Uncensored Renegades

Lessons from Uncensored CMO The Calling - 400 marketers in one room

Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers. The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months 03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event 05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling 06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster 12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption 17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation 20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter 22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish 22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people 25:40 - Reach vs engagement 29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event

The power of speed - how to move at the speed of culture

Today Jon and Kory break down why speed has become one of the biggest competitive advantages in modern marketing. Using e.l.f.’s Super Bowl campaign, created and launched in just 11 days, they explore what allows some organisations to move incredibly quickly while others get trapped in endless approvals and bureaucracy. From legal teams and leadership trust to decision-making and culture, this episode is a practical look at how to build teams that execute with speed. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:12 - What Usain Bolt can teach us about speed 04:43 - Why e.l.f. made a Super Bowl ad in 11 days 09:33 - How you can work at e.l.f. speed 12:27 - How legal can help you work at speed 15:30 - What needs to be true in order for speed to happen 17:47 - Why speed is such a big competitive advantage

How to achieve 28 quarters of consecutive growth

Since joining e.l.f., Kory has famously achieved consecutive quarters of growth, 28 at the time of recording. This is an extraordinary achievement for a CMO, so Kory breaks down exactly how they did it, and what insights you can take back to your company to achieve the same.

Interview tips that will get you hired

Today Jon and Kory break down what actually makes someone memorable in an interview, beyond rehearsed answers and polished CVs. From body language and energy to asking better questions and avoiding corporate waffle, they share practical advice on how to stand out without sounding scripted. They also discuss how they personally hire, whether interviews are overrated, and why the best candidates treat interviews like conversations, not performances. Whether you’re hiring, interviewing, or just trying to communicate better, this episode is packed with useful insights. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:10 - Kory’s advice for interviews 05:07 - The importance of non-verbal behaviour in interviews 07:31 - Why you need to ask questions at the end of an interview 09:58 - How Kory and Jon like to hire 12:22 - Do we put too much pressure on the interview? 13:52 - How to show energy in an interview 18:34 - Do prepare, don’t rehearse 20:19 - Do strategically distill, and don’t ramble on 21:36 - Do have a framework, don’t have unstructured thinking 22:44 - Do have a conversation, don’t deliver canned responses 23:42 - How personal should you get in an interview? 25:09 - Why Kory wants to do a TED Talk 26:13 - Should you follow up after an interview?

How your CFO can unlock marketing growth

In this episode of Uncensored Renegades, Jon and Kory tackle one of the most underrated relationships in business: marketing and finance. Too often, marketers see the CFO as a blocker. In reality, they can be your biggest ally. Jon and Kory break down how to build a strong relationship with finance, why understanding how the business really works is critical, and how to turn your marketing plan into something the CFO actually wants to champion. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:08 - Where the KBO$$ nickname came from 02:06 - Why the CFO relationship is so important 04:39 - Understand how the business needs to work 05:51 - How to build the relationship with your CFO 09:54 - Get finance to present your marketing plan 11:16 - How to make earnings interesting 14:31 - Are founder led companies more effective? 16:35 - How to approach risk in a business 20:52 - Translating data into insights