Mike Ungaro is the CEO and Visionary of San Pedro Fish Market, the most visited paid seaside attraction on the West Coast, second only to SeaWorld. He is also the star of the "Kings of FI$H" reality series, now streaming on Amazon Prime, and host of the "Fi$H Factor" podcast. In this episode, Mike shares the fascinating story of the San Pedro Fish Market's origins and how storytelling and social media transformed the business into a regional destination.

Key Takeaways:

- How to use storytelling as a marketing strategy

- The fascinating history of the San Pedro Fish Market

- Turning your business into a stage

Episode Timeline:

1:30The origin story of the San Pedro Fish Market

5:30Mike's grandfather goes legit

7:30Overcoming permit challenges with community support

10:00The expansion and travel distances of customers

13:20The role of social media and viral campaigns

16:45Launching Kings of Fi$h and content marketing

20:15The impact of viral videos and social media exposure

24:00Building a destination brand through storytelling

27:20Working with Shawn Walchef and the birth of the "Fi$h Factor"

29:45The Aji Advantage for doubling income

32:45The emotional arc of creating something great

34:25How visual storytelling makes Mike a better at business

36:00Turning your business into a stage

37:35Storytelling improves the customer experience

38:09The Red Lobster question

This episode’s guest:

• Mike Ungaro

• SanPedroFish.com

• KingsofFishMedia.com

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Laura Hutfless is co-founder of FlyteVu, a full-service entertainment marketing and creative strategy agency in Nashville. Laura started FlyteVu in 2015 following a 15-year career as a talent agent at WME and CAA. Under her leadership, FlyteVu has created culture-shifting campaigns that have earned an Emmy, a GRAMMY, multiple Clio Awards, and a spot on the Cannes Lions shortlist. On this episode, Laura shares insights on scaling a company, focusing on the human and emotional challenges, implementing new systems, and changing organizational soundtracks to foster growth and unity.

Key Takeaways:

- Challenges of scaling a business

- Changing organizational mindsets and soundtracks

- Finding the right AI balance

Episode Timeline:

0:00Introduction to Laura Hutfless and her journey

2:20Insights into talent agencies and their cultural influence

5:45Overview of FlyteVu's evolution and scaling challenges

9:20Purpose-driven work and social impact in campaigns

10:20FlyteVu's scaling challenges

12:15Emotional impact of scaling on staff

13:00Changing organizational soundtracks

17:40The meaning behind FlyteVu's motto

19:45Being inspired by young talent

23:22The desire to do good

26:26Balancing leadership and motherhood

31:30Laura's abundance mindset

This episode’s guest:

• Laura Hutfless on LinkedIn

• FlyteVu.com

• FlyteVu on Instagram

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Steve Weintraub is the Chief Strategy Officer at Vet Tix and a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel with more than 30 years of service. He is responsible for marketing the Veteran Tickets and 1st Tix brands, with work spanning public and community relations, campaigns with teams and bowl games, OHH efforts, and events and shows. In this episode, we explore how Vet Tix is making a significant impact by providing free event tickets to veterans, active service members, and first responders, highlighting the importance of community support and effective communication.

Key Takeaways:

- How to donate tickets and support veterans

- Effective communication and marketing to veterans

- Vet Tix's mission and history

Episode Timeline:

2:00Introduction to Vet Tix and 1st Tix's mission

3:45How to donate your tickets

5:30Vets can find tickets in their area

6:00How do vets and first responders get tickets

7:15Why is there a small fee?

9:10Events accessible through Vet Tix

12:40Steve's journey from the Marines into marketing

14:30Servicemen have to be great communicators

16:30Vet Tix's impact

18:30How can companies be more successful marketing to veterans?

22:10What are the qualities that make someone a great leader?

This episode’s guest:

• Steve Weintraub on LinkedIn

• Vet Tix's website

• 1st Tix's website

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Sharon Toerek is a marketing and intellectual property attorney who helps independent marketing, digital, PR, and creative agencies protect their assets and turn their ideas into revenue. She is the founder of Toerek Law, a firm dedicated to marketing agencies, where she focuses on intellectual property, smart contracts, and regulatory compliance. Sharon also hosts The Innovative Agency podcast and serves as a trusted legal partner to agencies and communities across the United States. In this episode, Sharon Toerek shares insights on how agencies can leverage legal strategies to protect their assets, increase profitability, and navigate the evolving landscape of AI and data privacy regulations.

Key Takeaways:

- AI legal implications and recent changes

- Building strong legal foundations for agencies

- Intellectual property protection and monetization

Episode Timeline:

1:45 How Sharon chose her focus on IP law

3:40 Interesting clients and creative work in IP law

5:00 Agency legal blind spots and risk areas

6:45 Legal implications of AI in marketing

8:10 Recent legal changes in AI and copyright law

9:20 The parallel between AI regulation and data privacy law

11:00Concerns about AI-generated content and copyright infringement

13:25Future of licensing and copyright in AI

15:45Legal as a profit center for agencies

16:23How smarter contracts protect IP and increase profitability

19:29Tod's copywriting pitches

23:35Conducting a legal audit to eliminate risks

This episode’s guest:

• Sharon Toerek on LinkedIn

• Legal+Creative's website

• The Innovative Agency podcast

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Samiha Fariha is the senior associate at Golin Ketchum, where she supports clients including Staples Canada, Schneider Electric, ADP Canada, Specsavers, and the LEGO Group. In addition to her agency work, she serves as Communications Chair on the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Toronto board, where she leads member engagement and communications strategy. She also teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Chang School as a professor, where she designed the Media Relations course to reflect the evolving communications landscape. In this episode, Samiha shares expert insights on crafting compelling media pitches, building effective media lists, and navigating emerging trends in public relations.

Key Takeaways:

- Crafting compelling media pitches

- The growth of the pay-to-play media environment

- Impact of AI in PR

Episode Timeline:

1:30 Is Samiha a coffee or tea drinker?

2:45 What got Samiha interested in PR?

4:00 Emerging trends in PR

5:45 Brands should look into affiliate partnerships

6:45 The emerging pay-to-play market in media

7:30 Editors are pushing back against AI

8:30 The rise of AI on Qwoted

9:20 Whatever happened to human writing?

10:00The rise of pay-to-play on TV

12:05How to write a great pitch

13:50Journalists want to write a fun story

15:45How to build a great media list

18:00Talking to college students about AI

19:50Why journalists don't like AI

21:45Samiha's thought leadership philosophy

This episode’s guest:

• Samiha Fariha on LinkedIn

• Golin Ketchum's website

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Jen Moss is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of JAR Podcast Solutions, the powerhouse agency behind podcasts for Amazon, Deloitte, Cirque du Soleil, and The Wharton School. Jen’s background spans journalism, radio, fiction, and theater—and she now helps brands tell meaningful stories that move audiences and shape perception. In this episode, Jen shares expert insights on creating compelling branded podcasts. Discover how to craft authentic stories, engage niche audiences, and leverage creative formats to elevate your brand through podcasting.

Key Takeaways:

- How brands can expand how they think about podcasts

- Matching brand identity to podcast content

- The incredible value of a branded podcast

Episode Timeline:

2:45 Brands should be more authentic

3:25 Why are podcasts valuable for brand-building

4:55 What is the Cirque Du Soleil podcast about?

8:45 Matching a brand's identity and spirit to a conversation

10:00Why are most branded podcasts boring?

12:00What brands really need to ask themselves when starting a podcast

12:45Rejecting bad podcast ideas

15:30How to make a podcast about insurance

17:45How branded podcasting is like TV in the '50s

18:45Entrepreneurs who want to be entertainers

23:00How to market a branded podcast?

27:00Half of your podcast work should be in marketing

This episode’s guest:

• Jen Moss on LinkedIn

• Email: Jen @Jarpodcasts.com

• JAR Podcast Solutions

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Sarah Cullen is the founder of SideCar Public Relations, a nationally recognized full-service communications firm based in Denver. Founded in 2011, the firm works at the intersection of economic development, commercial real estate, and placemaking, offering in-house expertise in public relations, social media, stakeholder engagement, events, digital communications, and more. In this episode, Sarah shares insights on the power of specialization in commercial real estate PR, the importance of human connection in communication, and how the industry is evolving in good (and questionable) ways through AI.

Key Takeaways:

- The importance of specialization in PR

- The downside of AI in PR

- Crisis communication in commercial real estate

Episode Timeline:

2:00Sarah is a cowgirl

4:10It's good to use a new part of the brain after work

5:00What's happening at SideCar these days?

7:45Making a permanent change in the community

9:15The importance of specialization in PR

10:30The problem with being a generalist PR firm

12:20SideCar speaks the same language as her clients

13:45What generalists don't know about commercial real estate?

15:33The importance of crisis communication in commercial real estate

17:45PR is becoming more holistic

19:30How AI is changing PR

22:20Tod's rage against the slop

24:40AI can devalue an agency's credibility

26:04Sarah's thought leadership philosophy

This episode’s guest:

• Sarah Cullen on LinkedIn

• SideCar PR's website

• SideCar PR on Instagram

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Julie Lilliston is Founder & President of Julie Lilliston Communications, an award-winning, nationally certified woman-owned public relations firm in Nashville. It helps businesses enhance their reputation, build their brand, and grow market share. Her firm specializes in executive visibility and thought leadership programs for small businesses. On this episode, Julie discusses how businesses can build their reputations through executive visibility campaigns and the state of women in PR.

Key Takeaways:

- How Julie helped save the Treasury Department $450 million

- The power of thought leadership campaigns

- The current state of women in PR

Episode Timeline:

2:28Winning the PRSA's Silver Anvil Award for a US Treasury campaign

3:22Convincing seniors to go direct deposit

5:28The impact of the direct deposit campaigns

7:23What's happening at Julie Lilliston Communications

9:00The power of thought leadership campaigns

10:10The campaigns are focused on media relations

12:00How to prepare executives for media engagement

15:10Components of a successful thought leadership campaign

20:15The state of women in PR and AI's impact

This episode’s guest:

• Julie Lilliston on LinkedIn

• Julie Lilliston Communications on Instagram

• Julie Lilliston's website

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review:

https://pod.link/1496390646

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