Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddy Agopian.
Hi maddy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I didn’t leave the corporate world because I lacked ambition—I left because I wanted a life.
After years in senior marketing roles, including a VP position at Sony, I realized success shouldn’t require a soul-crushing commute, chronic guilt, or missing out on my kids’ lives. In 2009, I made a practical but radical decision: I chose work that allowed me to be both a productive professional and an available parent—and, unexpectedly, to make more money doing it.
I took a leap into the then-unproven world of podcasting, taught myself ad sales from scratch, and helped build a sustainable business in a medium that didn’t yet have a rulebook. I worked hard—often harder than I had in corporate—but I worked smarter, from home, and with a sense of ownership that changed everything.
For more than a decade, I’ve built a career in podcast advertising, continuing to represent Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr and the All Things Comedy Network. I’m deeply grateful for the trust, relationships, and opportunities this industry has given me—and for a career that finally aligned with my values.
That shift in priorities happened early, but its meaning became clearer over time. In 2024, I felt called to take the next step and give back to the community and medium that had given me so much. Alongside creative partner David Harte, I founded Wurthee.
Wurthee is a mission-driven podcast network and ad sales company built on a simple belief: storytelling can be both profitable and purposeful. We partner with creators and nonprofit organizations to amplify voices that matter—and we donate a portion of our profits to the causes our hosts care about, because giving back should be part of the business model, not a bonus feature.
Our first show, Life Is a Comedy with Tom Shadyac, reflects that mission, with a portion of proceeds supporting Memphis Rox, the inclusive community space Tom founded to foster connection, belonging, and joy.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about choosing between career and family, ambition and values, or profit and purpose. The most meaningful work happens when those things finally line up.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not even close. The struggle is very real—and in the moment, it almost always feels like the sky is falling. There have been plenty of times when the rug was pulled out from under me, especially as the podcast world became more competitive. Those moments were a double whammy: financially stressful and emotionally bruising.
But perspective is a generous teacher. On the other side of those seasons, I can see that every stumble came with a lesson and, eventually, a quiet sense of victory. Perseverance, kindness, generosity, and a fair amount of blind faith have turned out to be some of the best business tools I’ve ever had—none of which were taught in a boardroom.
I’ve always worked as an independent contractor, a sole proprietor by necessity and by nature. When it’s just you, you learn quickly that resilience matters as much as strategy, and how you treat people matters more than any deal. Looking back, the hard parts didn’t break me—they educated me. And for that, I’m genuinely grateful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in building sustainable revenue for podcasts and creators, particularly in spaces where the rules are still being written. I’m known for helping turn good ideas into real businesses—by combining strategic ad sales, long-term relationships, and a deep respect for the creative process.
What I’m most proud of is building a career from the ground up in an industry that barely existed when I started, while staying independent and values-driven. I’ve represented shows like Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr and the All Things Comedy Network for years, which speaks to the trust and longevity I bring to my work.
What sets me apart is how I approach growth. I don’t chase quick wins or one-size-fits-all deals. I focus on alignment—between creators, advertisers, and audiences—and I believe success should support a full life, not consume it. With Wurthee, I’ve taken that philosophy one step further by building a company that blends profitability with purpose and gives back to the communities it serves.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by smart, generous friends who believed in me—often before I fully believed in myself. They knew how deeply I struggled with missing moments of my kids’ lives, and they had front-row seats to the reality of my experience at Sony. So when the opportunity came to take a leap of faith, they didn’t try to talk me out of it—even though none of us really knew what a podcast was at the time. Their belief gave me the courage to bet on myself.
My desire to give back, however, started much earlier. It came from my grandmother, Helen. She was a practicing social worker who volunteered at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and read to the blind. Her generosity wasn’t performative—it was woven into her everyday life. Watching her show up for her community left a lasting impression on me. Years later, I found myself holding babies at Children’s Hospital, just as she had, quietly following in her footsteps without fully realizing it.
More recently, my friend and creative partner David Harte played a pivotal role. David has a rare ability to listen deeply and then translate intention into action. When I had what felt like an emotional and spiritual epiphany about wanting to do better with the work I’d built, he helped give language—and structure—to that desire. Our conversations became the foundation for Wurthee.
None of this was done alone. My path has been shaped by people who offered belief, modeled generosity, and helped turn instinct into something real. I carry all of them with me in the work I do now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Wurthee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wurtheevoices
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddy-agopian-086a264/
- Twitter: https://x.com/wurtheeshows
