Duncan’s Story

Duncan Alney is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience, including nearly 20 years in social media marketing, with the last 10 years fully focused on social. He is the founder of Firebelly Marketing, a highly respected and trusted agency that works exclusively with food and beverage brands. Firebelly is where meaningful storytelling meets strategic execution—and where good brands get the thoughtful, consistent support they need to grow.

He’s also the host of The Firebelly Social Show, now in its fifth season with over 175 episodes. The show features honest, founder-forward conversations with food and beverage entrepreneurs, sharing their challenges, wins, and what it really takes to build something special in a noisy world.

In addition to leading his agency and podcast, Duncan is the founder of Brown Warrior, a fledgling tea startup inspired by his roots and a love for meaningful rituals. He also runs the Agency Leadership Council, a mastermind group for agency owners, run by agency owners, fostering generosity, accountability, and collaboration among small agency leaders.

But Duncan’s story didn’t start in the boardroom—it started with a $50 bill, a dream of being a cowboy, and a one-way ticket to America. He funded his college education through scholarships and relentless hard work, even completing a self-designed research project exploring life and trends in small-town America across 34 states.

Since then, he’s traveled to all 50 U.S. states, become a professional photographer, and completed five marathons and multiple sprint triathlons. When he’s not building brands or mentoring founders, you’ll likely find him cooking with heart, spinning vinyl on his Technics 1200s, or discovering the next song to fall in love with.

LinkedIn Highlights

→ Top 0.003% of LinkedIn users with over half a million impressions and a 15% engagement rate.

→ Thought leadership on brand building, ageism in marketing, and inclusive storytelling.

→ Viral posts advocating for experience as a superpower and calling out common startup traps.

→ Beloved for his selective brand advocacy and bold honesty: “I’m picky about who I advocate for—and I’m not sorry about it.”

My Philosophy

→ Authenticity Wins. If you’re faking it, people can tell.

→ Your Story Is Everything. No one cares about another generic product. What makes you different?

→ Marketing Isn’t About Hype. It’s about building real connections.

I believe that if you want to build a brand that lasts, you need to start with a real story. Not a ‘positioning statement’ or a ‘brand persona.’ A real story. That’s what I help founders do—find it, own it, and tell it in a way that actually resonates.

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