Digital Marketing Masters Podcast

Hosted by Matt Rouse

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291

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Digital Marketing Masters Podcast with your host, Bestselling Author, Matt Rouse and your co-host, Film Maker, Mahek Anam. Actionable information and interviews with leading experts in AI, marketing, productivity, and business. Every show has a business-changing idea and will knock your socks off.

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60 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 28835 min

Latest AI News & USA AI-Jobs Poll with Matt and Mahek (288)

In this episode of the Digital Marketing Masters Podcast, I (Mahek) sit down with my cohost Matt Rouse to unpack what actually matters in the latest wave of AI news and how marketers and business leaders can respond without the doom or the denial. We tackle job displacement fears, why short‑term panic and long‑term complacency both miss the point, and how to audit your own role for tasks that AI will augment versus those that still require distinctly human judgment. We also dig into understaffed sectors like radiology where AI has amplified capacity and earnings, and we question common narratives about “AI content vs. human content,” arguing the real divide is useful vs. boring. We then break down Anthropic’s latest model and its leap in autonomous capability, why mixture‑of‑experts matters, and how compute bottlenecks and data center investments shape what reaches the public. From there, we get practical with “mixed reality” content production; combining real assets with AI to level the playing field for SMBs. Why this hybrid approach often outperforms all‑or‑nothing stances. We close with a candid look at automation vs. AI (not the same thing), the inevitability of AI as a core tech layer, and a call for marketers to test, measure, and iterate instead of relying on unproven instincts.Resources mentioned: METR’s autonomy benchmarking chart; Ethan Mollick’s long‑form coding test with Claude; examples of mixed‑reality creative workflows for faster, higher‑quality content; and ongoing conversations on LinkedIn/Substack about evidence‑based AI marketing. Reuters Ai-Job opinion poll. Will AI TAke My Job? 2 Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

June 4, 2026Episode 2879 min

Creatives in the Age of AI with Mahek Anam (287)

In this solo episode, I (Mahek Anam) speak directly to creative directors, marketers, and brand builders navigating the AI wave. I share why so much AI-generated content feels average and how the real differentiator now is creative direction and taste. Rather than shrinking the creative role, AI expands it by handling execution so we can double down on vision, specificity, and standards. I walk through a simple three-question framework to apply before opening any tool. Who is this for (be specific), what’s the actual point (not just the topic), and which tools in what sequence. Your outputs belong to your brand and audience, not to the internet’s average. The takeaway: when everyone can generate, the people who can direct will stand out. AI can help you make more, but you still have to know what’s worth making.Listen in for practical mindset shifts on taste, tool selection, and creative leadership in the age of AI, so your content stops sounding like everyone else’s and starts sounding unmistakably like yours. Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

May 29, 2026Episode 28617 min

3 Tips for the Age of AI in 2026 with Matt Rouse (286)

In this solo episode, I break down three realities of AI in today’s workplace and what they mean for your career or business. First, I explain why loudly positioning yourself as anti‑AI can hurt your job prospects when most leaders are prioritizing AI‑literate talent to drive productivity. Second, I unpack common misconceptions, that AI is more than chatbots and simple automation. I reveal why many companies aren’t seeing ROI: the doorman fallacy (misunderstanding what people actually do in their roles) and mounting token costs from poorly designed automations. I share how we avoid those pitfalls by upskilling experts and using AI to supercharge their work instead of replacing them. Third, I highlight where AI is creating demand, not taking jobs, like healthcare and small business, showing how AI‑assisted professionals deliver better outcomes and handle more work, which fuels growth and hiring. I wrap with practical guidance to future‑proof your skills, understand AI agents and automation at a high level, and position yourself to thrive in the evolving economy.Let's go, people! Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

May 22, 2026Episode 28545 min

Serving Your Community in the Age of AI with Ben Albert (285)

In this candid, curiosity-first conversation, I sit down with Ben Albert, host of Real Business Connections and founder of the GrowGetters community, to explore where AI, community-building, and genuine relationships intersect. We reflect on why the fundamentals that worked ten years ago still work today: serving people, building trust, and showing up with care and intention. From Ben’s evolving “custom cartoon” branding lesson to the power of thoughtful, physical gifts, we unpack how AI changes not just costs but meanings and how taste, context, and human touch remain irreplaceable.  We also get tactical: when to draw the line between AI and human contact, why AI chat can be great for ecommerce support but terrible for cold outreach, and how automation frees you to deepen relationships. We tackle echo chambers and misinformation in the AI content era, the importance of fact-checking, and how to keep curiosity at the center. Trust is built by people through service, timing, and taste.https://realbusinessconnections.com/speaker/https://www.skool.com/growgettersonly/about Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

May 14, 2026Episode 28422 min

Advertising in the Age of AI with Sean Sweeney Part 2 (284)

In part two of our conversation with Sean Sweeney, we dig into the messy, real-world intersection of AI, advertising, and the future of work. From whether brands should disclose AI-generated creative to what “authenticity” even means in marketing, Sean and Matt openly disagree, and that’s where the gold is. We explore the legal and practical angles of AI disclosure, the double standards between AI and past production techniques, and how fast-evolving tools are reshaping creative teams. We also zoom out to the bigger picture: which jobs are most at risk, why upskilling is non-negotiable, and how the “age of AI” might elevate live performance and human connection rather than replace it. If you’re leading a brand or building your career, this episode is a field guide to preparing for the dip and coming out stronger on the other side.Highlights: AI in ad creative and whether consumers care, the liability lens for disclosure, authenticity vs. effectiveness in marketing, double standards across AI/CGI/music, job loss and creation (and the gap in between), the urgency of upskilling, real-world automation from warehouses to robotics at home, and why human-centered experiences could thrive in an automated economy. Connect with Sean Sweeney on LinkedIn for ongoing insights (link in show notes), and don’t miss part one for PMax, geo tracking, and where brands quietly lose money. https://www.firstpositiondigitalsolutions.com/  Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

May 7, 2026Episode 28353 min

Advertising in the Age of AI with Sean Sweeney Part 1 (283)

In today’s conversation, I sit down with Sean Sweeney, the “Blues Brother of PPC” from Chicago, to cut through the AI hype and talk about what’s actually changing in digital advertising. We get candid about Google Performance Max and Meta’s algorithmic buying: why “just give us your credit card and we’ll do the rest” can erode brand control, underfund top‑of‑funnel, and starve discovery. We dig into the real work that still moves the needle: full‑funnel strategy, first‑party data, programmatic done right, and organic discovery that feeds paid performance. We unpack AEO/GEO for AI chatbots, why no tool can definitively track AI recommendations, and how to increase your odds of inclusion with human‑helpful, machine‑readable content (schema, FAQs, glossaries), plus platform plays like Reddit and Pinterest. We also talk creative in the AI era: how a smart mix of real assets with AI enhancements can outperform big‑budget shoots, and why model selection matters, using the right AI for the right task is a competitive edge. Finally, we call out the incentives baked into ad platforms, the shrinking visibility into data, and why mid‑market brands can’t afford to hand over the steering wheel. If your SEO, paid, content, and “AI optimization” still live in silos, this episode is your nudge to integrate your discovery ecosystem end‑to‑end.https://www.firstpositiondigitalsolutions.com/ Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

April 30, 2026Episode 28237 min

Branding in the Age of AI with Mairin Deery (282)

In this episode of Digital Marketing Masters, I sit down with creative director and brand strategist Mairin Deery to unpack what branding looks like in the age of AI, with candid interjections from our creative lead, Mehak. We explore why AI shines as an accelerator for strategy, iteration, and operational efficiency, but still can’t replace the messy, specific, human experiences that make brands resonate. From “highest common denominator” outputs to the trap of vibe-branding and cloned .md design files, we dig into how to use AI as an assistant, not a substitute, for a well-defined “why you, why now.”We also talk about when efficiency should win (think windshield wipers and flight bookings) and when to protect the unscalable human moments that build trust. Expect practical advice on prompting AI to push back, using it as a thinking partner, and threading your irreducibly human brand core through everything you scale. Your homework: write your “why you, why now” in a few sentences and then maybe let AI help you amplify it, not replace it.https://www.mairindeery.com/ Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

April 24, 2026Episode 28154 min

Live Is the New Real in the Age of AI with Keith Bilous

In this live-recorded episode of Digital Marketing Masters, I sit down with Keith Bilous to unpack why going live, consistently, at the same time, with real human presence is a powerful antidote to an AI-saturated, deepfake-capable world. We explore how repetition builds trust, why morning shows are an untapped, high-leverage format for creators and brands, and how structure and format can outlast any single host to create scalable IP. Keith shares his journey building Mornings in the Lab, his MITL Studio network, and the ConversationOS platform designed to launch formatted live shows in under 90 seconds, all with an eye toward blending human hosts and intentional AI characters without creating “AI slop.”We also dig into audience engagement in real time versus prerecorded podcasts, the fear and risk of going live (and how to mitigate it), localization opportunities, and the compounding effects of simply showing up. From creators battling burnout to enterprises wanting to own their narrative in a noisy landscape, this conversation lays out both a mindset and a playbook: commit to the habit, build a repeatable format, and use AI as an enhancer to create trustworthy, living content.MiTL: https://www.mitl.studio/ Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

April 16, 2026Episode 28040 min

Intro to AI for Business & Work with Matt Rouse (280)

In this solo episode, I share a practical beginner’s guide to using AI at work and in your business—plus a solid refresher if you’ve already dabbled with tools like ChatGPT. I break down, in plain language, how modern AI is trained, why tokens matter (and what they cost), and where the real money in AI comes from. Then we dive into the six essential skills you should build right now: prompting chatbots with context and constraints, generating and editing images, uploading and analyzing documents, using computer vision to solve real‑world and software problems, conducting deeper research, and creating lightweight “software on demand.” Along the way, I give concrete prompting frameworks, tips to reduce hallucinations, ideas for cross‑checking outputs, and hands‑on examples; from summarizing contracts to troubleshooting hardware with photos and iterating on AI‑built mini apps. I also highlight free and accessible tools you can start with today, including image generators, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s NotebookLM for research, slide decks, summaries, and auto‑generated audio/video overviews. Whether you’re an employee sharpening AI literacy or a small business owner looking for leverage, this episode will help you build confidence, pick the right workflows, and get meaningful results, fast.We wrap with practical do’s and don’ts, emphasizing context, constraints, audience, and outputs for better prompts; when to start a new chat to avoid lost context; how to cross-check outputs; and why computer vision is an underused superpower. If you want a no-nonsense roadmap to immediate AI wins—and a clearer picture of where the industry is headed—this episode is for you.https://matthewrouse.com If you like to hear about AI & marketing, and posts about chickens, connect with me on the LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmrouse/ or SubStack if that's your jam: https://mattrouse.substack.com/  Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot

April 9, 2026Episode 27944 min

Spirituality in the Age of AI with The Witch Doctor Sabrina Scott (279)

In this episode, I sit down with witch, author, and soon-to-be “witch doctor” (getting her PhD) Sabrina Scott to explore the provocative crossroads of AI, consciousness, and spirituality. We trace humanity’s long history of animism and ritual, examine why the modern split between science and spirit is so recent, and ask whether large language models can, or should, play the role of teacher, priest, or prophet. Sabrina makes a compelling case for “spiritual reps”: the irreplaceable, embodied work of ritual, intuition, and lived experience that no algorithm can outsource. We dig into AI-written sermons, tarot-by-chatbot, and the rise of AI influencers, along with the uncomfortable possibility of cults forming around machine “gurus,” and even the esoteric idea that focused collective attention could create a digital egregore. We close by challenging listeners to reclaim authenticity—in marketing and in meaning-making—by stepping away from the screen, returning to ritual, and doing the hard, human work that keeps our creative and spiritual muscles alive. Put in the reps; the machine won’t live your life for you.Sabrina ScottIn this thought-provoking episode of Digital Marketing Masters, I sit down with witch, medium, and soon-to-be Dr. Sabrina Scott to explore the slippery boundary between spirituality, science, and our rapidly evolving relationship with AI. We rewind through history to examine how humans once universally attributed spirit to land, objects, and celestial bodies—and ask what it means when today’s algorithms begin to inherit that same aura. From “spiritual reps” and the irreplaceable value of embodied practice to the risks of offloading our intuition to chatbots, Sabrina challenges us to consider whether convenience culture is eroding the ritual, discipline, and lived experience that make spiritual work transformative.  We also venture into the edgy futurescape: AI-written sermons, synthetic spiritual influencers, tarot-by-chatbot, and the eerie possibility of an egregore—a thought-form brought to life by collective attention—emerging from our collective devotion to machines. Along the way, we confront the cultural hunger that makes AI cults plausible, the difference between pattern recognition and true intuition, and whether humanity might be creating God instead of the other way around. Before you open another prompt window, Sabrina’s invitation is simple and challenging: close the laptop, touch the earth, and put in the reps that only a human soul can do. Looking for a podcast guest? Author Matt RouseHook Digital Marketing | Hook Digital Marketing CanadaMarket your local business on autopilot: SMB Autopilot