In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, creative agencies face unprecedented challenges. From AI disruption to evolving client expectations, the agencies that thrive are those that embrace adaptation over stagnation. Mari Chamoun, Operations and Finance partner at Austin-based experience design agency Funsize, recently shared insights on our Curve Ahead podcast that every business leader should hear.
The Evolution of Creative Agencies: From Mobile-First to Full-Service
Funsize’s journey perfectly illustrates how successful agencies evolve with market demands. What began as a mobile-first design agency founded by husband-and-wife team Anthony and Natalie has transformed into a comprehensive experience design agency serving everything from pre-seed startups to enterprise clients.
“When they started working together at Funsize, it was very much when mobile was popping up and it was meant to be mobile first,” Mari explained. “But eventually as everything in digital and creative, it evolved and we don’t just do mobile anymore.”
This evolution demonstrates a crucial principle for any service-based business: rigid adherence to your original vision can become a limitation rather than a strength. The most successful agencies—and by extension, any business—must remain flexible enough to adapt while maintaining their core competencies.
Building Client Relationships Through Human Connection
Perhaps the most striking insight from our conversation was Mari’s emphasis on building genuine relationships with clients beyond the transactional nature of project work. Funsize’s approach includes in-person kickoffs, lunches, happy hours, and taking time to understand not just business goals but personal motivations.
“When we get to be in person and when we get to meet these people outside of that context, it’s a whole different experience. It just makes it so much better,” Mari shared.
This relationship-first approach directly applies to podcast strategy for businesses. Just as Funsize creates deeper connections through face-to-face interactions, podcasts allow brands to build intimate relationships with their audience through authentic conversations. When listeners hear a CEO’s voice, their thought process, and their personality over multiple episodes, it creates a level of trust that traditional marketing channels simply cannot match.
The Startup vs. Enterprise Client Dynamic
Mari offered fascinating insights into the differences between working with startups versus enterprise clients—perspectives that translate directly to podcast content strategy:
Startup Clients: “Startups or people that come with ideas, that come with that passion, that are entrepreneurs, that let us get involved in much more than if we were working with an enterprise client makes it fun, but it is also a lot more challenging.”
Enterprise Clients: Working with larger organizations “tends to be a little bit simpler when you’re working with enterprises on my side of the table. But it might not be necessarily as dynamic or as involved or as fun.”
For businesses considering podcast marketing, this insight is invaluable. Startup founders often make compelling podcast guests because of their passion and willingness to share authentic stories. Enterprise leaders, while potentially offering broader reach, may require more structured interview approaches to extract engaging content.
AI’s Impact on Creative Work: A Balanced Perspective
As AI continues to reshape every industry, Mari’s perspective on its impact at Funsize provides a refreshingly balanced view. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, she described how their designers use it as a collaborative tool:
“I’ve seen our designers use it as personas when they’re trying to test something out like, ‘hey, I want you to act as the CMO and like what’s important for you as a stakeholder.’ It’s like a hyper bouncy bouncing board that you can ask questions to.”
This practical application of AI mirrors how podcast producers can leverage AI tools for content ideation, guest research, and even generating follow-up questions during interviews. However, Mari’s caution resonates strongly: “It’s just giving you answers to things that’s still not human, and it still can’t necessarily do or have that touch.”
The “Don’t Stay Stagnant” Philosophy
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from our conversation was Mari’s philosophy on growth and adaptation. When asked about what she’s passionate about, her response was immediate: “It’s not staying stagnant. Just go with the flow, try things, fail and do it again and perfect and refine.”
This mindset is exactly what separates successful businesses from those that plateau. In the podcasting world, this translates to:
- Experimenting with different content formats
- Testing new interview styles and guest types
- Adapting based on audience feedback
- Continuously refining production quality and distribution strategies
Practical Lessons for Business Podcast Strategy
Mari’s insights provide several actionable lessons for businesses developing their podcast strategy:
- Focus on Relationships, Not Just Transactions: Like Funsize’s approach to client relationships, your podcast should prioritize building genuine connections with listeners over purely promotional content.
- Embrace Evolution: Don’t lock yourself into a rigid podcast format. Allow your show to evolve based on what resonates with your audience and what serves your business goals.
- Quality Over Quantity in Networking: Mari’s preference for one-on-one conversations over large networking events mirrors the intimate nature of podcast listening. Focus on creating deep connections rather than broad reach.
- Use AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Leverage AI for research and ideation, but maintain the human element that makes podcasts compelling.
- Build in Public: Funsize’s willingness to evolve their services publicly demonstrates the power of transparency. Share your business journey, challenges, and lessons learned through your podcast content.
The Future of Agency Work and Content Marketing
As Mari noted, agencies must adapt to market changes while staying ahead of the game. For businesses considering podcasting as part of their content marketing strategy, the same principle applies. The brands that start podcasting now, experiment with different approaches, and build authentic relationships with their audience will have significant advantages as the medium continues to grow.
The conversation with Mari reinforced a crucial point: whether you’re running a design agency or any other business, success comes from embracing change, building genuine relationships, and never becoming complacent. In an era where authentic connection is increasingly rare, podcasting offers a unique opportunity to build the kind of trust and relationships that drive long-term business growth.
For businesses ready to embrace this evolution, the question isn’t whether podcasting will become essential to their marketing strategy—it’s whether they’ll start building those authentic connections today or wait until their competitors have already established their voice in the market.
Looking to launch or improve your podcast? Contact us to learn how our podcast production services can help you create engaging content consistently while building direct connections with your audience.
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