Episode 514 Building AI-Enabled Agencies with Greg Shove
Release Date: 08/11/2025
Episode 539 How to Hire and Keep Top Performers with John Arnold
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to the latest episode of Build a Better Agency! Host Drew McLellan is joined by talent strategy expert John Arnold to tackle one of the most critical and timely challenges facing agency owners today: hiring, retaining, and managing the right people in the ever-evolving agency landscape. As AI and technology shift agency workflows, Drew McLellan sets the stage for a refreshing conversation about why the human element is more important now than ever. John Arnold, co-owner of Celerity—a firm that was itself born from agency roots—brings decades of experience in staffing, executive...
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Episode 538 The Secret to Great Creative Work with Tom Fishburne
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan is joined by legendary cartoonist and marketer Tom Fishburne, best known for his “Marketoonist” series that has humorously and astutely captured the nuances of agency life for over two decades. If you’ve ever laughed (or cringed) at a cartoon that perfectly depicts a creative brief gone wrong or the infamous “shiny object syndrome” in marketing, there’s a good chance it was one of Tom’s. In this fast-paced conversation, Drew McLellan and Tom Fishburne explore the enduring themes and...
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Episode 537 How AI is Changing the PR Landscape with Brett Farmiloe
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another compelling episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan sits down with special guest Brett Farmiloe, a former agency owner turned SaaS entrepreneur, to unpack the evolving world of PR and media in the age of AI. Together, they dive into the complexities and opportunities that the rapid adoption of AI presents for agencies, especially those aiming to maintain authentic, high-value relationships with journalists and media outlets. In this insightful conversation, Brett Farmiloe shares the unique vantage point gained from his time building and selling a...
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Episode 536 Legal Best Practices for Agency Sales with Sharon Toerek
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan tackles the critical—yet often underestimated—legal side of agency mergers and acquisitions. Joined by agency law specialist Sharon Toerek, Drew explores all the ways agencies can better prepare for buying or selling a business and avoid the legal pitfalls that can delay deals, drive up costs, or even kill transactions entirely. Sharon Toerek shares from her first-hand experience helping agencies on both the buy and sell side, breaking down the foundational legal elements every agency owner...
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Episode 535 Five Essential Agency Owner Resolutions for 2026 with Drew McLellan
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to a brand new year and a brand new episode of Build a Better Agency! In this special solo cast, host Drew McLellan kicks off 2026 with a focused, actionable discussion on preparing agency owners and leaders for what promises to be a pivotal year. Drawing from his decades of experience and deep involvement with agencies across the globe, Drew McLellan lays out five essential resolutions that serve as a roadmap for agency growth, stability, and profitability—no matter your agency’s discipline. This episode is packed with practical advice for implementing intentional changes,...
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Episode 534 Leveraging LinkedIn Strategies for Agency Success with Greg Star
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Build a Better Agency! In this episode, host Drew McLellan welcomes Greg Star, founder of Driven Branding and former CEO of Carvertize, to explore how agency leaders can leverage LinkedIn to build stronger, more authentic personal brands. If you’ve ever wondered why your company’s LinkedIn page isn’t gaining traction or how you can make your own profile stand out in a sea of sameness, this conversation is packed with fresh perspectives and actionable strategies. Drew McLellan and Greg Star dig deep into the “why” behind personal...
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Episode 533 Understanding AI-Powered Lead Generation with Tom Schwab
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another can’t-miss episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan explores a rapidly evolving strategy that has the potential to shake up the way agencies attract leads and position themselves as go-to experts. Joining Drew McLellan is returning guest Tom Schwab of Interview Valet, who brings groundbreaking insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are influencing audience discovery and client acquisition. In this episode, Tom Schwab pulls back the curtain on how his team has leveraged AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to turn them into top...
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Episode 532 The Science of Brand Building with Ulli Appelbaum
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan welcomes brand strategist and agency veteran Ulli Appelbaum to dive deep into the science of brand associations—a topic that’s often referenced but rarely explored with the rigor it deserves. If you’ve ever struggled to quantify the value of your agency’s or your client’s brand, this episode will provide you with the data-backed frameworks and practical wisdom you’ve been searching for. Drawing on decades of experience across leading global agencies and his own consultancy, Ulli...
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Episode 531 Reducing Agency Chaos with Amber De La Garza
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to another engaging episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan turns the spotlight inward to tackle a challenge many agency owners face but rarely confront: the chaos we unintentionally create within our own shops. Joined by productivity expert and business coach Amber De La Garza, this episode dives deep into the subtle ways agency leaders can become the source of their business’s dysfunction—and, most importantly, how they can flip the script to become the calming force their teams need. Amber De La Garza brings years of hands-on coaching across diverse...
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Episode 530 How Agencies Can Embrace Perpetual Uncertainty with Drew McLellan
Build a Better Agency Podcast
Welcome to a transformative solo episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan invites listeners to reframe how they view uncertainty, chaos, and change in the agency world. Drawing from both scientific research and personal stories—including a gripping childhood encounter with real fear—Drew McLellan explores why agencies feel paralyzed by unpredictability, and more importantly, how leaders can move beyond fear to thrive in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. Listeners will discover why uncertainty is baked into agency life, why our brains crave control, and why...
info_outlineWelcome to another thought-provoking episode of Build a Better Agency! Host Drew McLellan is joined by serial entrepreneur and AI transformation expert Greg Shove for a timely conversation that will change the way you think about integrating artificial intelligence into your agency. If you've been wondering how to move beyond surface-level AI experiments and truly future-proof your agency, this episode is a must-listen.
Greg shares his unique journey from being a non-technical founder in Silicon Valley to steering his latest venture, Section, into the heart of the AI revolution. Drawing on real-life examples and client experiences, Greg breaks down the critical stages agencies must navigate to become truly AI-enabled—from overcoming workforce anxiety to moving entire teams from novice to proficient. He and Drew discuss why deploying AI isn’t like rolling out traditional software, the pitfalls of treating it as such, and why thoughtful, transparent leadership is essential in guiding teams through change.
Listeners will walk away with practical frameworks like OAT (Optimize, Accelerate, Transform) to help assess where their agency sits on its AI journey and concrete steps for encouraging adoption across their team. Greg also provides actionable advice for evaluating the sea of AI tools on the market, empowering agency leaders to strategically experiment and prioritize high-value use cases without getting overwhelmed. Plus, they dig deep into the profound business model shifts AI will bring—and how being prepared to pivot can turn disruption into your agency’s biggest opportunity.
Whether you’re anxious, excited, or somewhere in between about the rapid pace of AI, this episode will inspire you to lead the change confidently. Tune in to reimagine how you—and your team—can harness AI to drive efficiency, deepen client value, and stay ahead in a fast-transforming industry.
A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
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- Navigating workforce anxiety and resistance around AI adoption
- Moving agency teams from AI novices to confident, proficient users
- Why deploying AI isn’t like traditional software rollouts
- Building a culture of experimentation and continuous learning with AI
- Prioritizing high-value use cases over chasing every new tool
- The importance of leadership engagement and transparency around AI
- Preparing for future business model shifts driven by AI innovation