
Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast with Jason Swenk
Bi-weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your marketing agency the smart way.
The popular agency podcast has just turned 10 years old and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency.
#1 Agency Leadership Podcast. Check Out Our Past Guests.

Hiring Red Flags That Cost Agencies Thousands (and How to Avoid Them) with Collin Slattery | Ep #802
What if one bad hire wrecked your agency? What if the red flag you're dismissing tanked your margins? Most agency owners learn these lessons the hard way. But you don’t have to.
In this episode, Collin Slattery shares the red flags, hiring mistakes, and leadership shifts that helped him build an agency that’s not just growing—but growing sane. He’s here to share stories that can help you shortcut the pain and build smarter, sooner. From pricing hesitations to over-hiring juniors to waiting too long to fire a bad hire, he brings great insights about what not to do—and what to fix fast. At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just growth—it’s sane growth.

Why Delegating AI Could Be the Fastest Way to Kill Your Agency with Brandon Na | Ep #801
Is your agency falling behind in the AI revolution—while competitors pull ahead? If you’ve handed off AI adaptation to your team and progress still feels sluggish, you’re not alone.
The uncomfortable truth? Delegating AI could be the biggest threat to your agency’s future.
Today’s guest, Brandon Na, has seen firsthand how agencies rise—or fall—in the face of disruption. From early SEO days to the AI era, he’s learned what it really takes to lead through change. And it starts with not outsourcing the future.
Many employees feel more fear than excitement about AI—worried it could signal the end of their careers. Instead, agency owners should be very involved in this process and actively try to identify team members who are excited to learn about AI and already experiment with it on their own time. The agencies that will thrive aren't the ones that delegate AI innovation down the chain of command but the ones that build transformation strategies around those natural innovators.
Brandon Na is the founder of Seattle Organic SEO, as well as a venture capital pro and acting CMO. His path into agency life started with a simple desire to never have to do cold sales. So instead, he hacked his way into visibility through SEO. This path took Brandon to South Korea, where he helped scale an education company by 1,400%. He eventually returned to the U.S., launched his agency, and dominated the search rankings in a matter of months—all from a handshake mentorship deal with a guy exiting the space.

How Client Caps and Community Made this Agency a Category of One with Oli Luke | Ep #800
What if scaling your agency wasn’t about adding clients—but building a community that fuels growth from within? During Covid lockdowns, today’s featured guest felt the need to turn his clients into a community, hosting events where they could get to know each other and build relationships. To this day, it remains one of the best changes he’s introduced at his agency.
With a dedicated community, a focused niche, and a cap on the amount of clients the agency takes, he created a sense of exclusivity that turned his agency into a “category of one” business that continues to thrive. Join us as he unpacks how his agency journey began, how he accidentally ran into his exclusive niche, and the ways he found to turn clients into members.

Scaling Isn’t About Doing More — It’s About Doing Less (The Right Way) with Joaby Parker | Ep #798
If you’re the visionary still stuck doing the work, you’re not scaling—you’re surviving. Joaby Parker knows that loop well. From launching his agency straight out of college to nearly burning out and walking away, his story is a masterclass in doing too much, too long.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Joaby broke free from the grind, stopped bottlenecking his team, and built a business that scales without him.
He shares his journey from founding his first agency right out of college to walking away and returning to agency life with a new approach and mindset. He reveals what caused his early plateau, why he left to work client-side, and how returning to the agency world taught him how to lead, grow, and eventually let go of the creative and account management roles that were holding him back.

Hiring a Sales Team? Why Most Agency Owners Sabotage Themselves (and How to Get it Right) with Travis Hoechlin | Ep #797
Most agency owners screw up their first sales hire. Why? Because they either hire the wrong person, or refuse to let go of control.
Travis Hoechlin used to think building a sales team was a waste of time—until he realized he was the bottleneck. In this episode, you’ll hear how he went from solo closer to leading a performance-driven team that fuels his agency’s growth.

Profit vs. Purpose: Why the Future of Business Isn’t What You Think with Jeff Hilimire | Ep #796
Ever feel like something’s missing from your agency work—even when things are going well? You’re not alone. For many agency owners, fulfillment doesn’t come from the daily grind, but from aligning their work with a deeper purpose. Today’s featured guest always genuinely enjoyed agency life—something he quickly realized was the exception, not the norm. That realization led him to a mission: helping others discover greater meaning in their business journey. Whether it’s through his books, his leadership, or his venture that unites developers to build websites for nonprofits in just 24 hours, he is all about turning intention into action.

How to Transform Your Agency's Messaging for Maximum ROI with Stephen Woessner | Ep #795
Are you creating brilliant work but struggling to attract the clients who truly value it? Do you find yourself blending into the agency landscape rather than standing out with a distinct voice? Running a successful agency today isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about having the right messaging, which requires specificity. In today‘s conversation, our guest, an ROI expert, talks about what separates agencies that plateau from those that scale. With decades of experience and a focus on helping agencies sell smarter and more profitably, he brings a ton of clarity to what it really takes to grow in today’s market.
Are you doing great work but still feel like your agency’s stuck in neutral? The truth is, talent alone doesn’t scale a business. In this episode our guest, Stephen Woessner—author, agency growth strategist, and founder of Predictive ROI—reveals why most agencies hit a ceiling... and how to break through with a smarter, more strategic approach.
From developing a true methodology to showing up with content that teaches, we dive into what’s working now (and what’s not) when it comes to agency growth, client expectations, and scaling with intention. If you’ve ever relied a little too heavily on referrals, be unsure of your niche, or found yourself winging it without a real system—this one's for you. Tune in to learn how to enhance your agency's approach to attracting clients and scaling your business!

Are You Treating AI as Mission-Critical — Or Just Dabbling in It? With Paolo Vidali | Ep #793
AI isn’t coming for your agency—it’s already here. And if you haven’t set clear guidelines for how your team (and your clients) engage with it, you’re already behind. In this episode, one agency founder shares how he went from AI skeptic to strategic adopter—rewriting his workflows, client communications, and pricing strategy to future-proof his business.
Join us as we explore how to move beyond simply offering AI-enhanced services—and start leveraging AI to boost profitability, streamline operations, and establish your agency as a leader in this new era.

How to Build a Remote Agency That Scales—Without Losing Culture or Control with Lisa Larson-Kelley | Ep #792
Is remote agency life really the dream? While many chase the freedom of working from anywhere, the reality is far more complex. In this episode, Lisa Larson-Kelley shares how she built a high-performing remote team—without sacrificing culture, communication, or control.
Today’s featured guest decided long ago that she prefers the remote option and shares what really makes remote work actually succeed. For her, it comes down to two crucial elements:
Creating a solid structure for clear communication and aligned goals
Hiring people who thrive in self-led, remote environments
Tune in to hear how she built these systems into her agency—and how she still prioritizes meaningful, in-person connection to strengthen team culture.

3 Moves Your Agency Must Make in an Economic Downturn with Dan Kahn |Ep #790
How are you adapting to the many changes in the industry and society overall? For many, including today's featured guest, this is a golden era for agency business. Of course, not everyone will thrive—success depends largely on your ability to adapt. Our guest has mastered adaptation through several economic downturns over the years and we’ll discuss how he navigated each crisis, and why he firmly believes there has never been a better time to be in the agency business.
About the Show
The popular agency podcast has been around since 2014 and covers everything from starting a successful agency to selling your agency. What makes this podcast a must-listen is Swenk’s background as the founder and CEO of an agency for over a decade. Swenk brings his own experience to the table, besides the expertise of his guests. He mostly covers topics that help growing agencies scale to the next level.
YOUR HOST
JASON SWENK
Smart Agency Masterclass
Jason is a family man who also happens to have created a couple big marketing agencies, helped thousands of agency owners, and had a big agency exit too.








