Scaling Smart: How to Grow Without Giving Up Control
CPG Insiders
Quitting a cushy job at American Airlines to sell recipe cards? Sounds crazy—until you realize it’s an eight-figure business. Josh Hadley, host of the podcast Ecomm Breakthrough and founder of Hadley Designs, shares how he and his wife turned a passion for design into a scaling e-commerce brand. From moonlighting in the corporate world to leveraging Amazon arbitrage, Josh breaks down the gritty truths, painful lessons, and hidden strategies that led to explosive growth—without raising a dime in funding. You’ll learn: • Why your cash conversion cycle might be killing your growth •...
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Creative vs. Frequency: What Really Drives Ad Performance?
CPG Insiders
Most brands fail—not because their ads are bad, but because they’re not seen enough. In this episode, Mark and Justin unpack the misunderstood power of frequency and how it drives real results in CPG advertising. You’ll learn how often consumers really need to see your message before they act, why “being a little bit pregnant” with your budget leads to wasted spend, and how to engineer frequency that converts—even on a tight budget. • The science behind the “rule of 7” vs. the “rule of 17” • How creative quality impacts frequency effectiveness • Why spreading your ad...
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Seasonal Retail: How to Win Big Without Taking Big Hits
CPG Insiders
A big seasonal order might look like a win—but it can quietly crush your margins if you're not careful. In this episode, Mark and Justin break down the real mechanics of seasonal (in-and-out) retail: how timing, payment terms, inventory risk, and retailer behavior can make or break your business. They share practical insights from real CPG brands, plus hard-earned lessons on managing product life cycles across retail sectors. You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to evaluate seasonal opportunities—and how to protect your bottom line while still seizing growth. • Why “Pay on Scan”...
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Primal Intelligence: Your Superpower AI Can’t Touch w/ Angus Fletcher
CPG Insiders
What if the smartest tool in your business isn't a dashboard or a spreadsheet—but your own brain? Dr. Angus Fletcher, author of Primal Intelligence, joins Mark and Justin to dismantle the myth that data and AI are the future of innovation. From working with U.S. Army Special Operations to decoding Shakespeare and Pixar, Angus reveals the four brain processes that drive human ingenuity in chaotic environments—and how entrepreneurs can reclaim their innate edge. You’ll learn: • Why human intuition trumps data in uncertain markets • The neuroscience of storytelling and how it builds...
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Former Mega Brand Executive Reveals the Secrets to Retail Success w/ Tony Guilliano
CPG Insiders
When you’ve been category captain at brands like Coppertone and Dial, shelf space is handed to you. But what happens when you leave the big leagues and start from zero? In this episode, Tony Guiliano shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of going from running household names to helping Blue Lizard, an unknown sunscreen brand, break into retail and change the game. He shares war stories, unexpected lessons, and real tactics any challenger brand can use to compete (and win) against giant brands. What you'll learn: The dangerous assumptions big-brand marketers make in startups ...
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Celebrity Deals Decoded: Real Talk from Both Sides of the Table
CPG Insiders
How do you hire a celebrity for your CPG brand without getting burned? In this episode, Mark and Justin pull back the curtain on the celebrity endorsement game — from navigating inflated egos to structuring deals that actually make sense. Mark shares rare insight as someone who's been on both sides of the table — managing talent and negotiating for brands — and lays out the hidden traps most companies don’t see coming. You’ll learn: • Why “we’ll give you equity” almost never works • How to avoid overpaying (or under-leveraging) celebrity talent • The surprising way...
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The #1 Way CPG Brands Destroy Their Credibility
CPG Insiders
Most brand leaders say they value transparency — but few truly live it. In this episode, Mark and Justin pull back the curtain on what honesty really looks like inside a CPG business — from your marketing claims to your retailer relationships to the way you work with your agency. They explain why every shortcut built on exaggeration eventually destroys credibility — and how facing hard truths can actually accelerate your growth, deepen partnerships, and open up surprising new opportunities. You’ll learn: • Why all progress starts with the truth (and how to find it in your brand)...
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TikTok & CPG: What Works, What Doesn’t
CPG Insiders
TikTok might look like cat videos and dance challenges—but for CPG brands, it’s a massive opportunity. In this episode, Dr. Mark Young and Justin Girouard are joined by special guest Mark Young II, Founder + CEO of Ryze Agency, to break down how brands can use TikTok effectively without wasting budget. From understanding why TikTok works on impulse buys, to navigating creative fatigue, to exploring how AI and user-generated content are reshaping the ad world—this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s really driving results in digital. Whether you’re skeptical about TikTok or...
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Why Retail Isn’t Dead: What CPG Brands Need to Know
CPG Insiders
Retail isn’t dead—it’s evolving. Despite the noise about Amazon taking over, brick-and-mortar still drives the majority of CPG sales, and the smartest brands are using it as their exponential growth engine. In this episode, Mark and Justin break down why e-commerce isn’t replacing retail, which categories thrive in stores versus online, and how omni-channel strategies are shaping the future of CPG. You’ll discover what retailers like Walmart are doing right, why “commodities” are in trouble, and how to position your brand for both stability and growth. Listen now to find...
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Why CPG Leaders Must Adopt AI Now
CPG Insiders
Most business leaders are unprepared for the wave of AI that’s already reshaping entire industries. In fact, only 1 in 1,000 CEOs are ready to integrate it into their companies. In this episode, Mark and Justin break down what’s driving that hesitation—and why ignoring AI could cost you everything. From driverless trucks to AI-powered marketing to “Virtual Mark,” they explore the real risks and game-changing opportunities that CPG leaders can’t afford to miss. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why fear, not technology, is holding leaders back from AI adoption How AI is...
info_outlineToo many brands pour endless time and money into “perfecting” their logo, thinking that’s the brand. It’s not.
In this episode, Mark, Justin, and Jekyll+Hyde’s Creative Director, Paul Perzyk, break down what truly makes a brand memorable — and why overcomplicating your design can hurt more than help. From international slogan mishaps to why Jaguar’s rebrand tanked sales, this conversation is packed with insights that can save you from expensive mistakes.
You’ll learn:
- Why your logo should be simple enough to draw in the sand
- How to make packaging work for new, unknown brands
- The right way to choose slogans that connect with customers
- When and how to evolve your brand identity without losing its essence
Listen now and start building a brand people actually remember.