Prose + Comms Engagement Unplugged
A marketing, branding, and customer experience podcast sponsored by BrightSign.
Subscribe:
Rebrands: What Separates the Ones That Work?
Rebrands have a way of looking simple from the outside, but inside the business, they touch everything. This episode digs into what it really takes to get it right.
Laura and Brian sit down with Sarah Moss, who has led multiple global rebrands, to unpack the strategy and instincts behind a successful transformation. From earning stakeholder buy-in and mapping every brand touchpoint to recognizing success through behavior change, Sarah shares a candid look at what it takes to evolve a brand and bring an entire organization with you.
To hear more from Sarah Moss, find her on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
AI & Creativity: Tool or Threat?
AI is changing creative work, but maybe not in the ways people expected. On this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, the team explores how AI is actually showing up for creatives today: speeding things up, unlocking new possibilities, and raising real questions about what defines strong work.
The mic flips to a familiar voice behind the scenes as Producer Joey Whipp joins Brian Rowley and Laura Smith on the other side of the table. It’s a candid, fun conversation that pulls back the curtain on how creatives are using AI day-to-day, from brainstorming and mockups to voice and music generation. Joey shares some go-to tools and why “good taste” might be the one thing AI can’t replicate. Along the way, they unpack how marketing is evolving, where AI helps (and where it falls short), and what it all means for the future of creative work.
You can find Joey Whipp on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
The Meetings That Waste Marketing’s Time
Why are marketers losing so much time in conversations that go nowhere, and what can you do about it?
From flying across the world for a two-hour meeting to sitting through brainstorms with no ideas, Laura Smith and Brian Rowley share real stories and frustrations that every marketer will recognize. They break down the habits that drain teams like too many meeting attendees, unclear roles, lack of agendas, and the myth of multitasking. They also talk solutions: how to structure meetings for outcomes and how reclaiming even a few hours can unlock more impactful work. If your calendar is full but your to-do list isn’t getting done, this one will hit close to home.
Subscribe:
Are Marketers Becoming AI Editors Instead of Creators?
AI is now every marketer’s always-on intern. But if everyone has access to the same tools, what actually sets great work apart?
In this episode of Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, Brian Rowley and Laura Smith dig into how AI is reshaping marketing in real time. From speeding up research to raising big questions about creativity, they explore whether AI is making marketers better, or just faster. The conversation tackles the rise of “AI slop” and how over-reliance on AI tools can dilute brand voice and authenticity. They also get practical, sharing how they actually use AI day-to-day, why prompting is becoming a critical skill, and how to avoid turning it into a crutch. Because in a world of AI-generated everything, the real differentiator is still human thinking.
Subscribe:
From Scrappy to Strategic: How Lean Teams Build Marketing That Drives Revenue
Small team, big expectations? This episode is your sign to stop doing “everything” and start doing what actually moves the business.
Brian Rowley and Laura Smith welcome Norman Guadagno, fractional CMO and longtime marketing leader, to unpack how lean teams can build momentum without burning out or blowing the budget. They pressure-test common tactics (weekly blogs, “be everywhere” social, AI content, trade shows, annual plans) through the lens of impact. Then Norman gets into the good stuff: why “leads” can be a red herring, how to tie marketing decisions back to revenue without losing the brand story, and why AI is the ultimate Swiss army knife… if you stop using only one blade.
If you’d like to hear more from Norman Guadagno, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
What Marketers Get Wrong About LinkedIn Visibility
If LinkedIn makes you feel like you have to choose between showing up and saying something wrong, this episode is your permission slip to stop playing it safe. PR leader Parry Headrick joins Brian Rowley and Laura Smith to talk about what “authentic” looks like when you’re building visibility in public.
Parry breaks down how he built his LinkedIn presence by “ungating his brain.” He explains why LinkedIn is mission-critical (not a “when I have time” channel), and how strong POV and consistency drive trust and engagement. You’ll also hear how earned media is becoming even more valuable in the AI-driven search era, and why he refuses to use AI for his own writing. Plus: a rapid-fire hot seat segment on the LinkedIn behaviors everyone loves to judge.
If you want to hear more from Parry Headrick, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
Bridging the Gap: Why Sales & Marketing Collaboration Breaks Down
Want your sales and marketing teams to actually work together? This episode explains how data-driven dashboards, clear communication, and shared accountability can drive measurable growth.
On Prose + Comms: Engagement, Unplugged, hosts Laura Smith and Brian Rowley sit down with sales and marketing leader Gary Schwartz to discuss how to overcome common collaboration challenges. From breaking down silos to optimizing pipeline management, this episode offers actionable insights for improving sales and marketing alignment, accelerating revenue, and creating a more effective go-to-market strategy.
If you’d like to hear more from Gary Schwartz, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
Moments that Mattered: 2025 Recap
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 customer experience with Bob Osmond, to intentionality and presence with Jez Rose, to a blunt take on why “experience” has become a misused buzzword with Bryan Meszaros, this episode revisits the moments that stuck. Brian and Laura also put themselves in the hot seat, reflecting on underestimated trends (hello, AI), hot takes they’ve reconsidered, and the ideas they believe marketers need to bring into the new year. Honest, reflective, and a little irreverent — just the way we like it.
Subscribe:
Embedding Intelligence: The Next Phase of AI in Marketing and Experience
AI 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 everyday workflows, this conversation digs into the real impact AI is having behind the scenes.
Laura Smith and Brian Rowley sit down with Brad Hintze, EVP of Marketing at Crestron, for a candid look at what’s working, what isn’t, and where AI is headed next. Together, they unpack the wins, the failures, the misconceptions, and the legal questions shaping AI adoption across marketing and customer experience teams. Whether you’re experimenting with prompts or rethinking your entire workflow, this episode gives you a grounded, inside look at how AI can elevate your strategy today — and why creativity still starts with humans.
If you’d like to learn more about Brad Hintze, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Subscribe:
Is Storytelling Overrated? Why Brands Need to Start “Storydoing”
Storytelling 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 audiences anymore, and why today’s most impactful brands are shifting from storytelling to “storydoing” — aligning their words with authentic actions that demonstrate who they are and what they stand for.
Brian and Laura dig into the balance between creativity, authenticity, and action in brand marketing. They debate whether AI can truly tell a story, share examples of brands that “do” their story well, and highlight how collaboration with customers can make marketing more real, and more effective. Tune in to hear how the future of brand storytelling is being rewritten by those who live it, not just those who tell it.
About The Podcast
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, big thinking, and all the tips you need to take your marketing game to the next level.
Subscribe to the Podcast
