Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Jason Swenk
Growing an agency is very difficult, and you might feel unclear what to do next in order to grow and scale your agency. The Smart Agency Masterclass is a weekly podcast for agencies that are wanting to grow faster. We interview amazing guests from all over the world that have the experience of running successful businesses, and will provide you the insights you need. Our podcast is just over 3 years old, and have reached more than a half million listeners in 42 countries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 1, 2026 • 23min
Can AI Help Your Agency Win Fortune 10 Clients Instead of Replacing Your Team? With Gilad Bechar | Ep #884
Gilad Bechar, founder and CEO of Moburst and mobile marketing veteran, explains how he embedded AI across a 12-year agency to boost hiring and client value. He discusses building an AI leadership structure, creating AI champions and teams, and using agents to automate work. He also covers how AI helped win Fortune 10 clients and reframing AI as a career transformation.
Feb 25, 2026 • 26min
Built for Freedom. How to Create a Lifestyle Agency That Doesn't Burn You Out with Marissa Rosen | Ep #883
Marissa Rosen, founder of Climate Social, runs a decade-old micro-agency focused on climate action, storytelling, and social media. She explains designing a lifestyle-first agency that protects time and avoids burnout. Short rules, partner-driven work, and clear boundaries keep things sustainable. They also discuss adapting roles and using AI while keeping human-to-human social strategy central.
Feb 22, 2026 • 23min
Is AI Bad for SEO Agencies or Their Biggest Advantage? With David Arato | Ep #882
David Arato, founder of Lexicon Legal Content with 15+ years in SEO and millions of legal-words produced monthly. He explains how AI exposed weak agencies and became an efficiency tool. They discuss why generic AI content lacks value, how SEO and AI-driven search will merge, and practical ways to scale content production while preserving authenticity and EEAT.
Feb 18, 2026 • 30min
Stop Building a Job: How to Build an Agency That Supports Your Life with Brian Franks | Ep #881
Brian Franks, founder of Where Eagles Dare and former VP of Creative at American Eagle, shares his journey from retail creative leader to premium branding agency founder. He talks about building a boutique, resilient agency, winning big-brand work with specialist offers, staying scrappy with a small senior team, and how network, systems, and delegation kept the business alive after a sudden health crisis.
Feb 15, 2026 • 28min
Surviving a 70% Loss In Agency Revenue. From Panic to Purpose with Melany Robinson | Ep #880
Melany Robinson, founder of Sprout House and leader who rebuilt a 30-person agency after losing 70% of revenue, shares a raw leadership story. She discusses transparent team cuts and shared sacrifice. She explains why keeping C players is costly, how retreats and rituals shape culture, and the shift from managing to giving clarity.
Feb 11, 2026 • 26min
Want to Sell Your Agency? Start by Firing Yourself with Taylor McMaster | Ep #879
Taylor McMaster, former owner of Dot & Company who built and sold a productized agency, explains designing a business to run without her. She discusses deciding early to build for sale. She covers hiring a people manager first, avoiding the founder-led sales trap, connecting with the right buyer, and the surprising diligence and transition process.
Feb 8, 2026 • 24min
#1 Overlooked Exit Strategy: Selling Your Agency to a Team Member with Natalie Henley | Ep #878
Natalie Henley, CEO of Volume Nine and former employee-turned-owner with deep SEO and agency leadership experience. She recounts rising through the ranks, buying the agency via a creative insider deal, and structuring owner-carry financing. Short, practical stories cover trust-based valuation, grooming successors, preserving team stability, and surviving major industry shocks like Google updates and COVID.
Feb 4, 2026 • 24min
Pricing Should Scare You: How to Stop Clients from Undervaluing Your Agency's Work with Alicia Disantis | Ep #877
Alicia Disantis, owner and creative director of 38th & Kip Studio with 15 years of branding and design experience, shares her accidental path from recession-era startup to confident pricer. She discusses why pricing should feel scary. She explains how to educate clients who undervalue design. She outlines practical thought leadership and building a distinct agency voice.
Feb 1, 2026 • 26min
From Burnout to Boundaries. Designing an Agency That Energizes You with Ingrid Schneider | Ep #876
Ingrid Schneider, founder of Stay In Your Lane and Train In Your Lane, is a fractional CMO and AI trainer for teams like Ben & Jerry's. She talks about moving from survival pricing to valuing your work. She explains boundaries and designing an agency that energizes you. She covers human-first management, hiring for grit, and a practical learn-apply-commit approach to AI adoption.
Jan 28, 2026 • 19min
Can You Trust AI With Your Marketing Data or Is It Lying to You? With Scott Desgrosseilliers | Ep #875
Scott Desgrosseilliers, founder and CEO of Wicked Reports and attribution expert for e-commerce brands, discusses AI’s confident but flawed take on marketing data. He covers why AI misreads time and intention, the need to label campaign goals, and his Five Forces framework for cleaner attribution. Expect practical talk on aligning measurement, scoreboards, and decision ranges for better marketing choices.
