Why Big Tech Is Spending Millions to Partner with Smart AI Startups
What if the next big wave in marketing isn’t about targeting people at all—but impressing their AI agents instead?Abhay Parasnis, CEO of Typeface and former CTO at Adobe, joins us to explain why the future of brand discovery is less “search bar” and more “autonomous agents doing your shopping.” Abhay makes a bold case that most traditional marketing (think SEO strategies, AB tests, and static brand books) is already becoming obsolete. Instead, the brands that win will be the ones building content systems smart enough to speak directly to intelligent agents that buy and sell on our behalf.But this conversation doesn’t stop at marketing disruption. Abhay pulls back the curtain on Typeface’s meteoric rise, driven in large part by early, strategic partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google. He argues that AI startups don’t need to outcompete the giants… they need to build what the giants can’t, and then let those giants bring them customers. It’s a refreshing take on B2B growth that flips the usual “go it alone” startup myth on its head.From identifying watermelon metrics to replacing agency workflows with AI copilots, Abhay brings sharp insight, grounded optimism, and just enough heresy to keep it interesting. If you’re trying to navigate the chaos of modern marketing, or just wondering what comes after search, this episode is your map. Key Moments:00:00 Abhay Parasnis: CEO of Typeface & Ex-Adobe CTO06:48 Typeface’s Vision and Genesis14:03 The Role of AI in Brand Management17:29 The Future of Agencies in an AI-Driven World25:06 Change Management and the Adoption of AI37:46 AI in Campaign Creation and Performance Measurement40:34 The Future of Search and SEO46:53 Identifying High-Quality Content in AI-Driven Marketing48:16 Offline Relationships and Physical Experiences50:47 The Future of Partnerships in Tech59:45 Transformation in the C-Suite01:04:15 Relevant or Not Relevant: Quick Takes01:05:49 The Future of Digital Content Marketing in an AI-Driven World
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.
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1:09:56
How Auvik’s CMO Cracked Reddit: The Untapped Goldmine for B2B Marketers
Think LinkedIn is the place to reach technical buyers?Auvik CMO Susanne Rodriguez breaks down how her team built an insanely effective Reddit and Facebook strategy — yes, Facebook — to reach IT pros who dodge sales emails like it's their job (because it is).We’re talking memes that convert, subreddits that slap, and how to avoid getting flamed by Reddit mods who smell B2B fluff from a mile away. You’ll also hear how Auvik got dragged for a meme, owned it publicly, and came out stronger — a.k.a. how to market like a human.If you’ve ever uttered the words “we need more MQLs” while ignoring your company’s meme game… this one's for you.🎯 Watch till the end — because the last 5 minutes might make you rethink your entire ABM budget. Key Moments: 00:00 Who Is Suzanne Rodriguez, CMO at Auvik?02:50 Reddit Marketing for IT Pros: Painful, Petty, Perfect08:33 Meme Wars and Raspberry Pis: A Campaign Autopsy25:02 The Great Content Tug-of-War: Entertainment vs. Conversion27:38 Direct Traffic, Zero Conversions, and the Website that Won’t Work34:47 Getting Found in the AI Age: Search Visibility in a ChatGPT World36:13 Instagram and Facebook for IT Pros? Apparently, Yes37:29 No Faking It: Building Trust Through Realness43:36 Radical Candor and Proving the CMO Wrong50:13 Hiring for Grit, Curiosity, and a Love of Data58:21 Hot Takes, Hard Truths, and Lightning Round Wisdom
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.
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1:05:44
How a Simple Price Estimator Added 300% In Leads
You’re still optimizing for Google? That’s cute… Marcus Sheridan, author of They Ask, You Answer, joins us for a high-energy episode, he joins host Stephanie Postles to break down why the playbook most B2B marketers are still running is dangerously outdated. They dive deep into the collapse of traditional SEO, the rise of AI-generated answers, and why brands that aren’t building trust through video, transparency, and self-service tools are already falling behind. Marcus shares tactical examples from the likes of Liquid Death, Shasta Pools, and his own viral pool pricing content that generated $35M+ in sales. He also drops a bold prediction: your YouTube channel will soon matter more than your website. Whether you’re a CMO tired of playing it safe or a marketer trying to sell bold ideas up the chain, this episode is your permission slip to think (and market) differently. Key Moments: 00:00: Is Google Dead? Marcus Sheridan On Why Search Is Breaking for Marketers00:23: Why Your YouTube Channel Will Soon Outrank Your Website14:50: The #1 Interview Question CMOs Should Be Asking16:39: The Big 5 Content Topics Buyers Actually Care About29:03: Self-Service Tools: The Secret Weapon for Modern Marketers40:55: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Radical Transparency43:15: Why SaaS Pricing Pages Are Failing the Modern Buyer46:37: Will Websites Matter in 5 Years? AI Is Changing the Game
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.
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1:25:56
How to Outrank LLMs, Bypass AI Agents, and Actually Get Noticed!
In a twist that flips the format, today’s Marketing Trends episode puts longtime host Stephanie in the guest seat as Lacey Peace — the show’s behind-the-scenes force for nearly a decade — grabs the mic. What unfolds is a no-BS conversation about how AI is dismantling the old playbook, why cold emails are basically spam of the past, and what marketers need to do now to stay relevant. Stephanie unpacks why Account-Based Experiences (ABX) — not just ABM — are the new battleground for meaningful engagement, and why trust, speed, and human connection are the real growth levers in an AI-saturated world. From digital buyer agents and decentralized discovery to building content that LLMs can’t summarize, this episode delivers sharp takes on where marketing is headed — and who’s already falling behind. And if you're curious about cold texting, naming dogs after food, or whether mascots actually move the needle… don’t miss the lightning-fast Relevant or Irrelevant round. Key Moments: 00:00 From 2,000 Interviews to the Hot Seat01:08 How AI Is Reshaping B2B Marketing02:25 The Collapse of Traditional Tactics03:43 AI Disrupting Email & Search Marketing04:39 Why ABX Is the Future of B2B Strategy08:54 AI Buyer Agents Are Coming — Fast13:32 Trust, Community & Decentralized Buying17:07 ABM vs. ABX: What's the Real Difference?21:34 Smarter Metrics for Long-Term Growth23:13 LLMs vs. Google: The New Search Shift24:46 Building Content LLMs Can’t Summarize27:00 Enterprise Entertainment as a Marketing Play30:39 Niche Content That Converts in B2B33:50 Relevant or Irrelevant? Rapid-Fire Trends
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.
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40:13
Bernard Slowey: Forget Chatbots! Smart Brands Are Moving to AI Agents!
Imagine onboarding a new employee who never sleeps, speaks every language, knows all your products, and can handle thousands of customers at once.That's the reality Salesforce is building with Agentforce — and it’s already transforming customer success, marketing operations, and revenue growth.In this episode, Salesforce SVP of Digital Customer Success Bernard Slowey joins us to break down how they became Customer Zero for Agentforce, what went wrong (and right), and why agentic AI is reshaping the future of marketing and operations.If you lead marketing, operations, or customer success — and you’re serious about not falling behind — this episode is your AI playbook.Key Moments:00:00: What Is Agentforce? Introducing Salesforce’s Digital AI Workforce 01:21: Meet Bernard Slowey: VP of Digital Customer Success at Salesforce 01:46: From AOL to Salesforce: Bernard’s Career Path Through the Tech Revolution 03:57: The Rise of AI Agents: Why Chatbots Are Officially Obsolete 06:36: AI Agents vs. Chatbots: What They Are and Why They Matter 11:22: Lessons from the Frontlines: What It Takes to Implement AI Agents 15:16: Inside Salesforce: How Agentforce Came to Life 18:55: How Salesforce Launched Agentforce in Just 4 Weeks (And What They Measured) 30:27: Rethinking Success: Metrics That Actually Matter in AI Rollouts 38:25: Why Traditional Customer Service Automation Is Failing Us 42:36: Real Use Cases: How Salesforce Clients Are Winning with Agentforce 44:11: AI Implementation Challenges (And How to Solve Them) 50:32: Cross-Functional Teams and the Future of AI Collaboration 57:18: Why AI Still Needs a Human Touch in Customer Experience 58:33: The New Job Titles and Skills Emerging in an AI-First Era 01:04:02 Human Intuition vs. AI Logic: Finding the Right Balance 01:09:35 Customer Obsession in the Age of Automation
Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.
What happens when marketing’s sharpest minds pull back the curtain? Hosted by Stephanie Postles, Marketing Trends drops listeners into the world of trailblazing CMOs, CEOs, and visionaries who share their journeys and groundbreaking strategies. From navigating the balance between automation and human touch to leading teams through unprecedented transformation, you’re getting an unfiltered look at the lessons and ideas driving the industry forward. Whether you're leading a team or aspiring to innovate, Marketing Trends is your new secret weapon.
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