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Produced by PodRescale · 26 Dec 2025Hosted by Jason Swenk

How to Keep an Agency Partnership from Blowing Up with Andy Crestodina | Ep #865

The content pack PodRescale made from this episode of Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: 17 finished assets, all public.

Ever wondered what it really takes to keep an agency partnership from blowing up? In this episode, host Jason invites Andy Crestodina, co-founder of Orbit Media Studios, to peel back the curtain on two and a half decades of agency life.

16:33Original feed
What the host didPublished one episode16:33 of audio, on their own feed. That is the entire input.
What we didA content packWe transcribed the recording and generated the writing and assets below.
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17finished assets2channels5planned posts
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In the pack:Show notes8 quotesNewsletterTranscript

Everything this episode became.

One 16:33 episode, 17 finished assets. Open any of them.

  1. 01Show notes49 words
  2. 02Chapters8 · timestamped
  3. 03Quote cards8 cards
  4. 04Newsletter3 subject lines
  5. 05Episode titles12 title options
  6. 06Summaries2 versions
  7. 07Transcript3,344 words
  8. 08Assets2 versions

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In a flash I realized it would be easier to start a company than to get a job, because the client's taking a smaller risk than an employer would be.

Andy CrestodinaSmart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk · 2:44
TranscriptSmart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk · 16:33Play this moment
2:44Andy Crestodina

… And in a flash I realized that it would be easier to start a company than to get it, than to find a job because the client's taking a smaller risk than an employer would be . So fortunate for me, my buddy friend from high school, roommate from college, was already building websites since like the mid-90s.

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Show notes · as generated

This episode dives into the realities of agency partnerships, featuring Orbit Media co-founder Andy Crestodina. Andy shares candid stories of founding an agency, the pitfalls of bad partnership agreements, and the steps to building a sustainable, growth-oriented business. Listeners get actionable insights on what makes or breaks agency partnerships.

Jason introduces the Elevate event for agency owners, highlighting opportunities for networking, learning, and growth planning in Phoenix, AZ.

Andy shares how he transitioned from IT recruiting to digital agency work, starting Orbit Media Studios with a friend, and building the business on inbound leads and content marketing.

The foundation of a successful agency partnership is honest alignment of values, carefully structured agreements, and having the courage to address toxic dynamics early.

In a flash I realized it would be easier to start a company than to get a job, because the client's taking a smaller risk than an employer would be.
Pull quote · Andy Crestodina · from 2:44
Our agency was built totally on inbound leads, content strategy, and organic channels—content marketing has been our go-to-market forever.
Pull quote · Andy Crestodina · from 1:08

Newsletter example

How I Survived a Toxic Agency Partnership (and Grew Stronger)

Hey there,

Ever wondered what happens when an agency partnership goes off the rails? I’ve been there—and came out stronger on the other side. In this episode, I share my story as co-founder of Orbit Media: from launching with nothing but hustle, to building an $8.5M agency on pure inbound leads.

But the road wasn’t smooth. Early on, we brought in a partner whose values didn’t match ours. The result? A toxic environment that nearly tore us apart. I had to make the toughest call of my career: ending a partnership and navigating an excruciating buyout. I even had to mortgage my house and lend the company money to make it happen.

Looking back, I learned that a handshake might’ve been safer than the shareholder agreement we signed—seriously! I’m sharing the candid details, the missteps, and what finally turned things around, including:

  • The moment we realized we needed outside help
  • How adding the right partner (and letting go of the wrong one) changed everything
  • Building sustainable growth on content and trust

If you lead a team, run an agency, or are just curious about what NOT to do, this episode is for you.

Ready for the real story?

Listen now

The episode belongs to

Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies, by Jason Swenk

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