Episode #258: Alyson Shane
Alyson Shane, Starling Social — Building Trust-First Marketing That Actually Delivers Alyson Shane is a writer-turned-digital marketer and the founder and president of Starling Social, a boutique agency focused on content marketing, social media, PPC, and ads strategy. After publishing online since the GeoCities era and earning a degree in rhetoric, Alyson built a team (7–8 strong) that pairs persuasive writing with transparent, process-driven execution. She matters because she champions client ownership, clarity, and measurable results in a noisy agency landscape. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Content-first, channel-agnostic: Starling Social creates across blogs, newsletters, web copy, social posts, and ads—wherever content moves the needle. Process + transparency win: Real reporting, itemized invoices, and clear scopes are non-negotiable; clients should always see where budgets go. Own your assets: Ad accounts and content should live in the client’s accounts, not the agency’s—so performance data and creative don’t get held hostage. Vetting agencies: Look for verifiable testimonials tied to outcomes (e.g., admissions up, leads increased), ask about process, and demand regular reporting. Career arc with backbone: From a stifling accounting job to freelancing beyond her 9–5 and launching in 2014, Alyson built Starling Social by insisting on autonomy, accountability, and better client experiences. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBOGZwDVMY Memorable Quote: “I want all of my clients to have their own accounts so they can go in and look at it anytime.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now
Episode #254: Leo Falkenstein
Leo Falkenstein, Consume Media — Building ROI-Driven Video That Scales Leo Falkenstein is the co-founder of Consume Media, an Atlanta-based video marketing agency creating everything from 15-second animated ads to large-budget TV commercials. He matters to founders and marketers because he treats video as a growth accelerant—helping companies attract, convert, onboard, and retain customers with the right content at the right stage. Starting in college filming concerts, Leo and his partner Michael evolved into corporate video to build a sustainable, scalable business. Today, their team delivers end-to-end production—strategy, scripting, casting, shooting, editing, motion graphics, and platform-specific versions—so clients see measurable impact, not just pretty pixels. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Lay the foundation first. Fix your site and core assets before dropping six figures on a TV spot—start at the bottom of the funnel with high-conversion content. Educate customers, not just staff. How-to and onboarding videos reduce returns, support tickets, and time-to-value—whether it’s software walkthroughs or product fitting. Scale with full service. Consume Media handles treatment-to-delivery, including storyboards, casting, 25–30 person shoots when needed, and polished post-production. Optimize for every platform. Deliver in 16:9 (YouTube/TV), 1:1 (feeds), and 9:16 (stories) so the same idea performs wherever your audience watches. Be strategic with social. Unless you already have a big following, prioritize paid social over costly daily organic production to get clear, trackable results. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrg2wd_Kn_c Memorable Quote: “Video is the accelerant.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Leo Globe