This is your go-to podcast for all things marketing, branding, and customer experience. We’re bringing you honest and fun conversations with bite-sized insights. Hosted by BrightSign’s CMO Brian Rowley and Head of Integrated Marketing Laura Smith, you’ll hear from industry pros, creatives, and innovators about what’s actually working in today’s evolving, digital-first world. No fluff — just real insights on how brands are connecting with audiences and driving growth. Tune in for fresh ideas, ...
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BrightSign Podcasts
Fifteen episodes. Six months. A lot of opinions. In this year-end wrap, we look back at what challenged us, what surprised us, and what we’re carrying forward into 2026. For the final episode of the year, Brian Rowley and Laura Smith count down their top three Prose + Comms conversations and unpack why they resonated. From culture’s role in custome…
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Embedding Intelligence: The Next Phase of AI in Marketing and Experience
39:43
39:43
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39:43AI is reshaping marketing and customer experience faster than anyone expected, and most teams are only scratching the surface. In this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, we break through the hype to explore how AI is changing the way marketers think, create, collaborate, and problem-solve. From boosting creativity to transforming ever…
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Is Storytelling Overrated? Why Brands Need to Start "Storydoing"
21:36
21:36
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21:36Storytelling has become one of marketing’s favorite buzzwords, but has it lost its meaning? In this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, Brian and Laura unpack the evolution of storytelling in modern marketing and what it really takes to create memorable customer experiences. They explore why stories alone aren’t enough to connect with …
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I’m Not a Salesperson… Or Am I? The Mindset Shift Every Professional Needs
37:41
37:41
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37:41Think you’re not in sales? Think again. On this episode of Prose and Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, hosts Laura Smith and Brian Rowley explore how almost everyone sells in some way, often without realizing it. Sales mindset expert April Williams joins the conversation to show how to turn the dreaded task of selling into building relationships, drivi…
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Can the Employee and Brand Story Intertwine? The Impact of Personal Branding on Employee and Company Success
48:41
48:41
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48:41Marketing today is about connection, and personal branding is at the heart of it. On this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, Brian and Laura are joined by personal branding expert Kait LeDonne to explore how professionals can build a presence that boosts both their career and their company’s reach, especially on LinkedIn. Kait shares …
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Beyond the Likes and Follows: What the Best Brands Get Right About Influencer Partnerships
35:30
35:30
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35:30Influencer marketing is about more than follower counts. It’s about authenticity, strategy, and results. In this episode, Laura and Brian sit down with influencer marketing expert Joelle Moroney to explore how top brands balance micro and celebrity influencers, leverage AI for discovery and vetting, and measure real impact. Hear actionable insights…
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Building a Marketing Culture That Values Both Creativity and Process
34:23
34:23
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34:23Can creativity and process really coexist, or are they destined to clash? In this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, Brian Rowley and Laura Smith explore one of marketing’s biggest challenges: building a culture where innovative ideas can flourish alongside strong accountability and execution. They explore why too much structure can f…
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Data-Driven vs. Gut-Driven: Who Wins the Strategy War? Navigating Marketing Strategies for Customer Experience
47:33
47:33
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47:33Marketers today must navigate the constant tension between data-driven strategies and gut-driven intuition. This episode explores how to enhance customer experience through the balance of data insights and human empathy. With AI, analytics, and automation delivering more data than ever, the challenge lies in deciding when to lean on hard numbers an…
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The CX Trap: More Tech, Less Impact? Rethinking Marketing Technology for Better Customer Experience
33:26
33:26
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33:26More tech, less impact? Explore why bigger stacks can mean weaker customer experience, and how to bring the focus back to results. Is your marketing technology helping you deliver a better customer experience, or quietly draining time, budget, and focus? In this episode, we dig into the CX trap that even leading brands fall into: adding more tools …
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Agency or In-House? The Great Marketing Tug-of-War
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30:33
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30:33This week on Prose + Comms, Laura Smith and Brian Rowley explore one of marketing’s most persistent questions: Should brands go in-house, outsource to agencies, or find a hybrid approach? With shifting priorities and rising demands for speed and creativity, the answer is more nuanced than ever. Plus, they debunk some of the biggest myths about in-h…
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From Noise to News: What Journalists Wish Marketers Knew
31:25
31:25
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31:25What does it take to earn media attention today? In this episode of Prose + Comms, we unpack what makes something newsworthy, why so many brand stories fall flat, and how marketers can better connect with journalists. To help us separate noise from news, we’re joined by Dave Haynes of Sixteen:Nine, a veteran journalist who’s seen (and ignored) more…
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Why Your Culture Might Be Killing Your CX
39:17
39:17
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39:17What’s the real impact of company culture, looking beyond the buzzwords and mission statements? In this episode of Prose + Comms, we explore how culture shapes the customer experience, why internal alignment matters more than ever, and what happens when brand values break down. From leadership to the frontlines, we unpack how trust, consistency, an…
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Are we mistaking familiarity for authenticity? In this episode, we explore the subtle but important differences between being true and being liked. Authenticity means showing up consistently and standing by your values, even if that doesn't resonate with everyone. Relatability, on the other hand, is about being easily understood, emotionally access…
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Is the Traditional Tradeshow Booth Dead? Long Live the Brand Vibe
38:29
38:29
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38:29There’s an element of tradition when it comes to B2B tradeshows – regardless of the specific industry. Employees dress in matching outfits as companies spend big budgets on booth design and swag to capture attendees’ attention. But what value do these tradeshows really bring? And are companies focusing their time, money, and attention on the right …
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With every company claiming to deliver “immersive experiences,” has the term lost meaning? Who's creating the best experiential activations? Who’s faking it? Is the experience economy as a whole suffering from an identity crisis? Bryan Meszaros, CEO and Founder of experience design agency OpenEye Global, joins us to explore what it means to create …
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At the Crossroads: Emotion, Intentionality, and the Power of Connection
44:31
44:31
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44:31We all face crossroad moments – in life and in our marketing careers. In this episode, we explore what it means to lead with intention when brands face moments of choice. How do emotions influence the way we react in these moments? Does an emotional reaction enhance our customer relationships? Jez Rose, renowned behaviorist and advisor to Fortune 1…
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Welcome to Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged
2:18
2:18
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2:18Welcome to Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged! Marketing is changing fast, so let’s talk about it. On Prose + Comms: Engagement Unplugged, hosts Brian Rowley and Laura Smith from BrightSign have honest, unfiltered chats with the people doing the work: marketers, creatives, and brand leaders. No jargon. No fluff. Just the real stuff that’s driving…
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