Welcome back to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies shaping modern marketing.

In today’s episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, dives into a topic most businesses know they should care about… but often don’t until it’s too late:

AI, data privacy, and consumer trust — and how those three forces are colliding right now.

Reed is joined by Andy Sambandam, a proven entrepreneur, technologist, and privacy innovator. Andy is the Founder & CEO of Clarip, where he’s leading the charge in redefining how brands manage consumer data across digital channels. Under Andy’s leadership, Clarip has built a patent-pending, AI-driven platform that helps enterprises turn big data into smart, compliant, and trustworthy data.

Together, Reed and Andy unpack:

• Why data privacy is no longer optional — for businesses of any size
• The biggest misconceptions brands have about consumer privacy
• How AI introduces new privacy risks most companies aren’t prepared for
• Why transparency is the key to earning (and keeping) consumer trust
• How consent management can actually improve marketing performance, not limit it
• Which industries are most at risk — and why every business should care
• What the future of AI governance and privacy technology looks like

Andy also shares why he believes “privacy is freedom,” how modern data ecosystems quietly share information across hundreds of vendors, and how AI can be both a risk and a solution when implemented responsibly.

If you’re a marketer, founder, operator, or privacy-conscious leader trying to navigate AI without putting your brand (or customers) at risk, this is a must-listen episode.

🔗 Connect & Learn More

🎯 MarketSurge

• 🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
• 🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm
• 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
• 🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
• 📅 Book a Strategy or Demo Call:
  👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw

🧠 Clarip — AI-Driven Data Privacy & Consent Management

• 🌐 Website: https://clarip.com
• 📅 Book a Personalized Demo: https://clarip.com/demo

Want to stay ahead of what’s actually working in marketing right now?
Head to MarketSurge.io and see how we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder.

Because your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

🚀 Who Owns Your Content When AI Gets Involved?
Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest ideas and smartest strategies shaping the future of marketing, publishing, and business.

In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Julie Trelstad, Head of U.S. Publishing at Alet.ai and a publishing industry veteran with over 30 years of experience.

Julie has seen every major shift in publishing — from CD-ROM eBooks to Amazon’s rise — and today she’s helping creators navigate the next massive disruption: AI, content ownership, and creator rights.

If you’re a creator, author, marketer, coach, consultant, or business owner, this conversation will completely change how you think about ownership, ethics, and opportunity in an AI-powered world.

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode

• How AI training models actually use books, podcasts, and written content
• The truth about content ownership when AI is involved
• Why many creators don’t own the rights they think they do
• The difference between AI “training” vs AI “output” — and why it matters
• What recent lawsuits reveal about the future of creator compensation
• How AI creates new monetization opportunities (not just threats)
• Why transparency and machine-readable copyright are becoming essential
• How creators can protect and future-proof their work today

🧠 Key Takeaway

AI can’t exist without high-quality human content — and the creators who understand this shift early will be the ones who win long-term.

👤 About Our Guest: Julie Trelstad

Julie Trelstad is the Head of U.S. Publishing at Alet.ai and a longtime leader in global publishing and digital distribution. She helps authors and creators protect, license, and monetize their work in an AI-driven economy.

🔗 Julie’s Website: https://paperbacksandpixels.com
🔗 Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietrelstad/

📈 About MarketSurge

At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn tools into systems — and systems into growth. From CRM and automation to SEO, AI, and full-funnel marketing, we build growth engines that don’t rely on guesswork.

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

🧠 Want to see how MarketSurge works in real life?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

👍 If you found this episode valuable, like, subscribe, and share it with a creator who needs to hear this conversation.

Your next breakthrough shouldn’t be a guess. 🚀

Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to bold ideas, real-world strategies, and unfiltered conversations shaping modern marketing and business growth.

In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Stacey Hylen, a globally recognized business growth strategist, international keynote speaker, and author of Hidden Profits and More Clients & Cash.

Stacey has coached entrepreneurs from early-stage startups to eight-figure companies and previously served as VP of Consulting for Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery Program. Together, Reed and Stacey unpack how business owners can scale smarter by uncovering revenue already hiding inside their business — without sacrificing lifestyle, health, or family.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• What scaling really means and why most businesses get it wrong
• How to design your business around your life, not the other way around
• Where hidden profits live inside most companies
• Why reactivating past clients can unlock massive growth
• The most common profit leaks Stacey sees across industries
• Pricing mistakes entrepreneurs make and how to fix them confidently
• How to use AI as a strategic advantage without losing authenticity
• Simple AI workflows every entrepreneur should start with
• Lessons from working alongside Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes
• Why resourcefulness matters more than resources
• Leadership, communication, and leading with heart

Key takeaways:
• Scaling should enhance your life, not consume it
• You don’t always need more leads — you need better leverage
• Past clients are often your most profitable growth opportunity
• AI works best when it supports your strategy and sounds like you
• Big growth comes from focusing on the biggest levers, not busy work

About Stacey Hylen:
Stacey helps entrepreneurs add a zero without the hustle using ethical sales, smart marketing, and cutting-edge AI strategies. Her work has been featured on CNN, Fox Business, Inc., and more.

Learn more about Stacey:
staceyhylen.com

About Inside Marketing with MarketSurge:
Inside Marketing with MarketSurge breaks down what’s actually working in marketing, sales, AI, and entrepreneurship — minus the fluff.

Connect with MarketSurge:
Website: marketsurge.io
Podcast: marketsurge.transistor.fm
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
X / Twitter: x.com/marketsurging
Instagram: instagram.com/marketsurging

Want to see how MarketSurge helps turn tools into systems and systems into growth?
Book a 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

Subscribe for weekly conversations on marketing, AI, and scalable growth.

In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with John Dwyer (JD) — founder of The Institute of WOW and one of the most unapologetic voices in direct response marketing.

JD doesn’t believe in “spray and pray” advertising, brand vanity metrics, or waiting patiently for results. His philosophy is simple:
👉 Marketing exists to make the cash register ring. Period.

From helping small businesses generate avalanche-level leads on tiny budgets, to orchestrating iconic campaigns that brought Jerry Seinfeld into the world of banking ads, JD breaks down what actually works — and why most businesses are doing it wrong.

💥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between branding and direct response (and why small businesses can’t afford to confuse the two)
• JD’s problem → solution → proof → incentive framework that drives fast results
• Why incentives outperform discounts (and the psychology behind it)
• How contests and giveaways can generate thousands of high-intent leads
• The “WOW factor” that allows challenger brands to beat industry giants
• Real-world case studies from dentists, landscapers, dog food brands, banks, and more

If you’re a business owner, marketer, or agency tired of guessing and hoping your ads work — this episode will challenge how you think about marketing forever.

🔗 Connect with John Dwyer & The Institute of WOW

🌐 Website: https://theinstituteofwow.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/instituteofwow/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinstituteofwow

📈 About MarketSurge
At MarketSurge, we help businesses grow smarter, faster, and louder with systems that turn marketing into measurable revenue — not just noise.

👉 Learn more: https://marketsurge.io
🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

If this episode helped you think differently about marketing, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share — and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway.

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, we dive into a topic most companies think they understand — but few actually do well: cross-cultural integration.

We’re joined by Sandra Bonifacio, cross-cultural leadership coach, emotional intelligence expert, and founder of XPattitudes, to unpack why cross-cultural teams break down, how emotional misunderstandings derail performance, and what leaders can do to build truly inclusive, high-performing teams in a global workplace.

Whether you lead remote teams, manage expats, or work across cultures daily — this conversation is a must-watch.

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💡 What You’ll Learn

* Why cross-cultural integration fails even in well-intentioned companies
* The hidden emotional challenges expats and multicultural teams face
* Why “culture fit” can quietly kill creativity and retention
* How communication styles, feedback, humor, and work-life balance differ across cultures
* What leaders can do to build empathy, trust, and psychological safety
* Practical habits leaders can use to support expats and diverse teams

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👉 Key Highlights

* Cross-cultural training isn’t optional — it’s a leadership responsibility
* Emotional intelligence matters as much as technical skills
* Misunderstandings often come from tone, feedback style, and unspoken expectations
* Active listening and compassion are core leadership skills in global teams
* Strong multicultural teams don’t happen by accident — they’re designed

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👤 About Our Guest
Sandra Bonifacio is a cross-cultural leadership coach and emotional intelligence expert with over 20 years of experience helping leaders, teams, and global organizations navigate cultural transitions. She specializes in cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence, multicultural leadership, and supporting expats and their families through professional and personal change.

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🔗 Connect with Sandra
Website: https://xpattitudes.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-bonifacio-8a66328/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xpattitudes_sandrabonifacio/

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📈 About MarketSurge
At MarketSurge, we help businesses turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

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🔗 Useful Links
Website: https://marketsurge.io
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
Podcast:https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

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👍 If this episode helped you think differently about leadership, culture, and communication — like, subscribe, and share it with someone managing a global or diverse team.

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Russ Evans, Partner at ZS, to explore how AI is fundamentally changing consumer insights, brand strategy, and customer experience.

Russ leads ZS’s B2C practice, working with Fortune 100 brands to turn massive amounts of data into actionable insight — and insight into real business growth. This conversation goes beyond AI hype and into how brands can actually use AI to uncover hidden truths, map better customer journeys, and connect brand health to revenue.

If you’re a marketing leader, strategist, or founder trying to make sense of AI’s real impact on customers, this episode is required listening.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The biggest misconceptions brands still have about AI-driven insights
• How AI fits into the modern insights workflow (and where humans still matter)
• Why unstructured data is a goldmine most brands ignore
• Real examples of “unknown unknowns” uncovered through AI analysis
• Common mistakes brands make when mapping customer journeys
• Why most journey maps fail — and how to fix them
• How to actually measure brand health in a way that connects to revenue
• What agentic AI means for the future of marketing and insights

👉 Key Highlights:

✅ AI as an Insight Engine – How brands are using AI to ask better questions, not just analyze data
✅ Hidden Customer Behavior – Why observation beats surveys in uncovering new opportunities
✅ Journey Mapping Done Right – How to turn journey maps into living, operational tools
✅ Brand Health Metrics – Why too many KPIs kill clarity (and what to focus on instead)
✅ The Next Wave of AI – What autonomous AI agents mean for insights teams

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn data, tools, and ideas into systems that drive real growth.
If you want marketing that’s smarter, more connected, and built to scale — you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Guest & Resource Links

🌐 ZS Consulting: https://www.zs.com

🔗 MarketSurge Links

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Owen Garrity, Founder of FPW Media, to break down what actually makes storytelling work in a world flooded with AI-generated content.

Owen isn’t just talking theory — he’s built a fastest-growing agency by combining cinematic storytelling, in-house execution, and a relentless focus on authenticity. From award-winning films to brand campaigns that scale across every touchpoint, this conversation goes deep on why content is still king — and why AI doesn’t get the crown (yet).

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or agency owner, this episode will challenge how you think about brand, content, and trust.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why most brands fail to cut through today’s attention economy
• The real role AI should play in content and storytelling
• Why “too perfect” content actually hurts conversions
• How authenticity beats automation on Meta and beyond
• Why in-house creative teams unlock speed, quality, and consistency
• How visual thinking shapes the entire customer journey
• Where brands should start when rebuilding their story

👉 Key Highlights:

✅ Story Before Platform – Why starting with ads instead of narrative kills ROI
✅ AI as a Companion, Not a Replacement – How to use AI without eroding trust
✅ Authenticity Wins – Why UGC and human flaws outperform polished perfection
✅ Visual-First Strategy – How photography and film thinking improves conversion journeys
✅ 360° Brand Consistency – Why execution across every touchpoint matters

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn content into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want marketing that feels human but performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

🔗 Guest Links

🌐 FPW Media: https://fpwmedia.com/
💼 Owen Garrity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-garitty/

🔗 MarketSurge Links

🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Dan Nikas, Founder of Elite Brands and the strategist behind the explosive growth of GearBunch, an e-commerce brand that scaled from zero to over $5 million in its first year.

Dan’s journey is anything but typical. Before entering e-commerce, he spent 17 years as a homicide detective in Australia. That background shaped his unique approach to marketing, audience research, and customer psychology. Today, Dan is a Meta-certified lead trainer, Klaviyo partner, and a trusted voice in retention-driven growth for DTC brands.

This episode dives deep into what most brands overlook and how to unlock profit that’s already hiding inside your existing customer base.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
How Dan used investigative thinking to find buyers before building products
How GearBunch scaled to $5M in its first year
Why retention marketing beats acquisition in the long run
How to use unit economics to scale with confidence
Why most brands overspend on ads and how to fix it
How repeat customers create a lasting competitive advantage

Key takeaways:
Build audiences first, then products
Retention is where real profitability comes from
Knowing your numbers removes stress and guesswork
Better systems outperform more traffic

About our guest:
Dan Nikas is the Founder of Elite Brands, a growth and retention consultancy helping DTC brands build predictable, scalable revenue through data-driven marketing, full-funnel retention strategies, and customer experience optimization.

After scaling his own brand and working with multiple agencies, Dan built the agency he wished existed, focused on clarity, consistency, and results.

Learn more about Dan and Elite Brands:
https://www.elitebrands.org/

About the show:
Inside Marketing with MarketSurge breaks down what’s actually working in marketing today, without the fluff. Each episode delivers real-world strategies and honest conversations for founders, marketers, and growth-focused operators.

Learn more at:
https://marketsurge.io
Book a 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call
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Podcast: Inside Marketing with MarketSurge
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