Podcast
Kansas City Marketing Legends
Hosted by Sam Meers and Mike Swenson · EN
The marketing business is like an iceberg. What the public experiences in a :30 second spot on television or online is the tip of the iceberg. So too is the piece of positive publicity about a company or product that someone reads or the piece of persuasive content that lands in their computer or phone. All just the tip of the iceberg.
What’s below the proverbial tip is what this podcast is all about. It’s about the people behind the ideas and the effort that it takes to conceive and produce them. And it’s about all the blood, sweat, and tears these folks gave and the fun and laughter they had while doing it. Most important, the stories we will tell all happened right here in Kansas City.
Our idea is simple. Let’s reach out to all the people who made the Kansas City marketing community what it is today. What we are today is a city of creative powerhouses of all sizes doing work not just across the metro or region, but across the nation and the world.
Welcome to the Kansas City Marketing Legends Podcast!
Brought To You By — evolution Audio Post Production // Springboard Creative // KC Ad Club // PRSA of Kansas City
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Steve Doyal // VP Communications (Retired) | Hallmark Cards & Crown Center
5d ago00:56:23Tap to summarizeSteve Doyal didn't set out to become one of Kansas City's most trusted corporate voices, but Hallmark has a way of finding the right people. After serving his country and a few early career stops, Steve landed at Hallmark and never looked back, spending decades as the company's communications compass through milestones, celebrations, and even tragedy. Along the way he helped transform Crown Center from an overlooked destination into the heartbeat of downtown KC. In this episode, Steve sits down with Sam and Mike to talk about the Hallmark way, what radical hospitality looks like in practice, and why integrity, in business and in life, never goes out of style.#kcmarketinglegends
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Doug Ballou // Marketing Strategist | F/M/A, Yellow Freight, Blue Window
3w ago01:12:31Tap to summarizeDoug Ballou calls it "marketing chess.” And after 50 years of playing it, he's earned the title of a grand master. From employee #31 at F/M/A to building Yellow Freight's marketing operation from the ground up, to the iconic strategy behind "Pork. The Other White Meat,” Doug has worked every side of this business with a rigor that's rare. But perhaps his most meaningful work came last, applying those same IMC tools to behavioral health and public service through Blue Window and GRACE. In this episode, Doug sits down with Sam and Mike to talk about the full board: strategy, integration, mentorship, and what happens when marketing gets used for something bigger than a campaign.#kcmarketinglegends
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Eric Morgenstern // Founder, Morningstar Communications | Fractional CCO
May 2000:55:55Tap to summarizeEric Morgenstern was doing integrated marketing before the industry had a name for it. Splitting his days between ad accounts and PR accounts at Brewer, serving as Hallmark's national spokesperson, then founding Morningstar Communications, Eric has always operated at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and people. He's also done it with his wife and business partner Shanny by his side for nearly three decades. It’s a partnership playbook that's as practical as it is rare. In this episode, Eric sits down with Sam and Mike to talk about building a firm, leading with ethics, and the principles that hold up across every era of this business.#kcmarketinglegends
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Jack Schmid // Direct Marketing Pioneer | Founder, J. Schmid & Associates
May 601:05:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Kansas City Marketing Legends, we sit down with Jack Schmid, a true pioneer who helped put Kansas City on the direct marketing map. From his early days at Fingerhut to launching the Halls catalog at Hallmark and eventually building his own agency, J Schmid & Associates, Jack has lived the full evolution of the industry from punch card databases and printed catalogs to the internet age and AI. He shares the story behind landing Marks & Spencer as a client (spoiler: it involved Harry Truman.) Jack tells us why the fundamentals of direct marketing — the right list, the right offer, the right creative — never go out of style, and what he’s still learning at 90. This one’s packed with wisdom, great stories, and lessons every marketer needs to hear.#kcmarketinglegends
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Brian Brooker // Creative Leader | GSD&M, Barkley, Bernstein-Rein, Garmin
Apr 2200:56:12Tap to summarizeBrian Brooker didn't just write ads. He wrote campaigns that ran for years and years, helped Southwest Airlines find its voice under the legendary Herb Kelleher, and built a 100-person creative org as CCO of Garmin. From his early days at Bernstein-Rein and Barkley & Evergreen in KC to his move to GSD&M in Austin, Brian brought a deceptively simple philosophy to every room he walked into. He brought back his learnings in Austin to Barkley and helped create the memorable Two Guys campaign for Sonic. In this episode, he sits down with Sam and Mike to talk about the work, the craft, and the principles that guided it all: keep it simple, take the side door, and never forget that everything matters.#kcmarketinglegends
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Season Two Wrapped. Time for Season Three!
Apr 800:42:57Tap to summarizeSeason Three of KC Marketing Legends kicks off the way every good conversation should, by looking back before looking forward. Sam and Mike reunite to dig into the common threads that ran through Season Two: the mentors who shaped careers, the principles that held up across decades, and the moments that proved great marketing is as much about character as craft. Then they turn the page to what's ahead. Another class of legends with stories that are just as rich, just as honest, and just as KC. None of it happens without the people who make this show possible: Evolution Audio, Springboard Creative, Media Head, Extra Virgin, the Kansas City Ad Club, and Greater Kansas City PRSA. Pull up a chair. Season Three is just getting started.#kcmarketinglegends
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Pete Kovac // NKH&W
Oct 1500:51:53Tap to summarizePete Kovac is an absolute legend in the advertising world and a founding partner of the iconic agency NKH&W. Pete’s been part of the Kansas City marketing scene for decades, with a career that stretches from working on the client side, to running major agencies, to co-founding one of the most successful shops in town.He’s going to share his take on how the ad industry has evolved, what it really takes to build client relationships that last, and the lessons he’s picked up while mentoring some of the best talent to come through his doors—including Sam, by the way. And if we’re lucky, we might even get a story or two about his ranch out in the Flint Hills.#kcmarketinglegends
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Jim Glynn // Glynn Devins
Oct 100:54:30Tap to summarizeUp next is Jim Glynn, the co-founder of the legendary senior living agency Glynn Devins. Jim and his partner George Devins started from scratch and built one of the most respected firms in the senior living space.Jim’s story is a great ride. He takes us back to his early days doing promotions at Worlds of Fun, where he first caught the advertising bug, then to his move to John Knox Village—what would eventually become their very first client. Along the way, he shares what it takes to build a strong agency culture, attract top talent, and even steer a business through challenges like the 2008 recession. But at the heart of it all is Jim’s passion for making life better for seniors.#kcmarketinglegends
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David Westbrook // Corporate Communications Group
Sep 1700:54:07Tap to summarizeDavid Westbrook has shaped Kansas City’s marketing and communications world in a big way. He’s the founder of Corporate Communications Group, and his story is incredible. From navigating challenges as a blind student to building a powerhouse PR firm and stepping into community leadership, David has done it all.You’ll hear him share some amazing stories—like leading the national awareness campaign for NPR, something near and dear to our hearts, and helping shape the brand and reputation of the Shawnee Mission School District and so many other meaningful campaigns over the years. David’s journey is proof of what happens when perseverance, creativity, and purpose all come together.#kcmarketinglegends
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Harry Campbell // Sprint/Embarq
Sep 300:58:06Tap to summarizeHarry Campbell’s name comes up a lot when you talk about marketing in Kansas City — and for good reason. He’s had a standout career that’s taken him from Procter & Gamble to Sprint, with several entrepreneurial ventures in between. Whether it was leading big-time sponsorships or driving growth as a general manager, Harry has made a lasting impact. His mix of versatility, business savvy, and genuine passion for marketing has earned him deep respect in the industry.In today’s conversation, we get into Harry’s backstory — how those early days at P&G shaped a marketing-first mindset that stuck with him through every chapter. He’ll share lessons learned from iconic leaders like Dan Hesse and explain how his approach to leadership and team building helped him navigate challenges and come out stronger.#kcmarketinglegends
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