Scaling Smarter With AI and Direct Mail With Ernest Tavares III
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Ernest Tavares III, Founder of First Step Growth, to discuss scaling smarter using AI, paid media, and direct mail. They explore why signal quality beats segmentation, how to use direct mail for retargeting, and what makes AI tools a secret weapon for lean teams. Ernest also shares tips for measuring performance with ROI-focused metrics.
Connecting the Dots: Turning Insights Into Scalable Strategies With Brad Schlachter
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Brad Schlachter, Founder and CMO at Rise Business Ventures, to talk about turning insights into scalable marketing strategies. Brad shares how to build alignment across the full funnel, why pricing tests can unlock growth, and the overlooked power of emotional brand storytelling. He also gives advice on building trust to implement data-backed decisions.
Balancing Strategy and Execution To Drive Sustainable Marketing Growth With Michael Baer
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Michael Baer, Fractional and Interim Chief Marketing Officer at TechCXO, to talk about how aligning strategy and execution leads to smarter marketing growth. They discuss why startups often confuse activity with progress, how to build cohesive brand experiences, and what it takes to make direct mail truly effective. Michael also shares how AI is accelerating execution and what that means for marketers today.
Building Smarter Marketing Systems Through Technology and Data With Dave Scott
In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe is joined by Dave Scott, Founder and CEO of Evil Genius Games, to discuss building smarter marketing systems through technology and data. They explore how marketing leaders manage complex tech stacks, why AI will transform custom tool development, and how shared metrics unify marketing and sales. Dave also shares advice on balancing data with creative intuition in campaign strategy.
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.
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.