In the final episode of Season 2, Tom and Curtis look back on a year filled with heavyweight guests, big marketing themes, and unexpected insights. From the power of storytelling in a hyper-automated world to the challenges of attribution and algorithmic gatekeepers, they unpack the trends that shaped 2025…and explore what they’re betting on for 2026. They reflect on standout conversations with bestselling authors, agency leaders, and AI innovators, share personal anecdotes about content creation and audience building, and offer a candid, thoughtful look at what’s next for marketers in a fast-changing landscape.

Takeaways:

• Storytelling remains the most powerful differentiator in the age of AI—audiences stay to “see how the story ends.”

• Algorithms increasingly gatekeep audience access, forcing marketers to balance organic strategy with paid amplification.

• A look at AI driving the newest, latest digital advertising platforms and what it means for your campaigns going forward.

• AI literacy is now table stakes, but adding a human layer—empathy, perspective, originality—is what keeps content relevant.

• Long-form, immersive content consumption is resurging as people tire of mindless scrolling.

• Brands should prioritize owning their audience—newsletters, communities, and direct channels—to future-proof against platform shifts.

• The PESO model, attribution challenges, and algorithmic “math” all continue to influence how campaigns perform and how marketers plan.

• SNEAK PREVIEW: Season 3 may include serialized educational mini-courses to help listeners build real skills over a structured series.

• And get ready for the Bullhorns and Bullseyes community!

Find and Follow:

• Find all episodes at bullhornsbullseyes.com.

• Follow the show on LinkedIn!

• Learn more about Collideascope and Creative Mill at their respective websites.

• Connect with Curtis and Tom on LinkedIn.

• Check out our newsletter, Amplify and Aim!

Tom and Curtis welcome back one of the show’s most frequent and beloved guests: Mario D'Aquila, COO of Assisted Living Home Care Services. Together, they unpack what’s changed since his last appearance, including lessons learned from Performance Max campaigns, the nuance of sending the right conversion signals, and the often-overlooked role of sales ops in marketing efficiency.

Then Mario opens the door to a deeper discussion on organizational dynamics through DISC profiling—how it informs hiring, management, sales, and even your website UX. It’s a wide-ranging, entertaining episode that connects storytelling, human behavior, and data-driven marketing into one cohesive playbook.

N.B.:

• Learn more at assistedlivingct.com and assistedlivingtechnologies.com.

• Connect with Mario on LinkedIn.

Takeaways:

• Fine-tuning marketing signals too narrowly can reduce lead volume—even if conversion rate rises.

• Real-time data sent back to platforms (Google, Meta) improves campaign learning—and protects budget utilization.

• Marketing wins should be counted at the moment a qualified lead enters the sales process, not only after sales qualifies it again.

• DISC profiling can dramatically improve internal communication, hiring, and operational harmony.

• Sales teams can use DISC cues to better read prospects and adapt communication on the fly.

• Marketing content must appeal to all DISC types—Ds want clarity, Cs want detail, Is want story, and Ss want reassurance.

• Growth requires both efficiency and volume; you can’t rely on algorithmic “sure things” alone.

Find and Follow:

• Find all episodes at bullhornsbullseyes.com.

• Follow the show on LinkedIn!

• Learn more about Collideascope and Creative Mill at their respective websites.

• Connect with Curtis and Tom on LinkedIn.

• Check out our newsletter, Amplify and Aim!

Most businesses still think “privacy compliance” is a big-company problem—but the rules (and risks) say otherwise. In this episode, Amy L. Baddley, privacy and cybersecurity associate at Varnum LLP, joins Curtis and Tom to unpack what data privacy really means for every business owner. From cookie banners and compliance thresholds to the myths around “template” privacy policies, this episode is your plain-English primer on doing privacy right—before regulators, lawsuits, or “privacy chasers” come knocking.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your website’s cookie notice is enough… this one’s for you.

N.B.:

• Learn more at VarnumLaw.com.

• Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Takeaways:

• Almost every website collects personal data—even IP addresses and analytics count.

• Cookie banners must actually work; “fake” ones can expose you to lawsuits.

• Avoid dark patterns—don’t make it easier to accept cookies than reject them.

• Privacy laws now exist in 19+ U.S. states, plus GDPR and Canada’s frameworks.

• Compliance isn’t optional: lawsuits and $20K-per-user settlements are real risks.

• Privacy compliance starts with data mapping—know what data you collect, where it goes, and who touches it.

• Privacy policies must match your real data practices; templates can increase risk.

• “Privacy by design” is cheaper and easier than fixing it later.

• Partnering with privacy counsel early protects your brand and unlocks new opportunities (many large vendors now require compliance).

• Consumers expect transparency—it’s not just legal hygiene, it’s a trust advantage.

Find and Follow:

• Find all episodes at bullhornsbullseyes.com.

• Follow the show on LinkedIn!

• Learn more about Collideascope and Creative Mill at their respective websites.

• Connect with Curtis and Tom on LinkedIn.

• Check out our newsletter, Amplify and Aim!