If there’s one thing Agency Hackers have observed over the years, it’s that running an agency is no cake walk.
So, to relieve you agency leaders from some of the tension, Ian and Soph are gonna be in your ear holes with the latest news and trends, juicy gossip and, generally, some good vibes. Whether they’re making fun of cringey LinkedIn posts, revisiting some hilarious anecdotes from the Ibiza Super Summit, or the talking about the latest news in the agency space, you’re in for a good time.
Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those cookie-cutter, corporate podcasts you’ve heard a million times before. This one’s actually fun.
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Agency Growth Has Changed: Here's What's Actually Working in 2026
Agency growth isn't as simple as it used to be.
In this episode, Ian and Becky discuss why so many marketing agencies are struggling to win new business in 2026, why client buying decisions have slowed dramatically, and how agency owners can adapt.
From committee-led decision-making and shrinking marketing budgets to the importance of relationships over automation, they explore what's really happening in the agency world and where the biggest opportunities still exist.
In this episode:
Why marketing budgets are taking longer to get approved
The biggest bottlenecks holding agencies back
Whether agencies should still target CMOs
Why relationships beat automation every time
Building communities that create long-term growth
Breaking down silos inside agency teams
Lessons from events, networking and growing an agency in uncertain times
If you're an agency owner, founder or marketing leader looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical advice.
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a new episode.
💬 We'd love to hear from you in the comments: What's the biggest challenge your agency is facing right now?
#AgencyGrowth #MarketingAgency #AgencyOwners #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #AgencyLife #NewBusiness #ClientAcquisition #entrepreneurship
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17 Jun 2026
Why Agencies Are Becoming Software Companies
What happens when a single unopened letter can shut down your business overnight?
In this episode of Agency Hackers, we discuss the surprising admin mistakes that can cause major problems for agency owners, from bank account closures and passport disasters to fines, scams, and overlooked business tasks. We also explore why more agencies are building their own software, how AI is transforming service businesses, and whether the future of agencies lies in becoming product companies.
We cover:
- The business admin mistakes that can cause serious damage
- Why agencies are creating their own AI-powered tools
- The rise of "service as software"
- Harvest's controversial pricing changes
- South by Southwest, Cannes, and the future of industry events
- AI scams targeting agencies
- Public speaking, conference talks, and how to prepare properly
- Creating events with real gravitational pull
Whether you're an agency owner, founder, marketer, or consultant, this episode is packed with practical lessons, industry insights, and honest conversations about building a modern agency in 2026.
#agencyowner #aiforbusiness #marketingagency #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth #agencylife #artificialintelligence #digitalmarketing #leadership
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13 May 2026
From Pitch P*rn Disasters To Miami H*okers
This episode goes completely off the rails 😭
We cover:
- The agency pitch disaster that accidentally opened a porn site in front of a client
- Why Miami agency events are VERY different to Ibiza
- The bizarre WPP “bomb threat” culture simulation
- British vs American agency culture
- AI tools taking over agencies… and apparently choosing blackmail when threatened 👀
- Why founders are still the ones pushing AI adoption
The truth about agency culture, hybrid work, and team morale
Plus: hookers at the Agency Hackers Miami afterparty, competitor outreach tactics that actually win clients, and why “bring back graft” might be the best sales advice of 2026.
Absolute chaos from start to finish.
💥 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and buckle up this is just the beginning.
#agencylife #agency #hackers #podcast #peopletalk
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15 Apr 2026
The Problem With Agencies No One Talks About
On this episode, we get real about the stuff most agencies avoid.
We talk ADHD diagnoses and what it’s actually like being on meds (yes… it basically felt like micro dosing at first), burnout, and why looking after yourself is the foundation of doing good work.
Then we get into the big one vision.
Why it feels cringe, why most companies fake it… and why you eventually hit a wall without it.
We break down:
- Why agency events (and ideas) lose momentum after a few years
- The difference between tactics vs actual strategy
- Why most “values” are just words on a wall
- And how to actually prove them (not just say them)
- Why the best case studies might be the ones where things went wrong
Plus: chaos at events, smelling salts on podcasts, and the reality of trying to build something that actually matters.
💥 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and buckle up this is just the beginning.
#agencylife #agency #hackers #podcast #peopletalk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
11 Mar 2026
The biggest mistake agencies make with revenue
What actually happens behind the scenes in an agency?
In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the reality of running an agency the chaos, the lessons, and the funny stories that come with it.
We also unpack one of the hardest challenges for growing agencies: hiring the right salesperson. What makes a great sales hire? Why do so many agencies get it wrong? And why chemistry with the business matters more than a perfect CV.
Expect honest conversations, practical insights, and a few outrageous agency stories along the way.
💥 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and buckle up—this is just the beginning.
#agencylife #agency #hackers #podcast #peopletalk
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11 Feb 2026
This Industry Is Wild
Ian and Becky spill the tea on everything agencies are whispering… but never admit out loud.
From AI chaos and bad SEO fails, to pitch nerves, LinkedIn nonsense, and the truth about building “high agency” teams—this episode is raw, real, and brutally honest. No fluff, no fake thought leadership—just the stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
💥 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and buckle up—this is just the beginning.
More insider chaos coming soon!
#agencylife #agency #hackers #podcast #peopletalk
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5 Feb 2025
The Agency Hackers Podcast #05 | Ibiza Super Summit 2024 - The Feedback
In this special episode of the Agency Hackers Podcast, Ian and Sophie delve into the delegate feedback from the Ibiza Super Summit 2024.
What did we do well? What went horribly wrong?
Hear for yourself...👀
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22 Nov 2024
Do We Moan Too Much About Juniors?
Ian and Sophie explore the frustrations of working with juniors, tackling the challenges of communication and collaboration in the creative industry.
6 Sept 2024
Ibiza Super Summit Origin Story
Uh oh, Ian's made some enemies... on TikTok. But not to worry, because in the rest of this episode we'll be getting into how the Ibiza Super Summit came to be. We'll also be roasting some holiday themed LinkedIn posts, as well as covering some Calendly controversy (this time with an all new jingle).
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - TikTok hates Ian
03:00 - Roast the Post (Part 1)
08:17 - When do you tell your team your ideas?
12:54 - How the Agency Hackers team found out about Ibiza
14:47 - Agency founders & finding the time for a holiday
17:03 - Ibiza evenings
19:57 - Ibiza is becoming upmarket?
23:00 - The boat
26:38 - The meaning of being a community
32:06 - Roast the Post (Part 2)
39:03 - Outro
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9 Aug 2024
ImpressMyBoss.ai
Fresh off Agency Hackers’ AI conference, The Robots Are Coming, in July, Ian & Soph prepare to take on feedback from the attendees. Most of the negative feedback? The coffee wasn’t up to standard, apparently.
Soph also pitches some of her very own AI tool ideas (tech investors, we’re waiting).
They’ll also be:
Poking fun at a bizarre LinkedIn post from one of the site’s most notable masters of cheese.
Delving into some of Ian’s toxic thoughts about being introverted.
Getting to the heart of what it’s like to be a neurodivergent person.
Showcasing the branding for Agency Forecast, which will take place at the House of Lords.
Chapters
00:17 – Roast the Post
09:53 – The Robots Are Coming feedback
19:48 – How Soph uses AI
27:30 – ImpressMyBoss.ai
28:37 – Ian’s Toxic Thoughts
36:50 – Being neurodivergent
42:41 – Inhouse Scoop – we have our US trademark!
46:52 – Agency Forecast
57:18 – Soph’s nicknames for people
59:21 – Outro
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4 Jul 2024
"I’m Sure You’d Never Do Anything Naughty"
For the last few years, Agency Hackers have had their fingers in a bunch of agency pies, and now, for the first time, you’re getting a peek behind the curtain of it all. Join Ian and Soph on the Agency Hackers Podcast as they talk about all things agencies, whether it’s the latest news and trends, some juicy gossip, or just letting off some steam.
In the first ever episode, Ian and Soph poke fun at a controversial LinkedIn post about alcohol; dissect some of Ian’s ‘toxic thoughts’; and delve into what it's like running conferences in the agency world (as well as the stress that comes with it).
Chapters:
00:06 – Roast the Post
07:23 – Personal brand fatigue
09:36 – LinkedIn accessibility features
10:53 – Is Ian Banksy?
11:37 – Clockwork feedback and debrief
25:33 – Being an operations person
30:00 – Audience member falls asleep
31:49 – Ian’s Toxic Thoughts
40:00 – Soph smashes the facilitation
41:52 – The Unfired Card
44:23 – Ibiza Super Summit
53:31 – The meme page (@lifeinagencies)
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