Ep. 02: PMax, AI, and the Myth of Set-It-and-Forget-It – A Real Talk with Ben Lund
Performance Max can scale. But only if you control the inputs.Otherwise? You’re handing the wheel to a robot with no map.In this episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I’m joined by Ben Lund, founder of Rise Marketing Group and ex-Googler, to unpack what’s real...and what’s wildly misunderstood...about AI-driven campaigns in 2025.We get into:⚙️ The real value of human strategy in an AI world📉 Why Performance Max fails when left unchecked🧠 The mindset behind building a 7-figure agency that’s still human-first👀 Why automation without alignment is just budget drain💡 If you’ve ever felt the gap between AI promise and real ROI…this one’s for you.🔗 Listen + learn more at risemkg.com and connect with Ben
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Ep. 01: Scaling with Soul – A Real Talk with Kristi Broom
In this kickoff episode of Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?, I sit down with Kristi Broom, Co-Founder of Rising Tide Cooperative to talk candidly about building inclusive cultures, evolving leadership identities, and embracing AI without losing your edge.We dive into:Scaling while staying grounded in your valuesUsing transparency and empathy as strategic toolsWhy “being in the weeds” on purpose is part of Kristi’s leadership playbookThe magic of brave spaces over just “safe” ones📬 Kristi’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristibroom🌱 Rising Tide Cooperative: risingtidecooperative.com📅 June Intensive (June 24–25): risingtidecooperative.com/#workshops💸 Use code June2025RTC for $500 off — valid through June 30, 2025.—🎧 Listen + subscribe: https://isanythingrealinpaidadvertising.adamwbarney.com/subscribe⚡ Host: Adam W. Barney – Energy Coach | adamwbarney.com🎯 Running a $250K–$5M agency? Join the mastermind.🎙 Want to be a guest on "Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?"If you’re an agency founder, marketer, or platform expert with strong opinions and battle-tested strategies, we want to hear from you.
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Ep. 00: Is Anything in Paid Advertising Even Real?
You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve heard the hype. You’ve probably even burned budget on a “proven funnel.”But let’s be honest: is anything in paid advertising even real?In this kickoff episode, host Adam W. Barney (author, strategist, energy coach, and $100M+ ad spend veteran) lays out why this podcast exists, who it’s for, and what to expect in the episodes ahead.🎙️ Expect unfiltered conversations with agency founders, marketers, and skeptics who’ve been in the trenches—plus real systems, real insight, and no fluff.If you’re building a $250K–$5M agency and want to scale smarter (without burning out), here’s where it starts.👉 Join the Agency Growth Mastermind📌 New episodes drop weekly.🔔 Subscribe, share, and follow @adamwbarney for the behind-the-scenes.
"Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?" is the show where agency founders, marketers, and skeptics unpack what’s actually working, and what’s just noise.
Hosted by Adam W. Barney (author, strategist, and energy coach with $100M+ in ad experience), this no-fluff, 20-minute video podcast dives into the tactics, tools, and truths shaping modern agency growth.
Each episode is a co-hosted conversation - unfiltered, spicy, and built for anyone tired of the same recycled playbooks.
🎯 Running a $250K–$5M agency? Join the mastermind: https://quickclick.com/r/cgat5uvqcd0zfa1c79ic2ca3u7gbzo
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