Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

Send a textIn this special episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague celebrates National AI Appreciation Day with the first-ever Avenue9 Human-First AI Marketing Awards – Class of 2025.Mike shares his favorite AI marketing tools: the ones that help real humans do better, more impactful work. These tools save time, reduce the grunt work, and help marketers scale without losing authenticity. If you’ve ever wondered which AI tools are actually worth it, this episode delivers the ultimate shortlist with practical use cases, personal examples, and a few laughs.Listen in for the nine AI tools that can help you:Write fasterSell smarterShow up consistentlyAnd still have a life outside of work🏆 Tools & Awards Highlighted in This Episode:🧠 ChatGPT – Most Likely to Write Your Autobiography🎧 Zoom AI Companion – Most Likely to Remember Everything & Perfect Attendance🎨 Gamma – Most Likely to Make You Look Smarter Than You Are📓 Notebook LM – Most Organized & Best Banter🎙️ Descript – Most Likely to Cut Your Rant into a Viral Instagram Reel🪩 Cohost AI (Buzzsprout) – Most Likely to Listen to Your Podcast🖥️ Elementor AI – Best Dressed Website✍️ Grammarly – Most Likely to Correct You Mid-Sentence📈 SalesConnector – Most Likely to Slide into Your LinkedIn DMs📌Want to market like a big brand without burning bridges or blowing out your budget?Avenue9 combines smart AI tools with smarter marketing strategy to help you build trust, scale faster, and win more clients.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textMike Montague sits down with Dan Nestle of Inquisitive Communications to explore how the marketing game is changing and why curiosity is now your most valuable asset. From the rise of large language models to the deluge of dull, AI-generated content, they unpack why asking better questions, not writing better copy, is the skill that separates standout marketers from the rest. Whether you're leading a content team or building your brand as a business owner, this conversation reveals how to stay sharp and human in a world drowning in automation.Key themes include the future of copywriting in an AI-assisted world, how to use LLMs without losing your voice, and why brands need real storytelling, not just content volume. You’ll learn practical ways to prompt more effectively, interview better, and co-create content that connects on a human level. If you’re ready to shift from “create more” to “connect deeper,” this episode is your next step forward.🔑 Top Takeaways 1. Curiosity is a marketer’s superpower.In the AI era, the best content creators aren’t just good writers; they’re great question-askers who dig for truth, context, and emotional nuance.2. AI is your partner, not your replacement.Tools like ChatGPT can support the creative process, but they still need strategic direction, emotional insight, and human judgment to produce meaningful work.3. Storytelling still wins.Great content requires structure, character, emotion, and purpose, none of which come standard from AI unless a human builds them in.4. Prompting is the new copywriting.Writing the right prompts (and follow-up questions) is a critical skill that requires clarity, empathy, and strategic thinking.5. Interviewing is now a marketing skill.Whether you’re interviewing a CEO, a customer, or your own AI assistant, the ability to ask smart, layered questions shapes the quality of your content.6. The flood of “AI slop” is a threat to brand trust.Companies flooding the market with generic AI content are losing attention and credibility; quality and relevance now matter more than ever.7. Empathy creates a competitive advantage.Understanding how people feel, what they want, and where they’re headed is what gives marketers the edge machines can’t replicate.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textMike sits down with Sara Nay, CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, to explore how AI is reshaping marketing roles and why strategy, leadership, and emotional intelligence are more important than ever. Sara shares what small businesses often get wrong about AI and why letting go of your agency (or your content writer) doesn’t mean you should let go of your marketing direction. They unpack the changing role of fractional CMOs, what jobs are at risk, and how senior marketers can stay relevant in a world where execution is being automated.If you’re a business owner or marketing leader wondering how to adapt, not just react to AI, this episode offers a clear path. You’ll learn how to lead smarter, not work harder; how to identify high-value marketing roles for the future; and why “strategy before tools” is more than a mantra, it’s your edge.Key Takeaways :1. AI is accelerating the need for marketing strategy and leadership.Execution roles are being automated, but small businesses still need experienced leaders to guide marketing direction, messaging, and measurement.2. Marketers must evolve from doers to managers of AI tools.Those in tactical roles like content writing or SEO should shift toward overseeing tools and leading strategic implementation.3. Fractional CMOs fill a crucial gap for SMBs.Small businesses can’t always afford full-time marketing execs, but they still need high-level leadership to align brand, budget, and tools.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textIn this episode of The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Dilip Dubey, founder of Sutra.AI, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can finally unlock the real promise of AI, without needing massive budgets or technical teams. Dilip shares what he calls the “three big shifts” AI is making possible for SMBs: closed-loop marketing, precision timing, and access to global data insights. If you’re a business owner or marketing director who’s tired of hearing the AI hype and not seeing results, this one’s for you.Together, Mike and Dilip unpack real-world examples, like how one regional retailer used AI to increase top-line revenue by 6% in six months. You’ll also hear why AI tools alone don’t create business outcomes; solutions do. Whether you're trying to modernize your marketing or empower your team without replacing them, this episode is your roadmap to using AI that actually works. Tune in and walk away with practical ideas to apply right away.Key Takeaways1. AI empowers business leaders, not just tech teams.You no longer need an IT department to take action; AI gives SMB leaders direct control over business outcomes.2. Closed-loop marketing is finally possible for SMBsAI connects the dots across data sources in real time, helping businesses see what’s working and make smarter decisions faster.3. Precision marketing is about timing, not just targetingIt’s not just who you reach, but when AI can help you show up at the right moment in the buyer’s decision journey.4. Global insights are now available at your fingertipsAI tools allow SMBs to tap into worldwide market trends and competitor data that used to be out of reach.5. Most SMBs confuse AI tools with actual solutions.The real ROI comes from using AI as part of a complete system or strategy, not just adding it on top of what you already do.6. Don’t try to win the AI talent war, train your team to use AI insteadHiring AI engineers isn’t practical for most SMBs, but upskilling your current people to use AI effectively is.7. Focus on use cases with clear ROI firstAvoid hobby projects. Start with small AI wins tied to revenue growth, cost savings, or customer experience improvements.8.Your data is more valuable than ever, and easier to useAI can now help you clean, structure, and activate your existing business data faster than ever before.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textIn this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, host Mike Montague sits down with Tim Brewer and Damian Bramanis from Functionly to unpack one of the most urgent questions facing modern leaders: how do you structure a business when AI changes what people actually do? Spoiler alert: it’s not about mass layoffs or robot takeovers. It’s about faster org design cycles, rethinking roles, and helping humans focus on work that matters.If you’re a small marketing director, founder, or executive feeling the squeeze between rapid AI evolution and stagnant org charts, this episode is for you. We explore how AI is exposing blind spots, automating busywork, and forcing leaders to replace reorgs with real-time agility. Plus, we share practical, human-first strategies to help your team thrive by focusing less on job titles and more on what gives people energy. It’s time to lead differently.Top Takeaways 1. AI won’t take your job, but it will take your tasksYour job is made up of many tasks, and AI is already handling parts of it faster and more efficiently than you can.2. Org design must become continuous, not cyclical.Traditional 3-year reorganizations are too slow; organizational structures now need to evolve in real-time as work shifts.3. Blind spots and bottlenecks are AI’s sweet spot.AI surfaces inefficiencies that leaders often overlook, such as duplicate roles, unclear reporting lines, or forgotten projects.4. Most org charts already have ‘gaps, cracks, and overlaps’These inefficiencies exist in every business; AI accelerates the need to fix them rather than cover them up.5. AI’s pace is like the Industrial Revolution on fast forwardThe changes we’re seeing today are similar to past revolutions, but happening 10x faster, over 7 years instead of 70.6. AI agents might soon have a “seat” in the org chartThe line between tool and teammate is blurring, and some roles will eventually be owned by software, not staff.7. Humans should focus on energy-giving, creative workLeaders should redesign roles based on what tasks give people energy, and automate what drains them.8. Taste, judgment, and leadership still belong to humansAs AI handles more execution, humans will lead by defining vision, setting priorities, and applying context.9. Change management is now a leadership competency, not a projectLeaders must create adaptable teams that can shift quickly, instead of just reacting every few years.10. Reorganizations should feel like Lego, not a PowerPoint presentation.Good org design should be hands-on, collaborative, and modular, not a top-down, static plan from consultants.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textIn this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with Vinod Kumar, founder of Syntheum.ai, to explore how AI is transforming one of the most overlooked but essential roles in retail and e-commerce: merchandising. They dig into how AI tools are finally giving merchandisers the support they deserve, freeing them from spreadsheets, synonyms, and search-engine gymnastics, and putting the focus back on strategy, creativity, and buyer experience.Whether you're selling mugs or monogrammed license plates, this conversation is packed with insights on how AI can help small businesses compete like big brands. You’ll hear how smart search, predictive analytics, and intent-based personalization are not just buzzwords, they’re tools SMBs can actually use today to test faster, waste less, and serve better. If you're ready to stop guessing and start merchandising smarter, this episode is your roadmap.Top Takeaways:1. Merchandisers are the glue between brand and buyer.They shape the shopping experience online or in-store by deciding what products people see and how they're presented.2. Most merchandising tools are outdated or nonexistent.Merchandisers often rely on clunky sub-features buried in e-commerce platforms, leaving them stuck with manual, repetitive tasks.3. AI can personalize product discovery in real time.AI-powered systems can surface the most relevant, available, and profitable items based on shopper behavior and intent, not just keywords.4. Natural language search improves the buyer journey.New AI search tools can understand conversational queries, slang, and even misspellings, helping shoppers find what they mean, not just what they typed.5. Color and size variants create merchandising chaos.AI simplifies how products like “Blue Sky Mugs” are tagged, found, and sorted—something that used to require tons of manual intervention.6. Predictive analytics helps SMBs avoid costly mistakes.Small brands can now use AI to test product-market fit and spot trends before investing in inventory that doesn’t sell.7. AI unlocks smarter product testing and fast pivots.Instead of losing time and money experimenting manually, businesses can now test ideas, pricing, and messaging virtually and iteratively.8. Search results should be optimized for margin and availability.AI can prioritize products with better profit margins or faster fulfillment, improving business outcomes without compromising shopper relevance.9. Just-in-time production is becoming more viable.On-demand manufacturing, combined with AI demand forecasting, points to a future where businesses don’t need to hold risky inventory.10. Future commerce will be more localized and sustainable.Vinod envisions AI-driven ecosystems that match buyer intent with nearby, ethical production to reduce waste and carbon impact.You can find Vinod at The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textEthical AI isn't just a philosophy; it’s a practical framework for building better digital experiences. In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Warren Wilansky, founder of Plank and the Ethical Web Collective, to explore what ethics actually look like in web design and development. From accessibility and inclusion to sustainable coding and responsible data collection, Warren shares real-world examples and tools that small marketing teams can use today, without needing a massive tech budget.You’ll learn why accessibility is more than a compliance checklist, how AI can open new doors for users with different abilities, and why bloated websites and passive data collection could silently drain your resources. Whether you’re leading marketing for an SMB or managing your organization’s online presence, this conversation will help you rethink how your digital footprint affects real people and how to make it more human.Top Takeaways:1. Ethics in design is about alignment, not judgment.Ethics shouldn’t feel like a moral high ground; it’s about defining and living by values that align with your brand and customers.2. Accessibility expands your reach and reflects your values.Making your website usable for people with disabilities or limited connectivity isn't just right; it’s good business.3. Optimize your site for low bandwidth, not just high-end devices.A fast, lightweight website serves people in rural areas, on mobile, or with unreliable internet, and audiences are often overlooked.4. Follow real accessibility standards, not just automated scores.Tools like Google Lighthouse are a starting point, but true inclusion comes from understanding WCAG guidelines and user experience.5. Responsible development means planning for handoffs.Write clean, well-documented code and interfaces so future developers or your client aren’t left with digital debt.6. Environmental impact matters even online.Every page load and AI query consumes energy; minimizing bloat and heavy media is a quiet but powerful way to reduce your carbon footprint.7. Auto-playing videos and giant images can do more harm than good.Design choices that look slick may slow down performance and hurt accessibility, especially on mobile.8. Don’t hoard data you’re not using.Storing outdated or unused customer data is a risk and a liability; only collect what you can actually use to improve the experience.9. Open-source and portable tools build long-term trust.Use platforms like WordPress and avoid proprietary lock-ins so your clients (or future self) aren't stuck.10. Ethical handoffs create better referrals and reputations.Warren sees passing on well-documented, functional websites as a professional responsibility, not a missed opportunity.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textForget clicks. What your customers feel matters more than what they say or do. In this episode, Alexandra Gonzalez of Savvy Marketers joins us to explore how sentiment analysis, facial recognition, and biometric data can reveal the emotional truth behind your marketing. We dig into why 93% of communication happens beyond words, how to uncover hidden emotional signals in your campaigns, and how SMB marketers can apply neuroscience, not guesswork, to craft messages that actually resonate.You’ll hear why some big brands went viral for the wrong reasons, how to avoid tone-deaf campaigns, and why putting your customer at the center of your strategy is both smart and human-first. Whether you're working with a lean team or looking for smarter ways to validate messaging before launch, this conversation will shift how you think about “engagement.” The future of marketing isn’t more noise; it’s a deeper connection. Let’s talk about how AI can help you get there.Top Takeaways 1. 93% of customer emotion isn’t verbalFacial expressions, tone, and eye movement reveal more than words; if you're only listening to surveys, you're missing the real data.2. Sentiment ≠ AffinityHigh engagement can mean love or hate; what matters is why someone clicks, not just that they did.3. Human + AI = Smarter MarketingAI can detect micro-reactions at scale, but human marketers are essential for adding context, empathy, and cultural relevance.4. Bad campaigns cost millions, but they’re avoidable.Iconic failures like Pepsi and Bud Light show what happens when brands skip emotional testing and make assumptions about their audience.5. Pre-testing isn’t a luxury; it’s a filterUsing biometrics and AI sentiment tools before launch helps avoid wasted media spend and public backlash.6. Consumers don’t mind being asked they mind being misrepresentedPeople are more open to sharing when they feel seen and understood; skipping research creates resentment, not savings.7. The future isn’t AI vs. humans, it’s augmented intuitionGreat marketing combines machine precision with human insight to create real emotional resonance.8. Students and interns are untapped trendspotters.Younger teams bring emerging perspectives on cultural shifts that can fuel next-gen marketing relevance.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textIn this episode of the Human First AI Marketing podcast, host Mike Monague sits down with Zeke Camusio, founder of Data Speaks AI, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can unlock the true potential of their marketing data. With decades of experience in both marketing and data science, Zeke breaks down how AI-powered analytics can help SMBs cut through complexity, eliminate guesswork, and make smarter, ROI-driven decisions without replacing the human expertise that makes marketing truly impactful.Together, Mike and Zeke dive into the critical difference between accurate data and meaningful insights, the shortcomings of traditional attribution models, and the rising importance of accessible, real-time reporting. You'll hear about the evolving role of the marketer in an AI-assisted world, the value of human-in-the-loop systems, and how to build a culture that treats data as a tool for learning, not a weapon for judgment. If your business wants to work smarter, not harder, with its ad spend and analytics stack, this episode is your roadmap.Top Takeaways 1. AI amplifies, not replaces, human marketers.Zeke emphasizes that AI is best used to supercharge human decision-making, not to automate creativity or eliminate strategic thinking.2. Marketing data is often siloed and overwhelming.Most businesses use 12+ platforms, making it nearly impossible to manually analyze performance and optimize in real time without help.3. Your source of truth is your revenue, not your pixels.Relying on pixel-based attribution leads to misleading data; marketers must anchor insights to real financial outcomes.4. AI can monitor millions of data points and prioritize insights.Instead of drowning in dashboards, AI systems can filter noise and surface the 2–3 actions that will move the needle.5. Accurate, accessible data is a competitive advantage.Companies that make it easy for teams to access and understand data are 3x more likely to make better marketing decisions.6. The most valuable insights come from human-AI collaboration.Marketers must provide context and judgment while AI handles the heavy data lifting; this synergy leads to smarter actions.7. Multi-touch attribution models often lack scientific grounding.Tools that arbitrarily divide credit between platforms miss the nuanced, real-world customer journey that influences purchases.8. Great analytics needs a balance of platform, process, and people.Data Speaks AI uses this triad to structure its approach, delivering scalable, self-service analytics without losing strategic depth.9. Running experiments builds a healthy data culture.Teams should test hypotheses, measure impact, and learn from outcomes to foster a learning environment instead of a blame culture.10. The future of marketing is AI-connected, real-time, and assistive.Zeke predicts AI agents that continuously scan data, send alerts, and even take action, freeing marketers to focThe Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

Send a textAre you feeling pressure to “keep up with AI”? You’re not alone and you’re not crazy for being skeptical.In this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with former Google strategist and author of Infailable, Chris Hood, to talk about what AI can actually do for small businesses and what it can’t. Spoiler: it’s not as “autonomous” as everyone’s saying.We break down real ways you can use AI to grow your business, boost your content, and support your customers, without wasting time or money on tools that don’t serve your goals.This is the AI reality check every small business owner needs.Top Takeaways 1. There’s no such thing as autonomous AI.Many AI tools promise to “run things for you,” but they still need your guidance and input. Don’t expect them to work magic on their own.2. Don’t get fooled by marketing buzzwords.Just because something sounds futuristic (like “swarm intelligence” or “AI agents”) doesn’t mean it’s useful or necessary for your business.3. Different AIs do different jobs.Chatbots, content tools, prediction engines, and customer insights software all fall under “AI,” but they work in totally different ways. Learn what you actually need before you commit.4. Use AI to support your business, not replace your people.The smartest use of AI is to save time on repetitive tasks so your team can focus on serving customers, building relationships, and growing your brand.5. Start with your customer, not the tool.Before jumping into AI or automation, ask: “What’s my customer struggling with?” The right solution might be simpler—and cheaper—than you think.6. You don’t need a big “digital transformation” plan.Focus on quick wins. Test small improvements, one step at a time. That’s what Chris calls digital acceleration, and it’s a perfect fit for lean teams.7. Ask better questions before you buy new tools.A lot of AI products sound exciting, but don’t actually solve real problems. Be clear about the result you want first, then shop for tools.8. Human-first businesses build more trust and grow faster.AI is a great assistant, but people still want to buy from people. Your job is to use technology to enhance your customer experience, not complicate it.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com. No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation! Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.