Kathryn Rose didn’t set out to build a movement—she just wanted to help her friends in channel marketing survive the chaos. Fast forward a year and the Channel Marketing Association is one of the fastest-growing, most energized communities in the space. In this episode, Kathryn dishes with Rick about how it all came together: the scrappy beginnings, the “holy crap” webinar moment, and what it really takes to build a community that works.


You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories from their intimate events, how they’re tackling channel marketing’s biggest headaches (hello, MDF!), and why they built custom AI tools for marketers, not instead of them. It’s tactical, honest, and packed with the kind of wisdom you only get from people who’ve done the work.

In this energizing episode, Rick Currier welcomes Hondo Lewis—newly minted President and Co-founder of PartnerVista—for a raw and inspiring conversation about risk, reinvention, and building for impact in the world of partner marketing. From his early days hustling in local print advertising to leading sales at IDG and launching his own consultancy, Hondo shares the winding road that led him to co-create a partner marketing startup with soul.

Together, they dive into why partner marketers are the unsung heroes of B2B tech, how AI can bring leads closer to close, and what most publishers still get wrong about ecosystems. Hondo opens up about betting on himself, modeling courage for his kids, and why community—not just conversion—is at the core of PartnerVista’s mission.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to leave a cushy corporate gig to chase purpose—or how to actually support sales with AI and strategic partnerships—this one’s for you.

Mud water, Mos Def lyrics, and a little startup adrenaline included.

Christina Carstensen—founder of AEGA and longtime partner marketing pro—joins Rick from a sweltering London to talk content that works, campaigns that scale, and why most agencies still don’t get partner marketing. They unpack what makes this space so different, how to turn a single white paper into an ecosystem of pipeline-driving assets, and why a quarterly budget doesn’t have to mean tactical chaos. If you're tired of logo swaps and one-and-done webinars, this episode is your blueprint for building smarter, more strategic GTM with your partners.

What do BANT, Brussels sprouts, and broken nurture streams have in common? According to Matt Levine of LeadScale, they’ve all gotten a bad rap—but the real problem isn’t the ingredients, it’s the recipe. In this lively episode recorded in Santa Cruz, Rick Currier and Matt dive into the evolving world of B2B lead gen: what’s broken, what’s working, and why transparency, data fluency, and a little back-to-basics thinking might just save us all. From fighting black-hole lead handoffs to spotting shady syndication, this is a must-listen for any marketer trying to make demand gen less murky—and more magical.

Mike Mahoney of Tanium joins Rick to break down the art (and grind) of partner marketing at scale. From co-building GTM plans that don’t gather dust, to aligning sales teams that usually just toss leads over the fence, Mike shares how he juggles product, partner, and field enablement—while still finding time to unplug on his sailboat. Plus, a real talk on AI, content budgets, and why your next big partnership probably won’t scale without serious structure. This one’s for the overworked marketer doing too much… across too many teams.

In this heartfelt and high-impact episode, Rick Currier sits down with Carilu Contreras-Melander, Senior Director of Americas Partner Marketing at Zscaler, to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity, courage, and empathy in today’s tech world. From Buenos Aires during political unrest to the boardrooms of AppDynamics, AWS, and Zscaler, Carilu shares her remarkable journey through partner marketing, leadership challenges, and breaking barriers as a Latina in tech.
Together, they dive into the uncomfortable truths around workplace bias, mentorship gaps, and what it takes to build a truly equitable team culture. Expect real stories, honest insights, and practical advice for anyone looking to advocate for others, lead with empathy, or simply find the right room where they can thrive.
Oh - and a dog named Winston may or may not make his podcast debut.

AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the next frontier of business transformation. In this episode, Rick Currier welcomes Shawn Mills, CEO of Pisteo, for a refreshingly real and deeply insightful conversation on how AI is actually being adopted inside today’s organizations.
Shawn shares war stories from the field—how he’s helping companies cut decision cycles from days to minutes, why leadership buy-in is finally catching up to grassroots AI experiments, and what it takes to get marketers closer to close in a lead-to-revenue world. From personal productivity hacks and low-code automation to one-to-one personalization at scale, this episode breaks down how to move fast without boiling the ocean.
Whether you're AI-curious or already automating your workflows, you'll walk away with strategic frameworks, practical advice, and some hard-earned lessons from the trenches. Plus, hear why saying “please” to AI might just save your future robot life.

What happens when a seasoned partner marketer leaves the safety of full-time roles to dive into the wild world of fractional leadership? In this candid, zero-prep conversation, we catch up with Angela Salerno over a glass of Chardonnay to unpack the mindset, motivation, and meaning behind her leap into consulting. From partner-first philosophies to the magic of community, from networking secrets to embracing the unknown—this episode is a masterclass in navigating career pivots with humor, heart, and hard-earned insight. Whether you're thinking about freelancing, leading with purpose, or just want to feel less alone in your GTM journey, this one’s for you.