Patrick McGovern is one of those people who seems to know everyone in marketing.
And more importantly, he actually connects people in ways that lead to real conversations, real opportunities, and better work. As Director of Marketing + Sales at Ascedia, a content creator and podcaster, and VP of Programming for AMA Milwaukee, Patrick sits at the intersection of agency life, community-building, and what marketers are wrestling with right now.
In this Q+A, Patrick takes us back to the COVID-era spark that launched the Over a Pint Podcast (now 183 episodes deep), shares a “starter pack” of standout conversations for new listeners, and explains the theme he keeps hearing from the best marketers: a near-fanatical focus on understanding customers.
We also dig into what makes events genuinely valuable in 2026, how introverts can build a network without forcing a fake persona, and the career skills that carried Patrick from copywriter to leading marketing and sales.
And he closes with a completely responsible piece of advice about the Packers.
Many people know you from the Over a Pint Podcast and your incredible connections in the marketing community. What was the spark that made you start Over a Pint Podcast, and what gap were you trying to fill in marketing conversations?
The spark began during covid. Kurt Lingel and I were looking for a way to connect with marketers when the world was upside down. We thought this would be a great way for our agencies to develop a pipeline for new business. Since that time, it just became a thing upon itself. The conversations are interesting and love connecting with people – so 183 episodes later, here we are.
I’m sure it’s hard to pick, but what are some of your most memorable Over a Pint conversations - a “starter pack” for someone just subscribing to the podcast?
Yeah that's a tough one. It’s kind of like which one of your kids do you like more? That said, here are a few that really jump out to me:
Susan Byer episodes 182 and 139 are super interesting. Susan goes deep into the agency world. In episode 182, she goes deep into developing trust as a wayfill your pipeline.
181 with Sam Burke – the founder of Hale – a company that wants to be the Sephora for men. This was a fascinating look at how a company is starting up, getting traction and moving forward.
175 Dan Early and Mark Roller. Both started Ascedia 25 years ago and the agency continues to be strong today. Full disclosure I work for Ascedia so it was fascinating for me to hear the backstory and what it took to run something for 25 years.
Finally, episode 146 with Nancy Harhut. Nancy is a very compelling speaker has written a tremendous book called Using Behavioral Science in Marketing. I just loved having her on. And the book is a must-read!
What’s one theme you keep hearing from the best marketers you’ve interviewed, regardless of specialty?
The theme that has stuck with me throughout all of the shows has been this: successful marketers are fanatical about understanding their customers. They are plugged into how their customers think and behave.
What has been your biggest lesson or belief so far from being a podcast host?
Having a podcast is a great way to connect with people. It’s a simple idea – people love telling their story. You just need to ask.
As VP of Programming for AMA Milwaukee, what have you found makes an event genuinely valuable for attendees and what’s your goal?
This is a really tough question as we try to make every event as helpful and valuable as possible. But it's tough getting people to come out and attend in 2026. Quite honestly, it’s an uphill battle. And for us, we continually talk to our members, talk to people that attend, and talk to the marketing community in large to come up with the speakers and topics that will resonate and connect.
In 2026 we are taking a slightly different tactic than in the past. This year we are testing fewer events. But the events we do have we are trying to make them bigger. I’ll come back next year and let you know the results. 🙂
What are some highlights people can expect by following or attending AMA Milwaukee events?
The biggest highlight or benefit is not just the information attendees will get. That’s important, but it’s not the real driver. The real benefit is the opportunity to meet other marketers in the area.
Let’s face it – marketing is a volatile line of work. There are many ups and downs. So what can you do – build your network, especially when times are good. You never know when things can turn sideways and you need to reach out. It’s so much easier if you have built and maintained your network. The AMA in Milwaukee is one way to help you connect with others.
What’s the most underrated way to build a real network, especially for someone who’s introverted or new to the community?
Great question. Think about it this way. How can I add value to those I want to connect with? Too many think about building a network as something for themselves. Flip the script and consider what you can do for others.
Too many think about building a network as something for themselves. Flip the script and consider what you can do for others.
With that mindset, you need to put yourself out there. Attend events, introduce yourself, show up. It’s a process, and the process can be slow and scary. That’s why most people don’t do it very well.
In your own career, you started as a copywriter and now you’re leading marketing + sales at Ascedia. What skills carried all the way through that arc?
Be curious, be open-minded, and above know your customers. What are their pain points and what are the solutions to their problems? If you can answer those two questions, that will carry you a long way.
You’ve owned big budgets and big outcomes. What’s one campaign decision you made that felt risky at the time but turned out to be a turning point?
Years ago, I worked in the travel space. Our biggest allocation in marketing was print ads in newspapers across the country. Not only was this expensive…it was an incredibly cumbersome process to get the information to put into the ads and get the ads out the door on deadline.
This was at the time when the internet was beginning to take hold. Keep in mind this was still a new channel with a lot of skeptics about the effectiveness of this channel.
We made the decision to move dollars from print (traditional) to creating mini travel sites online. These sites contained information about the hotels, the destination and price points. So early e-commerce.
In a 2026 world, this sounds like a complete no-brainer. Back then, it was a decision that took a great deal of work to convince executives as well as the newspapers that this was the direction of the future.
If you were starting over and trying to build a marketing career in Milwaukee, what would you do to create momentum?
Join organizations
Ask members of the organization for introductions
Look to bring value to those people you are connecting with
And keep in touch
The steps are simple. The work isn’t always easy…
Thanks for your time! Anything else to add?
Bet big on the Packers next season!
