Ep. 174 - The Human Side of AI Marketing - Rob Rankin

Ep. 178 - Ai won't Replace Bad Strategy - Chad de Lisle

In this episode, Vince Quinn is joined by Chad De Lisle, VP of Marketing at Disruptive, to unpack what happens when you stop chasing more clients, and start working with the right ones. Chad shares the story of how Disruptive transformed its business during COVID, cutting its client base dramatically to focus only on brands they truly believe in. The conversation dives into the power of alignment, why it’s the foundation for better performance, happier teams, and stronger client outcomes. Chad also introduces the VSET framework (Vision, Strategy, Execution, Team) as a practical way to evaluate client fit, and explains why AI can either amplify clarity or create chaos depending on how aligned your brand really is. This episode is a must-listen for agencies, marketers, and leaders looking to build more meaningful, effective client relationships. Guest Bio Chad De Lisle is the VP of Marketing at Disruptive, a performance marketing agency founded in 2012. With over a decade at the company and nearly two decades in digital marketing, Chad has played a key role in shaping Disruptive’s evolution toward a more intentional, alignment-driven client model. Disruptive specializes in helping brands grow through performance marketing, with a focus on vertical expertise and strategic clarity. Chad is passionate about building marketing systems that are rooted in purpose, alignment, and measurable impact, helping both teams and clients unlock their full potential. Takeaways * Working with clients you believe in transforms both performance and job satisfaction. * More clients doesn’t equal better results—alignment matters more than scale. * Burnout often comes from misalignment, not workload alone. * A strong “why” is more motivating than financial goals alone. * The VSET framework helps evaluate true client fit. * AI amplifies whatever foundation you give it—clarity or chaos. * Vertical specialization leads to better results and efficiency. * Aligned teams produce exponential output, not linear growth. * Great marketing starts with deeply understanding the brand. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Building a Client Base You Believe In 00:35 What Disruptive Does 01:11 The Shift to Aligned Clients 02:50 The Emotional Impact of Alignment 04:08 What Alignment Really Means 05:08 Why Alignment Is Elusive 05:57 Beyond Financial Goals: Finding a Deeper Why 06:53 Disruptive’s Mission: Activate Greatness 07:53 The Challenge of Supporting Clients 08:53 The VSET Framework Explained 10:09 Alignment and Exponential Growth 10:45 Trust and Execution in Marketing 11:49 AI as a Noise Amplifier 12:18 Training AI to Match Your Brand 13:45 Avoiding “AI Breath” in Content 16:01 Impact on Teams and Burnout 17:00 Growth Environments: The Trade-Off 18:08 The Power of Vertical Specialization 19:42 Why Specialization Wins in Modern Marketing 20:22 The Risk of Agencies Learning on Your Dollar 20:53 Where to Find Disruptive LinkedIn Follow Chad De Lisle [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-de-lisle/] on LinkedIn Follow Vince Quinn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-quinn-sbx-productions-podcast/] on LinkedIn

Ep. 177 - Core Values Drive Real Culture - Jeff Perkins

In this episode, Vince Quinn sits down with Jeff Perkins, CEO of Soundstripe, to explore how music shapes storytelling and why customer obsession is a true competitive advantage. Jeff explains how Soundstripe empowers creators with high-quality, human-made music and innovative tools like AI-powered editing and track customization. Beyond the product, Jeff shares his leadership philosophy as a CEO, emphasizing the importance of core values, alignment, and culture. He dives deep into what it really means to “obsess over customers”—from white-glove service to personally responding to complaints—and how empathy can turn frustrated users into loyal advocates. This episode is a masterclass in blending creativity, technology, and human connection to build a standout brand. Guest Bio Jeff Perkins is the CEO of Soundstripe, a leading music marketplace providing high-quality, artist-made tracks for creators across film, television, advertising, and digital content. With a catalog of over 58,000 songs and partnerships with Grammy award-winning musicians and engineers, Soundstripe helps creators elevate their storytelling through music. Prior to Soundstripe, Jeff served as CEO of ParkMobile, where he led one of the most widely used parking apps in the U.S. Known for his customer-first mindset and leadership approach rooted in empathy and core values, Jeff focuses on building strong teams, fostering culture, and creating meaningful customer experiences. Takeaways * Music drives emotional connection and can elevate or diminish a story. * Customization (stems + AI editing) allows creators to perfectly match music to content. * The CEO’s role is to act as a coach, ensuring alignment and clarity across teams. * Core values must be reinforced daily—not just defined. * Hiring, promotions, and rewards should all align with company values. * Customer obsession is built through responsiveness, empathy, and human connection. * Negative feedback is a powerful tool for learning and improvement. * Responding directly to customers can turn detractors into loyal advocates. * Small, unexpected gestures can significantly strengthen customer relationships. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and “Making Beautiful Music” 01:00 What Soundstripe Does and Why Music Matters 02:30 The Emotional Power of Music in Content 03:12 Customization: Stems and AI Song Editing 04:25 CEO Mindset: Being the Head Coach 05:30 The Power of Core Values in Organizations 07:19 Soundstripe’s Six Core Values Explained 10:43 Hiring and Reinforcing Culture Through Values 12:23 Obsessing Over Customers in Practice 13:32 Humanizing Customer Experience (and Coco the Dog) 14:49 Surprise & Delight: Going Beyond Expectations 16:27 Turning Feedback Into Advocacy 17:35 Learning From Customer Complaints 18:57 Responding to Negative Feedback as CEO 20:04 Empathy as a Customer Strategy 22:06 Human Connection Builds Loyalty 22:57 Where to Find Soundstripe LinkedIn Follow Jeff Perkins [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffperkins1/] on LinkedIn Follow Vince Quinn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-quinn-sbx-productions-podcast/] on LinkedIn

Ep. 176 - AI Is Changing Student Discovery - Kathleen Stockham

In this episode of the Future Files Podcast powered by Silver Fox, Kathleen Stockham, Chief Marketing Officer at South College, shares how decades of experience in e-commerce shaped her approach to marketing in higher education. Kathleen explains how the fundamentals of digital marketing—meeting the right audience at the right time with the right message—apply just as much to education as they do to retail, but with far greater life impact. She discusses the complexity of marketing to diverse student audiences—from 18-year-old first-time college students to working professionals and career changers—and why authentic storytelling from students and faculty is far more powerful than traditional institutional messaging. Kathleen also explains how podcasting has become a key content channel for South College, enabling real conversations with students, alumni, and faculty while generating repurposable content across the marketing ecosystem. The conversation also explores the rapidly evolving role of AI in marketing. Kathleen shares how marketers should think about answer engines, AI-driven discovery, and the shift toward more informed consumers who arrive already educated about their options. Drawing parallels to the early days of e-commerce, she emphasizes that the marketers who thrive will be the ones who embrace change, experiment quickly, and focus on relevance rather than relying on outdated marketing playbooks. Guest Bio Kathleen Stockham is the Chief Marketing Officer at South College, where she leads digital marketing, web strategy, public relations, and content initiatives across the institution’s national footprint. With over 28 years of experience in digital marketing and e-commerce, Kathleen has worked with major brands across industries including electronics, jewelry, and telecommunications before transitioning into higher education. At South College, she applies her deep expertise in martech, customer acquisition, and digital merchandising to help prospective students discover educational opportunities that can transform their careers and lives. Kathleen also hosts the South College podcast, where she highlights student journeys, faculty insights, and program opportunities across the institution’s ten campuses and online programs. Takeaways * Marketing principles translate across industries when focused on meeting the right audience with the right message at the right time. * Higher education marketing requires communicating differently with multiple audiences, from teenagers to mid-career professionals. * Authentic student and alumni voices create far stronger engagement than traditional institutional messaging. * Podcasting can become a powerful storytelling and content engine for institutions. * AI is reshaping how people research and discover education programs. * Consumers are arriving more informed than ever, requiring marketers to shift from leading conversations to participating in them. * Marketers should embrace AI as a strategic partner rather than fear it as a replacement. * Successful marketers must continuously adapt as discovery platforms and consumer behavior evolve. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kathleen Stockham and South College 01:16 Transitioning from E-commerce to Higher Education 03:49 Applying Digital Marketing Principles to Education 06:50 Marketing to Multiple Student Demographics 10:15 How Podcasting Became a Strategic Content Channel 13:05 Repurposing Podcast Content Across Marketing Channels 17:00 AI, Search Evolution, and Answer Engines 21:51 How AI Is Changing Education Discovery 24:27 Applying E-commerce “Merchandising” to Education Marketing 27:33 Building a Mobile-First Website for Modern Students 29:14 The Emotional Impact of Marketing Education 32:35 Advice for Marketers Navigating AI and Industry Change 37:55 Lessons from the Early Days of E-commerce LinkedIn ⁠Follow Kathleen Stockham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-stockham-02895773/] on LinkedIn ⁠Follow Harry Duran [ https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/] on LinkedIn here

Ep. 175 - The Human Side of Infrastructure - Roy Alexander

In this episode of the Future Fuzz Podcast, Harry Duran speaks with Roy Alexander, Chief Revenue Officer at VisionNet, about leadership, infrastructure, and what it takes to build meaningful customer relationships in the telecommunications industry. Roy shares how stepping away from technology—through woodworking, hiking, and hands-on projects—helps him stay grounded and return to leadership with a clearer perspective. That philosophy of slowing down and focusing on people carries through to his work at VisionNet, where he emphasizes empathy, trust, and long-term relationship building as essential components of revenue growth. The conversation explores VisionNet’s unique origins, created by rural telecom providers in Montana to solve education access challenges through video connectivity. Today, the company operates one of the largest privately owned middle-mile networks in the state and delivers managed services, data center infrastructure, and network connectivity across the country. Roy also explains how enterprise infrastructure is evolving toward distributed networks, why managed services often succeed quietly in the background, and how organizations can stay visible to customers even when everything is running perfectly. Throughout the episode, Roy highlights a leadership philosophy rooted in empathy, accountability, and the belief that technology ultimately exists to serve people. Guest Bio Roy Alexander is the Chief Revenue Officer at VisionNet, where he oversees sales, marketing, and customer-facing operations for the telecommunications and managed services provider. With more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications, Roy has held leadership roles across sales, operations, and customer service organizations. His work focuses on aligning revenue strategy with customer experience, ensuring that network infrastructure and managed services support the real-world needs of the businesses that depend on them. At VisionNet, Roy leads efforts to expand enterprise connectivity, managed network services, and data center capabilities across the United States while helping organizations navigate increasingly complex infrastructure environments. Takeaways * Technology infrastructure ultimately exists to serve people, not just platforms. * Empathy is essential in customer-facing operations, especially when services are critical to business continuity. * Managed services succeed when customers forget about them—but that also makes value communication essential. * Distributed infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as AI and low-latency applications grow. * Enterprise buyers face overwhelming complexity and need partners who simplify decisions. * Trust in enterprise sales builds slowly through consistent delivery on commitments. * Organizations should align messaging across every customer interaction, not just marketing. * Leaders should step away from technology periodically to reconnect with the human impact of their work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Roy Alexander 01:00 Why Disconnecting from Technology Matters 03:00 Leadership, Empathy, and Customer Experience 04:30 VisionNet’s Origin Story and Rural Connectivity 06:30 Bringing Customer Operations Under Revenue Leadership 08:10 What a Network Operations Center (NOC) Does 09:15 Why People Often Get Lost Behind Technology 12:00 Lessons from Early Career Mentors 15:00 VisionNet’s Ownership Model and Growth Strategy 17:30 Navigating Pipeline Growth in Noisy Markets 19:00 Why Managed Services Often Go Unnoticed 22:00 Data Centers and VisionNet’s Infrastructure Strategy 24:00 The Case for Distributed Infrastructure 28:00 Helping Customers Navigate Infrastructure Complexity 32:00 Privacy, Data, and Technology Tradeoffs 36:30 What 30 Years in Telecom Has Taught Roy 39:00 Advice for Revenue Leaders in Complex Markets LinkedIn Follow Roy Alexander [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-stockham-02895773/] on LinkedIn Follow Harry Duran [https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/] on LinkedIn

Ep. 174 - The Human Side of AI Marketing - Rob Rankin

In this episode of Future Fuzz, host Harry Duran speaks with Rob Rankin, President of Clarity Coverdale Fury (CCF), about why emotional connection remains the most powerful force in marketing, even as technology and AI reshape the industry. Rob shares how CCF helps brands “throw a big rock” in crowded markets by creating creative communications that demand attention while building genuine emotional resonance with audiences. The conversation explores how fragmented media landscapes have changed the way brands reach consumers, why presence and attention are prerequisites for performance marketing, and how experiential moments can amplify brand storytelling. Rob also discusses how agencies should approach AI adoption—experimenting first, then embedding it strategically into operations—without losing the human touch that drives trust and loyalty. Guest Bio Rob Rankin is the President of Clarity Coverdale Fury (CCF), a creative communications agency known for building emotionally resonant brand campaigns that demand attention and drive connection. Under his leadership, CCF delivers full-service marketing solutions including strategy, creative development, and media planning, with a strong focus on healthcare and financial services. Rob began his career at BBDO, working on major consumer packaged goods brands and developing a strong foundation in data-driven marketing. Since joining CCF in 1998 and later helping lead the agency’s transition to new ownership, he has helped evolve the firm’s signature approach—leveraging the emotional catalyst between brands and audiences to build trust and long-term brand value. Takeaways * Emotional connection remains the most powerful driver of brand trust and memorability. * In a fragmented media environment, brands must demand attention before delivering their message. * Experiential marketing combined with digital amplification can dramatically expand reach. * AI will transform agency workflows but should enhance, not replace, human creativity. * Leaders must balance involvement with trust, empowering teams while staying strategically present. * Long-term brand positioning built around authentic emotional insights can last for decades. * Effective planning means defining long-term vision and chunking goals down into actionable steps. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rob Rankin and Clarity Coverdale Fury 00:14 A proud parent moment and life outside the office 01:04 What Clarity Coverdale Fury does and the power of emotional marketing 01:37 Rob’s role as President and leading a 20-person agency team 02:42 Why healthcare became a core focus for the agency 03:12 The importance of emotional catalysts in marketing 04:37 Media fragmentation and the challenge of capturing attention 06:12 “Throwing a big rock”: Creating campaigns that demand attention 08:20 How brands can create modern “water cooler” moments 11:05 Presence vs. performance in marketing strategy 12:21 Marketing fundamentals that still hold true today 13:45 How agencies are experimenting with AI tools 16:17 The rise of AI skills and prompt-driven workflows 18:04 Keeping up with AI trends and industry learning 19:38 Encouraging teams to experiment and share AI use cases 20:21 Leadership lessons about delegation and trust 23:11 The emotional catalyst framework explained 25:34 Building brand positioning that stands the test of time 25:51 Planning strategy: thinking in three-year and quarterly horizons 27:27 Recognizing when priorities drift and staying accountable 29:04 The importance of being fully present with clients 30:26 The future of marketing and the risk of losing human connection 32:27 Rob’s unexpected path into advertising 34:39 A classic marketing book that still holds up today LinkedIn Follow Rob Rankin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-rankin-5b15a54/] on LinkedIn Follow Harry Duran [https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/] on LinkedIn