AI is transforming marketing fast... but what actually works, and where do humans still win?In this AI for Everyone episode, Harrison Painter sits down with AJ Schneider — CEO of Schneider Communication Group, former President of Wheaton Worldwide, and VP of Communications at AMA Indy — to talk about MARCON Indy, the first major marketing conference in Indiana.
We cover:
• Why MARCON Indy is different from other marketing events
• The gap between AI theory and practice (and how SMBs can use it today)
• Why human creativity and analog touches still cut through in a digital world
• How marketers can balance data-driven insights with trust and connection
👉 If you’re a marketer, operator, or executive feeling the pressure of AI, this conversation will give you clarity and next steps.
📌 Resources:
🔗 AMA Indy: https://www.indyama.com
🔗 AJ Schneider – http://schneidercg.com/
🔗 LaunchReady.ai: https://launchready.ai
Episode Timeline
00:00 – Intro: Why MarCon Indy matters
00:49 – Welcome AJ Schneider
01:44 – Why AMA Indy launched MarCon
02:50 – Theory vs. practice in AI marketing
04:53 – The risks of dumping data into ChatGPT
07:00 – Security, governance, and consistency
09:00 – Knowledge is worthless without human wisdom
11:00 – The danger of skipping fundamentals with AI
13:36 – Old-school sales & handwritten notes as differentiators
15:37 – Content, SEO, and how AI leveled the field
17:06 – Differentiating in a world of AI parity
19:10 – Relativity and the “more to the story” effect in business
21:20 – All-or-nothing adoption vs. patient exploration of tools
24:05 – Where MarCon delivers most value (target attendees)
26:22 – AJ’s focus on helping SMBs with marketing execution
29:03 – Speed round (favorite campaign, overrated trend, future of marketing)
30:46 – Final thoughts: Central Indiana’s marketing talent
32:23 – Outro: Subscribe + attend MarCon Indy
