The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek is joined by Taylor Frame, Chief Revenue Officer at Best Practice Media. Taylor knows what it really takes to grow agency revenue in a market that’s full of hesitation and slow-moving buyers.

With economic uncertainty and client priorities shifting by the week, Taylor shares a refreshingly honest take on the sales challenges agencies are up against, and...

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek is joined by Jennifer Kaplan, Founder of Evolve PR and Marketing, an industry veteran who’s had a front-row seat to the seismic shifts reshaping how we communicate.

In a marketing landscape defined by constant change, Jennifer breaks down what’s actually working today in PR, from the rising influence of podcasts and creators to the high-stakes...

This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes Lori Highby, CEO and Founder of Keystone Click, for an honest and practical conversation about what it really looks like to run a digital agency in the age of AI. 

 Lori shares how her and her team are weaving AI into daily operations, not just the flashy stuff, but the messy, behind-the-scenes realities most agencies aren’t talking about. She tackles how AI is rew...

This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast examines a challenge every agency leader has faced at one point or another: watching a promising new client relationship fall apart too soon.

Today’s guest is Chip Griffin, Founder of the Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA), and he’s here to unpack how to set agency-client relationships up for success before the contract is even signed.

Chip candid...

This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes Saul Marquez, Founder and CEO of Outcomes Rocket, an expert in digital marketing for the healthcare sector. Saul dives into the core challenges agencies face in proving the effectiveness of digital campaigns and building lasting client trust, especially when expectations and reality don’t always match up. 

Saul breaks down the critical framework of ass...

Today’s episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast is a must-listen if you’ve ever found yourself staring down an empty pipeline, wondering where your next opportunity will come from. Sharon Toerek is joined by Tom Martin, Founder and CEO of Converse Digital. 

Tom doesn’t pull punches when it comes to one of the most critical and overlooked agency challenges: consistent business development in an unpredictab...

Leading a fast-growing agency comes with unique challenges. How do you scale at speed without losing your culture, your talent, or your edge?

This special milestone episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast (we’ve hit 300 episodes today, all!) features Stephanie Spicer, President of Luquire, an agency recognized for its rapid growth and i...

This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes back Karl Sakas, a familiar and trusted voice in the agency world. Through Sakas & Company, Karl offers custom consulting, executive coaching and training programs and products to help agency owners “up-level” at their agency.

He joins this episode of The Innovative Agency to share powerful and practical strategies straight from his latest book, Calm T...

In this episode of The Innovative Agency, Sharon Toerek is joined by Ellen Praytor Faulkner, CEO of Lewis Communications, a performance marketing powerhouse with deep roots and a forward-thinking edge. Ellen opens up about what it really takes to lead an agency through transition, stepping into the CEO role in the wake of COVID and steering through the ripple effects of economic headwinds and rapid tech shifts. 

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek is joined by Lindsey DeWitte. Lindsey is Chief Impact Officer at BarkleyOKRP, one of the largest independent agencies in the country. 

With economic and political headwinds reshaping the landscape, agency leaders are being called to step up in new ways, as steady hands for their clients and as champions of meaningful, values-driven work. 

Li...

This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes agency veteran and Bizzuka CEO John Munsell for a no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to lead an agency through the AI revolution. Drawing on decades of experience and real-world trials, John shares the hard truths and smart moves behind his transition from traditional agency life to the forefront of AI integration.

As agencies wrestle wit...

Today's episode of The Innovative Agency explores the real story behind brand with Justin Hoot, Partner and Director of Client Services & Growth at Chicago’s Someoddpilot. This isn’t your typical conversation about logos and taglines; we’re talking brand as culture, as community, as a living, breathing relationship between agencies and their clients.

Justin pulls back the curtain on why so many brands get ...

Today The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes Patrick Taggart, Chief Creative Officer of SkyBlue Creative, for a candid conversation about the power and challenges of video in modern brand storytelling. 

As agencies face questions about authenticity, AI, and the pressure to “go big” with video content, Patrick explores his approach to unscripted, conversational video that brings out the genuine stories behi...

In this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek sits down with serial entrepreneur Erik Olson, CEO of several thriving digital marketing agencies. Erik pulls back the curtain on his journey from running a single agency to building a powerful network under a holding company model.

Erik shares the bold choices behind specialization versus diversification, and how each path impacts growth, sca...

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek explores the game-changing impact of AI in marketing agencies with guest Mike Todasco—former VP of Innovation at PayPal and now a professor at San Diego State University. 

This episode tackles the big questions: How can AI elevate agency-client relationships? Where do the biggest opportunities (and risks) lie? 

Mike shares how to ...

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek explores the fascinating intersection of buyer psychology and AI-driven marketing with Rai Cornell, Founder of Cornell Content Marketing. 

With a background in psychology, Rai brings a unique perspective on how human behavior shapes effective content strategies. She unpacks the role of human insight in modern marketing, revealing how agencies ...

In this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Adam Nathan of Blaze AI joins Sharon Toerek  to discuss the integration of AI into agencies, exploring both the opportunities it presents and the fears it evokes. 

Adam shares insights into how agencies can leverage AI to enhance their operations and outlines strategies for agency leaders to position themselves for future success. Discover how forward-think...

In this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek sits down with Tom Conlon, Founder of North Street, a branding-focused agency based in New York.

Tom made a bold strategic move, doubling down on a niche, and that led to the launch of his new venture, Circulent. He was able to harness his team’s existing skills to turn specific expertise into a standalone revenue stream.

Tom prov...

Sharon Toerek sits down with Brad Farris, Principal of Anchor Advisors, for a powerful conversation on The Innovative Agency Podcast. This episode tackles a critical yet often overlooked question: What is the real role of a CEO in an agency? 

Brad breaks down the key responsibilities that separate working in the business from working on it—and why that distinction is vital for growth and innovation. Packed...