Vox & Coin

What do a blank email, a shame bell, and a ruined Disney vacation have in common? In this episode of Vox & Coin, Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine dive deep into how brands big and small can bounce back from PR blunders, bad reviews, and full-blown corporate misfires—and even come out stronger.

Jake shares the hilarious story of sending a blank email to 7,000 people… and how it turned into a lead-generating conference...

Welcome back to The Last Drop – where the drinks are strong, the ideas are stronger, and we take fake businesses way too far 🍸

This week, Jake and Dave crack open a bottle of Me Familia Flores Tequila Reposado Cristalino (with a sneaky bonus shot in the cap) and dream up one of our favorite B2B SaaS ideas yet: Refiner.

👉 Refiner is an AI-powered tool that analyzes how your team actually uses your software — identifying underused ...

What if retail wasn’t just about selling products—but about creating community? In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, we sit down with the visionary behind ShareFront, a revolutionary co-retail platform that’s redefining how brands show up IRL.

Our guest went from leasing stores in NYC to building curated retail ecosystems—called The Den—where like-minded but non-competing brands thrive under one roof. From international DTC brands...

So... you’ve got the best football (yes, soccer) clubs in the world playing on U.S. soil, with a $100M prize on the line and somehow the stadiums are half empty. What gives?

In this episode of Vox and Coin, Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave “Definitely-Not-in-Red” Valentine break down the marketing missteps, media rights mayhem, and why Gen Z is choosing YouTube over UEFA. We talk Club World Cup confusion, live sports strategy, str...

What do last-minute home repairs, labor shortages, and carbon-negative rum have in common? Find out on this episode of The Last Drop, where Jake and Dave build Honeydo — an Uber-style app for handyman services that promises to demolish the honey-do list once and for all.

While sipping Kuleana Rum (a sustainable, organic spirit made from freshly harvested Hawaiian sugarcane), they map out every corner of this billion-dollar idea, fr...

In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, host Dave Valentine sits down with Gina Widjaja, the marketing force behind the Love One Today campaign targeting health professionals. Discover how she led a movement rooted in science—positioning avocados as a nutritious, evidence-based choice and elevating their place in conversations between doctors, dietitians, and patients.

🥑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Gina shifted avocado m...

What happens when a Cannes Lions-winning ad is accused of using AI to fabricate a CNN broadcast? In this episode, Jake "The Wizard" and Dave dive into the Whirlpool campaign scandal that has the marketing world buzzing. But that's just the beginning.

We explore the broader implications of AI-generated content—where's the line between innovation and deception? From doctored testimonials and AI UGC to ethical AI regulations and wheth...

What do fountain pens, forest gin, and a handcrafted desk aesthetic have in common? This week on The Last Drop, Jake and Dave uncork Vellum — a luxury analog goods brand built for writers, thinkers, and anyone tired of the digital grind. As they sip Freeland Spirits’ Forest Gin (a Portland-made dry gin with locally sourced botanicals), the duo pens an entire business plan around turning high-end pens, paper, and desk accessories in...

In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, host Dave Valentine sits down with Niccolò Gloazzo, a former Nike marketer turned growth leader at Kettle & Fire, the premium bone broth brand redefining what it means to win in the DTC and retail space. From performance-driven playbooks to brand partnerships that break category norms, Niccolò shares what it takes to scale smart — even in uncertain times.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn: H...

In this episode of Vox & Coin, hosts Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine take a wrecking ball to some of the most dangerous and costly myths in marketing—from the belief that marketing ends at the sale to the idea that slapping up a logo means you have a brand.

💡 Spoiler: If your CMO thinks their job ends once someone buys… you’re in trouble.

✨ This episode covers: Why “marketing ends at acquisition” is a myth that kil...

What do cereal, puzzles, and a dash of murder mystery have in common? Find out on this episode of The Last Drop, where Dave and Jake crack open a deliciously clever business idea: Cereal Killer – a monthly subscription box that delivers unique cereals paired with interactive puzzles straight to your doorstep.

As they sip a crisp Fonio Lager from Our Culture Brewing Company, the duo dives deep into:

Branding and packaging innovation...

In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, host Dave Valentine sits down with Tyler, the founder of Morning Mugs, a Baltimore-based coffee shop that’s redefining the café experience one color sleeve at a time. What started as a playful mug game in an office kitchen turned into a full-blown brand movement — with lines out the door and customers dreaming in purple.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Morning Mugs grew from a quirk...

In this episode of Vox & Coin, hosts Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine break down why most brands butcher the customer journey—and how to fix it with intentional design, strategic delight, and marketing that actually anticipates what your customer needs next.

💡 Spoiler: If your post-purchase flow starts with a receipt and ends with silence, you’re doing it wrong.

✨ This episode covers:

• Why a receipt is the wors...

In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, host Dave Valentine chats with Ken Newman, the VP of Marketing at Zebra Pen — a brand that's quietly revolutionizing how we think about something as simple as writing. From songwriter competitions to fortune cookie fortunes, Ken’s creative strategies prove that even the most everyday products can spark unforgettable campaigns.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn: How Zebra Pen created national buz...

In this episode of Vox & Coin, hosts Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine get brutally honest about budgets, expectations, and what it really takes to get results in SEO and paid ads. Spoiler: if you’re thinking small and local without the revenue to back it up, you might not be ready for the big leagues—and that’s okay.

💰 From real talk about low-budget pain to practical thresholds for meaningful ROI, this episode cove...

In this episode of Unicorn Campaigns, host Dave Valentine chats with Talya Pessolano, the founder of The Dirty Italian — a South Boston deli that’s anything but ordinary. From importing rare cheeses to crafting custom grazing tables for baby showers, Talya’s brand blends bold flavor, hospitality, and high-performing marketing that turns everyday customers into raving fans.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How The Dirty Itali...

In this episode of Vox & Coin, hosts Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine unpack the most mind-blowing marketing and business development tools they’ve ever used—and why choosing the right tech stack can make or break your growth.

🧰 From enterprise dashboards and AI automations to lightweight, budget-friendly solutions, this episode covers:

• The marketing dashboard that replaces 9 tools and how to know when you’re ...

Sharon Kuriakose, the CEO and Co-founder of Plates Full, an innovative online personal chef marketplace discusses the motivations behind creating Plates Full, the company's rapid growth across Texas, and their unique marketing strategies.

He shares insights on the importance of trust, quality, and customer obsession. Sharan emphasizes the significance of networking, partnerships, and a multi-faceted marketing approach to building a...

Welcome to the first episode of Vox & Coin, where eCommerce insights collide with unfiltered conversation. Hosted by Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine, this debut episode dives deep into the real ROI of influencer marketing and why engagement rate trumps follower count in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you’re a startup founder, marketing exec, or eCom brand owner, this episode breaks down:

• Why micro-influencers often ...