Go Fungal

Hosted by Matt Cornelison, Fungi Media

Business Marketing

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Aug 2026

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About the show

This podcast is for marketers, communicators and storytellers on a mission to make meaningful connections with their audience. Easier said than done. We talk about ways to do that and more...and we keep it fun.

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60 recent

August 11, 202619 min

Healthcare: AI's Role in Building Trust

As AI transforms healthcare, organizations face a growing challenge: how do you scale trusted expertise while addressing a global workforce shortage? Matt sits down with Leslie Marshall, Director of Marketing at neuRealities, to discuss building a healthcare technology brand from the ground up and using AI to transform training. Leslie shares how her experience at Morningstar shaped her approach to brand building. She also discusses the thinking behind the company’s brand launch and why content and video have become powerful tools for building credibility and supporting sales. What you'll learn in this episode: - What went into building the neuRealities brand - How AI can help scale training and expertise in Healthcare - Where video content can build trust and support sales - How to launch a brand from the ground up Check out Leslie on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieamarshall/

July 28, 202630 min

Build Your AI Content Machine Without AI Slop

AI is changing how buyers research, shortlist vendors, and validate decisions before ever reaching out to sales. Matt sits down with guest Gina Hortatsos, Chief Growth Officer at DefenseStorm, to unpack how her team built an AI-powered content machine without sacrificing authenticity, quality, or buyer relevance. Gina shares how DefenseStorm uses workflow architecture, buyer insights, subject matter experts, and human-in-the-loop review to create content at greater speed and scale. She explains why AI is not magic, why architecture matters, and how high-quality content can help brands show up in AI search while still sounding like real humans. What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why practical buyers are intolerant of generic “AI slop” - How DefenseStorm built a content workflow using Notion, Claude, and human review - Why architecture is the foundation of any effective AI content system - How AI search visibility and ICP website traffic improved after launching the process Check out Gina on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginahortatsos/

July 7, 202620 min

The 265-Day Sales Pipeline Leak: How To Scale Trust

In high-ticket B2B sales, your reps can’t be in the room every day. Matt sits down with guest Mani Oller, a corporate B2B marketing expert, to unpack how content helps brands stay top of mind, build trust, and support long sales cycles. Mani shares how marketers can move beyond generic messaging and reverse-engineer their content from the real business problem buyers are trying to solve. He explains why great B2B content proves performance before purchase, gives prospects a feel for what it’s like to work with you, and keeps competitors from getting a foot in the door. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why most B2B companies need to say more clearly what they actually do How to use the “five whys” to find the real buyer problem Why content scales trust when salespeople can’t physically be there How client stories can inspire buyers and accelerate the sales pipeline Check out Mani on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/manioller/

June 25, 202628 min

How To Learn From Your Competitors

As AI creates more noise than ever, business leaders are under pressure to move fast without chasing every shiny new tool. Matt sits down with guest Mark Rickmeier, CEO of TXI, to unpack how leaders can focus on the right problems before jumping to technology solutions. Mark shares how he spends his time building relationships, learning from competitors, and creating immersive communities that help leaders grow. He explains why the best use of technology starts with understanding real business challenges, especially for companies that move, make, or maintain things. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why leaders should focus on problems before solutions How Mark builds trust and community with competitors, clients, and peers How “cooperation” with competitors can create stronger businesses How TXI helps industrial companies find practical uses for data, AI, and intelligent products Why “speed to value” should replace “move fast and break things” Check out Mark on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrickmeier/

June 18, 202624 min

How To Fix Your Broken Brief

As AI reshapes how marketing teams work, the fundamentals matter more than ever. Matt sits down with guest Ann Hoeger, a fractional CMO and change management leader, to unpack why better briefs, clearer roles, and stronger agency relationships lead to better creative work. Ann shares what she has learned across CPG, B2B, private equity, innovation, and brand-building environments. She explains why great marketing starts with clarity: knowing your customer, defining success, assigning roles, and building enough trust to solve problems when the work gets messy. What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why a strong brief acts like a contract between a client and agency - How unclear roles create friction across teams and agency partners - Why “clarity is kindness” when managing multiple agencies or consultants - How AI is changing the briefing process and raising the bar for human judgment Check out Ann on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhoeger/

May 19, 202623 min

Journey from Heritage Brand to Viral Product Campaign

Brands are fighting harder than ever to break through a congested landscape. Matt sits down with guest Michael Shmarak to unpack how creative PR, timing, and human connection helped revive the historic Smith Brothers cough drop brand and turn it into a national retail success story. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes thinking that helped transform Smith Brothers from a forgotten legacy brand into a product carried in over 42,000 stores across the US and Canada. Michael explains how great marketing happens when brands tap into emotion, personality, and culture—not just product features. What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why personality and storytelling matter more than product specs in marketing - How Michael took a cultural moment from the Chicago Blackhawks and leveraged it into a success campaign. - Why human connection still beats technology when it comes to building trust and brand loyalty - Michael’s perspective on “moments-based marketing” and creating cultural relevance in real time Check out Michael on LinkedIn!

April 29, 202624 min

What Great Mentorship Actually Looks Like

As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, it’s also quietly changing how people learn to do the work in the first place. Matt sits down with Antonio Garcia to unpack a growing concern: AI may be accelerating output, but it’s also threatening the job experience that junior professionals need to advance. Drawing from his own experience, he breaks down what actually makes a great mentor, and how intentional guidance can be career defining. In an attempt to bridge the generational gap, Antonio has helped start a mentorship program, Strength in Numbers. It’s a Chicago based group focusing on senior professionals taking accountability for young people's progress. What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why AI may be limiting early-career, on-the-job learning opportunities - The key traits that separate good mentors from great ones - How mentorship can be the defining factor in a young professional's careers. Check out Antonio on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/amgarcia/ Don't forget to check out Strength in Numbers below. https://strengthinnumbers.cargo.site/

March 24, 202615 min

Breaking Through AI Noise: B2B Branding and Self-Service Ads with Steve Robinson

With the rise of AI tools changing how buyers research, traditional intent-based marketing like Google Ads is losing its edge. Matt travels to Milwaukee to sit down with guest Steve Robinson, a B2B marketing strategist. Steve discusses why B2B marketers need to return to fundamental branding and audience building to cut through the increasing noise of AI. To help marketing leaders adapt, Steve has developed Path3. This platform empowers B2B marketers to execute self-service advertising across multiple channels without needing deep technical expertise in each individual platform. What you'll learn in this episode: - Why B2B marketers must shift their focus from catching intent to building an audience. - How Path three allows marketers to push creative out to various platforms and pull metrics back in. - The growing importance of authentic social proof and a strong brand position in an AI-saturated world. Check out Steve on Linkedin! https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedrobinson/

March 19, 202624 min

A Futurist’s Approach to Storytelling

An effective way for your audience to make sense of what's new is to connect it to what's known. Today, Mike Bechtel is here to teach you techniques to tell better stories. In his work as a futurist, he helps companies understand what's new and next. His strategies include using silence, a three act structure and analogies to stop from just adding to the noise. Stick around to learn how to implement these into your own storytelling. Learn something new in this week's episode! Check out Mike on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebechtel/

February 24, 202622 min

How Agency Owners Get Unstuck

You’re a Founder who built your agency from the ground up. Congrats on getting this far! The bad news is, what helped you grow, isn’t going to help you scale. At this phase, it’s time to shift priorities, get clearer processes and delegate operations among your Senior people. If stagnancy and heavy workload is bogging you down, Isabelle Papoulias, Head of Operations and Marketing at EliteOps is here to help. With sharp experience as a COO, she’s bringing tips and tricks for getting yourself unstuck while generating lasting improvement with your team. This episode, expand your perspective! Check out Isabelle on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellepapoulias/