AI Is About to Kill the Internet - Here's What Dave Gerhardt Says

In this episode, Dave Gerhardt shares his journey from working at high-growth companies to building Exit Five. A thriving online community for marketers. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice and gets into what really drives growth in modern B2B marketing.

We talk about the reality of entrepreneurship, the discipline behind showing up as a creator, and why most companies struggle with workplace culture when it comes to content. Dave breaks down how he used LinkedIn marketing and personal brand to grow, and why having something meaningful to say matters more than chasing every new platform.

If you're figuring out how to stay relevant on social media or how to get clients on LinkedIn, this episode gives you a practical lens into what works today. From demand generation to brand marketing, and from content strategy to building a loyal audience. There’s a lot to take away.

Whether you're just starting out in digital marketing for beginners or already deep into SaaS marketing, this episode will help you rethink your approach to marketing, distribution, and long-term growth.

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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

- Dave's 3-step framework for building a distribution engine that actually drives revenue
- Why your community is your best content strategist (and how to make it systematic)
- The real value of a personal brand on LinkedIn and why "vanity metric" is the wrong frame
- Why most companies fail at employee advocacy (and what to do instead)

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TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] — Introduction: How a $1B company guy became "a dude with a Patreon"
[01:13] — Dave's origin story: From corporate marketer to founding Exit Five
[03:11] — "Building in public" - the romanticized version vs. the real discipline required
[05:39] — Low-budget creative marketing: The $875 billboard in Wichita, Kansas that went viral on LinkedIn
[08:07] — How Exit Five runs its content machine (it's not what you think)
[09:39] — Why Dave spends more time on research and prep than ever before
[11:29] — Being a tastemaker vs. a thought leader: Dave's actual role at Exit Five
[12:04] — What "community" really means and why your Slack group probably isn't one
[15:03] — Acquisition vs. organic distribution: OpenAI buying TBN, HubSpot buying YouTube channels
[18:18] — How Dave's LinkedIn personal brand became Exit Five's biggest growth channel
[22:56] — The stat that will shock you: How many employees at a top B2B company post twice a week
[24:25] — The real reason employees don't build personal brands (misaligned incentives, not laziness)
[24:32] — Dave's blunt take: AI-generated slop is about to "kill the internet"
[24:51] — Dave's 3-part framework for building a distribution engine
[27:00] — Using social posts as signal: How to let your audience tell you what to build next
[27:41] — Wrap-up

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Dave Gerhart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegerhardt/
Caitlin Bigelow on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinbigelow/
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ABOUT GROWN ON PODCAST

Subscribe to Grown On for more no-fluff conversations with the founders and operators who are actually building distribution that converts.

Blazel helps founders and executives grow their audience and drive pipeline on LinkedIn, pairing content strategy with AI collaboration so your voice stays authentic.

Learn more: https://blazel.com/

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Topics covered:
entrepreneurship, creator journey, online community, B2B marketing, SaaS marketing, digital marketing, marketing strategy, demand generation, LinkedIn growth, brand marketing, B2B marketing, social media marketing.

Видео AI Is About to Kill the Internet - Here's What Dave Gerhardt Says канала Blazel