Podcast · 94 episodes
The CMO Whisperer
by Steve Olenski · English
The CMO Whisperer, hosted by former Forbes writer Steve Olenski, is a curated executive platform and marketing leadership podcast where CMOs, brand leaders, and senior operators share candid insights on leadership, brand strategy, and growth. Spanning business, sports, and media, it goes beyond marketing to reveal how top leaders make decisions and perform at the highest levels.
Latest episodes
Scaling Content Without Losing What Matters - Nicole RexNicole Rex, Dell Technologies VP, discusses why “more content isn’t better,” focusing on scaling world-class content without losing craft/quality.25 Sep 2026 · 37 min
Creative Still Needs Humans - Carly CrittendenCarly Crittenden (VidMob CRO) discusses why creative still needs humans, how AI should be used in advertising workflows and creative intelligence, and why “mass production” of assets without…22 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Stop Building Better Chatbots - Aniket DeosthaliThe episode argues that “better chatbots” miss the point; brands should use AI agents to run brand-safe, revenue-driving personalized shopping journeys and to automate faster experimentation (beyond…18 Sep 2026 · 25 min
All episodes
Scaling Content Without Losing What Matters - Nicole RexNicole Rex, Dell Technologies VP, discusses why “more content isn’t better,” focusing on scaling world-class content without losing craft/quality.25 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 17 chapters
Creative Still Needs Humans - Carly CrittendenCarly Crittenden (VidMob CRO) discusses why creative still needs humans, how AI should be used in advertising workflows and creative intelligence, and why “mass production” of assets without…22 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 16 chapters
Stop Building Better Chatbots - Aniket DeosthaliThe episode argues that “better chatbots” miss the point; brands should use AI agents to run brand-safe, revenue-driving personalized shopping journeys and to automate faster experimentation (beyond…18 Sep 2026 · 25 min · 10 chapters
The AI Growth Problem - Michael StichMichael Stich (Court Avenue partner) discusses how marketing leaders should operationalize AI for growth, not just efficiency, and how agencies will evolve amid consolidation and the rise of…15 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 13 chapters
Stop Chasing Celebrity Influencers - Dave NevilleHow Johnny O’s marketing leader grows a 21-year premium lifestyle brand without losing its identity—building a “modern marketing ecosystem,” shifting spend from heavy catalog/direct mail to a…8 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 21 chapters
Why Smart Marketers Overcomplicate - Philip AuerbachWhy smart marketers overcomplicate—focus on fundamentals, “why the moment matters,” and using customer listening to avoid confusing distribution with message.4 Sep 2026 · 32 min · 14 chapters
AI Is Scaling Mediocrity - Will LeachHow behavioral science should guide AI in marketing—brands talk too much about themselves, rely on short-term sales metrics, and risk “scaling mediocrity” by using AI for efficiency rather than…1 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 15 chapters
Why Great Marketing Fails - Liz CrisafiWhy “great marketing” fails, arguing that AI-era marketing should shift from awareness and transactions to hospitality-driven experiences that create memories, trust, and loyalty through meaningful…28 Aug 2026 · 30 min · 14 chapters
Why Smart Leaders Struggle - Alma Derricks & Eliza VanCortWhy smart leaders struggle when moving into senior roles, and how human communication, confidence, and influence matter more as AI reshapes work.21 Aug 2026 · 33 min · 15 chapters
B2B Is Still Human - Jake NishimuraJake Nishimura (Kizwi VP of Marketing) explains how B2B marketing for direct-to-consumer streaming events still depends on human relationships, authenticity, and community-building—plus the key…14 Aug 2026 · 27 min · 12 chapters
Marketing Has Lost Control - Marie BahlMarketing’s data and measurement problem is structural: teams spend too much time proving value with disconnected metrics and “single source of truth” promises, while marketing is treated as a cost…7 Aug 2026 · 30 min · 13 chapters
Stop The Finger Pointing - Andrea EatonThe episode argues against finger-pointing between marketing and sales by treating revenue as an end-to-end “go-to-market engine.” It covers how to align teams using pipeline coverage and data, why…28 Jul 2026 · 25 min · 9 chapters
Escape The AI Paralysis - Mike LaneHow AI and “agentic AI” are changing advertising operations, reducing manual work in campaign setup/optimization/reporting, and helping CMOs avoid “AI paralysis” while adopting new channels and…24 Jul 2026 · 25 min · 12 chapters
AI Won't Replace Marketers - Christine BuckChristine Buck (CMO of Minitab) argues that AI won’t replace marketers, but marketers must actively manage AI outputs.17 Jul 2026 · 21 min · 14 chapters
Every Child Needs Someone - Kathryn FernandezCatherine Fernandez, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence, discusses why every child needs a mentor, how the organization balances legacy brand with local needs, and what makes effective…14 Jul 2026 · 25 min · 12 chapters
Advertising Can Save Lives - Kris JohnsAdGood founder Chris Johns argues that unused connected-TV (CTV) ad inventory can be converted into affordable, performance-measurable advertising for nonprofits—helping drive donations, attendance,…10 Jul 2026 · 28 min · 17 chapters
Why Rebrands Actually Fail - James MaddisonWhy rebrands fail (and how to manage the risk) plus James Maddison’s broader CMO approach to storytelling, AI, and marketing finance/crypto trust.7 Jul 2026 · 32 min · 13 chapters
AI Won't Replace Leaders - Barry O’ReillyHow leaders should use AI to redesign work and improve judgment—not just adopt tools—plus how to measure success (decision velocity, decision advantage, reversal rate).3 Jul 2026 · 31 min · 14 chapters
CMOs Should Think Bigger - Bruce HersheyHow CMOs should “think bigger” by shifting from department leadership to enterprise leadership, using the COO lens to understand scale of consequences, operational alignment, and cross-functional…30 Jun 2026 · 28 min · 12 chapters
The Future Of Advertising - Dr. Mark GretherThe future of advertising through PayPal’s “commerce media” using transaction data to move from attention/intent to action, enable closed-loop attribution, reduce channel silos, and adapt to…19 Jun 2026 · 23 min · 9 chapters
Why People Really Quit - Bonnie Low-KramenWhy people really quit, centered on respect, fair treatment, belonging, and manager training; includes how AI and mass layoffs can worsen anxiety and disengagement.16 Jun 2026 · 33 min · 13 chapters
AI Won't Save Marketing - Marco MatosMarco Matos argues AI won’t “save” marketing; CMOs must use AI to improve performance and re-think measurement, org structure, and creative governance.12 Jun 2026 · 34 min · 16 chapters
Attention Drives Modern Growth - Ryan HarwoodRyan Harwood explains the “attention economy” and argues that modern growth comes from earning attention daily via relevance.9 Jun 2026 · 22 min · 13 chapters
AI Changed Marketing Forever - Ryan NelsenHow AI is reshaping marketing execution and measurement, and why CMOs should balance brand and performance using connected data-to-revenue systems and human-led strategy.5 Jun 2026 · 28 min · 15 chapters