Aqua Talks

About Aqua Talks

Welcome to Aqua Talks, the podcast where marketing meets bold, game-changing ideas. From state and federal government campaigns to industries spanning the private sector, we delve into the art and science of cutting through the noise, capturing attention, and building meaningful, profitable connections. Join visionary host Larry Aldrich, with decades of expertise in multi-industry marketing, and Mady Dudley, a PR professional renowned for crafting engaging, results-driven campaigns. Together, they deliver insights that inspire and strategies that transform. Brought to you by BrennSys Technology LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Aqua Talks is your gateway to the vibrant intersection of inspiration and marketing innovation. From designing campaigns that spark adventure to providing strategic solutions for public sector clients, Aqua Talks effectively bridges the gap between storytelling brilliance and mission-critical objectives. Whether you’re drawn to the allure of destination marketing or curious about how federal government design projects come to fruition, every episode serves as your backstage pass to uncover key industry trends and actionable insights. From unraveling AI’s role in fostering engagement and growth to understanding the complexities of collaborating with government versus private sector clients, Aqua Talks provides sharp analysis and practical takeaways. Curious about vacation rental trends or the next big thing in eco-tourism? We’ve got you covered. Want to discover the secret to making meaningful connections with disabled veterans? Tune in for answers. Aqua Talks will also explore how to target diverse audiences, ensuring your media strategies resonate with everyone and amplify your visibility. Whether you’re a destination marketer, government contractor, or simply passionate about the transformative power of marketing, Aqua Talks offers engaging discussions designed to inspire and inform. Welcome to the intersection of robust solutions and marketing innovation in a digital-first world. Meet Larry Aldrich, the insightful and engaging host of Aqua Talks. With decades of experience spanning both public and private sectors, Larry brings a wealth of knowledge, sharp wit, and curiosity to every episode. His career began in the U.S. Air Force, where his discipline and innovative thinking took flight. As the CEO and founder of BrennSys Technology LLC, Larry transformed his expertise into a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in cutting-edge marketing communications for Federal and State clients. In 2024, he took a bold step forward, acquiring Aqua Marketing & Communications and merging the firms into a powerhouse of destination marketing and public sector solutions. Expect lively conversations, sharp insights, and plenty of actionable takeaways as Larry guides listeners through the art and science of marketing innovation. Meet Mady Dudley, an accomplished public relations expert with a talent for developing strategic PR and integrated communications campaigns that elevate brand awareness and generate buzz. With a foundation in journalism, Mady brings valuable newsroom insight to every pitch, press release, and PR strategy she creates. Throughout her career, Mady has held key roles, including PR Account Supervisor at Codeword and Public Relations Account Executive at Paradise Advertising & Marketing. Her diverse client portfolio ranges from industry giants like Google to innovative startups, as well as renowned destination marketing organizations and travel and hospitality leaders. To keep up with what Mady is up to, follow her on Instagram @MadytheExplorer or connect with her on LinkedIn here.

Publisher

Larry Aldrich and Mady Dudley

Category

business · business · government

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Jan 2025

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

61 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Ep 60 - Follow the Audience, Not the Platform

   Anton Fedorov, VP of Business Development at Ampersand, joins Aqua Talks at the Governor’s Conference for a data-forward look at how destinations should be thinking about television advertising. Ampersand — a nearly 40-year-old company owned by Comcast and Charter, known as NCC Media until 2019 — exists to make buying cable inventory simple, representing its owners’ footprint plus dozens of affiliates so agencies and clients can target audiences nationally, regionally, by DMA, or right down to the household. Anton’s core message: the conversation has shifted from markets, networks, and day parts to audience. With clean subscriber data, 95%+ match rates, and roughly 12,000 LiveRamp categories, Ampersand can identify who’s most likely to visit a destination and reach them at home with addressable TV — often letting DMOs spend less and accomplish more by looking beyond their historical drive markets. The discussion covers why accountability matters so much in tourism (DMO budgets come from local taxes and grants, so attribution and economic impact are essential), how Ampersand hands exposure files to third parties like Arrivalists and Tourism Economics to “not grade its own homework,” and a careful take on AI and data privacy under the Cable Act. Anton closes with a standout case study: during Florida’s early post-COVID reopening, an Arrivalists study found 22% of arrivals in a record ~117–119 million visitor year were initially exposed to an Ampersand ad — his case for TV as the trusted, top-of-funnel platform that other channels can’t replace. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:43 - Welcome Back — Governor's Conference 2026 04:24 - The Importance of Data in Tourism and Travel Marketing 06:52 - Defining Campaigns and Roles: Agencies, DMOs, and Ampersand 10:19 - TV and Streaming: How Technology Is Changing 13:59 - Entering the AI Era: Turning Data into Action 19:30 - Closing: Contact Info & Final Remarks KEY TAKEAWAYS: Follow the audience, not the platform. Betting on a single platform means missing more than you reach; the smart move is finding where your audience actually is. From markets to households. Ampersand can target nationally, regionally, by DMA, or at the household level with addressable TV — often reaching high-potential visitors outside a DMO’s usual drive markets. Data is the engine. Clean subscriber data, 95%+ match rates, and ~12,000 LiveRamp categories let them pinpoint likely visitors and spend less to accomplish more. Accountability for tax-funded budgets. Because DMO money comes from taxes and grants, attribution and economic-impact measurement are central — handed to third parties like Arrivalists and Tourism Economics to stay objective. Set-top box reach still matters. Even amid streaming’s rise, a huge subscriber footprint consumes video via set-top boxes, and Ampersand inserts across both environments as owners shift to streaming. AI with guardrails. Eager to use AI for speed and efficiency, but careful with subscriber data and Cable Act / PII compliance. TV’s trust factor. The Visit Florida case study — 22% of arrivals in a record year first exposed to an Ampersand ad — makes his case for TV as the trusted top-of-funnel driver other channels can’t match.

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Ep 59 - GEO Is the New SEO

   Brianna Green, public relations manager at Visit Florida, joins Aqua Talks live from the Governor’s Conference in West Palm Beach for a sharp, practical conversation about where PR is heading. Her big theme: GEO — Generative Engine Optimization — the new SEO. As travelers increasingly ask ChatGPT and other LLMs where to go, Brianna argues PR pros have to think not just about what a journalist will pick up, but what an LLM will pull in as a trusted source. That’s pushing her team back to PR fundamentals: the inverted pyramid, a blunt who-what-where-when-why in the first paragraph, and scannable formats (bullet points, even a TL;DR) that LLMs can categorize easily. They’re using a GEO monitoring platform to test prompts and see whether visitflorida.com, their social channels, and their press coverage are getting cited — and they’ve even returned to the newswire, betting that consistent mentions across credible outlets signal legitimacy to the models. From there, Brianna lays out how Visit Florida works as the statewide DMO: earning media through both traditional outlets and content creators (the authentic third-party voice travelers trust), running international programs across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Canada, the UK, and Germany, and taking the cost and lift off smaller DMO partners through missions, receptions, and co-op programs like satellite media tours. She previews Huddle Florida UK, shares why experiencing the state firsthand makes her a better storyteller, and makes the case for the “Find the new in your known” campaign — nudging repeat visitors beyond the beaches and theme parks to Crystal River manatees, the Dry Tortugas, bioluminescent kayaking on the Space Coast, and the springs. In This Episode: 00:45 - Live from the Governor's Conference — West Palm Beach 01:23 - GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): Rethinking PR for LLMs 07:35 - Introducing Visit Florida — Purpose, Role, and Outreach 12:21 - Visit Florida’s Importance to Local Destinations 17:29 - Discover Florida Beyond the Beaches Key Takeaways: GEO is the new SEO. Generative Engine Optimization means crafting coverage LLMs will pull in as a trusted source — not just what a journalist picks up. Back to PR basics. Lead with a blunt who-what-where-when-why and scannable formats (bullets, a TL;DR) that LLMs can categorize. Consistency signals authority. Accurate, direct info repeated across many credible outlets (hence a return to the newswire) tells LLMs you’re legit. Monitor across teams. A GEO platform lets PR, content, and social test prompts and see whether the website and channels get cited. Creators are a PR function. Visit Florida leans on creators as the authentic third-party voice travelers trust. Global reach, local agencies. Programs span the US plus Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Canada, the UK, and Germany, with boots on the ground and FAM trips. Lifting up smaller DMOs. Missions, receptions, and co-op programs like satellite media tours give partners reach they couldn’t mount alone. “Find the new in your known.” The campaign pushes repeat visitors past beaches and parks to Crystal River, the Dry Tortugas, Space Coast kayaking, and the springs.

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Ep 58- More Than a Special Occasion

   Aqua Talks returns to Blu Halo for a roundtable (or, as Larry puts it, a “square table”) with managing partner Andy Donato, restaurant relations lead Shannon Ruedt, and PR partner Mary Ellen Collins. The theme: Blu Halo isn’t just a special-occasion spot — with cocktails starting at 11:30, a come-as-you-are no-dress-code vibe, and a location surrounded by offices, hotels, and the airport, it’s built to be an everyday lunch, happy hour, or dinner destination you can visit once or twice a week. The conversation covers what makes the place distinctive: an all-fresh, no-freezers kitchen (Wagyu even on the kids’ menu), a genuinely substantial “Paw Patio” dog menu where dogs eat free, live music Wednesday through Saturday, and a packed events calendar — monthly Mahjong & Martinis, a private room that seats up to 50, and a steady run of pairing dinners. Andy walks through his passion project, the wine list (old world and new, heavy on France and Italy), and previews upcoming events including a Green Bench beer dinner and an October bourbon dinner featuring Penelope. It’s a warm, community-minded look at a restaurant leaning into being a neighborhood regular spot as it approaches its one-year anniversary. IN THIS EPISODE: Chapters: 00:44 - Blue Halo: New Participants Join 01:30 - Returning to Blue Halo: Dining Philosophy & Offerings 07:15 - Events & Community Nights — Pairing Dinners, Mahjong & More 09:32 - Wine list, tastings, and pairing events 15:25 - Episode Outro — Aqua Talks: Call to Action & Closing KEY TAKEAWAYS: Not just special occasion. Pricing, menu, and an 11:30 cocktail start are designed for everyday visits — lunch, happy hour, or dinner once or twice a week — not a once-a-year splurge. The “Paw Patio” dog menu. Shannon’s idea, born from a “Bark & Brunch” event and tied to a local shelter: dogs eat free, with substantial options (sliced strawberries, hot dog, chicken, scrambled eggs) — a step beyond the usual pup cup. All fresh, no freezers. The kitchen literally has no freezers, so everything is fresh — including Wagyu on the kids’ menu (same quality beef the adults get, no frozen patties or chicken). Live music four nights a week. Wednesday through Saturday, kept as soft background listening that can turn up later in the night. A full events calendar. Monthly Mahjong & Martinis (first Sunday, open play), wine/whiskey/beer pairing dinners coordinated with bar manager Joey, and a private room seating up to 50 (splittable) — now taking holiday reservations. Andy’s wine list. A personal passion spanning old world and new, affordable to splurge, with a France- and Italy-heavy old-world selection. Pairing dinners with real voices. Andy brings in actual winemakers/winery reps (recently Todd Anderson of Kahn Valley) rather than multi-brand liquor reps; upcoming are a Green Bench (St. Pete) beer dinner and an October Penelope bourbon dinner (wheated, rye, and the new French-oak-finished “Architect”). Sunday is chef’s night. Open 4–8 with the Lobster Trap and three rotating chef-only specialty entrées (a pasta, a chicken, and a beef dish).

Who has been a guest on Aqua Talks

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Zach Moore
• Jackie Krick
• Andrea Updike
• David Dees
• Sean Doherty

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

7,124

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Aqua Talks

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Aqua Talks