Summary
Welcome back to Stupid, Simple Marketing! In today’s episode, Bryan Fittin and Brad Alexander are joined by Heather Applegate, owner of Pivot X Coaching, for a conversation about building and leading creative marketing teams, even if you're starting out solo. Drawing from her background in brand building, creative management, and executive coaching, Heather shares practical tips for figuring out the right first hire, assessing your own strengths and energy drains, and creating a healthy team culture.

From the importance of hiring slow and parting ways quickly, to letting go of control and providing opportunities for safe failure, Heather gets real about what it takes not only to grow your team, but to keep the right people motivated and thriving. Whether you’re a business owner, the lone marketer, or starting to scale, this episode is packed with actionable advice on everything from interviewing and onboarding, to feedback and building trust. If you’re ready to get smarter about team-building—and maybe relinquish some control for the greater good—this episode is for you!

Show Notes
00:00 Navigating People in Leadership

03:24 Marketing Role Prioritization Guide

07:00 Self-Discovery Through Working Genius

12:45 Open Conversations in Hiring

15:03 Effective Interviewing with Practical Testing

16:49 Embracing Growth in New Roles

20:25 Let Go of the Vine

24:43 Building Collaborative, Trust-Based Team Culture

27:26 Hiring and Leadership Insights

Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fittin/
https://goroguestudio.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-alexander-cc/
https://clarityalwayswins.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-applegate/
https://www.thepivotx.com/

Summary
Welcome to the very first episode of the Stupid, Simple Marketing Podcast, where hosts Bryan Fittin and Brad Alexander cut through the noise and make marketing manageable for the everyday marketer. In this kickoff episode, Bryan and Brad dive into the real challenges faced by small marketing teams who are expected to drive results despite minimal resources and towering expectations. They shine a light on the overwhelm of constantly chasing trends and the pressure to master every new tool, all while reminding listeners that the basics—consistency, clarity, and prioritization—are what really move the needle.

Whether you’re a business owner, marketing director, or the one-person marketing department, Bryan and Brad share actionable advice and relatable stories to help you focus on what works without the stress of overcomplicating your strategy. The hosts also tease upcoming guests, practical challenges, and tactical takeaways designed to bring confidence and simplicity back to your marketing journey. If you’re ready to ditch the chaos and start getting optimal outcomes with stupid, simple marketing, you’re in the right place!

Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fittin/
https://goroguestudio.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-alexander-cc/
https://clarityalwayswins.com/

Marketing shouldn’t feel like rocket science.
If you’re a marketing director, small business owner, or founder tired of overcomplicated strategies that never get used, this podcast is for you.

In this trailer, Brad and Bryan introduce The Stupid, Simple Marketing Podcast — a show where each week, they break down one clear, actionable tactic you can use today to grow your business. No jargon. No funnel bro nonsense. Just real marketing that works.

Whether you're trying to get more leads, boost sales, or win back old customers — this is your new secret weapon.

Subscribe now, and let’s make marketing stupid simple.