Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9

Mike Montague
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Discover how to harness the power of AI without losing the human touch. Hosted by Mike Montague, Founder of Avenue9, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help small and mid-sized businesses market like big brands. With expert interviews, relatable success stories, and practical tips, we show you how to amplify your marketing efforts with AI tools that enhance—not replace—human creativity and connection. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or curious about the future of AI, this is your go-to guide for building smarter, more authentic marketing strategies.  Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1738519089289300a62eab036

  1. 2D AGO

    AI for Solopreneurs with Raj Singh

    Send a text In this episode, Raj Singh, VP of New Products at Mozilla, breaks down the “ownership economy”; a world where starting a business is getting simpler, faster, and cheaper because the builder toolkit keeps losing friction. You can spin up a real brand presence quickly, look professional early, and test ideas without burning months on dev or a big stack of services.  Raj also gets blunt about what actually wins once “anyone can build anything”: trust and distribution. He explains why the noise is exploding, why old growth tactics get less reliable, and why reputation and taste matter more than ever when AI output trends generic. For SMB owners, the takeaway is practical; pick one AI tool and start, map your day-to-day work, then ask AI to help you reclaim time and focus on what makes you distinctly you. Top Takeaways The “ownership economy” is accelerating; it is now genuinely easier to start a business fast, look professional early, and spend less doing it. When anyone can build anything, trust and distribution become the real bottlenecks; product alone does not guarantee growth anymore. The signal-to-noise problem is getting worse; SMBs win by building credibility and becoming a clear “signal” in a sea of generic output. Paid acquisition and PR are less reliable in high-noise markets; brand and reputation do more heavy lifting than they used to. AI output tends to average out into “generic”; your taste and judgment are the differentiators that keep your work from looking like everyone else’s. “Less features” can be a strategy; simpler products are easier to understand, adopt, and market. For non-technical SMB owners, the best first step is picking one AI tool and using it daily; tool sprawl kills momentum. To build a moat, look for advantages big platforms cannot copy quickly; proprietary data, cross-platform needs, and workflow depth are strong candidates. Multiplayer and sharing experiences can be defensible; teams and families create stickiness that basic “native” features often do poorly. As AI gets more integrated into real workflows, trust and guardrails matter more; automation without safeguards can create expensive mistakes. 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.

    32 min

  2. MAR 2

    Being Featured in AI Results with Brett Farmiloe

    Send a text In this episode of The Human-First AI Marketing® Podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Brett Farmiloe, CEO of Featured.com and Help a Reporter Out (HARO), to talk about the real PR opportunity most small and mid-market companies are missing in 2026. You’ll learn how getting featured in credible media outlets isn’t just great for brand awareness, but it’s also how you get cited in AI models, improve your SEO, and build the trust that drives high-value sales conversations. From the rise of reactive PR to the surprising ways AI is reshaping journalism, this conversation breaks down how modern PR actually works, and how SMBs can use AI tools without sounding like them. You’ll hear actionable tips on pitching reporters, showing up with original insight, and why getting quoted by a human is the best way to be found by machines. If you want smarter exposure without selling your soul to algorithms, this episode is your blueprint. PR is evolving & reactive PR is where SMBs should start. Instead of blasting press releases, look for in-progress stories where journalists are already asking for sources. Small businesses can now use AI to scale media outreach. AI tools can match your expertise with relevant media opportunities and even help draft responses so you're not starting from scratch. Generative AI can’t replace original thought. Journalists want human insight, not ChatGPT output; Brett’s platforms detect AI-generated content and surface real voices. Your media mentions feed your future search and AI visibility. Getting quoted in trusted outlets increases your odds of being referenced in AI models and cited in search results. Only pitch where you’re a perfect fit. Relevance, timeliness, and helpfulness matter more than hype; follow instructions, respond fast, and be genuinely useful. AI doesn’t write your story, but it can help find the right audience. Let AI do the heavy lifting of filtering through thousands of journalist requests, so you can show up where it counts. Press isn't dead; it's just decentralized. Authority is now earned across podcasts, Substacks, newsletters, and traditional media. PR today means showing up across all of them. Original human content will only get more valuable. As AI slop floods the internet, real, expert insights become a premium commodity for both journalists and machines. 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.

    25 min

  3. FEB 23

    Using AI to Help Humans Cross Borders with Ryan Bradley and Grant Frazier

    Send a text What happens when AI meets immigration, one of the most complex, emotional, and high-stakes journeys in someone’s life? In this episode, Mike Montague talks with Grant Frazier and Ryan Bradley, co-founders of Global Entry Hub, about how they’re using AI to make immigration support more accessible, trustworthy, and human. You’ll hear how they built a multilingual AI assistant that guides people through global immigration processes, and why accuracy, empathy, and trust had to come before speed or scale. This conversation goes far beyond immigration. It’s a masterclass for marketers and business leaders in what not to do with AI, and how to build smarter systems that actually serve people. If you’ve struggled with AI content that feels robotic, tools that underdeliver, or marketing automation that breaks trust, you’ll get fresh insight here. From hallucinating chatbots to real-world data architecture, Grant and Ryan share lessons every SMB leader should hear before launching their next AI initiative. Top Takeaways: • AI should be scoped with precision rather than speed. Trying to build broad, general-purpose tools leads to confusion and a loss of trust, especially in high-stakes industries. • Trust is earned through constraint, not creativity. Their AI assistant only answers what it knows with certainty, which is critical when people's futures are on the line. • Accuracy is more important than automation. A wrong answer in immigration isn’t just a typo. It could cost someone time, money, or even legal status. • Data infrastructure matters more than the UI. Behind their AI agent “Mira” is a web of scrapers, data lakes, APIs, and logic rules that make her reliable. • Hallucinations aren’t just a tech issue, but a human one. Users must trust what they’re being told. Without that, your AI becomes a liability rather than an asset. • Global audiences need local nuance. Many AI tools reflect a Western bias in training data; true global support requires cultural and linguistic adaptation. • Human support is still essential in emotional customer journeys. For something as personal as immigration, no AI can replace the empathy and assurance of a real person. • Don’t market your AI before you prove it works. Early “AI-first” marketing fell flat until it was paired with human follow-up and refined positioning. • Governments move slowly. Startups don’t have to. While governments may take 5–10 years to modernize, startups can fill urgent gaps now if they build responsibly. • The biggest risk in tech is overpromising. Most AI failures in business come from trying to do too much, too fast, without clear constraints or user understanding. 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.

    34 min

  4. FEB 16

    AI-Powered Growth Tools with Bryan Harris

    Send a text In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing® podcast, Mike Montague talks with Bryan Harris, founder of Growth Tools, about the fine line between automation and authenticity. Together, they explore how AI is transforming client acquisition, coaching, small business marketing, and why human connection is still the most valuable asset in your business. If you've ever wondered when to use AI and when to pick up the phone, this one’s for you. Bryan shares how Growth Tools uses AI to reduce repetitive work, sharpen offers, and help SMBs solve their biggest bottleneck: getting more clients. But he doesn’t hold back on where AI falls short; especially when it comes to building trust, delivering hard truths, and guiding real transformation. This isn’t about shiny tools or fear-based hype. It’s a grounded, practical conversation on scaling the right things, for the right people, in the right way. Top Takeaways AI is a great assistant, not a great coach. While AI can speed up repetitive tasks, it can’t replace the emotional depth and trust of a real human conversation. People don’t follow prompts; they follow people they trust. Human connection is still the strongest influence in decision-making, especially in coaching and high-stakes buying. Your offer is the sharpest growth tool you have. A compelling, clearly defined offer outperforms fancy funnels or tactics every time. AI can make your systems smarter, but not your strategy. Tools like ChatGPT work best when guided by a clear framework; they don’t magically create one for you. Client acquisition is the #1 problem for most SMBs. Whether you’re selling services or coaching, getting hired consistently is the biggest bottleneck to growth (but solvable with the right systems). Borrowed audiences (BOPA) are a fast track to visibility. Partnering with people who already have your audience beats building everything from scratch. Then AI can help you scale outreach. The success of coaching depends on the relationship, not just advice. People change when they feel seen, supported, and challenged; even the best AI can’t replicate that bond. AI will 10x your efficiency if you're already good. Experts can use AI to move faster and smarter; beginners often get overwhelmed or create more noise than value. The DIY info-product market is collapsing. Generic, self-serve courses are losing traction; people now want guided support, personalized coaching, and community to get real results. Focus on solving the real problem (not just adding AI). Before asking “How can I use AI?” ask, “Where are we stuck?” Then apply the right tool to remove the bottleneck, not add complexity. 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.

    39 min

  5. FEB 9

    The Soulful Future of AI with David Espindola

    Send a text Bots do the busywork, but you do the brilliant work.  In this episode, AI futurist and author David Espindola joins Mike to explore how small and midmarket companies can redesign roles around AI so humans spend more time on creativity, trust, and real customer relationships. They unpack the real difference between human and machine intelligence, the risks of anthropomorphizing tools like voice agents, and the importance of a "human in the loop" throughout your marketing & sales workflows.  You will hear practical guidance on where SMBs should start, how to decide if your company is a maker, shaper, or taker with AI, and why context training beats copy pasting from generic chat tools. David and Mike talk through using AI to keep CRMs updated so sales can actually sell, building hyper personalized marketing that still sounds like your brand, and choosing use cases that match your data and business model. They close with a candid look at jobs, ethics, and abundance, in addition to their optimistic hopes for a future with AI.  Top Takeaways Human and machine intelligence are complementary: Humans blend analytical thinking with emotion and judgment while AI stays purely analytical, so collaboration is the key, not dependence. Do not confuse AI personas with real people: He warns that naming agents like his co-host Xena is fun, but we must remember not to confuse a convincing voice with a real relationship. AI is an assistant, not an autopilot: AI should act as a powerful assistant with a human in the loop from start to finish, meaning people provide context, monitor what is happening, and review the final output before it reaches customers. Context training beats generic prompts: Companies get better results when they give AI rich context about products, culture, and brand voice. AI can still have hallucinations. Start with the right problems: He urges leaders to start with a clear problem list and prioritize use cases where AI is actually the best solution. Pick your role: maker, shaper, or taker: David uses the makers, shapers, and takers framework to help firms decide whether they will build cutting edge AI, tailor existing tools, or simply adopt what large vendors ship. SMBs need education, champions, and guardrails: Many small and mid sized companies still lack basic AI understanding. Hyper personalization is the marketing frontier: Expect a surge in hyper personalization where marketing offers adapt to individuals and micro segments, all powered by AI. Let AI do the CRM chores so sales can sell: AI will take over sales chores like CRM data entry leaving reps to spend more time face to face with customers and building real trust & relationships. Jobs will shift toward human strengths and ethics: AI will automate many algorithmic and digital tasks, drastically increasing the value of human creativity, empathy, and ethics. 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.

    32 min

  6. FEB 2

    AI Shopping & Parenting in the Age of AI with Mia Umanos

    Send a text In this episode of The Human-First AI Marketing® Podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Mia Umanos, CEO of Clickvoyant and host of the AI Kid You Not podcast, to explore what AI means for both modern shopping and modern parenting. We cover everything from the surprising lack of optimization in e-commerce experiences, to how AI is rewiring our brains, and why that matters. You’ll hear practical insights for SMBs trying to compete in an AI-powered world, what frontier AI leaders already know (but aren't saying), and why the real danger isn't just using AI, but losing the ability to think. If you're navigating how to lead, learn, or parent in the age of algorithms, this conversation is for you. AI is already changing how kids learn and how parents teach. Mia shared how her daughter used ChatGPT to create a study guide to improve failing grades, demonstrating the positive learning utility of AI today.  Most e-commerce brands aren’t optimizing for how people actually shop. Less than 1% of SMBs scientifically test or personalize their shopping experience, missing major ROI and customer insights. We’re entering a new era of “AI agents” that will shop for us. From product discovery to one-click purchasing, AI will increasingly make decisions on behalf of consumers, and brands need to prepare for that shift. The rise of AI literacy starts at home. Just like kids learned how to navigate the internet, Mia believes Gen Alpha needs to grow up understanding what an LLM is and who Sam Altman is—because AI is shaping their future. AI doesn’t just provide unprecedented access to information, but to skills. With tools like code generators and AI tutors, younger generations will outsource not just memory, but capability; making human creativity and judgment more critical than ever. Critical thinking, writing, and research are becoming rare (more valuable). We need to actively teach and protect these human skills, or risk losing them in a world where AI can do the “easy thinking” for us. AI is rewiring our brains whether we like it or not. Just the presence of a smartphone lowers our cognitive performance, and the same effect may apply to AI tools if we’re not aware of how we use them. Marketing channels are fracturing and SMBs need to unify the experience. With omnichannel platforms and fragmented attribution, marketers must rethink how they track, test, and guide buyers through the journey. Most SMBs are still guessing, not testing. AI tools like Clickvoyant offer predictive analytics and shopper behavior insights, but too few brands are actually using them to make data-driven decisions. The future of marketing belongs to the brands that co-create with AI—not the ones who fight it. Mia encourages leaders to see AI as a thought partner, not a threat, and to find ways to scale creativity with 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.

    31 min

  7. JAN 26

    Content Marketing You Can Trust with Charlie Van Derven

    Send a text In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing® podcast, Mike Montague sits down with content marketing strategist and fractional CMO Charlie Van Derven to explore a simple but powerful truth: AI can help you scale—but it can’t build trust for you. Together, they dig into: Why high-trust services like financial advising (and any B2B sale that isn’t a click-to-buy) still demand real human connectionThe telltale signs of “AI Slop” and how to avoid sounding robotic onlineHow financial advisors and SMBs can use webinars, email, and LinkedIn to nurture prospects without chasing themWhy content marketing isn’t just about volume—it’s about visibility, voice, and valueWhen to automate vs. when to actually start a conversationCharlie also shares his Perfect Client Playbook approach, how he builds targeted prospect lists that convert over time, and why your CRM might be your most powerful sales weapon—when used with intention. If your team is stuck posting content that isn’t converting or using AI tools that create more work than results, this conversation is your reset. Top Takeaways AI is a tool, not a replacement for trust. You can speed up content creation with AI, but conversions still require a real human relationship—especially in high-stakes industries like finance.Human connection becomes your advantage as AI content floods the feed. In a world drowning in generic automation, the brands that show up with authentic, thoughtful outreach stand out.Webinars are a powerful trust and timing signal. When someone signs up and shows up, they’re raising their hand; it’s your cue to engage like a human, not a funnel.LinkedIn works best when it’s used to start conversations—not broadcast promotions. Charlie emphasized the importance of 1-to-1 engagement: finding a detail in someone’s profile, asking a real question, and building a relationship over time.Email marketing still converts—when it’s targeted and consistent. A well-built, highly relevant email list outperforms social algorithms every time if you’re showing up with the right message at the right time.CRM hygiene is sales enablement. Knowing who opened what, when, and how many times helps identify warm leads that even your best rep would otherwise miss.Trigger events drive sales—not speed. A person may not need your service today, but when life changes (a divorce, business sale, inheritance, etc.), that’s when trust pays off.Marketing is part inspiration, part infrastructure. AI can help with consistency and coverage, but you still need creative strategy, emotional intelligence, and a point of view to build loyalty.Your content must reflect who you are—not just what you do. Templated messaging and "prompt packs" break trust. The voice, tone, and context still need to come from 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.

    32 min

  8. JAN 19

    How to 10X Your Pipeline with Solomon Thimothy

    Send a text What if you could plug your business into AI and instantly see where your next 10X opportunity is hiding? That’s exactly what Solomon Thimothy, serial entrepreneur and founder of ClickX, is doing for growing companies right now. In this episode, Solomon joins Mike Montague to unpack the new growth formula for modern marketers: data + focus + automation. They dig into why most small businesses are sitting on mountains of unused data, how to connect tools like HubSpot, Google Analytics, and Claude to surface real-time insights, and why doing less can actually create more scale. From smarter prospecting to AI-assisted decision-making, this isn’t about chasing shiny tools, it’s about learning how to turn information into acceleration. If you’ve ever said, “We just need more leads,” this conversation will change how you think about growth forever. Top Takeaways Your CRM is a crystal ball. Most teams use it to track deals; few use it to predict revenue. Solomon explains how to unlock insights you didn’t know were hiding in plain sight.AI can’t fix confusion. 10X growth starts when you eliminate noise. Focus on the one offer or audience that actually drives profit.Automation is leverage, not laziness. Connecting your data and letting AI do the analysis earns back time to do what humans do best. Automate the busywork and get back to selling, creating, and strategizing. Cold outreach isn’t dead, bad outreach is. Solomon shows how to use AI to research and write personalized emails that sound like a human and perform like a machine.The future is prompt-driven marketing. Tomorrow’s marketers won’t click buttons, they’ll craft better questions.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.

    35 min
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About

Discover how to harness the power of AI without losing the human touch. Hosted by Mike Montague, Founder of Avenue9, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help small and mid-sized businesses market like big brands. With expert interviews, relatable success stories, and practical tips, we show you how to amplify your marketing efforts with AI tools that enhance—not replace—human creativity and connection. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or curious about the future of AI, this is your go-to guide for building smarter, more authentic marketing strategies.  Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1738519089289300a62eab036

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Montague
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 ® All Rights Reserved - Avenue9 LLC | Human-First AI Marketing is a registered service mark.
  • Show Website
    Human-First AI Marketing Podcast by Avenue9