From the Art of Marketing Conference at the University of San Diego, Rebl Risty of Rebl Labs AI hosts a panel with Kirsty Nunez, Kathy Townend and Phil Goddard. Exploring how qualitative data and AI are redefining customer segmentation. They trace the conference’s origins, share how AMA San Diego serves the community, and unpack a new approach to building segments from rich narrative feedback at a fraction of traditional costs.
Key Takeaways:
-Qualitative segmentation can turn interview and open-ended feedback into actionable segments, complementing or bridging to large quant studies.
-AI speeds “time to insight” while keeping the researcher in the loop for oversight and edits.
-Comments often reveal hidden pain points that satisfaction scores miss.
-AMA San Diego’s Art of Marketing Conference grew from a small plenary to a marquee community event focused on education and networking.
-Practical starting point: short loyalty surveys with open responses can surface motivations before bigger research investments.
AI in marketing is more than content generation. Mike Montague breaks down four practical pillars: context engineering for authentic brand voice, predictive analytics that surfaces real buying signals, modern automation that scales follow up, and one-to-one personalization that speaks to a single customer at a time.
Key takeaways
-Use context engineering to train a custom GPT on founder interviews, sales talk tracks, and customer stories so content sounds like you.
-Predictive analytics reveals leading indicators such as life events and job changes that happen before a purchase.
-Tools span every budget, from simple social searches to platforms like HubSpot and 6sense for intent data and account trends.
-Automation is mature and useful when paired with good data, despite the hype around autonomous agents.
-Personalization at the individual level is now realistic and effective for small teams.
Marketing leader Nick Hofer, President of the AMA San Diego and executive at SolarTech, shares how AI, social strategy, and community are reshaping modern marketing. He covers lessons from content marketing world, why TikTok matters for search and discovery, and how AMA San Diego powers careers through flagship events, mentorship, and hands-on education.Key takeaways-AI is now table stakes for content, creative, research, and customer insight.-TikTok is a must consider channel for search behavior and audience discovery.-AMA San Diego’s Art of Marketing delivers deep, practitioner focused sessions with top brand speakers.-Community programs matter, from coffee meetups to mentorship and volunteer days that open doors.-Career advice that works: show up, say yes, and keep learning.
AI news moves fast, but accuracy still wins. Guest Alicia Shapiro shares a practical workflow that starts with reputable sources, tight guardrails for ChatGPT, and rigorous checks for duplication, quotes, and facts. She also walks through adding context with verified sources, polishing SEO, and avoiding sensational headlines.
Key Takeaways:
-Start with primary, reputable outlets like AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg, then brief ChatGPT with strict rules.
-Do not paraphrase quotes, verify them against the original article.
-Run content through a duplication checker, then compare line by line with the source.
-Add missing context only if supported by credible links, and keep headlines professional, not clickbait.
In this episode of Reblutionize Your Marketing with AI, Rebl Risty sits down with Reed Hansen of Marketsurge to explore how AI is transforming marketing agencies and everyday business workflows. Reid shares his journey from traditional marketing to AI-assisted coding, demonstrating how tools like ChatGPT and Cursor help small businesses automate processes and build apps without a developer.
Key Takeaways
-How Reed transitioned from marketing automation to using AI for coding and business innovation.
-Why AI tools like ChatGPT and Cursor democratize technology for non-developers.
-A live walkthrough of how Reed built a custom file-filtering app to solve a real business problem.
-Insights on how small agencies can save time and costs through AI-driven tools.
-The mindset shift needed to embrace AI as a creative partner in marketing and problem-solving.
In this episode, REBL Risty sits down with Mike Montague of Avenue Nine to explore how AI is transforming marketing without losing the human touch. Mike shares his journey from DJ to sales trainer to AI-powered marketer, and explains how tools like predictive analytics, machine learning, and personalization can help businesses scale smarter while keeping authenticity at the core.
Key Takeaways:
- Mike’s career journey from radio DJ to global sales trainer to AI marketing strategist.
- Why context engineering and custom GPTs make AI-generated content more powerful.
- How predictive analytics identifies buying signals before customers enter the market.
- The role of personalization in boosting engagement, from DISC-based messaging to individualized campaigns.
- Why “Human-first AI” is about amplifying authenticity, not replacing people.
Episode Summary:
In this episode, REBL Risty introduces Runway, a powerful AI video generation tool that's changing how we repurpose and reimagine visual content. From turning still photos into animated clips to creating cinematic-quality videos without actors or sets, REBL walks through how brands like Liquid Death are using Runway and how you can, too. Whether you're creating short-form social content or dreaming of your own AI-powered video campaign, this tool could be a game-changer.
Key Takeaways:
- Runway's Gen-4 model enables consistent character and environment generation across video scenes, perfect for brand storytelling.
- You don’t need a film crew, Runway empowers solo creators and marketers to create impressive video content from still photos or prompts.
- Repurpose old photo shoots into dynamic social clips, product videos, or nostalgic marketing pieces.
- Use AI to create in multiple languages and adapt content for global audiences without hiring a full production team.
- Simple action step: Upload an old photo, give it a prompt, and watch your image come to life, free to try with 100 credits.
In this episode Rebl Risty and Rob Esposito sit down with Jennifer Barnes of Optima Office to explore how AI is reshaping both business operations and marketing. From integrating Power BI with HubSpot and QuickBooks to creating AI-generated avatars and streamlining reporting, the conversation highlights the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in real-world business.
Key Takeaways
- Data integration matters: Power BI can sync multiple systems into one dashboard, giving CEOs instant access to employee and client insights.
- AI boosts efficiency: Tasks like creating charts or summarizing data that once took days can now be completed in minutes.
- Marketing ROI clarity: Plugging Power BI into HubSpot unlocks deeper visibility into campaign results and sales efforts.
- AI in content creation: Custom GPTs and AI-generated videos open new doors for storytelling, but also raise concerns about deep fakes and authenticity.
- We’re just getting started: Businesses are only scratching the surface of AI’s potential to transform both operations and marketing.
In this episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, hosts Rebel Risty and Rob Esposito sit down with Julian Brandt, founder of Ampra.ai and former co-founder of Digitopia. Julian shares how AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Google’s Gemini are transforming business operations from meeting recaps to job descriptions and how entrepreneurs can stay focused and scale smarter. Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, this episode will show you how AI can truly become your ultimate virtual assistant.
Key Takeaways:
- AI is your new ops assistant: Tools like Claude and Gemini can summarize meetings, draft recaps, and organize SOPs—saving hours each week.
- Start small, then scale: Don’t try to solve everything at once with AI. Begin with one area (like operations or marketing) and build from there.
- EOS keeps teams focused: The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) helps businesses stay on track by prioritizing the most important initiatives.
- Younger users see AI differently: Gen Z uses AI like an operating system for their life—constantly integrated into their daily workflow.
- It's about stories, not just tools: AI can help craft and optimize content, but authentic storytelling still makes the biggest impact.
In this episode, we sit down with Alex Karvounis, Lead Creative Officer at MiraCosta College, whose unconventional journey—from traveling performer and filmmaker to casino communications lead and now higher ed marketing leader—offers a masterclass in creative thinking. From Vegas to academia, Alex shares how storytelling, internal comms, and visual branding all play a role in driving student success.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Unlikely Beginnings: Alex’s career started with juggling gigs and birthday parties, proving that no skill or path is too “weird” to shape a future in marketing.
- Blockbuster Marketing: Learn how Alex used guerrilla tactics to fund his indie film Olive Juice, which landed distribution with Lionsgate—thanks to some clever casting and merch sales.
- Internal Comms = External Success: At both the Wynn Resort and MiraCosta College, Alex emphasized how strong internal communication drives better customer (or student) experience.
- Creativity on a Budget: Discover how Alex transitioned from “limitless” marketing resources in Vegas to budget-conscious innovation in higher ed—and why creativity thrives under constraints.
- Authenticity in Visual Storytelling: Why MiraCosta's marketing prioritizes real student moments, blue skies, and connection over generic promotional fluff.
In this solo episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, REBL Risty takes us behind the scenes as she uses ChatGPT to revamp a presentation deck in real time. From turning a messy outline into a clean, story-driven flow to training a custom GPT for better results, REBL shows how AI can simplify, speed up, and seriously upgrade your creative process.
Key Takeaways:
- You can train ChatGPT to understand your speaking style, offers, and target audience by creating a custom GPT.
- AI helps refine and restructure existing content, not just start from scratch.
- Exporting presentations as PDFs allows ChatGPT to analyze and suggest improvements.
- Canva Mode + ChatGPT = faster, better visuals with less manual work.
Delegating becomes easier when ChatGPT helps write VA instructions and content flow guides.
Jaymie Tarshis is a seasoned digital advertising strategist with a laser focus on simplifying the complex world of ads for entrepreneurs and business owners. With years of experience in Meta advertising, Jaymie has developed a unique approach to using AI tools not just to save time—but to actually run smarter, better-performing campaigns.
In this episode, Jaymie and I dive into how the advertising landscape has completely shifted, why targeting is no longer king, and how AI is transforming the game for marketers and small business owners alike. She shares how even solopreneurs can create high-performing ads without spending thousands, and why great copy and creative now matter more than ever.
We also talk about:
How Meta's AI is reshaping ad targeting (and why less manual = more results)
Why the “old” way of running ads is outdated.
A behind-the-scenes look at Jaymie’s process for crafting AI-supported ad campaigns.
Tips for creating compelling messaging with AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude.
A mini tutorial on how to use Meta’s Ads Manager to your advantage.
Whether you're a DIY marketer or running ads at scale, Jaymie’s insights will help you rethink how you approach digital advertising—and give you a real edge.
Don’t miss this episode if you want to:
Spend less on ads and get better results
Understand how to write copy that converts (without a copywriter)
Learn how to let AI do the heavy lifting in your ad strategy
Tune in and get ready to simplify your ad game with Jaymie Tarshis.
In this episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing with AI, host Rebl Risty sits down with AI strategist Max Bernstein to explore how experts can finally get what's in their head and into scalable, monetizable systems using AI. Max shares his method for transforming transcripts and conversations into frameworks, offers, and IP, showing how AI can help you turn noise into signals and create repeatable value.
Key Takeaways:
-Start with one LLM and master it: Max recommends building foundational skill in a single AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude before expanding, so you can transfer knowledge more confidently.
-Turn transcripts into goldmines: Client calls and meeting transcripts hold hidden frameworks, patterns, and customer language that can be extracted with the right prompts.
-Use AI to build your IP: Max shares how to extract universal principles, patterns, and solutions from conversations to develop proprietary methods and offers.
-Systems > Chaos: Organizing your AI use with structured projects and data taxonomies leads to better prompts, richer insights, and less cognitive overload.
-Claude’s “Artifacts” feature is a game-changer: You can now turn insights into interactive tools, calculators, and lead-gen assets in minutes—no code needed.
The Systematic Genius Hidden in Your Expertise
https://sn3prompts.carrd.co
In this solo episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, REBL Risty dives into a debate with her social media manager: Is posting on LinkedIn during the weekend a waste of time—or a hidden opportunity? Using the AI tool Perplexity, REBL explores best practices for LinkedIn posting times, shares surprising data about weekend engagement, and reminds us why testing your own strategy always wins over assumptions.
Takeaways:
Weekends aren’t dead: Only 8% of posts happen on weekends, but lower competition might give you an edge—especially with lighter, personal content.
Best posting times: Mid-mornings (10–12) Tuesday–Thursday still dominate, but Saturdays and early Sundays have niche potential.
Once per day - multiple posts: Experts suggest one strong post per day performs better than quantity overload.
Use Perplexity to research fast: It's a powerful, ad-free alternative to Google that pulls from real data and sources.
Your data - general data: Use AI tools to set benchmarks, then test and track what works for your specific audience.
In this episode, REBL shares a simple, powerful trick for writing better Custom GPT instructions—even if you’re not sure where to start. Using a live workshop example, she walks through how to define a GPT’s role, purpose, and desired outcomes, and how to get ChatGPT to write its own instructions for you. If you’ve ever stared at a blank custom GPT setup, this episode is your shortcut.
Key Takeaways
- Stuck on what to write? Just ask ChatGPT to write its own instructions using your role, purpose, and goals.
- Be specific about the GPT’s function, audience, and areas of focus—this improves response quality.
- Refine as you go: If the GPT gives poor answers, update the instructions based on feedback.
- Add a tone guide or word preferences to align the GPT with your voice.
- Use tools like Perplexity if you’re unsure what a role (like “coach”) should include.
In this solo episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, REBL Risty explores Claude’s newest feature: Artifacts. She walks through her real-time experience using it to build a LinkedIn newsletter planner and shares how non-coders can create interactive AI tools, workflows, and apps in just minutes. Whether you're a marketer, solopreneur, or just AI-curious, this episode offers a hands-on look at Anthropic’s latest leap in no-code AI productivity.
Takeaways:
-Claude Artifacts, No-Code AI Tools: You can now create interactive content planners, games, assistants, and more—without writing a single line of code.
-How It Works: Artifacts generate real-time apps from your prompts and offer editable templates and even bug fixing during testing.
-Use Cases Are Endless: From AI newsletter assistants to small business tools, you can remix pre-built artifacts or start from scratch.
-Perfect for Creators & Marketers: Great for workshops, content ideation, or client presentations that need a unique, personalized AI component.
-Shareable and Scalable: Once built, your artifact can be published and shared via a link—making it useful for teams or clients.
In this episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing with AI, we explore the powerful AI video tool Runway and how it's changing the game for marketers and creators. From animating still images to building cinematic-quality scenes without a camera crew, this tool makes high-end video creation accessible to everyone. Key Takeaways:- Runway's Gen-4 AI can create consistent characters and scenes from a single image, offering superior video generation capabilities.- The Liquid Death commercial was created with tools like Runway—no cameras or actors needed.- You can animate old photos into short videos with simple prompts—perfect for personal or brand storytelling.- AI-generated voiceovers and motion now rival traditional production quality.- Action tip: Use your free Runway credits to turn one still photo into a short animated clip and explore what’s possible.
SUMMARY
In this episode of REBLutionize, we sit down with Jennifer Barnes, founder and CEO of Optima Office, to break down the crucial (and often misunderstood) roles of controllers, CFOs, and HR in scaling a business. From financial strategy to AI-powered insights, we cover the tools and mindsets every entrepreneur needs to thrive—without drowning in spreadsheets.
Takeaways
Start with a controller, not a CFO. Many businesses think they need a CFO, but without clean books, even the best CFO can’t help.
Don’t DIY HR. Especially in states like California, relying on Google for HR compliance can be a huge liability.
Debt vs. equity. Jennifer shares a compelling argument for funding growth through loans rather than partnerships.
Marketing is not optional. Investing in brand awareness and lead gen is vital—even if ROI isn't instant.
Data is power. Tools like Power BI are transforming how CEOs access and understand their business performance.
Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome + Guest Intro
01:00 – What Optima Office Actually Does
02:00 – Why Most Companies Need a Controller First
03:40 – Common Mistakes in HR and Accounting
04:50 – Why Giving Equity Isn’t Always the Answer
06:10 – Marketing Spend: How Much Is Enough?
08:30 – The CFO’s Role in Strategic Budgeting
11:00 – ROI, Data, and Why You Need to Track Everything
12:00 – Power BI: Game-Changer for Ops + Insight
15:00 – AI Tools That Save Time (and Your Sanity)
17:30 – Company Culture and Building a Fun Team
20:00 – The Risk Side of AI: Deepfakes + Phishing
22:00 – Final Advice: Why Every Business Needs a Controller + HR Lead
24:00 – How to Work with Optima Office
Guest Bio
Jennifer Barnes is the CEO and founder of Optima Office, a firm specializing in outsourced accounting, finance, and HR leadership. With a team of over 100 local professionals, Optima supports startups to public companies with fractional roles, gap-filling, and full departmental leadership. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for smart financial strategy, clean books, and a culture of collaboration and fun.
Summary:
In this episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, REBL Risty interviews Keith Moehring, CEO of L2 Digital, to uncover how AI-powered automations are transforming the marketing landscape. Keith shares how his systems automate content creation, analytics, and outreach—freeing up teams to focus on strategy while AI handles the heavy lifting. If you're only using ChatGPT, you're barely scratching the surface.
Key Takeaways:
AI + Automation = Superpowers: Learn how integrating tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Make.com, and 11Labs can streamline content, email, and analytics workflows.
The 80/20 Rule for Content: Keith’s automations handle 80–90% of the work, leaving humans to polish, approve, and post.
Custom AI Workflows: From branded case studies to weekly analytics summaries, Keith shows how to automate the work marketers hate most.
Tone That Sounds Like You: Learn how to feed your content into AI tools to generate brand-consistent output.
Start Small, Scale Fast: Keith’s tip: Begin with daily repeatable tasks. Use ChatGPT first, then graduate to automations.
⏱️ Notable Chapters:
00:00 – Keith’s journey into AI and automation
03:00 – What AI automation really looks like
10:00 – How case studies are written in minutes, not hours
17:00 – The (slightly creepy) power of website visitor automation
20:00 – Analytics automation using the 5 Whys
22:45 – Auto-generating editorial calendars from performance data
28:00 – Who automation is really for
30:00 – Why automation helps, not replaces, your team
Guest Bio:
Keith Moehring is the CEO of L2 Digital, a digital agency specializing in AI-powered marketing automations. With a background in data, integrations, and process design, Keith helps small and mid-sized businesses scale their marketing without scaling their teams—by automating the content, analytics, and outreach tasks most marketers dread.
Follow Keith on LinkedIn: Keith Moehring on LinkedIn
Summary
In this episode of REBLutionize Your Marketing, REBL Risty and Rob Esposito sit down with marketing veteran Ron Marcus to explore his rich journey across corporate marketing, agency life, and nonprofit leadership. From launching one of the first YouTube lifestyle channels to navigating career pivots during economic downturns, Ron shares real-world insights on branding, culture, resilience—and how he's now reemerging with Purpose-Powered Marketing.
Takeaways
Corporate vs. Agency: Ron compares the culture, stability, and creative freedom across both worlds—and what to consider before making the switch.
The Power of Reinvention: After layoffs and burnout, Ron returns to his roots with a brand-new consulting practice built on purpose and clarity.
Brand 360: A brand isn't just visuals—it's culture, delivery, and customer experience. Ron explains why internal alignment is everything.
Lessons from Failure: From the 2009 crash to missteps in early YouTube monetization, Ron embraces every experience as a stepping stone.
Consulting with Heart: Ron’s new focus is helping small businesses and nonprofits uncover their unique value and deliver it with integrity.
🧭 Chapters to Note:
00:00 – Ron’s Mad Men roots and agency dreams
04:30 – Launching an early YouTube channel (ShindyTV)
07:44 – From nightlife content to nonprofit leadership
11:20 – Surviving layoffs & pivoting back to consulting
13:44 – Job search struggles, networking, and Never Search Alone
18:38 – Why Purpose-Powered Marketing was born
25:13 – Ron’s process for rebranding small businesses & nonprofits
30:39 – Culture, leadership, and how it affects your brand
34:36 – Final advice: own your mistakes, protect your brand
Guest Bio:
Ron Marcus is a veteran marketing strategist with decades of experience across startups, tech firms, creative agencies, and nonprofits. He founded Purpose-Powered Marketing, a consulting practice dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations clarify their brand, align their culture, and communicate their value. From directing corporate rebrands to launching early YouTube shows, Ron brings creative depth and business acumen to every project.