The Human Connection Podcast

Is your business’s growth stalled? Employee churn eating into your profits? Struggling with customer retention? 

You need stronger connections.

Every Tuesday, connect with an expert who’s sharing actionable advice for building stronger relationships with your customers, clients, and stakeholders. Hosted by Karl Pontau, a storytelling super-connector, content system strategist, and survivor of two childhood brain tumors, this podcast’s mission is to fix the underlying cause of workplace and societal dysfunction: the lack of human connection.

Learn more at www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

Podcast Host

Squash and Stretch Productions

My heroic mission involves guiding teams to bring visionary Content Systems and strategies to life. By fostering a creative environment where complex ideas transform into compelling visual stories, I've helped clients achieve remarkable results. What drives me is connecting clients' missions with audiences through visually striking content that sparks action. By nurturing talent and overseeing seamless workflows, I ensure our work not only captivates but also delivers on strategic goals.

▶️Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

▶️Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client. 

▶️Designed flexible content system for La Familia's anti-Fentanyl campaign, enabling rapid pivot when major challenge arose; directed production and content adaptation while production team saved two lives through Narcan administration during new on-site shoot; final campaign successfully deployed regionwide.

Freelance Art Director / Senior Digital Creative Producer

SAE Expression College

As a Brand Story Coach, I've helped entrepreneurs translate their knowledge into actionable ideas for their ideal consumer. Additionally, in the classroom, I've had the joy of shaping future creatives. Through developing curricula and adapting to diverse learning styles, I created supportive environments where innovation thrives and students discover their creative potential.

▶️Advised a local coach on connecting client challenges to his solutions, boosting referrals and sales through improved value communication.

▶️Mentored college students at SAE Expressions in advanced motion graphics, editing, and branding, guiding them through complex software challenges to enhance their technical proficiency and creative output. 

▶️Inspired young minds aged 9-17 at iD Tech Camps, fostering creativity and teamwork while leading students through courses including web design, animation, and robotics.

Storytelling Coach / Teacher / Mentor

GuideSpark

My leadership journey began as a production team member, where I discovered my passion for contributing toward a shared vision. I learned that great leadership creates harmony in both team dynamics and the final product. I also learned that my favorite projects are socially impactful and profitable. Each project laid the foundation for my skills in leading cross-functional teams, managing end-to-end production, and turning creative challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. 

▶️Fostered open communication between animators and VFX coordinators and ensured director feedback was thoughtfully implemented as Animation Coordinator for The Glass Butterfly.

▶️Created intricate 3D facial animations for a confidential project, honing my ability to deliver exceptional work on time and under budget while honoring client trust at FlickerLab.

▶️Collaborated with a remote team to explain organizational change strategies and processes that help companies be more agile at Fire Tribe, Inc. 

▶️Contributed to a local team that created 1,700+ accurate employee benefit animations in 3 months at GuideSpark.

▶️Championed i-GATE's vision for a thriving Tri-Valley startup community that now brings new tech from local labs to the marketplace.

Contract Motion Designer

Health/Med Tech companies and nonprofits have vital - yet difficult - stories to tell. 

So, they struggle to explain their value and attract their best clients.

What makes a story difficult?

Stories that…

😨Cover emotionally triggering subjects... (Cancer, Overdoses, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
😵Focus on complex or abstract ideas... (Battery tech, Air Tank Refill Systems)
😳Reveal deeply personal experiences... (Founder Stories, Mental Health, Loss)

...are all difficult to effectively tell.

But, I am uniquely equipped to solve these challenges because I:

💗 Show empathy and compassion for clients, team members, and audiences via active listening
🧠 Bring a deep understanding of human decision making and behavior to every project
🚀 Employ an entrepreneurial mindset honed from running my small production agency

I was inspired to focus on these skills after overcoming two malignant brain tumors when I was 15, and am forever grateful for my family, friends, and medical team for showing me what can be accomplished when people care for each other, clearly communicate, and work towards a common goal. 

Once you optimize your story, you’ll need to get it in front of your audience.

That takes a Content System.

These:

💡 Starts with a comprehensive Content Strategy
📚 Delivers a custom asset library for your brand
📲 Generates adaptive content for multiple platforms
💰 Results in greater cost savings and ROI over time

For example:

🎉 Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

🥂 Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client.

If you are interested in discussing how I can add value to your team and accelerate your company's growth, please email me at kpontau@gmail.com or send a DM.

Let's talk!

(I’m open to contract or full time employment.)

Karl Pontau

Profit Launch LLC

Design and implement proven systems into service-based businesses to rapidly and effectively scale them. 

Bringing the Launch Model™ to service-based businesses across the U.S. 

- Implement winning strategies and enable teams in Leadership, Finance, Operations, Sales, Marketing, People, and Product. 
- 5x'd fitness service business in 12 months
- Increased profits for 18 year old service business by 284% in one quarter
- Added $137k in new profits for a food service business in less than 90 days

Founder

Evan Gove Enterprises, LLC

- Established an SPV to invest in and consult for a diverse range of businesses.
- Partner and consult on growth with high-level decision-makers and executives utilizing
unique cross-industrial knowledge, growth strategies, data analysis, customer trends,
and business relations.
- Successfully contributed to growth of 50+ companies across 16+ industries.

GoReminders

- Create written copy and value-based content positioned to drive ideal customers to sign up for a free trial. 
- Measure, track, and iterate on effectiveness of nurture and offer campaigns.
- Make website and landing page improvements based on feedback from client research.

Growth Marketer

- Directly support the CEO in determining strategic initiatives and roadmap planning.
- Map out initiatives and projects to grow MRR and increase retention.
- Utilize non-linear growth loops to test new channels and market verticals.
- Design, track, and analyze KPIs and deliver useful insights to the CEO.
- Manage the planning, execution, production, and distribution of content with internal
and external teams and agencies.
- Conduct A/B testing and user research to refine content, messaging, and product.
- Create and maintain SOPs for process documentation and optimization.
- Utilize AI tools to increase accuracy and efficiency of marketing processes.

Growth Marketing Project Manager

Equip

- Assisting in go-to-market and product adoption strategy for independence enablement SaaS startup.
- Designing client on-boarding messaging including: written copy, audio-visual help articles, and product tours.

Product Marketer

Realtime Apps

- Directed all aspects of business growth and development at a B2B SaaS and Blockchain Architecture technology company.
- Introduced a product vision and roadmap for a proprietary low-code platform,
blockchain, and suite of Environmental, Health & Safety apps.
- Collaborated with high-level decision-makers and the engineering team to define
pathways for product development and identify new channels for business growth.
- Utilized data analytics, customer trends, SEO/SEM, content production, and business
relations to further interaction with customers and prospects.

Director of Business Growth and Development

Baller's Bootcamp, LLC

- 8X'd 10 year old business in 18 months.
- Hired, trained, and managed a team of 7.
- Facilitated a company shift to a fully digital, subscription-based training
platform in 2020, allowing it to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing Partner

All Colored In Studios, LLC

Co-founded a creative cosmetics and photography studio.
- Created marketing materials, utilized networking skills to generate sales, managed interactions between vendors, and hosted cosmetic consultations and photoshoots before exiting the company in mid-2021.

Elevate Marketing

Launched a B2B/B2C full-service marketing agency that supported a 25+ client
portfolio in a variety of industries including small business, SaaS, blockchain, and digital
marketplace startups. 
- Recruited, trained, and managed a team of 4 to establish and execute growth
strategies for clients.
- Utilized social media, PPC campaigns, SEO/SEM, geo-fencing, influencer
marketing, CRM tools, project management tools, Adobe creative suite,
Canva, and various other tools to execute digital strategies for clients.

Owner

McCorvey's Bowling World

- Successfully sustained growth and profitability of 3 service/retail pro shops
through digital marketing, sales, and operational improvements, resulting in
each location being a multi-quarter leader in a company with 68 stores.
- Hired and trained employees.
- Managed a team of 12.

District Sales and Operations Manager

- Produced high-quality, multi-site video for 68 locations, significantly increasing company-wide digital brand exposure.

Video Marketing Coordinator

In this role, I exhibited strong customer service, technical, and marketing skills in each aspect of the job:
-Successfully serviced and sold bowling equipment to a variety of bowlers. 
-Utilized the position to help develop the next generation of bowlers, creating additional value for local bowling centers. 
-Worked as the "right hand" to the District Sales and Operations Manager to consistently establish, develop, and improve marketing and operational processes and procedures.

Pro Shop Technician

- Led digital media strategy, created content, and managed social media
profiles for 3 service-retail locations for the Birmingham district.

District Marketing Manager

Evan’s Auto Detail

- Led all sales and marketing efforts for an auto detailing business.
- Utilized social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Google My
Business, and Google Ads to drive new business.

I help small business owners 2X their profits in 12 months without feeling overwhelmed and lost.

I have invested in, acquired, and grown dozens of small businesses and startups over the last 12+ years. 

Now, I work with small business owners to 2X profits in 12 months, recover 50% of your time, and create life-changing opportunities for yourself and others through your business. 

Want me to help you grow your business? Click the link in my bio or shoot me a DM to get started.

Evan Gove

What is your favorite AI tool (or AI-powered) right now for task enablement/project management? 

#ai #aitools #network

“The client always knows what best”…

Really??!

I don’t think so. 

If that is the case, why did they hire an agency? 

Could have done it themselves, right? 

Sometimes, clients need direction where they lack it. 

And sometimes this means saying “no” to keep them on the rails. 

It can be uncomfortable, but your job isn’t to be “nice”, it’s to be effective. 

What are your thoughts? 

Is the client always right?

#agency #marketing #content #LinkedIn #brandgrowth #network

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Copycat!

It's a word that often led to punishment in school. 

It's a mark of shame meant to call you out. 

We are taught from an early age that copying is the wrong thing to do.

But only if you are not raised by an entrepreneur. 

In business, copying isn't cheating, it's survival. 

If the name of the game is to make money, then you start with what works. 

How can you tell what is working? 

Look around! 

Duplicate it, iterate, and maximize! 

So many of us waste days, weeks, months, even years being afraid of doing something we know works...

All because we are afraid of being called a copycat! 

Some of the best businesses you know today are all "copycats" of another business.

The reason you know their name is because they did something bigger and better. 

So go be a copycat, just be a great one! 

#copycat #entrepreneur #businessgrowth #papajohns

Happy Friday to everyone except for prospects who lie...

What?? 

Prospects never lie on discovery calls...

Ha! 

We've all been there. 

The prospect is asked a direct question. 

They hesitate. 

Fumble a little. 

Then tell you something you know is not true at all, but you smile and nod. 

They continue to waste your time, and ultimately don't close. 

Why? 

You're being too nice? 

Nah. 

You don't have the skills you need. 

You don't command enough authority. 

Control the call. 

Don't let prospects lie to you. 

Respect is a two-way street. 

Don't be afraid to stop the car. 

You are there to help this person solve a problem. 

Not offer free therapy. 


What's the craziest thing a prospect has ever told you on a call? 

#prospect #crazy #linkedin #sales #businessgrowth

taplio

The Battle

Karl Pontau

Evan Gove

Followers

Posts

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Performance ScoreEvan Gove's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Karl Pontau

Evan Gove

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Evan Gove's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreEvan Gove's LinkedIn Performance