Lifted Marketing: The LiftKit Marketing Podcast

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In this inaugural episode of the LiftKit Marketing podcast, hosts John Hoeft and Danielle Shermerhorn share their personal journeys in the marketing industry, discussing the challenges and triumphs they have faced. They emphasize the importance of celebrating wins in marketing, the average tenure of marketers, and the need for a supportive community. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of marketing, the impact of AI, and the significance of sharing stories to empower fellow marketers.

Episode 17: What does it actually take to get sales and marketing working as one team? Morten Revsbech, a Sandler certified sales trainer and coach, joins John and Danielle to break down the real reasons sales and marketing stay stuck in conflict, and what a smarter, process-driven approach looks like in practice. Covering everything from the seven-step Sandler methodology to service level agreements and the referral gap most businesses are ignoring, Morten brings 25-plus years of sales experience to one of the most practical conversations B2B marketers and agency owners need to hear right now.

Episode 16: What insights can AI provide about your brand when no one is watching? David Kirkdorffer, a leader in B2B growth marketing and a strategic advisor, joins John and Danielle to discuss why brand visibility in the AI era hinges less on technical optimization and more on the clarity, consistency, and narrative you've crafted across the internet over time. Covering everything from the buyer journey to the attribution mirage, David leverages over 20 years of B2B marketing expertise to engage in one of the most crucial discussions marketers need to have right now.

Episode 15: In this episode, Serena Christianson, a Learning and Development Strategist at ICW Group, addresses a pivotal question that many marketers are reluctant to voice: what should you do when marketing no longer aligns with your career goals? Serena explains that stepping away from a career you've dedicated yourself to is not a sign of failure. She highlights how the sunk cost fallacy can trap talented professionals in roles that no longer suit them and emphasizes that your unique, non-linear career journey can serve as your greatest advantage. Additionally, she provides practical job search advice, including the best resume fonts to navigate applicant tracking systems and effective networking strategies that can help you unlock new opportunities. This episode is essential listening for marketers considering a career shift, dealing with a layoff, or simply exploring the possibility of greater opportunities ahead.

Episode 14: AJ Kumar, the founder of The Limitless Company and author of Guru Inc., has empowered clients such as Neil Patel in building personal media companies that transform their expertise into authority, attention, and revenue. In this insightful conversation, AJ elaborates on his guru ladder framework designed for advancing from a specialist to a recognized authority. He also discusses his perspective on why YouTube is emerging as the new Hollywood and offers a refreshingly unique take on AI. Spoiler: his insights emphasize enhancing your intelligence rather than automating your content. Whether you are five years into your career or twenty-five, this episode will reshape your understanding of how to build a brand based on your knowledge.

Episode 13: In this episode, Mordy Oberstein, Head of Brand at SE Ranking, tackles the pressing questions that every marketer is currently asking: Does your website truly matter, and is SEO really dead? Mordy discusses the significance of brand identity, which is often the step that many companies overlook, and explains how this one gap can disrupt everything else. He also delves into what LLM visibility means for your brand's presence in an increasingly AI-driven world. Furthermore, he clarifies the actual role of your website in a landscape where AI is providing answers before users even click. This episode is a must-listen for brand leaders and marketers who are reconsidering their strategies in search and beyond.

Episode 12: In this episode of the LiftKit Marketing Podcast, we sit down with Levi Worts, Senior AI Marketing Strategist at SUSE, to explore the implications of AI transitioning from a mere productivity tool to a significant leadership challenge. Levi discusses why the drive for '10x output' can often lead to burnout, how organizations frequently confuse output with outcomes, and highlights the common pitfalls where organizations are currently getting AI implementation wrong.

Episode 11: In this episode, Dave Glaza, Founder and CEO of Digits, discusses the evolution of retail media, agency growth, and the essential elements needed to scale while maintaining focus. He reveals how Digits transformed into one of the fastest-growing retail media agencies by embracing specialization, effectively navigating significant changes in alcohol and CPG marketing, and strategically preparing for an AI-driven future. This episode is a must-listen for agency leaders and marketers who aim to foster smarter, more sustainable growth.

Episode 10: In this episode, Jessica Graeser, VP of Marketing at NinjaCat, discusses her journey in scaling a high-performing B2B marketing engine by integrating data, creativity, and advanced AI technologies. From her unique path into marketing to the valuable lessons learned while leading a lean team, Jessica shares insightful perspectives on brand building, account-based marketing (ABM), AI-powered analytics, and the strategies required to achieve results in today’s rapidly changing SaaS landscape.

Episode 9: Stephen Pruitt: Will AI Kill Creative Agencies? In this episode, we engage with Stephen Pruitt, Principal at Mountain View Group, to delve into the dynamic intersection of creativity, strategy, and empathy in agency leadership. With a background in filmmaking and a career that includes award-winning projects for global brands like Coca-Cola, UPS, and GE Healthcare, Stephen discusses his journey from directing television to leading a successful creative agency.

Episode 8: Turning Marketing Into a Growth Engine with Heidi Hattendorf. In this episode, we’re joined by Heidi Hattendorf, a fractional CMO, go-to-market strategist, and author of The Marketing Growth Formula. Heidi shares her expertise on how to transform marketing from a cost center into a measurable driver of business growth. We delve into key topics like product marketing, positioning strategy, team alignment, and purposeful scaling. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or executive, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

Episode 7: From General Mills to AI Startups with Carter Jensen. What does it take to transition from a high-level position at a Fortune 500 company to the exciting world of building startups from the ground up? Carter shares his motivations for leaving the security of corporate life to embrace the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, discusses the importance of discovering your zone of genius, and explains how adopting a founder’s mindset can empower marketers and business leaders to excel in an ever-evolving landscape.

Episode 6: From Retail Floor to Digital Commerce Powerhouse. Michael McBride on Building Agencies, AI Readiness and Brand Innovation. In this episode of the LiftKit Marketing Podcast, host John Hoeft engages in a dynamic conversation with Michael McBride, Founder and CEO of Atelier Commerce. They discuss the evolution of digital commerce, the journey of building a full-service agency from the ground up, and how brands can prepare for the AI-driven future of marketing.

Episode 5 features Callie Doschadis, the founder of AdHound Media, a rapidly growing digital agency located in Nashville. Callie shares her straightforward journey from being unexpectedly fired to successfully launching a fully booked agency in less than a year. This episode is rich with lessons, energy, and practical insights, making it a must-listen for entrepreneurs, marketing managers, or anyone considering starting their own agency.

Episode 4: From Freelance to Founder: HubSpot Ops, Live Events & Scaling Smart. In this episode of the LiftKit Marketing Podcast, hosts John Hoeft and Danielle Schermerhorn engage with Danielle Urban, the co-founder of Cartographer Consulting, a marketing operations consultancy that specializes in helping SaaS and service-based companies navigate through messy systems, workflows, and disconnected tools. Danielle discusses her journey from taking on freelance projects to establishing a successful consultancy focused on operational excellence. She shares how the challenges of motherhood and the high costs of daycare inspired her entrepreneurial path and how she now leverages her operations expertise to assist growing teams in scaling smarter.

Episode 3: SEO Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Evolving

Adrian Dahlin on Search, AI & Authority Is SEO really dead? Not according to Adrian Dahlin. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Search to Sale to discuss the evolution of search, the rise of generative engine optimization (GEO), and how AI is transforming the way brands are discovered online. Adrian shares his journey from being a data-driven nonprofit marketer to becoming an SEO expert and tech founder — and opens up about the challenges (and breakthroughs) of launching an agency just as AI tools like ChatGPT were rapidly emerging.

Episode 2: Brooke Weller, a marketing leader who’s accomplished a remarkable journey. From managing a coffee stand to directing global media teams and launching her own agency, Brooke reveals her unique path to marketing leadership. She discusses how ‘filling the gaps’ became her superpower in the agency world and emphasizes the importance of disregarding the ‘stay in your lane’ advice. Additionally, she shares her innovative approach to integrated marketing in a post-funnel environment and the AI tools and platforms she is currently exploring and enjoying.

Episode 1: In our debut episode of the LiftKit Marketing Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Eklund, the founder of Ciceron, Minneapolis’ first digital agency and a true trailblazer in the marketing and technology space. Andrew shares insights from his 30-year journey through the digital revolution — from launching a content management system (CMS) before WordPress was even a concept to building e-commerce sites prior to the advent of Amazon Prime. He opens up about the highs and lows of agency life, the challenges of burnout and the need for reinvention, as well as why meaningful connection remains essential in today’s tech-saturated world.