Welcome to the world’s most entertaining marketing podcast.

Note: Beginning in 2026, The Marketing Companion has a new owner and host, Sandy Carter. The podcast will continue to offer the brightest ideas in marketing today and will remain on the same site where you enjoy podcasts today. New episodes of the podcast are available on Sandy’s website.

The archive of past shows hosted by Mark Schaefer over nearly 13 years will remain here.

Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized marketing author, futurist, college educator, consultant, and keynote speaker. Every other week, Mark brings one of his “marketing companions” alongside him to do a deep dive into the trends of today that forge the marketing innovations of tomorrow.

The Marketing Companion –among the top 1 percent of all podcasts on iTunes — is always fun, always interesting, and always on-target with insights and ideas that will turn up your marketing intellect to an “11.” Find a topic in the guide below or push one of the subscribe buttons to get episodes delivered free to your email account every other week.

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Reviews

Could not be better, two intriguing and thought-provoking minds who possess the perfect balance of intellect and entertainment – Rany Bowden

The marketing podcast equivalent of a Snicker’s bar wrapped in bacon. Satisfying, intreating, and leaves you wanting more. – Rosemary O’Neil

Mark & Tom live up to the podcasting holy trinity: educate/inform/entertain – Jamie Wallace

What’s a pod cast? – Mark’s mother?

Wide Range of AI Signals Will Determine Purchasing Recommendations

Millions of people are turning to AI to help them make purchasing decisions. AI is becoming the customer we need to reach and to do that, we will turn to AI Signals.

Attention Economy 2.0 and the Impact on Marketing

The attention economy was already fractured but now it's being warped by AI. How do we adjust our marketing strategies in this environment?

Building a simple AI assistant can transform your business now

Mark Schaefer and Dana Malstaff discuss how a simple AI assistant can serve customers, build a business, act as a growth coach, and even help you keep your sanity.

The AI Challenge Marketers Aren’t Talking About

Futurist Mathew Sweezey challenges us with new marketing realities. The AI challenge is not technical. It's human adaption to speed and the new "brand brain."

When to compromise with content

Digital marketing is a game and we have to weigh the benefits when we bow to the algorithms. When do we compromise with content and let the search engines win?

The curse of authenticity

It seems that every marketing leader pontificates about being real and human but there is also a curse of authenticity. Is it realistic to expect a person or a brand to be authentic in this hyper-sensitive world?

New research points to the emerging “AI Frontier Firm”

Microsoft predicts that a new type of enterprise is emerging, enabled by AI. On this episode of The Marketing Companion podcast, Mark Schaefer and Andy Crestodina discuss the frontier firm.

How to be an AI Forward company

In this Marketing Companion episode, Mark Schaefer and Paul Roetzer discuss how to bring AI into an organization without leaving the people behind.