Unfiltered Insights. Real Brand Stories. No Bullsh*t.
Marketing is full of empty buzzwords and soulless strategies. I believe in something different—raw storytelling, brand advocacy, and building businesses with purpose. If you’re here for the fluff, you won’t find it.
AS SEEN IN
Who I Am & What I Do
I’ve spent years in the trenches of marketing, working with CPG brands that actually give a damn. Through storytelling, advocacy, and a no-nonsense approach, I help brands cut through the noise and connect with audiences in a real way. Whether it’s through my writing, podcast, or consulting—I tell the stories that matter.
Duncan Alney
Raw Takes. No Buzzwords. Just Real Insights.
Marketing isn’t about keeping up with trends—it’s about understanding people. That’s why I write. To cut through the noise and talk about what actually matters in branding, storytelling, and business.
What Video Games Taught Me About Leadership (and My Son)
My son Enzo is 14. He plays video games with his friends almost every day. And here’s the part I find fascinating: It’s not just about the game. It’s about the gathering.
Discipline Is the Ultimate Creative Hack
People talk about creativity like it’s magic. As if it belongs exclusively to designers and “creative people”.
Momentum > Motivation
Motivation doesn’t matter that much. It’s overrated. Massively. Sure, it’s nice when it shows up. The spark.
Podcast:
The Firebelly Social Show
![[Expo West Series] Exploring Mission-Driven Brands At Expo West](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66fe9a2fd1b2042e2bdd2e06/93f5e20f-28ac-4c20-a591-809d95a83845/duncan-alney-expo-west-3.jpg)
Mission-Driven Food and Beverage Brands Podcast
Hosted by Duncan Alney
We feature leaders of mission-driven food and beverage brands. Listen to origin stories - and insights about current industry trends, connecting with your audience, building a community, making the world a better place, and of course, #founderlife.
Featured Articles in Media
Forbes.com
Founder Life: 5 Tips For Taking Care Of Yourself
Adweek.com
Let's Talk About Consent and the Future of Permission-Based Marketing
Inc.com
5 Secrets to a Successful Agency Partnership Insights on avoiding pitfalls when collaborating with an agency.
What People Say About Me
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David Delcourt, Founder of Grown A$$ Foods
"Duncan is a true partner in every sense. His strategic insights and genuine enthusiasm for our mission have been invaluable. Working with him feels like having an extension of our own team."
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Joseph Rotondo, Founder of Smearcase
“…I admire how Duncan Alney leads the young minds at his company. If you are a leader - give your young employees a long leash. They are the ones who drive innovation and bring new, energetic ideas to the table that will push your value forward."
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Joshua Scherz
"The way you frame brands and their offerings and represent yourself—fantastic!"
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Eric M.
"I’ve seen you in action, my man. Nothing but the truth when we were out at Expo West, and you were going through a list of 1000 vendors to pick six."
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Samuel Anderson
"Great call out, Duncan. You’re the best of the best."
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Brian Talbot
"Thanks for putting a voice to this. The perception of ‘you’re too old’ is an odd but all too common point of view. It’s a real missed opportunity for so many organizations."
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Arshad Bahl
"You are a natural engager, Duncan! Keep doing what makes you happy!"
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Josh Sizemore
"You’re the best, Duncan."
Ready to bring your marketing to the next level?
Whether you’re a founder with a real mission, a brand struggling to connect with your audience, or someone just looking for no-BS insights—let’s talk.