Differentiated is the show for founders, creators, and brands building remarkable things in unexpected ways - and the stories behind how they do it.
Each episode spotlights bold builders breaking the rules, taking big swings, and rewriting the playbook to create businesses, products, and movements that make you think, “How did they pull that off?”
Hosted by Chris Ford, this podcast dives into the scrappy decisions, setbacks, and breakthroughs that matter.
No fluff. No jargon. Just real stories, big ideas, and lessons you can use.
This is Differentiated.
The Secret to Storytelling That Sells - Katie Quesada
In this episode, I sit down with Katie Quesada, a storytelling powerhouse who’s helped companies like Zillow, United Healthcare, and Nike craft stories that actually get remembered. We dive deep into why most business storytelling sucks, how to ditch the jargon and data dumps, and how to tell stories that make people lean in, take action, and drive real results.If you struggle with boring sales pitches, forgettable presentations, or investor meetings that fall flat, this episode is for you.✅ Follow Katie: Website: https://www.katiequesada.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiequesada✅ Follow Chris: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford_💡 Ready to differentiate your business? Subscribe for weekly episodes.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this with someone who needs to level up their storytelling game!⏰ Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:09 - Introducing Katie Quesada1:46 - Welcome Katie to the show1:54 - Who is Katie Quesada?2:53 - The #1 mistake that ruins a sales pitch5:01 - How to make someone "feel" something in a story7:10 - Using AI in storytelling (but keeping it human)8:29 - The importance of knowing your audience10:25 - The science behind storytelling12:35 - How Katie deploys the science of story in her work13:42 - Where do people start when trying to improve as a storyteller?15:59 - Katie's event with the Maxwell Group17:22 - Social vs Business vs Hollywood storytelling19:26 - The role of conflict and tension in a great story22:23 - Where do I deploy story in my everyday life?23:20 - How Katie built a business around storytelling25:15 - Katie's biggest wins so far27:04 - How to condense your stories29:27 - What is the worst storytelling advice you've ever heard?30:30 - One thing every founder or seller should stop doing in their stories?30:46 - A storytelling cliche that drives Katie crazy31:37 - One book, podcast, or Ted Talk that is a must see32:44 - If you had to explain storytelling using only emojis, what would you pick?34:02 - What's next for Katie?34:35 - Final thoughts and where to follow Katie🎤 If you’ve ever felt like your pitch, brand story, or sales message just isn’t landing, this episode will change how you communicate forever.
17 Feb 2025
How I Made My First $100K in a Brutally Competitive Tech Market - Semir Jahic
In this episode of Differentiated, I sit down with Semir Jahic, co-founder of Salesmotion.io, a SaaS company that hit $100K in ARR in just 6.5 months – all without venture capital, sleepless nights, or a massive team.
Semir story flips the script on startup culture. No 60-hour workweeks. No growth-at-all-costs mentality. Just two people, a smart strategy, and a product that sales teams actually want.
We dive into:
- The early days - landing his first customer with no product, no website, and a $35 Stripe link
- How he validated the idea without wasting months on "busy work"
- Why LinkedIn (not cold emails, ads, or calls) became his #1 growth engine
- The real challenges of bootstrapping – burning through savings, self-doubt, and pressure
- His unconventional take on startup success: “I don’t need to win the market- I just need to win in a way that works for me.”
If you’ve ever wanted to build something on your own terms – without grinding yourself into the ground – this episode is a must-watch.
✅ Follow Semir & Salesmotion.io:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jahic
Website: www.salesmotion.io
✅ Follow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford
💡 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who are building differently.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome Semir to the show
2:30 - Why he left Clari to start Salesmotion.io
5:15 - Landing the first customer with $35 and no product
10:20 - Why LinkedIn was the ultimate growth engine
15:45 - Navigating the early uncertainty & financial pressure
22:00 - The unconventional approach to bootstrapping
30:00 - Why they don’t work weekends (and still hit $100K ARR)
38:45 - Advice for new founders & lessons from the first year
45:00 - What’s next for Semir & Salesmotion?
3 Feb 2025
From Fallon to Building a Comedy Empire: The Story of Jourdain Fisher
In this episode, I sit down with Jourdain Fisher, a rising star in comedy who’s been on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" not once but twice, crushed it on Comedy Central, and is now building his own comedy empire. We dive into his incredible journey - from his first stand-up set at 17 to working as a writer for The Tonight Show - and the business side of turning laughter into a career.
If you’re curious about what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry, how to build a personal brand, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at comedy, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
✅ Follow Jourdain Fisher:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JourdainFisherComedy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jourdainfisher/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jfishercomedy
Website: www.jourdainfisher.com
✅ Follow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford_
💡 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with creators and entrepreneurs who are building awesome things in cool ways.
0:00 - Welcome Jourdain Fisher to the show
2:00 - The first time on stage at 17
6:30 - From Greensboro to The Tonight Show
10:00 - Meeting Dave Chappelle
15:00 - Preparing for Fallon
20:00 - The business side of comedy
25:00 - Social media’s role in modern comedy
30:00 - Jourdain’s advice for aspiring comedians
35:00 - Closing thoughts
1 Feb 2025
How to Build a Personal Brand That Reaches Millions - Nikki Lang
In this episode, I sit down with Nikki Lang, a LinkedIn powerhouse who’s reached 10.5 million impressions in just five months. We dive deep into personal branding, authentic content creation, and building a strong professional community. Whether you’re looking to elevate your LinkedIn game, find your authentic voice, or just need inspiration to start, this episode has something for you.
✅ Follow Nikki:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-lang/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkiflikki
✅ Follow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford_
💡 Ready to differentiate your business? Subscribe for weekly episodes.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this video with someone who needs to hear it!
0:00 - Nikki Lang joins the show.
1:00 - Defining personal branding.
4:00 - Nikki’s LinkedIn success story.
7:45 - Overcoming fear of judgment.
10:00 - Nikki’s mantra.
14:30 - Building a LinkedIn community.
18:00 - Experimenting with content formats.
24:00 - The importance of consistency.
28:30 - Nikki’s 2025 content goals.
31:00 - How Nikki balances grabbing and holding attention.
34:00 - The value of trial and error in content creation.
38:00 - Why series-based content resonates with audiences.
42:00 - Behind the scenes: Nikki shares her metrics and results.
46:00 - The role of community and collaboration in content growth.
50:00 - Nikki’s advice for creating authentic content across platforms.
54:00 - Closing thoughts and final takeaways from Nikki.
1 Feb 2025
What I Learned From a Tech CEO - 5 Tips in 4 Minutes
Last week, I sat down with Spencer Marzouk, CEO of a multimillion-dollar SaaS company transforming how organizations approach loss prevention. If you’re short on time, I’m breaking down the top 5 takeaways from our inspiring conversation:
Whether you’re here for a quick dose of inspiration or want to dive deeper, these lessons are worth applying to your life.
Watch the full episode for more insights here: https://youtu.be/kxs1c64mFmE
✅ Follow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford_
💡 Ready to differentiate your business? Subscribe for weekly episodes.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this video with someone who needs to hear it!
0:00 - Intro
0:20 - Takeaway 1: Focus on WHO, not WHAT
1:00 - Takeaway 2: You can't control your circumstances, but you can control your response
2:00 - Takeaway 3: Growth Fuels Happiness
2:40 - Takeaway 4: You Never Know Who’s Watching
3:20 - Takeaway 5: Greatness Lives in the Details
3:50 - Final thoughts
1 Feb 2025
Finding Your Purpose: Leadership Lessons That Changed My Life Forever - Spencer Marzouk
In this premiere episode of #Differentiated, I sit down with Spencer Marzouk, CEO of ThinkLP, to uncover the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership. From navigating personal tragedy to scaling a multi-million dollar SaaS company, Spencer’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and impact.
We explore:
- How purpose fuels leadership and business success
- The pivotal moments that shaped Spencer's mission-driven approach
- Practical advice for leading with integrity and empowering others
Whether you're building a business, climbing the corporate ladder, or seeking personal growth, this conversation will inspire you to redefine what's possible.
00:00 Intro
01:09 Who is Spencer Marzouk?
03:25 What is purpose?
05:31 How Spencer's upbringing shaped his view on Leadership
8:00 Finding common ground
8:38 Meeting Muhammad Ali
11:14 Powering through Parkinson's
12:25 How Ali formed Spencer's view on life
13:47 When tragedy struck the first time
17:27 The leadership lesson that shaped Spencer's life
20:14 What Spencer's mother would say about the man he's become
20:48 Tragedy strikes again
23:46 Spencer's advice for anyone dealing with setbacks
25:21 How Spencer began to apply his purpose to the rest of his life
27:24 The moment it all felt worth it
29:13 How The Dream Initiative changed 1,000's of lives
32:09 The mentor who shaped Spencer's worldview
36:33 What separates a forgettable manager from a life-changing leader?
38:49 Why growth = happiness
39:28 What's next for Spencer?
40:58 Closing
✅ Follow Spencer Marzouk & ThinkLP:
Website: www.thinklp.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-marzouk-1109814b
✅ Follow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisford_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisford/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itschrisford_
💡 Ready to differentiate your business? Subscribe for weekly episodes.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this video with someone who needs to hear it!
#PurposeDrivenLeadership #ThinkLP #Differentiated
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
36,949
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
32
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
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