56 episodes

Tactical & effective meets grounded & honest in content creation, marketing, and content strategy. Real, practical, no B.S. advice, along with conversation about the lines between persuasion and manipulation in strategic content and marketing. I search out insights, strategies and tactics from the most accomplished thinkers and doers in the field.

My name is Marion Abrams. And for my entire 30 plus year career, I've been working behind the scenes telling stories, selling products, promoting people, and communicating ideas. I'm coming out from behind the mixer and getting on the mic to talk about something I'm really passionate about, and I truly believe in. The idea is that you can market, message, tell stories, sell brands, products, people, ideas, nonprofits and events, authentically.

That's what I mean by grounded content.

I've worked in production in video as a shooter, a writer, a producer, a director, and editor, as a social media manager and consultant. And as a behind the scenes Podcast Producer. I've worked on network shows, documentaries, commercials for clients like Blue Cross, the US Ski Team, the Vermont lottery, National Grid, and Land Rover and seen my work on all the major networks.

In 2014, I partnered with Joe De Sena. He's the founder and CEO of Spartan, which is now the world's largest endurance brand. He came to me and said let's do a podcast. Together we designed the concept, strategy, and format for the "Spartan Up podcast." We built it from an audience of zero to more than 40 million downloads and views and over 800 episodes. We've had lots of incredible guests you've heard of, and many you haven't heard of yet.

Today, I'm starting my own podcast "Grounded Content", holistic, authentic, grounded, effective content. I interview leaders in the content marketing, marketing, and messaging business, and share my own experiences to help you create content that's effective, grounded, authentic, and purposeful. Whether your goal is to sell a product or to express an idea.

Grounded Content - content strategy, marketing, and content creation Marion Abrams

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 21 Ratings

Tactical & effective meets grounded & honest in content creation, marketing, and content strategy. Real, practical, no B.S. advice, along with conversation about the lines between persuasion and manipulation in strategic content and marketing. I search out insights, strategies and tactics from the most accomplished thinkers and doers in the field.

My name is Marion Abrams. And for my entire 30 plus year career, I've been working behind the scenes telling stories, selling products, promoting people, and communicating ideas. I'm coming out from behind the mixer and getting on the mic to talk about something I'm really passionate about, and I truly believe in. The idea is that you can market, message, tell stories, sell brands, products, people, ideas, nonprofits and events, authentically.

That's what I mean by grounded content.

I've worked in production in video as a shooter, a writer, a producer, a director, and editor, as a social media manager and consultant. And as a behind the scenes Podcast Producer. I've worked on network shows, documentaries, commercials for clients like Blue Cross, the US Ski Team, the Vermont lottery, National Grid, and Land Rover and seen my work on all the major networks.

In 2014, I partnered with Joe De Sena. He's the founder and CEO of Spartan, which is now the world's largest endurance brand. He came to me and said let's do a podcast. Together we designed the concept, strategy, and format for the "Spartan Up podcast." We built it from an audience of zero to more than 40 million downloads and views and over 800 episodes. We've had lots of incredible guests you've heard of, and many you haven't heard of yet.

Today, I'm starting my own podcast "Grounded Content", holistic, authentic, grounded, effective content. I interview leaders in the content marketing, marketing, and messaging business, and share my own experiences to help you create content that's effective, grounded, authentic, and purposeful. Whether your goal is to sell a product or to express an idea.

    How to Get Your Ideas and Articles Published in High Profile Publications with Erica Holthausen

    How to Get Your Ideas and Articles Published in High Profile Publications with Erica Holthausen

    Are you an expert looking to get your work published in top magazines and journals? In this podcast episode, Erica Holthausen explains how to make it happen. 
     
    We talk about:
    The traditional way of getting published in high-profile publications, such as relying on connections or having a good publicist, is not as necessary as it used to be. Publications like Inc, Forbes, and Entrepreneur have a large need for content to drive traffic and advertising revenue, and they often rely on experts to provide this content. But how do you become one of them? Strategies for overcoming writer's block and grabbing the reader's attention. The ineffectiveness of the traditional five-paragraph essay structure and the importance of understanding the reader's perspective. Why you need to do research on the publication you're trying to get published in  Why you need a swipe file of headlines that resonate with you. Ways to overcome writer's block  How to make sure that an article grabs the reader's attention. What is a “Body of Work” and why do you need one?



    Quotes:
    "The five paragraph essay is garbage, It does not encourage critical thinking, there are a whole bunch of things about it that don't work."
    "If you have a clickbait headline, designed to get people to click, and then you don't deliver on what you promised, in that headline, you are blacklisted."
    "Their time is more valuable than yours every single time."
    "You have to understand what they're going through and make the articles skimmable"
     
    Website: Catchline Communications: https://catchlinecommunications.com/
    Book mentioned: "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder.
     
    Connect with Marion Abrams:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmotion/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madmotion
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
    Website: https://www.madmotion.com/

    • 38 min
    The Creativity Productivity Connection with guest Gregg Clunis

    The Creativity Productivity Connection with guest Gregg Clunis

    Are creativity and productivity at odds with one another? Today on” Grounded Content” host Marion Abrams asks Gregg Clunis, host and producer of "Tiny Leaps, Big Changes," to explore the relationship between these two seemingly conflicting forces and to share what his work in self development can teach content creators.  Discover the keys to consistently creating good work, find out how to get out of your own way and be productive as a creative, and gain insights from a veteran podcaster and independent creator on how to motivate yourself. Plus, explore the role of self development in boosting creativity, AND where those strategies fall flat. The key -  identify and work with your own creative process.
     
    There are a TON of lessons in this episode, here are just a FEW of them:
    It's important to take time to understand your own creative process and figure out what productivity looks like for you. As a self-employed person, it's important to remember that you have the freedom to work as much or as little as you want, as long as you can afford it. This can help you avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Pairing with a partner or accountability buddy can significantly increase the chances of success when building new habits or working on a project. It's important to question and examine common advice and beliefs, including those related to productivity and consistency, to see if they truly align with your own goals and values.  
    Connect with Gregg https://tlbc.co/
    Gregg’s book https://amzn.to/3ChXv4Y
     
    Connect with me:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmotion/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madmotion
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
    Website: https://www.madmotion.com/

    • 40 min
    Content Performance Culture and Some AI Chatter

    Content Performance Culture and Some AI Chatter

    Listen to the episode intro and you'll see I decided to try some AI content tools out.  The tool I mention in the show that is specifically for show notes is down today, so I decided to use ChatGPT for these show notes.  Unfortunately ChatGPT only knows what I tell it about the episode ... which means I basically have to write a description of the episode in order to get it to write a description of the episode ... but here's what it came up with when I asked for a "catchy title and episode description."
    Title: "Unleashing the Power of Effective Content Teams with Christoph Trappe"
    Description: In this episode of Grounded Content, we sit down with Christoph Trappe, Director of Content Strategy at Voxpopme and author of "Content Performance Culture." We discuss the importance of creating good effective content teams and cultures and how to unleash the full potential of your team to drive results. Christoph shares his insights and expertise on building high-performing content teams and creating a culture that supports and encourages great content. Tune in to learn how to take your content to the next level.
    You can find Chrristoph Trappe on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophtrappe/
    And you can fine me on Linkedin too https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
    Thanks!!
    Marion
     
     
     

    • 33 min
    The Perfect Pitch: How to Get the Attention You Deserve with Cristina Marcello

    The Perfect Pitch: How to Get the Attention You Deserve with Cristina Marcello

    A producer, podcaster, and PR expert Cristina Mercello has worked in radio and podcasting, and is currently a booking manager for Podchaser's Connect program. Christina is passionate about helping content creators get attention for their work.
    We are always looking for ways to get attention for our content,  products or campaigns. One way to do that is through a well-executed PR campaign. A big part of that is making sure you have a great pitch. I spoke with Cristina Marcello, who is a PR expert, about what makes a good pitch. They said that it's important to make sure that your pitch is not all about you, but is about how you can add value to the person you're pitching to… and their audience. 
    You need to do your research and figure out what their audience is interested in, and then make a connection between that and what you're offering. 
    "The more you give to other people, the more you help uplift other people, the more you're attracting good. Let's call it energy." - Cristina Marcello
    Here are some of the things we cover: 
    How to make your pitch more effective by adding value to the person you're pitching to. The importance of research in determining what an audience is interested in. The difference between pitching to radio and pitching to podcasts, and how each platform requires a different approach. Connect with Cristina:
    On Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-marcello/
     
    Connect with me:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmotion/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madmotion
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
    Website: https://www.madmotion.com/
     

    • 30 min
    Building Community in the Digital Age with guest Heather Parady

    Building Community in the Digital Age with guest Heather Parady

    Are WEB3 and Community the same thing? How do you build a community is that different from an audience? 
    In this episode you will learn: 
    What does community building really mean, and how do you do it effectively? What are the benefits of building a community versus simply building an audience? What are the different types of community, and which is right for you? "Building community is the hot topic in digital marketing and content right now, especially around the development of Web Three. But what does that really mean and. How do you do it?"
    Heather Parady is a restless creative who is an avid explorer of how to build community and what that means both philosophically and tactically. She has been running communities for several years, but when she started learning about Web 3 she started thinking about it more deeply. Heather has developed influential communities, co-hosted NFTs for Newbies, and has been hired by some big brands as a community building consultant.
     
    Are you struggling to build a community that feels meaningful and lasting? If you're feeling lost and frustrated, this episode is for you. You'll learn Heather Parady's philosophy on community building, so that you can create a community that is built on purpose and belonging.
     
    Find Heather Parady:
    https://www.heatherparady.com/
    Heather in Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady
    Heather on Twitter https://twitter.com/heatherparady



    Connect with me:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmotion/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madmotion
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
    Website: https://www.madmotion.com/
     
    Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/linah-macharia

    • 53 min
    How to Land Compelling Guests for Your Show with Reena Friedman Watts

    How to Land Compelling Guests for Your Show with Reena Friedman Watts

    How to Land Compelling Guests for Your Show with Reena Friedman Watts
    How do you find hard to find guests and book them? When should you think twice about sharing a great story? How did they get those Jerry Springer guests?
     Reena Friedman Watts worked on controversial and exciting TV shows, including Jerry Springer and Court TV.  She has great insights into booking guests. She is the host of the Better Call Daddy podcast, and her company is Megawatt Productions.
    When looking for guests, Reena advises starting conversations around what you're interested in. This way, the right people will gravitate towards you. 
    How to find and land celebrity and non-celebrity guests for your show. How to effectively use social media platforms to connect with guests. How to make decisions about what stories to pursue and how to handle sensitive information. LINKS:
    Reena's Podcast BetterCallDaddy.com
    Find Reena on Linkedin Linkedin.com/in/reenafriedmanwatts
    Get monthly email round-ups and a few announcements here: https://www.madmotion.com/groundedpodcast.html
    Follow Marion on social - she talks about content strategy, content creation, podcasting, Spartan & life in Vermont. 
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/madmotion/
    Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/madmotion/
     
    Hosted and produced by Marion Abrams
    Thank you to Stephanie Fuccio for editing on this episode
     

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
21 Ratings

21 Ratings

alitlc ,

Eye Opening Clarity

Marion does a great job of finding the perfect guests for each topic.
As an energy healthcare practitioner for 26 years I was accustomed to word-of-mouth recommendations to fill my practice. CoVid changed that so I needed to learn about online everything.
This show continually reveals what I didn’t know I didn’t know about reaching people who will benefit from my work and programs.
I feel so grateful I found you and the many experts I probably would not have known about to assist my growth and serve those seeking my services.
Thank you.

MikeVacca95 ,

Incredibly Valuable Show!

Marion is a fantastic host that is an expert in her field and really knows how to get valuable information from her guests so that the listener walks away with plan of action!

CMW71 ,

The Show For EVERY Content Creator

From the person dipping their toe into the rapids of content creation, to the seasoned professional, this show has something for everyone. It’s not only worth your time, you actually can’t afford not to listen.

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