Welcome to the Response Drivers podcast, where leading marketing minds share inspiring stories and big ideas to boost your results and drive sales.
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Featured Episode
Growth Strategies and Tools To Scale Early-Stage Startups
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Andrew Lee Miller, Founder of GrowthExpertz, to talk about growth strategies and tools to scale early-stage startups. Andrew shares how to test marketing channels without a large budget, why organic growth outperforms paid ads early on, and the key elements of a high-converting marketing foundation. Andrew also gives advice on using AI and fractional teams to drive results efficiently.
Past Episodes
Growth Strategies and Tools To Scale Early-Stage Startups
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Andrew Lee Miller, Founder of GrowthExpertz, to talk about growth strategies and tools to scale early-stage startups. Andrew shares how to test marketing channels without a large budget, why organic growth outperforms paid ads early on, and the key elements of a high-converting marketing foundation. Andrew also gives advice on using AI and fractional teams to drive results efficiently.
Why Clarity and Customer Insight Drive Scalable Startup Marketing With Maria Botta
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, Rick Rappe sits down with marketing strategist and fractional Chief Marketing Officer Maria Botta to talk about clarity, customer research, and startup marketing that actually works. They discuss how to validate ideas through interviews, why emotional connection beats feature lists, and how to balance bold vision with executable strategy. Maria also shares how founders can avoid stalling by prioritizing the right marketing leadership early.
How Purpose-Driven Storytelling Builds Brands That Inspire and Scale With Christopher Erkelens
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, Rick Rappe is joined by Christopher Erkelens, Founder and Chief Storyteller at Marketing Impact, to discuss how purpose-driven storytelling helps brands inspire and scale. They explore why emotion beats logic in marketing, how AI can enhance — but not replace — human creativity, and what makes long-form storytelling so effective in direct mail. Christopher also shares practical advice for crafting a brand voice that truly connects.
Making Marketing More Human-Centered, Strategic, and Effective With Sarah Oyungu
In this episode of the Response Drivers Podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Sarah Oyungu, Principal Alchemist and Founder of The MRKTing Alchemist, to talk about building strategic, human-centered marketing that resonates. They dive into audience-first thinking, avoiding the “spray and pray” trap, and how to align messaging with human motivation. Sarah also shares how AI and direct mail fit into a modern marketer’s toolkit.
Using DRTV To Build Billion-Dollar Brands With Rick Cesari
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Rick Cesari, Chief Marketing Officer at Direct Branding, to discuss using DRTV to build billion-dollar brands. They explore how to transform product features into benefits, why educating consumers boosts sales, and the role of storytelling in direct response campaigns. Rick also shares insights on adapting direct response principles to today’s digital platforms.
The Neuroscience of Direct Mail and Human+AI Teaming with Russell Kern
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Russell Kern, Founder and CEO of Kern and Partners, to discuss the neuroscience behind direct mail and the role of Human+AI collaboration in modern marketing. They explore why physical mail is making a comeback, how to blend creativity with data, and ways to improve strategic thinking using AI. Russell also shares his approach to building unbeatable, high-performing teams.
Building a Global B2B Marketing Powerhouse with Mike Kichline
Mike Kichline was the CEO and Co-founder of Yesler, Inc., a global B2B marketing agency offering services such as content marketing, marketing automation, sales enablement, and analytics. Under his leadership, Yesler expanded to over 350 employees across 14 countries, serving prominent clients including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. In 2020, Accenture acquired Yesler, integrating its capabilities into Accenture’s broader marketing services. Post-acquisition, Mike continues to contribute his expertise as a strategic advisor in the business services sector.
Digital Overload (And How to Break Through!)
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Josh Gold, Vice President of Client Services at RPM Direct Marketing, to talk about how direct mail can break through digital overload. They explore why consumers trust print more than pixels, how targeting and testing improve ROI, and why physical engagement still matters. Josh also shares how to turn direct mail into a predictable, high-performing sales channel.
Why Direct Mail Still Works in a Digital World with Rick Rappe
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, Rick Rappe, President and Owner of RPM Direct Marketing, is interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25 to discuss why direct mail continues to thrive in a digital landscape. He explains how direct mail offers a level of trust and engagement that digital channels often lack, the role of data in optimizing campaigns, and why businesses are reinvesting in this strategy.