Shows
The Marketing B-SidesTrack #12: Lisa Levey - Real Housewives, Real Hours, and Finding Stories in the OtherhoodLisa Levey, a veteran reality TV producer and editor who's worked on Real Housewives of New Jersey, Bravo shows, and more, joins us to talk about the brutal reality of freelance life, why AI can't edit reality TV yet, and the stories nobody asks about.Lisa's journey is a masterclass in sustainable creative hustle. She shares why living in constant fear is actually her superpower, how she's never had a traditional job, and why the process of making TV matters more than the finished product everyone obsesses over.She breaks down what really happens behind...
2025-12-0247 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #11: James Grixoni - Everyone is a Marketer, Except When David Lynch is CastingJames Grixoni, a veteran actor and the Deputy Chad you loved on Twin Peaks: The Return, joins us to talk about the brutal necessity of self-marketing in a creative career, and the single, beautiful time that rule didn't apply.James’ story is a masterclass in why "ignorance" and authenticity can be better tools than ambition. He shares a core B-Sides lesson: true collaboration means opening up your vision and letting the universe work for you, rather than being the "lead singer" who controls everything. He also breaks down how his authentic self, his true personal brand, showed up...
2025-11-1136 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #10: Susan Wenograd - From Circuit City to Candle Empire, Bad Pitches and Creative SurvivalSusan Wenograd's digital marketing career started at Circuit City, back when that was still a thing. Now she's the Sr. Director of Paid Media at Mixtape Digital and runs a thriving candle company on the side. Tom and Susan talk nightmare travel stories, managing ADHD in marketing, why clients who manage their own accounts are the hardest to win over, and how she accidentally built a business while grieving a friend.
2025-10-2840 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #9: Audrey Finney - Navigating the Unseen Challenges in Event MarketingAudrey Finney ran Hero Conf, a paid media conference, for years before trading digital marketing for Memphis barbecue, craft beer, and Social Cantina. Now she owns 10+ restaurants through Finney Hospitality Group, plus a car wash!We talk about the stuff that shaped her career: navigating feedback without letting it destroy you (thanks, Tim McGraw), the Hero Conf attendees who tried to cancel her over a panel, and why being book smart means nothing if you can't read a room. Plus: the time she had to emergency-MC an event at 22 years old despite hating the spotlight, why restaurant...
2025-10-1442 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #8: Megan Maguire - Embracing the Chaos in Agency Life and EntrepreneurshipMegan Maguire left a Senior VP gig at a major agency to start her own thing in 2024. "Probably crazy," she admits. But also? No regrets.We talk about the stuff LinkedIn won't let you say out loud: the daily anxiety of betting on yourself, why her house painter uncle's "there's only one way to paint a house" philosophy shaped her entire career, and how she became the self-proclaimed Lobster Queen of Martha's Vineyard (five-pounders in an hour, baby).Megan keeps it real about agency politics, the myth of linear success, and choosing your own flavor...
2025-09-3048 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #7: Aaron Levy - Altruism at Work, Killer Employees with Restaurant Experience, and Building Bonds in the TrenchesOn this week's episode, Tom sits down with Aaron Levy to dive into the messy, human side of agency life that nobody talks about at conferences. They explore:Aaron's career soundtrack featuring Wu-Tang and Spice Girls wisdomPitch horror stories, including Aaron's legendary meltdown where he turned into a "straight up cartoon character"Why success isn't measured by how many people you manage but don't actually knowWhy hiring restaurant workers is the ultimate agency hackThe transformative power of executive coaching when you're tired of being the office curmudgeon
2025-09-2348 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #6: Dean Turner: How To Ditch Perfectionism and Build a Massive Following With ConsistencyOn this week's episode, Tom and Dean discuss how Dean built his online personal training business, Dean Turner Training, from the ground up, one tweet at a time. They chat about the surprising pros of getting roasted, why the pursuit of perfection is often just fear in disguise, and how Dean’s most successful clients are the ones with an internal fire, not an external deadline. They also get into why Dean doesn't work with brands, why his body is his business card, and how Dean discovered a way to find a blue ocean in the red waters of on...
2025-09-1649 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #5: Kayla Kurtz (Part 2) - How to Have the Honest Conversation With Your Clients, Your Prospects, and Yourself(Make sure you start with Part 1!)In this two-part episode, Tom sits down with Kayla Kurtz, VP of Sales at Forthea, to dive into the wild world of agency pitching and sales war stories. Kayla shares her career soundtrack (heavy on Taylor Swift and Paramore) and breaks down why she's stuck with agency life across five different shops. They swap horror stories about prospects who ghost after demanding urgent timelines, the awkwardness of remote pitching, and that time Cintas tried to recruit Kayla mid-pitch. Plus, Tom admits he still can't pronounce "Chappell Roan" correctly because apparently no one...
2025-09-0948 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #4: Kayla Kurtz (Part 1) - How to Have the Honest Conversation With Your Clients, Your Prospects, and YourselfIn this episode, Tom sits down with Kayla Kurtz, VP of Sales at Forthea, to dive into the wild world of agency pitching and sales war stories. Kayla shares her career soundtrack (heavy on Taylor Swift and Paramore) and breaks down why she's stuck with agency life across five different shops. They swap horror stories about prospects who ghost after demanding urgent timelines, the awkwardness of remote pitching, and that time Cintas tried to recruit Kayla mid-pitch. Plus, Tom admits he still can't pronounce "Chappell Roan" correctly because apparently no one says it out loud in his circles.
2025-09-0345 min
Slash TaxTom Hootman: The ROI Equation in the Age of AI and Changing StrategiesIs your marketing really working—or just draining your budget? In this episode, Heidi sits down with Tom Hootman, founder of Mixtape Digital, to unpack how businesses can calculate ROI, leverage AI responsibly, and build authentic marketing strategies that fuel long-term growth and valuation.SummaryIn this episode of the Slash Tax podcast, host Heidi Henderson speaks with Tom Hootman, founder and CEO of Mixtape Digital, about the evolving landscape of marketing. They discuss the importance of authenticity in marketing, the challenges of calculating ROI, and the impact of AI on the industry. To...
2025-08-2852 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #3: Jeff Perkins - Why Your LinkedIn Profile Shouldn’t Read Like Your ResumeIn this episode, Tom sits down with Jeff Perkins, CEO of Soundstripe, to talk about gaming LinkedIn to escape career purgatory. Jeff shares how changing his title from "Marketing Manager" to "Executive Leader" suddenly had recruiters calling about CEO roles instead of lowball offers. They discuss the brutal reality of transitioning from CMO to CEO and why Soundstripe built an AI music supervisor. (Spoiler: because scrolling through 58,000 songs to find the perfect track is soul-crushing.)
2025-08-2653 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #2: Kent Zimmerman - What Your Prospect Is Really Thinking During Your Agency's PitchIn this no-holds-barred episode, Kent Zimmerman and Tom Hootman dive deep into the gritty realities of the retail world. From the rise and fall of malls to the chaotic dance with digital transformation, expect candid stories and hard truths. Kent shares his in-house marketer perspective, especially on what makes agency sales pitches stand out or fall flat.
2025-08-1945 min
Simply Business PodcastEp73-Tom Hootman: “Marketing Should Feel Like a Mixtape”In this inspiring 73rd episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Tom Hootman, the founder of Mixtape Digital, a newly launched marketing agency with a name that sparks nostalgia and a mission rooted in authenticity.Tom opens up about his journey from managing restaurants and retail to becoming a leader in digital marketing, growing a company through acquisition, and eventually stepping out on his own to build something fresh. He reflects on the intersection of AI, creativity, and the human touch, emphasizing that marketing should feel like a mixtape curated, personal, and memorable.
2025-08-1942 minThe Marketing B-SidesTrack #1: Jeff Allen - From 12-Year Insider to Day One OutsiderJeff Allen, CEO at OuterBox, gets real about the messy truth of leadership transitions—the trust you have to rebuild from scratch, the pitches that go sideways in unexpected ways, and why putting your team's wins before your own ego actually works. No corporate fluff, just the unvarnished stories that shaped his career.What you'll get:-Why new leadership is basically starting over (even when you think it isn't) -The pitch moment that defied expectations—and still led to success-How to win by making other people look good -Real talk for young profes...
2025-08-1152 min