On Brand: A Podcast About Branding For Brand Builders, By Brand Builders

Matt Johnson is the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at award-winning creative shop HAYMAKER. Throughout his career, Matt has helped build iconic brand such as adidas, The Truth Initiative, Powerade, King's Hawaiian, 23andMe, MillerCoors, ESPN, Instagram, and Microsoft. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Matt Johnson Throughout his career, Matt Johnson has helped build iconic brands for big names like adidas, The Truth Initiative, Powerade, King's Hawaiian, 23andMe, MillerCoors, ESPN, Instagram, and Microsoft. Currently serving as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of creative agency HAYMAKER, Matt’s thought leadership and expertise have consistently helped his partners win and his strategic insight helped the agency win two Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Awards (2020, 2022), The Truth Initiative win for The Most Effective Brand in North America, and adidas to be named Ad Age’s A-List Marketer of the Year. When Matt isn't making memorial ad campaigns like the mos

This week on the 500th episode of the On Brand podcast, I talk to audio research veteran Tom Webster. He shared his state of the podcasting industry, audience research insights, and the various touchpoints in the podcast brand experience. He even told a story about Tom Jones! Don't miss this very special episode of Blossom. Er, I mean — a very special episode of On Brand. And, thank YOU for listening. About Tom Webster Tom Webster is a partner at Sounds Profitable, the leading voice of significance for the digital audio industry, devoted to growing the podcast sector through audio insights, education, and connections. As a 25-year audio research veteran, he is a trusted advisor to the biggest companies in audio and has dedicated his career to the advancement of podcasting for networks and individuals alike. Tom has been a co-author and driver behind some of audio’s most influential studies, including the Infinite Dial® series, Share of Ear®, and The Podcast Landscape. Additionally, he has led hundreds of aud

Kate Rush Sheehy is Senior Vice President, Strategy & Insights at GSD&M, an Austin-based agency supporting brands like CapitalOne, Pizza Hut, Southwest Airlines, and Universal. Kate's work helps lead clients in new exciting new directions anchored by strategic insights. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Kate Rush Sheehy Kate Rush Sheehy leads the strategy department at GSD&M, a group of thinkers, makers, and “great question!”-askers that includes brand strategy, comms strategy, and research. She is a passionate builder of ideas and always looks at an opportunity from every conceivable angle to help push the agency’s thinking into fresh new territories. Kate joined GSD&M from Expedia Group where she led global brand strategy and advertising for Vrbo, highlights which include launching the brand in 17 countries and building a creative strategy that justified profitably growing the brand’s media investment by 10x. Prior to that, she opened the Austin office of R/GA where

Ben Harms is Chief Growth Officer at youth culture agency Archrival. Through his work with Adidas, Spotify, Red Bull, and YETI, he helps brands connect today's Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Ben Harms Ben Harms, Chief Growth Officer, at youth culture agency, Archrival. Ben speaks to how brands can connect with today's Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences through brand community building, inclusive of influencer/creator marketing. Ben has worked with brands like Adidas, Spotify, Red Bull, Reebok, Hollister, Tommy Hilfiger, Outdoor Voices, and YETI, to strategize and connect with their younger audiences. From the Show Check out Archrival's latest insights on generational brand building which Ben discussed during the show. What brand has made Ben smile recently? Ben shared two very on-brand smile-worthy brands — fashion brand Aimé Leon Dore and e.l.f. Cosmetics. Connect with Ben on the Archrival website or LinkedIn. As We Wrap … Listen and

Tina Lin is the Director of Product Marketing and Brand at Quicken. This week on the On Brand podcast she walked us through the process of revamping this iconic 40-year-old brand while preserving its history and legacy. Anyone thinking about a rebrand won't want to miss this episode! About Tina Lin Tina Lin has spent her career building, marketing, and operating B2C, B2B, and B2B2C products and services. With over 25 years of experience, she has built and launched new businesses across many industries, including sports, online gaming, small business finance, and Internet advertising. As Director of Product Marketing and Brand at Quicken, Tina led the revamp of the 40-year-old iconic Quicken brand, with a new logo, visual identity, and website, signaling its vision for the future. Tina started her career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and CS First Boston. She holds an MBA from Stanford Business School and a BS/BA from the Wharton School/College of Arts & Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania

Mia Blume is a creative leadership coach with experience at Pinterest, Square, and IDEO. In 2016, she started Design Dept. to help creative leaders transform how they work. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Mia Blume Mia Blume is San Francisco-based creative leadership coach. A former design leader at Pinterest, Square, and IDEO, Mia started Design Dept. in 2016 to help transform the way creative leaders work. Through individual coaching, workshops, and customized workplace learning and development, Design Dept.’s guided experiences foster creative leadership. Mia believes that when a designer’s authentic leadership style is unlocked, it impacts not only individuals and teams, but the products, services, and organizations that shape our world. From the Show What brand has made Mia smile recently? “This might not be as recent as you were looking for but do remember the Loom Candle?” Mia shared how the video platform sent out candles for users to commemorate the meetin

Miri Rodriguez literally wrote the book on brand storytelling. An award-winning, globally recognized storyteller and Senior Storyteller for Future of Work at Microsoft, Miri is a creative journalist, content strategist, renowned keynote speaker, and international thought leader helping brands tell their stories. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Miri Rodriguez Miri Rodriguez, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, is an award-winning, globally recognized storyteller and Senior Storyteller for Future of Work at Microsoft. She is a creative journalist, content strategist, renowned keynote speaker, and international thought leader in brand storytelling, personal branding, and youth entrepreneurship. She has earned several awards in digital marketing and customer experience and is ranked as a top in-demand speaker at leading industry conferences globally. Her previous clients include Adobe, Discover, Walmart, and McKesson. Links from the Show Here’s the updated, second edition

Ben Guttmann is the author of the new book Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. Ben is on a mission to get leaders to more effectively connect through clear and concise messages. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Ben Guttmann Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. He’s an experienced marketing executive and educator on a mission to get leaders to more effectively connect by simplifying their message. Ben is former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hachette Book Group, The Nature Conservancy, and other major clients. Currently, Ben teaches digital marketing at Baruch College in New York City and consults with a range of thought leaders, venture-backed startups, and other brands. Links from the Show Here’s Ben’s new book Simply Put: Why Clear Messages

Allen Adamson is the author of the new book Seeing the How: Achieving Market Advantage by Transforming the Stuff We Do, Not the Stuff We Buy. He’s the author of several other books on all things branding and the co-founder and managing partner of Metaforce. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Allen Adamson Allen Adamson is a noted industry expert in all disciplines of branding. He has worked with a broad spectrum of consumer and corporate businesses in industries ranging from packaged goods and technology to health care and financial services, to hospitality and entertainment. Allen’s newest book is Seeing the How: Achieving Market Advantage by Transforming the Stuff We Do, Not the Stuff We Buy. His previous books, BrandSimple, BrandDigital, The Edge, and Shift Ahead, are used as textbooks in higher education business programs across the country. Allen is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Metaforce, an elite marketing collective of the industry's top talent. Links fro

Lydia Michael is an entrepreneur, speaker, brand strategist, and author of “Brand Love." As I said during our conversation, Lydia spends a lot of time defining the undefinable — from brand love to multicultural marketing to personal branding.  We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Lydia Michael Lydia Michael is an entrepreneur, speaker, brand strategist, and author of “Brand Love." She works with companies and organizations to develop brands and marketing strategies. Lydia is the founder and owner of Blended Collective, a multicultural marketing and brand consultancy. Her experience includes working with brands like Deloitte and L’Oréal in Germany. Lydia’s work has been recognized with several diversity and marketing-centered awards. She leads workshops and webinars, and speaks to audiences about topics such as multicultural marketing, brand love, and personal branding. Links from the Show What brand has made Lydia smile recently? Lydia shared Huda Beauty, a brand she re

This week we have a special holiday episode of the On Brand podcast with the “Naughty and Nice Brands of 2023.” This seasonally appropriate snapshot of brand behavior was developed by the smart folks at Brand Federation. The consultancy’s Chief Growth Officer Matt Williams joined me to discuss which brands have been naughty and nice this year. Enjoy This Episode Now Download Episode Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify About Matt Williams Matt Williams is chief growth officer for Brand Federation, a brand strategy consultancy in Richmond, Va. Prior to joining Brand Federation in 2019, Williams was CEO of the Martin Agency, one of the world’s most recognized advertising agencies, where he managed strategy development for world-class brands like GEICO, OREO, UPS, Discover Financial, Walmart, and more. Williams also is Clinical Professor in the marketing department at the Mason School of Business at William & Mary. He teaches in the MBA program and is the developer and Faculty Director of the school’

Amanda Proscia, co-founder of Lightspeed Public Relations and Marketing, is the author of PR Confidential, available now. Lightspeed is a New York City-based agency focused on promoting innovation in areas like healthcare, financial services, and consumer electronics. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Amanda Proscia Amanda Proscia is a master corporate storyteller with experience in-house at American Express. Amanda is the co-founder of Lightspeed Public Relations and Marketing, a New York City-based agency focused on promoting innovation in areas like healthcare, financial services, and consumer electronics. She's also the author of the bestselling new book, PR Confidential.  Links from the Show On Brand Soundbite. "In addition to the millions of dollars wasted on ads that are not digitally optimized, brands are missing other marketing opportunities for their holiday promotions,"  says Amanda Proscia. "Each holiday season, ads are repeated from previous years withou

Sandy Skees is EVP, Global Purpose and Impact Lead at Porter Novelli and author of the book Purposeful Brands. While it seems like purposeful branding and marketing is everywhere these days, that doesn't diminish the importance and responsibility of this work. And it doesn't make the work any easier. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Sandy Skees Sandy Skees is EVP, Global Purpose and Impact Lead at Porter Novelli, a leading communications consultancy, part of the Omnicom Group. With over three decades of expertise in management consulting and strategic communications, Sandy has worked with clients including Visa, Abercrombie & Fitch, eBay, and Panasonic, among many others. Recognized as PRWeek's Woman of Distinction 2023 and Most Purposeful Agency Pro 2021, Sandy holds a Board Director position at Sustainable Brands and is an advisor to The Diversity Center. Author of Purposeful Brands, she is an experienced speaker on branding, messaging, and sustainability topics. S

Jay Mandel is the author of the book Brand Strategy in Three Steps, as well as an entrepreneur, professor, consultant, and coach. In all of his work, he leads with his core values of candor, curiosity, and collaboration. We discussed all this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Jay Mandel Jay Mandel, a multi-faceted entrepreneur, professor, consultant, and coach, is not only the author of the book Brand Strategy in Three Steps, but also an embodiment of core values such as candor, curiosity, and collaboration. His transformative journey from corporate America to coaching reflects his commitment to infusing meaning and authenticity into the business world. With two decades of corporate experience, including a notable role as the former social media and content lead for Mastercard's global team, Jay's brand methodology is honed through a diverse range of corporate, entrepreneurial, and academic experiences. Armed with a Masters's in strategic communications from Columbia University, Jay is dedica

Karen McFarlane is the founder and CMO of Kaye Media, a fractional marketing firm for startups to enterprises. With over 25 years of experience, Karen is renowned for her transformative purpose-driven brand strategies and has been recognized for her leadership and deep commitment to equity and belonging. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Karen McFarlane Karen McFarlane, the founder of Kaye Media, is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience. Her expertise in shaping compelling brand narratives and strategies has guided businesses toward transformative growth and market clarity. Karen's role extends beyond her company, as evidenced by her impactful tenure as President of the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), where she earned eight Chapter Excellence Awards and now champions equity as the Chair of DEI Innovation. Additionally, Karen serves on the Board of the Hudson Valley Credit Union, New York's fifth-largest credit un

Robert Felder is the founder of Bearbottom Clothing, a one-for-one clothing manufacturer. Felder is an expert in DTC, growth, social entrepreneurship, and, of course, brand building. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Robert Felder Robert Felder founded Bearbottom Clothing in 2012, launching it in 2014, after visiting Bangladesh as a high school student. Felder saw firsthand the need for quality jobs and basic necessities like clothing within the community. Felder returned home with the mission to make an impact on the people of Bangladesh, and Bearbottom Clothing was born. As one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world, Felder could provide jobs while donating back to the community through the one-for-one business model. Since then, Bearbottom has expanded not only its clothing line but also its impact on the people and communities they work with. Felder is an expert in DTC/E-commerce supply chain, product development, fulfillment/warehousing, social entrepr

Jackie Bebenroth is a positioning expert and founder of the agency Muse. She and her team help transformative leaders with positioning through their unique Productive Distancing approach. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Jackie Bebenroth Jackie Bebenroth is an award-winning positioning expert and agency founder who draws from two decades of experience as a brand strategist and entrepreneur to help visionary leaders achieve transformation inside their businesses and beyond. Jackie has shaped some of the nation’s leading brands. Using her own Productive Distancing techniques for brand strategy, she helps businesses evolve and define their true purpose – the WHY – so they can march forward with unwavering clarity and confidence. At her agency, Muse, she leads a team of strategists and creatives who are dialed into the needs of clients in nutrition and wellness segments, where behavior and lifestyle changes are prerequisites to success. She’s picked up a few accolades al

Pam Sherman is an actor, writer, leadership consultant, and recovering lawyer. Her work helps leaders, law firms, and Fortune 500 brands with the tasks of finding and sharing their unique stories. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Pam Sherman Pam Sherman is an actor, writer, leadership consultant, and recovering lawyer who was profiled in People Magazine about her transition from lawyer to actor. Today, she speaks, facilitates, and coaches leaders all over the world about how to ignite their audiences with who they are and their stories, and to find their EDGE: Explore, Dream, Grow, & Excite®. She works with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and advertising agencies, and is a highly rated global resource for the leadership organizations, EO, Vistage, YPO, and Tiger 21. Her nationally syndicated column, The Suburban Outlaw was published in the USA Today Network for 15 years. Sherman also starred in Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End breaking box-office records around the Unite

Melanie Deziel is an award-winning branded content creator and author of the books The Content Fuel Framework and Prove It. She also is the Co-Founder of The Creator Kitchen mastermind group. We discussed all of this and more — with cooking metaphors aplenty — this week on the On Brand podcast. About Melanie Deziel Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker and award-winning branded content creator who is passionate about helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their creative potential and organize their creative efforts. She is the Co-Founder of The Creator Kitchen mastermind for creatives, and the author of both The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas and Prove It: Exactly How Modern Marketers Earn Trust. Links from the Show Check out The Creator Kitchen mastermind. And here are links to Melanie's two books we discussed — The Content Fuel Framework and Prove It. Looking for more smarts from Melanie? Check out her previous appearances on the On Brand podcast back in 2016

Aaron Templer is the author of the book Leading a Social World and the owner of the marketing firm, Three Over Four. He brings a unique background in the arts to his work, which is focused on the convergence of strategy, leadership, and social media. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Aaron Templer Having studied music, English lit, and earned an MBA, Aaron Templer is an unapologetic, eclectic marketing leader, and at-times agitator. With more than 25 years of experience, Aaron is a marketing firm owner, professional instructor for the American Marketing Association, occasional speaker and professor, and hobby percussionist. His firm, speaking engagements, teachings, and writings are at the intersection of strategy, creativity, brand, influence, and leadership. Some call him the Gora Dhol Wallah. Aaron recently authored Leading in a Social World, a six-time award-winning book for business leaders and marketers that sets out a different approach to marketing in online s