Performance Anxiety: DTC & Ecommerce Growth Marketing

Hosted by Digicom

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Performance Anxiety is the podcast for people who actually run DTC brands. Every episode, founders, operators and marketers share the real numbers behind their growth: MER, CAC, LTV, what they spent, what worked, and what broke. No fluff, no guru talk. Just honest conversations about scaling ecommerce brands across paid media (Meta, Google, TikTok, YouTube), creative, CRO, retention, email and SMS, attribution, and the tech stack that ties it all together. Guests include founders and operators who have built 7, 8 and 9-figure brands. Brought to you by DigiCom, the growth agency behind $200M+ in managed ad spend for brands like EverEden, mindbodygreen, HelloFresh and OneSkin. Part of Checkout Required, a free members-only community where DTC operators trade notes on what's working right now. Join the conversation at checkoutrequired.com Watch full episodes and clips on YouTube: youtube.com/@CheckoutRequired

Listen to episodes

27 recent

October 15, 202658 min

Your Meta Ads Stopped Working. Here’s What Actually Fixes Them

Meta's Andromeda update quietly broke a lot of the playbook. In this episode we dig into what's actually working now for DTC paid media: why frequency and CPMR suddenly spiked on consolidated accounts, when to pause an ad (and when a 30¢-CPC volume driver should stay on even at double the CPA), how Andromeda groups look-alike creatives under one entity ID, why it's almost always the offer, and how we're using Claude and ChatGPT to critique creative, reposition brands and run analysis on the drive into the office. What's working now: Budgeting 10–20% every month for new tests before the current winner stops working Using ABO for fast test-and-learn and CBO for true batch tests, then pulling CBO's no-spend ads into an ABO Judging ads on a 2–3 day window instead of day over day Turning off Advantage+ and manually retargeting 180-day add-to-carts Building a persona x awareness-stage matrix so creative diversity goes beyond formats Small price tests and BOGO-style offers to get under psychological price barriers Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rhRmIGoiIb4 Pull up a seat — Checkout Required is free for DTC operators: https://checkoutrequired.com ——— Brought to you by DigiCom, the no-BS growth agency for DTC brands. • 2X Inc. 5000 honoree (2025 & 2026) • $200M+ in ad spend managed • $1B+ in revenue generated for 200+ brands • Meta Business Partner, Google Partner & TikTok Marketing Partner Work with DigiCom: https://www.digicom.io

June 5, 202414 min

Episode 7: An Interview with Tom Roche, Head of Brand Marketing

Tom Roche is an expert in branding and startups, with over 15 years of experience. He's known for his skill in developing effective marketing strategies and creating memorable brand experiences. Tom has worked with big names like Red Bull, Gap, and SoFi, helping them reach their audience in unique ways. Beyond his work with major brands, Tom also has a talent for entrepreneurship. He co-founded a popular pop-up beer and spirit garden in San Francisco, showcasing his ability to turn ideas into successful ventures. At Abodo, Tom served as the founding marketing executive, playing a role in the company's growth. With a diverse skill set that includes event planning, customer education, and strategic marketing, Tom continues to to be highly regarded in the world of startups and branding. Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomrochesf/

May 28, 202417 min

Episode 6: An Interview with Alanna Gregory, Head of Growth at Cash App & Afterpay US

Alanna Gregory is a growth marketing expert, currently serving as the Head of Growth at Cash App and Afterpay US. With a background in finance and a strong ability to analyze data, Alanna has successfully scaled companies across multiple regions, specializing in media and performance marketing, CRM, and growth operations. Alanna's expertise lies in driving growth for both DTC and B2B channels, leveraging her skills in customer behavior analysis and market optimization. She's experienced at navigating the challenges of early-stage growth and scaling, having successfully managed them across various ventures, ranging from startups to well-known brands.

May 22, 202446 min

Episode 5: An Interview with John Coyle, Head of Professional Services at Triple Whale

John Coyle's journey in digital marketing speaks volumes about resilience and adaptability. In 2017, he faced unexpected job loss but turned adversity into opportunity by diving into freelancing and eventually founding his own successful agency, later acquired by Structured. Now, as a key figure at Triple Whale, John specializes in paid media and data-driven strategies, helping businesses achieve growth through innovative approaches to attribution and analytics. His expertise and track record make him a valuable asset to any marketing team, and his story is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and marketers. Instagram: @johnjhcoyle LinkedIn: John Coyle

May 14, 202420 min

Episode 4: An Interview with Nisha Dearborn, the Founder & CEO of Fresh Chemistry

Nisha Dearborn is the Founder & CEO of Fresh Chemistry. As the daughter of a dermatologist, she has been thinking about skincare since childhood, and then went on to spend almost a decade in the corporate beauty industry. A family move to Maine inspired Nisha to make healthy lifestyle changes, including meal planning with fresh ingredients whenever possible. This is when she had her lightbulb moment - just like food, the ingredients in your skincare matter. And just like fresh food is better for your body, fresh skincare is better for your skin because ingredients are at their peak potency when they are first mixed together and activated. Most skincare companies can take nine months or more to get their product into your hands, and during that time the products are getting weaker and more stale before you even buy it! We don’t eat stale food, so why do we settle for stale skincare? She set out to find a way to take active skincare to a whole new level, and Fresh Chemistry® was born. Links: www.instagram.com/freshchemistry , www.freshchemistry.com

April 30, 202419 min

Episode 3: An Interview with Matt Terrill, CEO and Co-Founder of Innovet & Chefpaw

Matt Terrill is a lifelong inventor who found his passion in creating innovative products for dogs. His journey began in college when he realized his love for dogs and his knack for inventing could be combined to address the needs of his beloved pets. In 2005, he founded InnoVet Pet Products, focusing on developing solutions for various dog-related issues, including ear care and blindness. Later, in 2016, inspired by the health needs of his Labrador and Bulldog, he ventured into the emerging market of CBD for pets, founding another successful brand. More recently, Matt launched ChefPaw, a revolutionary dog food maker, born out of his desire to provide fresh, customized meals for his dogs while tackling issues like digestion and skin conditions. With a keen eye for innovation and a commitment to quality, Matt continues to push boundaries in the pet product industry, aiming to make a meaningful impact on pets' lives and their owners'.

April 23, 202419 min

Episode 2: An Interview with Alex Luna, Digital Marketer and E-commerce Expert

Alex Luna is a digital marketer and e-commerce expert with international experience building and growing DTC brands across different industries (fashion, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle..).

April 15, 202421 min

Episode 1: An Interview with Carolina Barsa, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, and Co-Founder, at FitBiomics

Background: Carolina Barsa is the Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, and Co-Founder, at FitBiomics, leading the translation of cutting-edge microbiome technology into commercially viable solutions to optimize health & longevity for everybody. She is passionate about creating purpose-driven brands that have a positive impact on society and education to empower people to take charge of their well-being. Carolina holds a Master’s in Engineering from WPI and an MBA from Duke University. Professionally, she is experienced in driving innovation, insights, brand positioning, consumer engagement, and go-to-market strategies for dozens of leading global brands and disruptive emerging brands. She enjoys hiking, biking, and traveling the world in addition to volunteering to promote women in STEM fields. Having struggled with gut issues impacting her health, she is determined to help everyone realize the power of the gut on holistic health and share all she has learned in her gut health journey. Company Site: Fitbiomics.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolina-barsa/

November 28, 202318 min

Episode 9: An Interview with Theodora, Co-founder of The French Workshop

Growing up around food and service, Theodora decided to try something different after studying at Hofstra University. She then spent five years working in healthcare. Eventually, she decided to return to her roots, rejoining her family. Now, she's putting her own spin on things at The French Workshop, bringing a fresh perspective to the family business. Connect with Theodora on: Website: https://www.thefrenchworkshop.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theodora.pc/

November 14, 202327 min

Episode 8: An Interview with Kira and David Kessler, Founders of Rock'n'Rags

Kira Kessler started Rock N Rags when she was 17 with just a few dollars and an Instagram account. David joined the company as Co-CEO and built out a flourishing website & in-depth e-commerce strategy. 10 years later it's blossomed into a multi-million dollar business known around the country and shipping to 65+ countries worldwide. With a mission of inspiring confidence in every person shopping with them, Rock N Rags has built a community of strong women embracing their realness and imperfections together.

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