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Podcast
[Un]Churned – The No. 1 Podcast for Customer Retention
Hosted by Gainsight · EN
If you're experimenting with automation, questioning the traditional post-sales model, or trying to drive more value with less headcount, you're in the right place. AI won’t fix churn, but these conversations might.
Retention is the new growth, AI is rewriting the rules. Hosted by Josh Schachter, SVP of Atlas at Gainsight, [Un]Churned—the No. 1 podcast for retention and Customer Success leaders—features real talk with the sharpest minds in the Customer Success space. We dig into how teams are scaling smarter, activating AI agents, and redesigning the customer journey for lasting impact.
51episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
This CCO Won't Ask His Team What He Wouldn't Do Himself (And Why) ft. Jim Richmond (Smartling)
Jan 2800:29:08Tap to summarizeReady to churn less and win more? 🏆 Subscribe for a simple, once-a-month rundown of the episodes at gainsight.com/unchurnedJim Richmond is the Chief Customer Officer at Smartling, an AI-powered translation company doing AI "before it was cool" since 2009. Leading 50 professionals across support, services, and customer success, Jim shares his 2026 playbook: why GRR is his North Star, how he's building systems to scale 4x, and why role specialization beats generalization in the AI era.Jim reveals how AI bots eliminated single-touch support tickets at Smartling, why he still carries his own book of business as a CCO, and his career advice for aspiring leaders to build the professional empathy that makes them an authentic partner.---Timestamps0:00 - Preview & Introduction1:25 - Meet Jim Richmond 1:50 - Smartling Overview4:33 - 2026 Priorities: GRR as the North Star metric6:30 - Building a four-quarter forecast9:40 - Building systems for 4x growth12:24 - Forecasting to eliminate surprises14:55 - Will AI make CSMs more generalized or specialized?18:32 - How AI bots eliminated single-touch support tickets21:42 - What it's like being a first-time Chief Customer Officer23:38 - The rule of thirds: How a CCO allocates time25:10 - Why this CCO still carries his own book of business25:52 - Seek out a diversity of experiences---What You’ll Learn* How to build a four-quarter forecast that eliminates revenue surprises* Why role specialization creates more operational leverage than generalization* How AI bots eliminated single-touch support tickets at Smartling* Why leading from the front means carrying your own book of business* How to build professional empathy by seeking diverse experiences across sales, CS, and services---Want the playbook, not just the conversation? Subscribe for deep-dive, actionable breakdowns from every episode at unchurned.substack.com.---Where to Find Jim Richmond LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimrichmondatl/---Where to Find Josh:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/Unchurned Substack: https://unchurned.substack.com/
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Redefining Compensation to Better Align CS Roles with Revenue Goals
Jan 17, 202500:46:59Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Hosts Kristi Faltorusso (CCO, ClientSuccess), Jon Johnson(Principal CSM, Key Accounts at UserTesting) & Josh Schachter (Co-Founder & CEO, UpdateAI) dive into a dynamic conversation to kick off the new year. Tune in as they share insights on how companies are restructuring compensation models, discuss the trends they’re observing, and reflect on the evolution of customer success and account management and the ongoing merger of these roles. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview, BS & Intros 5:44 - Are CS leaders transitioning to account management roles? 9:00 - Redesigning compensation models to align CS with revenue activities 14:50 - Problems with current data management practices 25:18 - Predictions for 2025 28:52 - LinkedIn algorithm, AI content, and Social Media Behavior 36:08 - Need for a defined strategy and long-term planning 39:30 - Pressure on CS to demonstrate quick impact and results ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ _____________________________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Risk Mitigation, Adoption, Expansion: The Triad of Customer Success ft. Colin Murphy (BMC Software)
Jan 15, 202500:27:25Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Colin Murphy, SVP & Chief Customer Officer at BMC Software joins Josh Schachter, Co-Founder & CEO at UpdateAI to share insights from his extensive experience in customer success management. Colin & Josh delve into BMC's customer-centric approach to enhance risk mitigation, adoption, and expansion within the company. As we kick off 2025, Colin also reveals the vision for the year ahead, highlighting innovative approaches in leveraging AI technology to improve BMC's customer interactions. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:00 - Meet Colin Murphy and overview of BMC Software 6:30 - Customer Success at BMC Software 11:35 - Core objectives of CS 13:13 - BMC's Growth Priorities 15:01 - Engagement framework, tracking & adoption reviews 21:30 - Vision and Objectives for 2025 24:40 - Use of AI in CS and Tech Support ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Colin Murphy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmurphy-techoperatingexecutive/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ________________ Keywords: How to keep your customers happy, Customer success management, risk mitigation, adoption maturity, expansion, gross retention rate, GRR, customer engagement, adoption assessment, adoption review, success plan, executive touchpoints, executive customer engagement, customer experience, customer success manager, customer support, customer success management, Customer Success Manager role, hiring tips for customer success, steps in hiring a customer success manager, customer success metrics ______________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Building Systems to Enroute Customers from Processes to Progress ft. Emily McIlwain (Exo)
Jan 8, 202500:27:03Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Emily McIlwain, Director of Customer Success at Exo, joins the hosts Jon Johnson, Principal CSM at User Testing , and Josh Schachter, Co-Founder and CEO at UpdateAI, to chat about the art of building scalable processes in a rapidly growing startup. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:36 - Josh is engaged 2:50 - Exo- Overview, Products and Mission 15:00 - Importance of process documentation and improvement 17:15 - Challenges of automating processes and maintaining clear communication 20:12 - Setting realistic expectations for new implementations and product shifts ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Emily McIlwain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilymcilwain/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ _____________________________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Bridging Sales and Post-Sales to Build a Customer-Centric Revenue Strategy ft. Margaret Wise (ActiveProspect)
Jan 1, 202500:20:13Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Margaret Wise, Chief Revenue Officer at ActiveProspect joins Josh Schachter, Co-Founder & CEO at UpdateAI to chat about streamlining pre-sale, and post-sale operations to focus on customer success and revenue growth. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview & Intros 1:36 - Overview of ActiveProspect 5:07 - Margaret’s career progression, key learnings and insights 8:12 - Compensation & Incentives to acquire the right customers 12:34 - Implementing smooth transitions between sales and customer success teams 17:50 - Utilization of AI and Technology Enablement ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Margaret Wise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgtwise/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Aligning Customer Success Strategies to Exceed Customer Expectations ft. Sam Slevin (AlphaSense)
Dec 18, 202400:26:17Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Sam Slevin, Global Senior Vice President Customer Success at AlphaSense joins Josh Schachter, Founder & CEO of UpdateAI. Sam shares his expertise in aligning with customer needs through strategic onboarding, mapping value over time, and navigating the complexities of global growth. The episode also explores the integration of AlphaSense's recent acquisition and the importance of digital success in reaching diverse personas. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview & Intros 1:51- Overview of AlphaSense 6:35 - Value is greater than price 8:42 - Onboarding is an experience 9:55 - Aligning services and solutions to customer requirements 14:25 - Acquisition & Integration 19:20 - Tailoring Digital Success approaches based on customer profiles 25:02 - Hiring Alert ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Sam Slevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-slevin-9b2ba21b/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ _____________________________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Proactive Customer Engagement & the Evolving Role of CSMs ft. Tatiana Ferreira (Launchmetrics)
Dec 11, 202400:37:34Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Tatiana Ferreira (CCO, Launchmetrics) joins the hosts Kristi Faltorusso (CCO, Client Success), Jon Johnson (Principal CSM, User Testing) & Josh Schachter (Founder & CEO, UpdateAI). They discuss the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, the shift towards proactive customer outreach, the challenges of communication in multi-CSM models, the emerging role of AI in predicting risk within customer success, the balance between specialized and generalized customer support, and the imperative of clear communication during organizational changes. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview, BS, Intros 3:50 - Overview of Launchmetrics 9:20 - Aligning motivations & communicating post-merger integration 13:26 - OKRs and employee engagement 15:50 - Mixed roles in CS and professional services 18:27 - Challenges in customer interaction and communication clarity 25:00 - Automation and tech stack 27:35 - Enablement and evolving skill sets for CSMs 30:00 - Need for understanding data and being proactive ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Tatiana Ferreira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianarferreira/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ______________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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The Dark Side of Obsessing Over CHURN ft. Ozge Ozcan (Forter)
Dec 4, 202400:42:49Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Kristi Faltorusso (CCO, Client Success) and Josh Schachter (Founder & CEO, UpdateAI) are joined by an insightful guest, Ozge Ozcan, Chief Customer Officer at Forter, to dive into the intricacies of customer experience optimization in the evolving world of e-commerce. Ozge shares her wealth of knowledge on navigating the delicate balance between growth and retention, highlighting the company's transition toward a strategy centered on expansion and profitability. Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview, BS, & Intros 2:00 - Forter's services and impact 7:35 - Ozge's role in hiring and facilitating career transitions 12:51 - The downside of focusing solely on churn 17:25 - Cross-segment strategies and mindset shifts 20:15 - Establishing and managing a churn budget 28:30 - Tackling the "happy ears" problem 35:43 - Prioritizing customer signals 38:40 - Planning for the new year and beyond ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Ozge Ozcan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozgetuncel/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ________________ Keywords: How to keep your customers happy, customer success manager, customer support, customer success management, Customer Success Manager role, Ozge Ozcan, Forter, e-commerce fraud prevention, customer experience optimization, discount misuse, enterprise customer strategy, churn management, customer retention, revenue growth, expansion opportunities, cross-segment strategies, headcount planning, Calendar detox, executive check-ins, net revenue retention (NRR), churn budget, mild-market churn, SMB churn, discount management, product investment, customer service mindset. ______________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Rethinking Compensation: From Commissions to Ongoing Payouts ft. Brian Hansen (Aurora Solar)
Nov 27, 202400:38:13Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Hosts Kristi Faltorusso (CCO, Client Success) and Josh Schachter (Founder & CEO, UpdateAI) sit down with Brian Hansen (Director of CS, Aurora Solar) to discuss how Aurora Solar is reinventing its approach by aligning product usage metrics with sales and customer success efforts. They are adopting a long-term strategy that prioritizes customer growth while tackling the unique challenges of the solar industry. The conversation covers everything from the intricacies of compensation models to how the company is fostering accountability and collaboration across teams. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview, BS & Intros 5:30 - Work Culture and Mission Drive 7:36 - Solar Coaster 10:15 - Supporting Employees' Career Paths 11:55 - Focusing on "Product Usage" as a Unifying Metric 17:00 - Transition to Incentives-Based Compensation 22:22 - Getting the Board Onboard 24:21 - Impact on Users & Customers 25:52 - Focusing on Qualitative Data Insights 28:50 - Increased Accountability Across the Organization 30:50 - Resource Allocation and Prioritization ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Brian Hansen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhansendoes/ 👉 Connect with hosts Jon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/ Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/ Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ________________ Keywords: How to keep your customers happy, customer success manager, customer support, customer success management, Customer Success Manager role, Sales compensation, ongoing payments, customer success strategy, usage value targets, UpdateAI, ideal customer profiles, customer growth, digital strategy, data insights, solar industry challenges, leadership development, product usage metrics, product roadmaps, voice of customer, long-term strategy, accountability, resource allocation, LumoPath partnership, CSM activities, prioritization data, usage value focus, product adoption, sales incentives, credit system, company-wide targets. ______________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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Accountability, Collaboration & Communication: The Growth Playbook ft. Micki Howl (CRO, Marigold)
Nov 25, 202400:23:59Tap to summarize#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business In this special installment of the revenue series of the Unchurned Podcast, we're thrilled to have Micki Howl (Chief Revenue Officer, Marigold) join Josh Schachter (Founder & CEO, UpdateAI) to shed light on the connection between sales and post-sales, and the critical role customer feedback plays in driving business success. They also discuss her career path and the incredible growth trajectory of Marigold Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:11 - Overview of Marigold 4:44 - Micki's career path and growth 8:21 - Lot of hard work & a pinch of luck 13:10 - Communication & Accountability Framework 16:27 - Measuring progress and being outcome-driven 18:52 - Valuing customer feedback 21:30 - Outcome-driven approach leading to personal growth ___________________________ 👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWk Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl 👉 Connect with the guest Micki Howl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelenahowl/ 👉 Connect with host Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ 👉 Sign up for UpdateAI - the only Zoom virtual assistant for customer-facing teams. 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at https://blog.update.ai/ ________________ Keywords: How to keep your customers happy, customer success manager, customer support, customer success management, Customer Success Manager role, Marigold, revenue series, customer success, Starbucks loyalty app, customer retention, chief revenue officer, CRO, chief operating officer, COO, chief of staff, acquisitions, OKR framework,cross-functionall collaboration, , post-sales operations, customer feedback, accountability framework, career growth, customer satisfaction. ______________________ Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI About UpdateAI At UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.
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