FROM THE ARCHIVES: This is one of our favorite past episodes. Host Richard welcomes multi-time CXO Tracy Mustachio to discuss why navigating a first board meeting matters, emphasizing first impressions, confidence, and setting a reporting roadmap. Tracy advises tailoring to the board’s perspective by researching members, reviewing past board decks, and speaking in business outcomes rather than vanity marketing metrics, noting few directors have operational marketing experience though many have s...
Mar 25, 2026•19 min
Host Richard Ellis discusses with David Howerton, CEO and founder of VendoIQ, how AI is rapidly flooding sales organizations under board and executive pressure, often driving hurried, uncoordinated adoption that doesn’t ladder up to strategy. They argue AI amplifies existing problems (broken processes, unclear ICPs, weak handoffs, and poor CRM data) rather than fixing them, leading to noise and pipeline issues. The conversation focuses on real field sales work and why productivity breaks down du...
Mar 11, 2026•30 min
Most B2B marketing teams are sitting on a bloated tech stack they can't justify. Tools bought to fix strategy problems. Duplicate capabilities nobody audited. AI features bolted onto legacy products that were already underperforming. Jessica Fewless has seen it from the inside. As an early architect of account-based marketing and now as a partner at Inverter, she's helped operators untangle exactly this mess. In this conversation with host Richard Ellis, she gets specific about what separates te...
Feb 25, 2026•28 min
In this episode, Richard Ellis hosts David Howerton, CEO and founder of VendoIQ, to discuss the effectiveness of trade shows in the B2B sector. Despite high ROI, many companies lose substantial value due to poor planning, weak data capture, and ineffective follow-up. David emphasizes viewing trade shows as part of a holistic program rather than isolated events, focusing on pre-show planning, in-event processes, and post-show follow-up to maximize ROI. Key insights include the importance of in-pe...
Feb 12, 2026•28 min
This episode delves into the art of being a great podcast guest, particularly for senior executives who increasingly turn to podcasts as a platform to build authority and reach new audiences. Host Richard Ellis is joined by award-winning journalist Chris Warren. They explore key attributes that make guests memorable, such as being great conversationalists, connecting small details to bigger themes, and steering clear of self-serving marketing speak. Chris Warren shares practical advice on how to...
Jan 28, 2026•24 min
In this episode of 'Some Goodness,' we explore the evolution of account-based marketing (ABM) with Jessica Fewless, VP of Marketing at Inverta and an original architect of modern ABM. The discussion delves into the challenges and missteps in ABM implementation over the last decade, highlighting how marketing discipline, not ABM itself, needs improvement. Jessica provides insights into the need for alignment between sales and marketing, the importance of understanding and targeting the Ideal Cust...
Jan 14, 2026•29 min
This year-end review episode of 'Some Goodness' delves into the significant business themes of 2025, including the dominance of AI, the importance of clear workflows, and the crucial role of consistent messaging. The episode compiles insights from various conversations with business leaders, including Ben Scoones, Chris Blocker, Chris Strammiello, Stacy Leidwinger, Jim Karrh, Steve Graves, and Larry Sweeney. They highlight that tools and technology alone cannot resolve fundamental issues like we...
Dec 31, 2025•19 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, host Richard Ellis engages with Chris Warren, an award-winning journalist and consulting principal, to explore the art and significance of storytelling in the business world. They discuss the challenges executives face with ineffective presentations and the importance of narrative discipline amidst overwhelming content. Chris emphasizes the need for engaging, human-centered stories rather than sterile, data-heavy content. He shares insights from his extensive ca...
Dec 17, 2025•27 min
In this episode, Richard Ellis delves into the essentials of planning an engaging and effective Sales Kickoff Event (SKO). Despite many companies struggling to create high-impact SKOs, we share practical tips and best practices designed to capture attention and boost retention. The discussion covers the five critical Ps of SKO planning: Purpose, Place, Practicality, Pulse, and Post-SKO, alongside principles of adult learning to ensure sessions are relevant and interactive. From the actionable co...
Dec 05, 2025•37 min
In this episode, business leaders Richard Ellis is joined by the other founders of Revenue Innovations (Tim Kruse, Mark Gaydos, and Heather Easterday). They discuss insights from their recent Go-to-Market Executive Roundtable held in Nashville. The event focused on the impact of AI on go-to-market strategies and provided a platform for executives to network, share challenges, and discuss solutions. This discussion highlights the importance of face-to-face events over virtual gatherings and offer...
Nov 21, 2025•28 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, Ben Scoones, Director of Data Science at Kythera Labs, joins Richard Ellis to discuss the impact of AI on the workforce. The conversation covers the decline in human performance skills such as adaptability, creativity, and collaboration, and how these traits are becoming increasingly valuable. Ben highlights the importance of employees assessing the algorithmic nature of their tasks and using AI to enhance their capabilities rather than fearing it as a job threa...
Nov 05, 2025•30 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, the focus is on AI readiness and effective deployment in businesses. Host Richard Ellis interviews Ben Scoones, Director of Data Science at Kythera Labs, discussing research showing a gap between AI investment and meaningful integration. Download the ebook Ben wrote with our Revenue Innovations team: https://www.revenueinnovations.com/AI-ebook Key insights include understanding workflows, avoiding misconceptions about AI capabilities, and the importance of data ...
Oct 22, 2025•31 min
In this episode, Richard hosts Dr. Chris Blocker, a professor of marketing at Colorado State University and a distinguished research fellow, to discuss the complexities and frameworks of corporate purpose. Blocker delves into the rising challenges faced by Fortune 500 companies in sustaining purpose initiatives amidst public and investor scrutiny. He outlines a four-archetype framework to evaluate corporate purpose strategies and emphasizes the need for authenticity and alignment between a compa...
Oct 08, 2025•28 min
In this insightful episode of Some Goodness, host Richard Ellis challenges the conventional B2B sales metric of win rate, arguing that it can often be a vanity metric that hides inefficiencies. Instead, he introduces cycle yield (revenue generated per selling hour) as a more effective measure of sales productivity. Richard provides a detailed explanation and comparison of two sales reps' performance to illustrate how cycle yield can reveal true efficiency and guide better coaching and strategy. ...
Sep 24, 2025•11 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, host Richard engages with David Wolf, a seasoned recruiting expert with over 24 years of experience placing professionals in top sales leadership roles. They discuss David's seven-step framework for intentional career growth, covering vision, desire, acceptance, intention, action, and allowance. David shares valuable tips on how professionals can take control of their career paths, emphasizing the importance of having a personal vision, nurturing positive emotio...
Sep 10, 2025•19 min
In this episode, Richard engages with Dr. Jim Karrh to delve into the significance of B2B success stories and their impact on purchasing decisions. They discuss the crucial components of effective storytelling and how it can build trust, drive conversations, and distinguish leading brands. From articulating the hero's journey to integrating emotional elements, they uncover the principles behind compelling customer stories. They also explore practical strategies for assembling 'story banks' and e...
Aug 27, 2025•29 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, host Richard Ellis interviews Dr. Jim Karrh, a renowned professor, author, and consultant specializing in marketing and customer communication. They discuss the critical importance of understanding and improving customer health as businesses face significant attrition challenges. The conversation explores how traditional methods like Net Promoter Score (NPS) are becoming outdated, and introduces a more holistic, data-driven approach to evaluating customer health...
Aug 13, 2025•27 min
In this episode of 'Some Goodness,' host Richard Ellis welcomes Drea Armstrong, a seasoned VP of Marketing at Kubit, to explore the challenges and opportunities in building an executive-level marketing career. They discuss the increasing competitiveness of marketing roles, with less than 5% of marketers reaching VP positions, and the need to adapt to constant change. Drea shares her insights on the importance of leveraging new tools, the shift from activity metrics to outcome-based measures, and...
Jul 30, 2025•24 min
In this episode, host Richard Ellis interviews marketing executive Dreya Armstrong. They discuss the underutilization of MarTech stacks, currently at just one-third of capacity according to Gartner. Dreya, the VP of Marketing at Kubit, shares insights on simplifying marketing operations and driving impactful business transformations. She emphasizes the importance of aligning tech adoption with real needs, reducing operational friction, and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and collabo...
Jul 16, 2025•24 min
In this special episode of Some Goodness, host Richard revisits a popular conversation with executive leadership expert Jack Galloway. Jack shares invaluable insights on handling conflict, creating clarity, and leading with both courage and kindness. This episode addresses why it's crucial to tackle difficult conversations promptly and how clarity equates to kindness in leadership. Galloway offers practical advice on managing difficult interactions and building stronger teams, making this episod...
Jul 02, 2025•35 min
In this special birthday episode of 'Some Goodness,' host Richard revisits the most downloaded episode of the year featuring Mike Fouts, an experienced Chief Business Officer. They discuss the unique challenges and valuable lessons learned when leading a high-growth business unit within a larger legacy software company. Key insights include retraining muscle memory from traditional business practices, the importance of prioritizing what matters, and the distinct differences in marketing and clie...
Jun 18, 2025•20 min
In this special anniversary episode, Richard Ellis is joined by Heather Easterday to celebrate one year of 'Some Goodness' by reflecting on the show's origins, discussing the importance of structured reflection in organizations, and sharing insights from interviews with business leaders. Topics include effective leadership, the power of storytelling, the importance of sales and marketing alignment, and practical tips for new C-level leaders. The episode emphasizes the value of mentorship and con...
Jun 04, 2025•27 min
In this episode, we discuss the challenges and necessities of translating bold strategies into actionable growth with Chris Strammiello, Chief Revenue Officer at Lean Solutions Group. With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and strategic operations, Chris highlights the critical role of leadership, different approaches to growth depending on industry and business needs, and the importance of owning and shaping strategies. Key takeaways include understanding product-market fit, navi...
May 21, 2025•23 min
In this episode of 'Some Goodness,' Richard hosts Stacy Leidinger, a seasoned product and marketing leader, to discuss the critical importance of consistent messaging across all organizational functions. Highlighting research from Forrester B2B that shows aligned sales and marketing teams achieve 24% faster revenue growth over three years, Stacy explains how clarity and consistency in messaging can differentiate a company and enhance its brand power. The conversation delves into practical steps ...
May 07, 2025•27 min
In this episode of 'Some Goodness', Richard Ellis discusses the significant impact of mentorship on business outcomes, from improved employee retention and job satisfaction to increased revenue and profits, with guest Chris Strammiello, Chief Revenue Officer at Lean Solutions Group. Chris shares his unique career journey, the role of mentors in his success, and his approach to leading and mentoring diverse teams. He emphasizes the importance of tailored, intentional mentoring and the benefits of...
Apr 23, 2025•23 min
In this episode, seasoned business leader Stacy Leidinger joins Richard Ellis to discuss the critical importance of understanding and operationalizing the voice of the customer in B2B environments. Highlighting that only 14% of companies have a comprehensive view of their customer despite the significantly higher profitability for those that do, Stacy provides practical guidance on capturing customer insights and integrating them into sales and marketing strategies. Various techniques for mainta...
Apr 09, 2025•23 min
In this episode, Richard Ellis and executive recruiter David Wolf discuss the challenges of hiring the right sales talent. The conversation covers the importance of resilience, grit, and a growth mindset in sales. David shares insights on the evolving dynamics of remote work, effective recruiting practices, and the significance of understanding company culture and market trends. Practical tips for new sales leaders to build a successful sales team and the essential role of communication in the h...
Mar 26, 2025•20 min
This episode of 'Some Goodness' explores how to handle difficult conversations and set boundaries in the workplace to build stronger teams. Host Richard Ellis engages with Jack Galloway, a seasoned executive and leadership consultant, who shares his expertise on transforming challenging interactions into growth opportunities. Key insights include the importance of addressing problems promptly, approaching conversations with curiosity and empathy, balancing clarity with kindness, and fostering a ...
Mar 12, 2025•34 min
In this episode of 'Some Goodness,' Richard Ellis invites his friend and business partner, Mark Gaydos, to share insights from his video series, 'Rooted in the Real World.' Mark talks about how the concept of the series evolved through exploring themes like farming, nature, and craftsmanship, and how they can be applied to leadership and organizational health. Key takeaways include the importance of single, strong leadership and the microbial elements of organizational culture. The episode also ...
Feb 26, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Some Goodness, host Richard Ellis welcomes back Larry Sweeney, SVP of global enterprise sales at Nerdio. They dive into the qualities of transformational leadership that boost employee satisfaction and productivity. Larry shares his unique leadership style centered on empathy, consistent praise, and accountability. They discuss the importance of weekly one-on-ones, effective storytelling, and the balance between fun and fierce accountability in driving high performance. The ep...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min
