Before I answer how I survived unscathed, let me suggest that all senior marketers are in this exact position: careening ahead in rapidly changing conditions with no real visibility into the future. How then do some marketers seem to thrive while others putter along?

The answer revealed itself as I approached my 200th interview. Inside every successful CMO is a renegade thinker—someone who challenges convention at just the right moment. In this post, you’ll meet five of them, who not coincidentally are also the first five guests in my new podcast series, Renegade Thinkers Unite.

Embrace Ambiguity (Eric Reynolds, CMO of Clorox)

Packaged goods companies are well known for their marketing discipline and not usually the place you’d expect to hear a CMO express the need for “tolerating a lot more chaos and ambiguity in the culture and the way we work in order to get to the good stuff.” But that’s just the starting point with Eric Reynolds, who, among other things, discourages using influencers on a broad scale and believes that unless your brand gets talked about via the “holy trinity of the brand story, the message, and the content,” then the idea isn’t big enough to cut through.

Buck Category Norms (Lee Applbaum, CMO of Patrón Spirits)

With over 70% share of the premium tequila market, it would be easy for Patrón’s CMO to rationalize a conservative marketing approach. Instead, Lee Applbaum believes that success can only be found by “challenging long-standing norms in luxury and in spirits marketing,” and by “always staying ahead of the curve.” To these ends, Applbaum is focused on showcasing Patrón’s authenticity as a handcrafted tequila via advertising, influencer programs, social media and an innovative Oculus VR experience.

Remember the Art of Marketing (Dan Marks, CMO of Hancock & Whitney Bank)

As a long-time financial services marketer, you would expect Dan Marks to have the science of marketing down pat. And indeed he does, having built a predictive marketing spend model at First Tennessee Bank (see The CMO’s Periodic Table!) and the marketing tech infrastructure in his current role. But Marks sees the trend toward data-driven marketing going too far, explaining that, “Just doing the science without starting with the purpose is a recipe for failure.” In embracing the “art” side of his job, he encourages his team to “remember that we are ultimately serving people” and to look at “what’s happening with people in other categories.”

Selective Listening with David Beebe, Content Chief at Marriott

The notion of having a large-scale content studio in-house would be radical for many brands but that’s just the opening scene for David Beebe, who “set out to establish [Marriott] as the largest producer of travel lifestyle content.” A veteran of Hollywood, Beebe has turned Marriott into a content powerhouse by “not asking for permission all the time” and by focusing initially on “really premium storytelling.” Noting that successful content needs to be scalable, built around a community and have a commerce component, Beebe reminds us, “You’re not making a commercial—you’re not talking about yourself and your features anymore.”

Create Personalized Experiences (Arra Yerganian, CMO at Sutter Health)

Lamenting the fact that the healthcare industry “says the same thing and blends into this mush,” Arra Yerganian is “working to change the conversation” about Sutter Health. To achieve this goal,
Yerganian seeks to “embrace the digital experience and create one-to-one relationships with the 3.5 million people that we serve.” Believing that this promise needs to go deeper than marketing, Yerganian works in “really close partnership with Sutter’s patient experience folks, executive leadership, and operations to lay the foundation for a new [customer] experience.”

Finale: The Crazy Driving Story

Remarkably, given my youth and inexperience (although I’ve never met anyone who has had their hood blow open at any speed), I didn’t panic. Instead, I instantly befriended my mirrors, gradually descended from light speed and coasted my way to the side of the road. Ten minutes later, a chipper California highway patrolman helped me cram the ruined hood low enough so forward visibility was again possible, and then I had 60 miles to think of what to say to my grandmother. Later I learned it was a design flaw and that many 1969 Ford Mustangs (same chassis as the Falcon) had hood straps to prevent just such an occurrence. Needless to say, being able to look backward saved my life, and perhaps that’s why I’ve been a student of history ever since!

Final note: As of today, you can subscribe to my podcast Renegade Thinkers Unite on iTunes and Stitcher (it will be live on GooglePlay and iHeartRadio momentarily.) Upcoming episodes feature the insights of award-winning CMOs from Tableau, Mercy Corp, Intuit, Sally Beauty, VER, and many more. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

The post 5 Ways to Think Like a Renegade appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Below, you’ll find shows specific to marketing, leadership, and business, and other shows dedicated to smaller pieces of those larger topics (i.e., design, social, etc.). This list is far from comprehensive, considering how many great podcasts are published each week, so make sure to post your favorites and recommendations in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: These shows are not listed in any particular order. I’m not interested in ranking, so I literally just rolled the dice; it seemed the most fair way to handle the list. Also, none of these shows are clients, this post is not sponsored, and no shenanigans have occurred, meaning I truly listen to each one of these and personally endorse them all.

Now…dive in:

The Beancast

Hosted by: Bob Knorpp

Recommended for: Marketing

The Beancast, dubbed as “The Best Marketing Podcast Anywhere”, recently celebrated its seventh anniversary. Any show that survives 350 episodes is not only time-tested, but also prioritizes quality and consistency. It’s the first podcast that I listen to each week, usually first thing on Monday morning, and it never fails to deliver on high-quality guests, time-sensitive topics, and plenty of laughs. Bob pulls together a panel of experts each week to discuss the very latest in marketing and advertising, and it’s a must-listen for anyone connected to the industry. If you don’t already subscribe to The Beancast, go ahead and do that now. You won’t regret it. Guaranteed.

Listen In: http://www.thebeancast.com/

Social Toolkit

Hosted by: Jason Keath and Jason Yarborough

Recommended for: Marketing

Social Toolkit is another top-notch marketing podcast. If you itch to keep up with the nuts-and-bolts and how-to’s of the industry, then put this show on your list. As we all know, some of the hardest parts of staying current in the marketing space is, well, staying current. Lucky for you, Jason and Jason do the hard part for you. Tune in weekly, and you’re sure to walk away smarter, stand taller, and feel fresher. They always have a new tool to test out, and you get to benefit from their ever expanding kit. So benefit.

Listen In: http://www.socialfresh.com/podcast/

Read To Lead Podcast

Hosted by: Jeff Brown

Recommended for: Leadership

Jeff Brown puts out one of the smartest, most interesting, and well-produced shows around. The backbone of RTL is the belief that “consistent and intentional reading” is key to success in business and in life. Jeff has interviewed the laundry list of thought-leaders and experts in the leadership space, and hearing insights directly from the mouths of best-selling authors is powerful. It’s no surprise that Jeff was a finalist for “Best Business Podcast” at this year’s 10th Annual Podcast Awards. You might tune in for his amazing voice (and it is amazing), but you’ll stay for the amazing content.

Listen In: http://readtoleadpodcast.com/

Social Zoom Factor

Hosted by: Pam Moore

Recommended for: Marketing

If a topic, tool, or idea is related to marketing and/or social marketing, Pam has it covered in her Social Zoom Factor podcast. Speaking with a believable authority, she uses her experience and expertise to great effect. There is an archive of over 120 shows waiting to speak to you, and trust me, they will. If Social Zoom Factor is not on your subscription list, take care of that today. Her confidence is contagious, and there are great benefits to being infected.

Listen In: http://socialzoomfactor.com/

The Xero Hour

Hosted by: Saul Colt and Bob Knorpp

Recommended for: Small Business

Saul Colt, aka “The Smartest Man in the World”, launched The Xero Hour fairly recently, but the show is already making a big impact. Though the podcast is named after the company Saul works for, this show is no advertisement or infomercial. In fact, the most Xero-centric episode is labeled as a Bonus Episode, which is a smartly humble way of keeping their true focus. Saul keeps small business as the star with stellar interviews on a wide-range of topics related to marketing, innovation, networking, and business trends. If you’re looking for leading thoughts on business with humor at every turn, this podcast will be one of your favorites.

Listen In: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/xero-hour-bob-knorpp-saul/id977452702

Seth Godin’s Startup School

Hosted by: Seth Godin

Recommended for: Entrepreneurship

When I rediscovered podcasts back in 2012, Seth Godin’s Startup School was my very first listen. And it still one of my favorites. Though geared toward those in the early stages of entrepreneurship, there is huge value here for brands and teams of all stages and sizes. One of the beauties of this show is that it’s finite, meaning 15 episodes…drop the mic. You’re not on the hook forever; instead, you’re in for a 6-hour ride through the ups and downs of business: how to speed up, swerve, and survive. Startup School is often my primary recommendation for anyone within earshot, which now includes you. Go grab this series as soon as possible.

Listen In: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-godins-startup-school/id566985370

100 Proof: The Badass Radio Show

Hosted by: Jason Falls and Mark Murdock (formerly Tania Dakka)

Recommended for: Leadership

As many of you know, Falls is the founder of this here blog, though I didn’t contact him for this post and 100 Proof’s inclusion has nothing to do with the relationship. Instead, I include it because I dig it. 100 Proof is unique here due to its stated mission: Talk to badasses. Not business badasses or marketing badasses; just badasses. One of the most appealing factors of this show is that badasses can exist and can manifest anywhere, and this show finds them regardless of “vertical”, “industry”, or any other defining terms. You’ll know pretty quickly if that is up your alley or not. It’s up mine, and I’m guessing it’s up yours (see what I did there?).

Listen In: http://www.100proofshow.com/

StartUp Podcast

Hosted by: Alex Blumberg and Lisa Chow

Recommended for: Entrepreneurship

If you’ve spent any time at all researching podcasts, it’s very likely that you’ve run across StartUp. And there’s a good reason for that: it’s entertaining, smart, and delivers on the behind-the-scenes access that so many brands envy. Was it easy for Alex to put all of his hopes, fears, successes, and failures into Season 1? I highly doubt it. Don’t we all preach being authentic? Yah…this show is truly authentic and transparent, topics that we all talk about striving toward. Regardless of where you are in your business or career, StartUp will speak to you. Season 2 just kicked off, so there’s still time to get caught up. Get caught up, and strap in for some reality.

Listen In: http://gimletmedia.com/show/startup/

The Tim Ferriss Show

Hosted by: Tim Ferriss

Recommended for: Leadership

Tim Ferriss calls himself the “human guinea pig”, which makes him the most well-known and well-established guinea pig in the world. Tim’s show is eclectic and is sure to get your inspiration rising, regardless of which episode you dive into. It’s leadership-driven smart from some of the top leaders around. If you don’t know of Tim Ferriss yet, consider yourself educated.

Listen In: http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast/

Unmistakable Creative

Hosted by: Srini Rao

Recommended for: Creativity

Marketing and creative go hand-in-hand, and Srini has the best show around for exploring the depth and breadth of creativity. Unmistakable Creative has hundreds of shows in the archive (each with a custom-drawn cover image, btw; totally worth exploring the gallery), so you might feel overwhelmed at first with the choices. Don’t be. Dive into past shows, subscribe to get new shows, and let your brain take a creative trip each week with fascinating guests, deep questions, and solid insights into the creative spirit. Srini is top-notch, and as such attracts top-notch guests. The show never disappoints. Period.

Listen In: http://unmistakablecreative.com/

Smart Passive Income

Hosted by: Pat Flynn

Recommended for: Business

Pat Flynn appreciates you, and it shows in his passion. If you geek out over how to’s, systems, tools, automation, etc., then you will definitely want to tune into SPI. You will absolutely find topics highly relevant to your business and brand, no matter what your size or speciality, and there is even a how-to on starting your own podcast (if you do, send it my way; I’m always looking for new shows). Pat is a well-known leader in his space, and he lives up to the hype. If “smart” or “passive” or “income” speaks to you, this is definitely your show.

Listen In: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/category/podcast/

Jay Today

Hosted by: Jay Baer

Recommended for: Marketing

Here is our outlier, but it’s definitely worth mentioning. “Jay Today” is a video podcast where Jay Baer tackles the news/trend/idea of the day (or even moment) and brings you his three-minutes, every day of the week. And he very often hits it right out of the park. If you are interested in the video side of podcasting, check out Jay Today to see how effectively a micro-show can be. And if you are interested in literally anything related to marketing at all, check out Jay Today, period.

Listen In: http://jaytoday.tv

Radiotopia

Hosted by: Award-Winning Hosts

Recommended for: Entertainment

Okay, here is the one non-business-related suggestion (which is totally a cheat b/c I’m actually suggesting 11). If you have not stumbled across Radiotopia yet, it’s time to take the plunge. I subscribe to all 11 of these podcasts (and even have a collection of shirts to display my affinity). When you need a break from industry talk, choose a few Radiotopia shows to subscribe to. Love+Radio says of Radiotopia, “They’re like a drug dealer for the narratively addicted.” Spot on.

Listen In: http://www.radiotopia.fm/

Tropical MBA

Hosted by: Dan Andrews and Ian Schoen

Recommended for: Entrepreneurship

Are these words on your wishlist: location independent, digital nomad, workshifting, distributed team? What about just plain ol’ “How can I do what I want when I want from where I want?” Here at SME Digital, we are a 100% virtual team (and our newest team member Alex is a true digital nomad), so Tropical MBA is right in our crosshairs. If you work virtually, or if you are becoming more and more curious about how it’s done, this show is for you. When there’s a deep down voice that is calling you to uproot for a while (or forever), keep the Tropical MBA close by. Let them be your sherpa to getting out of the commute, the cubicle farm, and the grind.

Listen In: http://www.tropicalmba.com/podcasts/

The Rocketship Podcast

Hosted by: Joelle Steiniger, Michael Sacca, and Matt Goldman

Recommended for: Entrepreneurship

Storytelling, how-to’s, and why’s are constant themes on The Rocketship Podcast. If you like to hear the tales behind successes, failures, and learnings from the mouths of those on the front lines, you’ll love this show. Joelle, Michael, and Matt do an excellent job on sourcing interviews, remaining relevant, and providing value in every show. There is a solid archive of episodes, so make sure to swim in the deep end a bit; but also definitely subscribe for the newest shows. This podcast should absolutely be in your ears.

Listen In: http://rocketship.fm/

Online Marketing Made Easy

Hosted by: Amy Porterfield

Recommended for: Marketing

Amy is amazing, and her Online Marketing Made Easy podcast is such a gem. There are tips and tricks, for sure, but these are not your run-of-the-mill variety; I’m talking deep, well-thought-out, actionable tips and tricks. For example, instead of simply suggesting that you send out a survey to your audience, she recently spent well over an hour on every little detail of that tip: how, when, where, why, etc. That’s commitment, that’s depth, and that’s putting you and your needs absolutely first. Keep Amy close by; chances are, you need what she’s offering.

Listen In: http://www.amyporterfield.com/category/podcast/

Yes, this list is necessarily incomplete, so now it’s your turn. What are your hidden gems or must-listen shows (or episodes)? What am I missing and should definitely hook into? Help us continue building out this resource; the comments section is yours:

The post 16 Must-Listen Business Podcasts to Turn Your Morning Commute Into Your New Classroom appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Adam and Cory discuss the big news coming out of Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference and what smart marketers and advertisers should be preparing for as a result, including the new MacBook Pro with Retina display and what it will mean for online images, the new Passbook app and Apple’s moves towards a mobile wallet, maps updates and how networks like Yelp are now more important than ever before, updates for the way applications market themselves, including through Facebook likes, Foursquare’s new app updates and how the network is shifting from the check-in to a guide of things to do and places to shop, and what small businesses should do to take advantage of the change, the show’s upcoming appearance at the Social-Loco conference and weekly syndication on Social Media Explorer, infographics about Mayor @MikeBloomberg’s Foursquare usage and WWDC discussion on Twitter, a tool review of App Annie for keeping track of your application statistics, Google’s Trusted Stores program and what it means for online retailers, Facebook’s new App Center and how it will change social app discovery, Facebook’s new WordPress integration and how that will change the way you promote your blog posts, the Big Brand Hackathon taking place at Social-Loco, and much more.

Show Notes:

• Social Media Explorer
• Social-Loco Conference
• Social-Loco Tickets
• @MikeBloomberg Declares 4/16 Foursquare Day
• WWDC 2012 Twitter Analysis
• Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference
• MacBook Pro with Retina Display
• iOS 6: Passbook
• iOS 6: Maps
• iOS 6: Info Card
• Yelp – Citizen Chain Bicycles (Photos)
• iOS 6: Facebook
• The #AllNew4sq Is Here
• App Annie
• Google Trusted Stores
• Introducing Facebook App Center
• Facebook Integration for WordPress
• Big Brand Hackathon

Connect and Subscribe:

• SoLoMo Show on iTunes (For those that prefer their Podcasts straight up) –http://linkfrom.co/AvNgOH
• SoLoMo Show Blog (For show notes per episode and to subscribe to episodes via RSS or email) –http://linkfrom.co/zYlOrE
• SoLoMo Show on Facebook (LIKE us and join the discussion) – http://linkfrom.co/wRjP0x
• SoLoMo Show on Google+ (For the hardcore geeks and those who want to “Hang Out”) –http://linkfrom.co/wufUGF
• SoLoMo Show on Pinterest (Each video episode available for your repinning pleasure) –http://linkfrom.co/Hx219T
• SoLoMo Show on Twitter (Tweet us before, during and after the show and contribute to the discussion) –http://linkfrom.co/wo5igw

The post SoLoMo Show EP 23: How Businesses Benefit from New Apple Announcements & the New Foursquare appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

This episode Adam and Cory discuss BIG announcements about the SoLoMo Show, including an appearance at the Social-Loco conference, a weekly feature on Social Media Explorer, and the availability of the show live on Google+ Hangouts On Air, an infographic that compares marketing and advertising people to ‘normal’ people, a new tool for Pinterest called Pin My Info that lets you build an ‘about me’ board, an interview with Jay Baer, the MLB’s Fan Cave and their big bet on content production, Pitbull on the Today Show, and #CamryEffect, one of the biggest social media fails of 2012.

Show Notes:

• Social-Loco Conference
• Social-Loco Conference Tickets
• Social Media Explorer
• Google+ Hangouts
• Google+ Hangouts On Air
• Record a Google+ Hangout with Garageband
• Infographic: Marketing People vs Normal People
• Pin My Info
• Jay Baer
• MLB Fan Cave
• Lost Remote: How The MLB Fan Cave Became The League’s Social Strategy (Interview)
• Pitbull on Today Show
• Social Media Campaigns: Case Studies of the Biggest Fails of 2012 (So Far)

Connect and Subscribe:

• SoLoMo Show on iTunes (For those that prefer their Podcasts straight up) – http://linkfrom.co/AvNgOH
• SoLoMo Show Blog (For show notes per episode and to subscribe to episodes via RSS or email) – http://linkfrom.co/zYlOrE
• SoLoMo Show on Facebook (LIKE us and join the discussion) – http://linkfrom.co/wRjP0x
• SoLoMo Show on Google+ (For the hardcore geeks and those who want to “Hang Out”) – http://linkfrom.co/wufUGF
• SoLoMo Show on Pinterest (Each video episode available for your repinning pleasure) – http://linkfrom.co/Hx219T
• SoLoMo Show on Twitter (Tweet us before, during and after the show to contribute) – http://linkfrom.co/wo5igw

The post SoLoMo Show Episode 20: BIG Announcements (and Social-Loco Ticket Giveaway) appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

• The hour-long podcast was a really fun, fast-moving discussion. We talked about a variety of things, including:
• The Social Factor in Broadcast Metrics – Do social media metrics help broadcast media?
• Does Co-Viewing (watching and Tweeting on tablets or phones) kill a show’s advertising effectiveness?
• How do marketers manage or change photo sharing efforts now that sites like TwitPic and Instagram are actively claiming ownership and rights usage for user-generated content?
• Will Google’s advancement of Near Field Communication (on-site purchases via mobile device) be a bonanza or bust and who else is worth watching in the NFC marketplace?
• Is the U.S. Army capable of using social media marketing and is there recent call for social savvy recruiters really necessary?

Check out and subscribe to The BeanCast Marketing Podcast on iTunes, Zune or via RSS. You can also vist the BeanCast community at beancast.us.

The post Killer Topics, Fellow Voices On This Week’s BeanCast appeared first on Social Media Explorer.