Is Anything Real In Paid Advertising?
Is Anything Real In Paid Advertising?
Podcast Description
"Is Anything Real in Paid Advertising?" is the show where agency founders, marketers, and skeptics unpack what’s actually working, and what’s just noise.
Hosted by Adam W. Barney (author, strategist, and energy coach with $100M+ in ad experience), this no-fluff, 20-minute video podcast dives into the tactics, tools, and truths shaping modern agency growth.
Each episode is a co-hosted conversation - unfiltered, spicy, and built for anyone tired of the same recycled playbooks.
🎯 Running a $250K–$5M agency? Join the mastermind: https://quickclick.com/r/cgat5uvqcd0zfa1c79ic2ca3u7gbzo
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes such as the impact of AI on creativity, effective use of podcasting for lead generation, the realities of AI-driven marketing campaigns, and the importance of human involvement in automated systems. Notable episodes include discussions about the limitations of AI visuals and the importance of personalizing marketing tactics.
Is Anything Real? is the Reality-First Leadership podcast for builder-leaders who want outcomes, not optics. Each week, Adam W. Barney sits down with founders and operators to unpack positioning, marketing, community, energy management, and influence – plus the numbers behind what actually worked.
You’ll hear: a quick Reality Check, a practical Proof Stack (inputs → actions → outcomes), and one EnergyOS habit you can run this week. Specifics over slogans; humane systems over hustle cosplay.
New episodes every Wednesday at 12:00 PM ET.
👉 Book your 20-min Exploration Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/explorationplugin-20min
Most people talk about brand from the neck up: strategy, tactics, frameworks.
Alexander Michael Gittens talks about brand from the soul: identity, humanity, equity, belonging…and the kind of leadership that actually holds up under pressure.
This episode is for founders, leaders, and creators who feel the quiet tension of modern business:
“How do I grow without becoming someone I don’t respect?”
Alexander brings a rare outsider-insider lens (Caribbean roots, Canadian upbringing, lived experience across cultures) and uses it to cut through the “us vs. them” nonsense and get to what actually moves people: connection, context, and character.
In this episode, we get real about:
- Why influence starts with identity, not expertise…and why the next decade belongs to people who can hold space for truth and humanity, not just “be loud online.”
- The “legacy test”: before you sell anything, ask whether you’re okay with your entire legacy being based on the quality of that output. (Yes, this one hits.)
- Allyship as a series of choices (not a stance), rooted in real conversations and origin stories, not performative labels.
- Why the fastest way to “vanquish your enemy” is…get to know them (and what that reveals about privilege, meritocracy myths, and entitlement).
- The gut-punch closer: what good is “getting everything you ever wanted” if you lose you – the real you?
Resources mentioned:
- Alexander’s work + essays: alexandermichaelgittens.com
- Rupert Rodney (company): connect via Alexander on LinkedIn
- Video essay: “Higher Profit” (search “Higher Profit Rupert Rodney”/“Higher Profit Alexander Michael Gittens” on YouTube)
Want to build your leadership + energy like it actually matters?
Book a Transition Leadership Foundation Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/foundation-call-20min
Disclaimer
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