Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast with Jason Swenk
Bi-weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your marketing agency the smart way.
The popular agency podcast has just turned 10 years old and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency.
#1 Agency Leadership Podcast. Check Out Our Past Guests.
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Seth Godin
Best selling Author of Purple Cow, This is Marketing, Linchpin, Permission Marketing
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Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and former Apple chief evangelist
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Gino Wickman
The creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and author of Traction.
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Neil Patel
Founder of CrazyEgg, Kissmetrics, and other multimillion dollar companies
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![Uri Levine]()
Uri Levine
Co-founder of Waze
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Joey Coleman
Recognized for his expertise in customer retention & enhancing client loyalty
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Mike Michaelowicz
Best-selling author of Profit First and Clock Work
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Amy Porterfield
Renowned online marketing expert and educator
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Pat Flynn
The leaders in the podcast space
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Jay Baer
Best Selling author of Talk Triggers, Hug Your Haters, and one of the best speakers
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Todd Herman
Coach to Elite pro athletes, leaders, and public figures
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Dan Martell
Author of Buy Back Your Time. Influential coach in SaaS startups.
How AI Is Changing SEO: What Every Agency Owner Needs to Know with Vishal Mahida | Ep #853
How are you preparing your clients to start thinking about AI as part of their SEO strategy? Are you educating them on what they can expect now that the landscape is changing with AI optimization? As an agency you should be starting these conversations because you can be sure your clients are already thinking about AI, even if they still don’t understand it’s applications for how clients will get to their content.
Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how people find information, it’s rewriting the rules of search altogether. Today’s featured guest is already running AI audits for his clients, he thinks all agency owners should be doing this. He’ll unpack what AI optimization really means for agencies, marketers, and business owners who’ve lived and breathed SEO for decades.
Future-Proof Your Agency Through Innovation and Outstanding Leadership with Ben Gaddis | Ep #852
Is innovation truly at the center of your agency operates - not just what you offer clients, but in how. you operate? With AI raising expectations faster than most agencies can adapt, investing in innovation isn’t optional anymore. It’s how you build client trust, stay ahead of disruption, and keep your edge.
Today’s featured guest unpacks his journey from leading the award-winning agency T3 to launching Superstep Capital, a private equity firm investing exclusively in agency and technology-service businesses. His insights cut through the noise on innovation, leadership, and how to stay ahead of the next big shift.
From Chaos to Clarity: Agency Growth Through Operational Maturity with Harv Nagra | Ep #851
Would you say your agency is truly profitable? Take a closer look and assess its structure, systems, and tools through the lens of business maturity. You may find you’re still in the chaos structure and in need of structure and vision.
Running an agency often starts with passion and talent, but keeping it running smoothly takes systems, leadership, and a strong operational backbone. This operational maturity doesn’t happen overnight. As today’s featured guest knows well, it’s a process of reflection, restructuring, and relentless improvement.
How to Scale Your Agency with Smart Acquisitions (and the Courage to Say “No”) with Gilad Bechar | Ep #850
How would you go about making acquisitions to accelerate your growth? Would you buy for revenue, culture fit, client roster? Would you be willing to fire big clients that are holding your agency back? Most agency owners chase growth by saying “yes” to everything, from new services, new clients, and new shiny opportunities. Today’s featured guest built one of the fastest-growing mobile and digital agencies in the world by focusing narrowly, firing bad-fit clients, and mastering the art of strategic acquisitions. Today he’ll unpack how his agency evolved from a small mobile startup in Tel Aviv to a global digital powerhouse working with brands like Google, Uber, Samsung, and Microsoft.
Most Agencies Don’t Last 10 Years — This One Made it Over 75 with Jennifer Spire | Ep #849
How are the new technologies and tools shaping the future of agencies? How can you create an agency that outlasts trends? When you’ve been around for 75 years in the ad world, you’ve seen it all, from Mad Men, media buying by fax, the rise of the internet, and now, AI. Today’s featured guest runs an agency that has been doing full-service marketing since 1950. What’s impressive isn’t just their longevity but also how they’ve stayed relevant and human in a business that changes faster than a TikTok trend.
How Niching Down Helped This Agency Scale Smarter with Tyler Smith | Ep #848
Ever wonder how much your agency’s growth is limited by staying too broad? Or what could happen if you picked one niche and went all in? Today’s featured guest didn’t set out to run a food service marketing agency; He just followed the opportunities, learned from a few “door-to-door” lessons, and eventually found the power in focus.
He’ll share how niching down, rebranding, and embracing flexibility helped him grow his agency into a specialized agency serving some of the biggest names in food service and the ways in which he and his team worked to position his agency.
How to Stop Fake Profit From Fooling You: Agency Finance Secrets With Lacie Edgeman | Ep #847
Ever looked at your agency’s bank account and thought, “We’re crushing it!” only to realize two months later that half that cash wasn’t really yours yet? Or maybe you’ve hit that milestone where you start wondering what your agency might be worth if you sold it tomorrow… but your books are a confusing mix of guesses and gut feelings. Today's featured guest was a finance expert before falling in love with the agency world and has the knowledge to help us unpack how smart financial planning, not just more clients, can completely change your agency’s future. From forecasting and cash flow to the hard truths about selling, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons every agency owner needs to hear.
How to Protect Your Agency from a Lawsuit or Hack (Before It’s Too Late) With Draye Redfern | Ep #846
What would happen if one client lawsuit, one hacked account, or one missed renewal completely wiped out your agency? Have you ever stopped to think about how exposed your business really is even if you’re “doing everything right” Today's featured guest started his career working in the insurance and eventually found a love for marketing. He talks about the side of agency life most people ignore: protecting what you’ve built, and breaks down how to safeguard your business with the right insurance, why every agency should have cyber liability coverage, and how a “give first” mindset has helped him land major clients like Damon John, Chris Voss, and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.
Why Most Brand Podcasts Fail and How to Create One That Succeeds With Roger Nairn | Ep #845
Ever wonder why some brand podcasts blow up while others die after five episodes? Or why a few companies seem to build die-hard fans while other can’t seem to connect? Today’s guest specializes in helping brands create podcasts that bring true value. He’ll talk about how brands can use podcasting to build real connection, not just rack up downloads. From breaking up with the traditional ad world to creating top-ranked shows for global brands and why consistency, authenticity, and a bit of weirdness might be your secret weapons.
Why Agency Leaders Should Coach, Not Manage with Kriston Sellier | Ep #844
What do you do when your career takes an unexpected left turn? And how do you know when it’s time to stop hustling like a freelancer and start leading like a CEO? Today’s featured guest found herself in that situation and made the bold choice to go from career misstep to becoming an agency owner. She'll dive into what it really takes to go from a one-woman shop in a basement with dial-up internet to leading a team with vision, systems, and staying power. From handwritten letters that landed a 15% close rate, to breaking free from client dependency, to leveraging AI without losing the human touch, she shares the hard-earned lessons every agency owner needs to hear.
About the Show
The popular agency podcast has been around since 2014 and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency. What makes this podcast a must-listen is Swenk’s background as the founder and CEO of an agency for over a decade. Swenk brings his own experience to the table, besides the expertise of his guests. He mostly covers topics that help growing agencies scale to the next level.
YOUR HOST
JASON SWENK
Smart Agency Masterclass
Jason is a family man who also happens to have created a couple big marketing agencies, helped thousands of agency owners, and had a big agency exit too.
