Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers.
The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone.
Timestamps
00:00 - Start
02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months
03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event
05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling
06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster
12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption
17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation
20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter
22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish
22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people
25:40 - Reach vs engagement
29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event
What is Uncensored Renegades?
Kory Marchisotto, the trailblazing CMO of e.l.f., and Jon Evans, the perpetually fired host of the Uncensored CMO, team up to talk about the things leaders usually avoid talking about; failures, numbers, getting fired, and so on. The renegade duo fire through topics at speed, on a 20-minute time limit… ish.