Эпизоды
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In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake: The Growth Department, Ellie and Jane bring together digital marketing and luxury events expertise for a no-nonsense breakdown of what brands are still getting wrong with in-person events in 2026.
From briefing agencies properly and managing scope creep, to understanding what community-driven events actually look like.This episode covers the conversations most agencies won't have with you.
Topics covered:
- What brands should actually be offering to drive attendance
- How to brief an event agency (without budget disasters)
- Budget transparency and why scope creep spirals
- The smoke and mirrors problem in experiential marketing
- Why boutique and nimble teams are winning
- Content creation as a non-negotiable budget line
- How to execute events at scale across multiple locations
Honest, practical and really relevant
🎧 Subscribe to Digital Cheesecake on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
#events #hostingevents #PR #Marketing #marketingagency #digitalmarketing #activations -
This week on Digital Cheesecake, Ellie and Jane get into the unglamorous reality of running a business while raising small children.
From going back to work one week after giving birth, to juggling work time and toddler time and selling a business on an ultimatum, this episode covers it all.
Plus: outsourcing everything you can, running the house like a business, and what it actually means to have no financial backup when maternity leave isn't an option.
Raw, real and very relatable.🎙️Stream now on:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pd8DzruLaA8
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-cheesecake-marketing-and-growth-podcast/id1780522616
#marketing #raisingtoddlers #mumsinmarketing #mumsinbusiness #motherhood #digitalcheesecake #marketingpodcast #podcast
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Пропущенные эпизоды?
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Jamie Irving is SVP of Digital at Pentland Brands, home to Speedo, Canterbury, Kickers, Endura, Mitre and more. Previously Digital Director at Boden.
This episode gets into the commercial reality behind digital marketing at scale. Jamie talks through what it really meant to go from 80 agency clients to a single brand, then to a portfolio of eight.He shares the tech investments that genuinely moved the dial at Pentland (including a CDP and ESP onboarded across seven brands in eight months), why he thinks insight teams are the most underrated function in any business, and where he's placing his bets on AI search, AEO, GEO, and Reddit.
He also gets into measurement vs. "pretty marketing," why word of mouth is built on product story not brand story, and what junior marketers should be prioritising right now to protect their careers.
Topics covered:
Agency to brand side: the commercial shift
Going from one brand to a multi-brand portfolio
The CDP and influencer platform investments that moved the dial
Insight teams: the most underrated function in marketing
AEO, GEO, Reddit and the AI search arms race
Pretty marketing vs. measurement — where brands come unstuck
Word of mouth: why it's a product story, not a brand story
What junior and mid-level marketers should be doing right now🎙️Stream now on;
Youtube
Apple:
#marketingpodcast #digitalmarketing #marketingleader #digitalcheesecake
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Peter Dudley joins Digital Cheesecake to discuss the launch of Seek, a platform designed to simplify how businesses find office space by connecting them directly with landlords.
After spending 15 years in commercial real estate, Peter saw an opportunity to modernise an industry he believes has been slow to evolve.
In this episode we discuss:
• The inspiration behind Seek
• Why office space is making a strong comeback
• The changing demands of modern workplaces
• Building a startup without a technical background
• Entrepreneurship, risk-taking and backing yourself
Whether you're a founder, business owner, property professional or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights and startup lessons. -
Paul Canavan joins the Digital Cheesecake hosts at our Live Podcast Event to unpack the biggest challenges facing ecommerce brands today.
From rising acquisition costs and customer retention to, Wickes 15 minute fulfilment and the impact of AI on search.
This episode explores what separates growing brands from those standing still.
If you're responsible for ecommerce, digital growth or customer experience, this episode is packed with practical insights.
#loyalty #fulfillment #podcast #ecommerce #ecommercepodcast #marketingpodcast #marketing
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Jack and Sarah break down the biggest recruitment lessons they’ve learned from 15 years working across marketing and digital hiring.
In this episode they discuss:
• What separates great employees from average ones• Signs of a high-potential candidate• Whether references still matter• Bad hire vs no hire• Why some interview questions feel outdated• Office working vs remote working in 2026• Small details that instantly stand out in interviews
A practical and honest conversation for candidates, hiring managers, and digital leaders.
🎙️Stream now on:
#hiring #jobsearch #recruiters #businesspodcast #business #careers #careerpodcast #careermotivation
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Megan Jones is the co-founder of ByBabes, the beauty brand behind the viral lash serum that’s sold over 100k units on TikTok Shop.
In this episode, we unpack how ByBabes scaled from an idea into a best-selling ecommerce brand using TikTok Shop as a major growth driver.
If you need some mid-week motivation, or want to branch on to Tiktok Shop, this is one you want to watch!
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.
#TikTokShop #Ecommerce #MarketingPodcast #FounderStory #GrowthMarketing #ByBabes #LashSerum
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AI search is changing how customers discover brands but maybe not in the way most people think...
In this live bonus episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Garret Cunningham, VP of Global CX at Columbus, to discuss the rise of LLM-driven product discovery, “zero-click” shopping journeys, and what brands need to do to stay visible as customer behaviour evolves.
From ChatGPT recommendations to AI-powered buying decisions, this episode explores how ecommerce brands can adapt without losing sight of the fundamentals.
We cover:
Why LLM traffic numbers can be misleadingThe rise of the “zero-click economy”How customers are using AI for product discoveryWhy discoverability now happens before the clickThe importance of reviews, authority and brand trustHow AI evaluates ecommerce brandsWhy metadata and structured content matter againThe relationship between customer experience and AI visibilityWhat brands should be testing right nowIf you work in ecommerce, SEO, paid search, retail or digital growth, this is a conversation worth listening to.
How AI is quietly changing ecommerce discovery 👀
Find out more about Columbus Global here: https://www.columbusglobal.com/
#AI #SEO #AISearch #ConsumerBehaviour #CustomerJourney #LLM #LargeLanguageModel #Chatbots #CRM #Customerexperience
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In this episode, we turn the mics on Jack and Sarah, the founders behind Blu Digital. We skip the small talk and dive straight into the operational frameworks and strategic pivots that have allowed Blu to thrive for 15 years.
If you are interested in the reality of career growth at the executive level, this conversation is a blueprint for long-term business building.
In this episode:
• Dividing the founder role: Strategy vs. Operations.
• How to stay objective when the stakes are personal.
• The evolution of the digital talent market from 2010 to 2026.
• Lessons in scaling: When to hire, when to pivot, and when to hold.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – The origin of Blu Digital
06:15 Splitting Founder roles for scale
13:40 Navigating high-level strategic disagreements
22:10 15 years of digital market evolution
30:50 The reality of building a "legacy" brand
38:00 Advice for long-term co-founders -
Most ecommerce businesses think they’re ready to scale...
In this BONUS episode from our Live Podcast Event:
'Preparing For a New Wave of Ecommerce Growth'
Steve Webster, Former Ecommerce Director from Barbour, unpacks how growth often exposes the operational cracks already sitting underneath the business.
We discuss why so many businesses obsess over ROAS and top-line performance while ignoring the boring “unsexy stuff” that actually sustains long-term growth.
Steve also shares lessons from working with heritage retail brands like Barbour, including how operational discipline, customer service intelligence and leadership alignment can completely reshape scalability.
If you're in Ecommerce and want to scale sustainably, this one's worth your time!
#ecommerce #growth #podcast #marketingpodcast
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In this BONUS audio-only episode from our Live Podcast event, Ellie sits down with industry experts to unpack how ecommerce brands should really be approaching performance marketing in 2026.
Topics include:
This episode covers:
→ AI in ecommerce
→ Performance marketing strategy
→ Creative testing
→ LLMs & AI search
→ Attribution & GA4
→ Paid social & paid search
→ CAC, LTV & ROAS
→ Content-led growthUse these Marketing tools:Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179miQuillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7
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What does it actually take to build a marketplace from scratch?
In this episode, we’re joined by Harriet Noy, Founder of Hazaar, a student marketplace connecting brands with Gen Z audiences to sell excess stock through exclusive drops.
From early-stage struggles with supply to a full pivot into a B2B model, Harriet shares how staying scrappy and not perfect helped unlock growth.
We cover:
The pivot that changed everything
Scrappy marketing tactics that actually worked
How to onboard brands without heavy integrations
Building a team the right way
Why too much advice can slow you down
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
02:10 – The idea behind Hazaar
06:45 – Early challenges & proving the model
12:30 – The pivot to B2B
18:20 – Scrappy marketing tactics
25:10 – Working with brands & onboarding
31:40 – Hiring & building a team
38:00 – Mentorship & decision-making
44:20 – Lessons & what they’d do differently -
Everyone sees the household names. But how do you stay at the top?
In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Helen Cutmore (Bacardi, ex-M&S) to unpack the real world of global Marketing Leadership.
From retail giants to spirits powerhouses, Helen shares the strategic moves that turn a product into a cultural icon. We cover:
• The "secret sauce" global brands have that startups miss
• Why performance marketing is quietly overshadowing brand building
• What separates a good marketer from a great one in 2026
• Key focus areas for marketing leaders this year
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Realising the brand marketing niche
07:40 What turns a product into a brand people love?
13:10 The "Global Brand" advantage startups ignore
21:20 Brand vs. Performance: The ultimate debate
29:45 Good vs. Great: The skill that changes everything
36:20 Advice for future CMOs
🎧 Listen on Spotify: [link]
🍏 Apple Podcasts: [link] -
Most people see the brand now. But how did it actually start?
In this episode, we sit down with Molly Goddard from Desmond & Dempsey to unpack the real journey behind building a luxury loungewear brand.
From failing uni to launching a business, Molly shares what those early months actually looked like and how they turned uncertainty into momentum.
We cover:
• The reality of starting from scratch
• When the brand started to click
• Building a distinctive brand world around slow living
• The move from online to in-store
• Lessons learned the hard way
• What’s next for the brand
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 The origin story
08:40 Early struggles
15:10 First big breakthrough
22:30 Building the brand world
30:45 Hiring & team growth
38:20 Lessons learned
45:00 Future opportunities
#MarketingPodcast #BrandBuilding #D2C #FounderStory #Ecommerce
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What does it take to go from CMO to founder?
In this episode, Andrew Higgins shares the journey behind building Parsnipp — from the initial idea through to launching in one of the most exciting areas of marketing today.
We explore how AI search is evolving, what it means for brands, and why this shift presents a huge opportunity for marketers willing to adapt early.
Learn more about Parsnipp here: https://parsnipp.com/
In this episode:
The journey from CMO to founder
The story behind Parsnipp (and its name)
What GEO is and why it matters
How AI search is changing marketing
The evolution of SEO
Lessons from building in a new space
What marketers should focus on in 2026
🎧 Listen now:
Youtube:
Apple:
Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179mi
Quillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8
Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7
#founder #cmo #marketingpodcast #marketing #AISearch #AI #GEO #SEO
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Most businesses don’t have a marketing problem.
They have an agency selection problem.
We’ve seen it too many times: brands overpaying, underwhelmed when they can't align, and stuck in partnerships that never deliver.
In this episode, we unpack what actually makes a great agency relationship work:
• Transparency in pricing and expectations (Jack)
• Strong communication and knowing when to go in-house (Ellie)
• Culture, case studies, and team health (Sarah)
We also flip the lens, what agencies themselves need to fix if they want to survive in 2026.
Because the best results don’t come from hiring the biggest name… they come from hiring the right fit.
🎧 Listen here:
#marketingleadership #digitalmarketing #agencygrowth #marketingstrategy #careerdevelopment
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Burnout nearly ended Mike Mudie’s corporate career but it also sparked a completely new path.
In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk about how stepping away from corporate life led Mike to launch Authentic Brew and rethink how work, energy and wellbeing should fit together.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:15 – Early signs of burnout 06:40 – The moment everything changed
11:20 – Life after corporate marketing
16:05 – Starting Authentic Brew 21:30 – Managing energy as a founder
25:10 – Advice for marketers in high-pressure roles
Follow Digital Cheesecake for more conversations with marketing leaders and founders.
Use these Marketing tools:
Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179mi
Quillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8
Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7
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In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we’re joined by Wizz Selvey, founder of Valerie, to talk about navigating perimenopause while leading, building, and performing in demanding marketing careers.
A hot topic as we come down from International Women's Day.
Women are often expected to manage symptoms quietly while continuing to perform at the same level professionally but Wizz is challenging that silence.
We explore the stigma surrounding menopause at work, what conversations are still missing, and how leadership evolves when your health and priorities shift.
Topics covered in this episode include:
• The moment Wizz decided to start Valerie
• Why menopause is still rarely discussed in the workplace
• Performing at work while managing symptoms
• What people don’t talk about enough with perimenopause
• Building a brand in the women’s health space
• How leadership evolves over time
If you’re interested in marketing leadership, career longevity, and the realities women face in the workplace, this is an important conversation.
#menopause #womenshealth #IWD #IWD2026 #internationalwomensday #perimenopause
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Ellie is weeks away from giving birthm and simultaneously trying to hand over her entire business.
In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk a topic close to our hearts, a raw and honest episode from Ellie on preparing for maternity as a marketing director.
We discuss:
-Handing your business over
-Finding that unicorn hire
-Maternity Leave Guilt
and much more
Is there ever a “right” time to have a baby as a founder?
Or do you just jump and adapt?
🎧 Stream this episode now on:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qrAJCYdC7Ao
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-cheesecake-marketing-and-growth-podcast/id1780522616
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Every Founder comes to this decision...
In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk:
When should you bootstrap and when does investment actually make sense? The real trade-offs between funding and freedom.
“If you’re going to invest that money, just don’t expect to see it"
🎧Stream this episode now on:
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