin the discussion today, a discussion that is just starting in our world today.

Direct download: Mark_FINAL-MARCH26.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Sara Wilson has been studying Gen Z with a detective-like intensity and her new research report gives us a guide for connecting with them. We talk about their hideouts, their curious aesthetic, the role of "faux-stalgia," the importance of the absurd, and much more. Your head will spin with new insights and ideas in this conversation with Mark Schaefer. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN" and "Marketing Rebellion," and “Belonging to the Brand.” His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Sara Wilson is a journalist-turned-social-marketer (former Facebook & Instagram) who works with brands, publications, and platforms like YouTube, Nike, Bumble, the New York Times and many others find, engage and grow obsessive communities across digital channels through her consultancy SW Projects. Sara also writes frequently on the subject of digital marketing trends; she coined the term "digital campfires" in the Harvard Business Review to describe the types of spaces where young audiences are gathering online today, and often speaks and leads workshops on this and other topics related to social innovation, web3, and Gen Z consumption trends to companies around the world such as Microsoft and McKinsey.

Direct download: MarkMarch13-FINAL.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and Jay Acunzo take a deep dive into the utility and threat of AI platforms like ChatGPT. They explore the very nature of creativity and Jay explains the three foundational ideas and why AI falls short on two of them. Mark presents a dystopian future view of creativity, a scenario he says is probable in five to 10 years. Ultimately Mark and Jay agree that personal connection through content will determine success or failure. Mark describes three different types of content and why AI will dominate at least one of those categories. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," "Marketing Rebellion," and “Belonging to the Brand.” His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising.

Jay Acunzo is an author, speaker, and host of the podcast Unthinkable -- the show about marketers who trusted their intuition, not the best practices, and all the unconventional, refreshing things they did to build their brands and leave their legacies. Learn more and find a Starter Pack of episodes at https://jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast

Direct download: Mark-FINAL-FEB27.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Mark Schaefer and nonprofit marketing authority Keith Jennings unwrap new ideas in nonprofit marketing, including a new way to segment audiences, why a focus on "product" enables better nonprofit marketing, and why nonprofits should consider community-based marketing. 

Direct download: Mark_Keith.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

In this show, Mark Schaefer and two friends, Samantha Stone and Chad Parizman, weave a story of his greatest professional accomplishment -- ten years in the making. It's not a book, it's not a famous speech. This is the story of 30 people who took a risk together. 
 
Samantha Stone is the founder and CEO of The Marketing Advisory Network. She is a teacher, consultant, marketing strategist, researcher, and the author of Unleash Possible. 
 
Chad Parizman has been a digital marketing strategist for HGTV and Pfizer and currently leads brands into an effective social audio strategy through his company Ader Communications.
 
Direct download: Mark-JAN30.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 8:00am GMT

In this unique episode, Mark Schaefer talks about how viewing "community" through the lens of brand marketing is not a strategy that works, it is marketing that heals. In fact, community might be the greatest overlooked marketing opportunity in the history of marketing opportunities. The legendary Douglas Burdette serves as a special co-host for this episode. This episode includes a free chapter of Mark's new book "Belonging to the Brand."

Douglas Burdette is the founder of Artillery Marketing and the host of the well-known Marketing Book podcast. 

Mark Schaefer is a strategy consultant, college educator, keynote speaker and the author of 10 books including "KNOWN," "Marketing Rebellion" and "Belonging to the Brand." His annual marketing retreat is The Uprising

Direct download: MarkJAN16.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 10:00am GMT

Tom Peters was named as one of the top 10 business minds of this century and he just published an extraordinary new book. In this interview, he covers some surprising topics with typical boldness:
  • His surprising take on "quiet quitting."
  • "You don't have to like your employees, but you have to love them."
  • Why great speakers act out of a sense of desperation about their message
  • Why "business is community, period."
  • Your job as a leader is to "hire well and promote."
  • Why he is perpetually pissed off
  • Why we need to hire "the quiet ones."
Tom is best-known for his book "In Search of Excellence" and his new book is 
"The Compact Guide to Excellence."
Direct download: Mark_Jan2.mp3
Category:Social Media Marketing -- posted at: 9:00am GMT

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