the long game

Steven Petrow on His Sister Julie, the Importance of Choice, and Medical Aid in Dying

In the Intro to this episode, you'll hear Steven Petrow talking about his sister Julie Petrow’s death last June 2023. After years of battling ovarian cancer, Julie, Steven’s five-years-younger little sister, chose to die in her New Jersey home by drinking a lethal cocktail. She was surrounded by her family. And it was legal. She used a procedure called MAID or medical aid in dying, which is now legal in 10 states in the U.S. plus the district of Columbia.

But before she died, she made Steven, who is a bestselling author and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, promise to write about how she chose to die, in order to raise awareness around MAID, a practice that many people don’t know about, or don’t understand, even though it was first legalized in Oregon, almost 30 years ago.

So Steven did, publishing an essay about Julie and her decision in The New York Times a few months ago. It got a huge reception with over 600 comments on the NYT’s site.

In this episode, Steven explains more:

What the term medical aid in dying means and what it is exactly (it used to be called physician assisted suicide, but a physician is NOT present)
Why he thinks only 9,000 people have availed themselves of the procedure since it first became legalized
Why it’s mostly used by educated whites (for one thing, the cocktail of lethal drugs cost $700 to $900 and is NOT reimbursable)

This is simply a fascinating episode and Steven is a lovely guest, eloquent, respectful, and informed. It was such a pleasure to have him back on the show. As always, see below for links to his articles and books, including the NYT article, and a link to the first time he was on the show almost three years ago.

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Don't miss Debbie's Behind The Scenes essay on Substack accompanying every episode of the podcast.

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Mentioned in this episode or useful:

Steven Petrow’s website
I Promised My Sister I Would Write About How She Chose to Die by Steven Petrow (New York Times, Dec. 28, 2024)
A cancer patient had decided how to die. Here's what I learned from her. by Steven Petrow (Washington Post, Feb. 18, 2024)
NPR podcast with Steven Petrow about MAID (Feb. 22, 2024)
He didn't want his sister to die. But her suffering helped him understand her choice (NPR, Feb. 25, 2024)
How Aid in Dying Became Medical, Not Moral by Rachel E. Gross (New York Times, Oct. 24, 2023)
At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life by Samuel Harrington MD (Grand Central Life & Style; February 2018)
States Where Medical Aid in Dying is Authorized
[B]OLD AGE Podcast S3E24 - Steven Petrow on the Stupid Things He Won’t Do When He Gets Old
Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old: A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong by Steven Petrow (Citadel; June 29, 2021)

Connect with Debbie:

debbieweil.com
[B]OLD AGE podcast
[B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
Email: thebolderpodcast@gmail.com
Debbie and Sam’s blog: Gap Year After Sixty
Facebook: @debbieweil
Instagram: @debbieweil
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieweil

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

enMarch 08, 2024

Kitchen Side: "Do Nothing," Cope Creep, and Life Lessons from Es Devlin

The conversation covers various topics related to decision-making, motivation, and experimentation in business and marketing. It begins with a conversation about cope creep and the fear of failure. The hosts explore the challenges of overcoming the status quo and making strategic decisions. They also discuss the paradox of choice and the impact of too many options. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the influence of influencers and the tendency to chase after new trends. The conversation explores the challenges of constantly pursuing something new, the pressure for short-term wins, and the difficulty of long-term thinking. It also delves into the concept of cope creep and the importance of maintaining authenticity while collaborating. The conversation concludes with lessons from artist Es Devlin on starting projects and incorporating influences into one's own style.

Key Takeaways

Fear of failure and analysis paralysis can prevent people from taking action and making decisions.
The abundance of options can make it difficult to choose and commit to a particular path.
Experimentation and testing are essential for making informed decisions and finding the most effective strategies.
The influence of influencers and the constant pursuit of new trends can lead to a lack of focus and consistent strategy.

Show Links

Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

What is Kitchen Side?

One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.

You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.

You understand how the sausage is made.

As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.

We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

enMarch 06, 2024

The Content Ops Challenge, Scaling Great Work, Saving the Internet, and the Risks of SEO-Only Content with David Baum (Relato)

In this conversation, Alex and David Baum discuss the problems and challenges in content operations (Content Ops) and the need for a new generation of software and tools to support the way people work today. They explore the disarray in content strategy, the gulf between content managers and writers, and the risks of an SEO-first approach. They also emphasize the importance of preserving the human internet and the value of human-generated content in an era of generative AI. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for a more holistic and human-centric approach to content operations. In this conversation, David Baum and Alex discuss the future of the human internet and the challenges of algorithmic delivery. They explore the cynicism and lack of serendipity in content today, as well as the limitations of algorithms in discovering new content. They also delve into the incentives for choosing the human route in content creation and the scarcity of organic hits on search engine result pages. The conversation concludes with a call to action to check out relato.com and connect with David Baum on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways

Content Ops is a problem worth solving as there has been significant change in the way teams work and organize content, but there is a lack of proper software and tools to support this new way of working.
The current approach to content ops is often fragmented, with homegrown solutions and a lack of robust platforms, leading to inefficiencies and wasted time.
There is a gulf between content managers and writers, with different perspectives and problems. Content managers focus on strategic goals and outcomes, while writers face challenges in managing multiple clients and tools.
An SEO-first approach to content marketing is risky due to increased competition, volatile search engine results pages (SERPs), and the need for high investment and velocity to compete.
Preserving the human internet is crucial as AI-generated content threatens the unique voices and creativity of human content creators. Human-generated content is essential for training new models and maintaining the value and authenticity of the internet. The future of the human internet relies on finding a way to classify content as human or not.
There is a need for more serendipity and less algorithmic delivery in content.
Discovering new content is a challenging problem that current algorithms have not solved.
The scarcity of organic hits on search engine result pages incentivizes content creators to choose the human route.

Show Links

Visit Relato
Connect with David Baum on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.
Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:
Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)
Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)
How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)
Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)
Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)
Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:
Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEO
Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?
How Do Growth and Content Overlap?
Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:
Twitter: @beomniscient
Linkedin: Be Omniscient
Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

enFebruary 28, 2024

Tactical Lessons in Change Management, the Preeminence of Messaging, and Risk Weighted Growth Portfolios with Alefiya Dhilla

In this conversation, Alefiya Dhilla discusses her experience with the challenges of technology and productivity, the impact of AI and change management, the role of a measured marketer, the importance of generalists and specialists, navigating politics and emotional intelligence, building portfolios of growth bets, and the journey of her consulting firm, Full Turn. In this conversation, Alefiya Dhilla discusses the synergy of three lines of business and the value they bring to clients. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on early to mid-stage growth companies that prioritize profitable growth. Alefiya also expresses her passion for supporting small businesses and highlights how tech greed has underserved them. She believes that applying existing technologies to smaller businesses can help them thrive. The conversation delves into the power of messaging and the need for marketers to stay sharp by keeping up with the latest tools and practices. The discussion concludes with a reflection on the evolution of growth and brand marketing and the importance of fluid productivity and finding balance.
Key Takeaways
The challenges of technology and productivity, such as managing multiple tools and accounts, can hinder efficiency and require change management.
AI has the potential to transform businesses, but change management is crucial for successful integration and adoption.
Being a measured marketer involves thinking holistically about marketing, understanding risk and reward, and considering the business goals and customer needs.
Both generalists and specialists are valuable in marketing, and a combination of both skill sets can lead to success.
Navigating politics and emotional intelligence is essential for building relationships, gaining buy-in, and influencing decision-making.
Building portfolios of growth bets, including safe bets, optimizations, and moonshots, can help mitigate risk and drive innovation.
Full Turn Consulting offers growth advisory, marketing services, and analytics services to help businesses achieve their goals. The three lines of business—consulting, marketing services, and technology—work synergistically to provide the best value for clients.
Small businesses, particularly those focused on profitable growth, are underserved by tech companies that prioritize larger clients with higher margins.
Applying existing technologies and best practices to smaller businesses can help them thrive and compete in the market.
Messaging is the foundation of effective marketing, and understanding the target audience and their problems is crucial for successful communication.
Show Links
Visit Fullturn
Connect with Alefiya Dhilla on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter
Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.
Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:
Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)
Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)
How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)
Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)
Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)
Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:
Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEO
Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?
How Do Growth and Content Overlap?
Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:
Twitter: @beomniscient
Linkedin: Be Omniscient
Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

enFebruary 21, 2024

Kirsten Powers on Changing the Channel From CNN Political Analyst to Easeful Living and Writing

Today, Debbie talks with Kirsten Powers, a New York Times bestselling author, a liberal columnist and, most recently, an on-air political analyst with CNN. In 2023, after almost two decades, she left what she calls the “media circus” to pursue a different life as a writer and a life coach. Kirsten, who is 56, is [b]old by any definition.

Prior to CNN she was at Fox (as a liberal voice) and before that she was a columnist for USA Today, The Daily Beast, American Prospect Online, and the New York Post. Her recent bestselling book is Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts.

Currently Kirsten writes a very popular newsletter on Substack, called, appropriately, "Changing the Channel." It's about living authentically, unlearning societal conditioning, and how to actually change your life. She published an essay recently about her plan to move to Italy with her husband because, as she put it, the U.S. is unlivable, with school shootings, the frenetic pace of life and because it’s too expensive. Somehow we are societally conditioned to accept this, as if it’s normal. But it’s not, Kirsten emphasizes. The post went viral, hitting a nerve with her many readers. Now she’s working on a book proposal.

Since leaving her on-air job, Kirsten has been deliberately pursuing what she calls a "more easeful life" that is less striving and less accomplishment-oriented. It includes writing on Substack, which she loves. In this episode she also talks about her transition from evangelical christian to atheist.

Kirsten is fast thinking and provocative and Debbie loved this conversation with her.

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Don't miss the Behind The Scenes for every episode in Debbie's [B]OLD AGE newsletter.

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Mentioned in this episode or useful:

Kirsten Powers - Wikipedia
kirstenpowers.com
Changing the Channel : Kirsten’s Substack newsletter
The way we live in the United States is not normal: Kirsten’s viral Substack post about moving to Italy (Nov. 29, 2023)
Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts by Kirsten Powers (Convergent Books; Nov. 2021)
Kirsten Powers: A liberal working for Fox News (Washington Post, June 17, 2015)
What are the Nine Enneagram Types?
CP Enneagram where Kirsten is studying for an Enneagram certificate.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®)
Jonathan Merritt on Personal Transformation and the Complicated Intersection of Faith and Culture: Season 5, Episode 19 of the podcast.
Behind the Scenes with Jonathan Merritt by Debbie Weil (Substack, July 7, 2023)
My Complicated Feelings About Tim Keller by Kirsten Powers (Substack, May 24, 2023)
MEA: the midlife wisdom school in Baja, MX and Sante Fe, NM where Debbie and Kirsten met.

Connect with Debbie:

debbieweil.com
[B]OLD AGE podcast
[B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
Gap Year After Sixty Debbie Weil and husband Sam Harrington’s joint blog

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

enFebruary 16, 2024

Kitchen Side: The Great Brand Marketing Debate, Snoop Dogg, and B2B Marketers Creating Confusion

In this conversation, the hosts discuss various topics related to marketing and branding. They explore the meaning of demand generation, the role of advertising, the history of content marketing, and the importance of simplifying marketing strategies. They also touch on the idea of making marketing more personal and tearing down overcomplication in the industry.

Key Takeaways

Demand generation refers to the process of creating and nurturing customer interest in a product or service.
Advertising plays a crucial role in staying top of mind and influencing customer purchasing decisions.
Content marketing has a long history and has evolved over time to include various strategies and tactics.
Simplifying marketing strategies can often lead to better results, focusing on the core elements that drive success.
Personalization is key in marketing, connecting with customers on a deeper level and understanding their needs.
Overcomplication in marketing can be detrimental, and it's important to challenge complex ideas and simplify approaches.
Show Links
Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

What is Kitchen Side?
One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.
You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.
You understand how the sausage is made.
As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business.
We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.
Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.
Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:
Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)
Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)
How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)
Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)
Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)
Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:
Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEO
Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?
How Do Growth and Content Overlap?
Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:
Twitter: @beomniscient
Linkedin: Be Omniscient
Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

enFebruary 14, 2024

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

Cracking the Code of Intent-Based Marketing: Lessons from Koala's CEO (Tido Carriero)

Tido Carriero, co-founder and CEO of Koala, shares his journey with David, from engineering to product to founder and CEO. He discusses the importance of marketing and solving customer problems, as well as the challenges of transitioning to a CEO role. Tido explains the concept of intent-based marketing and the shift in the market towards personalized and helpful outreach. He also shares insights on the go-to-market strategy for Koala and the advantages of a product-led growth approach. Tido emphasizes the importance of combining identity and product usage data to identify potential sales opportunities. Lastly, he discusses managing work-life balance as a CEO with young children. In this conversation, Tido Carriero shares his journey of finding energy and starting a company. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with a kick-ass team and working with world-class people and customers. Tido also discusses building a remote hybrid culture and the benefits of reevaluating strategies as a company scales. He challenges the notion that it's a challenging time to start a startup and highlights the importance of focusing on revenue that is truly mission-critical. Tido shares the concept of stealing superpowers and the value of learning from talented individuals. Lastly, he recommends the book 'Why We Sleep' and emphasizes the importance of sleep for success.

Takeaways

Transitioning from engineering to product to CEO requires adapting to new responsibilities and challenges.

Intent-based marketing focuses on personalized and helpful outreach to potential customers.

Combining identity and product usage data can help identify potential sales opportunities.

Managing work-life balance as a CEO requires energy audits and prioritizing tasks. Surround yourself with a kick-ass team and work with world-class people and customers.

Build a remote hybrid culture that aligns with personal needs and company goals.

Focus on revenue that is truly mission-critical and avoid false confidence.

Learn from talented individuals by identifying their superpowers and finding ways to incorporate them into your own skillset.

Prioritize sleep as a foundation for success and overall well-being.

Show Links

Visit Koala
Connect with Tido Carriero on LinkedIn
Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enFebruary 07, 2024

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

How Will AI Impact the SEO Profession, User Search Behavior, Businesses, and the Internet? with Mordy Oberstein

In this conversation, Mordy Oberstein discusses the impact of AI on SEO and the challenges it presents. He emphasizes the need for SEOs to adapt their strategies and understand the changing landscape of content creation. Mordy also highlights the importance of user intent and the role of AI in Google's algorithm. He suggests that brands should take risks and differentiate themselves by creating content that reflects their thought leadership and expertise. Additionally, he discusses Google's algorithm updates and the need for Google to improve its understanding of user behavior. Overall, Mordy provides valuable insights into the evolving relationship between AI and SEO. In this conversation, Mordy Oberstein discusses the impact of Google's changes on SEOs, the opportunities for SEO agencies and professionals in an AI world, time and energy management with a busy schedule, the controversial opinion that brand is more important than acquisition, impactful advice to not be a schmuck, a book recommendation, and where to find Mordy Oberstein on the internet.

Key Takeaways:

SEOs need to adapt their strategies to the impact of AI on SEO.

Content creation should focus on user intent and reflect thought leadership.

Google's algorithm updates indicate its efforts to understand user behavior.

Brands should take risks and differentiate themselves in the changing landscape of content creation. SEOs need to understand the changes happening in the ecosystem and adapt accordingly.

In an AI world, SEO agencies and professionals who can use their brains to navigate the changing landscape will have more opportunities.

Time and energy management is crucial for balancing work and personal life.

Building a strong brand can lead to long-term success and acquisition.

Don't be afraid to say no and focus on quality over quantity.

The book 'An Ethic of Excellence' by Ron Berger teaches the importance of iterative improvement.

Show Links

Visit Wix
Connect with Mordy Oberstein on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enJanuary 31, 2024

Bestselling Author Dale Russakoff on Being a Southern Woman at Harvard, Ambition at 71, and How Family Matters Most

Today, Debbie talks to Dale Russakoff, a veteran reporter for The Washington Post, a bestselling author, and a classmate from her Harvard/Radcliffe class of 1974.

They talk about her surprising experience at Harvard as a woman from the South, her distinguished career as a journalist, and the importance of family.

Debbie knew that Dale had been a reporter for The Washington Post for almost 30 years. And that she is the author of a best-selling book, THE PRIZE. But in this episode she told Debbie something she'd never heard before: what it was like to be a Southern girl at Harvard. Dale, who had a Southern accent then, said she was reluctant to open her mouth at first.

She'd grown up in Birmingham, AL and when she arrived in Cambridge she learned that the Radcliffe admissions committee hadn’t admitted a woman from the South in many years, unless she had gone to a Northern boarding school. The committee thought girls who grew up and went to school in the South wouldn't have “the values" Radcliffe wanted; i.e. they would be racist.

She and Debbie talk about what it was like to be a female student in the man's world of Harvard, how "ambition" fit into her college years and, later, how it related to Dale's career in journalism. They talk about the importance of family, including grandchildren. And how she feels AT. CAPACITY. (i.e. too busy) in semi-retirement, at age 71.

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Don't miss Debbie's Substack essay on the topic of being too busy or AT. CAPACITY.

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Mentioned in this episode or useful:

The Prize: Who's in Charge of America's Schools? By Dale Russakoff (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2015)
New York Times review of THE PRIZE (Aug. 18, 2015)
Dale’s reporting about the South when she was a college student: The Other Lost Cause (The Harvard Crimson, May 13, 1974)
How a girl in the old South grew up to be a civil rights historian and a Harvard president: a review of a new memoir by Drew Faust, President of Harvard from 2007 - 2018 (LA Times, Aug. 17, 2023)
Radcliffe Women Share Their Stories (Harvard Magazine, 2021)
Nathan Pusey President of Harvard from 1953 to 1971:
Matina Horner President of Radcliffe College in the 1970s

THE FIRST TWO EPISODES IN THIS TRILOGY:

Conversations with two more of Debbie's classmates from the Harvard/Radcliffe class of 1974:

Connect with Debbie:

debbieweil.com
[B]OLD AGE podcast
[B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
Email: thebolderpodcast@gmail.com
Debbie and Sam’s blog: Gap Year After Sixty

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

enJanuary 26, 2024

Jenn Long on Complex Content Migrations, Keywords as Customer Research, and Content Portfolio Allocation

In this episode of the Long Game podcast, host Alex Birkett interviews Jenn Long, who shares her expertise in SEO and content strategy. They discuss the challenges of content writing, the synergy between SEO and content quality, and the significance of keyword research for customer insights. Jenn also talks about a blog migration project, the role of AI in content creation, and its limitations. The conversation also touches on Jenn's professional role models, productivity tips, and her marketing approach, concluding with her personal interests and perspectives on loyalty.
Topics

The value of content writing
Content format and quality
SEO and content quality
Understanding user needs
Creating unique content
Identifying great content writers
Content strategy and SEO
SEO and brand strategy
Keyword research and customer research
Balancing innovation and industry terms
Review Sites and Industry Standards
Blog Content Migration - Case
Project Planning and Execution
Pros and Justifications
Potential Risks and Challenges
Post-Migration Tracking and Analytics
Governance and Content Inventory
Content Portfolio Planning
Industry Trends and AI in Content
Using AI to Write Content
Understanding AI's Limitations
Complexity of Content Creation
AI's Struggle with Subjectivity
Challenges with AI-Generated Content
Rapid Fire Non-Work Related Questions
Consumer Preferences and Learning
Conclusion and Online Presence

Show Links
Connect with Jenn Long on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

enJanuary 24, 2024

Blogging is Underrated, Operationalizing Subject Matter Expertise into Content, and Scaling in Competitive Spaces w/ Nate Matherson (Positional)

In this episode of the Long Game podcast, host Alex Birkett talks with Nate Matherson, CEO of Positional, about the intricacies of SEO and content marketing. Nate shares his reflects on lessons learned from past startup experiences. They discuss the shift from his previous company to Positional, the challenges of the SEO landscape, and the integration of CRO into Positional's offerings. The conversation also covers the importance of data-driven decision making, the value of high-quality content, and Nate's strategy for creating a vast blog on blogging, emphasizing the need for expert insights and multimedia elements to enhance content.
Topics

Guest introduction and background
Lessons learned as a founder of multiple startups
Advantages of naivete and experimentation
Nate Matherson's pivot from his previous startup
Challenges and unpredictability of the SEO and content space
The future of organic search
Content analytics functionality in Positional
Data-Driven Decision Making
Challenges with Google Analytics
Changes in SEO and Content Quality
Creating Unique and Helpful Content
Content Quality and SEO Expectations
Competitiveness of Content Spaces
Content Creation Strategy
Operationalizing Subject Matter Expert Quotes
Backlinks
Internal Links
Technical SEO
B2B Podcasting
Blogging
Show Links
Visit Positional
Connect with Nate Matherson on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

enJanuary 17, 2024

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

All About Outbound Sales and Marketing with Ritvij Gautam (Glencoco)

In this podcast episode, Alex Birkett and Ritvij Gautam discuss the intricacies of outbound sales in B2B companies. They explore the role of outbound sales in generating revenue, the challenges of high turnover in sales teams, and the importance of understanding the ideal customer profile and total addressable market. They also consider the impact of AI on sales processes and the balance between automation and the human touch. Ritvij shares insights from his experience at Glencoco, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to outbound sales and the potential of a B2B sales marketplace to streamline the process.

Topics

Challenges of Outbound Sales
Efficacy and Skepticism of Outbound Sales
Improving Outbound Sales
Outbound Sales Challenges
Complementary Marketing Channels
Amplifying Message through Outbound
Parameters for Outbound Consideration
Calculating ROI for Outbound
Outbound Sales as a Numbers Game
Data Enrichment and Lead Qualification
Role of AI in Sales
Human Touch in Sales
Glencoco's Solution
The Glencoco model
Paying for qualified meetings
Benefits for SDRs
Revitalizing accrued inbound
Promotion and contact information

Show Links

Visit Glencoco
Connect with Ritvij Gautam on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enJanuary 10, 2024

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

Kitchen Side: Signaling Humanity in a Sea of AI, Revival of Long-Form, and Fake Experts on LinkedIn

In this podcast episode, the speakers delve into the evolving landscape of content creation and marketing in the age of AI. They discuss the future of their podcast, the rise of LinkedIn experts, and the controversy of AI-generated content, including a fake writer scandal at Sports Illustrated. The conversation covers the viral SEO heist AI strategy, the divide among marketers, and the potential impact on SEO. They also explore tactic fatigue, penalties from platforms like Google, and the importance of originality and human connection in content. The concept of a "deep life" and the drawbacks of short-form content are examined, with a preference for in-depth, thoughtful content creation. Concerns about AI's impact on society, job security, and the authenticity of influencer marketing are raised. Tools like SEMrush, Surfer, ChatGPT, and Google Sheets are mentioned, but the emphasis is on the value of ideas over tools.

Topics

The rise of LinkedIn experts and skepticism surrounding AI-generated content
Controversy surrounding Sports Illustrated's use of AI and fake writer profiles
The viral SEO heist AI strategy and its impact on traditional SEO strategies
The rise of long-form content
The dark forest theory of the internet
Questioning the authenticity of online interactions
The rise of AI in content creation
Skepticism towards AI-generated content
Controversy surrounding AI-generated content
The skepticism surrounding AI-generated content
The controversy surrounding Sports Illustrated's use of AI and fake writer profiles
The potential impact on traditional SEO strategies
The rise of LinkedIn experts
Exploring AI as a waste of time
Problematic brand deals with B2B influencers
The rise of AI tools in content production
The need for differentiation in content creation
The DIY approach to tooling and investing in the right tools

Show Links

Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

What is Kitchen Side?

One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.

You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.

You understand how the sausage is made.

We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enJanuary 03, 2024

Bestselling Author Mary Pipher on Forgiveness, Happiness, and Old Age

* This is the last episode in 2023. Back on Jan. 26, 2024! *

Debbie talks to Mary Pipher, a psychologist and bestselling author of 11 books including the ground-breaking Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. She was the first psychologist to recognize and articulate why life was difficult for adolescent girls and why so many of them felt bad about themselves.

More recently, she has written Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age, about women navigating the transition from middle age to old age (the topic of this podcast!).

In 2022, she published a memoir, A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence. In her new book, just out in paperback, Mary, now 76, talks about her difficult childhood and her relationship with her parents, the importance of family and community, living in a small town in Nebraska, and what the particular challenges of getting old are. She also talks about forgiveness, about adopting Buddhism and her definition of happiness. Per the title, she’s obsessed with light, through trees, on walks, at certain times of day, in certain rooms, and in memories — and how the light makes her feel happy and complete.

She says her knowledge about happiness comes from being someone who has struggled with sadness and anxiety much of her life, something that resonates strongly with Debbie.

This is a great episode. Mary articulates so well what it’s really like to get old and yet still feel so alive.

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Don't miss the Behind The Scenes essay on Substack accompanying this episode
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Mentioned in this episode or useful:

MaryPipher.com
A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence by Mary Pipher (Bloomsbury Publishing paperback edition, Dec. 12, 2023)
Reviving Ophelia 25th Anniversary Edition: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher PhD & Sara Gilliam (‎Riverhead Books 2019)
Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing As We Age by Mary Pipher (Bloomsbury Publishing paperback 2020)
Finding Light in Winter by Mary Pipher (Guest Essay for The New York Times, Dec. 11, 2023)
This is 74: Mary Pipher Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire
Jane Jarvis, Player of Jazz and Mets Music, Dies at 94 (New York Times, Jan. 30, 2010)

Connect with Debbie:

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

enDecember 22, 2023

Kitchen Side: How Do You Develop Taste?

In this episode of the Long Game podcast, hosts Alex Birkett, Allie Decker, and David Khim, members of the Omniscient Agency team discuss the concept of taste, its development, and its significance in various domains like movies, content, and SEO. They explore whether taste is innate or can be developed, and the difference between genuine taste and posturing. Personal experiences and the influence of mentors in shaping their taste are shared. They also express concerns about the outsourcing of content creation and its impact on society's taste. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of being intentional and thoughtful about the things one cares about.

Topics

The concept of taste
The role of taste in design
Differentiating taste in movies
Taste and Parroting Tropes
Appreciation vs Creation
Expertise and Content Creation
The importance of taste and its development
Taste and experience in content creation
How taste is cultivated through reflection
Taste Development and Excellence
Developing Taste through Guidance
Experience and Observing
The importance of taste
The development of taste
Editing process and taste

Show Links

Connect with David Khim on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Allie Decker on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

What is Kitchen Side?

One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture.

You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside.

You understand how the sausage is made.

We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship.

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enDecember 20, 2023

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)

The Impact of AI on Content, Search, Learning, and More (Learning to Change)

In this episode of the Learning to Change podcast, host Melissa Emler talks with Alex Burkett, co-founder of Omniscient Digital. They discuss Alex's career trajectory from a music major to a content marketing expert, highlighting his love for literature and reading as the foundation for his career. Alex shares insights on the impact of AI on search and consumer behavior, the future of SEO, and the potential use cases of AI in content marketing. They also discuss the importance of providing valuable insights and information, regardless of SEO trends. The episode concludes with Melissa encouraging listeners to embrace the process of learning and change.

Topics

The emergence of AI and its impact on content
Advancements in technology and changing interactions with content
Alex Burkett's journey from student to content agency co-founder
The Expert in SEO and Content Optimization
The Impact of AI on SEO
The Emerging Value of Content in the Age of AI
The insights that made us a valuable website
The relevance of traffic and the future of websites
The potential impact of AI on search results and citations
The internal use case for content management
Training AI on brand voice and content
Competing commitments in adopting new perspectives
The Power of Learning and Its Impact on Change
Joining the Modern Learners Community
Acknowledging the Indigenous Peoples

Show Links

Listen to the Learning to Change Podcast
Connect with Melissa Emler on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here:

enDecember 13, 2023

Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)
Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)

A Growth Executive Explains Brand Marketing, Paid Acquisition, and the Future of Growth with Patrick Moran (Robinhood)

In this podcast episode, Alex Burkett interviews growth marketer Patrick Moran about his experience in brand marketing.

They discuss the relationship between brand marketing and growth marketing, the components of brand strategy and positioning, and the challenges of measuring the impact of brand marketing.

Moran emphasizes the importance of understanding audience behaviors on different platforms and tailoring brand stories accordingly. He also predicts that AI and machine learning will play a significant role in all aspects of marketing, including creative development, measurement, and process optimization.

Topics

The growth marketer explains brand marketing
How a growth marketer leads a brand marketing course
Brand marketing vs. growth marketing in 2023
Positioning and Brand Strategy
Product Decisions and Audience Behavior
Measurement and Quantifying Brand Impact
The measurement components of ROI
Determining the impact of marketing efforts
Different methods of measuring paid media capabilities
The relationship between brand marketing and performance marketing
The impact of brand marketing on growth and performance
The importance of martech and data infrastructure in marketing
The first component of growth marketing
Using machine learning for personalized creatives
The evolution of growth marketing channels
Channels and their evolution
Measurement and its importance
Effective storytelling and audience behaviors

Show Links

Visit Finding Market Fit podcast
Connect with Patrick Moran on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:

How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)

Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)

Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:

Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:

Twitter: @beomniscient

Linkedin: Be Omniscient

Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

enDecember 06, 2023

Rona Maynard on How Adopting a Rescue Mutt When She Was 65 Made Her a Better Person

Today, Debbie talks with Rona Maynard, an author, writer, and former VIP, as she puts it. When she left Canada's leading magazine for women as editor-in-chief, she began looking for her next big project. Around this time, her husband suggested getting a dog. She resisted for several years, then relented. When she was 65, they adopted Casey, a two-year-old rescue mutt with an appealing personality.

He left dog hairs everywhere and peed on her favorite chair the day they brought him home. But the result was an unexpected next new thing, a gradual transformation of how she is approaching life, and a lovely new book, a memoir, titled Starter Dog.

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Don't miss the Behind The Scenes essay for each new episode in Debbie's [B]OLD AGE newsletter.

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Of course, the book is not just about her dog. Rona is an extraordinary writer so it is the woven story of her life as a young woman and a young wife, her ambitions, her relationship to food (and Casey’s), getting older, and how - with Casey leading the way through her Toronto neighborhood - she began to soften and notice more. In the book she illuminates how taking Casey for daily walks ultimately made her a better person. She pulls the past and present together, and, engagingly, includes quotations from two of Debbie's favorite poets: Emily Dickinson and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Rona learns how to be kind (kindness was not stressed when she was growing up in a household full of ambition), how to befriend strangers and the homeless, how to appreciate the details of changing seasons and the outdoors (after working at a desk for so many years), how to be more patient, and how to live in the moment.

Because of course while she was growing old - eight years pass - her dog was growing older. Casey is now 10, while Rona's in her mid-70s, and he’s teaching her how to embrace old age. Just take it one walk, one squirrel, one bowl of dog food (two if you’re lucky), and one day at a time.

Mentioned in this episode or useful:

Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World by Rona Maynard (ECW Press, 2023)
My Mother's Daughter: a Memoir by Rona Maynard (McClelland & Stewart, 2009)
RonaMaynard.com
Rona's new Substack newsletter: Amazement Seeker
Poet Emily Dickinson
Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins

Connect with Debbie:

debbieweil.com
[B]OLD AGE podcast
[B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
Email: thebolderpodcast@gmail.com
Debbie and Sam’s blog: Gap Year After Sixty
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieweil

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

enNovember 10, 2023

Debbie & Sam on the Acceleration of Aging: Smudged Glasses, Creaky Bodies and Before It’s Too Late

Welcome back to Season 6! You might’ve noticed that we changed the name of the show to more accurately reflect the focus, which is to explore the transition from midlife to old age. [B]OLDER seemed a bit too general, so it's now [B]OLD AGE. Given our ageist society, it requires [b]oldness to say proudly, "I am old." This season our goal is to be even more honest and vulnerable about what it’s like as the clock ticks away.

For this first episode, Debbie is joined by her husband, Sam Harrington, a popular recurring guest who is known for his dry humor. He's a retired physician and an author.

They start by talking about how aging has suddenly accelerated for both of them, in their early 70s. Sam says he can see his telomeres fraying when he looks in the mirror. He notes that only a decade ago they still looked remarkably young in photos. (See photo accompanying this episode; in 2014 Debbie and Sam were hanging out in Madagascar with lemurs.)

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Don't miss the accompanying Behind The Scenes essay for this new episode in Debbie's [B]OLD AGE newsletter.

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They also talk about the long vigil of accompanying a dying parent and how that affects your own sense of old age; how health span has noticeably increased in the past 50 years; and what the stunning demographic shift to an aging society will mean. By 2030, there will be more adults over 65 than children under 18.

Debbie notes the parallel between the acceleration of aging and the acceleration of global warming. At first the changes are slow and hardly noticeable. Then they happen all at once, like this past summer.

But the conversation veers back to the physiological fact of aging. Sam's favorite mantra is that "80 might be the new 60, but 86 is the new 85." The current research to better understand and to slow aging may be too late to benefit them, Sam says.

Mentioned in this episode or useful:

Definition of heuristic
Definition of telomeres
Living to 120 is becoming an imaginable prospect (The Economist, Sept. 28, 2023)
How a Vast Demographic Shift Will Reshape the World (The New York Times, July 16, 2023)
The Washington Gerontocracy (The New Yorker, September 24, 2023)
AT PEACE: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life by Samuel Harrington MD (Hachette, 2018)
Earlier podcast episode: S5-EP7: Andrew Steele on Research at the Cellular Level That Could Slow Aging
Sam’s summer project: Island Workforce Housing on Deer Isle, Maine.

Connect with Debbie:

[B]OLD AGE podcast
[B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
Email: thebolderpodcast@gmail.com
Debbie & Sam's joint blog: Gap Year After Sixty
Facebook: @debbieweil
Instagram: @debbieweil
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieweil

Our Media Partners:

CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits: