Revenue Diaries

Episode 17: Parenting, Purpose, and the Drive to Do More with Brendan Hufford

Success doesn’t come from chasing comfort, it comes from confronting yourself and choosing to grow anyway. In this episode, I sit down with Brendan Hufford, former principal turned content strategist and founder of Growth Sprints. Brendan opens up about the lessons that shaped him, from growing up in a single-parent household and learning the value of drive, to finding balance between ambition, family, and self-awareness. They talk about the discipline that comes from martial arts and CrossFit, the humility of parenting four boys, and how sobriety forced Brendan to face life with clarity and intention. Brendan shares what it means to trade rage for resilience, how writing became therapy, and why strength: physical, emotional, and creative, is only meaningful when it’s used to care for others. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:25) Brendan's background in education (02:33) From principal to content strategist (08:47) Brendan's MMA and Jiu-Jitsu journey (14:26) Balancing ambition and family life (23:59) The chaos of raising boys (24:46) Parenting challenges and reflections (27:44) Teaching and learning psychology (29:21) The world of online marketing (31:42) The power of writing and journaling (37:05) Rapid fire questions Connect with my guest: Brendan Hufford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhufford/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhufford/] Explore Growth Sprints: https://userevidence.comhttps://growthsprints.co/ [https://growthsprints.co/] Connect with me: Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/] Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/ [https://www.docebo.com/] Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]

Episode 16: Free Speech, Sobriety, and Creative Discipline with Adam Singer

"Being remarkable in marketing doesn’t mean playing it safe, it means standing out in a world that’s become too comfortable with bland." In this episode, I sit down with Adam Singer, VP of Marketing at AdQuick, longtime digital thinker, and the writer behind Hot Takes on Substack. Adam opens up about his path through tech and marketing: from early days on FriendFeed to leading at Google, to now challenging how brands approach creativity and culture. We talk about the dangers of marketing blandification, the balance between free speech and corporate identity, and how sobriety reshaped his persistence and clarity. Adam shares how hobbies like music became an anchor, why transcendence matters in a world of outrage culture, and what he’s learned about living with purpose instead of numbing. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (04:47) Navigating controversial opinions online (12:19) The “blandification” of marketing (14:11) Sobriety and persistence (17:46) The impact of substance use on creativity (19:49) Personal journey to sobriety (21:14) Finding and valuing hobbies (22:12) The importance of family and personal growth (25:59) The role of transcendence in modern life (31:29) Marketing narratives vs. real-world impact Connect with my guest: Adam Singer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhuberhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsinger/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsinger/] Explore AdQuick: https://userevidence.comhttps://www.adquick.com/ [https://www.adquick.com/] Connect with me: Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/] Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/ [https://www.docebo.com/] Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]

Episode 15: Music, Keeping Skills Sharp, and Balancing Work with Life with Joe Ciarallo

"You have to live well to be productive and work well.” In this episode, I chat with Joe Ciarallo, VP of Communications at Wellhub, as we talk about how balancing passions like music and fitness impacts mental well-being and work performance. Joe opens up about his career journey from Buddy Media to Salesforce and now WellHub, and how staying connected to music and exercise has been key to maintaining his mental health in high-pressure environments. We discuss the importance of creating boundaries between work and personal life, the lessons he’s learned from fatherhood, and how music serves as a creative outlet and emotional reset. Joe shares his perspective on the benefits of routine, the impact of moving across the country, and why self-care practices can lead to a better, more sustainable work life. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:15) Music and fitness in daily life (03:02) Career shifts: Buddy Media to Salesforce (05:45) Boundaries in work and life (08:30) Fatherhood, leadership, and growth (11:00) East Coast to West Coast perspective shift (14:50) Music as creative outlet and reset (17:40) Routine, self-care, and mental health (21:12) Fatherhood: Patience and self-awareness Connect with my guest: Joe Ciarallo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeciarallo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeciarallo/] Explore Wellhub: https://wellhub.com/ [https://wellhub.com/] Connect with me: Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/] Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/ [https://www.docebo.com/] Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]

Episode 14: Workplace Vulnerability, Childhood Lessons, and Mental Clarity with Mark Huber

"Just because you go to therapy doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you—it means you’re building tools to navigate life." In this episode, I sit down with Mark Huber, VP of Marketing at UserEvidence, former hockey captain, and one of the most thoughtful voices in B2B. Mark opens up about the experiences that shaped him—from hiding his ADHD diagnosis to embracing therapy after personal and professional burnout. We talk about how routine and team sports built grit, the pressure of competitive environments, and the silence around mental health at work. Mark shares the story of losing a close friend to suicide before college, how that grief changed his perspective, and why remembrance is key to healing.  Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:00) Discovering ADHD and embracing it (05:40) Daily routines and structure (07:39) What hockey teaches you about grit (13:20) The turning point that led to therapy (18:18) Finding the right therapist (19:40) Remembering a friend and honoring his legacy (26:01) Grief, perspective, and personal growth (29:21) Walking as escape, clarity, and creativity Connect with my guest: Mark Huber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhuberhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/markehuber/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehuber/] Explore UserEvidence: https://userevidence.comhttps://userevidence.com/ [https://userevidence.com/] Connect with me: Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/] Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/ [https://www.docebo.com/] Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries [https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries]

Episode 13: AI Experiments, Brand Clarity, and the Art of Reinvention with Drew Brucker

“Brand is the one thing you can control to be different from the rest.” In this episode, I sit down with Drew Brucker, creative marketer, AI experimenter, and Head of Brand and Content at Goldcast. Drew shares the journey behind his unconventional leap from VP-track leadership to solopreneur exploration—all while raising twin daughters and tinkering with Midjourney prompts. We talk about the hard conversations that come with leaving stability behind, the rise of AI-assisted creativity, and the real meaning of career success. Drew opens up about his philosophy on focus, fatherhood, and why design, not just demand, might be the missing link in modern B2B marketing. Drew also shares his thoughts on what B2B can learn from the art world, why your brand is your second product, and how deep playlists and vision boards actually shape the future of work. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:52) Drew’s journey into AI and photography (03:48) Exploring the solopreneur path (06:51) Balancing career and family (24:29) Exploring Spotify playlists and LinkedIn (25:08) The “coolness” of B2B SaaS marketing (26:25) Risk tolerance and creativity in marketing (29:25) Balancing brand and revenue marketing (43:02) Creative pursuits and personal passions Connect with my guest: Drew Brucker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbrucker/ Drew Brucker on X: https://x.com/dcbruck Explore Drew’s website: https://www.drewcbrucker.com Explore Goldcast: https://www.goldcast.io Check out Drew’s Substack, Imagine Lab: https://unsubscribehere.substack.com/ Connect with me: Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/ Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/ Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries