Monsters of Curiosity

2. Is Fear Of Change A Sign To Move Forward Or A Warning To Stop?

What if the biggest risk in your business isn’t the decision you’re afraid to make… it’s letting fear make it for you? Fear shows up the second things start to change, and in business, that usually means you’re either about to grow… or about to back out of something that mattered. In this episode, we get into the real question behind every big decision: when fear hits, is it actually trying to protect you or is it the exact thing holding you back? Turns out, your brain isn’t great at telling the difference. Between real-world business experience, brain science, and a healthy amount of calling ourselves out, we break down why fear shows up for both bad ideas and the right ones and why reacting too quickly is where most people get it wrong. If you’ve ever second-guessed a decision, stalled on something important, or convinced yourself that staying comfortable was the smart move… this one might hit a little close to home. We get into: • Why your brain treats every change like a potential threat (even when it’s not) • How to tell the difference between real risk and just being uncomfortable • Why fear feels the same whether something is right or completely wrong • The mistake most people make when reacting to fear in business decisions • How to use curiosity (instead of panic) to make better calls • Why having the right people in your corner can save you from your own thinking   Chapters 0:20 Change Happens (Whether You RSVP or Not) 1:41 Fear Enters the Picture 6:21 Understanding Your Brain's Response 9:51 So...Do You Lean In or Run? 11:24 The Role of Adrenaline and How it Hijacks Your Brain 12:42 Real Stories, Questionable Reactions 17:09 Business Decisions vs Emotional Reactions 20:06 Does Age Make This Easier...or Just Louder? 25:37 Acknowledging Fear Without Letting It Drive 28:45 Purpose: The Only Thing that Calms the Chaos 36:44 What Success Looks Like (Before You Panic)     🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monsters-of-curiosity/id1893176736 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monsters-of-curiosity/id1893176736] 🎧 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Iy2Y9XMyJ9Yjc9icMeUDG?si=ajdpFX1ZQIWtUF-RFffg7Q' [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Iy2Y9XMyJ9Yjc9icMeUDG?si=ajdpFX1ZQIWtUF-RFffg7Q'] 🎧 Listen on iHeart https://iheart.com/podcast/332768788/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/332768788/]   🌐 Visit us at: https://monstersofcuriosity.com/ [https://monstersofcuriosity.com/] 📩 Subscribe on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MonstersOfCuriosity [https://www.youtube.com/@MonstersOfCuriosity] 💬 Have a question, story, or anecdote for us? Email us:   monstersofcuriosity@gmail.com [monstersofcuriosity@gmail.com]

1. How Can I Know My Marketing Agency Is Actually Doing Work That Supports My Business?

Most business owners hire a marketing agency and then wonder why nothing is happening. Spoiler: the agency is probably wondering the same thing about you. In this episode of Monsters of Curiosity, Jenny, Paul, and Susan get into it about what actually makes the relationship between a business owner and a marketing agency work... and what quietly kills it. Between a marketing technologist, a performance coach, and someone who spent 25 years in crisis communications, they have seen this go wrong in every possible direction. And they are not shy about saying so. If you have ever felt like you were handing over a lot of money and watching nothing happen, this one is for you.   In this episode we explore: • The questions you should be asking your marketing agency before you sign anything • Why vanity metrics are the junk food of marketing data and what to look at instead • How long you should realistically give an agency before you start making decisions • Why outsourcing your marketing is not the same as handing it off • What your digital infrastructure has to do with why your marketing might not be working • The two-way communication breakdown that kills most agency relationships before they ever get going   Here is the list of questions you can bring to your next agency meeting. https://monstersofcuriosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10-Starter-Questions_-Marketing-Agency.pdf [https://monstersofcuriosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10-Starter-Questions_-Marketing-Agency.pdf]   Chapters 0:23 Welcome to Monsters of Curiosity 4:50 The Topic of Today's Discussion: Questions For Your Agency 5:28 Understanding Agency Responsibilities 10:08 The Importance of Two-Way Communication 16:01 Asking the Right Questions 22:45 Techniques for Evaluating Agency Performance 31:27 Investment in Marketing and Expectations 34:02 Timeframes for Evaluating Agency Effectiveness 47:06 Communication as a Key to Success 50:50 Questions to Ask Your Agency 51:46 Wrapping Up the Conversation   💬 Have a question, story, or anecdote for us? Email us - monstersofcuriosity@gmail.com [monstersofcuriosity@gmail.com]   ▶️ Follow @monstersofcuriosity on: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MonstersOfCuriosity [https://www.youtube.com/@MonstersOfCuriosity]