Pipe Dream

B2B Better
  • 4.9 (11)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

The B2B marketing playbook you spent a decade perfecting just died. ChatGPT just killed it. When information is free and instant, what's left for B2B marketers to do? And how are the smartest companies adapting? Each week, Jason Bradwell profiles the B2B brands that stopped competing on information and started building media that actually differentiates. Personality-driven content, opinionated points of view, and strategies that work when 'helpful content' is no longer enough. From founders turning expertise into media empires, to marketing teams using shows as full-funnel growth engines, to sales leaders building audiences that outlive their products - these are the companies rewriting the rules in real time. This isn't another podcast about content strategy. It's about survival, differentiation, and what actually works in the post-AI marketing landscape. If you're a B2B marketer, founder, or GTM leader who senses the ground shifting - and you're looking for proof of what works now - this is your show. Hosted by Jason Bradwell, founder of B2B Better, an owned media marketing agency helping B2B companies build media that matters. New episodes... all the time. Learn more at http://www.b2b-better.com

  1. 19 HR AGO

    How to Scale B2B Creative Without Losing Your Soul | Dmitry Shamis, Brand Strategist & Former Head of Creative at HubSpot

    B2B marketing doesn't have to mean mediocre design, generic messaging, and content no one reads. In this episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Dmitry Shamis - former HubSpot creative leader and founder of OhSnap!, a brand systems agency helping marketers build creative that’s both scalable and standout. Dmitry gets brutally honest about channels - 95% of his business comes from LinkedIn. Not just frameworks and case studies, but gardening updates and dumb kid stories. Because you want to work with people you actually like. This sparks a great discussion about the line between being human and being cringey (looking at you, banana peel LinkedIn posts). Jason throws him a hypothetical: $50K to build an audience, what do you do? Dmitry's answer: invest in brand systems. When you have templates ready, you focus on what you say, not how it looks. That's the foundation for everything else. They circle back to AI. What are we catastrophizing? The "you wrote this with AI" police. If the work is good, it's good. The real danger? People getting lazy and outsourcing their thinking. Dmitry's mantra: never outsource your thinking. His desk is covered with notebooks because side thoughts never make it into transcripts. He comes to AI with a fully baked idea - he doesn't ask it what the story is. They close with Dmitry shouting out Jess Cook at Vector for building a personality-led brand without a massive budget - a perfect blueprint for scrappy B2B teams. If you're feeling pressure to create more, post more, be everywhere, this is your reality check. The future isn't volume - it's consistent quality that resonates. Whether startup or enterprise, Dmitry's principles on brand systems and intentional content will help you build smarter operations. Expect practical advice, real talk, and a little fun along the way. Whether you’re scaling a startup or running creative at an enterprise brand, this episode will help you build smarter, more sustainable content operations - and create marketing that actually moves people. 00:00 – Intro: Scaling creative without burnout 01:30 – What Dmitry learned running creative at HubSpot 03:00 – The rise of brand systems in B2B marketing 06:00 – Using AI to remove the busywork (not the thinking) 08:00 – Why most content fails (and what to do instead) 10:00 – How to make LinkedIn actually work for your brand 13:30 – Authenticity vs cringe: Finding your tone online 17:00 – Stop chasing impressions. Start tracking DMs. 21:00 – The forgotten power of adding a CTA to content 24:00 – How to stay creative with systems and structure 27:00 – AI fear factor: What should marketers *really* worry about? 30:00 – The antidote to lazy content in the AI age 33:00 – B2B brands and creators Dmitry admires 36:00 – Where to find Dmitry and more resources Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with Dmitry Shamis on LinkedIn Visit OhSnap! agency Visit The Brief Creative newsletter  What's Your Process? podcast on Spotify and Apple. More at B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

    23 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    How to Talk Cyber Risk So People Actually Listen | Jeffrey Wheatman, Cybersecurity Strategist at Black Kite

    What happens when cyber risk leaders stop speaking in acronyms and start telling stories? In this episode, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Jeffrey Wheatman, SVP of Cyber Risk Strategy at Black Kite and longtime cybersecurity evangelist, to talk about how to lead with problems, not products. From decades advising CISOs at Gartner to launching the panel show Third Party, Jeff shares what he's learned about building trust, breaking down "terminal uniqueness," and why vendors need to collaborate on educating the market instead of competing. If you care about cutting through noise in a saturated market, this conversation is packed with insights you can actually use. Jason and Jeff dive into why so many cybersecurity vendors fall into the trap of "terminal uniqueness" believing they're so different that they can't learn from anyone else. Jeff explains why this mindset kills effective marketing and how leading with the problem, not your product features, is the only way to break through. They explore why CISOs won't talk to sales teams (hint: it's not personal, it's about trust) and why the cybersecurity industry desperately needs more collaboration. Jeff makes a compelling case that we're at war with ransomware networks, yet vendors refuse to talk to each other about how to educate buyers. The conversation shifts to buyer awareness stages and where most marketing completely misses the mark. Jeff shares his framework for thinking about audiences beyond just problem-aware buyers, and why "hallway therapy" at conferences builds more trust than any keynote ever will. Jason asks Jeff how he'd spend $100K to build an audience (not a campaign), and Jeff's answer revolves around creating spaces for real conversation, which is exactly what led him to launch Third Party, a panel show tackling cybersecurity topics with both strategic and tactical depth. They wrap with Jeff's shoutouts to creators doing cyber content right and key takeaways for B2B marketers trying to build trust in technical markets. Whether you're a security vendor struggling to differentiate, a CISO trying to communicate risk to the board, or a B2B marketer in any technical space, Jeff's insights on problem-first storytelling and building genuine community will transform how you think about reaching your audience. This isn't about more content, it's about better conversations. Subscribe to catch every episode. Leave a review to help others discover the show. Share with security professionals or B2B marketers trying to break through technical noise. Follow B2B Better on LinkedIn for weekly insights. 00:00 - Introduction: Cutting through cyber noise 01:30 - Jeff's journey from Gartner to Black Kite 04:00 - Terminal uniqueness: the "we're different" trap 07:00 - Lead with problems, not product features 09:30 - Why CISOs avoid sales conversations 13:00 - We're at war: Why vendors need to collaborate 17:30 - Buyer awareness stages marketers miss 20:00 - Why competitors won't talk (and should) 24:00 - Hallway therapy beats keynotes 27:00 - The $100K audience-building question 30:00 - Launching Third Party panel show 35:00 - Strategic + tactical content together 38:00 - Cybersecurity creators doing it right 42:00 - Key takeaways for B2B marketers Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with Jeffrey Wheatman on LinkedIn Visit Black Kite podcast/resource hub Visit InfoSec World’s official site Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

    21 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    Stop Spamming and Start Connecting: Building a B2B Referral Engine | Mike Adams, Founder & CEO of introstars

    Level up your B2B marketing and build a brand that actually stands out: subscribe to the Pipe Dream podcast from B2B Better for narrative-driven B2B marketing strategy, media-led content ideas, and practical GTM frameworks from host Jason Bradwell. Tired of AI-generated spam clogging up your inbox? So is everyone else. In this episode, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Mike Adams - founder of Intro Stars and host of The Super Connectors podcast - to talk about why the future of B2B isn't more automation, it's better relationships. Mike shares how he's building a marketplace that turns warm introductions into real business growth, why "super connectors" are becoming the most valuable people in tech, and how any B2B company can launch their own referral program without it feeling sleazy or transactional. If you're tired of cold outreach that doesn't work and LinkedIn DMs that make you cringe, this conversation is for you. Jason and Mike start by tackling the elephant in the room - AI-driven lead generation is failing spectacularly. Everyone's inbox is flooded with personalised-but-not-really messages that feel increasingly desperate and spammy. Mike explains why this approach is burning bridges instead of building them, and what smart B2B companies are doing instead. They dive into the mechanics of building a warm referral program that actually works. Mike breaks down the key components: clear terms and conditions so everyone knows what they're signing up for, intro success fees that align incentives properly, and systems that make it easy for people to make quality introductions without it becoming a second job. The goal isn't to turn everyone into a salesperson - it's to create a structure where natural connectors can do what they already love doing, but with better outcomes for everyone. Mike also unpacks what makes someone a "super connector" and why these people are becoming increasingly valuable in B2B. It's not just about having a big network - it's about being someone who genuinely enjoys bringing people together and has built enough trust that when they make an introduction, both sides pay attention. Mike's even created a super connector certification badge for people who excel at this, which is becoming a real differentiator in the market. They explore how the "intro economy" is emerging as a counter-movement to the automation-everything trend. While AI can do a lot of things, it fundamentally can't build the kind of trust that comes from a warm introduction from someone you respect. Mike shares stories from his time at Zoom, Apple, and HP about how the best deals always came through relationships, not cold outreach. The conversation gets really practical when Mike walks through how to structure an introductions marketplace - what incentives work, how to track success, and how to keep quality high when you're trying to scale. He's learned a lot from building Intro Stars, and he's refreshingly honest about what's worked and what hasn't. Throughout the episode, both Jason and Mike keep coming back to a central theme: in an age where anyone can automate outreach at scale, the real competitive advantage is being genuinely human. Building relationships takes longer, but the ROI is dramatically better and the relationships actually last. If you're a B2B marketer watching your response rates plummet while your competitors keep cranking up the automation, this conversation offers a different path forward. Mike and Jason make a compelling case that the antidote to AI spam isn't better AI - it's better relationships. Whether you're at a startup trying to get your first customers or a scale-up looking to break into enterprise, the principles Mike shares about warm introductions and super connectors can transform how you think about growth.

    25 min

  4. TRAILER

    Pipe Dream - Trailer

    The B2B marketing playbook you spent a decade perfecting just died. ChatGPT just killed it. When information is free and instant, what's left for B2B marketers to do? And how are the smartest companies adapting? Each week, Jason Bradwell profiles the B2B brands that stopped competing on information and started building media that actually differentiates. Personality-driven content, opinionated points of view, and strategies that work when 'helpful content' is no longer enough. From founders turning expertise into media empires, to marketing teams using shows as full-funnel growth engines, to sales leaders building audiences that outlive their products - these are the companies rewriting the rules in real time. This isn't another podcast about content strategy. It's about survival, differentiation, and what actually works in the post-AI marketing landscape. If you're a B2B marketer, founder, or GTM leader who senses the ground shifting - and you're looking for proof of what works now - this is your show. Hosted by Jason Bradwell, founder of B2B Better, an owned media marketing agency helping B2B companies build media that matters. New episodes... all the time. Learn more at http://www.b2b-better.com

    2 min

  5. 09/09/2025

    How to Balance Inbound and Outbound for SaaS Growth w/ Emir Atli

    In this episode of B2B Better, I sit down with Emir, the co-founder and CEO of HockeyStack, to explore the strategies that fueled the company's meteoric rise from zero to 150 customers, including industry giants like ActiveCampaign. Emir shares how HockeyStack transitioned from a product analytics tool to a powerhouse in B2B marketing, embracing pipeline generation as a company-wide mission. We discuss the evolution from inbound-led growth to the strategic introduction of outbound tactics, the challenges of balancing these approaches, and the importance of fostering a collaborative culture across teams. Whether you're a SaaS founder, a marketer, or just looking for actionable insights on scaling, this conversation is packed with value. We also cover his view on how LinkedIn influencer marketing is evolving—and why Emir thinks it might soon face diminishing returns. Plus, you'll hear expert advice on outbound campaigns from Rob at Sopro - from how to build and balance them against an inbound programme. Episode Highlights Emir shares the origins of HockeyStack and how it identified the need to help companies understand customer conversion journeys.From inbound to outbound: what prompted HockeyStack to expand its marketing playbook.How HockeyStack integrates pipeline generation into every department and creates a company-wide mission.Why Emir believes influencer marketing's golden age might be nearing its end.Rob from Sopro breaks down the metrics that matter most in outbound campaigns. Exclusive Offer for B2B Better Listeners Quick reminder that all B2B Better listeners are eligible to receive double the number of outreach credits for their first outreach campaign with Sopro.  Use them to experiment with some new messaging, try and open up a new market outside your network, or simply double your chances of closing more deals with your ideal customer.  Visit sopro.io/b2b-better-offer to find out more.

    25 min

  6. 02/09/2025

    How to Think About Marketing in a HYPER Niche Market

    In this episode, I speak with Frans Swarttouw, Founder of GETTING THE MARKET I was really interested in speaking to Frans as a fellow owner of a creative services business - and one that is so niche in its target market to boot. How does the company differentiate from more generic, we do all things for all people, type agencies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being so laser-focused on a specific niche? And when you have become the big fish in a small pond - what comes next? How do you expand in a meaningful and sustainable way? To answer these questions, Frans shared his insights on developing a personalised email campaign targeting new geographies and how he approaches validating a prospecting ‘hypothesis’ through A/B testing. You can visit the GETTING THE MARKET website here: https://gettingthemarket.com/ — Big thanks to Sopro for sponsoring this week’s episode of B2B Better. They just published "The State of Prospecting 2024" - a bumper report that offers data-backed advice on optimizing outreach. You can check it out by visiting this link.  https://sopro.io/b2b-better/

    31 min

  7. 02/09/2025

    How to Build a High-Impact Marketing Strategy Through Culture, Social Media, and Measurement w/ Alina Vandenberghe

    In this episode of B2B Better, I sit down with Alina Vandenberghe, co-founder of Chili Piper, to dive deep into the world of B2B marketing, company culture, and how to strategically align your team for maximum impact. Alina shares her unique approach to building a thriving company culture, harnessing employee advocacy on social media, and the bold tactics that set Chili Piper apart—like displaying real-time ROI at events. We also explore Alina’s data-driven methods for generating qualified leads, measuring true impact beyond vanity metrics, and creating a marketing strategy with limited resources that scales sustainably. To top it off, Vic from Sopro joins us with insights on bridging the gap between sales and marketing for seamless success. Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or just looking to understand the power of alignment and strategy, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways on driving measurable growth. Links & Resources: Alina Vandenberghe on LinkedInVictoria Heyward on LinkedIn Exclusive Offer for B2B Better Listeners Quick reminder that all B2B Better listeners are eligible to receive double the number of outreach credits for their first outreach campaign with Sopro.  Use them to experiment with some new messaging, try and open up a new market outside your network, or simply double your chances of closing more deals with your ideal customer.  Visit sopro.io/b2b-better-offer to find out more.

    29 min

  8. 26/08/2025

    How To Reimagine Marketing in Legacy Industries (Through Media) w/ Neil Weaver

    Me and Neil Weaver - Content Creator and Editor at Modo Energy - dive into the challenges and strategies of modernising marketing in industries traditionally resistant to change. We talk about Modo's approach to content marketing, specifically its play into building a media brand. Key discussions include: The intersection of sales and marketing at Modo and the collaborative effort to produce customer-centric content.The effectiveness of video content and podcasts in storytelling and audience engagement.Challenges in measuring content marketing success and aligning with business objectives.Modo's future plans, including a rebranding effort and global expansion, while maintaining its unique position in the energy sector. ** Have you thought about launching a podcast for your brand but aren't sure where to start? Book 60 minutes with me to brainstorm some ideas and get practical advice on how to create a show your customers care about. Totally free. Drop me an email at jason@b2b-better.com or book a time to chat with me using this link: https://www.b2b-better.com/podcast-assessment You can also follow me on LinkedIn. Head over here: linkedin.com/in/jasonbradwell

    38 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The B2B marketing playbook you spent a decade perfecting just died. ChatGPT just killed it. When information is free and instant, what's left for B2B marketers to do? And how are the smartest companies adapting? Each week, Jason Bradwell profiles the B2B brands that stopped competing on information and started building media that actually differentiates. Personality-driven content, opinionated points of view, and strategies that work when 'helpful content' is no longer enough. From founders turning expertise into media empires, to marketing teams using shows as full-funnel growth engines, to sales leaders building audiences that outlive their products - these are the companies rewriting the rules in real time. This isn't another podcast about content strategy. It's about survival, differentiation, and what actually works in the post-AI marketing landscape. If you're a B2B marketer, founder, or GTM leader who senses the ground shifting - and you're looking for proof of what works now - this is your show. Hosted by Jason Bradwell, founder of B2B Better, an owned media marketing agency helping B2B companies build media that matters. New episodes... all the time. Learn more at http://www.b2b-better.com

Information

  • Creator
    B2B Better
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 B2B Better
  • Show Website
    Pipe Dream