In this episode of Fireside, Campfire Consulting’s Founder & CEO Chris Marine and Head of Strategy David Gogel sit down with Meranne Behrends and Luke Behrends, founders of Words From The Woods — a Portland, Maine creative agency known for bold ideas, human-centered storytelling, and work that resonates far beyond the algorithm.

Together, we explore why bold creative thinking still matters in a world obsessed with metrics, dashboards, and constant optimization. We dig into what happens when you return to the heart of storytelling, lead with curiosity instead of ego, and protect the human element that often gets lost when everything becomes a data point.

We also reflect on nearly eight years of growing alongside each other — from early shared clients to the trust, honesty, and no-nonsense collaboration that has shaped our work ever since. It’s the kind of advertising partnership that reminds you why this industry can be meaningful, and why the relationships behind the work matter just as much as the work itself.

If you’re interested in creative strategy, brand storytelling, media planning, or simply what it takes to build genuine partnerships in this industry, this conversation is one worth pulling up a chair for.

You can learn more about Words From The Woods and explore their work at: https://wftw.me

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Discover the science of persuasive messaging with communications expert Anat Shenker-Osorio in this compelling archive episode from Benn Marine's former podcast, Ocean of Organizing. While the Campfire team dives into 2026 planning, this conversation from 2019 remains strikingly relevant for anyone crafting messages that move people to action.

Anat, whose research has appeared in The Atlantic, Boston Globe, and The Guardian, shares game-changing insights about how progressive campaigns can craft winning messages. She breaks down the fundamental flaws in typical progressive communication—what she calls the "Boy, have I got a problem for you?" approach—and offers a powerful alternative framework that starts with shared values rather than problems.

Beyond specific messaging tactics, this episode explores the deeper philosophy of movement building. Anat emphasizes that effective campaigns focus on what they're for rather than what they oppose, noting that "what we fight, we feed." She shares examples from successful campaigns around the world—from New Zealand's election of Jacinda Ardern to Minnesota's defeat of Islamophobia—showcasing how positive, values-based messaging transforms outcomes.

Whether you're planning a campaign, crafting organizational messaging, or simply curious about how language shapes our political landscape, this conversation offers invaluable tools for communicating with impact. Listen for practical frameworks you can immediately apply to your own work, and discover why creating hope through positive messaging remains essential even in challenging times.

ASO Communications – This is Anat’s website and where you can learn more about her and her research. If you want to go straight to her research you should follow this link. https://asocommunications.com/

Brave New Words Podcast – You can go behind the scenes on different political campaigns and efforts with Anat and listen in on how different tactics in messaging were used and their outcomes. You can also find this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. https://bravenewwordspod.com

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Measurement and attribution beyond last click is still in its infancy, and it remains one of the most persistent challenges marketers face at every stage of growth. But we’re also at an exciting moment. Leaders like the one on today’s episode are connecting the dots in measurement and helping solve for real attribution.

In this conversation, Chris Marine sits down with Madan Bharadwaj of M² to explore why there’s no single source of truth in marketing performance and how triangulation attribution offers a more honest, practical way forward.

They break down how triangulation pulls from platform data, incrementality modeling, and first-party signals, and why attribution should be treated as a strategic specialty—not just a line in a dashboard.

Note: Campfire Consulting's Founder Chris Marine will be speaking at Programmatic I/O New York this September. The Campfire team will be there, and we’d love to see you and continue the conversation in person. If you're attending, drop us a line so we can be in touch!

Enjoying this content? Text us your thoughts! (if you want a response please include an email address in your text)

Learn more about Campfire Consulting

Visit the Responsibly Different™ Shop where 50% of all profits go back to nonprofit organizations. Wear your spark on your sleeve.