An Agency Story Podcast

Listen to first hand interviews of creative, digital, advertising, and marketing agency owners that have walked the talk of running an agency business.  These are riveting stories of the thrill of starting up, hardships faced, and the keys to a successful business from agency owners around the world.

Latest Episode

Text: Special Episode: Do 80% of Agency Goals Fail Before February - An Agency Story Hosted by Russel Dubree Picture of Russel Dubree - white male, short brown hair, black shirt on blue background
Summary: Struggling to hit your agency goals? Learn the biggest mistakes, how to reverse-engineer success, and set goals you’ll actually achieve without losing momentum.
Episode graphic for "An Agency Story" podcast with Nora Schlesinger - title The Hard Truths About Transitioning Out of Founder Led Sales - Hosted by Russel Dubree - picture of Nora smiling in the lower right corner.
Summary: Nora Schlesinger, CEO of Growth Machine, shares her unique journey to agency ownership. What’s surprising? Nora didn’t start the business—she took over when the Founder stepped away, proving leadership is about stepping up when the opportunity arises, not just building from scratch. From her unexpected career path in the music industry to becoming the first full-time hire at a startup with no website, Nora’s story is full of surprising twists. Tune in as she reveals the challenges of inheriting a business, the nightmare of rebuilding a sales process, and the balance of trust in a partnership.
Episode graphic for "An Agency Story" podcast with Kevin Watkins - title Exploration - Hosted by Russel Dubree - picture of Kevin smiling in the lower right corner.
Summary: Kevin Watkins, Founder of Fare•well, takes us through his journey from side hustle to agency leader during one of the most uncertain times in modern history. In this episode, Kevin shares how his methodical, system-first approach helped build a successful agency focused on websites for community-driven organizations. Tune in for insights on risk, resilience, and the power of embracing constant evolution in business.
Episode graphic for "An Agency Story" podcast with Vin Thomas - title Reputation - Hosted by Russel Dubree - picture of Vin smiling in the lower right corner.
Summary: Vin Thomas, founder of Fixel, shares his journey from creative beginnings to leading a niche-focused agency specializing in cybersecurity. Discover how intentional team building, strong client relationships, and a commitment to expertise have propelled Fixel’s success. Tune in for valuable lessons on growing an agency with purpose and precision.
Episode graphic for "An Agency Story" podcast with Hans Skillrud - title Pesky Privacy Policies Simplified: The Easy Path to Compliance - Hosted by Russel Dubree - picture of Hans smiling in the lower right corner.
Summary: Hans faced a tough call when he decided to sell his agency and concentrate on building out Termageddon. He discussed the challenges that agencies face in keeping up with privacy policies and how Termageddon simplifies the process by providing up-to-date policies that can be easily implemented.
Episode graphic for "An Agency Story" podcast with Mark Labriola II - title Faith - Hosted by Russel Dubree - picture of Mark smiling in the lower right corner.
Summary: From musician to agency owner, Mark Labriola II’s journey is a testament to resilience and reinvention. In this episode, he shares how a layoff became the turning point for building Brand Viva Media, a podcast and video content agency that thrives on making “boring” beautiful. Discover Mark’s unique approach to entrepreneurship, the power of relationships, and why he believes every challenge is an opportunity in disguise.
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