Marketing Spark (The B2B SaaS Marketing Podcast)

How do nonprofits compete for attention, donations, and impact in a noisy digital world?In this episode of the Marketing Spark podcast, host Mark Evans speaks with Javan Van Gronigen, co-founder of Donate.ly, a fundraising platform that has helped nonprofits raise hundreds of millions of dollars.Javan shares the story behind Donate.ly and how his experience working with nonprofits revealed a major gap in fundraising technology. Many organizations struggle with complex systems and tools that slow them down instead of helping them grow. Donate.ly was built to simplify fundraising while giving organizations the flexibility to scale.During the conversation, Javan and Mark explore:• Why many nonprofits struggle with fundraising technology• How campaigns like the Barstool Fund raised tens of millions of dollars for small businesses• The marketing strategies that helped Donate.ly grow in a competitive landscape• Why education and content marketing are essential for reaching nonprofit leaders• How AI is transforming marketing, automation, and fundraising strategy• Why founders and marketers need to experiment with AI now or risk falling behindJavan also shares his perspective on the future of fundraising technology and how AI-powered systems could soon automate large parts of marketing and donor engagement.

In this episode of Marketing Spark, Mark Evans sits down with Caren Cioffi, co-founder and CEO of Agenda Hero, an AI-powered platform designed to eliminate manual calendar work and save billions of hours.After more than a decade at Brightcove, where she helped scale the company from startup to global public enterprise, Caren made the leap into entrepreneurship to solve a problem she experienced firsthand: the hidden time cost of managing schedules. What began as personal frustration with juggling work, travel, and family logistics evolved into a startup tackling one of the most persistent workplace inefficiencies.Caren explains how Agenda Hero uses AI to convert text, images, and PDFs into structured calendar events across Google, Outlook, Apple and more. She shares how the breakthrough came when AI made it possible to automate tedious form filling that calendars have required for decades.The conversation also explores:• How to validate product-market fit before scaling marketing• Why building a product people genuinely love is the best early marketing strategy• Lessons learned from pivoting within her own product• How she approached raising venture funding for the first time• The role of influencer and advocacy marketing in early-stage growth• Why founders need conviction and the right believers around them

Many companies are rushing to adopt AI tools hoping to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation — and failing. Why? According to Sarah Jeannault, former FinTech founder and now VP Marketing at ProcedureFlow, it’s because they skipped a crucial step: building a strong operational and knowledge foundation. In this episode, Sarah dives into why AI initiatives fall flat, how to fix broken knowledge systems, and what a true AI-ready organization actually looks like. We also talk about marketing’s evolving tech stack, change management, and why AI must empower frontline teams — not just leadership.

In this episode of Marketing Spark, Mark Evans sits down with Dan Sanchez, a former podcasting leader turned AI marketing consultant, to explore his incredible transition into the world of artificial intelligence. From feeling behind the curve with ChatGPT to becoming a trusted voice in AI for marketers, Dan shares the pivotal moments and painful lessons that led him to reinvent himself.You’ll learn how chain prompting changes how we use AI tools, why top-of-funnel SEO is dying, how to build a personal brand that stands out in an AI-saturated world, and what marketers can do right now to catch up and stay ahead. Whether you're AI-curious or all-in, this episode delivers a roadmap for future-proofing your marketing strategy.Topics We Cover:The AI wake-up call that changed Dan’s career pathWhat most marketers still misunderstand about chain promptingThe “30-30-30” framework for becoming a trusted voice in any nicheHow AI is reshaping SEO, blogging, and brand trustThe 5 categories of essential AI tools every marketer should useHow to stand out when everyone is using the same tools

David Usher has sold over 1.4 million albums, won five Junos, and performed around the world. Today, he’s just as focused on algorithms as he is on melodies.In this conversation, David talks about the shift from turning emotion into music to building products that preserve memory, support healing, and explore how technology can actually make us more human. We dig into: Why creativity is a transferable methodology across art, writing, and coding How his mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis inspired Second Echo The ethical edge between digital preservation and digital imitation Why over-reliance on AI threatens our writing and thinking muscles The rise of “human spaces” and why connection still matters What AI is doing to music, artistry, and the business model behind itIt’s a wide-ranging conversation about art, identity, AI, and the future of human experience — from someone who’s lived at the intersection of creativity and technology for decades.

Marketers spend countless hours optimizing for Google, LinkedIn, and Reddit—but what about Wikipedia? In this episode of Marketing Spark, host Mark Evans talks with Bill Beutler, one of the world’s leading experts on Wikipedia strategy. Bill explains why brands can’t afford to ignore the platform that powers both Google search and AI tools like ChatGPT, and how companies can ethically and effectively manage their presence. From the pitfalls of “learned helplessness” to the opportunities of Wikidata, Bill reveals why a Wiki strategy is now a marketing imperative.

Cold outreach has a bad reputation—spammy emails, pushy SDRs, endless noise in the inbox. But Michael Maximoff, co-founder of Belkins, believes it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, Michael breaks down why most outbound strategies fail, how to rethink outreach as a marketing function (not just sales), and why relevance beats personalization every time. He shares lessons from scaling Belkins into a global powerhouse, the role of AI in creating hyper-relevant buyer journeys, and why CEOs should be their company’s best marketers. If you want to transform cold outreach from a numbers game into a trust-building engine, this conversation is for you.

What does it take to disrupt a $500 hockey stick market dominated by global giants? At just 22 years old, Zechariah Thomas is rewriting the rules with Swift Hockey—an elite stick brand that's affordable, player-first, and unapologetically bold. In this episode, Zechariah shares how he turned a personal frustration into a fast-growing startup, his roots in drop shipping, and what it takes to stand out against CCM, Bauer, and Reebok. From starting at 12 -years-old by re-selling products purchased at the Dollar Store hats to being featured on Dragon’s Den, his journey is a masterclass in speed, resilience, and scrappy entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Marketing Spark, Mark Evans sits down with Vahagn Sargsyan, VP of Marketing at Krisp, a pioneering voice AI company. Vahagn shares his unique journey from full-stack developer to marketing leader and dives into the strategies behind Krisp's emergence as a category-defining brand. He explains how Krisp went from a simple noise-cancellation tool to a comprehensive AI-powered communication platform used by millions, including enterprise clients like call centers and Discord. This conversation explores agile marketing, product-led growth, community-driven innovation, and how aligning closely with customers can fuel brand loyalty and expansion.

AI isn’t coming for the future of work—it’s already transforming it. In this episode, Mark Evans sits down with Mitch Joel, entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Thinkers One, to unpack the seismic shifts AI is driving in knowledge work. From content creation to strategic decision-making, Mitch explains why the question isn’t if AI will take our jobs, but what we’re doing in case it does. This conversation explores what it means to stay relevant, creative, and human in a world where machines can mimic expertise in seconds. You’ll also hear about Mitch’s journey from agency founder to digital futurist, and how Thinkers One is reshaping access to thought leadership.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about hustle, funding rounds, or scaling fast. It’s also about the inner game—mastering your mindset, aligning your purpose, and creating a business that doesn’t consume your life.In this episode of Marketing Spark, Zaheer Merali—founder, investor, and executive coach—shares what he’s learned from two decades of advising entrepreneurs and navigating his own personal reinvention. We dig into: Why overthinking and overworking plague founders How to break free from the addiction to hustle culture The power of pausing, pivoting, and uncovering your true passion Why aligning your inner compass is more important than any revenue targetThis isn’t about working harder. It’s about working better—on your terms.

Is your B2B podcast ready for YouTube? In this episode of Marketing Spark, I’m joined by Sergey Ross and Joe Newton from Sway One, who created a report that analyzed 75+ B2B video podcasts to uncover what’s working, what’s not, and what the best shows are doing differently.We talk about why YouTube has become the top discovery platform for podcasts, the essential strategies to optimize for engagement, and why executive-led shows get 6x more views. Whether you’re just launching your show or looking to grow faster, this episode is your tactical blueprint for B2B video podcast success.Topics include: Why B2B brands can’t ignore YouTube anymore How to structure and format your show for better discoverability Tips on thumbnails, titles, and short-form content How to measure ROI (without obsessing over downloads) The rise of executive-hosted podcasts and commentary-style formats

After a decade building Sendoso into a category-defining platform for B2B gifting and direct mail, Braydan Young is back with a new venture—Slash Experts—that’s taking on one of SaaS marketing’s biggest challenges: converting traffic without relying on the tired “Book a Demo” CTA.In this episode, Braydan joins Mark Evans to talk about the evolution of personalization in B2B, how Sendoso capitalized on perfect timing and deep buyer pain, and why he believes the next wave of sales and marketing will be fueled by peer-to-peer trust and real conversations.He shares lessons from scaling a startup through hypergrowth, raising $160M (including from SoftBank), navigating culture through the chaos of rapid hiring and remote work, and the “aha” moment that made him leave it all behind to start fresh.If you’re thinking about how to truly differentiate in a crowded market—or wondering whether your next big idea is worth pursuing—this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

In this episode of Marketing Spark, host Mark Evans sits down with Chris Silvestri, a conversion copywriting expert, to explore the art and science of crafting high-converting messages.They discuss the psychology behind effective copy, how to blend storytelling with data, and practical strategies B2B marketers can use to drive engagement and sales. Tune in to gain actionable insights that will transform the way you approach messaging and marketing.

CMOs are under immense pressure to deliver fast results, prove ROI, and navigate an increasingly complex marketing landscape. In this episode of Marketing Spark, Mark Evans sits down with Jenny Sagstrom, founder and CEO of B2B creative agency Skona, to discuss the evolving role of the CMO, the rising importance of brand marketing, and how marketing leaders can stay relevant in a world obsessed with data-driven results. Jenny shares insights on breaking down silos between marketing and sales, leveraging creativity to differentiate, and why bravery is a crucial skill for modern marketing leaders.

Pricing in the world of Generative AI is still an open debate, with companies struggling to balance cost, value, and customer expectations. In this episode of Marketing Spark, pricing expert James Wilton, founder of Monevate and former McKinsey consultant, breaks down the challenges of monetizing AI-driven products. We discuss why traditional SaaS pricing models fall short, the mistakes companies make when introducing AI-powered features, and why a hybrid subscription-usage model may be the best approach. James also shares insights from his new book, Capturing Value, and reveals how AI companies can stay competitive while maximizing revenue.Tune in for expert pricing strategies that can help SaaS and AI founders future-proof their monetization models.

In this episode of Marketing Spark, I sit down with Yael Morris to discuss why truly understanding your customers is the key to effective marketing and sales. We explore how deep customer insights drive better messaging, positioning, and product decisions—and why so many companies get it wrong. Yael shares real-world examples of brands that excel at customer intelligence and offers practical strategies to gather and apply these insights. If you’re looking to sharpen your customer understanding and boost engagement, this conversation is a must-listen!

In this episode of the Marketing Spark Podcast, content marketing strategist and founder of Haus of Bold, Erin Balsa, takes us behind the scenes of her journey from early marketing days to becoming a freelance powerhouse. We dive into the evolving role of AI in content creation, uncover strategies to break through the digital clutter, and talk about the importance of consistency—without sacrificing creativity or risking burnout. Erin shares her go-to methods for smashing writer’s block, offers fresh perspectives on thought leadership and brand voice, and reveals how she measures success beyond clicks and likes. Finally, she looks ahead to what content marketing might look like in 2025 and offers the one skill that marketers need to own the future. If you’re hungry for practical tips, big-picture insights, and a spark of inspiration, this episode is a must-listen!