The digital game is rigged —and we all know it. Industry titans created the game and set the rules to ensure only they win. And we play the game anyway, hoping to carve out some small portion of the market for ourselves. Fixing the Game exists to level the playing field, giving businesses the cheat codes to play on their terms and win. Every week, renowned growth hacking specialist and host, Luke Szkudlarek, goes head to head with industry experts to break barriers and expose the game-changing truths that will change your business. Let’s remind big tech who the real bosses are.
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May 27, 202636 min
#45 How to Get Found in AI Search: GEO, Visibility & ChatGPT with Thomas Peham, co-founder of Otterly AI
Ranking well on Google used to mean something. These days, it's only half the story.Thomas Peham is the former VP of Marketing at Storyblok, co-founder of Otterly AI, and one of the leading voices in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). His team has analysed over 100,000 websites to understand what actually drives brand visibility in AI search—and the results will change how you think about content, PR, and measurement.In this episode, we get into why organic traffic is declining even when your Google impressions stay flat, and what the hidden impact of AI search looks like when it's not showing up in your click data. One of Thomas's clients had 1% of web conversions attributed to ChatGPT—but when they asked leads directly, 10% said ChatGPT was how they found them.We cover the three pillars of GEO strategy (on-page, earned media, and community), why Reddit and user-generated content punch above their weight in AI results, and how the SEO/PR silo is finally starting to break down.Key topics:Why click data is massively underreporting AI search impactThe three content pillars that drive brand mentions in ChatGPTHow one B2B brand went from zero citations to showing up in 3 weeksWhy community marketing is having a quiet renaissanceWhat skillsets will define the best marketers in the next 2 years
March 18, 202638 min
#44 Marketing After GPTs: AI Search, Zero-Click Content & the Future of SEO with Rand Fishkin
What happens to marketing when clicks disappear?In this episode of Fixing the Game, Luke sits down with Rand Fishkin (Co-founder of SparkToro, former Moz founder) to break down one of the biggest shifts in digital marketing: the move toward zero-click content, AI-driven search, and platform lock-in.Rand challenges many of today’s assumptions about SEO, content, and AI and explains why most marketers are focusing on the wrong things.🔥 Key takeaways from this episode:Zero-click is not new (and not caused by AI) Platforms like Google, Instagram, and LinkedIn have been reducing outbound traffic for years. AI is just the latest layer.Traffic is a vanity metric Less traffic doesn’t mean less revenue. Many companies see traffic down, revenue up—because users convert later, not earlier.Stop chasing clicks. Start building demand. The goal isn’t to drive traffic—it’s to ensure people search for you when they’re ready to buy.“Great content” is no longer a strategy Generic, high-quality content is now commoditized. AI can create it instantly. What works: original, opinionated, “spiky” content that stands out.Brand is the ultimate growth lever Recognition and trust make every channel more effective—especially sales and outbound.Focus on your audience, not the hype It doesn’t matter what ChatGPT or Google does globally. What matters: where your audience actually spends time.Distribution has changed Your website is no longer the main traffic driver—it’s your home base. Attention is won on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, etc.Viral loops matter more than ever With traffic harder to get, your product and content must be shareable by design.Audience research is the foundation Understanding behaviors, preferences, and channels is more valuable than ever—for both product and marketing.Execution still beats theory Learn how platform algorithms work and adapt. That edge is just as powerful today as it was 20 years ago.💡 One core idea to remember:Marketing isn’t dying. It’s going back to what it always was:👉 Build a brand 👉 Earn attention 👉 Create demand 👉 Show up when it matters
March 4, 202623 min
#43 Explosive Growth: Lessons from Uber, Revolut & Bitpanda with Irina Scarlat
What does it really take to scale companies to millions of users?In this episode of Fixing the Game, Luke sits down with Irina Scarlat, a seasoned growth leader who helped scale some of Europe’s most disruptive companies including Uber, Revolut, and Bitpanda. Today she is CMO at Improbable and a growth advisor to fast-growing tech companies.Irina has spent her career building and optimizing growth engines—from launching global brands in new markets to designing scalable acquisition and retention systems. In this conversation, she breaks down the principles, frameworks, and mindset behind sustainable growth.A central theme of the episode is Irina’s definition of growth: a scientific process of problem solving. Growth, she explains, sits at the intersection of product, marketing, and data—and successful teams treat it as a structured, iterative discipline rather than a creative guessing game.Luke and Irina explore how to diagnose growth challenges by analyzing the full funnel—from acquisition and conversion to retention and monetization—and why understanding the root cause of a problem is essential before trying to fix it.They also dive into one of the most overlooked concepts in growth: product–channel fit. Even great products fail to scale if they rely on the wrong channels at the wrong stage. Irina explains how companies should prioritize owned channels first, then earned, and only later paid channels, once product-market fit and traction are clear.Another key lesson: growth rarely comes from dozens of channels working at once. Instead, the most successful companies focus on a few channels that work exceptionally well, then expand as the product and market mature.Irina also shares tactical examples from her time at Uber and Revolut, including early-stage strategies that many companies overlook today. These include “things that don’t scale”—such as community meetups, user dinners, and direct engagement with early customers. While these tactics aren’t scalable long term, they often create the foundation for word-of-mouth, network effects, and exponential growth.Beyond tactics, the episode explores what separates good growth teams from great ones. Irina discusses how she builds high-performing teams and why talent density, ownership, curiosity, and resilience matter more than specific skills.Finally, the conversation turns to a topic rarely discussed in growth: discipline. According to Irina, consistent execution and the willingness to show up—even when it’s hard—are often the real difference between success and failure.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why growth is fundamentally a scientific problem-solving processHow to diagnose growth challenges across the entire funnelThe importance of product–channel fit and choosing the right channels at the right stageWhy most companies succeed with only a few high-performing channelsHow early-stage tactics that don’t scale can unlock massive growth laterThe difference between a channel problem and an execution problemHow to build and lead high-performing growth teamsWhy discipline and consistency are underrated growth advantagesIf you’re building a startup, leading marketing, or trying to unlock new growth levers in your business, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone who has scaled some of the most iconic fintech and mobility brands in the world.Enjoy the conversation.
September 3, 202526 min
#42 Redefining Commercial Strategy: Smart Growth Without Big4 BS with John James
In this episode, I’m joined by John James—a global commercial strategist and founder of Hybrency. John’s helped companies across 50+ sectors grow smarter by fixing the overlooked fundamentals of commercial strategy.In this episode, we unpack what commercial strategy really means, why so many teams get it wrong, and how independent advisors like John are reshaping the future of consulting. John, welcome to the show!
August 28, 2025Episode 4132 min
#41 Retail’s Blindspots: Innovation, Technology & The Future of Commerce with Carl Boutet
In this episode of Fixing the Game, global retail strategist Carl Boutet joins me to unpack the hidden forces shaping the future of commerce. Drawing from his new book Blindspot and decades of international experience, Carl reveals what leaders still don’t see coming—from the real implications of AI and RFID to the broken business models retailers cling to.We explore:The biggest blind spots in modern retail strategyHow to spot meaningful innovation vs. hypeWhy tech alone won’t save your brand—and what culture and leadership need to changeCarl also shares the mindset and tools retailers of any size need to stay relevant, curious, and customer-obsessed in an accelerated world.
August 26, 2025Episode 4035 min
#40 Magento vs. Shopify - Ecommerce Platforms, Personas & AI: The Future According to Brent Peterson
In this episode, Luke talks to Brent Peterson, CEO of Content Cucumber and Magento expert, about the pros and cons of Magento versus Shopify, the importance of leveraging AI in e-commerce, and current trends shaping the industry. The discussion highlights Magento's speed and customization advantages, data ownership issues with SaaS platforms, the value of personalized and human-reviewed content, and the role of analytics in improving e-commerce strategies.Brent shares his views on the future of e-commerce, potential shifts towards AI-driven platforms, and the importance of choosing the right platform based on specific business needs.
June 19, 202527 min
#39 - Real-World CRO Tactics: Emotional Targeting & Conversion Wins with Talia Wolf
In this episode of Fixing the Game, I’m joined by Talia Wolf, CEO of Getuplift and creator of the Emotional Targeting Framework™. We skip the fluff and dive straight into practical, high-converting strategies you can use today: emotional copy that works, landing page fixes, CTA tweaks, and tools Talia actually uses.Plus, we spotlight her just-released book on Emotional Targeting, designed to help marketers turn browsers into buyers through deeper customer understanding.Whether you're in B2B, SaaS, or eCommerce, this one’s full of gold.
May 27, 202532 min
#38 - The Future of eCommerce: Lessons from Shopify & What’s Next with Dennis Yao Yu
In this episode, I’m joined by Dennis Yu, Co-Founder and CEO of The Other Group, a strategic advisor helping eCommerce brands go to market & scale. He’s a former Shopify leader who managed an $8B GMV portfolio and helped mid-market and enterprise merchants grow.In this episode, we’ll break down the fundamentals of eCommerce, how the industry has evolved, and what Dennis learned at Shopify that shapes his outlook on the future of eCommerce.
April 22, 2025Episode 3728 min
#37 Teams in Hell: Fixing Bad Management & Building High-Trust Teams with Hugo Pereira
In this episode, I sit down with Hugo Pereira author of Teams in Hell, to talk about what really breaks teams… and how to fix it.We dig into why modern leadership still borrows from outdated factory-era models, how goal-setting loops turn into traps, and the difference between reactive task-mode and meaningful progress. Hugo shares powerful mindset shifts and practical steps to rebuild clarity, trust, and adaptability within teams plus how deep work, simplified priorities, and team-wide ownership can completely shift performance.This episode is for anyone who’s leading a team (or in one!) and wants to create an environment where people do their best work without burning out or falling into micromanagement chaos.🔗 Connect with Hugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugosbpereira/
April 6, 2025Episode 3629 min
#36 The 3 Systems That Scale: How to Grow Without Burnout with Yasmine Khater
In this episode, I’m joined by Yasmine Khater who’s helped businesses generate over $100M in revenue without sacrificing wellbeing.We break down the three core systems every founder needs to scale to 7-figures: a streamlined sales engine, tested marketing that drives ROI, and a hiring approach that supports intentional growth. But we go deeper Yasmine shares how unresolved emotional triggers often show up in how we run our businesses, and what to do about it. You’ll hear real stories, practical insights, and a powerful reminder that the founder’s mindset is the business model.If you're stuck in hustle mode or scaling in a way that doesn't align with your life, this conversation is your permission slip to build a business that works for you not the other way around.🎥 Watch the Free Masterclass – How to Add 6 to 7 Figures: https://www.iamabsolutelysmooth.com/profits 📞 Book a 25-Min Growth Audit Call: https://www.iamabsolutelysmooth.com/audit 🔗 Connect with Yasmine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmine-khater/
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