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.

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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.

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.

The Unsexy Truth About Brand Building

Why Consistency Beats Virality Every Time. A brand is a complex thing. It’s not a logo. Not a tagline. Not your last viral post. It’s a cocktail of values, actions, experiences, and relevance. It’s being part of the conversation.

Startup Mode Isn’t a Phase. It’s the Blueprint.

We romanticize it. Movies are made about it. Books try to bottle the chaos. Startup Mode? It’s a wild ride. Any founder will tell you that.

The Case For Building A Niche Focus

There’s a reason that some sayings are overused. They’re true. My favorite of the bunch: Jack of all trades, master of none. This idiom plagued my career for decades. No joke.

Podcast:

The Firebelly Social Show

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

  • "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."

    David Delcourt, Founder of Grown A$$ Foods

  • "Had an incredible pow wow with the FIREBELLY Marketing team! We brought the energy and talked about how emerging brands can capitalize on their marketing efforts! My favorite part - Abby Thomas & Sydney Wuensch are the youngin’s over at Firebelly. 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."

    Joseph Rotondo, Founder of Smearcase

  • "The way you frame brands and their offerings and represent yourself—fantastic!"

    Joshua Scherz

  • "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."

    Eric M.

  • "Great call out, Duncan. You’re the best of the best."

    Samuel Anderson

  • "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."

    Brian Talbot

  • "You are a natural engager, Duncan! Keep doing what makes you happy!"

    Arshad Bahl

  • "You’re the best, Duncan."

    Josh Sizemore

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.