Episodes

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Camberly Gilmartin, a seasoned marketing leader who has built her career on both the agency and corporate sides of the table. Currently leading marketing within the highly regulated world of community banking in the Pacific Northwest, Camberly brings a rare perspective to the conversation. From navigating acquisitions and compliance-heavy industries to leading multi-generational teams and championi...

How do you market a craft that most people don’t fully understand—and can’t buy on impulse? In this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Sam Arcot of Rugo Stone, a national natural stone contracting company that fabricates, installs, and restores everything from floors and walls to mosaics, statues, and historic stonework. Sam breaks down the real differentiator in a highly specialized industry: experience and expertise—and the humility to admit...

In this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Ann Barilleaux, SVP Marketing Director for JD Bank, Louisiana’s Community Bank™, to unpack what it really takes to market a bank—where compliance is non-negotiable and trust is everything. Ann shares how marketing in a regulated industry forces you to think differently: every message, sign, and disclaimer matters—down to FDIC rule changes that impact branch signage and product communication. But the bi...

What happens when your competitor becomes your sister brand—and you’re the one responsible for marketing both? In this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, repeat guest Sean Schnipper returns with a major update: Transervice Logistics merged with Lily Transportation in summer 2023—creating two legacy brands under one umbrella, operating in the same space, with decades of brand equity on both sides. Sean breaks down the real-world decisions that come with that kind of growth: ...

What happens to a brand when growth comes fast—and comes through acquisition? On this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, we sit down with Ronnie Hay of UBEO Business Services, a company that has completed 27 acquisitions since 2017. That kind of growth doesn’t just test systems and processes—it tests culture, trust, and brand integrity. Ronnie shares how UBEO approaches branding in the middle of constant change, from deciding what happens to names and logos, to communicatin...

What does it take to market a global tech company in an industry that still feels new to most buyers? In this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Mullin, who leads marketing in the Earth observation industry at Earth Daily—and (casually) also serves as the mayor of Wayzata, Minnesota. Andrew breaks down the real challenge of marketing in an early-adopter category: it’s not just building awareness for your company—it’s educating the market on why the c...

Marketing professional services is hard. Marketing accounting might be one of the hardest versions of that challenge. On this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, we sit down with Sunny Ricks, who leads marketing for a large, multi-state CPA firm across the Southeast. Together, we unpack what it really takes to build a brand in an industry defined by confidentiality, regulation, and trust. This conversation goes far beyond taxes. Sunny shares how professional services fir...

What happens when your company does incredible work… but you can’t show half of it? On this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, we talk with Lisa Kilwin of Midwest Machining Solutions, a full-service machining and fabrication shop she and her husband built from auction equipment… in a two-car garage… nearly 25 years ago. Lisa shares what it’s really like to grow a custom shop (not production) where every job is different, confidentiality is real, and relationships have liter...

Cummings Electrical isn’t the electrician you call when a breaker flips. They’re a major commercial and industrial contractor doing high-stakes electrical work for data centers, hospitals, high-rise multifamily, and massive builds across the country. On this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, we sit down with Matthew Stephenson, VP of Marketing at Cummings Electrical, to talk about what B2B marketing looks like when your “product” is trust, your risk is labor, and your g...

With a name like Sunshine Makarow, you expect bright energy — and she absolutely delivers. Sunshine joins us to talk about marketing in a highly technical, highly regulated healthcare environment, where your audience includes everyone from infection prevention teams and procurement to department managers and end users. In this episode, Sunshine shares how she balances emotional connection with scientific proof, how her team makes trade shows actually worth it, and why measuring marketing is non...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Greg Bowman of Precision Core, a leader in the corrugated manufacturing industry serving national brands—many of which you’ve seen every day without ever knowing who made the box. Greg shares the realities of marketing in a highly confidential, IP-protected industry where showing the work isn’t always an option, and traditional advertising rarely applies. From NDAs and private labeling to fierce co...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael talk with Meghan Marks, Chief Marketing Officer at Orca Security, about what it takes to build—and brand—a company in hypergrowth. With 15+ years in tech marketing at companies like Palo Alto Networks, Twistlock, and Siemens, Meghan knows how to turn complex categories into clear stories that drive real results. She breaks down: How marketing and sales work together instead of against each other What it takes...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael talk with Justin Davidson, Senior Marketing Manager for JE Dunn Construction’s Industrial & Manufacturing business unit — part of the company’s Advanced Facilities Group. JE Dunn is one of the largest construction firms in the country, delivering complex industrial and advanced manufacturing projects nationwide. Justin sits at the center of that work, leading marketing strategy and pursuit efforts that help the ...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Linda Richardson, a values-driven marketing executive leading Blue Stream Fiber’s expansion from Florida into Texas. Blue Stream isn’t a traditional internet provider—they partner directly with HOAs, developers, boards, and property managers through bulk fiber agreements. That means Linda isn’t marketing to everyone. She’s marketing to the right people. And when the company decided to enter Houston...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael talk with Jason Gough, a 25-year marketing veteran who went from supplements and nutraceuticals to stone, surfaces, and seriously big kitchens. After decades in traditional B2C products, Jason now leads marketing for Bedrock Quartz, navigating the unique challenge of serving both homeowners and custom home builders. Bedrock lives in that space where B2C retail, B2B relationships, and big-ticket decisions all col...

In this episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Andrew Burton—founder and President of Creekside Homes—who has spent decades turning custom home building into a brand of high-performance, beautifully designed homes in Northwest Oregon. Andrew’s story begins on a carpentry crew in high school, evolves into building his first business at age 19, and leads into founding Creekside Homes in 2003—driven by a commitment not just to build houses, but to...

What do you do when your product makes people pause, laugh—or even cringe? In this episode, Jaci and Michael talk with Rochelle Paulet, Marketing Director for Evolve Rat and Mouse Birth Control (yes, really), about the art of branding something the world didn’t know it needed. Rochelle shares what it takes to launch a category-defining product, manage B2B and B2C messaging at once, and build collaboration between marketing and sales that actually works. From reimagining packaging to developing...

This week, Jaci and Michael sit down with Liz Brooks, VP of Client Services at Interview Valet, to talk about how brands can use podcasting to build credibility and connection in a crowded market. From her roots in PR to helping hundreds of brands land on the right shows, Liz knows how to turn conversation into conversion. She shares insights on storytelling, authority marketing, and the art of being a great guest (the kind hosts actually want back). You’ll hear: Why podcasts are the new fron...

In this episode, Jaci and Michael Russo sit down with Zach Schleien, CEO and Co-Founder of Filteroff, the video speed dating app changing how people meet and connect online. Zach shares how building authentic relationships, whether in love or in business, comes down to one thing: authenticity. From creating a more honest dating experience to building multiple successful brands, Zach’s story is a masterclass in how to earn trust in a filtered world. They discuss what it takes to brand for conne...

This week, Jaci and Michael sit down with David Feinman, Co-Founder and CEO of Viral Ideas, to talk about the art (and science) of video that actually gets watched. From building The Zombie Run in college to leading a global video-editing agency today, David’s entrepreneurial journey is all about turning big ideas into scalable systems without losing creativity. He shares how Viral Ideas has grown from a $200 experiment into a seven-figure operation—and why the best videos don’t just look good,...

In this episode, Jaci and Michael Russo sit down with Charlie Grinnell, CEO of Right Metric, to unpack how marketers can stop drowning in data and start using it to make smarter decisions. Charlie shares how Right Metric helps brands cut through the noise, focusing on what people do rather than what they say. From uncovering the hidden truths in customer behavior to leveraging AI responsibly, this conversation blends strategy, creativity, and humor (yes, even about insurance ads). You’ll hear:...

In this special creative team takeover episode of the He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Michael Russo steps in with brandRUSSO’s designers and developers for a candid conversation about the role of design in branding—and why it matters more than ever. They delve into the invisible impact of design, why people often only notice when it’s bad, and how brand touchpoints (from logos to typography to campaign visuals) shape the customer experience. The team also weighs in on the controvers...

In this special host-only episode, Michael and Jaci Russo pull back the curtain on what’s really holding brands back—and it’s not just budget or competition. From the dangerous “If we build it, they will come” mindset to the overreliance on social media as a silver bullet, they explore why so many marketing efforts fail to connect. They also delve into the critical role of touchpoints, the underestimated value of internal culture, and why every team member—regardless of their title—is part of b...

In this episode, Jaci and Michael Russo sit down with Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the iconic Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, to explore how culture, values, and vision shape brands from the inside out. From dishwashing to deli ownership to thought leadership, Ari shares his unorthodox journey into entrepreneurship—including lessons in humility, the importance of visioning, and why leadership isn’t about hierarchy. You’ll hear: Why every “small” detail—like the salt level in soup—impacts...