In Clear Focus: Strategic Communications with Kathleen Lucente
Release Date: 12/16/2025
In Clear Focus: Retail Marketing with Sarah Montano
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Professor Sarah Montano discusses her new book, "." Sarah explains why brands must master "phygital" experiences and third place community building to survive. She explores the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, ethical consumption challenges, and success stories like Jellycat. Learn how to navigate the digital and experience economy while maintaining authentic human connections.
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In Clear Focus: Customer Reviews as Strategic Intelligence with George Swetlitz
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: George Swetlitz, co-founder of , reveals why more people read consumer reviews than visit websites. He discusses utilizing AI-powered reputation management to transform unstructured data into strategic intelligence that outperforms simple star ratings. Learn how personalized automation can triple review conversions, optimize multi-location operations, why "fake personalization" fails, and how to transform customer reviews into actionable marketing strategies.
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In Clear Focus: The Future of Agency Leadership with Chantal Sagnes
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Strategic advertising executive Chantal Sagnes discusses the future of advertising and marketing agency leadership and her career spanning top agencies like GSD&M. She shares insights on transitioning from independent shops to global holding companies, the nuances of running high-stakes pitches, and her current role as a fractional Managing Director. Chantal also explores the "pitch crew" model and offers advice for aspiring leaders navigating the evolving industry.
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In Clear Focus: Storybuilding with John Elbing
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Brand strategist John Elbing of explains why people don’t care about your story, they care about how you fit into theirs. John introduces his "Storybuilding" methodology, a canvas-based approach that helps companies find their foundational story before crafting marketing messages. He breaks down the three stages of encountering a brand—Recognition, Perception, and Projection—and shares how to use AI as a sparring partner to achieve authentic customer-centricity.
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In Clear Focus: B2B Content Marketing Strategy with Devin Bramhall
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: In our first episode of 2026, B2B marketer Devin Bramhall discusses why traditional content playbooks are failing. The former CEO of Animalz, Devin argues for a "human-centered" reset, moving away from keyword-stuffing and toward community-driven growth. Sharing insights from her new book, "," Devin details how to align message, messenger, and channel. Learn how to develop living profiles and "CEO-proof" your strategy to earn executive buy-in.
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In Clear Focus: Trust in Healthcare Communications with Robyn Jackson Malone
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Robyn Jackson Malone, CEO of , joins us to discuss the increasingly important role of trust in health communications. Robyn argues that brands have a responsibility to fill the widening information gap authentically. She critiques "window dressing" diversity efforts, advocates for genuine equity, and highlights the critical role of patient advocacy. We also discuss the "You Don't Know Jack About MS" initiative and Pfizer’s "I Can Do Both" campaign.
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In Clear Focus: ThinkBlink Manifesto with Jean-Pierre Lacroix
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jean-Pierre Lacroix, co-founder of Shikatani Lacroix Design, and the author of "," reveals why consumers decide emotionally and validate rationally. He explains the "BLINK Factor" and why incremental marketing fails. Jean-Pierre also outlines his seven-tenet framework for moving from features to feelings and building sustainable emotional brand advantages. Learn how to use strategic design, behavioral science, and AI to win the critical moment of purchase.
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In Clear Focus: Strategic Communications with Kathleen Lucente
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: In a zero-click world, reputation can shift instantly. Our guest, Kathleen Lucente, CEO of , reveals how to turn PR into a measurable revenue driver. She details the "crisis trinity" of speed, transparency, and messaging, and how to avoid the "announcement trap" during M&A. We discuss why brands need an authority reality check to survive in the AI era, and how to identify hidden thought leaders to help build credibility and weather social media storms.
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In Clear Focus: Success is a Numbers Game with Kyle Austin Young
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is strategy consultant Kyle Austin Young, who discusses his new book, "." Kyle explains Probability Hacking: a framework to systematically de-risk goals. We also explore Kyle's 'Success Diagram,' discuss why "Bic For Her" pens failed, and hear how to use keyword research to validate market needs. Learn how to identify potential bad outcomes and tilt the odds in your favor, whether you're launching a product or training for a marathon.
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In Clear Focus: The 10 Principles of Social Media Marketing with Jon-Stephen Stansel
In Clear Focus
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jon-Stephen Stansel, the author of the Bigeye Book Club selection, "," explains why human judgment remains essential: "AI can do a lot, but it doesn't have taste." Jon also discusses timeless principles for effective social media, drawn from his work on franchises such as "The Lord of the Rings." Learn why social media is not a one-person job, how to create a consistent brand voice, and why there's no such thing as a boring brand.
info_outlineIN CLEAR FOCUS: In a zero-click world, reputation can shift instantly. Our guest, Kathleen Lucente, CEO of Red Fan Communications, reveals how to turn PR into a measurable revenue driver. She details the "crisis trinity" of speed, transparency, and messaging, and how to avoid the "announcement trap" during M&A. We discuss why brands need an authority reality check to survive in the AI era, and how to identify hidden thought leaders to help build credibility and weather social media storms.