Uncensored Renegades

Jon Evans and Kory Marchisotto
  • 4.3 (10)
  • Marketing

Kory Marchisotto, the trailblazing CMO of e.l.f., and Jon Evans, the perpetually fired host of the Uncensored CMO, team up to talk about the things leaders usually avoid talking about; failures, numbers, getting fired, and so on. The renegade duo fire through topics at speed, on a 20-minute time limit… ish.

  1. 3d ago

    9 decision making frameworks the best leaders use

    Jon and Kory discuss why making good decisions is one of the hardest – and most important – parts of leadership, and share the frameworks they use to make better choices when the answer isn't obvious. From knowing when to trust the data and when to follow your gut, to de-risking big decisions and playing “angel's advocate”, they explore practical ways to challenge your own thinking. They unpack Solomon's paradox, the 10:10:10 rule, automatic negative thoughts and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do is ask someone else for help. They also explore what happens when you stop actively thinking about a problem, some surprisingly useful Japanese wisdom, and one particularly simple test: would you make the same decision drunk? Whether you're facing a huge strategic choice or simply stuck overthinking, these are 9 tools to help you make decisions with greater clarity and confidence. Links G.O.A.T. Wisdom BookGreg Hahn on Uncensored CMOThe Brain at Rest Book (why your brain can make good decisions when you're not thinking)Timestamps 00:00 - Start00:26 - Why Jon looks “savagely tanned”01:19 - Why decision making is hard04:16 - When you need to trust the data or your gut06:43 - How to make a decision07:29 - How to de risk a decision09:30 - Try playing “angel’s advocate”10:50 - Solomon’s paradox when making a decision11:51 - Squash the ants (automatic negative thoughts)12:23 - The 10:10:10 rule14:36 - Ask for help15:22 - Make space for your default mode network17:06 - Would you make the same decision drunk?17:47 - Japanese wisdom for decision making20:29 - The stats on why this is important

  2. Sep 4

    The leadership offsite that changed how we work (on a horse ranch)

    Today Kory shares the lessons from taking her leadership team offsite and deliberately putting them into an unfamiliar environment - a horse ranch. Jon and Kory explore why pattern disruption can help teams break old habits, the difference between a group of strong individual contributors and a genuinely connected team, and why getting outside your comfort zone can reveal how you really work together. They also discuss the language of connection, learning to ask for help, why pressure isn't always the answer, and how to turn an offsite from a memorable experience into lasting behavioural change. Because however busy your team feels, sometimes stepping away from the work is exactly what helps you do the work better. Links G.O.A.T. Wisdom BookEQ2 Horse Ranch Leadership OffsiteTimestamps 00:00 - Start 00:37 - Why Kory takes her team offsite 03:01 - Why you need to transform your team 04:14 - The power of pattern disruption 07:13 - Individual contributors vs working as a team 11:20 - Going out of your comfort zone 13:40 - The language of connection 18:21 - Learning how to ask for help 23:44 - The power is not in the pressure, it’s in the release 25:40 - How Kory is implementing the lessons in the team 27:03 - You’re too busy to not do this

  3. Aug 28

    6 essential leadership frameworks that will make you a better leader

    Today, Jon and Kory open up their personal leadership toolbox, sharing the mental models and frameworks they rely on to make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and build high-performing teams. From understanding your audience before creating content to aligning teams around a clear vision, raising the bar through belief and repetition, and creating dedicated thinking time, these are the practical tools that have shaped their careers. They also discuss why spending time with people smarter than you is one of the fastest ways to grow, and finish with the one framework that underpins everything else. Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:11 - Tools for your toolbox (in work and life)01:57 - Framework 1: A.B.C. (Audience Before Content)07:43 - Framework 2: A.B.C. (Always Be Curious)09:14 - Framework 3: V.A.E. (Vision, Alignment, Execution)13:43 - Framework 4: Raising the B.A.R. (Belief, Attention, Repetition)18:08 - Bonus tool: spend time with people smarter than you18:36 - Framework 5: 3, 5, 7, 922:31 - Framework 6: T Time!26:43 - The framework to rule all frameworks

  4. Aug 21

    How great leaders stay grounded

    Today Jon and Kory explore the leadership habits that keep successful organisations moving forward. Drawing on research, personal experience and examples from some of the world's best businesses, they discuss why the strongest leaders surround themselves with people who will tell them the truth, stay relentlessly close to their customers, and never shy away from difficult conversations. Timestamps00:00 - Start00:56 - How to stay grounded when you’re successful02:52 - Does success drive complacency?04:14 - What the data says about successful companies06:07 - You need people that are prepared to tell you the truth09:25 - Why you need to have the tough conversations12:45 - Spend time with your customer15:07 - The power of saying no17:42 - Working with the right people23:06 - Define your organisation25:22 - Play to win

  5. Aug 14

    The new 4P's of marketing for leaders

    For decades, marketers have relied on the traditional 4 Ps: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. But as the role of the CMO has evolved, so too have the skills needed to succeed as leaders. Today, Jon and Kory introduce a new framework for modern marketing leadership, inspired by research Jon conducted with TikTok. Rather than focusing on the marketing mix, these five Ps focus on what today's leaders need to excel inside their organisations: People, Planning, Persuasion and Performance. (Plus a bonus P that isn't a P - Storytelling.) Timestamps00:00 - Start00:48 - A new set of marketing Ps04:38 - P1 - People08:05 - P2 - Planning14:57 - P3 - Persuasion23:52 - P4 - Performance28:55 - P5 - Storytelling

  6. Aug 7

    How to launch a brand from scratch

    Launching a brand is one of the hardest things you can do. Today, Jon and Kory break down the principles they've learned from building brands, products and podcasts from the ground up. They explore the three ingredients every successful launch needs: a crystal-clear value proposition, surrounding yourself with exceptional people, and the persistence to keep going when progress feels slow. Along the way, they discuss why we're often too close to our own ideas, how constraints can become a competitive advantage, and why the best launches rarely happen by accident. Timestamps00:00 - Start00:48 - How hard is it to build a brand from scratch?02:52 - The 3 things that need to be true for a succesful launch03:24 - Having a clear value prop10:55 - Are we too close to our own proposition?15:02 - Surround yourself with greatness20:50 - Persistence23:59 - The power of constraint

  7. Jul 31

    The startling power of surprise

    Fresh from Jon Evans' Cannes Lions talk, this episode explores why surprise is one of the most powerful tools in leadership. Drawing on behavioural science, neuroscience and real-world campaigns, Jon and Kory unpack how unexpected moments capture attention, create stronger memories and help brands stand out in an increasingly predictable world. Putting their marketing hat on, they look at examples such as Tubi's headline-grabbing Super Bowl campaign and e.l.f.'s unconventional product launch strategy. Along the way, they explain the science of Reward Prediction Error, discuss how to sell bold ideas inside large organisations, and reveal why partnerships can become a powerful source of unexpected creativity. Watch the new e.l.f. haircare advert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2KmRlx7eA Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:38 - The origin story of Uncensored CMO04:03 - Why surprise is the antidote to dull05:23 - The data behind the power of surprise07:52 - Tubi’s example of using the power of surprise09:58 - Understanding Reward Prediction Error13:09 - Surprising the judges at Cannes Lions15:45 - Selling big ideas into the boardroom17:47 - e.l.f.’s surprising approach to their new hair product launch20:29 - The power of partnerships to be surprising22:23 - Baking surprise into your culture25:41 - Why you need to keep delivering new surprises

  8. Jul 24

    Three Pillars of Great Leadership

    Jon and Kory explore the three qualities they believe define great leadership. From building genuine proximity with your team to being fully present in the moments that matter and communicating with clarity, they break down a simple leadership framework that can be applied whether you're leading a global organisation or your first team. Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:53 - Presence as a leader03:31 - The 3 pillars of great leadership03:52 - Pillar 1: Proximity11:47 - Pillar 2: Presence18:41 - Pillar 3: Clarity of Communication28:26 - BCG on leadership

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4.3
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Kory Marchisotto, the trailblazing CMO of e.l.f., and Jon Evans, the perpetually fired host of the Uncensored CMO, team up to talk about the things leaders usually avoid talking about; failures, numbers, getting fired, and so on. The renegade duo fire through topics at speed, on a 20-minute time limit… ish.

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Evans and Kory Marchisotto
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Uncensored CMO