The Channel Surfers Podcast

Real Talk for Real Channel Pros

The channel keeps shifting, like waves crashing on the beach: new tech, new partner models, unpredictable pipeline, faster than ever. Jeff Lennon and John McCabe bring honest conversation and practical lessons for leaders who'd rather catch the wave than keep paddling through the breaks.

Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident, Part 1: Building the Foundation The Seat at the Table Was Only the Beginning: partnership leaders are measured on business performance, not program activity Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident, Part 2: Building the Revenue Operating System From Partner Manager to Business Orchestrator: connecting revenue, marketing, data, and technology Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident, Part 3: Activation AI Should Make Good Partnership Work Better: fix the process, then accelerate it Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident, Part 4: Scaling Without Scaling the Mess Better Partnerships Beat More Partnerships: partner count does not equal partner performance
Episode 75 cover: Catalyst 2026, What Changed, What Matters, What's Next
Latest episode: Ep 75

Catalyst 2026: What Changed, What Matters, What's Next

What changed between Catalyst 2025 and Catalyst 2026? Quite a bit. Jeff and John break down the role, the tools, and what still matters.

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Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident: the Foundation infographic
The Weekly Wave · A six-part series

Why Great Partner Programs Don't Happen by Accident

The series that runs through the whole site: six parts, each pulled from a real run of episodes. 3 of 6 parts are live now.

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What we cover

Nine themes, one running conversation

It all comes back to the same three things: People, Process, and Technology, the Partner Business Growth Trinity.

Trust Drives Revenue Preparation Builds Credibility Simple Scales Activation Beats Onboarding Execution Beats Activity Active Sellers Matter Ecosystems Need Orchestration AI Needs a Proven Methodology Relationships Still Win

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