Getting Real with BOSSY

How Podcasting Can Become Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool

Listen to our feature on the Getting Real with BOSSY Podcast.

Overview

What happens when a marketing agency starts a podcast with no rigid script, just authentic conversations and a willingness to connect? It becomes much more than content. It becomes a business development strategy.

In this episode of Getting Real with BOSSY, hosts Kelly Bush and Kelly Metras welcome Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri, co-hosts of the Ducks Unplugged podcast and leaders at Blue Duck Agency, to discuss how podcasting has become one of the most effective tools in their marketing strategy.

Deanna and Ashley share the story behind launching Ducks Unplugged and how it evolved beyond promoting their agency. Through genuine conversations, the podcast has helped build stronger relationships, expand their professional network, increased brand awareness, and created opportunities that traditional marketing alone couldn't achieve.

The conversation explores why authenticity matters more than perfection, how long-form content builds trust, and why businesses of all sizes should consider podcasting as part of their overall marketing strategy. Whether you're looking to grow your audience, strengthen client relationships, or position yourself as a thought leader, this episode offers practical insights into turning conversations into meaningful business growth.

In This Episode

• How Ducks Unplugged grew from a marketing idea into a valuable business asset

• Why podcasting builds credibility and trust faster than traditional advertising

• The role authentic conversations play in relationship marketing

• How podcast guests often become clients, referral partners, and long-term collaborators

• Tips for businesses considering launching their own podcast

• Why consistency and genuine curiosity matter more than having the "perfect" show

Key Takeaways

• Podcasting is more than content creation. It's a relationship-building strategy.

• Authentic conversations create stronger connections than polished sales pitches.

• Long-form content helps establish expertise, credibility, and trust with your audience.

• A podcast can become a powerful networking tool that opens doors to new partnerships and business opportunities.

• The best marketing often starts with meaningful conversations, not advertisements.

Penny For Your Shots Podcast

Why Being Yourself Is Good for Business with Deanna Dolecki & Ashley Ruggeri

Listen to our feature on the Penny For Your Shots Podcast.

Overview

There is a point when trying to look professional can start working against us.

We smooth every edge. We rewrite the post one more time. We wait until the idea sounds smarter, the graphic looks better, or the plan feels more complete. We become so focused on making the business look polished that we remove the personality that would have helped someone connect with it.

I understand why we do it.... Our businesses matter to us. We want people to take us seriously, so we assume everything needs to look serious.

But serious and trustworthy are not the same thing.

In my conversation with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri, we talked about how much easier it is to connect with a business when you can see the real people behind it. Deanna and Ashley work together at Blue Duck Agency, and they also host the Ducks Unplugged podcast. Their conversations include marketing, leadership and difficult work situations... but they also debate bangs, bar soap and whether ketchup belongs on eggs.

That combination is not hurting their credibility. It is helping people understand who they are.

Their clients listen and tell them, “You sound exactly like you do when we work with you.” That is a pretty powerful compliment because it means there is no disconnect between the brand and the actual experience.

They are not performing professionalism. They are showing people what it feels like to be in the room with them.

Joy Found Here Podcast

Two Ducks, One Agency: Deanna & Ashley on Business, Motherhood & Reinvention

Listen to our feature on the Joy Found Here Podcast.

Overview

What happens when a Gen X president and a millennial account director decide to run a marketing agency—and start a podcast—together? In episode 270 of Joy Found Here, Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri of Blue Duck Agency share what it's like building a boutique, fully virtual agency across two life stages—from Deanna's empty-nest reinvention at 50 to Ashley's whirlwind days as a hockey mom. They trade honest, funny stories about hiring each other, disagreeing without taking it personally, and turning their podcast, Ducks Unplugged, into an unexpected creative lifeline.

Your Brand Amplified Podcast

Marketing Authenticity: Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri on Scaling Blue Duck Agency

Listen to our feature on the Your Brand Amplified Podcast.

Overview

Anika sat down with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri to explore how they built a thriving, 100% virtual boutique agency by leaning into radical authenticity. The conversation revealed how their Gen X and Millennial dynamic fuels their strategy, why hiring for intangibles matters more than a resume, and how they cut through the digital noise with unscripted banter on their podcast, Ducks Unplugged.

In This Episode

• The origin story of Blue Duck Agency and how a "no-meeting Wednesday" led to a radical rebrand

• Why Deanna hires for "intangibles" and how asking about high school grades reveals a candidate's true character

• Ashley's transition from buttoned-up banking to thriving in the "gray area" of agency life

• Launching the Ducks Unplugged podcast as a business strategy and creative testing ground

• How Gen X and Millennial perspectives complement each other in leadership and marketing strategy

• The truth about hustle culture and how different generations brand their work ethic

• Why generative AI (like Deanna's ChatGPT, "Janice") is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity

• Brainstorming on the fly: Pushing boundaries with brands like Netflix and Tupperware

Midlife Strategies for Badass Women Podcast

Midlife, Millennials, and Giving Fewer F*cks with Deanna Dolecki & Ashley Ruggeri

Listen to our feature on the Midlife Strategies for Badass Women Podcast.

Overview

What happens when women from different generations sit down to talk about burnout, boundaries, dating, motherhood, work, and learning to care less about what other people think? You get a funny, honest, and unexpectedly deep conversation about what it really means to grow into yourself and define success on your own terms.

In this episode of Midlife Strategies for Badass Women, Sue is joined by Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri of Ducks Unplugged for a candid, multi-generational conversation about life, business, podcasting, and the freedom that comes from giving fewer f*cks as you get older. What starts as a playful discussion about generational differences quickly turns into real talk about boundaries, burnout, self-trust, motherhood, dating, curiosity, and why “having it all” should only ever be defined by you.

This episode is full of laughter, personality, and a whole lot of truth. It is a reminder that you do not need to keep proving yourself, pleasing everyone, or living by someone else’s rules. You get to protect your energy, honor what matters to you, and create a life that actually feels good from the inside out.

In this episode:

• Multi-generational perspectives on life, work, and success

• Why “having it all” needs to be defined by you

• Boundaries, burnout, and learning to slow down

• Dating, motherhood, and midlife transitions

• Why curiosity matters more than perfection

• The freedom that comes from caring less about what people think

• Plus a few hilarious detours into soap, bed-making, ketchup on eggs, and pop culture references

The Beacon Way Podcast

Work-Life Harmony in a 100% Remote Agency with Blue Duck Agency

Listen to our feature on the The Beacon Way Podcast.

Overview

On this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson interviews Deanna Dolecki (President) and Ashley Ruggeri (Account Director) of Blue Duck Agency about their backgrounds, the agency’s services (digital, acquisition email, direct mail, and video), and the emotional weight of marketing in mental and behavioral health.

They discuss why “work-life balance” is better framed as work-life harmony, how Blue Duck has been fully remote for 26 years, and the benefits and challenges of virtual work, including productivity, flexibility for parents and caregivers, and the added effort required for collaboration and feedback—especially for younger employees.

They share culture-building tactics like transparent company updates, intentional Zoom and in-person gatherings, games, meme/GIF chats, and hiring for “intangibles” by focusing interviews on candidates’ stories and motivations.

Radiant Mom Rising Podcast

What “Having It All” Really Looks Like for Moms in Business | Marketing, Motherhood & Growth

Listen to our feature on the Radiant Mom Rising Podcast.

Overview

What does “having it all” actually look like as a mom, entrepreneur, and woman navigating real life?

In this honest, refreshing, and fun conversation, Mary Dibble sits down with Deanna, president of Blue Duck Agency, and senior executive Ashley Ruggieri to talk about motherhood, business, personal growth, and building a life that actually works for you.

Together, they share their unique career journeys, how they found themselves in the marketing world, and what makes Blue Duck Agency different from traditional agencies—bringing strategy, execution, and authentic human connection to the forefront.

✨ In this episode, we talk about:

• Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
• Letting go of perfection and embracing authenticity
• Redefining what “having it all” really means
• The power of showing up imperfectly online
• Creating healthy work-life boundaries and giving yourself grace
• Why vulnerability and personality matter in business
• Modeling emotional intelligence and accountability for your children
• Building a business culture rooted in real connection

This conversation is filled with laughter, honesty, wisdom, and reminders that you don’t have to have everything figured out to create something meaningful.

Sweet but Fearless Podcast

Marketing, Leadership & Healthy Workplace Debate

Listen to our feature on the Sweet but Fearless Podcast.

Overview

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri from Blue Duck Agency about the ever-changing world of marketing, branding, and the importance of having healthy debates in the workplace.

For more than two decades, Blue Duck Agency has helped brands grow through innovative marketing strategies. Deanna and Ashley share how their team approaches marketing as more than just promotion, it’s about building partnerships, understanding audiences, and creating long-term impact.

Mary, Deanna, and Ashley also discuss the importance of adapting to today’s fast-moving marketing landscape and finding creative ways for brands to stand out in a crowded digital world. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, or simply curious about modern marketing strategies, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration for growing your brand with intention.

The Business of You Podcast

Why More Human Brands Are Winning Right Now

Listen to our feature on The Business of You Podcast.

Overview

Ever feel like your marketing should be working… but just isn’t landing? You’re putting content out there. You’re being consistent. But something’s missing.

 Here’s the truth: these days, more content only works when it creates stronger connection.

For this week’s The Business of You, Rachel sits down with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri from Blue Duck Agency to talk about what’s actually working in marketing right now — and why the most effective brands are the ones that feel the most human.

 With decades of experience across acquisition, retention, and integrated strategy, Deanna and Ashley bring a refreshing (and honest) perspective on what drives real growth.

 In this podcast episode, you’ll learn exactly how they do it:
✅ How to stand out in an oversaturated, AI-driven world
✅ Why storytelling is your most powerful marketing tool
✅ The smarter way to approach customer acquisition and retention

The Marketing Stir

The Marketing Stir, By Stirista: Duck Duck Goose

Listen to our feature on The Marketing Stir.

Overview

On this special episode of The Marketing Stir, Vincent welcomes Ashley Ruggeri and Deanna Dolecki, from Blue Duck Agency, to the show. Join us to learn about going virtual "before it was cool", the "Ducks Unplugged" podcast, and Blue Duck's "Niche targeting" strategies.

Interview Connections Podcast

Leveraging Podcasting to Reflect Your Company Culture

Listen to our feature on the Interview Connections Podcast.

Overview

In over 13 years of podcast experience, Jessica has never seen a marketing agency do what Deanna and Ashley are doing with their podcast. Ducks Unplugged isn’t just a show about marketing; it’s a living, breathing reflection of who Blue Duck Agency is and what it feels like to work with them.

What we cover

• Why Deanna and Ashley launched a podcast to differentiate in an industry where agencies all sell the same things

• The insight that changed how Jess sees their show: it’s not that the podcast shaped their culture, it’s that it mirrors it

• How their low-prep, bullet-point-only approach produces more authentic (and more entertaining) episodes than scripted content ever could

• The basement studio story and why a corner of Ashley’s son’s toy room beats a professional studio

• Their production process: batching four episodes per shoot, a dedicated producer named Cindy, and a director who has mastered the angles

• Why their ideal clients watch the podcast before ever getting on a call and what that means for their sales cycle

• The dream client Deanna is absolutely going after (hint: it involves online dating)