Podcast
How I Grew This: Real Stories of Digital Growth
Hosted by Branch · EN
How I Grew This is a podcast hosted by Amanda Vandiver and Adam Landis exploring the real stories behind digital growth. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders in marketing, product, and tech about how they built, scaled, and navigated challenges in an ever-changing digital landscape. From breakthrough strategies to hard-earned lessons, guests share what actually worked—and what didn’t—along the way.
29episodes
Episodes
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Clarity Wins: The Fundamentals That Still Matter (Best of 2025)
Jan 2300:28:59Tap to summarizeIn 2025, growth didn’t stall because teams lacked tools—it stalled because they lacked clarity. AI accelerated everything, dashboards multiplied, and activity increased, yet decision-making quietly got worse.In this Best of 2025 compilation, Amanda and Adam revisit standout conversations with growth, product, and leadership operators to uncover a shared truth: the teams that won weren’t moving faster—they were seeing more clearly. From subscription app fundamentals and AI attribution to leadership focus, creative guardrails, and defensibility in an agent-led future, this episode connects the patterns that actually held up.You’ll learn why understanding your funnel matters more than scaling it, why server logs reveal what analytics dashboards miss, where “vibe coding” breaks down, and why saying no is often the most strategic decision a leader can make.If you’re building, leading, or navigating an AI-first world, this episode is a reminder that the fundamentals never stopped mattering. Episode Highlights:[00:01:01] Build Subscription Apps on Clear Metrics, Not Blind ScalingTakeaway: If you can’t see your funnel end-to-end, you’re guessing—and scaling guesswork is how apps die.Shumel explains that early-stage subscription app founders often rush into growth before setting up the analytics that actually matter. Many compare themselves to mature competitors with completely different economics, timelines, and data maturity. The real work starts by tagging the right events early so you can see how users move from app open to registration to engagement—and how different subscription tiers (weekly vs. annual) change behavior. Once that visibility exists, founders can model realistic unit economics like CAC, LTV, and payback period instead of chasing premature ROI. Clarity here prevents expensive scaling mistakes and gives teams a foundation they can trust.[00:04:34] Use Server Logs as Your Most Reliable AI Attribution SignalTakeaway: Your analytics dashboard is lying to you—server logs are the source of truth.Jason breaks down why standard tools like GA4 fail to show how AI models interact with your content. AI systems like ChatGPT use multiple bots for training, retrieval, and other functions, and their activity never appears cleanly in traditional dashboards. Server logs, however, capture every request. By analyzing them, teams can see which content AI models actually reference, how often training bots consume data, and what traffic flows from AI tools like Perplexity. This uncomfortable clarity lets brands make smarter content decisions in an AI-driven distribution landscape where polished dashboards obscure reality.[00:07:59] Know Where AI Accelerates Your Team—and Where It Creates RiskTakeaway: AI should speed up judgment, not replace it.Robert explains that “vibe coding” works well for proofs of concept and simple applications but breaks down in regulated environments and complex legacy systems. In fintech and healthcare, security, compliance, and maintainability still demand human oversight. His team uses AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to eliminate repetitive cognitive work—research, scaffolding, and suggestions—so engineers can focus on architecture and risk. The advantage isn’t letting AI build the product for you; it’s freeing your best people to make the decisions that keep the business safe and defensible.[00:10:06] Lead Through Mission Clarity and Ruthless Focus, Not Heroic EffortTakeaway: Too many priorities feel urgent—clarity tells teams what to ignore.Patrick shares a leadership framework centered on repeatedly resetting the mission: who you’re building for and why. When teams juggle too many “important” initiatives, progress stalls and morale drops. His antidote is ruthless prioritization—actively unfocusing from false emergencies—and creating structured space for creativity through hackathons and design challenges. He also challenges the idea that technical PMs must code, arguing that curiosity and supported learning matter more. In fast-moving environments, clarity isn’t motivational fluff—it’s how teams survive sustained pressure.[00:13:14] Use Principles as an Operating System, Not DecorationTakeaway: Saying no isn’t a luxury—it’s how durable businesses are built.Mick shows how principled constraints create long-term advantage. By declining gambling and gaming clients and focusing tightly on mobile, his agency protected quality, talent, and culture—even when cash flow was tight. Early-stage companies don’t lack ambition; they lack focus. Prioritizing payroll, vendors, and sustainable growth over personal draw builds trust internally and externally. Over time, this creates a compounding effect: trained leaders pass down standards and judgment that outside hires can’t replicate. Principles stop being slogans and become infrastructure.[00:17:36] Use Guardrails to Unlock Creativity Instead of Stifling ItTakeaway: Constraints don’t kill creativity—they aim it.Lindiwe explains how clear guardrails transform cross-functional chaos into productive collaboration. Designers move faster when constraints are explicit, and stakeholders contribute better feedback when they focus on strategy instead of taste. Guardrails—brand, goals, and boundaries—turn conflicting opinions into useful tension rather than endless revision cycles. When everyone understands their role, creativity becomes a problem-solving engine instead of an emotional battleground.[00:23:09] Pick a Niche Problem, Build a Data Advantage, and Lock In StickinessTakeaway: Defensibility comes from speed, focus, and owning one lane deeply.Cooper outlines how companies survive in an AI-accelerated world by solving specific, high-value problems that large AI labs won’t prioritize. As AI agents become the primary interface, switching costs—not features—create stickiness. Products trained on deep, niche data become hard to replace because retraining is expensive and risky. Fast iteration beats long build cycles, and early customer feedback compounds into a defensible data advantage. Specialists win by moving first and learning fastest.[00:26:48] Specialize—Don’t Consolidate—in an Agent-Led FutureTakeaway: In an AI ecosystem, the best tool wins—not the biggest one.Cooper expands on why consolidation fails in an agent-driven world. AI platforms like OpenAI rely on specialist tools through integrations rather than attempting domain mastery themselves. That means businesses should obsess over doing one thing exceptionally well instead of expanding into adjacent features. Broad platforms become mediocre; specialists become indispensable. The winners are the teams that dominate a narrow use case, collect the most relevant data, and become the default choice when AI agents delegate work.Episode Resources:Shumel Lais on LinkedInJason White on LinkedInRobert Armstrong on LinkedInPatrick Wesonga on LinkedInMick Rigby on LinkedInLindiwe Stenberg on LinkedInCooper Simpson on LinkedInAmanda Vandiver on LinkedInAdam Landis on LinkedInBranch on LinkedInBranch WebsiteHow I Grew This on Apple PodcastsHow I Grew This on SpotifyHow I Grew This on Simplecast
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The Brand Consistency Myth: How to Scale Creative Without Losing Your Identity with Justin Rashidi
Jan 800:39:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of How I Grew This, host Amanda sits down with Justin Rashidi, Co-Founder and Head of Strategy at SeedX, Inc., alongside co-host Adam, to explore how to build sustainable growth engines, navigate the shifting search landscape powered by AI, and measure marketing efforts with precision in a world of constant platform changes.
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Building AI That Won’t Get Eaten by the Models with Cooper Simson
Dec 1800:35:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Amanda and Adam welcome Cooper Simson, Portfolio Manager at Martell Ventures, to discuss how to build sustainable AI-first SaaS companies for small and medium-sized businesses. Drawing from his experience launching an AI grant-writing startup and now scaling portfolio companies, Cooper breaks down the strategic frameworks, defensibility principles, and go-to-market tactics that separate winners from casualties in the AI boom.
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The MarTech Operator’s Playbook with Lindiwe Stenberg of Venmo
Dec 400:36:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of HIGT, hosts Adam and Amanda sit down with Lindiwe Stenberg, newly promoted Chief of Staff to the VP of Marketing at Venmo (formerly Growth Marketing Operations Lead), to explore her unconventional career journey from multimedia design to nursing school to fintech marketing, her philosophy on continuous learning, and practical strategies for building high-performing marketing stacks and cross-functional teams.
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Why Saying “No” Is Key to Long-Term Success
Nov 1400:31:03Tap to summarizeBuilding a Sustainable Agency Through Values-Driven Leadership and Specialist Focus. In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam speak with Mick Rigby, founder and CEO of Yodel Mobile, about his 20-year journey building a specialist mobile app marketing agency. From launching just before the iPhone's debut to being recently acquired by NP Digital, Mick shares insights on sustainable growth, maintaining company values, and adapting to industry changes.
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Building Mission-Driven Products in Regulated Industries: Lessons from 20 Years in Product Management
Oct 2700:33:18Tap to summarizeEver wondered how to navigate product development in highly regulated industries while still driving innovation? Join Amanda and Adam as they chat with Patrick Wesonga, Senior Product Leader, who shares two decades of invaluable product management wisdom. From hypothesis-driven development to building mission-driven products, discover how to balance regulatory compliance with rapid innovation, the key traits of exceptional product managers, and why curiosity is the cornerstone of product success. Whether you're an aspiring product manager or seasoned professional, this episode delivers practical insights on making impactful product decisions while staying true to your mission.
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The Untold Truth About Agency Growth: Why Small Teams Beat Giant Competitors
Oct 200:34:02Tap to summarizeFrom Oracle Sales to Digital Product Pioneer: Building a Sustainable Tech Agency in the Mobile Era. In this episode of How I Grew This, host Adam speaks with Robert Armstrong, Co-Founder and CEO of Appstem, about his 15-year journey building a successful digital product agency from the early days of mobile apps to today's AI-driven landscape, alongside co-host Amanda.
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Subscription App Growth: Insights from the Frontlines
Jul 16, 202500:34:37Tap to summarizeJoin Adam and Amanda as they sit down with Shumel Lais, a mobile growth expert with over a decade of experience, to explore the essential strategies for launching and scaling subscription apps. From setting up proper analytics and understanding payback periods to navigating iOS challenges and leveraging AI, this episode delivers practical insights for both startup founders and established app developers. Learn why immediate ROI isn't always the goal, when to start paid acquisition, and how to build a sustainable growth strategy in today's complex mobile landscape. -Demystifies key metrics and tracking essentials for early-stage apps -Explores realistic payback periods and ROI expectations at different growth stages -Reveals how AI is transforming creative testing and app development -Provides actionable advice for solo founders entering the subscription app space
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How Gamelight's Founder Günay Azer Bootstrapped a Next-Gen AI-Driven UA Platform
Nov 21, 202400:30:23Tap to summarizeGamelight founder Günay Azer sits down with ‘How I Grew This’ hosts Amanda Vandiver and Adam Landis to reveal the remarkable journey of transforming a bootstrapped startup into a mobile marketing powerhouse. In this episode, Günay shares how Gamelight's AI-powered platform revolutionizes user acquisition through sophisticated data analysis and personalized app recommendations. The conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone interested in mobile gaming, adtech innovation, and the future of AI-driven marketing strategies. Learn firsthand how Gamelight's cutting-edge approach is reshaping the mobile app marketing landscape through the strategic intersection of artificial intelligence, user behavior data, and targeted recommendation algorithms.
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Senior Director of Business Development at Mintegral: Shobeir Shobeiri - How Mobile Game Ads Can Skyrocket Your Brand's Growth
Aug 1, 202400:26:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode of How I Grew This, Shobeir Shobeiri, Senior Director of Business Development at Mintegral, joins host Amanda Vandiver and Adam Landis to discuss the evolution of mobile advertising and what brand advertising means in the context of mobile.
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