Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Turner Novak for the fifty-ninth episode of the Optimize podcast. Turner is the founder of Banana Capital and host of The Peel, one of Nate's favorite podcasts. Turner is an investor known for his insightful and often humorous takes on startups, tech, investing, and the stock market. He has built a significant following on Twitter, where he shares memes and insights. In today's episode, Nate and Turner explore topics like starting a podcast, growth strategies, and social media marketing. He explains how he uses the podcast to meet new people, support portfolio companies, and generate ad revenue. Turner also discusses the importance of creating engaging content and shares tips on making a podcast episode interesting and educational. Listen to hear why he suggests using a podcast for customer conversations and building a strong personal brand. In this week’s deep dive, Turner shares everything you need to know about leveraging social media for podcast distribution and growth. Turner gets tactical, sharing examples of how to create effective thumbnails and titles and use multiple platforms for maximum reach. Rounding out the episode, Turner and Nate cover topics like the challenges of starting a podcast for startups, the importance of founder-led content, and the evolving landscape of social media marketing. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Turner Novak:
Turner is the Founder and General Partner of Banana Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm. Turner is also the host of The Peel, a podcast for founders and technologists.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovak/
Banana Capital: https://www.bananacapital.vc/
The Peel: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeelPod

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Erik Dietrich for the fifty-eighth episode of the Optimize podcast. Erik Dietrich is the CEO of Hit Subscribe, a marketing services business, and the author of the upcoming book "SEO for Non-Scumbags". In our episode today, Nate and Erik explore content marketing and SEO tactics, particularly for companies in highly technical spaces. Erik shares his journey from software engineering to management consulting and eventually to founding Hit Subscribe. He also discusses his new book and some of his key learnings about ethical SEO practices. Erik emphasizes the randomness in search engine performance and how he explains this to clients, using the metaphor of a casino to illustrate the unpredictability. He stresses the importance of creating content that answers users' questions effectively and ensuring the website offers a good user experience. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Erik share everything you need to know about effective content marketing strategies in 2024. Erik gets tactical, sharing multiple case studies on how to improve search rankings and the role of backlinks. Rounding out the episode, Erik and Nate cover topics like the future of backlinks, the importance of user experience in SEO, and strategies for finding content writers for technical topics. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Erik Dietrich:

Erik Dietrich is the CEO of Hit Subscribe, a marketing services agency with a specialty in content marketing and SEO for companies with technical products. Erik is also the author of a new and upcoming book, SEO for Non-Scumbags.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-dietrich-109a888/

Hit Subscribe: https://www.hitsubscribe.com

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Caitlin Hartney for the fifty-seventh episode of the Optimize podcast. Caitlin is the Director of Strategy at Block Club, an agency specializing in brand and content strategy for B2B tech companies. Caitlin has over 15 years of experience in content marketing, starting with an AMLA 250 corporate law firm, and has worked with notable brands like Plaid and Argyle. In our episode today, Nate and Caitlin explore topics like product-led content, B2B content strategies, and the recent Google algorithm leak. Caitlin emphasizes the importance of thinking like a journalist to create engaging and valuable content that resonates with the audience. Listen to hear why she suggests focusing on building a strong brand presence and creating high-quality, authoritative content. In this week’s deep dive, Caitlin shares her approach to developing effective B2B content strategies, including balancing promotional content with value-driven narratives. Rounding out the episode, Caitlin and Nate discuss the implications of the recent Google leak and how it affects SEO strategies moving forward. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Caitlin Hartney:
Caitlin Hartney is the Director of Strategy at Block Club.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinhartney/
Block Club: https://blockclub.co/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Samantha North for the fifty-sixth episode of the Optimize podcast. Samantha North is a content strategist and SEO coach with a diverse background, having grown blogs to over 100,000 monthly visitors and driven significant conversions. In our episode today, Nate and Samantha explore the changing search landscape, including the recent Google leak, AI overviews, protecting your website's traffic, and what Samantha calls the "Brand Universe." Samantha also shares insights on why she recommends incorporating personal experience into content to enhance authenticity and user trust. Listen to hear why she suggests focusing on topical authority and creating unique content based on personal experiences. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Samantha share everything you need to know about navigating the challenges posed by Google's helpful content update and adapting your SEO strategies accordingly. Samantha gets tactical, discussing methods to enhance your content's E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) and how to effectively use AI tools to support content creation without compromising quality. Rounding out the episode, Samantha and Nate cover topics like the importance of backlinks, effective content repurposing strategies, and the future of SEO in the age of AI. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Samantha North:

Samantha North is a content strategist and SEO coach with a diverse background spanning journalism, computational social science, and counter-disinformation. With experience in growing blogs to over 100K monthly visitors and driving lucrative conversions, Samantha is passionate about helping experts build authoritative online brands through intelligent use of AI tools and SEO. Her expertise has been featured in major publications such as the Financial Times and Business Insider, and she has delivered training for the UK military and a talk at TEDx MidAtlantic.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/northsamantha/?originalSubdomain=uk

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Stephan Cizmar for the fifty-fifth episode of the Optimize podcast. Stephan is a co-founder and partner at ER Ventures, an operator-led venture fund. He is also an operating partner at Blackhorn Ventures and was previously the co-founder and chief strategy officer of LANG. In our episode today, Nate and Stephan delve into the intricacies of outbound sales strategies, focusing on the importance of personalized touches and the timing for initiating an outbound sales motion. Stephan shares his unique journey from management consulting to becoming an accidental investor and offers insights on building and measuring successful outbound sales teams. Stephan also discusses the critical aspects of outbound sales, including crafting effective sequences, targeting the right personas, and leveraging tools to enhance deliverability and engagement. Listen to hear why he emphasizes understanding the ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) and iterating on messaging to cut through the noise in crowded markets. In this week’s deep dive, Stephan shares valuable lessons on standing up outbound sales motions, building an outbound team, and how early-stage companies can measure success. He gets tactical, offering case studies and examples of what works and what doesn’t in the realm of outbound sales. Rounding out the episode, Stephan and Nate cover topics like the role of AI in outbound sales, the importance of social proof, and best practices for hiring and ramping up BDRs. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Stephan Cizmar:

Stephan is a serial entrepreneur and operator with experience scaling B2B software companies from zero to IPO.

Prior to co-founding Lorimer Ventures, Stephan co-founded and scaled Lang.ai, a no-code ML company for customer support, through it’s Series A. Before Lang.ai, Stephan was Vice President of Product Strategy at Unqork as well as the Head of Corporate Strategy at Yext, a company that he helped take public (NYSE: YEXT). In addition to being a General Partner at Lorimer, Stephan is an Operating Partner with Blackhorn Ventures, a multi-stage Industry 4.0 firm.


Stephan holds dual degrees in Economics and Science, Technology, and Society from Colby College and lives in Brooklyn.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephancizmar/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Chris Bakke for the fifty-fourth episode of the Optimize podcast. Chris is the founder of Laskie, which was acquired by Twitter (now X) in 2023, and Interviewed, which was acquired by Indeed in 2017. He's worked in product and sales leadership roles at X, Indeed, and Zillow, and is well-known for his active presence on X, where he shares insights with over 200,000 followers. Nate and Chris explore topics like founder-led content marketing, the importance of choosing the right platform for building an audience, and strategies for converting followers into customers. Chris shares his experience with creating viral content and the unexpected opportunities that arose from his posts, including the acquisition of Laskie by Twitter. He emphasizes the need for consistency in content creation and discusses the advantages and challenges of using different social media platforms. Listen to hear why he suggests founders focus on platforms that align with their content creation style and audience. In this week’s deep dive, Chris shares everything you need to know about leveraging social media for founder-led marketing in 2024. Rounding out the episode, Chris and Nate cover topics like the benefits of building in public, the role of personal branding versus company branding, and the future of social media marketing for founders. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Chris

Chris is the founder of Laskie (acquired by Twitter/X in 2023) and Interviewed (acquired by Indeed in 2017). He's worked in product and sales leadership roles at X, Indeed, and Zillow. Follow him at x.com/ChrisJBakke

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakk3/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Zac Harris for the fifty-third episode of the Optimize podcast. Zac is an SEO and marketing leader and entrepreneur. He has worked with companies like Copy AI, Animals, Craigslist, and SpyFu. In our episode today, Nate and Zac explore topics like Google's new AI overviews, changing ranking factors, and his experience working on some fantastic SEO teams. Zac shares his journey from starting with Black Hat SEO techniques to becoming an SEO leader. Listen to hear why he suggests marketers should adapt their keyword research strategies to account for AI overviews and why backlinks remain essential in 2024. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Zac share everything you need to know about effectively using AI-generated content in SEO. Zac gets tactical, sharing multiple case studies on leveraging programmatic SEO and tools for scalable content production. Rounding out the episode, Zac and Nate cover topics like bringing unique perspectives into content, adapting SEO strategies amidst changing algorithms, and the future of search engines in the era of AI. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Zac Harris

Zac is a seasoned digital marketer who has propelled countless businesses, including Copy.ai, SpyFu, and his own entrepreneurial ventures. His work has driven impressive growth for major brands like McDonald's and Craigslist through smart, consultative strategies. Zac excels at technical SEO, content strategy, data analysis, affiliate marketing, and product launches. With experience across both corporate and startup environments, he combines analytical skills and creative thinking to unlock sustainable growth.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharris36/

copy.ai: https://www.copy.ai/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Kevin Jurovich for the fifty-second episode of the Optimize podcast. Kevin is the co-founder and CEO of Circles, a startup enhancing discovery with live video. He also boasts a diverse background as a former NFL wide receiver for several teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles. Kevin shares his journey from viewing LinkedIn as merely a virtual resume to leveraging it as a powerful content marketing platform. He offers insights into creating compelling posts, optimizing profiles, and the importance of consistency and quality in content creation. Kevin also speaks to the practical aspects of content creation, such as the use of infographics, images, and videos to boost engagement. He emphasizes the value of authenticity and providing real value to your audience rather than merely promoting products or services. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Kevin share everything you need to know about maximizing LinkedIn’s potential for content marketing in 2024. Kevin gets tactical, sharing multiple examples and tips on how to craft posts that resonate with your audience and grow your follower base. Rounding out the episode, Kevin and Nate cover topics like the impact of disciplined posting, the role of images and videos, and the benefits of engaging with your audience in the comments. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!

Learn More About Kevin

Ex-NFL player turned startup founder sharing daily startup and VC insights from my journey as a founder! As the Co-Founder & CEO of Circles, I'm passionate about transforming how people discover places they love. Circles enhances discovery with live video. Combining Google Maps and TikTok, displaying real-time capacity updates.

I caught the startup bug in 2013 while working as a Private Wealth Manager at Wells Fargo Advisors, serving tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Since then, I've been living the startup life and helping other founders on their journeys. Before my life in finance and then tech, I was a wide receiver in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears.

I also enjoy playing chess in my free time, If you're on chess.com, send me a challenge! My username is kevj05.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjurovich/

Twitter: https://x.com/kevinjurovich?lang=en