A promotional image for the "Against the Grain" podcast featuring a glass of whiskey, an open notebook with handwritten notes and a pen, and a black baseball cap with a patch that says "Life's About Choices". The background has the podcast's title and tagline, "Business, Lessons, Life, and Liquor."

Business lessons, life, and liquor. Each episode, Jon Umstead and co-host Nic Hess go against the grain to talk straight about entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, leadership, and building something fun from nothing.

Pull up a glass.

Against the Grain Podcast

Against the Grain Available Now at Amazon

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Against the Grain Available Now at Amazon ~~

brand, marketing Jon Umstead brand, marketing Jon Umstead

AG Podcast Ep 9: Product Pairing

Jon and Nic talk through how products gain momentum when they travel together, with examples from retail, software, and food pairings like chicken and waffles. They also cover how substitution can open new markets, why anticipation matters before launch, and why leaders should stay close to frontline execution.

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brand, marketing Jon Umstead brand, marketing Jon Umstead

AG Podcast Ep 8: Product Placement

Jon and Nic welcome guest Ryan Berry, founder of Berry Digital Solutions and part of the team behind the Logan County Chronicle, to discuss the importance of product placement. Together, the group connects advertising, storytelling, and real-world examples from phones, bourbon, newspapers, and movie placements.

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Jon Umstead Jon Umstead

AG Podcast Ep 4: Reputation Travels Faster Than Advertising

Jon and Nic explore the critical importance of reputation in business versus traditional advertising. They discuss how reputation influences customer trust, brand perception, and long-term success, emphasizing that reputation can make or break your enterprise faster than any marketing campaign.

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