Success doesn’t come from chasing comfort, it comes from confronting yourself and choosing to grow anyway.

In this episode, I sit down with Brendan Hufford, former principal turned content strategist and founder of Growth Sprints. Brendan opens up about the lessons that shaped him, from growing up in a single-parent household and learning the value of drive, to finding balance between ambition, family, and self-awareness.

They talk about the discipline that comes from martial arts and CrossFit, the humility of parenting four boys, and how sobriety forced Brendan to face life with clarity and intention. Brendan shares what it means to trade rage for resilience, how writing became therapy, and why strength: physical, emotional, and creative, is only meaningful when it’s used to care for others.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Brendan's background in education

(02:33) From principal to content strategist

(08:47) Brendan's MMA and Jiu-Jitsu journey

(14:26) Balancing ambition and family life

(23:59) The chaos of raising boys

(24:46) Parenting challenges and reflections

(27:44) Teaching and learning psychology

(29:21) The world of online marketing

(31:42) The power of writing and journaling

(37:05) Rapid fire questions

Connect with my guest:

Brendan Hufford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhufford/

Explore Growth Sprints: https://growthsprints.co/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/
Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

"Being remarkable in marketing doesn’t mean playing it safe, it means standing out in a world that’s become too comfortable with bland."

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Singer, VP of Marketing at AdQuick, longtime digital thinker, and the writer behind Hot Takes on Substack. Adam opens up about his path through tech and marketing: from early days on FriendFeed to leading at Google, to now challenging how brands approach creativity and culture.

We talk about the dangers of marketing blandification, the balance between free speech and corporate identity, and how sobriety reshaped his persistence and clarity. Adam shares how hobbies like music became an anchor, why transcendence matters in a world of outrage culture, and what he’s learned about living with purpose instead of numbing.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(04:47) Navigating controversial opinions online

(12:19) The “blandification” of marketing

(14:11) Sobriety and persistence

(17:46) The impact of substance use on creativity

(19:49) Personal journey to sobriety

(21:14) Finding and valuing hobbies

(22:12) The importance of family and personal growth

(25:59) The role of transcendence in modern life

(31:29) Marketing narratives vs. real-world impact

Connect with my guest:

Adam Singer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsinger/

Explore AdQuick: https://www.adquick.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

"You have to live well to be productive and work well.”

In this episode, I chat with Joe Ciarallo, VP of Communications at Wellhub, as we talk about how balancing passions like music and fitness impacts mental well-being and work performance. Joe opens up about his career journey from Buddy Media to Salesforce and now WellHub, and how staying connected to music and exercise has been key to maintaining his mental health in high-pressure environments.

We discuss the importance of creating boundaries between work and personal life, the lessons he’s learned from fatherhood, and how music serves as a creative outlet and emotional reset. Joe shares his perspective on the benefits of routine, the impact of moving across the country, and why self-care practices can lead to a better, more sustainable work life.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:15) Music and fitness in daily life

(03:02) Career shifts: Buddy Media to Salesforce

(05:45) Boundaries in work and life

(08:30) Fatherhood, leadership, and growth

(11:00) East Coast to West Coast perspective shift

(14:50) Music as creative outlet and reset

(17:40) Routine, self-care, and mental health

(21:12) Fatherhood: Patience and self-awareness

Connect with my guest:

Joe Ciarallo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeciarallo/

Explore Wellhub: https://wellhub.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

"Just because you go to therapy doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you—it means you’re building tools to navigate life."

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Huber, VP of Marketing at UserEvidence, former hockey captain, and one of the most thoughtful voices in B2B. Mark opens up about the experiences that shaped him—from hiding his ADHD diagnosis to embracing therapy after personal and professional burnout.

We talk about how routine and team sports built grit, the pressure of competitive environments, and the silence around mental health at work. Mark shares the story of losing a close friend to suicide before college, how that grief changed his perspective, and why remembrance is key to healing.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Discovering ADHD and embracing it

(05:40) Daily routines and structure

(07:39) What hockey teaches you about grit

(13:20) The turning point that led to therapy

(18:18) Finding the right therapist

(19:40) Remembering a friend and honoring his legacy

(26:01) Grief, perspective, and personal growth

(29:21) Walking as escape, clarity, and creativity

Connect with my guest:

Mark Huber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehuber/

Explore UserEvidence: https://userevidence.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

“Brand is the one thing you can control to be different from the rest.”

In this episode, I sit down with Drew Brucker, creative marketer, AI experimenter, and Head of Brand and Content at Goldcast. Drew shares the journey behind his unconventional leap from VP-track leadership to solopreneur exploration—all while raising twin daughters and tinkering with Midjourney prompts.

We talk about the hard conversations that come with leaving stability behind, the rise of AI-assisted creativity, and the real meaning of career success. Drew opens up about his philosophy on focus, fatherhood, and why design, not just demand, might be the missing link in modern B2B marketing. Drew also shares his thoughts on what B2B can learn from the art world, why your brand is your second product, and how deep playlists and vision boards actually shape the future of work.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Drew’s journey into AI and photography

(03:48) Exploring the solopreneur path

(06:51) Balancing career and family

(24:29) Exploring Spotify playlists and LinkedIn

(25:08) The “coolness” of B2B SaaS marketing

(26:25) Risk tolerance and creativity in marketing

(29:25) Balancing brand and revenue marketing

(43:02) Creative pursuits and personal passions

Connect with my guest:

Drew Brucker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbrucker/

Drew Brucker on X: https://x.com/dcbruck

Explore Drew’s website: https://www.drewcbrucker.com

Explore Goldcast: https://www.goldcast.io

Check out Drew’s Substack, Imagine Lab: https://unsubscribehere.substack.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

“Failure is not a word that I use very often. It's not even a word that comes up in my negative self-talk.”

In this episode, I sit down with LeTísha Shaw, a transformational marketer and former mechanical engineer turned product marketing leader at UserTesting. She shares her nonlinear career path—from building decks with her dad and shaping Disney’s early streaming strategy to learning quantum physics on YouTube and perfecting gluten-free Belgian waffles through trial and error. LeTísha opens up about parenting, self-reflection, and the lessons she’s picked up from experimenting in every part of life.

We talk about why she avoids the word “failure,” how she’s raising her daughter to value authenticity, and what it means to embrace growth without chasing perfection. Along the way, we get into herb gardening mishaps, hot yoga, salsa dancing, bath bomb productivity hacks, and the joyful chaos of living as a self-described “mixologist of life.”

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:40) LeTísha’s transition from engineering to marketing

(02:27) Disney experience and media evolution

(04:13) Personal interests and hobbies

(05:24) Navigating career transitions

(09:52) Influence of family and early life

(18:58) Reframing failure

(20:04) Overcoming stage fright

(25:05) Learning a new language

(27:46) Hobbies, bath bombs, and the "mixology of life"

Connect with my guest:

LeTísha Shaw on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/letishashaw/

Explore UserTesting: https://www.usertesting.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

“I do not think about legacy. I just hope that my kids will carry forward a few of the values that will be important forever, like honesty.”

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Schoenfeld, CEO and co-founder of Keyplay, multi-time founder, ICP obsessive, and proud dad of two. We dive deep into what it means to build something meaningful—both in business and at home.

Adam opens up about raising entrepreneurial kids, why he deletes every app from his phone during vacation, and how his 92-year-old grandfather continues to shape his values today. We talk about startup life, presence over perfection, and the surprising power of letting your daughter “just cook.” We also cover his daughter’s Etsy dreams, what golf taught him about discipline, and why legacy might not be about a name on a building—but about being remembered for telling the truth, even when it’s hard.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Reflecting on time and parenting

(02:29) Adam's entrepreneurial journey

(03:37) Balancing work and family life

(07:07) The influence of family values

(11:34) Legacy and life lessons

(20:08) Advice to 21-year-old self

Connect with my guest:

Adam Schoenfeld on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamschoenfeld/

Explore Keyplay: https://keyplay.io/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries

"What's more important—helping someone write a cold email or paying attention to a kid who's excited to come home and tell you the score on their test?"

In this episode, I speak with Jen Allen-Knuth, founder of DemandJen, sales educator, LinkedIn powerhouse, and rescue dog evangelist. We talk about what it means to truly show up—not just in work, but in family, in grief, and in life. Jen opens up about becoming a stepmom to four kids, how that role helped her finally disconnect from hustle culture, and what losing her dad taught her about hard work, legacy, and humor.

We also cover her unexpected rise as a dog rescue advocate, the real reason she left corporate roles, and how a conversation with Amy Volas finally pushed her to bet on herself. This one’s for anyone figuring out how to find meaning outside of metrics—or just trying to stop writing cold emails long enough to live a little.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:49) Internet friendships and social anxiety

(04:24) Balancing work and personal life

(05:28) Step-parenting and personal growth

(18:34) From Dalmatian to Pit bulls

(20:20) The ferret named Ernesto DePantolano

(21:05) Discovering the world of rescue dogs

(22:33) Using social media for a cause

(24:05) Balancing work and passion

(24:39) Volunteering and making a difference

(27:36) Advice to younger self

Connect with my guest:

Jen Allen-Knuth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demandjen1/

Explore DemandJen: https://demandjen.com

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries