All Episodes 139: Reed Hansen | How Automation, Data & AI Build Business Resilience
139: Reed Hansen | How Automation, Data & AI Build Business Resilience
Join host Chris Beane in conversation with Reed Hansen—Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge and host of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge—as they explore the long-term power of podcasting, strategic automation, and data-driven resilience. Discover how Reed uses consistent podcasting not for instant leads, but to deepen authority, strengthen client relationships, and spark unexpected business opportunities. Whether you’re scaling a startup or refining your agency, learn how to use automation, analytics, and AI to build a resilient, frictionless marketing engine. Tune in now!
From Tactics to Transformation: Building a Business That Lasts
What's up, everyone? Chris Beane here. If you’ve been following The Prestige Initiative, you know I’m all about cutting through the noise to find strategies that actually work. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at Market Surge, and we dove deep into the game-changing power of podcasting, automation, and AI.
This wasn’t just a chat about microphones and editing software. This was a masterclass in building business resilience—using modern tools to generate trust, deepen client relationships, and create a marketing engine that works while you sleep.
Today, I’m breaking down the key insights from our conversation, pulling directly from the transcript to share Reed’s hard-earned wisdom (and a few of my own behind-the-scenes secrets). Let’s get into it.
Why Podcasting is the Ultimate Networking Tool
Reed didn’t start his podcast to become an influencer. He started it to save his marketing agency. After a year of fruitless cold emails and ads, he tried a new approach: becoming a guest on other podcasts.
“I started reaching out to a few local business-focused podcasts and just offered my expertise as a guest... I landed a few opportunities. Then I connected with an AI tool that helped me do this faster.”
That tool was PodPitch, an AI-powered platform that scans podcasts, finds relevant quotes matching your expertise, and helps craft personalized outreach emails. The result?
“The first day I started using it, I think within three days, I had five podcasts booked.”
But here’s the real kicker—the benefit wasn’t a flood of new leads. It was something more powerful:
“They [existing clients] are calling me and asking me questions they didn’t use to ask... What’s your advice on X?... It’s a much more substantial relationship.”
This hit home for me. Podcasting isn’t just a megaphone; it’s a trust-building machine. It’s about deepening the relationships you already have, positioning yourself as a thought leader, and having a library of content to share.
The Tech Stack: How to Automate Your Podcasting Workflow
One of my favorite parts of our chat was geeking out over the tech that makes this all possible without burning you out. Reed uses a powerful combo:
Hosting & Distribution:Transistor.fm (to push episodes to all major platforms).
Recording & Editing:Descript (for its AI-powered editing, transcription, and filler-word removal).
CRM & Newsletter:GoHighLevel (to manage contacts and automate follow-ups).
I had to chime in with my own setup, which I’ve refined over multiple shows:
“The tool that I've landed on is Substack... It is free. It hosts the video. It sends the video to YouTube... It sends the audio to all the different audio platforms... and it does the transcript for me automatically.”
The goal isn’t to spend 10 hours editing one episode. It’s to create systems. For me, that means using AI prompts to handle the heavy lifting.
“I created an AI... I used ChatGPT to create a prompt... It gives me social media postings, hashtags to add, the title, the description, the questions. The whole thing is scripted out.”
I call this AI my “podcasting assistant,” Ted. He handles the research and initial drafting, which frees me up to actually have a genuine, unscripted conversation.
Solo Episodes vs. Guest Interviews: A Strategic Mix
Reed discovered a fascinating data point early on. His solo deep-dive episode, “AI 101,” drastically outperformed his interview episodes in downloads, even though his mom told him to stop doing solos!
His strategy now is a mix:
Guest Interviews (20-30 mins): To tap into new audiences and provide variety.
Solo Deep Dives (10-15 mins): To answer tactical “how-to” questions that arise from interviews.
This creates a powerful content flywheel: the guest brings the audience and the broad topic, and you provide the deep, actionable value that keeps them coming back.
The #1 Piece of Advice for Anyone Starting Out
We ended with the most important question: What’s your number one piece of advice for someone who wants to start?
Reed’s answer was perfect:
“Start today... If you have a phone, you have enough to start recording... You learn a lot by doing and then playing it back.”
You don’t need a fancy studio (though I love mine in the garage!). You need to start. Record yourself. Listen back. Improve. The best content is video, and those short clips are often more powerful than the full episode.
“Jump in the deep end. You'll find that you can swim... Maybe you think your voice sounds weird, but there are people that just find it soothing. You just need to put yourself out there.”
Conclusion & Your Next Steps
Talking with Reed Hansen was a blast because it reinforced a core belief of mine: the future of business is human connection, amplified by smart technology. Podcasting is one of the best ways to do that.
Your challenge this week? Record a three-minute video on your phone. Answer one question you get all the time from clients. Don’t overthink it. Just do it. See how it feels.
If you’re ready to systemize your own podcast, drop a comment below and tell me your biggest hurdle. Let’s figure it out together.
Join us weekly for deep, unfiltered conversations about personal development, leadership, productivity, and excellence. Each episode is crafted to help you take initiative and unlock your full potential — both personally and professionally
Steven Werley has lived two lives: first as an Army Ranger, where discipline and clarity under pressure meant survival, and now as a marketing strategist, where those same principles drive revenue growth. Having helped more than 6,500 business owners rethink their sales systems, Steven knows most businesses don’t have a lead problem—they have a conversion problem. In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Chris and Steven unpack how AI agents are reshaping sales teams, why overlooked leads often hold the biggest wins, and how to scale revenue without losing the human touch. If you’ve ever felt like you’re leaving money on the table, or you’re burning out chasing leads that don’t close, this conversation will show you how to reclaim your time, sharpen your systems, and grow smarter—not harder.
Susanne Biro helps C-Suite and executive leaders escape what she calls the “Outer Life Trap”—the pattern of chasing external achievements to solve inner emptiness. With two decades coaching senior leaders globally, she believes sustainable success comes from integrating your inner world—your thoughts, feelings, and presence—into how you lead, decide, and show up. In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Chris and Susanne dive into the tension between outer life metrics and inner life reality: how many leaders feel “successful” but burned out, stressed, or disconnected. We explore tools for awareness, reducing stress without reducing impact, and leadership that grows from the inside out. For anyone who feels the results aren’t matching the effort, this conversation will illuminate a new path forward.
www.susannebiro.com
Get her book here: www.susannebiro.com/book
John Solleder has been building businesses—and people—for more than four decades. As a top earner in four network marketing companies and mentor to over 5,000 entrepreneurs, John knows the difference between chasing short-term wins and building a life of sustainable achievement. In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Chris and John dive deep into what it takes to stay relevant and effective for the long haul. They explore how mindset drives outcomes, why self-development is the non-negotiable investment, and how balance isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone working to align personal growth with professional goals, this conversation will give you a blueprint for building success that lasts decades, not just years.
Made with Bullet