The CMO Whisperer

Yes, this one’s a day late — blame the Thanksgiving hangover and the Black Friday rabbit hole I absolutely did not intend to fall into. This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast, I sat down with Jason John — a leader who’s lived through every chapter of modern marketing and continues to shape what’s next. Three things that stood out: → The Gilt Groupe surge — when flash sales became cultural currency. → Reinventing PCH — turning nostalgia into a modern data-and-media engine. → TruNorth X — why purpose and real human connection are rising fast in an AI-saturated world. 🎧 Start the ride right here — your curiosity will thank you. #CMOWhispererAdvisory #CMOWhisperer #Leadership #MarketingInsights #CMO Bruce J H. DeLu Jackson John Dillon Jeff Fortmann Kimberley Sweet Gardiner Lee Sterling Randi Stipes

This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast, I had the chance to sit down with Rachel Sterling, CMO of Identity Digital Inc. — the quiet powerhouse behind nearly 300 top-level domains and the invisible infrastructure that keeps the internet running the way we all take for granted. Rachel brought the heat. We got into the rise of smarter, more expressive domain strategies… how “link in bio” culture unlocked a whole new use case for .bio… why the explosion of AI is reshaping discoverability… and what CMOs should really be thinking about when it comes to identity, clarity, and the front door to their brand. One of my favorite takeaways: ➡️ Your domain isn’t a technical decision — it’s a storytelling decision. 🎧 Catch the full episode if you want a sharper point of view on where digital identity is headed and how to stay ahead of it. #MarketingLeadership #BrandStrategy #DigitalIdentity #CMOWhisperer #MarketingPodcast Bruce J H. DeLu Jackson Lana McGilvray Jason Randi Kyle Heather O.

This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast, I sat down with Chris Murphy — Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at adidas North America — and one of the few leaders who can make a global brand move with real speed and real heart. Chris has spent 20+ years inside Adidas, helping shape everything from its first global newsroom to major campaigns like Impossible Is Nothing, Running Wild Black, and the “You Got This” debut on the Las Vegas Sphere during Super Bowl weekend. We got into what actually makes his team tick: a culture of curiosity, operational excellence as a creative unlock, the power of passion in hiring, and how to stay agile in a category where the consumer changes by the hour. A fast, fun, deeply human conversation with someone who gets what modern marketing really demands. 🎧 Full episode is now live wherever you get your podcasts. #CMOWhispererAdvisory #Adidas #MarketingLeadership #BrandBuilding Bruce DeLu Jered Daniel Andrea Carol Melanie Steven Diego

This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast: Steve Phillips — Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Zappi — on why the future of insights isn’t validation, it’s inspiration. 💡 From AI-driven creativity to sustainable growth, Steve shares how brands can move faster, think smarter, and stay human in a world obsessed with tech. 🎧 Listen now: The human side of AI, data, and what storytelling was always meant to be. #TheCMOWhisperer #Podcast #AI #MarketingLeadership #Innovation

This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast, I sat down with Bill Harper — CEO and Chief Creative Officer of BrandBossHQ — and one of the most unapologetically honest voices in branding today. We got into everything from Cracker Barrel’s $700M “confused rebrand” to the myth of AI as a marketing savior — and why story, strategy, and creativity will always beat automation. Bill’s take on how marketing lost its seat at the table (and how to get it back) is pure gold. If you care about brand, growth, or just calling BS on bad marketing — this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Ken Bart Bruce Jeanniey Brian Umang Michelle #CMOWhisperer #Marketing #BrandStrategy #Leadership #Growth

This week on The CMO Whisperer Podcast, I hosted an episode in two parts — first with Alan Bethke, of Subaru of America and Matt Bershadker of the ASPCA, and then a one-on-one with Alan to go deeper on the brand and the business. A few takeaways from their shared conversation: → Subaru didn’t “add purpose” — they scaled something their customers were already living, and then engineered against it with discipline. → The ASPCA partnership works because both sides act like co-owners of the mission, not donor vs. recipient. → Marketing with heart doesn’t have to be soft — when built on truth, it moves product, loyalty, and policy. A few takeaways from the solo conversation with Alan: → In automotive, foresight beats force — strategy is set 5–7 years before the headlines ever hit. → Experience is now the differentiator: Subaru is redesigning retail to feel like belonging, not transaction. → Purpose became proof — what started as “the right thing to do” is now backed by hard commercial data. An episode about animals, cars, community, trust — and what it looks like when brand conviction is paired with operational rigor. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. #TheCMOWhisperer #MarketingLeadership #PurposeInAction #CorporateCitizenship #Subaru #ASPCA #Underdogs #CustomerExperience #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast Adam Diane Bruce DeLu Jeanniey Mark Jim Steven

Just dropped a new episode of The CMO Whisperer Podcast — and this one’s packed with insight. My guest, Tifenn Dano Kwan, CMO of Amplitude, breaks down what it really takes to scale with purpose — from aligning marketing and product around a shared language to building trust in the C-suite through action, accountability, and data. We talked about: → The power of experimentation and why marketers must embrace failure as fuel. → How the best CMOs lead like diplomats — balancing empathy, structure, and conviction. → Why relationships (and not just KPIs) remain the ultimate growth engine. Tifenn brings the perfect mix of intellect, honesty, and edge — a masterclass in what modern marketing leadership looks like. 🎧 Catch it wherever you get your podcasts: The CMO Whisperer Podcast #TheCMOWhisperer #MarketingLeadership #CMOInsights #ModernMarketing #BrandStrategy #DataDrivenMarketing #LeadershipPodcast Bruce Jason Jason Ted Lee Lena Kenneth Denise Jeanniey

This week, I sat down with John Jorgenson, CMO of Cambium Learning Group — a purpose-driven leader shaping how technology, creativity, and culture intersect in education. We dug into: → How EdTech evolved from “nice to have” to mission critical — and why trust and simplicity define its future. → What brand bravery really means when staying true to purpose conflicts with short-term wins. → Why curiosity and culture matter more than résumés when building great teams. → How collaboration — even among competitors — could finally solve education’s biggest challenges. John’s perspective is equal parts strategic and human — the kind of conversation that reminds you why leadership and purpose must always coexist. 🎧 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts: Laura Ken James Bruce #CMOWhisperer #Leadership #Marketing #EdTech #Podcast

Powered by coffee ☕ and real talk — this week’s CMO Whisperer Podcast guest is Kimberley Sweet Gardiner, CMO of Tractor Supply Company. We got into: → Why business relationships should feel like friendships 🤝 → How to use AI to personalize without losing the human touch → Why the loyalty program of the future is about choice, not just discounts 🎧 Sharp insights, practical takeaways, and a few laughs along the way. Give it a listen and drop your biggest aha moment. Kristin Paul Amina Marisa Julie Jason Marc #cmowhisperer #leadership #marketingleader

What do you get when you combine a 7x bestselling author, 5x founder, Hall of Fame speaker, and one of the top tequila influencers in the world? You get Jay Baer. Jay joined me on The CMO Whisperer Podcast and, trust me, this one’s loaded: → Why “competency doesn’t create conversation” — and how brands can actually earn word of mouth. → The collision of AI + humanity — and why doubling down on being human is the differentiator. → Why 75% of CX initiatives fail (and how to fix that by thinking smaller, not bigger). → How tequila went from passion to platform — and what every marketer can learn from it. This isn’t theory. This is Jay being Jay — funny, sharp, and real. 🎧 Give it a listen and let me know what hit you the hardest. Tressie Andrea Christopher Chris Jeanniey 💥 Katie Bruce Derek Tom Kent Chris Michelle Joy Jeff Michael Jennifer Rex Steve Scott Brian Billee Drew Daniel John Debra #CMOWhisperer #MarketingPodcast #JayBaer #CustomerExperience #WordOfMouth #Persuasion #AIMarketing #CXStrategy #BrandGrowth #Leadership #MarketingStrategy #DigitalMarketing #Podcast