In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with Steve Fortunato, Founder and President of Shovel the Sidewalk, to unpack how brands can break through the noise by leading with authenticity, strong audio, and real human connection.

Steve shares why he intentionally works in the business instead of scaling away from client work, how unscripted conversations consistently outperform polished marketing content, and why audio is the most powerful (and overlooked) element of video storytelling. He also explains the philosophy behind “Shovel the Sidewalk” and how small details can make or break a brand. They explore humanizing brands across B2B and service industries, creating content that shows real people doing real work, balancing business growth with family priorities, and why authenticity is the antidote to AI-generated content.

Takeaways

• People connect with people, not products, humanizing your brand creates trust and differentiation in every industry.
• Audio quality and natural sound matter more than visual perfection when it comes to emotional connection.
• Unscripted conversations lead to more authentic, engaging content than rigidly planned messaging.
• Working hands-on in the business can drive better results and greater client satisfaction than scaling too early.
• Small brand details matter just as much as big campaigns, everything impacts perception.
• Being genuinely yourself won’t attract everyone, but it will attract the right audience.

Connect with Steve:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefortunato/
• Shovel the Sidewalk Company Website: https://shovelthesidewalk.com/
• Sidewalk Talk Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@sidewalktalkpodcast/featured

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409

In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with Mary Dunn, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Stratagess, to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable, high-performing marketing agency, without burning out your team or yourself.

Mary shares how she and her co-founder intentionally built a “small but mighty” agency made up of seasoned marketers, why they reversed the traditional agency growth model, and how prioritizing people, flexibility, and client fit has led to exceptional retention on both the client and employee side. The conversation dives into responsible growth, pricing with confidence, balancing work-life demands (especially as a working parent), and why scaling at all costs isn’t the only, or best, path to success.

Takeaways

• Building your team before pursuing new clients creates better outcomes, stronger retention, and less operational chaos.
• Matching experienced talent with clients who value quality work is a competitive advantage that fuels long-term success.
• “Responsible growth” focused on sustainability and retention often outperforms scale-at-all-costs strategies.
• Hiring strategic generalists with deep experience creates flexibility, reduces silos, and improves client service.
• Flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance are powerful retention tools, especially for senior talent and working parents.
• Staying partially involved in client work helps leaders make better strategic decisions and stay connected to their team’s reality.

Connect with Mary:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygreen2/
• Company Website: https://stratagess.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingAgencyPowerHour

In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with Taylor Adams, Co-Founder of The Creative Agency, to break down how influencer management is redefining modern marketing. Taylor shares how starting as a content creator herself led to an unexpected pivot from social media management to building a fast-growing talent agency.

The conversation explores how influencer marketing actually works, why brands are shifting budgets away from traditional advertising, and what it takes to scale an agency while protecting culture and avoiding burnout. Taylor also discusses the importance of listening to market signals, prioritizing communication, and building flexible opportunities for both creators and team members.

Takeaways:

• Following market demand instead of forcing a fixed business model creates faster, more sustainable growth.
• Personal experience can be a powerful competitive advantage when it directly informs how you serve clients.
• Influencer marketing is a cost-effective alternative to traditional advertising because creators handle production and audience engagement themselves.
• Treating creators like professionals through contracts, branding, and reliability unlocks greater monetization opportunities.
• Strong communication and culture are essential to scaling without burnout or sacrificing client satisfaction.

Connect with Taylor:

• Taylor:
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorcolemanadams/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorcolemanadams/
  • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorcolemanadams
• The Creative Agency:
  • Company Website: https://www.thecreativeagencyboston.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativeagencyhq/
  • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecreativeagencyhq

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingAgencyPowerHour