The playbook for modern marketing is being rewritten in real time. Anthony Kennada sits down with Jake Saper, General Partner at Emergence Capital — one of the earliest backers of category-defining companies like Salesforce, Zoom, and Gusto — to explore how AI, market velocity, and boardroom expectations are transforming what it means to be a CMO today.
Jake shares a front-row view of the AI-native startup era, where growth happens faster than ever, capital markets are “bananas,” and differentiation in a sea of sameness has never been harder — or more essential. Together, they unpack why creativity and humor matter in serious industries, why first-principles thinking is beating experience in the boardroom, and how great marketing leaders are re-potting themselves to thrive in a wickedly fast-moving era.
They also dig deep into ICP discipline, channel experimentation, and the surprising power of referrals over events in modern growth strategy — plus, yes, B2B musical theater.
Topics we cover:
– Why creativity and humor build human connection in tech
– How the CMO role is evolving in the AI-native era
– Why boards are favoring slope over experience
– Reinvention case study: Intercom and Finn
– The “bananas” early-stage funding environment
– ICP discipline as a marketing superpower
– Referrals vs. events: what the data actually says
– How great leaders re-pot themselves to thrive in change
If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader staring down a new era, this conversation will give you both a playbook — and permission — to build differently.
The CMO role is in the middle of an identity crisis — and a rebirth. AI-first founders are prioritizing distribution, growth, and taste over playbooks of the past. Experience still matters, but today, aptitude, storytelling, and the ability to resonate with first-time founders matter more.
Anthony Kennada sits down with Cameron O’Brien and Amber Weinberg, co-founders of Aperture Partners (a boutique GTM executive search firm behind placements at Figma, Atlassian, Asana, and more), to unpack how the marketing leadership search is being rewritten in real time.
They explore how the expectations of CEOs have shifted, why “marketing needs a rebrand,” and what both candidates and companies must do to win in this new era of work.
Topics we cover:
– Why aptitude is outpacing experience in CMO hiring
– How to communicate marketing’s value to first-time founders
– The rebrand marketing desperately needs
– What top candidates are really looking for right now
– How human-first leadership can be a strategic advantage
– Practical advice for CMOs navigating career transitions in the Intelligence Age
If you’re a CMO, founder, or GTM leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will help you see — and seize — the opportunity in the shift.
In a world where AI can write, design, and analyze in seconds, one thing remains uniquely human: story. Anthony Kennada sits down with Nancy Duarte — CEO of Duarte, Inc., best-selling author, and the force behind some of the world’s most iconic presentations — to explore why storytelling has never been more essential for brands, leaders, and movements.
Nancy shares timeless insights from decades of helping leaders at Apple, TED, and beyond communicate ideas that move people. Together, they unpack why empathy is the heart of great storytelling, how tension (“what is” vs. “what could be”) transforms messages into movements, and why data alone can’t persuade without emotion.
They also explore the evolving dance between humans and AI in storytelling — and why the future belongs to those who can combine clarity, craft, and connection.
Topics we cover:
– Why storytelling is the most human act in business
– How to use tension and rhythm to move audiences
– The relationship between data and emotion in persuasion
– How to make ideas stick — and get them funded
– Storytelling as a language to build culture inside and outside your company
– What legacy really means in leadership
If you’re a CMO, founder, or leader navigating the AI era, this conversation will remind you why story is still the most powerful tool in your brand’s arsenal.
mbition has always been a badge of honor in business — but in today’s AI-driven world, the way we pursue it may be breaking us. Anthony Kennada sits down with Amanda Goetz (CMO, founder of House of Wise, and author of the forthcoming Toxic Grit) to explore why modern ambition needs a reset.
They unpack how grit can turn toxic when it ignores the seasons of life, why hustle isn’t always the enemy, and how intentionally stepping into the different “characters” we play — founder, parent, partner, creator — can restore balance and humanity to our work. Amanda also shares lessons from building community-led brands, navigating portfolio careers, and why leaders’ personal health directly shapes the companies they build.
Topics we cover:
– What “toxic grit” really means — and how to avoid it
– Why work-life balance is a myth (and what to do instead)
– How to embrace ambition without burning out
– The role of humanity in how leaders show up and build brands
– Why portfolio careers may define the future of work
– Practical ways to love what you have while pursuing what’s next
If you’re a CMO, founder, or ambitious professional rethinking how to thrive in the Intelligence Age, this episode will challenge you to redefine ambition on your own terms.
Pre-order Amanda's book Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have right here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Grit-have-actually-love/dp/146423325X?sr=8-1
In a world where AI models are shaping what the market knows—and doesn’t know—about your company, public relations is no longer optional. It’s existential.
Anthony Kennada sits down with Emilie Gerber, founder of Six Eastern and longtime comms leader for startups and venture firms, to explore how PR has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a core survival strategy for B2B brands.
They unpack why credibility and third-party validation are now mission critical, how earned and owned media actually complement (not compete with) one another, and what it takes to build brand trust in an AI-driven world.
Topics we cover:
– Why AI has revived the importance of third-party media citations
– The limits of trying to “game” LLMs with PR coverage
– How owned media and PR should work hand-in-hand
– Practical ways CMOs and founders can build credibility with reporters, podcasts, and niche outlets
– Why authenticity and humanity—not hype—are what resonate most with media
If you’re a founder, CMO, or marketing leader trying to understand how to stay visible and credible in the Intelligence Age, this episode will help you reframe PR as a foundational piece of your go-to-market strategy.
Speed and efficiency have become the default values in business — but in the process, marketing is losing its creativity, humanity, and soul. Anthony Kennada sits down with Robert Rose (best-selling author of Valuable Friction and co-founder of the Content Marketing Institute) to explore why slowing down might actually be the most radical strategy in today’s AI-driven world.
They unpack the dangers of treating marketing as a machine, the role of authenticity in an era of “feature-function” startups, and how leaders can introduce valuable friction into their work to build brands that last.
Topics we cover:
– Why “real beats perfect” in content and campaigns
– How AI can help (or hurt) creativity and brand trust
– The difference between building for the moment vs. building for the brand
– Why owned media must be treated like a product, not a tactic
– Practical ways to reintroduce friction that sparks creativity
If you’re a CMO, founder, or marketing leader feeling trapped in the Cult of Speed, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you create, lead, and build brands with lasting value.
Executives today can’t afford to hide behind their company logo. Customers want to buy from people — leaders with a point of view, a vision of the future, and the courage to show up authentically. Anthony Kennada sits down with Melissa Rosenthal (Co-founder & CEO of Outlever, former BuzzFeed, Cheddar, and ClickUp exec) to unpack the shifting role of executives on LinkedIn and beyond. They explore why visibility matters, how to balance authenticity with professionalism, and what it takes to own your brand narrative in the AI era.
Topics we cover:
– The difference between being a “creator” and an executive with a voice
– Why authenticity (without oversharing) is the new currency of trust
– How to fight — or work with — the algorithm without losing your humanity
– The evolving relationship between rented channels (like LinkedIn) and owned media
– Practical ways to prepare leaders to succeed as spokespeople on social
If you’re an executive, founder, or marketing leader wondering how to stand out online without falling into the trap of “creator culture,” this episode will give you the playbook.
More CMOs than ever are rethinking the corporate ladder — and choosing a different kind of career path. Anthony Kennada sits down with Sangram Vajre (Co-founder of Terminus, CEO of GTM Partners) to explore why fractional work is on the rise, why now may be the perfect time to make the leap, and how it can be a more future-proof choice than betting your career on another full-time role.
Topics we cover:
– Why fractional work is gaining momentum in the AI era
– How “three to five clients” can replace — or exceed — a CMO salary
– The power of niching down and building a brand without becoming “an influencer”
– The mindset shift to start with the end in mind
– Why fractional freedom can create more stability than chasing the next company
If you’re a marketing leader looking for more control over your time, income, and impact — this one’s for you.
In a world where every B2B company is suddenly “AI-first,” how do you stand out without sounding like everyone else? Anthony Kennada sits down with Mike Berger and Kevin Wu, founders of Harmonic Message, to unpack the craft of strategic storytelling—bridging brand emotion with product reality. They explore why most positioning work fails, how to avoid the AI hype trap, and why the best narratives speak to both head and heart. Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or product marketer, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a story that drives strategy, inspires your team, and cuts through the noise.
SEO is the worst it’s ever been — and still probably your best channel.
In this episode of Goldenhour, Anthony Kennada sits down with John-Henry Scherck (Founder, Growth Plays) to break down what’s really happening in search right now — and what B2B marketers need to do before AI, GEO, and algorithmic noise leave them behind.
🔍 Topics we cover:
– Why impressions are up but clicks are down
– The myth of top-of-funnel traffic
– What CMOs get wrong about SEO and brand
– How AI is reshaping discoverability
– What actually works in performance marketing today
If you care about SEO, content, or brand strategy in the AI era — this one’s for you.
