Beyond the Build

About Beyond the Build

Beyond the Build is a podcast about the systems behind digital work and the people living inside them. The show features honest conversations with agency owners, creative leaders, and operators about how modern digital teams actually function. Each episode explores the cultural, operational, and human dynamics that shape agency life: leadership, collaboration, evolving expectations, generational change, and the lessons learned the hard way while building teams in a fast-moving industry. Technology and strategy are part of the story, but the focus is on creating sustainable systems that support both great work and the people doing it.

Publisher

Shawn Johnston

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2026

Latest episode

7 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Built Around Life

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Ashleigh Baron, founder and CEO of Freshly Pressed, about building an agency around your life instead of building your life around the agency. Ashleigh shares how Freshly Pressed started 17 years ago in her basement in Alberta, with an eight month old baby, a bartending job, and a willingness to figure things out before she felt fully ready. The conversation gets into how reputation, high quality work, and client care helped the agency grow almost entirely through referrals, and why the way a project ends is often what clients remember most. They also cover: Why building around your life requires systems, boundaries, and honest time management How self care, family, and business priorities can coexist when they are planned intentionally How leaders can support teams through difficult or uninspiring work without rescuing every problem What younger generations are teaching agency leaders about work, boundaries, and human needs

2. 

   7 Aug 2026

   The Human Side of AI Adoption

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Tyler Frans, founder and CEO of Sense of Motion, about what it really takes for organizations to adopt AI beyond the hype, experimentation, and one-off tools. Tyler shares why AI adoption is less of a technology problem and more of an organizational and leadership challenge. The conversation explores what separates teams that are moving forward from those that remain frozen, and why trust, autonomy, curiosity, and the ability to learn quickly matter more than having a perfect implementation plan. They also cover: How a human-centered approach changes the way organizations think about AI What causes organizations to freeze when AI is changing faster than their systems and decision-making processes How experienced people help guide AI beyond average output toward work that is useful, thoughtful, and relevant Why leaders should start small, support the people already experimenting, and treat learning as the first step toward adoption

3. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Words Create Worlds

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Amanda Lee Smith, co-founder and CEO of Monday Creative, about building a values-driven agency that can still hold a high performance standard. Amanda shares how Monday evolved from its early focus on outdoor and active brands into a brand insight, strategy, and creative agency working with clients across performance, wellness, education, and purpose-driven consumer spaces. The conversation gets into what it really means to build brands that enhance human potential, and how values show up in the clients you choose, the work you turn down, and the language your team uses every day. They also cover: How values shape client fit and why not every sale is a good sale Why language can create culture, alignment, and a shared way of working Why performance and empathy can coexist inside an agency How agency owners can create more accountability without turning the workplace into surveillance

4. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Built from Scratch. Kept on Purpose

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Sarah Jolly, co-founder and managing partner of Jolly Creative Agency, about building a WordPress agency from scratch, staying focused on what you do best, and delivering big projects on time without burning relationships to the ground. Sarah shares how the agency started from a self taught CSS book and a band website, then grew into a tight, long running team that partners out non core services on purpose. The conversation gets into what actually makes delivery work at scale, including why they moved away from wireframes, why content comes first, and how they set clients up to approve faster by doing the heavy lift early. They also cover: Why specializing beats trying to be full service How content first prevents “almost launched” websites How to balance what is best for the business with client capacity How remote work forced sharper systems and better hiring Sarah’s take on AI, including what it can support and what it cannot replace

5. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Better Clients, Better Agencies

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Connor Goway, founder of Junction Consulting and president of eLearningU, about what changes when clients get clear on goals and expectations before execution starts, and why that upstream work makes delivery healthier for everyone involved. Connor shares how he moved from running a creative agency to deliberately stepping away, then spending the last decade helping clients get clear on what they actually need before they hire an agency. The conversation gets into why agency client relationships turn adversarial, what creates fear and micromanagement, and how a better process turns delivery into partnership instead of friction. They also cover: How eLearningU grew into a training platform that helps destinations level up local operators How autonomy and psychological safety affect real AI leverage inside teams The two things Connor would prioritize if he were starting an agency today How to set expectations early so agencies can push back, guide, and protect the work when needed.

6. 

   7 Aug 2026

   All In on AI, Without Losing the Humans

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Adam Bennett, founder and creative director of Cube Creative Design, about what it takes to run a small, focused agency, and how to use AI as real leverage without losing the humans doing the work. Adam shares how Cube evolved from print into web and content marketing, why he committed to two clear verticals, and how that specialization creates more stability and repeatability in delivery. They also cover: Why vertical focus makes delivery easier How remote and flex time work on a small team Where scope creep shows up and how to set guardrails How Cube uses AI across sales and delivery with human review Why protecting the team is the real priority This episode is a practical look at longevity, focus, and building a healthier agency operating system in a world that keeps moving faster.

7. 

   7 Aug 2026

   The Product Dream

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Ben LeDonni, CMO at BMP Media and longtime agency founder, about what changes when you go from owning everything to building inside a larger organization, and what it really takes to productize inside a services world. Ben shares lessons from scaling Creative MMS over two decades, navigating an acquisition, and helping BMP Media evolve its value in the market through vertical demand generation and a new platform called Ignite Demand. We also cover: What Ignite Demand solves, including lead scoring, faster delivery, and better follow through Why product is harder than services, especially time, money, and the long ramp The mindset shift from “build it because it’s cool” to “build it because it gets used” How to keep teams aligned through the “why,” collaboration, and tight MVP focus What agency owners miss about recurring revenue and where real value lives This episode is a grounded look at product building inside services, and the leadership shifts that make innovation sustainable instead of chaotic.

8. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Designing the Environment

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston sits down with Katerina Lyadova, founder and creative director of Oddbee, to talk about what it takes to protect craft while building a healthy, sustainable design agency. Kat shares how Oddbee grew from an ambitious “let’s make cool work” vision into a distributed boutique team with a strong craft bar, deep trust, and a culture that still stays human under pressure. We also cover: How to hold high standards without burning people out Why “quality is not a lever,” and what to adjust instead What it takes to lead across time zones, including hiring for self regulation How to prevent remote work from turning into silent overwork Culture systems that actually work, including Odd Thursdays and team recognition This episode is a practical look at distributed leadership, psychological safety, and the systems that help creative teams deliver great work without losing the people inside the work.

9. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Systems Save the Creative

   In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Maxwell Krueger, founder of Playbook Creative Agency, about what happens when a creative life turns into an agency, and the real work it takes to build something sustainable without losing the spark that started it. Maxwell shares how Playbook started from small music industry promotions, grew through word of mouth and trust, and evolved into a broader creative and marketing agency. The conversation moves through creative identity, the pressure of being “the standard,” and the turning point where growth requires systems, not heroics. We also cover: – How “above and beyond” turns into a bottleneck – Why SOPs and deliverables change everything – How to define “good” and “done” for the team – How to manage expectations so work gets approved – How guardrails and transparency support leadership

10. 

    7 Aug 2026

    Decision by Committee

    In this episode of Beyond the Build, I talk with Seth Fogle, a marketing strategist and sales lead, about why strategy so often outpaces execution, and what actually helps teams close the gap when the work gets real. Seth is a fractional CMO who helps companies scale through performance marketing, full funnel revenue ops, and MarTech stack optimization. He works across startups and larger teams, and he is deep in the day to day reality of turning plans into shipped work. We also cover: Why execution breaks down before the work even hits production How decision by committee and constant pivots slow everything down What unrealistic timelines do to quality, focus, and momentum How trust and clear ownership speed delivery without lowering the bar Where AI helps right now, and where it creates noise without good inputs This episode is a grounded look at what slows teams down in the real world, and how to build execution that stays clear, steady, and repeatable.

11. 

    7 Aug 2026

    Plan Double Z

    In this episode of Beyond the Build, I sit down with Jeanniey Walden, Chief Marketing Officer and founder of Liftoff Enterprises, to talk about what it really takes to move from strategy to execution inside complex enterprise organizations. Jeanniey has worked at the intersection of strategy, revenue operations, digital transformation, and delivery. We dig into why it is rarely one obvious bottleneck, how friction shows up across teams and systems, and what it takes to ship faster without creating downstream mess. We also cover: How enterprise campaigns actually move from strategy into live digital experiences Where delivery slows down most often, from unclear inputs to late stage breakage Why silos in tools and data create friction, and how teams work around systems that do not connect How approvals and budget governance quietly throttle delivery Where AI helps right now, especially in automation and keeping workflows moving This episode is a grounded look at the systems and relationships that determine whether enterprise execution stays stuck in coordination, or turns into repeatable delivery.

12. 

    7 Aug 2026

    Shipping Landing Pages

    In this episode of Beyond the Build, I sit down with Alex Lloro, founder and managing director of All Marketing Services, to talk about what it takes to ship landing pages fast when performance is on the line. Together, we cover: How landing pages fit into the daily workflow of PPC and conversion rate optimization How they balance design with performance, including speed and load time Where timelines slip most often, including approvals and feedback loops WordPress builder realities, including Gutenberg and Elementor limits, and why they prefer Brizy Why SOPs matter once you start onboarding freelancers Where AI helps today, including first-pass drafts that still need human refinement This episode is a grounded look at the mechanics behind fast, repeatable landing page production, and the systems that keep teams from trading speed for quality.

13. 

    7 Aug 2026

    Motion Without Movement

    In this episode of Beyond the Build, I sit down with Laura Patterson, President of VisionEdge Marketing, to unpack why a strong marketing strategy still gets stuck when it is time to execute. Laura shares how high-performing teams keep execution tied to real business outcomes, why “random acts of marketing” quietly drain capacity, and what separates motion from actual movement. We also cover: – Why outcome clarity should come before any initiative starts – How prioritization (not effort) often sets your real speed limit – What MRDs/PRDs and simple QA-style thinking can do for marketing work – What AI can speed up next and why process still comes first – Why documentation makes handoffs cleaner and reduces rework – Why change feels awkward at first and how to keep teams from snapping back to old habits

14. 

    6 Aug 2026

    The 95% Problem

    In the first episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Christopher Barbauld, President of The Barbauld Agency, about the realities of shipping websites and ongoing marketing work inside a small agency. Chris runs a team supporting clients across very different industries, and he breaks down how projects move from early direction to build to launch. They get specific about where things slow down, why the final stretch of production often takes the longest, and what helps teams keep delivery predictable without adding unnecessary complexity. If you are working in WordPress or any form of low code website development, you will recognize the patterns. Together, Shawn and Chris cover: How their website process flows from discovery to design to build to launch The two friction points they see most often: getting the work started and getting approvals finished Why the last 5 to 10 percent of a project is where timelines slip The tradeoffs of small teams and multi-hat roles, plus what to watch for When the owner becomes a bottleneck and how to remove that pressure from delivery Practical WordPress lessons, including client editing access and the “cat on the homepage” story (and what it taught them) How they use Asana to keep handoffs clean across copy, design, and build Leadership and culture references from Creativity, Inc., Radical Candor, and Leaders Eat Last A simple digital improvement many local businesses still overlook: your Google Business Profile What stays valuable as AI changes the work: clear systems and strong customer service If you lead projects, run an agency, or support web production inside a team, this episode is a grounded look at the mechanics that determine whether work ships cleanly or drifts. It is especially relevant if your world includes a low code WordPress website or a team balancing custom work with website builder expectations.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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