Hello and welcome to “Let’s Talk” a series dedicated to all things media, marketing and technology. I’m your host, Cynthia Nelson, 3x entrepreneur, Forbes contributor, author, investor and advisor. Each episode features an esteemed CEO, author, artist, marketer, entrepreneur, creator, or brand sharing invaluable tips and expert advice on navigating the realms of business, media, and life
What separates a founder from a CEO? According to Eli Portnoy—it’s humility, discipline, and protecting your mental runway.
Eli’s no stranger to building and scaling companies—he’s successfully founded and exited two startups (Sense360 and Thinknear), and is now back at it with BackEngine.ai, building the future of applied AI.
In a recent conversation, Eli shared some standout lessons:
🔹 Hire people better than you to ele...
🚨 Cookies are crumbling—and Jeff Greenfield is already building what comes next.
Dubbed the “Cookie Monster” for his unmatched expertise in advertising attribution, Jeff is now leading Provalytics, an AI-powered, cookie-less platform reshaping how we measure marketing—especially in channels like CTV and podcasts.
In a recent conversation, Jeff dropped insight after insight:
🍪 What the “cookie apocalypse” really means for...
🎥 When it comes to B2B video, Tim Bradley is not just making content—he’s shifting strategy.
As CEO of Pennant Media, Tim built the Video Marketing Trifecta™—a mid-funnel power move that combines brand narrative, buyer enablement, and social proof to help B2B brands actually convert, not just impress. It’s thoughtful, data-driven, and built for the real buyer journey.
💡 Tim’s worked with giants like Cisco and Philips and wi...
From building bikes in his Queens apartment to building worlds for kids, Don Moody has always been a creator at heart.
After a start in art school and the ad world, Don’s first big leap was WordWorld—a breakthrough PBS series inspired by his young daughter Liola. It didn’t just teach kids to read—it became a 360° media success that shaped a generation of early learners.
Fast forward to today, Don’s newest adventure—Codie Bloc...
We haven’t seen the influencer-first CMO yet—but when we do, there will be a reckoning for how advertising budgets are built, spent, and justified.
Few people have been more prepared for that moment than James Nord, Founder & CEO of Fohr—the original influencer marketing company in the U.S.
Since 2012, James has:
• Built a 250,000+ creator network
• Delivered $300M+ in influencer-led campaigns
• Partnered with iconic bran...
When it comes to e-commerce, Richard Chalme, Rockstar CEO of BlueSwitch, is a true original. With over 25 years in the space, he’s helped brands navigate—and thrive—through wave after wave of digital disruption.
He didn’t set out to become a tech entrepreneur. In the early 2000s, unsure of his path, he teamed up with a partner, blending his love of media with tech. That leap became the foundation for Blueswitch. Fast forward to ...
🚨 Today on we sit down with Sabir Semerkant , eCommerce strategist and growth mastermind 🚨
With over $1B in revenue generated, endorsements from GaryVee, Neil Patel, and Shark Tank ABC’s Matt Higgins, and clients like Canon USA, Tommy Hilfiger, and Sour Patch Kids, Sabir brings both credibility and clarity to the chaos of modern growth.
We dive into:
✅ Why he’s here to kill your hope and give you a prescription and a plan vs...
🚀 Meet Brian Vella: A Visionary Leader in Innovation & Customer Experience
As CEO of AKQA #APAC, Brian Vella has spent his career shaping innovative brands, exceptional customer experiences, and high-performing teams. A true digital pioneer, he brings a growth-driven mindset to helping businesses navigate digital transformation and unlock new opportunities in an era defined by AI, data, and emerging tech.
In this episode we chat...
🔥 Redefining Marketing & Leadership: The Sam Budd Way 🔥
From launching Spotify’s seed marketing program to working with Social Chain, and then boldly starting his own company with Apple as his first client, Sam Buddy has always been ahead of the curve. But what truly sets him apart isn’t just his marketing expertise—it’s his human-first approach to business.
At Buddy Media, Sam has taken a groundbreaking step by bringing an...
🚀Neil Twa: Mastering E-Commerce & Amazon FBA Success 🚀
When it comes tobuilding, scaling, and selling e-commerce brands,Neil Twa is a name you need to know. As theCEO & Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, Neil has spentover 17 years pioneering e-commerce growth, specializing inAmazon FBA and multi-channel brand expansion.
Since leaving his senior role atIBM, Neil has:
• Launched 5+ personal brands
• Generated tens of millions i...
✨ Today, we’re excited to feature Lior Arussy, recognized globally as one of the foremost authorities on Customer Experience and Strategy Execution.
Lior’s innovative insights have transformed how organizations connect with their customers, turning interactions into unforgettable experiences and strategies into measurable success. With a career spanning decades, he has worked with some of the world’s leading brands to redefine exc...
🧨 My 2025 Predictions 🧨
💰 More Capital is Coming to the Startup WorldIt’s been a rocky ride for the past 18+ months, but I’m optimistic that new capital is on its way. There’s growing demand for well-developed, revenue-generating ideas—not just hyper-growth promises. By Q1, I expect we’ll see investors loosening their purse strings. Maybe not a flood, but at least a much-needed rain to nurture the right ventures!
🎉 Spotlight on Leadership: Chris Parnell, CEO of NewGen Agency
Chris Parnell is redefining what it means to lead in the ever-evolving world of creator lead marketing. As CEO of NextGen Agency, Chris brings visionary leadership, a passion for innovation, and a relentless focus on results. Under his guidance, NextGen has become a powerhouse, delivering cutting-edge strategies that help brands not only keep up with GenZ and Gen Alpha...
This is an insightful interview with Dave discussing the challenges of scaling enterprise-level video shopping and how Stage Ten has pivoted to launch a groundbreaking new platform. With all Shopify merchant content housed in a “superstore,” creators can now easily select multiple products and quickly produce shoppable shows all with one click/one basket checkout. This is far more than just another affiliate program—it’s a game-cha...
Today, we’re catching up with Eitan Koter, CEO of Vimmi. Nearly a year ago, we discussed the future of video commerce. Today, he’s back to share his insights on what’s unfolded since then and what lies ahead for the world of video commerce.
We’re excited to share an insightful interview with Michael Sigel, CEO of SCO2, where he delves into the intersection of passion and innovation in the food production industry. Michael shares how SCO2 is leading the way in sustainability by helping companies turn waste into valuable resources, reduce environmental impact, and unlock new revenue streams. 🚀
From extracting oils from hops for craft brewers to transforming food waste...
As a CEO or leader, taking accountability isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a powerful tool for growth. When you own your decisions, actions, and outcomes, you create a culture of trust and integrity within your organization. Accountability doesn’t mean avoiding mistakes, but rather owning them, learning from them, and leading by example. It’s about showing your team that you’re willing to step up and take responsibility, no matter ...
❗ Excited to share an insightful conversation with Luke Peters, Founder of Apex CEO and a true entrepreneurial visionary!
🚀 Luke’s journey started in his garage, where he built NewAir into one of America’s fastest-growing private internet retailers, surpassing $600 million in sales with a peak of $80 million in just one year. Now, as Executive Chairman, Luke is helping fellow entrepreneurs navigate their paths to successful exits...
🌟 Excited to have Susan Willeg, CEO and Chief Brand Strategist of TrueNorth, on our podcast! Susan is a visionary marketing executive with a remarkable career in global brand strategy and market development. From leading brands like Edwards Lifesciences and Thomson Reuters to pioneering digital innovation in the medical device industry, Susan has always been at the forefront of impactful change.Her commitment to health equity and ...
From his days at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to becoming a tech #CEO, keynote speaker on engagement, productivity, and AI, Stephen Butler is a force to be reckoned with. His latest triumph. co-authored with Karissa Price, “Why Is a Verb: How Well-Managed Firms Turn Purpose Into Productivity,” skyrocketed to #1 on Amazon’s Business Teams and #Leadership categories. His TEDX talk, “Why Your Job Isn’t Meaningless,” further amplifies...
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!