Mike Caldwell

Empathic Marketing Strategist Speaker. Author. Podcast Host.

In a world where trust is eroding thanks in part to automation, my Empathic Marketing® presentations, grounded in real-world experience, help growth-focused businesses build deeper, more authentic connections with their clients—leading to increased sales and referrals.

Demo Reel

Drawing on my marketing expertise and the empathy I developed as a paramedic, my talks are more than just informative—they’re an experience. I use storytelling, humor, and real audience engagement to connect with the unique challenges and goals of each group. Through Empathic Marketing®, I offer practical, down-to-earth strategies that resonate and stick. It’s not just a presentation; it’s a conversation that sparks real change for both the audience and their clients.

The Man Behind the Mic

Why I'm a Good Fit for Your Next Event

I'm Mike Caldwell, widely recognized as the 'Marketing Medic', a title that captures my unique journey from a 12-year career as a paramedic to a trailblazer in the marketing world. My approach, which I have trademarked 'Empathic Marketing', is a fusion of the life-saving empathy and understanding I honed in emergency medicine with "old school" proven marketing strategies honed for the digital age. This blend is not just my profession; it's my passion.

As the author of the #1 Amazon Best Seller, 'Empathic Marketing', I've made a mark by advocating for a marketing approach that prioritizes genuine, personal connections. My philosophy is deeply influenced by the timeless principles of Eugene Schwartz's 'Breakthrough Advertising', enriched with my own insights on Experiential and Emotional Understanding.

My work has earned accolades and testimonials from digital marketing giants like Russell Brunson and Todd Brown. I've had the privilege of assisting diverse businesses, including a boot camp gym, guiding them to profitability and growth. My services range from DIY solutions to fully managed campaigns, specializing in crafting empathic marketing messages, creating effective sales funnels, and strategic media buying.

On a personal note, I've embraced a unique lifestyle, converting a sawmill into an off-grid home where I live with my wife, our five rescue dogs, three horses, and two pygmy goats. At 55, I'm an avid enthusiast of trail runs, horseback riding, and various water activities, embodying the vitality and dynamism I bring to my professional endeavors.

I've spoken on the TEDx stage, been interviewed on ABC, Fox News and LA Talk Radio. My work has been featured in Fox Magazine, USA Wire, Authority Magazine, and the Martech Series. I host my own podcast, Because Business is Personal, and have also been interviewed on countless other shows.

What Attendees Say

Jim Lutes

Penthouse Mastermind Organizer

"Mike is a unique individual, he combines the ability to engage an audience, and then deliver world-class content a level of precision that very few people can do..."

Jen Oliver

Presentation Attendee

"And this guy... a total sleeper.... just BLEW IT UP!.""If he's this creative and this stealthy, with the kind of stuff he brings on the stage, then what does he do for marketing?"

My Talks

Keynote Presentation #1: From Understanding to Engagement:

A New Era of Empathic Marketing

From Understanding to Engagement:

A New Era of Empathic Marketing -Leveraging AI for Deeper Customer Insights and Authentic Connections

This 30-minute talk delves into the art of creating deep, meaningful connections with your audience through an understanding of their experiential and emotional landscapes. Drawing from the core principles of Empathic Marketing, this session emphasizes the importance of genuinely understanding customer experiences and emotions. Through engaging stories and practical examples, learn how to craft marketing strategies that resonate on a deeper level, fostering loyalty and long-lasting customer relationships.

Key Takeaways

Creating Avatar Diaries with AI:
Learn the innovative process of using AI to develop deep, insightful avatar diaries that reveal the core desires and needs of your target audience.

2. Unlocking Emotional Insights:
Discover techniques to decode the emotional and experiential elements within these AI-generated diaries, offering a unique window into customer psychology.

3. Tailored Marketing Strategies:
Gain insights on how to use these deep customer understandings to craft highly effective, personalized marketing strategies that resonate on a more profound level.

4. Engaging with Empathy:
Understand the power of empathetic engagement in marketing, and how AI can facilitate a deeper connection with your audience through nuanced insights.

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Keynote Presentation #2: Empathic AI

A Quick Dive into Future-Forward Marketing

Empathic AI: A Quick Dive into Future Forward Marketing -
Unveiling Inner Thoughts: Crafting Avatar Diaries for Deeper Insights

Explore the intriguing blend of past and future in 'From Understanding to Engagement: A New Era of Empathic Marketing.' This presentation bridges the gap between time-tested marketing principles from the 1960s, as pioneered by Eugene Schwartz, and the cutting-edge capabilities of AI. Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT are being innovatively used to rejuvenate these classic strategies, creating powerful, empathic connections with today's digital audiences. This session offers a unique look at marrying proven marketing wisdom with the latest technology for impactful customer engagement.

Key Takeaways

1. Retro-Futuristic Marketing Insights:
Discover how AI can revitalize timeless marketing concepts from the 1960s, offering fresh perspectives and deeper insights into customer behavior.

2. Authentic Connection Framework:
Master the art of building genuine relationships with your audience, leveraging both the emotional and experiential dimensions of Empathic Marketing.

3. Strategies for Today’s Market:
Learn practical, AI-enhanced empathic marketing strategies and tactics that can be directly applied to modern businesses, boosting engagement and loyalty.

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Keynote Presentation #3: V.E.A.R. Toward Success -

An Inspirational Journey

V.E.A.R Toward Success - An Inspirational Journey

How a 35' fall from a cliff transformed a paramedic into a homesteading entrepreneur

In 2008, I published my first book, 'V.E.A.R. Toward Success - How you too can apply your Vision, Energy, Attitude, and Resolve to achieve every one of your dreams!' This book acts as a precursor to my later work in 'Empathic Marketing.'In this engaging talk, I recount my transformation from a helicopter paramedic to an entrepreneur, a change spurred by a life-altering event. Surviving a 35-foot fall off a cliff, which resulted in a broken arm, leg, and back, was the catalyst that shifted my path. This experience not only tested my resilience but also ignited my journey into entrepreneurship.I share how I sold everything to purchase and revitalize a 6,000-square-foot abandoned sawmill on 164 wooded acres, turning it into a home and business venue. Throughout this presentation, I detail how I utilized Vision, Energy, Attitude, and Resolve to overcome the immense challenges of home construction and business management without prior experience in these areas.

Key Takeaways

1. Vision: The first step is knowing your destination. You need be able to see it, hear it, smell it, feel it, before you can realize it.

2. Energy:
Energy is everywhere and everything. Once you can own that fact and harness it, the skies the limit with what you can accomplish.

3. Attitude:
My motto is "if it can be done, it can be done by me". By leveraging your appreciation, you'd be surprised how far your attitude can take you and how positive it can be.

4. Resolve:
There are days when you have to just "suck it up buttercup" and keep pushing forward. But how? Well, you'll have to read the book or attend the talk to find out!

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Workshop Opportunities- Short Term Gains, Long Term Pains

When AI Crosses the Line from Helper to Hazard

Short Term Gains, Long Term Pains -

When AI Crosses the Line from Helper to Hazard

In this interactive workshop, we dive deep into the double-edged sword of AI in business. While AI offers incredible short-term efficiencies and gains, there’s a fine line where it can become more of a hazard than a helper. Together, we’ll explore real-world examples of where AI has gone too far, the potential long-term consequences, and how to strike the right balance.

Having hosted this workshop twice—once in Toronto and once in New York—it received the highest feedback at both events. This roundtable isn’t just about understanding AI—it’s about ensuring it remains a tool that serves your business without undermining trust, authenticity, or long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

Identify the Red Flags: Learn to spot the warning signs when AI starts to shift from a helpful tool to a potential liability.

Strategic Integration: Discover best practices for integrating AI in a way that supports long-term business goals without compromising ethical standards or customer trust.

Maintaining Human Touch: Understand the importance of balancing AI efficiency with human empathy to preserve authentic client relationships.

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What Attendees Say

Brandon Hintz

Event Organizer

"I can tell you hands down... I came right up and said it to him in front of the whole room MY FAVORITE SPEECH OF THE DAY! 30+ speakers, and he broke the room up. Everyone was laughing. The value was there."

Marcy McDonald

Best Selling Author of "Unstuck Yourself"

"If you get a chance to hear him speak, you're going to be blown away. Not only is he incredibly funny and organized, he's got solid tips to help you leverage your true core message so that it actually works..."