The Growth Signal

AI is not just a Silicon Valley story. It is showing up in plumbing trucks, remodel crews, and job sites everywhere. This conversation rethinks who will actually lead the next wave of AI adoption and why it might surprise you.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Grant Fuellenbach to challenge the idea that AI belongs only to tech companies. Together, they unpack why blue collar and home service businesses may be better positioned to win with AI than most white collar teams. If you think AI is too complex, too technical, or not built for hands-on work, this episode will either prove you right or make you seriously rethink it.You should listen if you care about practical AI, real-world adoption, and how better communication can create better customer relationships without adding more work.Key takeawaysBlue collar businesses are using AI where it actually matters, like scheduling, estimating, and customer communicationAI can help trades charge a premium by improving clarity, follow-through, and trust with customersYou do not need to be tech savvy to start. Simple tools can create big gains when time and labor are tightPeople and resources mentionedNotebook LM by GoogleChatGPTBeyond the Bid podcastGo First ConsultingRethinking the future of customer relationships starts by rethinking who AI is really for.

Buying leads is not the only way to grow. Cold calls are not the price of entry. This conversation challenges one of the most common myths in entrepreneurship and offers a simpler, more human path forward.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Billy Sammons to rethink how relationships actually drive business growth. Billy makes the case that warm markets work from day one, even if you think you “don’t know enough people.” Instead of chasing strangers, he explains how to give real value, build trust, and grow through community. This is about rethinking the future of customer relationships by starting warm, staying genuine, and playing the long game.You should listen if cold outreach makes your skin crawl, if buying leads feels wrong, or if you want a way to grow that actually feels like you. This is practical, grounded, and built for people who want results without selling their soul.Key takeawaysYou do not need cold calls or paid leads to start a business. Warm markets can work immediately.Giving value only works if it is real, useful, and not a hidden sales trick.Simple, repeatable actions done consistently beat complex marketing plans every time.People and resources mentionedLive Local Warm Marketing website Five Day Warm Marketing Challenge Diary of a CEO podcast

Customer service is not becoming fully automated. It is becoming more human.In this conversation, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Rick DeLisi to rethink what AI is actually good at and where it clearly falls short. The big myth. That you can plug in AI and replace your entire support team. Rick explains why that idea breaks customer trust and how the real opportunity is using AI to support people, not erase them. If you care about experience, efficiency, and trust, this one is worth your time.Rick brings decades of experience working with financial institutions and customer service teams. Together, he and Alyssa dig into what works, what backfires, and how companies can rethink the future of customer relationships without annoying their customers or burning out employees.Why listen This episode helps you stop chasing shiny AI promises and start building customer experiences that actually work. You will walk away with a clearer mental model for when AI helps, when humans matter most, and how to balance both.3 key takeawaysAbout half of customer questions are simple and can be handled well by AI. The other half need a human. Mixing those up hurts trust.AI works best when it helps agents do their jobs better, not when it tries to replace them entirely.Being proactive can turn into being annoying fast. Good customer experience means reading the room.This episode is part of The Growth Signal, a show focused on rethinking the future of customer relationships through real stories, real work, and real tradeoffs.People and resources mentionedRick DeLisiGliaDan Kelley, CEO and co-founder of GliaMatt DixonThe Effortless Experience

AI isn’t replacing you. It’s exposing how you think, decide, and lead. Alyssa Nolte sits down with Gal Borenstein to rethink what AI actually means for knowledge workers, leaders, and growing companies. This is not hype and not fear mongering. It is a grounded conversation about why AI works like an amplifier, not a substitute, and why judgment, values, and clarity matter more than ever.If you feel overwhelmed by AI, tempted to use it as a shortcut, or unsure how it fits into real work, this episode is for you. Alyssa and Gal unpack why businesses get stuck, how blind trust in AI backfires, and what it really looks like to use AI as a new hire instead of a crutch. This is about rethinking the future of customer relationships by rethinking how humans and technology actually work together.Why listen You will hear a clear, practical take on AI that cuts through noise. This episode helps you see where AI adds speed and scale and where human thinking still decides the outcome. If you lead people, build strategy, or create work that represents a brand, this conversation will challenge how you use AI today.3 key takeawaysAI does not replace judgment. It reflects the quality of your thinking and your questions.Treat AI like a new employee. Train it with values, context, and clear goals instead of using it as a shortcut.Trust is the real currency. Brands and leaders lose credibility when AI outputs are unchecked or careless.People and resources mentionedSimon Sinek and the book Start With WhyGal Borenstein’s books: What Really Counts for CEOs, Activate, and Don’t Believe the HypeLinkedIn as the best place to connect with Gal BorensteinBorenstein Group website and Gal’s offer of a free ebook for listeners

People aren’t listening anymore. Not to leaders. Not to sales teams. Not even to each other. This conversation is about rethinking how we earn attention before we try to persuade.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Anders Boulanger, author of Engage First, to break down why engagement is no longer a personality trait. It’s a skill. And most teams are letting it atrophy.If you sell, lead, present, or manage people who seem distracted, checked out, or hard to reach… this episode is for you. You’ll hear why modern work is killing natural engagement, and what actually works now when attention is scarce.This is a practical conversation about rethinking the future of customer relationships, leadership, and human connection in a screen-first world.Key takeawaysEngagement must come before selling, leading, or influencing. Talent doesn’t matter if no one is paying attention.Attention is shaped by the medium. Email, phone, video, and in-person all demand different skills.You can rebuild engagement skills on purpose, even if your team grew up digital-first.People and resources mentionedEngage First by Anders BoulangerBo Easonengagefirst.com

Most businesses chase new leads and ignore the customers they already have. In this conversation, Alyssa Nolte and Vance Morris rethink what growth actually looks like and why retention, not acquisition, is the real advantage.If you believe it’s cheaper and easier to keep customers but still don’t prioritize it, this episode will challenge that thinking. Vance breaks down why retention feels boring, why that’s a mistake, and how small, human actions can create loyalty that lasts for years. This is a practical look at rethinking the future of customer relationships, without buzzwords or theory.Why listen You’ll hear real examples from businesses that focus on experience, systems, and human connection. If you want higher profit, stronger loyalty, and fewer constant sales pushes, this episode will change how you think about growth.3 key takeawaysRetention is more profitable than acquisition, and the numbers prove it.Systems and process create freedom and better customer experiences.Human touches like notes, calls, and follow-ups build emotional loyalty that ads cannot.Referenced in this episodeDan KennedyChewy (customer experience example)Free resource: 52 Ways to Wow Your Customer Without Breaking the Bank wow52ways.com

Most B2B teams keep pouring money into ads, channels, and top-of-funnel growth… while deals quietly die in the middle. This conversation is about rethinking the future of customer relationships by fixing what actually stops buyers from saying yes.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Avnita Gulati to break down why more leads rarely fix revenue and where the real leaks happen. If you sell in B2B, SaaS, or fintech and feel like growth should be easier than it is, this episode will either feel uncomfortably familiar… or exactly what you need to hear.Why you should listen This episode is for leaders who want predictable growth, cleaner pipelines, and fewer wasted deals. You’ll learn why teams keep doing “more” instead of doing “right,” and how small breakdowns in the buyer journey create big revenue problems over time.3 key takeawaysMost revenue is lost in the middle of the funnel, not at the topStrong qualification means saying no earlier, not chasing harderYour ICP must be real, specific, and revisited as your business growsPeople and resources mentionedGood to Great by Jim CollinsAvnita Gulati on LinkedIn

The people who feel like imposters usually aren’t the problem. The real problem is the people who never doubt themselves at all. This conversation rethinks confidence, credibility, and what it actually takes to build a personal brand people trust.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Kelly Schuknecht to unpack a sharp idea that stops you mid scroll… the imposter never has the syndrome. They talk about why real experts hesitate, why loud voices often win attention, and how to show up anyway without turning yourself into a content machine. If you are building a personal brand, growing a business, or trying to be taken seriously in your work, this episode helps you rethink what authority really looks like.Why you should listen If you have ever watched someone with less experience get more attention and thought “what am I missing,” this episode is for you. Alyssa and Kelly break down imposter syndrome, vanity metrics, and the pressure to niche yourself into a box, while keeping the focus on what actually creates trust and long term opportunity.3 key takeawaysImposter syndrome is often a sign you care about doing good work, not a sign you are unqualified.Big follower counts do not equal real impact. Reaching the right people matters more.A personal brand works best when it has a clear focus but still leaves room for curiosity and growth.They also get into how to measure success without chasing likes, how podcasting and content can open doors even with small audiences, and why rethinking your goals changes how you show up.People and resources mentioned Two Mile High Marketing Thought Leadership Scorecard Alex HormoziThe Growth Signal is about rethinking the future of customer relationships, and this episode challenges how we think about credibility, confidence, and showing up as an expert

Rethinking the future of customer relationships starts with one simple idea… talk like a human.Most marketing sounds smart but feels cold. Alyssa Nolte sits down with Perry Sheraw to break down why real growth comes from conversation, not clever copy. They dig into email, SMS, and digital campaigns and explain how to make them feel human, relevant, and worth responding to. If your marketing feels polished but ignored, this conversation will either confirm it’s not for you… or make you lean in and rethink everything.You should listen if you care about: • Turning email and SMS into real conversations • Building trust instead of just chasing clicks • Rethinking how customers actually move from “interested” to “buying”3 key takeawaysWrite like you talk. If it sounds weird out loud, it will feel worse in an inbox.Open rates are not interest. Real engagement shows up in actions, not views.The customer journey should reflect what the customer needs, not what the business wants.Alyssa Nolte and Perry Sheraw also cover why empathy is not soft, how to test short vs long content, and where most teams lose people between marketing and sales.People and resources mentioned Brené BrownAdam GrantChatGPT and AI tools for understanding customer behavior

Marketing isn’t broken. The way we think about it is. If creativity comes before math, growth turns into guesswork. This conversation challenges that belief and rethinks the future of customer relationships from the ground up.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Steve Whittington to unpack a hot take many marketers hate hearing: real go-to-market success starts with unit economics, not vibes. Together, they break down why so many teams rely on hope instead of forecasts and what actually needs to change if you want predictable growth.This episode is for you if you care about revenue, retention, and building a system that works when things get hard. If math makes you uncomfortable, that’s probably the point.3 key takeawaysMarketing is not magic. It’s a measurable system tied directly to revenue.Most forecasts are “hope casts” because teams don’t understand their numbers.Everyone in a company either supports revenue or puts it at risk.You’ll hear practical examples from sales, marketing, and leadership, plus a clear framework for rethinking how customers are acquired, kept, and grown over time.People and resources mentionedChris WalkerJohn BurroughsEntrepreneurial Operating SystemThe EconomistWeAreRoadmap.com and the Go-To-Market Readiness Index