Few people embody “audience-first” and “leading expert” like Brian Clark. In this conversation, the Copyblogger founder (now building Further and Leading Expert) traces how trust-driven publishing beat ads and algorithms then—and why it still wins now. He, Curtis and Tom get into building on owned land (email > everything), testing offers with lean content, and pairing lived expertise with AI without losing your voice. If you’re a Gen-X creator, consultant, or founder trying to grow in an algorithmic world, this one’s a playbook.

N.B.:

• Learn more at further.net and leadingexpert.com.

• Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.

Takeaways:

• Build the audience first, then design the product around validated pain points of that audience.

• Treat social as discovery; make email your home base and asset.

• You don’t need a massive audience—just a trusted one.

• Use “lean content” to iterate: publish → observe → refine → ship.

• Let AI amplify your ideas and delivery, not replace your voice.

• Speak to a specific someone (repel to attract); shared identity builds trust.

• Midlife is a growth edge: seasoned expertise + AI + ownership = leverage.

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!

Few guests fit more naturally into the fading remnants of Season 2 of Bullhorns and Bullseyes than Kristian A. Alomá, PhD, founder and CEO of Threadline and author of Start with the Story: Brand-Building in a Narrative Economy. Kristian joins Tom and Curtis to unpack why consumers use brands to tell stories about identity, not just satisfy needs. He explains his Brand STORY Framework, the psychology behind loyalty, and how narrative thinking can turn research data into human insight. From Apple fandom to Calgon nostalgia, this conversation connects marketing, meaning, and the stories we tell ourselves.

N.B.:

• Learn more at threadline.com and kristianaloma.com.Connect with Kristian on LinkedIn.

Takeaways:

• Stories drive behavior. People buy symbols of who they are, not just products.

• Brand ≠ marketing. Branding is the relationship you create; marketing lives within it.

• The STORY Framework: Struggle → Tool → Objective → Reward → Yearning—the arc every brand narrative needs.

• Make your customer the hero. If you claim hero status, they’ll find another story.

• Empathy > data. Great research listens for emotion; story gives the numbers meaning.

• Honor your own story. A brand’s legacy proves it’s earned the right to tell today’s story.

• Think in lifetimes, not quarters. Narrative strategy builds loyalty that compounds.

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!

In this episode, Tom and Curtis welcome Jesse Flores, Founder and Chief Web Pro at SuperWebPros, for a wide-ranging conversation on the fast-moving world of AI. From his first “this is different” moment with ChatGPT to the rise of personalized, conversational websites and open-source tools that let small teams punch above their weight, Jesse offers a front-row look at how AI is transforming business today—and where it’s headed next.

N.B.:

• See Jesse’s work at superwebpros.com

• Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn

Takeaways:

• AI’s rapid growth in the past 18–24 months is unlike any prior tech shift—driven by compounding data and accessibility.

• The “aha moment” wasn’t just ChatGPT—it was when models could connect via APIs, powering real business workflows.

• Browsers and websites are moving toward personalized, agentic experiences, where every visitor gets a unique conversation.

• Model Context Protocols (MCPs) are the plumbing that allow AI agents to connect to tools, CRMs, and data.

• Open-source tools like LibreChat and n8n are enabling lean teams to do what once required enterprise resources.

• Success with AI depends on clean, structured data and aligning agents with your brand voice.

• Expect the near future to blend “pageants” (pages as agents), conversational lead magnets, and AI product guides—transforming websites into dynamic, brand-personalized conversations.

• Looking ahead 12–24 months: AI agents will increasingly network with each other to handle real-world tasks (like booking a repair service) automatically.

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!