John Danes
John Danes is an American entrepreneur, digital marketer, and podcast host. He is the founder and CEO of **99MEDIA**, a Nashville-based digital marketing agency, and the host of the business podcast *The No Excuses Show* which has charted in the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts.
Early life and education
Danes grew up in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where he showed an early entrepreneurial spirit—reselling golf balls, Pokémon cards, coupon books, and action figures. Struggling academically in high school and ultimately expelled during 10th grade, he transitioned to homeschooling and began focusing on e-commerce, reselling rare sneakers and clothing online :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Career
E-commerce and agency founder
After high school, Danes worked for a mentor in Kansas City before launching his own digital agency. In August 2017, he founded **99MEDIA**, specializing in Facebook advertising and sales funnels for personality brands. As of 2024, 99MEDIA is recognized as a leading agency in Nashville :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Podcasting
In August 2018, Danes launched *The No Excuses Show*. Within ten months and only 17 episodes, the podcast entered Apple’s Top 100 business charts, ranking as high as #39. He has interviewed prominent figures including Grant Cardone and Frank Kern :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
Recognition and philosophy
Danes emphasizes values of integrity, self-discipline, and intense focus. He believes in mastering key skills through practice and failure, stating, “I don’t believe any of my talents were innate—they came only from practice and, more importantly, failing” :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}. He cites mentors like Grant Cardone and Frank Kern, and his podcast has been a tool for networking and personal growth :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.