Conversations about taking ideas to the next level on behalf of visionary leaders, for marketers, brand leaders, creatives, growth strategists, and more.
In this episode of Elevator People, PJ Simmons sits down with Kody Dahl, Creative Director at Whiteboard, for a conversation about the tension between creativity and the ever-present pressure of metrics.
They explore how “measureship” — leading strictly by the numbers — can flatten creative work, why beauty and meaning still matter in a data-driven world, and how businesses can balance risk and differentiation without losing sight of the humans they serve.
From the inspiration behind a stunning short film to the practical ways creative teams navigate client demands, this episode is a deep dive into the heart of modern creative work. Whether you’re a designer, strategist, marketer, or entrepreneur, you’ll find plenty of insight (and maybe a little encouragement) for working with purpose in a measured world.
2 Jul 2025
Beauty as Strategy: A Redemptive Approach to Leading with Purpose
Jason and PJ discuss how leaders can use beauty as a strategic advantage by cultivating redemptive organizations through accountability, compromise, and intentional team growth.
25 Jun 2025
Building Businesses That Don’t Break People
Carl Smith discusses with PJ Simmons how modern marketing evolves by prioritizing honesty and emotional intelligence, which replaces outdated tactics and builds brand trust through genuine connection in this interview.
18 Jun 2025
Human Centered Marketing in a Metrics Driven World
Host PJ interviews Koula, who explores human-centered marketing, emphasizing empathy and clarity to build trust and meet audience needs in a metrics-driven world.
11 Jun 2025
Chaos to Clarity: How Great Teams Make Great Decisions
Teresa Graney, business strategist, discusses how leaders get stuck in reactive mode and provides frameworks for better decision-making, offering tools to help listeners lead with intention in this interview with PJ.
4 Jun 2025
System & Soul: Building Organizations That Work and Mean Something
PJ Simmons and Benj explore how organizations balance effective systems with a focus on people, discussing leadership, self-development, and fostering a productive work environment in this interview.
28 May 2025
From Noise to Narrative: The Future of B2B Marketing
Abby Murray of Story Arb discusses the power of empathetic storytelling in B2B marketing with host PJ, revealing how companies can clarify their vision and connect with their audience, in this interview.
21 May 2025
Leading Visionaries, Serving Visions
In this episode of Elevator People, PJ sits down with Chad Cannon, a transformational consultant who specializes in helping visionary founders and high-capacity leaders build businesses that scale with purpose and alignment. Chad has partnered with influential thought leaders like Michael Hyatt and Donald Miller, and his approach centers on empowering others to lead with clarity, intention, and integrity.
In this episode, Chad introduces his signature Obsessed Framework, a step-by-step methodology that guides leaders through Observation, Benchmarking, Strategy, Execution, Scaling, and Sustaining—all in the pursuit of meaningful, lasting growth. We explore what it looks like to serve leaders who think big, move fast, and challenge norms—while staying grounded in values that elevate people first.
If you're passionate about intentional leadership, advising with impact, or creating brands that align with who you are and what the world needs, take a listen.
14 May 2025
Building What Matters Through Vision-Driven Growth
What if the future of language learning isn’t an app—but a place?
In this episode, PJ Simmons sits down with Christian Rowe, Cofounder and Chief Growth Officer of Immerse, a bold edtech company using virtual reality to teach language through real human connection. What started in a Syrian refugee camp has grown into a global platform operating in 97 countries—with a mission rooted in social impact, advanced fluency, and equity of access.
But this isn’t just a story about innovation in tech. It’s about the tension between vision and execution, the discipline of building a venture-backed company without compromising your values, and what it means to scale with integrity.
Christian opens up about:
The origin story of Immerse—from grassroots mission to global scale
What “growth” really means inside a mission-led startup
How his team uses OKRs, culture frameworks, and ruthless clarity to stay aligned
Navigating the hype cycles of VR, the metaverse, and AI—without losing the plot
Why purpose and profit don’t have to compete—and how to lead with both
If you’re building something meaningful—whether you’re a founder, operator, or creative—this conversation is a masterclass in how to hold the line between conviction and complexity, and dream big without drifting.
7 May 2025
Beyond Fear Based Tactics: Building Brands with Hope and Conviction
What does it look like to build a marketing agency that bucks the norm—ditching fear-based tactics for hope-filled, redemptive strategies? In this episode of Elevator People, PJ sits down with Brandon Giella and Parker Smith, cofounders of Snapmarket, a digital marketing agency dedicated to organic-first marketing and redemptive entrepreneurship.
We explore the philosophy behind redemptive marketing—how to lead with integrity, build thoughtful processes, and resist the pressure of growth-at-all-costs in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Brandon and Parker share how Snapmarket blends AI tools with human expertise to help businesses create meaningful, high-quality content that cuts through the noise.
Whether you’re a marketer, agency leader, faith-driven entrepreneur, or growth strategist, this conversation unpacks what it takes to steward your brand well, balance ambition with trust, and build sustainable growth through authentic marketing practices.
Tune in for practical insights on agency operations, leveraging AI without losing your voice, and why organic marketing may be the secret weapon your business is missing.
30 Apr 2025
Vision, Velocity, & Epic Storytelling
In this episode of Elevator People, host PJ Simmons interviews Collin Strachan, co-founder of Every Mile Creative—a storytelling-driven production company known for cinematic brand content set against the rugged beauty of Alaska.
From climbing glaciers to producing campaigns for fast-scaling tech startups, Collin shares how he helps visionary leaders and marketing teams transform bold ideas into compelling video content.
Together, PJ and Collin unpack:
The power of niche positioning for creative agencies
How to build emotional resonance in brand storytelling
The role of strategic clarity in high-impact content
Why understanding the human behind the data is essential to effective marketing
Whether you're a brand strategist, creative entrepreneur, or video producer, this conversation offers practical insights on building meaningful content that drives both emotional connection and measurable growth.
23 Apr 2025
Making Vision Visible: The Tension & Purpose of Marketing
What does it look like to practice marketing with integrity, purpose, and imagination? In this episode of Elevator People, PJ sits down with Eric Brown—co-founder of Whiteboard, author of AGENCY, and marketing strategist—to explore how branding, creativity, and leadership intersect in the digital age.
They unpack the tension between mission and mastery, why marketing should be an act of service, and how values-driven leaders can avoid the burnout of performance-based identity. You’ll hear insights on how to navigate brand strategy, client relationships, digital transformation, agency culture, and the evolving role of AI in marketing.
Whether you're a marketing director, creative entrepreneur, agency leader, or founder, this episode will inspire you to build meaningful brands, not just profitable ones.
23 Apr 2025
Culture-Bending Narratives: Redefining Marketing in a Meaning-Filled World
In this episode of Elevator People, PJ sits down with strategist and author Jason Locy (Culture Bending Narratives) to explore the future of redemptive branding and ethical marketing. Together, they unpack dominant cultural narratives that shape how we build brands, design marketing strategies, and chase growth—often at the expense of our mission.
Jason shares his “Four Norms” framework—Desires, Mindsets, Behaviors, and Language—and how marketers can use it to identify exploitative patterns and build meaningful alternatives. They also discuss how to apply thoughtful compromise, embrace abundance over scarcity, and develop imaginative strategies that don’t sacrifice values for short-term success.
If you’re a brand strategist, marketing director, creative leader, or purpose-driven founder—this conversation will help you align your work with your values, inspire your imagination, and challenge how you define success.
Who has been a guest on Elevator People
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Carl Smith
Koula
Teresa Graney
Abby Murray
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Elevator People
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Elevator People
Who hosts Elevator People?
PJ and PJ Simmons host the show. Published by PJ Simmons.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Elevator People take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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