Jon and Kory tackle one of the most talked-about, and most misunderstood, aspects of leadership: culture.What actually is culture? How do you know if yours is healthy? And why do some organisations consistently attract great people while others struggle?Drawing on research, personal experience, and leadership lessons, Jon and Kory discuss how culture is created, how it can be changed, and why hiring for cultural fit is only part of the story. They also explore why even brilliant people can fail in the wrong environment, how agency partners should become an extension of your culture, and why lasting change starts with taking ownership yourself.Timestamps00:00 - Start00:35 - What does the data say about building culture02:06 - Signs of a healthy culture04:52 - What actually is culture?06:27 - The different types of cultures10:14 - How to hire for people that meet your culture12:48 - How culture can feed into your agency partners13:59 - How to change a culture17:01 - Why is change scary?20:17 - Dealing with the right person in the wrong culture21:35 - How our beliefs shape our reality24:03 - Why you need to take ownership to change the culture

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.Timestamps00:00 - Start00:35 - Taking a giant leap01:28 - A moment Kory took a giant leap04:51 - Taking the leap before you feel ready06:46 - Why Jon made the giant leap to go full time on the podcast08:45 - The importance of a support network10:10 - Get comfortable being uncomfortable14:50 - The risks of taking the leap of faith19:02 - Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward22:01 - 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.Timestamps00:00 - Start01:42 - What do we mean by human to human?05:11 - Why we need more humanity now06:55 - Why Jon only does podcasts in person09:56 - What the data says about being in person11:25 - The power of an in person experience16:03 - Why experience matters18:58 - Why being human matters in B2B22:38 - Human relationships and the impact they can have25:21 - What every agency gets wrong in a pitch25:54 - How to be more human27:33 - 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.Timestamps00:00 - Start00:47 - The common thread for successful people02:37 - Feeling guilty for working out03:40 - How to workout while on the road05:08 - How employees can encourage their employees to workout09:31 - Mile 1: The hard part11:37 - Mile 2: Rhythm12:59 - Mile 3: Harmony14:35 - Mile 4: Acceleration17:36 - Mile 5: Let it rip18:30 - How important is music to working out19:55 - Becoming at one with the run20:40 - Break things down into parts23:06 - The two mountains

Timestamps00:00 - Start01:19 - Kory’s 4 part framework for a good keynote speech02:20 - Audience before content07:16 - Don’t provide information, tell a story16:20 - The art of good keynote content20:50 - Obsess over delivery24:58 - 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.Timestamps00:00 - Start02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people25:40 - Reach vs engagement29:03 - 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.Timestamps00:00 - Start01:12 - What Usain Bolt can teach us about speed04:43 - Why e.l.f. made a Super Bowl ad in 11 days09:33 - How you can work at e.l.f. speed12:27 - How legal can help you work at speed15:30 - What needs to be true in order for speed to happen17:47 - 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.Timestamps00:00 - Start02:10 - Kory’s advice for interviews05:07 - The importance of non-verbal behaviour in interviews07:31 - Why you need to ask questions at the end of an interview09:58 - How Kory and Jon like to hire12:22 - Do we put too much pressure on the interview?13:52 - How to show energy in an interview18:34 - Do prepare, don’t rehearse20:19 - Do strategically distill, and don’t ramble on21:36 - Do have a framework, don’t have unstructured thinking22:44 - Do have a conversation, don’t deliver canned responses23:42 - How personal should you get in an interview?25:09 - Why Kory wants to do a TED Talk26:13 - Should you follow up after an interview?

In this episode of Uncensored Renegades, Jon and Kory tackle one of the most underrated relationships in business: marketing and finance.Too often, marketers see the CFO as a blocker. In reality, they can be your biggest ally. Jon and Kory break down how to build a strong relationship with finance, why understanding how the business really works is critical, and how to turn your marketing plan into something the CFO actually wants to champion.Timestamps00:00 - Start01:08 - Where the KBO$$ nickname came from02:06 - Why the CFO relationship is so important04:39 - Understand how the business needs to work05:51 - How to build the relationship with your CFO09:54 - Get finance to present your marketing plan11:16 - How to make earnings interesting14:31 - Are founder led companies more effective?16:35 - How to approach risk in a business20:52 - Translating data into insights