Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

Send a textIf you're building or thinking about building a membership community, this episode will change the way you approach it. Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of The Membership Lab, joins Mike Montague for a human-first conversation on what really makes membership communities thrive. Spoiler: it's not content volume or fancy platforms; it's alignment, authenticity, and intentional activation. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or SMB marketing director, you'll walk away with fresh insights on how to turn passive sign-ups into active advocates.Together, Nathalie and Mike unpack how to use AI as an accelerator, not a replacement. You'll learn how to personalize onboarding, increase engagement through smart automation, and create a community your members actually want to show up for. Discover how to combine AI with emotional intelligence to scale your impact without burning out. This one’s for the builders, the brand leaders, and the brave few ready to lead from the heart.Key Takeaways 1. Don’t start a community if you don’t want to run one.Many communities fail because they’re built for scale, not passion; you need genuine energy behind your offer to sustain it long-term.2. AI should accelerate decisions, not replace them.AI works best when it helps members make quicker, more confident choices, not when it tries to be the coach or consultant.3. Excitement and alignment beat flashy tools.Before choosing tech or content models, make sure your offer aligns with your own goals and actually solves a meaningful problem for your members.4. Onboarding is where engagement begins.Use the first moments in your membership to create personalized experiences based on members' goals, so they feel seen and supported from day one.5. Smaller, paid communities often perform better than large, free ones.When people pay, they pay attention; smaller, focused groups with skin in the game tend to engage more deeply and consistently.6. AI-enhanced prompts can accelerate content creation and confidence.From email writing to sales roleplay, AI can reduce the friction that keeps your members stuck, while giving them a starting point to move forward faster.7. If you don’t remind people why they joined, they’ll forget.Behavioral nudges, regular check-ins, and contextual content help members stay connected to their own “why” inside your program.8. Ask members what they want, then build with them.Co-creation isn’t a gimmicThe 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 Greg Wasserman, a self-proclaimed "relationship broker," to explore how AI is changing the way we build trust, make introductions, and grow our businesses. They unpack why automation isn’t enough, how referrals and warm intros still outperform cold leads, and why understanding context beats simply generating content. If you're tired of playing the algorithm game, this is your permission slip to market more humanly.Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or sales leader, you’ll walk away with real strategies for blending AI tools with emotional intelligence. Discover how to save time without losing connection, how podcasting builds community (not just content), and how curating meaningful relationships will be your biggest differentiator in 2025 and beyond. This episode is for anyone who believes that smarter marketing starts with stronger relationships.Top Takeaways1. Warm intros are still the highest-converting leads.AI can match people, but a personal introduction builds instant trust and shortens the sales cycle.2. AI lacks human context.Tools can analyze data, but they don’t understand personalities, goals, or the nuances behind a real connection.3. Automation should free up time for connection, not replace it.Use AI to handle repetitive tasks so you can spend more time building meaningful relationships.4. Podcasting builds community, not just content.When paired with AI tools like CastMagic, podcast interviews can be repurposed into relationship-nurturing content at scale.5. Spam is at an all-time high, and buyers are tuning out.In a world flooded with AI-generated messages, human-first outreach is how you stand out.6. Referrals from people who know both parties are 10x more valuable.A true relationship broker adds value by curating connections, not just making introductions.7. Influencers work because they feel human.The rise of influencer marketing proves people still buy from people they know, like, and trust, even at scale.8. Community beats cold outreach.Creating connection-rich environments (virtual or in-person) leads to more trust, collaboration, and long-term business.9. The future of sales is back to basics.AI won’t replace the need for relationship-building; it will just expose who’s doing it poorly.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 textWhat makes a story resonate?Tim Kalinowski, founder of Lore Creative, joins Mike Montague to unpack the storytelling strategies that actually connect with real people and how SMBs can use AI to amplify them without losing the human heartbeat of their brand. From five-star reviews as a narrative starting point to the “aha moments” that trigger buyer action, this episode explores how modern tools like AI can help you find your story, but not tell it for you.You’ll hear how to test story arcs with AI, the psychology behind memorable content, and why Tim believes brand storytelling still drives the best results in a world obsessed with quick content and clickbait. If you're a small business owner or marketing director trying to make your content feel more authentic, more scalable, and more effective, this conversation will change how you see both AI and storytelling. CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome Mike introduces Tim Kalinowski, founder of Lore Creative, and sets the stage for the AI + storytelling conversation.01:00 – The Truth About AI and Storytelling Tim explains why AI can help tell a story, but it can’t create the experience that makes it human.02:00 – The “Five-Star Review” Method How asking clients to describe a five-star review reveals your real brand narrative.03:30 – Testing Stories with AI Tim shares how Lore uses AI to test story resonance, ad performance, and audience fit—without losing authenticity.04:45 – Creating “Aha” and “Hell Yes” Moments The psychology behind stories that instantly make customers want to act.06:00 – Finding Your Brand’s Core Experience Why your story needs to be rooted in lived moments to feel real—and how to capture them.07:00 – The Evolution of Storytelling Formats From TikTok to long-form podcasts: how the medium is shifting, but the fundamentals stay the same.08:30 – Scaling Creative Output with AI Tools The difference between using AI as a crutch vs. a force multiplier for creative teams.10:00 – The Power of Personalization in Modern Storytelling How AI allows brands to tell many versions of the same story—to the right person, at the right time.12:00 – The Future of Story-Driven Marketing Tim and Mike explore where AI-driven creative is heading, and why human-first brands will win the long game.14:00 – Building Content Ecosystems Around Stories How one great conversation or customer quote can generate weeks of content across formats and platforms.15:30 – Final Thoughts: Creativity, Connection & Clarity Why marketers need to think like mentors, not machines—and how to turn experience into engagement.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 textMost marketing teams pour time, money, and AI tools into tactics, email sequences, content engines, and funnel hacks without realizing their core offer is the real problem. In this episode, Mike Montague sits down with Jessica Miller, award-winning host of It’s Your Offer, to unpack how to create "Hell Yes" offers that act as the most profitable lever in your business, especially under $1M in revenue. Together, they break down the myths of overcomplication, the pitfalls of copycat offers, and why your marketing will never convert if your offer isn’t magnetic.Whether you’re a CMO trying to optimize pipeline efficiency or a founder chasing product-market fit, this conversation is your shortcut to clarity. You’ll learn how to tap into what you actually want to sell, why most buyers decide without needing a 27-scroll landing page, and how to use AI to support, not replace, your human-first instincts. Get ready to rethink how your best offer finds your best buyer.CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: What is a “Hell Yes” Offer?01:30 – Most businesses overcomplicate their offers03:00 – Why hard work ≠ profits (and what it does)05:00 – The leaky funnel problem07:15 – How to know when you’ve found a Hell Yes Offer09:00 – Energy, not just strategy, drives conversion10:45 – Don’t copy the market, create from what lights you up13:00 – AI can’t fix a broken offer, but it can multiply a working one15:30 – Offer validation tips: talk to real people17:00 – The role of speed, simplicity, and specificity in offer design19:30 – Human-first AI marketing tips for CMOs22:00 – Final thoughts: Where to start with offer optimizationThe 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 interviews Eric Eden, CMO at Workforce and host of the Remarkable Marketing Podcast, about how CROs and B2B leaders can cut through the noise of vanity metrics, bots, and fake engagement, and use AI to scale trust, not just clicks.Eric shares how he uses over 25 AI tools to create a full podcasting and content engine and why platforms like LinkedIn are broken for business growth. The conversation explores how to build verified communities, use AI like a director (not a robot), and create marketing that actually resonates with real humans.This episode is a masterclass for CROs and marketers ready to multiply output without losing their voice.CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: Why Human-First Still Matters01:45 – The Problem with Bot-Driven Platforms04:30 – Why TikTok and LinkedIn Metrics Are Misleading06:15 – Real Networking vs. Fake Virality08:30 – What Makes Workforce Different (No Bots, No Ads)11:00 – Why Social Platforms Penalize Real Creators13:00 – The Reality of “1 Billion Users” on LinkedIn14:30 – How Eric Uses 25 AI Tools to Create 200+ Podcasts17:30 – Using AI Like a Movie Director: Prompting with Precision20:00 – Connecting Your AI Stack for Smarter Workflows22:45 – Why Building Trust Beats Building Reach24:00 – Final Thoughts: Focus on Humans, Use AI to Scale YouThe 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 textThe Unified Marketing Playbook CMOs Shouldn't IgnoreIn this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Badri Veera and John Karl from Crigloo to explore how CMOs and marketing leaders can stop managing disjointed channels and start orchestrating unified campaigns with contextual AI.They dive into how real-time budget optimization, persona-based targeting, and cross-channel orchestration are transforming how marketing teams work—without replacing human creativity. You’ll learn why AI should be your assistant, not your boss, and how to unlock new levels of performance without adding headcount.Whether you're scaling a lean team or optimizing enterprise campaigns, this conversation brings practical insights on how to drive smarter growth, faster.CHAPTERS01:30 – What Human-First AI Actually Means for Marketers03:00 – AI as a Marketing Teammate, Not a Replacement05:45 – Why Siloed Campaigns Are Costing You More Than You Think07:00 – How AI Unifies Channels into One Strategy08:30 – The Orchestra Metaphor: Orchestrating Marketing Like Music10:00 – Dynamic Budget Allocation in Real Time12:15 – Persona-Based Ads and Unified Campaigns14:30 – What Contextual AI Means (and Why It’s Powerful)16:00 – RAG Explained: Feeding Your AI the Right Context17:45 – How Non-Technical Teams Can Use AI Effectively20:00 – Favorite AI Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, and Beyond22:00 – Final Thoughts on Empowering Creativity with AI24:00 – Where CMOs Should Start With AIThe 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 Michael Buckbee, founder of Knowatoa, to explore how the rise of AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity is reshaping the rules of discoverability. Michael challenges the idea that SEO is dead and instead reframes it as evolving—fast. The two dig into the shift from keyword rankings to AI-generated answers, the new role of content in driving buying decisions, and how companies can start showing up in AI tools that are replacing traditional search behavior.Whether you're a CMO looking for the next lead gen edge or a marketer trying to future-proof your content strategy, this episode offers a clear, human-first roadmap. You'll learn why the most important answers about your brand shouldn't be hidden behind forms, how to publish content AI can actually read and recommend, and why challenger brands have more opportunity than ever to outsmart big players. If your search strategy still begins and ends with Google, it’s time for an upgrade.Chapter01:15 – What Knowatoa Does and the AI Search Landscape  02:45 – Is SEO Dead or Just Changing?  05:30 – How Google’s AI Overviews Are Reshaping Search  07:20 – Why Traditional Content No Longer Wins in AI  09:00 – The Buyer Journey Is Still Happening—Just in AI  11:30 – How Challenger Brands Can Beat Big Companies in AI  13:15 – What to Publish: Comparison Guides, FAQs, & More  15:00 – SEO for ChatGPT: What the LLMs Are Looking For  17:00 – Why Blocking Bots Could Be Costing You Visibility  18:45 – The Biscuits Framework & Ranking in AI Search  21:30 – This Is the Cheapest AI Will Ever Be  24:00 – Action Steps for B2B Marketers  26:00 – Outro & Where to Learn MoreThe 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 textLisa Oda, founder of HiveStir and Director of AI at Infinite Marketing, explores how AI is transforming modern marketing practices. Mike and Lisa dive into practical applications, including content repurposing, funnel optimization, prompt engineering, and persona-driven strategies. They also discuss how to effectively stack AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gamma to elevate marketing performance. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the buzz around AI or unsure of its true value, this episode will provide you with a clear and actionable understanding of how AI can help marketers work faster, sharper, and more effectively to deliver exceptional results.CHAPTERS01:02 – What “Human-First” Means in AI Marketing Lisa defines what it means to keep marketing human-centric, even as AI tools become more powerful.02:58 – The Rise of AI in Marketing Discussion about how marketers are the leading adopters of AI, and how good marketers are using AI as an “Iron Man suit,” not a shortcut.05:03 – The Power of Thoughtful AI Collaboration Why slowing down and thoughtfully integrating AI tools can actually accelerate better outcomes.07:00 – Task-Based Thinking: AI vs. Human Roles Lisa discusses her past work on the “Human Approach to AI” and how marketers should choose tasks wisely when integrating AI.09:03 – Lisa’s Favorite AI Tools & Workflow Hacks A walkthrough of Lisa’s toolstack—Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gamma—and how she blends them to create effective workflows.11:19 – Collaborating with AI as a ‘We’ Why marketers should see AI tools as collaborators, not one-click solutions.12:19 – AI in Content Repurposing and Presentation Design How AI tools like Zoom, Gamma, and ChatGPT reduce post-production time and boost creative efficiency.14:30 – Staying Focused: AI as a Clarity Amplifier Lisa explains how AI helps prioritize messages and skip time-consuming design choices.16:29 – Cross-Platform AI Stack Tactics Mike and Lisa share how they use AI for image generation, website copy, social scheduling, and more.18:23 – The New SEO? AI Optimization & Discovery Channels An in-depth look at SEO in the age of AI, attribution, and the future of discoverability.22:37 – Marketing Funnel Optimization with AI Lisa shares how AI can support marketers across every stage—from awareness to conversion.25:56 – Persona Simulations and Real-Time Feedback Using ChatGPT personas to get “focus group” style feedback and refine content strategy.28:12 – Short-Term Strategies for 2025 Where marketers should spend time this year: analytics, personalization, and ethical automation.30:26 – Future-Gazing: AI, Robots, and Breakfast? A fun, futuristic look at where marketing—and life—might go with increasingly human-like AI.The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you 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 textWhat if your AI could do more than just answer questions? In this episode, Måns Näsman shares a powerful new vision of “dualistic AI,” where multiple humans and AI agents collaborate in real time to solve bigger problems, scale communication, and build startups faster than ever before. Instead of relying on narrow, task-based AI tools, Måns explores how entrepreneurs and small teams can use collective intelligence to find customers, manage projects, and connect with entire ecosystems of people through one intelligent interface.We talk about what this shift means for marketers, startup founders, civic organizations, and anyone looking to make a bigger impact with fewer resources. From AI-powered team building to real-time leadership updates and automated outreach that feels human, this conversation will challenge how you think about AI. If you’re ready to amplify your vision without losing the human connection, this one’s for you.00:00 – Welcome & Human-First Foundations Introducing Måns and the big question: What if AI could collaborate like humans?01:30 – Dualistic vs. Individualistic AI Why most AI tools are too narrow—and how dualistic AI connects people, not just tasks.03:00 – How Multi-Agent AI Works in Practice Using AI as your CRM, project manager, and recruiter—at the same time.05:30 – Scaling Leadership and Culture with AI How AI can bridge the communication gap between leaders and teams daily, not yearly.07:00 – What’s Exciting in AI Right Now? From AI job-hunters to massive SaaS growth in EdTech—entrepreneurial trends in 2025.08:45 – Marketing + AI = Better Timing and Targeting Matching messages with interest signals, and letting AI do outreach that feels human.10:15 – AI for Governments, Communities & the Underserved Using collective intelligence to solve big problems, not just sell more widgets.12:00 – The Future of Trust, Teamwork, and AI Validation Why the next leap in AI is about managing truth, trust, and collaboration at scale.13:30 – Final Thoughts: What SMBs Should Be Thinking About Now Don't wait for big tech. Start building smarter AI systems that scale your human voiceThe 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 textMarketing legend John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing brings his experience and unique insights, unraveling the complex relationship between traditional marketing, the human touch, and the rise of AI technology. We explore how AI is revolutionizing marketing strategies while underscoring the timeless value of leadership and strategic insight. John's trademark metaphor of duct tape—simple yet effective—offers a compelling contrast to the transient nature of AI advancements and an increasingly automated world.We examine how businesses can maintain their unique identities amidst the sweeping influence of AI. With content saturation and decision-making increasingly self-directed, understanding buyer behavior and fostering genuine connections have never been more critical. We discuss the necessity of strong branding and trust, especially in industries where complex decisions require collaboration. John shares strategies for cutting through the digital noise with authenticity and real value, stressing the importance of foundational relationship-building in a crowded market.We also touch on the dynamics of family businesses as John's daughter takes the reins as CEO, blending structure with creativity. The episode concludes with thoughts on the rapid pace of technological advancements and the need for companies to adapt swiftly to ensure they remain distinct and connected to their core clients.(00:06) AI and Duct Tape Marketing Integration(14:27) Future Marketing Strategies and AI(22:27) The Future of Marketing and AI(30:04) Standing Out in the AI EraThe 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.