The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast

Most press releases never earn real coverage—but a small percentage consistently attract journalists and drive meaningful exposure. In this episode, John Jantsch talks with Mickie Kennedy about how small businesses can write press releases that generate real media coverage by focusing on story angles, contrarian insights, and strategic earned media opportunities. They explore how to use AI to structure stronger press releases, avoid syndication traps, and create newsworthy narratives journalists actually want. If you want a practical press release strategy for small business marketing that leads to visibility and credibility, this conversation shows you how to do it right.
00:00 Introduction
01:32 AI Press Releases and Earned Media
04:54 Pandemic PR Success Story
08:45 Enemy Narratives in PR
13:53 Smart Newswire Strategy
20:48 Free PR Masterclass and Resources
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What does it take to build a business that thrives in the age of artificial intelligence? In this episode, John Jantsch talks with Derek Rydall about why the real competitive advantage in an AI-driven world isn't better tools—it's deeper humanity, authentic perspective, and lived experience. They explore how business owners can avoid outsourcing their thinking, strengthen creativity and communication skills, and rediscover the founder energy that makes brands irreplaceable. If you want to future-proof your business strategy in the AI era, this conversation offers a powerful roadmap.
00:00 Introduction
01:31 Discovering Emergent Potentia
06:07 Risks of Outsourcing Thinking to AI
14:05 Human Skills as the AI-Era Moat
16:31 How Founders Must Adapt for AI
20:50 Community, Humanity, and Authenticity
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Why do so many businesses fail even when the product is strong? In this episode, Brian Will explains why founder sales skills—not funding, markets, or strategy—often determine whether a business survives. He shares practical sales conversation techniques, negotiation strategies, and simple ways entrepreneurs can close more deals by asking better questions and listening more. If you're a business owner who avoids selling or wants a clearer sales system that actually works, this episode shows how improving your approach to sales can unlock real business growth.
00:00 Introduction
02:42 Turning Talent Into a Sales System
04:16 Sales Mistakes and the Power of No
07:34 Why Negotiation Starts With No
10:49 Core Sales Principles That Close Deals
12:54 Ask Questions and Build Trust
15:15 Talking Price Without Losing Sales
18:51 Final Advice for Sales Success

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Aiko Bethea explains why your team's behavior often reflects the values you model as a leader—and how misalignment can quietly weaken trust, communication, and culture. She introduces her Anchored, Aligned, Accountable framework to help business owners strengthen self-leadership, create psychological safety at work, and lead with clarity and intention. You'll learn how scarcity thinking, avoidance of hard conversations, and unclear expectations can block honest feedback and team performance. If you want to build a culture where employees speak up, stay accountable, and align with your leadership values, this conversation offers practical insight you can apply immediately.
00:00 Aiko Bethea on Culture Gaps
02:09 Self-Validation and BS Barriers
04:20 Scarcity vs Abundance Mindset
05:43 Kindness Around Feedback
07:29 Shadow Sides of Leadership Values
10:29 Leadership Impact
13:10 Safe Spaces and Power Dynamics
15:03 Elevating Voices With Accountability
17:34 Diagnosing Relationship Misalignment

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What if the reason your business feels stuck isn't effort, but misdiagnosis? In this episode, John Jantsch talks with Kevin D. St. Clergy about blind blaming—the habit of fixing the wrong problems while real growth opportunities go unnoticed. They explore how cognitive bias in business decision making affects marketing results, leadership mindset, and team performance, and share practical ways to identify root causes instead of symptoms. Learn how shifting from transactional services to a trusted advisor approach can unlock better decisions and stronger business growth.
00:00 Blind Blaming Explained Through Baseball
03:03 Blind Blaming in Business Decisions
06:09 Time Blocking for Entrepreneurs
09:03 Cognitive Bias and Blind Blaming
12:29 From Vendor to Trusted Advisor
17:36 Transformational Growth Shift
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