Brian Kurtz is the Founder and CEO of Titans Marketing, which helps businesses master direct response marketing by combining timeless principles with modern tactics. He spent 34 years at Boardroom Inc., helping grow its revenue to over $150 million. At Titans, he runs mastermind groups, consults, and educates marketers with his book Overdeliver. Brian is known for his expertise in list-building, copywriting, and relationship-driven marketing.

Some marketing trends come and go, but others seem to outlast every platform shift and media evolution. What makes certain strategies and frameworks timeless, and how do today’s best marketers still use them to win in a digital world?

According to Brian Kurtz, a veteran of over four decades in direct response marketing, timeless principles succeed because they’re rooted in unchanging human behavior. He highlights that fundamentals like list segmentation, copy discipline, and offer clarity all apply whether you’re sending mail or launching a digital funnel. These practices have stood the test of time because they focus on connection and measurable response, not just flashy tactics. Brian explains that while technology changes the tools, it never replaces the need for strategic thinking, rigorous testing, and customer-focused messaging.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Brian Kurtz, Founder and CEO of Titans Marketing, to talk about why classic direct marketing still drives results online. They break down Brian’s 41-39-20 rule, the importance of lifetime value, and why “don’t test whispers” should guide your creative. Brian also gives advice on turning proven principles into scalable, modern strategies.

Candace Chapman is the Fractional CMO at Pairaphrase, an AI-powered, cloud‑based translation management platform that helps businesses translate documents securely, fast, and efficiently. She excels in B2B marketing leadership, with expertise in demand generation, go‑to‑market planning, and team building for fast‑growing startups. In her role, Candace authors key company updates and thought leadership, including announcements about integrating new translation engines like DeepL into Pairaphrase's platform.

Many marketers feel the pressure to deliver big results with small budgets. How can you create high-impact campaigns, scale efficiently, and still stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving marketing landscape?

According to Candace Chapman, a growth-focused B2B marketing leader, success begins with embracing resourcefulness and data-driven testing. She highlights the power of scrappy strategies that leverage AI tools and fractional teams to do more with less. By focusing on customer insights, zero-click marketing, and smart experimentation, marketers can amplify results without overspending. Her approach blends creativity with discipline, proving that lean budgets can drive measurable growth when paired with smart positioning and the right digital tools.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Candace Chapman, Fractional CMO at Pairaphrase, to discuss building impactful marketing strategies on lean budgets. Listeners will learn how to leverage AI for faster execution, use customer feedback to refine messaging, and embrace data-driven testing to maximize ROI. Candace also shares why zero-click marketing and the jobs-to-be-done framework are key to future-proofing B2B growth.

Jonathan Lo is Fractional CMO at Salt Foundry, a Utah-based strategic marketing firm that provides part-time chief marketing leadership and custom strategies for e-commerce and consumer brands. He has over 15 years of experience leading digital marketing efforts at startups and multi‑billion‑dollar companies, managing more than $50 million in annual ad spend across millions of products. At Salt Foundry, Jonathan partners with leadership teams to define KPIs, lead internal teams, and execute high-impact campaigns with measurable results.

The world of marketing is moving faster than ever, with AI tools promising to revolutionize strategy, execution, and content creation. But as automation ramps up, many marketers wonder: how do we keep our campaigns effective without losing the human spark that connects with real people? Can we truly blend tech and empathy for scalable success?

According to Jonathan Lo, a seasoned marketing strategist and AI product leader, marketers can readily harness AI to enhance, not replace, their creative and strategic abilities. He highlights that the right AI tools can help teams move faster and more effectively by getting them 80% of the way toward a strong strategy or deliverable — the real power comes from the human insight applied in that final 20%. He also emphasizes the role of authenticity and trust in a post-AI world, where founders and influencers are often more persuasive than polished ads.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Jonathan Lo, Fractional CMO at Salt Foundry, to discuss how AI tools can support smarter, more human-centered marketing. They explore the balance between automation and creativity, how empathy drives performance, and why strategy frameworks matter. Jonathan also shares how brands can stay trustworthy and effective in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Francine Feder is the Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at OK4WD, a premier off‑road and overland vehicle outfitter founded in 1979 that builds custom trucks and serves as North America’s exclusive distributor for several international brands. She brings over two decades of award‑winning strategic marketing experience, including leadership roles at Foot Locker, where she drove creative campaigns, digital transformation, and brand equity growth. In her fractional CMO capacity at OK4WD, Francine provides high-level strategic guidance, digital strategy, and brand development without the commitment of a full-time executive.

Staying relevant in marketing today requires more than simply keeping up with trends. With digital platforms multiplying and consumer expectations shifting constantly, marketers must be both strategic and adaptable. So, how can professionals leverage big-brand experience while successfully navigating fast-moving niche markets?

According to Francine Feder, a veteran marketing leader with decades of experience building iconic campaigns, the key lies in balancing long-term brand thinking with agile execution. She underscores the value of data-driven insights as a roadmap and stresses that creativity is what helps messages break through the noise. Blending enterprise strategy with nimble tactics enables marketers to evolve with their audiences while staying grounded in what works. Francine also emphasizes the importance of understanding the entire customer journey and shaping marketing around it, not just the last-click moment. Her cross-industry experience reinforces how foundational principles can flex across company sizes and sectors.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Francine Feder, Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at OK4WD, to talk about bridging enterprise-level strategy with niche execution. They discuss aligning brand and performance marketing, building marketing structure in a fast-scaling business, and how to speak to niche audiences without alienating loyalists. Francine also shares how to stay creatively sharp in a data-dominated world.

Perryn Olson is a Principal at AltCMO, a firm providing fractional CMO services and marketing strategy tailored to construction and construction technology companies. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, he specializes in aligning marketing with business development, recruiting, and company culture. Perryn holds certifications from SMPS and the Construction Marketing Association and is a recognized thought leader in construction marketing. He authored The Construction Executive’s Guide to Brand Marketing and frequently speaks at industry events.

Branding isn’t just about a logo or a slick website — it’s about making people feel something. In construction, that feeling can be the difference between winning a project or losing a job candidate. So how can firms build a brand that attracts both top-tier clients and loyal employees?

According to Perryn Olson, a veteran construction marketing strategist and author, it all starts with strong positioning that reflects a company’s values and culture. He highlights how many construction firms overlook branding’s role in recruiting, even though labor shortages continue to impact the industry. The best brands act like magnets, drawing in the right clients and talent while repelling poor fits. This clarity strengthens business development, builds alignment across teams, and avoids costly mismatches. Perryn also emphasizes the importance of aligning internal values with external messaging to build long-term trust and retention.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Perryn Olson, Principal at AltCMO, to discuss how construction firms can leverage branding to attract better clients and talent. They talk about overcoming the low-bid mindset, using ideal client profiles for growth, and how to stand out with B2B direct mail. Perryn also shares his insights on aligning marketing with internal operations to drive smarter strategy.

Ernest Tavares III is the Founder of First Step Growth, a performance marketing agency that helps direct-to-consumer brands scale profitably through data-driven advertising. With over $200 million in capital deployed across platforms like Meta, Google, TikTok, and Reddit, he specializes in lowering customer acquisition costs and boosting return on investment. A Wharton graduate, Ernest has led growth initiatives at startups including Mochi Health and Connie Health.

In today’s noisy digital world, getting in front of the right customer is harder and more expensive than ever. Marketers face rising ad costs, AI-altered search behavior, and increasingly fragmented channels. So how can startups scale smarter without wasting their budgets?

According to Ernest Tavares III, a seasoned growth marketing strategist who has deployed over $200 million in ad spend, the answer lies in using strong data signals instead of relying on outdated segmentation tactics. He highlights that modern platforms like Meta and Google are more efficient when fed clear conversion and customer match signals, allowing their algorithms to do what they do best: find buyers. The impact is better ROI and faster scaling. Ernest also explains that physical channels like direct mail, when paired with digital campaigns, can amplify conversions and stand out in ad-saturated markets.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Ernest Tavares III, Founder of First Step Growth, to discuss scaling smarter using AI, paid media, and direct mail. They explore why signal quality beats segmentation, how to use direct mail for retargeting, and what makes AI tools a secret weapon for lean teams. Ernest also shares tips for measuring performance with ROI-focused metrics.

Brad Schlachter is the Founder and CMO at Rise Business Ventures, a consultancy that provides fractional CMO services and growth strategies for companies in technology, media, and entertainment. With over 15 years of experience, he has led marketing initiatives for major brands like Disney, Microsoft, and Major League Baseball, as well as high-growth startups. His expertise includes scaling customer acquisition, improving conversion rates, and reducing churn through data-driven strategies.

Not all data is created equal — and not every marketing strategy delivers results. In a fast-moving digital landscape where vanity metrics often distract from true performance, how can marketers connect the dots between insight and action to drive sustainable growth?

According to Brad Schlachter, a seasoned full-funnel growth strategist, the key lies in aligning brand storytelling with data-driven performance marketing. He highlights the importance of developing strong brand positioning before scaling acquisition efforts. When startups skip this foundational work, they often struggle to stand out and fail to convert initial attention into long-term growth. Brad also emphasizes the need to test pricing strategies, pointing to his experience with MotorTrend+, where lower pricing unexpectedly led to longer retention and higher lifetime value. With thoughtful experimentation and a cross-functional approach, marketers can transform raw insights into strategic outcomes.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Brad Schlachter, Founder and CMO at Rise Business Ventures, to talk about turning insights into scalable marketing strategies. Brad shares how to build alignment across the full funnel, why pricing tests can unlock growth, and the overlooked power of emotional brand storytelling. He also gives advice on building trust to implement data-backed decisions.

Michael Baer is the Fractional and Interim Chief Marketing Officer at TechCXO, a firm that provides on‑demand, interim and fractional C-suite executives who help high‑growth companies accelerate strategic and operational performance. With over 35 years of marketing and operational leadership, he brings expertise in transforming and professionalizing marketing and business development functions for VC/PE‑backed healthcare, B2B tech, and media companies. Michael is widely sought as a fractional CMO and growth advisor, guiding startups, scale‑ups, and multi‑brand organizations through brand innovation, go‑to‑market strategies, and organizational alignment.

Why do so many marketing efforts fall flat, even when they start with a strong idea? The truth is, great ideas alone aren’t enough — execution matters just as much as strategy. So how do high-growth companies align both to build sustainable marketing momentum?

According to Michael Baer, a marketing strategist with decades of experience across advertising and corporate marketing, successful companies balance strategic clarity with disciplined execution. He highlights that many early-stage and growth companies dive straight into tactics without defining who they’re targeting, what their core message is, or how their marketing efforts connect across channels. This leads to fragmented branding, wasted budget, and missed opportunities. By establishing a solid foundation rooted in personas, positioning, and a clear go-to-market strategy, companies can make every tactic more effective and measurable.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Michael Baer, Fractional and Interim Chief Marketing Officer at TechCXO, to talk about how aligning strategy and execution leads to smarter marketing growth. They discuss why startups often confuse activity with progress, how to build cohesive brand experiences, and what it takes to make direct mail truly effective. Michael also shares how AI is accelerating execution and what that means for marketers today.