Today, Jon and Kory discuss the moments that define careers. The ones where you have to leap before you know exactly how things will turn out.

From leaving secure jobs to betting on yourself, they reflect on the decisions that shaped their own careers and why waiting until you feel "ready" is often the biggest barrier to growth. They explore the importance of having a strong support network, embracing discomfort, and accepting that sometimes you need to take a step backwards before you can move forwards.

This is an honest conversation about risk, resilience, and why the biggest opportunities often sit just outside your comfort zone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:35 - Taking a giant leap
01:28 - A moment Kory took a giant leap
04:51 - Taking the leap before you feel ready
06:46 - Why Jon made the giant leap to go full time on the podcast
08:45 - The importance of a support network
10:10 - Get comfortable being uncomfortable
14:50 - The risks of taking the leap of faith
19:02 - Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward
22:01 - Are you willing to lose the battle to win the war?
24:42 - You need a high risk tolerance

Jon and Kory explore why human connection matters more than ever in a world increasingly dominated by screens, automation, and AI.

From the power of in-person experiences to the importance of empathy in business, they discuss why relationships are still the foundation of great leadership, marketing, and culture. Jon explains why he only records podcasts face-to-face, Kory shares why B2B is ultimately human-to-human, and together they unpack the mistakes agencies often make by forgetting the people behind the pitch.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:42 - What do we mean by human to human?
05:11 - Why we need more humanity now
06:55 - Why Jon only does podcasts in person
09:56 - What the data says about being in person
11:25 - The power of an in person experience
16:03 - Why experience matters
18:58 - Why being human matters in B2B
22:38 - Human relationships and the impact they can have
25:21 - What every agency gets wrong in a pitch
25:54 - How to be more human
27:33 - Everyone has something going on

Today Jon and Kory explore the surprising link between leadership and exercise. From CEOs and founders to top marketers, many high performers share one habit in common: they make time to move.

The duo discuss why working out often feels selfish (when it shouldn't), how to maintain healthy habits while travelling, and what companies can do to encourage their teams to prioritise wellbeing. Jon also breaks down his philosophy of running, explaining how different stages of a workout mirror the rhythms of work and life.

This is a conversation about energy, discipline, and why taking care of yourself might be one of the most important leadership skills of all.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:47 - The common thread for successful people
02:37 - Feeling guilty for working out
03:40 - How to workout while on the road
05:08 - How employees can encourage their employees to workout
09:31 - Mile 1: The hard part
11:37 - Mile 2: Rhythm
12:59 - Mile 3: Harmony
14:35 - Mile 4: Acceleration
17:36 - Mile 5: Let it rip
18:30 - How important is music to working out
19:55 - Becoming at one with the run
20:40 - Break things down into parts
23:06 - The two mountains

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:19 - Kory’s 4 part framework for a good keynote speech
02:20 - Audience before content
07:16 - Don’t provide information, tell a story
16:20 - The art of good keynote content
20:50 - Obsess over delivery
24:58 - Jon’s poem on public speaking

Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers.

The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months
03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event
05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling
06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster
12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption
17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation
20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter
22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish
22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people
25:40 - Reach vs engagement
29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event

Today Jon and Kory break down why speed has become one of the biggest competitive advantages in modern marketing.

Using e.l.f.’s Super Bowl campaign, created and launched in just 11 days, they explore what allows some organisations to move incredibly quickly while others get trapped in endless approvals and bureaucracy. From legal teams and leadership trust to decision-making and culture, this episode is a practical look at how to build teams that execute with speed.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:12 - What Usain Bolt can teach us about speed
04:43 - Why e.l.f. made a Super Bowl ad in 11 days
09:33 - How you can work at e.l.f. speed
12:27 - How legal can help you work at speed
15:30 - What needs to be true in order for speed to happen
17:47 - Why speed is such a big competitive advantage

Since joining e.l.f., Kory has famously achieved consecutive quarters of growth, 28 at the time of recording. This is an extraordinary achievement for a CMO, so Kory breaks down exactly how they did it, and what insights you can take back to your company to achieve the same.

Today Jon and Kory break down what actually makes someone memorable in an interview, beyond rehearsed answers and polished CVs.

From body language and energy to asking better questions and avoiding corporate waffle, they share practical advice on how to stand out without sounding scripted. They also discuss how they personally hire, whether interviews are overrated, and why the best candidates treat interviews like conversations, not performances.

Whether you’re hiring, interviewing, or just trying to communicate better, this episode is packed with useful insights.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
02:10 - Kory’s advice for interviews
05:07 - The importance of non-verbal behaviour in interviews
07:31 - Why you need to ask questions at the end of an interview
09:58 - How Kory and Jon like to hire
12:22 - Do we put too much pressure on the interview?
13:52 - How to show energy in an interview
18:34 - Do prepare, don’t rehearse
20:19 - Do strategically distill, and don’t ramble on
21:36 - Do have a framework, don’t have unstructured thinking
22:44 - Do have a conversation, don’t deliver canned responses
23:42 - How personal should you get in an interview?
25:09 - Why Kory wants to do a TED Talk
26:13 - Should you follow up after an interview?