An Agency Story

Hosted by Russel Dubree

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram

Episodes

213

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

First hand interviews of creative, digital, advertising, and marketing agency owners that have walked the talk of running an agency business. These are riveting stories of the thrill of starting up, hardships faced, and the keys to a successful business from agency owners around the world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 19, 2026Episode 21341 min

The Serendipity Effect - Aloha Life Digital

What if some of the best business opportunities come when you stop looking for them? In this episode, Claire Ransome, founder of Aloha Life Digital, shares her unexpected journey from publishing to entrepreneurship, the painful lessons of losing a business, and how embracing serendipity has shaped her approach to building an agency. Inside this episode: How unexpected connections can create extraordinary business opportunities. Why approaching relationships without expectations can be a powerful business strategy. The lessons learned from growing a business tenfold in six weeks, only to eventually close its doors. How past failures can reshape your definition of success and influence the business you build next. Why preparing your business for growth can be more valuable than simply chasing more sales. Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

October 11, 2026Episode 21241 min

Empathy Is a Competitive Advantage - YADA YADA Studio

What happens when you stop selling what you know and start solving a problem the market has overlooked? In this episode, Maddi Clarke, Founder of Yada Yada Studio, shares her unconventional journey into agency ownership, how she spotted an opportunity in social-first production, and why empathy might be one of the most powerful competitive advantages in business. Inside this episode: How a career spanning finance, reality TV, and winemaking led to entrepreneurship. Recognizing a gap in the market and building a business around it. The unexpected transition from being a talented producer to becoming a business owner. Why the experience you create for clients matters just as much as the work you deliver. How empathy, client education, and clear boundaries create better relationships and better outcomes. Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

October 4, 2026Episode 21143 min

Chasing Bad Guys, Building Businesses - Vendilli Digital Group

Chris Vendilli went from Air Force security forces and police detective to building a 17-person agency, starting out as a half million dollar side hustle. In this episode, Chris shares the investments, hiring lessons, and unconventional acquisitions that helped shape Vendilli, along with what he's learned about evaluating opportunities, good and bad. Inside this episode: Why investing in sales training became one of Chris’s most important early decisions. The hard-earned lesson behind hiring slow, especially when the need feels urgent. How an unexpected tragedy led to Chris’s first acquisition experience What Chris looks for in an agency acquisition Why uncertainty around AI may create both risk and opportunity for agency owners willing to think differently. Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

September 27, 2026Episode 21040 min

Earn the Right to Pitch - Don't Be a Little Pitch

Bryce North didn’t set out to build an agency, but years of launching products, raising capital, and recovering from failure taught him something important: credibility and relationships matter long before the pitch. In this episode, Bryce, founder of Don’t Be a Little Pitch, shares his unconventional approach to standing out, earning trust, and building an agency people genuinely want to work with. Inside this episode: Why you haven’t earned the right to pitch just because someone agreed to talk to you What dating can teach you about sales Why your agency’s rough edges may actually make you more credible, memorable, and trustworthy How a client who got zero leads in four months still became one of Bryce’s most valuable agency experiences Why relationships are the real currency behind retention, referrals, and long-term growth Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

September 21, 2026Episode 20940 min

The Intersections That Change an Agency - Stranger Creative

The most important shifts in an agency often happen at unexpected intersections: creativity and technology, lived experience and opportunity, or the freedom that got you here and the structure required to move forward. Steven Wakabayashi shares how those intersections have shaped Stranger Creative and why building a sustainable agency means knowing what to protect, what to let go of, and what to build next. Inside this episode: How mentors and unexpected experiences can unlock creative potential Why the systems you build should serve your next chapter The tension between creative flexibility, financial responsibility, and a healthy team How to identify when a passion project is quietly draining energy from the core business Why focus, subtraction, and honest reflection create more room for meaningful work Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

September 15, 2026Episode 20845 min

Unmanaged: Why More Management Can Make Agencies Less Productive with Jack Skeels (Re-release)

Management doesn’t have to mean more layers, more meetings, and more people directing the work. In this re-released conversation, Jack Skeels author of Unmanaged: Master the Magic of Creating Empowered and Happy Organizations and founder of Agency Agile, shares how agency leaders can create more productive, empowered teams by rethinking what managers are actually there to do. Inside this episode: Why adding management layers can quietly reduce productivity and create agency chaos The “promotion trap” of turning top specialists into managers without preparing them for a different role How managers can shift from directing work to removing barriers for the people doing it Better ways to understand productivity, quality, and team effectiveness beyond timesheets and status reports Why managers should be treated as an option—not an automatic answer to every growing-team challenge Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

September 7, 2026Episode 20727 min

The Best Stories Come Last Vol. #1

Some of the best stories on An Agency Story come after the business conversation is over. This compilation of stories shared on past episodes brings together funny, unexpected, and occasionally uncomfortable moments that reveal the lighter side of agency ownership. Inside this episode: Client feedback that defies explanation Office traditions that take on lives of their own Awkward encounters with major brands The risks of product testing and keyword research A blindfolded chair race that nearly attracted the police Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

August 31, 2026Episode 20642 min

Wisdom from the Archives Vol. #1

This first edition of Wisdom From the Archives revisits standout ideas and lessons from past conversations with agency owners and experts. Russel adds his perspective to each clip, highlighting practical concepts worth bringing back into how you lead, position, and operate your agency. A few highlights from this episode: Push people with purpose: Good leadership isn’t always about being liked; sometimes people need to be challenged to get beyond what’s holding them back. Listen for the wish: Look beyond what clients say they need to uncover what they actually want to accomplish and what’s standing in their way. Recognize the IP hiding in your agency: Your methodologies, processes, systems, brand, and other repeatable assets may be more valuable than you realize. Forecast forward, not just backward: Regular reforecasting helps you anticipate what’s coming and make proactive decisions rather than waiting for problems to show up in your financials. Rethink what good management means: A manager’s job isn’t simply directing people; it’s creating the conditions that allow their team to do their best work. Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

August 24, 2026Episode 20542 min

Grow on Profit, Not Hope - Zacharin Consulting

Revenue alone doesn't build a stronger business. In this episode, Russel sits down with Natalia Zacharin, Founder of Zacharin Consulting, to discuss why profitable growth, financial forecasting, and better decision-making matter more than simply chasing more sales. You'll learn how to use your financials to make smarter decisions, avoid common traps, and build a healthier business with greater confidence. Inside this episode: Why more sales can actually create bigger financial problems The financial metrics every agency owner should understand How forecasting helps you make decisions before problems arise Why profit should fund your business growth, not debt or hope The role of ROI in hiring, software, and every business investment Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.

August 16, 2026Episode 20441 min

The Perfect Crime That Builds Trust and Clients - Indie Books International

Writing a book isn't about becoming an author, it's about becoming the authority your ideal clients already trust. In this episode, Henry DeVries of Indie Books International shares why a book is one of the most powerful business development tools an agency owner can have, how it opens doors to speaking opportunities and new clients, and why publishing is only the beginning. Inside this episode: Why a book builds authority long before someone reads it. The biggest mental roadblocks that keep experts from writing a book and how to overcome them. How to turn your expertise into intellectual property that creates long-term value. Why the real return on a book comes from speaking, relationships, and business development. The "perfect crime" strategy that helps you get paid while marketing your expertise. Learn about an opportunity to build resiliency and success for your business in 2027.