Is Anything Real?

Adam W. Barney
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Is Anything Real? is the Reality-First Leadership podcast for builder-leaders who want outcomes, not optics. Each week, Adam W. Barney sits down with founders and operators to unpack positioning, marketing, community, energy management, and influence - plus the numbers behind what actually worked. You’ll hear: a quick Reality Check, a practical Proof Stack (inputs → actions → outcomes), and one EnergyOS habit you can run this week. Specifics over slogans; humane systems over hustle cosplay. New episodes every Wednesday at 12:00 PM ET. 👉 Book your 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

  1. Reddit = Real: Zero-Click Wins & Comment Ads | Ep. 42 w/ Colin Belyea (Karmic)

    3D AGO

    Reddit = Real: Zero-Click Wins & Comment Ads | Ep. 42 w/ Colin Belyea (Karmic)

    Reddit is the trust engine of the internet. It’s where buyers validate big decisions - and where AI and search borrow real perspective. In this episode, Colin James Belyea (Co-Founder, Karmic) shares a field-tested playbook for winning on Reddit without astroturfing or getting banned. What you’ll learn The why now: Reddit’s role in zero-click journeys and high-consideration purchasesHow to build credibility (karma + participation) before a single brand postThe comment-elicitation thread structure that multiplies saves, replies, and CTRPromoted thread settings that invite discussion instead of backlashSafety: disclosure, language, and moderation that keep you brand-safeMeasuring impact when clicks under-report: brand search, holdouts, blended C**A 30-day quickstart from lurker → contributor → repeatable results Guest Colin James Belyea - Co-Founder, Karmic • withkarmic.com • linkedin.com/in/colinjamesbelyea • colin@withkarmic.com Host Adam W. Barney - Is Anything Real? (Reality-First Leadership) • adamwbarney.com • Book: Make Your Own Glass Half Full 👉 Need a reality-first plan? Book a 20-min Transition Leadership Foundation Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/foundation-call-20min

    22 min
  2. Brand Soul > Super Bowl Shine | Exclusive Drop Ep. 41 w/ Steve Biegel (Dreamboat Group)

    FEB 6

    Brand Soul > Super Bowl Shine | Exclusive Drop Ep. 41 w/ Steve Biegel (Dreamboat Group)

    Award-winning strategist Steve Biegel shows why purpose outperforms spectacle - and how to use Think > Say > Do to win beyond Super Bowl weekend. This exclusive drop lands the Friday before the Super Bowl and the opening of the Winter Olympics - for a reason. Steve Biegel (Dreamboat Group; ex-Ogilvy) unpacks how purpose beats spectacle, when celebrity helps instead of hurts, and why Think > Say > Do is the simplest path to tribes that buy for years, not days. We cover Using tent-pole moments without faking itThe right and wrong way to deploy celebrityA practical definition of purpose in 2026The protest-ad fiasco vs. AmEx + Jerry SeinfeldWhat Bernbach/Ogilvy/Reeves would do with TikTok & AIWhere the first dollar of a $10M brand budget should goChapters 00:00 Cold open - the problem with glitter & spectacle 00:44 Purpose & the soul of a brand 01:29 Long-term relationships > short-term metrics 05:55 Super Bowl celebs: attention vs. value 07:17 Case that worked: AmEx x Seinfeld 08:47 Case that flopped: protest-ad fiasco 10:41 The Think > Say > Do framework 13:47 What the winners do in the next decade 16:21 If I had $10M…where the first dollar goes 18:47 Reframing a conservative category around smart risk 20:23 What the legends would say about TikTok & AI 22:34 Where to find Steve + his book 23:11 Close: “Purpose burns long.” Links Steve Biegel - Dreamboat Group: thedreamboatgroup.com Steve: stevebiegel.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-biegel-1b03503/ Host: Adam W. Barney - Transition Leadership Foundation Call (20 min) → https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/foundation-call-20min

    24 min
  3. Regulated Ads, Real Plays - What Still Works | Ep. 40 w/ Alexandra Prochshenko (Veloria)

    FEB 4

    Regulated Ads, Real Plays - What Still Works | Ep. 40 w/ Alexandra Prochshenko (Veloria)

    Regulated categories aren’t impossible - just unforgiving. Founder Alexandra Prochshenko (Veloria) and I get brutally practical about what still works in paid media when you’re competing in red-ocean auctions or navigating policy landmines. We cover tiny budgets that actually move the needle, how to avoid flags, and why your offer + funnel beats any hack. 👉 Need a reality-first plan? Book your 20-min Exploration: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min What you’ll learn Red-ocean truth: Meta/Google costs aren’t broken - you’re just bidding in crowded auctions. Here’s how to win anyway.$2/day local workshop play: tight geo, one clear outcome, short run, retarget all engagers - why this still converts.Small budget survival: most “failed” ads are offer/funnel failures; run 6–8 creative variations minimum.YouTube ads that work: story > length; open strong, stack proof, ship multiple cuts - not one “hero.”Regulated brands: use buffer pages, policy-safe language, and sequenced education to avoid flags.Search is changing: why founders should optimize for ChatGPT visibility (structured answers, sourceable pages).Diversify attention: blend paid with community, email, partnerships; measure signals over vanity. Guest Alexandra Prochshenko - Founder, Veloria (The app that brings pleasure back for women with pelvic pain.) Site: https://www.veloria.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-prochshenko/ Email: prochshenko.a@gmail.com • veloria.app@gmail.com About the show Is Anything Real? with Adam W. Barney - Reality-First Leadership for founders and operators who want proof over theater and growth without burnout. Work with Adam 👉 EnergyOS: book your 20-min Exploration → https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

    25 min
  4. Founder-First VC: Equity, Access & Real Signals | Ep. 39 w/ Christina Quinn (SSC VP)

    JAN 28

    Founder-First VC: Equity, Access & Real Signals | Ep. 39 w/ Christina Quinn (SSC VP)

    Founder-First VC: Equity, Access & Real Signals General Partner Christina Quinn (SSC Venture Partners) sits down with Adam W. Barney to move beyond the panel talk and into practice: which signals actually earn a second meeting, how to translate messy early traction into credible proof, and concrete ways funds and founders can widen the on-ramp for underrepresented builders...without performative theater. In this episode: Signals VCs trust: customer pull, learning velocity, and the right kind of focusNoise to ignore: vanity metrics, bloated roadmaps, and “partnerships” that aren’tEquity → operations: process changes that expand access (deal flow, diligence, support)Deck clarity: the 6-slide path that respects everyone’s energy and still lands the pointEnergyOS move: one weekly habit to protect momentum while fundraising 3 takeaways you can use today Clarity > volume. Lead with one sharp problem, one real customer proof, one next milestone.Access needs a system. Make inclusion a process, not a press release—change sourcing and the first-meeting gate.Protect your energy. Schedule your recharge/review loop before you ship; it’s how you keep signal high for the long game. Guest • Christina Quinn, General Partner - SSC Venture Partners • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamquinn/ • Firm: https://sscventurepartners.com/ • Email: christina@sscventurepartners.com Host Adam W. Barney - Transition Leadership Coach & host of Is Anything Real?, the Reality-First Leadership show for builders who optimize for proof over theater. 👉 Book a 20-min Foundation Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/foundation-call-20min Support the show (48-hour push) Follow on Apple/Spotify and turn on Auto-downloadDrop a 5★ review with “Lead with Humanity” in your note, language that helps others find it this week Chapters 00:00 Why founder-first still wins 02:11 Real signals vs. theater 07:08 Equity into operations 12:45 Turning early traction into proof 18:10 Deck clarity and decision hygiene 23:40 EnergyOS habit for momentum 26:55 Next steps for founders

    26 min
  5. Introvert Leadership: Inclusion Without Burnout | Ep. 38 w/ Sharon Hurley Hall (Introvert Sisters)

    JAN 24

    Introvert Leadership: Inclusion Without Burnout | Ep. 38 w/ Sharon Hurley Hall (Introvert Sisters)

    What if leadership stopped rewarding loudness and started rewarding truth? In this exclusive drop, Sharon Hurley Hall (journalist, author, anti-racism educator, and Co-Founder of The Introvert Sisters) joins Adam W. Barney to unpack impact without exhaustion: introverts as powerful leaders, boundaries that protect your best work, why “resilience” gets misused, and how to build communities that care while you still care for yourself. You’ll leave with a humane playbook and one EnergyOS move you can run today.   Links Sharon: https://sharonhh.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonhh/The Introvert Sisters (podcast): https://theintrovertsisters.com/Grab a copy of her book, "I'm Tired of Racism": https://www.amazon.com/Im-Tired-Racism-Stories-Existing/dp/9769546917Email: hello@sharonhurleyhall.comCheck out Hiyer: https://www.hiyer.pro/ Work with Adam 👉 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

    23 min
  6. Say Something True: Authentic Growth & Rev-Share Plays | Ep. 37 w/ Aaron Wolpoff (Double Zebra)

    JAN 21

    Say Something True: Authentic Growth & Rev-Share Plays | Ep. 37 w/ Aaron Wolpoff (Double Zebra)

    “Say something true.” In this episode, Aaron Wolpoff (Owner and Fractional CMO, Double Zebra) and I unpack authentic growth: the one-truth positioning pass, when rev-share/partner models beat hourly retainers, and how to set boundaries so generosity doesn’t become unpaid consulting. We also cover making paid media feel human again - and the EnergyOS move that creates momentum today. Highlights One-truth positioning (cut the bloat, earn attention)Rev-share done right: incentives, pitfalls, guardrailsFrom “free advice” to formalized valuePaid media with a pulse: people at the centerEnergyOS: progress from what’s within reach - ship daily Guest links • Website: https://doublezebra.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingaaron/ • Email: aaron@doublezebra.com Work with Adam 👉 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

    23 min
  7. AR/VR, Not Hype: 70/20/10 Testing & Real-World Plays | Ep. 36 w/Adam Ortman (Kinetic319)

    JAN 14

    AR/VR, Not Hype: 70/20/10 Testing & Real-World Plays | Ep. 36 w/Adam Ortman (Kinetic319)

    Is spatial computing the next real channel...or another metaverse mirage? Adam Ortman (CEO/Founder, Kinetic319) brings operator truth: how to explore AR/VR without gambling the quarter, what the 1990s internet can teach us about adoption curves, and the 70/20/10 test budget that protects your core while finding edge wins. We also cover where the early inventory actually is (Roblox, console placements) and the leadership scripts that keep experiments sane.   You’ll learn A simple checklist for “is immersive worth it for us… now?”  The 70/20/10 play to test bold ideas without blowing trust or budget.  Channels to try first and how to attribute them sensibly.  One EnergyOS move to keep curiosity high and hype low.  Guest links • Site: https://kinetic319.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-ortman/ • Email: adam@kinetic319.com Work with Adam 👉 Book your 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

    22 min
  8. Micro Beats Macro: Real Influence, Not Bot Views | Ep. 35 w/Matt Anthes (Advocators)

    JAN 7

    Micro Beats Macro: Real Influence, Not Bot Views | Ep. 35 w/Matt Anthes (Advocators)

    Matt Anthes (ex-federal campaign strategist, now Founder of Advocators) explains why micro and nano influencers outperform “big name” buys...and how to operationalize an advocate army that actually converts. We cover fraud in pay-per-view deals, AI’s role from segmentation to virtual creators, and a field-tested flow for activating 20+ localized creators with message variants mapped to sub-audiences.   You’ll learn Authenticity > optics: the advocacy model and how to measure real impact.  The danger of vanity metrics (why per-view pricing gets gamed) and what to track instead.  Matching creators with 100+ affinity data points and coordinating message buckets.  AI you can use (audience, creative, VO) vs. AI to avoid (fake faces, fake clicks).  Why Reddit is rising in discovery and how it ties to search/Gen-AI results.   Connect with Matt • Website: https://advocators.ai/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewanthes/ • Email: matt@advocators.ai Work with Adam 👉 Book your 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

    25 min
See All (43)

Trailer

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Is Anything Real? is the Reality-First Leadership podcast for builder-leaders who want outcomes, not optics. Each week, Adam W. Barney sits down with founders and operators to unpack positioning, marketing, community, energy management, and influence - plus the numbers behind what actually worked. You’ll hear: a quick Reality Check, a practical Proof Stack (inputs → actions → outcomes), and one EnergyOS habit you can run this week. Specifics over slogans; humane systems over hustle cosplay. New episodes every Wednesday at 12:00 PM ET. 👉 Book your 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min

Information

  • Creator
    Adam W. Barney
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Adam W. Barney. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Is Anything Real?