Summary4 min read

Revenue Builders Podcast: “Here's to 2026!”

Episode Date: December 27, 2025
Hosts: John McMahon & John Kaplan

Episode Overview

In the final episode of the year, co-hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan reflect on the highlights of the Revenue Builders podcast throughout 2025. They share memorable moments from standout episodes, recognize the impact of their guests, express gratitude for their listeners, and hint at exciting changes on the horizon for 2026. This episode serves as both a heartfelt thank-you and a retrospective, emphasizing the podcast's mission to give back to the sales leadership community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflections on 2025’s Standout Episodes

Recognizing Impactful Guests
Both hosts named several episodes that left a particular impression, citing the diversity and depth of the topics and the caliber of guest expertise.
Favorites Mentioned:
- Doug Holiday series on “Rethinking Success”
- Ann Gary’s deep dives on champions & economic buyers
- Marcello Gallo & Bobby Morrison covering AI-driven sales innovation
- Steve Wa and Jane Thompson on “elephant hunting” big deals
- Mike Hayes discussing his leadership book “Mission Driven”
- Steve Garrity’s personal journey with cancer survival and leadership
- Dean Auto’s story of resilience and forgiveness after a life-changing accident
- Megan Gill (MongoDB) sharing Sales Operations insights
- Chris Vick on advanced pipeline generation techniques
“Those are just a sample of some that really stuck out to me. But I loved all of them in 2025, Johnny. It was a great year, man.” – John Kaplan [01:21]
Emphasis on Variety and Real Stories
The co-hosts highlight how the episodes ranged from deep tactical sales insights to personal stories of resilience and transformation.

2. Audience Connection and Community Impact

Acknowledging Listener Support
Both Johns expressed sincere gratitude for their audience, crediting listener engagement with enabling the show’s ongoing success:

“We’re able to do these podcasts because our listeners reach out to us on LinkedIn... They review us and rate us and we read all that stuff. Because of that feedback, the team's been working really, really hard.” – John Kaplan [02:52]
Personal Impact Notes
John McMahon recounted receiving messages from listeners describing how the podcast affected their careers—and sometimes even their lives:

“By listening to the podcast, it changed their sales career, in some ways changed their life. And, you know, that’s why we continue to do this, because we're having a huge effect...” – John McMahon [03:36]

3. Looking Ahead to 2026

Teasing Future Enhancements While specifics remain under wraps, Kaplan excitedly hints at upcoming changes to the podcast in 2026, promising new formats and high-powered guests:

“Johnny, I'm dying to talk about what we're going to do, but they told me we can't talk about it. So there's some big things coming in 2026... format changes, some, you know, look and feel and some superstar guest power…” – John Kaplan [02:52]
Mission Reaffirmed
Both hosts reaffirm the podcast’s purpose: to give back to the community, foster knowledge sharing, and offer support to B2B sales professionals at scale.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Kaplan’s Sincere Thanks:
“I just want to thank all the listeners. I want to wish everybody a great end of year and beginning of next year.” [00:14]
On Guest Diversity:
“There was a lot of variation, too... Steve Wa and Jane Thompson, who are big, you know, elephant hunters... Megan Gill, VP of Sales Operations at MongoDB—the Chris Vick one on Pipeline Generation.” – John McMahon [01:38]
Authenticity Shout-Out:
“Doug Holiday… he’s just a... wonderfully different person. He's so authentic, so genuine, and so heartwarming. It's hard not to love that guy.” – John McMahon [02:38]
Kaplan on Partnership:
“It's an honor to show up and do these with you. I know we joke around a lot, and people love the way you and I other.” [04:22]
On Podcast Origins (with Humor):
“Well, we would have done it six years ago, but I took two years to drag you into this thing.” – John McMahon [04:43]
“We should do a podcast on that. How the Blind Squirrel Found a Nut.” – John Kaplan [04:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:14 – Thanking listeners; reflecting on the year’s standout episodes
01:21 – Kaplan lists favorite podcasts and why they mattered
01:38 – McMahon discusses the diversity of guests and highlights specific memorable moments
02:52 – Kaplan on the show’s community support and teasing 2026 improvements
03:36 – McMahon and Kaplan reflect on the personal impact of their show in the sales community
04:22 – Celebrating their partnership and four years of podcasting
04:43 – Light-hearted banter on starting the podcast

Closing Thoughts

The “Here’s to 2026!” episode is a warm, reflective conversation between two leaders sincerely invested in their community. Their gratitude and excitement set the stage for an even stronger year ahead, with promises of innovation and continued practical value for their listeners. Perfect for both long-time followers and newcomers seeking inspiration and insight on building and scaling revenue teams.

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Transcript12 lines

[00:00]
A
Hey, welcome to the Revenue Builders podcast. I'm John McMahon. I'm here with John Kaplan. It's the end of the year and we're looking back at a few things that we did throughout the year that kind of some highlights. What do you think, Cap?
[00:14]
B
Well, buddy, I just want to thank all the listeners. I want to wish everybody a great end of year and beginning of next year. I got a few episodes if you want to riff on some of those as some of the things that just. It's tough to do these, Johnny, when the producer says, hey, you know, just highlight some of the. Highlight some of the ones that stuck out. They all stuck out. I thought 2025 was an incredible year. Doug Holiday series on rethinking success and we're still in that. We'll continue that in 2026. All of Ann Gary's work on champions and economic buyers was incredible. Marcello Gallo and Bobby Morrison on AI driven sales innovation. Those were incredible. How about Steve Wa on his big deal? So many people came back and told us about, you know, how much they appreciated that Mike Hayes and his, his book Mission Driven and all the great work that he does. Steve Garrity ripped my face off on the cancer survivor and telling his story. I love that. And then the Dean Auto one on, you know, on resilience, getting, you know, hit on his bicycle and turning around and the road to forgiveness. And those are just a sample of some that just kind of really stuck out to me. But I loved all of them in 2025. Johnny. It was a great year, man.
[01:39]
A
Yeah, there was a lot of variation too. You know, we had like Steve Wa and Jane Thompson, who are big, you know, elephant hunters, so to speak. They know how to go out and get really big sales deals. We had the one that Steve Garrity know, cancer survivor and, you know, top, top leader. I think he's at Oracle right now. I'd like the Megan Gill one, which is a little different.
[02:02]
B
Oh, great one.
[02:03]
A
The VP of Sales Operations. Yeah, MongoDB. You know, how can you not like Mike Hayes and what he does? He wrote another book called Mission Driven and Mike Hayes is just a world class person, world class character. I like the Chris Vick one on Pipeline Generation. I think really good job there. We don't typically get that narrow, but Chris did a wonderful job there. Bobby Morrison was really outstanding. There's a guy that's on, on top of his game. And then finally, how can you not like Doug Holiday in the series that we do with him? He's just A wow. He's just a diff. He's a wonderfully different person. He's so authentic, so genuine, and so heartwarming. It's hard not to love that guy.
[02:53]
B
Yeah, Buddy. And I'm thinking about, you know, we're able to do these podcasts because these, our listeners, they reach out to us on LinkedIn. They, you know, they. They review us and they rate us and we read all that stuff. And. And because of that listening and because of that feedback, the team's been working really, really hard. Johnny, I'm dying to talk about what we're going to do, but they told me we can't talk about it. So there's some big things coming in 2026. There's going to be some format changes, some, you know, look and feel and. And some superstar guest power, and we couldn't do any of that if there wasn't an interest out there. So I'm really, really excited.
[03:37]
A
Well, Johnny, we've always done this to try to give back to the community, right? I mean, you and I get a lot of emails, LinkedIn requests to, can you spend 15 minutes or an hour with me? And the only way to transfer a lot of our knowledge and through the people that we know is through this podcast. So I think it's super valuable. I know you get them, and I get them, too. LinkedIn messages and emails that are not only requests for time, but really telling us that by listening to the podcast, changed their sales career, in some ways changed their life. And, you know, that's why we continue to do this, because we're having a huge effect on Buddy. A number of different people.
[04:22]
B
I can't. I can't believe it's been four years, Buddy. That's shocking to me. I've enjoyed every bit of it. It's an honor to show up and. And do these with. With you. I know we joke around a lot, and people. People love the way you and I other. It's. I'm really, really looking forward to having another great year with you, bud.
[04:43]
A
Well, we would have done it six years ago, but I took two years to drag you into this thing. That is true.
[04:48]
B
We should do a podcast on that. How the Blind Squirrel Found a Nut. That's what.
[04:55]
A
Yeah. So, once again, thanks, Mr. Kaplan, and thanks to everyone for listening to the Revenue Builders podcast.
[05:04]
B
Happy holidays.