Pipe Dream

B2B Better

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. Stop Treating Your Podcast Like a Vanity Project | Jason Bradwell, Founder of B2B Better and Host of Pipe Dream Podcast

    17 HR AGO

    Stop Treating Your Podcast Like a Vanity Project | Jason Bradwell, Founder of B2B Better and Host of Pipe Dream Podcast

    Most B2B podcasts fail because they skip strategy and jump straight to recording. In this solo episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell breaks down B2B Better’s Podcast to Pipeline Framework, a six-step system designed to turn a podcast from a “nice content idea” into a revenue-generating GTM asset. Jason’s core point is that marketing strategy matters more than microphones. The goal isn’t to ship episodes, it’s to create commercial momentum. That’s why B2B Better positions itself as a podcast marketing agency, not just a production company: a podcast should drive pipeline, create revenue, and ultimately turn a profit. Anything else becomes a vanity project that dies after a handful of episodes. From there, he walks through the six phases: 1) Strategy development (the most skipped step). Instead of asking what gear to buy, brands should define what success looks like, who the audience is, and what messages matter. Jason runs strategy workshops with stakeholders across marketing, sales, product, and leadership to build a “show blueprint” that clarifies the what/why/who/how and prevents random feedback from derailing things later. 2) Funnel mapping. Most companies treat podcasts as top-of-funnel awareness only, but Jason argues podcasts can move buyers through awareness, consideration, evaluation, and conversion when you map content intentionally. He introduces B2B Better’s distribution grid to align segments and content to different buyer awareness stages and distribution paths. 3) Pre-production. This is the setup work that makes recording smooth: scripting, guest booking and research, and establishing visual/audio treatments so the show feels consistent and intentional. 4) Creative treatment. Here Jason draws a key distinction: production is editing raw footage into a finished episode, while producing is editorial oversight and strategic control to ensure the episode hits the right messages. Many brands only buy production, but what they really need is a producer who can guide the conversation and keep the content aligned to the goal. 5) Integrated campaigns. Distribution and promotion shouldn’t be “repurpose one episode into 100 assets.” Jason pushes back on that trend because it often creates redundant content that doesn’t move the needle. Distribution has to match the objective: brand awareness might mean short clips plus paid spend; ABM might mean sales enablement and targeted account plays. 6) Reporting and optimisation. A show isn’t static. Someone needs to review performance at the episode, channel, and show level with what’s working, what isn’t, and what market feedback is signaling and then feed that back into strategy (stay the course, pivot, or double down). If you’re launching a B2B podcast or already have one that feels like it’s going nowhere, Jason’s framework is a practical way to treat podcasting like the GTM asset it should be, align every phase to commercial outcomes, and avoid the “six episodes then abandon it” trap. 00:00 - Introduction: From concept to commercial results 01:30 - Why B2B Better is a podcast marketing agency 03:00 - Phase 1: Strategy development and the show blueprint 06:00 - Phase 2: Funnel mapping and the distribution grid 09:00 - Phase 3: Pre-production essentials 11:00 - Phase 4: Creative treatment - producing vs production 14:00 - Phase 5: Integrated campaigns and smart distribution 17:00 - Phase 6: Reporting and optimisation 20:00 - How to get started with B2B Better Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Check out Jason’s several tools in building guest lists: HubSpot CRM Clay Apollo Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

    13 min
  2. How to Book Dream Podcast Guests Without Being Salesy | Jason Bradwell, Founder of B2B Better and Host of Pipe Dream Podcast

    1 DAY AGO

    How to Book Dream Podcast Guests Without Being Salesy | Jason Bradwell, Founder of B2B Better and Host of Pipe Dream Podcast

    Want to book amazing podcast guests that actually match your ICP? In this solo episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell shares his playbook for finding and booking ideal guests without turning the interview into a thinly veiled sales pitch. Jason starts with the elephant in the room: yes, you can invite guests who are also potential customers, but you cannot Trojan horse them. If you bring someone on the show and pitch them live, you create a bad experience for the guest, your audience, and your reputation. The rule is simple: content-first, always. Focus on a great conversation and a genuine value exchange, then let the relationship deepen naturally over time. Next, he breaks down where to find great guests. First: your immediate network. Start with executives, employees, customers, partners, and trusted connections, people who already know you and will say yes faster. Those first few episodes build credibility and social proof, which makes outreach to strangers dramatically easier. Second: your CRM. Jason recommends targeting lapsed prospects accounts you haven’t engaged with in weeks or months and using the podcast as a re-engagement mechanism. If you run an ABM strategy, this is especially powerful: you can target high-fit accounts, invite the right people, and start meaningful conversations without a sales agenda. From there, Jason walks through prospecting tools. LinkedIn Sales Navigator helps with demographic and firmographic targeting, and tools like Apollo and Clay can help you build precise guest lists at scale. But the sleeper channels are Slack communities and conference speaker lists. In industry-specific Slack groups, people don’t ignore direct notifications the way they do email or LinkedIn DMs. Jason notes content-first outreach can reach 60–70% response rates in the right communities. And conference speakers are already primed to share expertise, so their speaking topic becomes an easy hook to start the conversation. Once you’ve built your target list, Jason outlines a two-step outreach sequence. Message one is intentionally short: introduce the show, explain why you’re reaching out to them, and ask if they’d like more details, no episode pitch, no long explanation. Message two comes after they’ve shown interest: reinforce why it’s worth their time (downloads, guest lineup, maybe even payment) and share a personalised episode angle based on their experience, proving it’s a real content opportunity, not random outreach. 00:00 - Introduction: Finding and booking dream guests 01:00 - The Trojan horse trap: content-first always 02:30 - Where to find guests: start with your network 04:00 - Mining your CRM for lapsed prospects 05:30 - Using LinkedIn, Apollo, and Clay for targeting 07:00 - Sleeper channels: Slack communities and speaker lists 09:00 - The two-message outreach sequence 11:30 - Message one: gauge interest only 12:30 - Message two: personalise and reinforce value 14:00 - How to get 60-70% response rates Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Check out several tools in building guest lists: HubSpot CRM Clay Apollo Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

    8 min
  3. How AlleyOop Scaled to 1.2M LinkedIn Followers And Turned It Into Revenue | Gabe Lullo, CEO of AlleyOop

    2 DAYS AGO

    How AlleyOop Scaled to 1.2M LinkedIn Followers And Turned It Into Revenue | Gabe Lullo, CEO of AlleyOop

    Most companies treat LinkedIn like a megaphone. AlleyOop turned it into a reality show. In this episode, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Gabe Lullo, CEO of AlleyOop, to unpack how his sales development agency scaled from 25,000 to over 1.2 million LinkedIn followers by empowering employees to build their personal brands, not pushing a corporate page. Gabe breaks down the playbook: hiring people who want to be on camera, building an in-house media team, running internal podcasts that never get published, and tying content performance directly to commission. This isn't theory, it's a proven system filling enterprise calendars with qualified meetings. Jason and Gabe dive into AlleyOop's 16-year evolution from traditional outbound to organic LinkedIn content. The real insight? Gabe stopped caring about the company page and focused entirely on employee personal brands. They aggregated all employee profiles (originally 25K followers, now 1.2M) and turned their team into documentary subjects. Employees aren't forced to post, but those who participate get full support: professional video editing, copywriting, and a content calendar. Gabe walks through hiring - candidates now submit sample social posts during interviews and how they set people up for success. They run internal podcast-style interviews, chop them into posts, send them to copywriters for frameworks, then hand them back to employees to personalise. The feedback loop is built around incentives. Sellers get more leads (more commission). Recruiters attract more candidates (more placements, more money). Everyone's financially tied to content performance, so buy-in is organic. Gabe measures success not just by impressions, but by whether prospects recognise team members before demos, cutting 60% of the typical sales pitch. Jason asks about the CEO fear: won't employees get poached if we build their brands? Gabe's answer: people leave anyway. AlleyOop actually built a business model around clients hiring their reps and gets paid when it happens. Companies trying to poach probably aren't investing in teams like AlleyOop does, so culture becomes retention. Looking to 2026, Gabe's taking the human-first approach from the feed into DMs. LinkedIn's becoming the new email inbox (buried in automation), so they're building tools for real one-on-one conversations that convert faster. If you're trying to activate your team on LinkedIn without it feeling forced, this episode is your blueprint. Gabe proves you can build a scalable, revenue-driving content engine by supporting people instead of controlling them. Whether you're in sales development, professional services, or any people-first business, these principles will transform how you think about employee advocacy. 00:00 - Introduction: BDR as a service and people-first growth 02:00 - AlleyOop's 16-year evolution and go-to-market 04:30 - Doubling down on LinkedIn content 3-4 years ago 07:00 - From 25K to 1.2M followers: the aggregation strategy 10:00 - Hiring for content: asking candidates for sample posts 13:00 - Setting employees up for success: the in-house media team 16:00 - Internal podcasts, videographers, and copywriters 19:00 - Feedback loops: 70/30 business vs personal content 22:00 - Tying content to commission: financial buy-in 25:00 - Measuring success: recognition before demos 28:00 - Overcoming the "they'll get poached" objection 31:00 - 2026 strategy: taking conversations into DMs 34:00 - Where to find Gabe and AlleyOop Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with Gabe Lullo on LinkedIn Subscribe to Do Hard Things Podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit AlleyOop’s official site Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

    20 min
  4. Why Hourly Billing Is Holding Your Business Back | Jonathan Stark, Author & Host of Ditching Hourly

    5 DAYS AGO

    Why Hourly Billing Is Holding Your Business Back | Jonathan Stark, Author & Host of Ditching Hourly

    Learn how B2B teams can scale creative operations, cut the busywork, and show up consistently with content that resonates. Charging by the hour? You're leaving money on the table. In this episode, host Jason Bradwell sits down with Jonathan Stark - author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts and host of the Ditching Hourly podcast - for a masterclass in pricing, positioning, and why daily publishing changed everything for his business. Jonathan breaks down why hourly billing traps experts in low-profit margins, the difference between cost-plus and actual value-based pricing, and his "scope last" principle that flips traditional consulting on its head. He also shares how publishing daily helped him build a loyal audience, deepen his expertise, and turn strangers into superfans. Whether you're a solo consultant or running a B2B service business, this conversation delivers clear, actionable frameworks to work less, charge more, and stand out. Jason and Jonathan dive straight into why hourly billing is fundamentally broken. It punishes efficiency, caps your income, and makes clients focus on time instead of outcomes. Jonathan explains the "fixed pricing trap" most consultants fall into, they think they're doing value-based pricing when they're really just doing cost-plus (estimate hours, multiply by rate, add margin). Real value-based pricing starts with understanding what success is worth to the client. The conversation shifts to Jonathan's signature principle: scope last. Instead of leading with what you'll do, lead with the outcome the client wants and price based on that value. Only after they say yes do you figure out the most efficient way to deliver it. This requires strong positioning, becoming the only choice for a specific problem, not the cheapest option among many. They explore how daily publishing transformed Jonathan's business. He's published something every single day for years, creating what he calls "asymmetric intimacy" his audience feels like they know him deeply even if they've never met. This built trust at scale and turned his owned media into a long-term growth engine that compounds over time. Jonathan shares practical newsletter tactics: the capture phase (getting people on the list), writing cadence (daily works for him), and why podcasting is like building localized celebrity. They also discuss burnout risks, how AI fits in (spoiler: it's a tool, not a replacement for thinking), and Jonathan's advice for anyone launching a podcast or daily newsletter: done is better than perfect, just start. If you're stuck in the pricing-versus-scoping cycle or charging by the hour and feeling trapped, Jonathan's frameworks will fundamentally shift how you think about your business. This isn't theory, it's battle-tested advice from someone who's helped thousands of consultants escape the hourly trap. Plus, his insights on daily publishing offer a blueprint for building trust and authority in any B2B market. 00:00 - Introduction: From developer to pricing evangelist 01:30 - Why hourly billing is broken 04:00 - The fixed pricing trap and cost-plus confusion 06:00 - What value-based pricing actually looks like 08:00 - Scope last: price outcomes, not inputs 10:00 - Positioning: become the only choice 13:00 - Daily publishing and asymmetric intimacy 16:30 - Owned media as a growth engine 20:00 - Newsletter tactics and writing cadence 23:30 - Podcasting builds localized celebrity 26:00 - Burnout, AI, and sustainability 30:00 - Advice for launching a podcast or daily list 34:00 - Done beats perfect—just start 38:00 - Final takeaways on pricing and standing out Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with Jonathan Stark on LinkedIn Visit Hourly Billing Is Nuts Visit Ditching Hourly Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

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

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

    21 JAN

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

    20 JAN

    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
4.9
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