Drop The Mic with Jason Hunt

Jason Hunt
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Drop The Mic is the pulse of marketing brilliance, where the world's top marketers share their journey from start to stardom. Uncover the tactics and stories behind their success in a rapidly evolving industry. Each episode is a treasure trove of insights, offering inspiration and guidance for marketers at any level. Dive into the minds that shaped the marketing world and discover how to leave your own mark. This is where legends speak, insights sparkle and marketing magic happens.

  1. MAR 5

    #246 – Ronnie Malewski: The Marketing Shift That's Making Your Website Obsolete

    NP Digital Canada Managing Director Ronnie Malewski reveals why most marketers are hiding behind vanity metrics while their competitors eat their lunch, how AI-powered conversational commerce is making your checkout page irrelevant, and why "impressions don't pay salaries — revenue does." Ronnie Malewski is the Managing Director of NP Digital Canada, one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the country, built entirely on inbound leads under Neil Patel's brand. His dual background in psychology and marketing shapes everything from how he approaches clients to how his team builds AI workflows that competitors haven't caught on to yet. He explains: ◼️ Why vanity metrics (impressions, clicks, reach) are a deliberate hiding place — and the only number that actually matters in 2026 ◼️ The conversational commerce shift happening right now: how AI agents are taking over the entire buyer journey from research to checkout, without ever touching your website ◼️ How Ronnie's team audited their own time sheets to identify AI use cases — and built a media planning tool that made the role nearly obsolete overnight ◼️ Why "AI can create Shrek 1, 2, and 3 — but it can't create Shrek" — and what that tells you about where human creativity still wins ◼️ The exact 5-step framework for showing up in AI search engines (GEO/AEO) before your competitors figure it out ◼️ Why you need roughly 250 published documents for AI engines to trust your brand as a legitimate source — and how most businesses are nowhere close ◼️ The Campbell's Soup psychology experiment that doubled average purchase quantity overnight without changing a single thing about the product ◼️ Why saying no to the wrong clients is the real foundation of agency culture — not perks, not team-building, not personality Timestamps 05:00 – Ronnie's path from psychology student to WPP, Dentsu, and building NP Digital Canada 10:00 – How NP Digital runs on 100% inbound leads and what that means for the type of clients they win 15:00 – Vanity metrics are a lie: why impressions don't pay salaries and what to measure instead 20:00 – Conversational commerce and agentic checkout: the buyer journey has already changed 25:00 – How Ronnie's agency uses AI internally: vibe coding, media plan automation, and custom client portals 30:00 – Saying no, protecting your team, and why culture is built on what you refuse 35:00 – The timeless marketing psychology principles (loss aversion, IKEA effect, Campbell's limit experiment) that AI can't replace 37:00 – 5 tactics to win AI search right now, why GEO is just SEO evolved, and where marketing is headed into 2027

    46 min

  2. FEB 25

    #245 – Sheldon Isaac: Headshots Are Dead; How AI Is Killing Professional Photography

    Professional photographer Sheldon Isaac reveals the brutal truth about AI's threat to photography, why headshots and Christmas photos are already endangered, and the ONE thing that might save photographers from complete obsolescence. He explains: ◼️ Why headshots are in serious trouble: AI tools can now generate professional-looking headshots in seconds, and most people don't want to pay $1,000+ for what AI does for free ◼️ The Christmas photo crisis nobody's talking about: how one viral AI prompt showed families they can skip the photographer, save money, and avoid packing up screaming kids ◼️ The photographer backlash that went viral: when a major photo editing software company tried to release free AI headshot tools, photographers came for them so hard they had to pull the entire product ◼️ The experience economy vs. transactional photography: why wedding photographers are safe but headshot photographers are cooked (and the psychology behind it) ◼️ How AI is already saving photographers hours: the culling and editing tools that cut through 1,000+ event photos in minutes instead of days ◼️ The prompt engineering problem: why most people still won't use AI for photos (yet), and how long that protection might last ◼️ The guerrilla content strategy that wins clients: why Sheldon brings his camera to every trade show and records podcast episodes at vendor booths (instead of just exchanging business cards) ◼️ The secret to delivering 450 event photos in 24 hours: his exact workflow for organizing galleries by category so clients can actually USE the content immediately ◼️ Why LinkedIn loves authentic event photography: and how professional photos outperform stock images 10:1 on social media algorithms ◼️ The personality fit most photographers miss: you need the same extroverted, bubbly energy as a talk show host or you'll get ghosted by nervous clients ◼️ How he built a photography business using Facebook in 2007: posting consistently before anyone understood social media marketing ◼️ The intro video hack that makes clients relax: sending a personality-driven video before shoots so they've "met you" before stepping in front of the camera TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro: Building a business on Facebook in 200701:00 – The guerrilla podcast strategy at trade shows05:00 – Sheldon's origin story: From film camera to full-time photographer10:00 – Getting mentored by industry legends in your 20s15:00 – How AI is already revolutionizing photo editing and culling20:00 – The planning process: Why pre-production meetings save shoots25:00 – The personality equation: Why photographers need talk show energy30:00 – Distribution strategy: Delivering 450 photos in 24 hours34:00 – The AI threat: Why headshots and Christmas photos are dead37:00 – Experience vs. transaction: Which photos AI will never replace39:00 – Why humans still crave in-person connection (and what that means for photographers)41:00 – Where to connect with Sheldon + the "Sheldon AI" moment Connect with Sheldon Isaac:📸 LinkedIn: Sheldon A. Isaac📸 Instagram: @sheldonisaacimages Subscribe to Drop The Mic for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs navigating AI, marketing, and business growth in 2026. @jayhuntofficial - IG https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/

    43 min

  3. FEB 11

    #244 – Ema Fulga: How to Win AI Search Without Losing Your Brand Voice in the Process

    Copywriter-turned-AI search expert Ema Fulga reveals how brands can dominate ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI results without sounding like generic AI slop—and why 60% of searches now end without a single click. Ema is the founder of decipher., a UK and UAE-based AI search optimization agency helping brands appear in AI-powered searches. With 8+ years as a freelance copywriter working with Publicis, NTT Data, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, she pivoted early to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) when she recognized the seismic shift happening in search behavior. Based in Italy and operating across UK and UAE markets (where 58% of people use ChatGPT or Gemini—higher than most developed countries), Ema bridges the gap between creative storytelling and machine-readable content. She explains: ◼️ Why 60% of searches now end without a click—and how to win visibility in the zero-click era ◼️ The brutal truth about AI-generated content: why most of it is "garbage" and how to stand out ◼️ How to bake your brand voice into AI systems so they cite YOU instead of generic competitors ◼️ The simple technique for training ChatGPT on your personal stories, tone, and writing style ◼️ Why structured data and schema markup are the "secret handshake" with AI retrieval systems ◼️ How to optimize blog content so AI engines pull YOUR answers (not your competitors') ◼️ The biggest mistake small businesses make when writing for AI search ◼️ Why AI isn't killing creativity—it's actually making you think harder and smarter ◼️ The counterintuitive reason answering specific questions beats generic "pillar content" ◼️ How decipher. got clients appearing in AI search results in just 4 months ◼️ Why the UAE's 58% AI adoption rate makes it the perfect testing ground for AEO strategies ◼️ The future of copywriting: why human nuance and storytelling will become MORE valuable, not less [00:00] – Intro[02:15] – From affiliate marketing to copywriting to AI search optimization[07:30] – The "aha moment" that sparked decipher. and the AEO pivot[12:45] – Why 60% of searches never click and what that means for your brand[18:20] – How to train AI on your brand voice (the personal context strategy)[24:10] – The schema markup and structured data frameworks that make AI cite you[29:35] – Writing blog content that shows up in ChatGPT and Perplexity[35:50] – Why AI isn't outsourcing your brain (it's extending it)[41:20] – The UAE market insights and what high-adoption countries reveal about AEO[46:15] – Final insights & where to connect with Ema Connect with Ema:Website: decipher.agencyLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ema-fulga-decipherEmail: ema@decipher.agency Subscribe to Drop The Mic for weekly insights on AI, marketing strategies, and business growth frameworks that actually work Done for you marketing: Merged Media Learn more about Jason Hunt

    47 min

  4. JAN 30

    #243 – Scott Ward: Why Most Founders Fail at Execution

    Scott Ward is the founder of HabitStack, a coaching system designed to help founders and leadership teams turn strategy into consistent weekly execution. After decades in the startup trenches including scaling companies, navigating acquisitions, and leading through chaos, Scott built a framework that solves the execution gap plaguing most businesses. His clients go from reactive firefighting to proactive focus in weeks, not months. Scott reveals why 80% of founders have brilliant strategies but terrible execution, how a simple weekly cadence system transformed struggling leadership teams into high-performing machines, and why your Monday morning chaos is actually a systems problem, not a people problem. ◼️ The brutal truth about why strategic planning sessions fail within 48 hours (and the one shift that makes strategies actually stick) ◼️ How to build a leadership team that executes in lockstep—without micromanaging or endless status meetings ◼️ The "Monday morning problem" every founder faces: knowing you need to prioritize but having zero clarity on what actually matters this week ◼️ Why habits beat goals every single time—and how to stack the right habits to scale faster with less friction ◼️ The exact weekly cadence system HabitStack uses to keep founders focused: daily check-ins, weekly reviews, and why this doesn't become "just another meeting" ◼️ The #1 mistake founders make when trying to align their team (hint: it's not communication—it's something deeper) ◼️ How AI is changing accountability systems—what can be automated and what must remain human when it comes to execution coaching ◼️ The pattern separating 10x execution from mediocre follow-through: it's not discipline, it's this counterintuitive mindset shift 00:00 – Intro05:15 – Why 80% of founders have great strategy but terrible execution10:30 – The Monday morning problem: strategy vs. reality15:45 – Building the weekly cadence system that actually works20:20 – How to align your leadership team without micromanaging25:10 – Habits vs. goals: why HabitStack focuses on systems, not targets30:35 – The biggest mistake founders make with team alignment35:50 – AI's role in accountability (and what can't be automated) 🔗 HabitStack: habitstack.io 🔗 Jason Hunt: jayhunt.social

    39 min

  5. JAN 21

    #242 – Dr. Eugene K. Choi: Why 90% of Your Brain Is Running on Autopilot (And How to Rewire It)

    Dr. Eugene K. Choi is a former healthcare leader turned performance coach who supervised 6 major hospitals and 250+ clinics until he discovered the hidden neuroscience keeping even the best leaders stuck. After walking away from a six-figure pharmacy career to become a filmmaker (generating 30+ million views), then coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs, he uncovered a brutal truth: 90% of clients already know what to do, they're just not doing it. The reason? By age 35, 90-95% of your brain runs on autopilot, keeping you trapped in survival mode instead of accessing executive-level thinking, creativity, and decision-making. He explains: ◼️ Why your brain's "executive state" is turned off 70% of your adult life—and the exact neuroscience behind feeling stuck, anxious, or burned out ◼️ The difference between survival brain versus executive brain—and how to recognize which state you're operating from right now ◼️ How he went from six-figure pharmacist → broke filmmaker → viral content creator (30M views) → business coach—and the pattern he noticed in every failed execution ◼️ Why stress literally shuts down your ability to make good decisions, solve problems creatively, and connect with people (and how to reverse it) ◼️ The "know versus do gap"—the neurological reason you understand the strategy but don't execute (hint: it's not laziness or lack of discipline) ◼️ Why cold exposure, discomfort, and stress tolerance are the secret weapons for building entrepreneurial resilience ◼️ The dangerous AI trap: why people are forming emotional bonds with AI therapists and robots—and what happens when Gen Z prefers AI relationships over messy human ones ◼️ How to break the autopilot loop by age 35 when your brain defaults to thinking the same 70,000 thoughts per day (90% are repeats) ◼️ The science-backed practice to activate your executive brain at will—even in high-pressure, unpredictable situations ◼️ Why "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is scientifically false—and how your brain can rewire itself until its dying breath TIMESTAMPS: 05:15 – From six-figure pharmacist to broke filmmaker: the leap10:30 – Why 90% of coaching clients know what to do but don't execute15:45 – The 70% survival state problem: your brain is turned off20:20 – Survival brain vs. executive brain: the difference25:10 – The neuroscience behind "I know it's good for me but I don't feel like doing it"30:35 – Cold exposure and stress tolerance for entrepreneurs35:50 – Viral content secrets: 30 million views and the psychology behind it40:15 – The AI dystopia: humans dating robots and losing resilience45:30 – How to rewire your autopilot brain after age 35 CONNECT WITH DR. EUGENE K. CHOI:🌐 Website: neurohackingschool.com📸 Instagram: @eugenekchoi🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eugenekchoi Follow Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.socialAmplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/aybInstagram: @jayhuntofficialLinkedIn: /socialmediaspeakerTikTok: @jayhuntofficialDone for you marketing

    51 min

  6. JAN 15

    #241 – Rob Pacinelli: AI Video Revolution, Lead Reactivation and Custom GPT Clones

    Rob Pacinelli is the VP and co-founder of The Best Media. In this episode, we explore Rob's journey from starting in his parents' basement to building an agency that's worked with 70-80 employees over the years, his evolution from e-commerce to full-service digital marketing, and how he's now pioneering AI-powered lead reactivation through their innovative "Sales Android" technology. Rob shares hard-won lessons about hiring experts over beginners, the costly mistakes of trying to wear too many hats, and why he'd rather pay more for professionals than waste time training. We dive deep into The Best Media's transformation toward AI automation, exploring their custom GPT solutions, AI video production workflows using Sora and HeyGen, and how they're helping clients convert dead leads into sales with 24/7 automated systems. If you're an agency owner, entrepreneur, or marketer looking to understand how AI is reshaping digital marketing operations—from lead reactivation to video production—this conversation delivers tactical insights you can implement immediately. Building a digital marketing agency from scratch in a parents' basementThe evolution from e-commerce to full-service agency over 23 yearsHiring lessons: Why paying experts more saves money in the long runManaging 70-80 employees over time and what Rob LearnedAI-powered lead reactivation and the "Sales Android" conceptCustom GPT development for business automationAI video production using Sora, HeyGen, and RunwayThe future of videographers in an AI-driven worldNotebook LM for content repurposing and brand voice extractionBalancing human creativity with AI efficiency01:22 – Rob's Oakville connection and early client stories03:46 – Starting in the parents' basement after university (2000)05:11 – First client: An e-commerce business, not an agency client07:32 – Hiring the first employee: A high school friend as web developer09:12 – Managing multiple services: SEO, paid ads, websites simultaneously11:47 – The expert-only hiring philosophy: Why Rob stopped training beginners14:23 – 70-80 employees over 23 years: Key lessons on delegation16:45 – Client retention challenges: "Do 1,000 things right, one mistake and you're fired"18:34 – Why specialization beats generalization in agency services21:15 – The transition to AI: Lead reactivation and Sales Androids explained24:08 – Custom GPT development: Rob's personal AI clone project26:42 – AI video production workflow: Sora, HeyGen, and Runway integration29:33 – Creating videos from two photos: The AI video revolution32:17 – Overcoming Sora's content restrictions: The Godzilla vs King Kong example35:20 – The "resubmit hack": Getting rejected AI prompts accepted37:44 – Will AI replace videographers? Rob's perspective on evolution vs replacement40:28 – The modern videographer: Combining in-person shoots with AI tools43:15 – Notebook LM deep dive: Extracting grammar and speaking style for AIContact: Website: TheBestMedia.comEmail: roberto@thebestmedia.comLinkedIn: Roberto PacinelliSora – AI video generationHeyGen – AI avatar and video creationRunway – AI video editing and effectsNotebook LM – Content analysis and repurposingCustom GPT – Personalized AI assistantsChatGPT – AI language modelEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Drop The Mic and leave a 5-star review on your podcast platform. New episodes drop weekly featuring entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders sharing transformation stories and tactical growth strategies. Drop The Mic with Jason Hunt - Where marketing meets AI, storytelling, and real business results. Digital Marketing Done For You

    44 min

  7. JAN 8

    #240 – Rick Delisi: Customer Effort Beats Satisfaction, AI Eliminates Bad Service

    Rick Delisi is a customer experience researcher, author, and thought leader who has spent over 20 years studying customer service from the rotary phone era to today's AI-powered solutions. As co-author of The Effortless Experience and Digital Customer Service, Rick has pioneered the understanding that reducing customer effort—not maximizing satisfaction—is the key to building loyalty. In this episode, we explore how AI is finally making it possible to eliminate bad customer service interactions entirely. Rick breaks down the concept of "AI for All" at Glia, where AI handles routine inquiries while empowering human agents with supercharged tools for complex, emotional interactions. We discuss the balance between efficiency and experience, the dangers of AI dependency, and why the best creativity now comes from asking questions no one's thought to ask before. 🔑 Topics Covered: Why customer effort predicts loyalty better than satisfaction or NPSThe dual role of AI: external automation + internal agent empowermentHow AI can create both efficiency and exceptional experience simultaneouslyThe "channelest platform" that seamlessly blends digital, voice, and AIOvercoming fears about AI replacing human connection in customer serviceUsing AI as a journalist and creative professional without losing authenticityThe importance of industry-specific AI vs. horizontal approachesVoice AI and meeting customers across all demographics⏱️ Timestamps:03:15 – Rick's 20-year journey researching customer service05:45 – The singular passion: eliminating bad customer service08:30 – Why AI is the hero of the customer service story11:20 – The learning curve: Can AI really provide better service than humans?14:40 – "AI for All" at Glia: External automation + internal empowerment18:25 – How the channelest platform works in practice22:10 – Customer effort: The best predictor of loyalty26:35 – How journalists can use AI without losing their craft30:50 – The danger of AI dependency stifling creativity35:20 – The new creativity: Asking questions no one's thought to ask 🔗 Connect with Rick: Website: glia.comBooks: The Effortless Experience & Digital Customer Service📩 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review to stay updated with new episodes every week! - https://jayhunt.social

    37 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    #239 – Nick Musica: AEO Is Just Hype, SEO Fundamentals Still Win

    Nick Musica was running a CBD publisher when Google's May 2019 algorithm update wiped his traffic overnight—dropping from page 1 to oblivion. With four weeks until he'd need to fire his entire team, he made a decision that would never make it into a Harvard Business Review case study: quit with zero contracts lined up and figure it out as he went. AEO vs SEO: The Numbers Don't LieWhen answer engines drive 1% of traffic and traditional search drives 16%, where should your budget actually go? Nick dismantles the AEO hype with real traffic data and marketing mix strategy. The "Zero Contracts" Launch StrategyHow quitting his job with literally no clients lined up led to 60 billable hours per week within two weeks. His entire business plan: "I'm going to make this work." When SEO Becomes Your Business Model (The Risk)Why affiliate sites and publishers live and die by algorithm updates, and how to build a more resilient business that uses SEO as a channel, not a crutch. AI Content's Fatal FlawThe "vanilla problem" with AI-generated content and why it's creating a race to mediocrity in search results. Spoiler: Google can detect patterns. From SEO Consultant to Executive CoachThe Harrison Assessment revelation that changed everything, and why most "SEO problems" are actually organizational dysfunction in disguise. Nick's Website: https://nickmusica.com Website: https://jayhunt.socialAmplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/aybInstagram: @jayhuntofficialLinkedIn: /socialmediaspeakerTikTok: @jayhuntofficial💬 Drop your truth: What percentage of your marketing budget is going to AI hype versus proven channels like SEO? Be honest in the comments. 🎙️ Subscribe for unfiltered conversations with marketers who've survived algorithm apocalypses and lived to tell the tale. 00:00 — Intro: Google algorithm wipes CBD publisher overnight02:15 — The "I'm going to make it work" business plan (zero clients to 60 hours/week)03:35 — Digital marketing background since 2003, SEO agency journey04:22 — $6K/month SEO firm disaster & pivot to training06:28 — SEO career evolution & learning from Shari Thurow mentorship08:15 — Google algorithm changes & position sensitivity explained10:12 — Why using SEO as your business model is dangerous (affiliates/publishers)11:35 — AI overviews as billboard advertising vs click-generating funnels13:42 — Answer engines are just SERP extensions, not replacements15:15 — "S****y SEO" reality check — the basics still haven't changed18:28 — The AEO vs SEO debate: structure for readers, not algorithms20:45 — Marketing mix truth bomb: 16% SEO traffic vs 1% ChatGPT traffic23:28 — AI-generated content's "vanilla problem" & detection patterns26:15 — Local SEO simplification: focus on Google Business Profile fundamentals29:42 — Marketing mix strategy: balancing short-term wins vs long-term growth32:15 — Direct response crisis mode for lawyers & real estate agents35:08 — SEO timeline expectations: process vs performance metrics38:22 — Coaching transition story via Harrison Assessment behavioral tool41:35 — Organizational dysfunction masking itself as "SEO problems"44:08 — Identity shift: from "SEO guy who coaches" to "coach who runs SEO"

    42 min
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Drop The Mic is the pulse of marketing brilliance, where the world's top marketers share their journey from start to stardom. Uncover the tactics and stories behind their success in a rapidly evolving industry. Each episode is a treasure trove of insights, offering inspiration and guidance for marketers at any level. Dive into the minds that shaped the marketing world and discover how to leave your own mark. This is where legends speak, insights sparkle and marketing magic happens.

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