Join us on the digital airwaves with History Factory Plugged In, a biweekly podcast that takes a refreshing look at the rich and sometimes provocative heritage of major U.S. and global organizations. Host Jason Dressel, Managing Director at History Factory, and his guests explore current events and other topics related to business heritage. Company history comes alive in this engaging, thought-provoking show.
History Versus Heritage: Demystifying Brand Storytelling by The History Factory Podcast
In this episode, History Factory's Erin Narloch interviews longtime employees of the Dickies archives Ann Richardson, director of trend development, and Corinna Wright, senior design manager. Ann and Corinna, who have been with Dickies for 50 and 28 years respectively, discuss their roles in merchandising, product development and the creation of the archives.
What goes into the 75-year legacy of one of the world's most iconic footwear brands? Erin Narloch interviews Sandra Trapp, senior manager of history management and adidas global brands brand partnerships, on the adidas archival collection, its history and its role in the company. Founded in 2009, the collection holds around 40,000 catalog pieces, including footwear, apparel and file storage equivalent to three kilometers. Erin and Sandra discuss how the archives supported adidas' 75th anniversary and how pulling out historical assets for the momentous occasion was more than just a blast from the past—it was also a global movement. Tune in to learn more about Sandra and her work at adidas.
Utah State University (USU) owns the Outdoor Recreation Archive, a living archives documenting the history of outdoor gear. Since its inception, it has been accessed by some of the world's most recognizable brands, including REI, Nike, Columbia and others. Host Erin Narloch sits down with Chase Anderson, industry relations manager for outdoor product design and development and the Outdoor Recreation Archive at USU, and Clint Pumphrey, manuscript curator and program chair for archives outreach and instruction at USU, the duo behind the archives, to discuss what began as a donation of outdoor gear catalogs and has since become a globally recognized resource for students, scholars and leading outdoor brands.
In this podcast episode, we talk with Halley Knigge, REI's divisional vice president of communications, and Will Dunn, Co-op Living Archive and impact communications program manager, on the creation of REI's Living Archive and the impact of the collection. The archives includes artifacts from the 1880s to the present day, serving as a portal for business units across the company to access historic gear, oral histories and revolutionary product items. Since its launch in 2024, the archives has fostered employee engagement and inspired product design. Tune in to learn more about how the REI team aims to expand the internal reach and impact of the Living Archive.
In this new episode, Jason Dressel hosts Susan Morrison, author of “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live,” on “The History Factory Podcast.” Morrison discusses Lorne Michaels' leadership style, emphasizing his intuitive management, remote presence and minimal praise. She highlights Michaels' ability to maintain SNL's format while evolving its content, as well as his strategic approach to managing conflicts. Dressel and Morrison discuss Michaels' influence on American culture and his unique ability to balance work and life. Morrison also shares insights from her extensive research into subjects including Michaels' decision-making processes and his impact on SNL's longevity and succession planning.
In our latest podcast episode, we gave the mic to our own people to discuss our recently released report, “The Heritage Gap.” CEO Jason Dressel is joined by Adrian Gianforti, Director of Marketing and Communications, Erin Narloch, Senior Director of Business Insights and Performance, and Andrew Rugg, President of Certus Insights, to discuss key findings from the report and History Factory's new Brand Heritage Index. The group explores how brands use heritage to engage audiences, the role of nostalgia and the potential of brand storytelling on social media. Tune in to learn how history can drive business success.
Join us on the open road to celebrate the Ford Mustang's 60th birthday with Ted Ryan, Ford's archives and heritage brand manager. He and History Factory CEO Jason Dressel discuss the iconic vehicle's seven generations and its impact on pop culture—including its appearance in more than 8,000 movies and videos—and the most popular models today. Ryan talks about the transformation of the Mustang model, still one of the most popular sports coupes in the world, and its underlying design thinking over the decades. He also shares some stories from Ford's archives, the Ford Heritage Vault, which has seen 30 million searches and 7.7 million downloads since its launch. Show Notes: As the archives and heritage brand manager for Ford Motor Company, Ted Ryan “has the coolest job,” a comment he often gets when people meet him for the first time and find out what he does for a living. His response is, “Indeed, I do!” In his role overseeing Ford's archives, Ryan tells stories about the company's rich heritage to internal and external audiences. While he is not a car collector, his father is and owns a 1931 Model A, a 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet, a 1957 Continental Mark II and a 2002 Thunderbird. Two of Ryan's favorite photos are of him with his father and 1966 Mustang and of him with his three sons with his 2020 Mustang. Ford cars are in his blood.
Gold Medals & Global Influence: Dr. Lindsay Krasnoff Unveils the Olympics' Cultural and Diplomatic Impact
In this episode, host Erin Narloch sits down with Anders Sjöman, an expert in history marketing and preservation, at the renowned Center for Business History in Stockholm. Together, they delve into the fascinating world of business archives and the power of storytelling in corporate heritage. Anders shares his personal journey, from a background in economics to his pivotal role in preserving and leveraging Sweden's business history.
In this episode, host Jason Dressel interviews Lou Ferrante, a former mafia associate turned author, about the history of the American Mafia. Ferrante traces the mafia's origins to Sicily in the Middle Ages and explores its evolution in American society. He discusses mafia ethics, business practices, and their impact on various industries, providing nuanced perspectives. He challenges misconceptions, highlighting the violent and illegal nature of the mafia, offering insights into the complex world of the mafia.
History Factory's Erin Narloch, senior director of business insight and performance, sits down with Brigette Jones, public historian, consultant and researcher, to discuss the current state of brands leveraging or adopting inclusive practices to better connect to their customers while also acknowledging their pasts. Via the “Journey to Jubilee” tour she created conveying the stories of enslaved people at Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, Jones ended up consulting with one of the top fashion brands of our era, Tommy Hilfiger. According to Jones, the simple act of showing more empathy not only creates a bedrock for an organization's diversity, equity and inclusion practices but is also good for its bottom line. Tune into this episode to hear more.
History Factory's CEO Jason Dressel interviews Ryan Craig, Managing Director of Achieve Partners and author of "Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America."
Historian and archivist Catherine Acosta from Vans joins History Factory's Erin Narloch for a behind-the-scenes take on the iconic Southern California brand. In a conversation covering topics including “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” common challenges and the corporate archivist role today, Catherine breaks down how Vans is bringing its heritage to modern-day marketing, product development and more.
Historian and consultant Dr. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff sits down with us on the next episode of “The History Factory Podcast” to talk about the history of basketball, its rise in popularity over time and the sport's globalization. As the NBA season kicks off this week, History Factory CEO Jason Dressel dives into the history of basketball and how we might have the wrong idea about the French.
Author, speaker, futurist and consultant Mark Schaefer joins “The History Factory Podcast” to discuss the past, present and future of marketing and share insights from his latest book, “Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy.”
“The History Factory Podcast” welcomes Dave Moore, archive and digital asset manager at Carhartt, to chat with guest host and History Factory Senior Director of Business Insight and Performance Erin Narloch. The two discuss Carhartt's origins, why it is synonymous with quality work apparel, its evolution into a brand that influences celebrity fashion, and how it uses its archives to authenticate its brand positioning, develop products and connect with its consumer communities.
On the latest episode of “The History Factory Podcast,” Jason Dressel hosts New York Times columnist and author James Stewart to discuss his and co-author Rachel Abrams' new book “Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy.” Listen to learn more about how the ViacomCBS empire and Redstone family dynamic are reminiscent of the hit HBO show “Succession.” Beyond boardroom drama, Stewart also traces how this family's story reflects larger shifts in corporate culture in America, including changes to the media and entertainment landscape, the impact of the #MeToo movement, and trends in corporate governance and succession planning.
In the second episode of the History Factory Podcast, CEO Jason Dressel sits down with Amy Bernstein, editor of Harvard Business Review. They discuss HBR's 100 years of thought leadership, including its origin story as a quarterly magazine and its growth into the multimedia giant it is today. Facilitating worldwide discussions among the biggest business leaders, HBR has published some of the most influential ideas in the history of modern business—including scientific management, disruptive innovation and emotional intelligence—and transformed how companies are run. The pair also dive into HBR's book, “HBR at 100,” which contains the publication's most influential articles from the past 100 years, and talk about what went into curating the selection and how the publication's focus has evolved to serve an increasingly complicated world and global audience.
We're starting fresh this season. For starters, we decided to go back to basics and rebrand as the History Factory Podcast. Why? Because we want to continue to serve you, our listeners, with content that best fulfills our mission of making clients' history and heritage infinitely useful in pursuit of their missions. And that starts with our name. For fans of “History Factory Plugged In,” fear not: This doesn't represent a departure so much as an evolution of the same great content you love. Our new format will feature guest hosts and a slate of all-star guests from some of the world's leading companies. This week's episode features Scott Reames, Nike's former corporate historian and head of the Department of Nike Archives (DNA). Scott recently retired and spent some of his newfound free time speaking with guest host Erin Narloch, History Factory's senior director of business insight & performance. The two discussed the hit movie “Air,” how DNA came to be, the value and uses of the Nike archives, and more.
As the U.S. banking world grapples with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, we explore what makes this banking crisis unique from a historical perspective on this month's “History Factory Plugged In.” History Factory's founder, Bruce Weindruch, joins CEO Jason Dressel to discuss the sequence of events that led to this, as well as the vulnerabilities of the banking system overall. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations and delve into industry trends in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
In recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, History Factory's Jason Dressel sits down with author Karen Baum Gordon to discuss her book The Last Letter: A Father's Struggle, a Daughter's Quest, and the Long Shadow of the Holocaust, which explores the Holocaust's impact on her family through the generations, the lost fragments of her family's history, and her own Jewish identity. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations and delve into industry trends in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
Ahead of CES, the annual bellwether event for technology and consumer electronics, we sat down with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), to discuss the organization's evolution during his 40-plus year tenure, CES' transformation into a truly global event, and how the show pushes to solve the world's problems. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations and delve into industry trends in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
Host Jason Dressel talks with historian and author Jan Lucassen about the history of work as chronicled in Lucassen's book “The Story of Work: A New History of Humankind.” They cover topics including the evolution of hunting and gathering societies, the development of farming and agriculture, the Industrial Revolution and, most recently, the proliferation of remote work. Lucassen also shares what the future might hold for labor markets. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations and delve into industry trends in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
Just in time for National Blue Jeans Day, “History Factory Plugged In” welcomes Levi Strauss & Co historian and archives manager Tracey Panek. She and host Jason Dressel, CEO of History Factory, discuss the globally known heritage brand's origins during the gold rush of 1849 and the birth of the modern blue jeans that would ultimately take the pop culture and fashion world by storm. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” welcomes Ford Archives and Heritage Brand Manager Ted Ryan. He and host Jason Dressel, CEO of History Factory, discuss how the company uses its history and archives to help with future-focused branding and marketing initiatives such as the relaunch of the Ford Bronco and the limited anniversary edition of the Ford Mustang. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” wishes the Union Pacific Railroad a happy 160th birthday! To mark the milestone, we welcome John Turner, senior vice president of the Harriman Dispatch Center and network planning at Union Pacific, to talk about the history of the company, where it is today and where it's going. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” returns with guest Lisa Napoli, author and journalist, to discuss the 42nd anniversary of CNN's founding. In the episode, we talk about how the network came to be, how it survived through its early years, and how it became the international news juggernaut it is today. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” welcomes Pete Asch, corporate archivist and corporate communications manager for the New York Stock Exchange and executive producer of “Inside the ICE House,” a podcast produced by International Exchange, to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the NYSE's founding. We cover the Exchange's origin story, how it uses its archives to link past to present, and what the future might hold for one of the most influential organizations in the world. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On the latest installment of “History Factory Plugged In,” host Jason Dressel reminisces about his childhood growing up on a farm in North Carolina. We welcome Neil Dahlstrom, author and Branded Properties and Heritage Manager at John Deere, to discuss his latest book, Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of Modern Agriculture. The two talk about the development of the tractor industry in America and muse on what a day in the life of a corporate archivist entails. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
This week on “History Factory Plugged In,” host Jason Dressel talks with Dr. Sarah Federman, Ph.D., about how companies can grapple with past actions that may be inconsistent with today's ethics and standards. We examine the subject both through a historical lens and with regard to how the implications often play out in real time. Sarah Federman is an author, educator, and conflict resolution practitioner who unites business savvy with peacebuilding wisdom. She has been published in many journals, including a recent article in the Harvard Business Review titled, “How Companies Can Address Their Historical Transgressions.” History Factory's Perils of the Past looks at perceptions among consumers, executives and investors about possible transgressions in a company's past. Download today for more information. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
History Factory Plugged In makes its return with a new episode on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We talk to Alan Kelly, president and founder of Playmaker Systems, a strategy and analytics firm, about the role of persuasion, influence, PR and rhetoric in the ongoing war. Alan has published numerous papers including Decoding Crimea, a 2020 breakthrough analysis of Vladimir Putin's influence strategy, and has been a featured analyst on Plays for the Presidency, a weekly radio series on the non-partisan Sirius XM satellite channel P.O.T.U.S. 124. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
"History Factory Plugged In” is back with a special Thanksgiving episode featuring Nicole Johnson, director of Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line, and Rebecca Welch, senior brand manager at Butterball. With host Jason Dressel, they discuss 40 years of the Turkey Talk-Line and reminisce about some of their favorite Thanksgiving inquiries. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” is back with a new season, kicking off with an interview with Stephen J.A. Ward, Ph.D., author, professor and internationally recognized media ethicist. In the wake of various scandals and a name change from the company formerly known as Facebook, we discuss the current media landscape, how we got here and his prescriptions for a brighter future. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On the latest episode of “History Factory Plugged In,” we talk with Betsy Hoag of PR agency Greentarget about a new joint study commissioned by History Factory called “The Succession Trap: How the C-suite thinks about leadership transitions and why it's wrong.” Betsy and host Jason Dressel chat about the methodology of the survey, which polled 160 C-suite executives from Fortune 500 companies, as well as some surprising results. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
“History Factory Plugged In” host Jason Dressel sat down with professor Matthew Delmont, the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of History at Dartmouth College, to discuss the origin and legacy of Juneteenth, as well as how people can educate themselves and commemorate the holiday. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On this week's episode of “History Factory Plugged In,” host Jason Dressel sits down with Richard West, corporate historian at Southwest Airlines. As Southwest celebrates its 50th anniversary, Richard shares a fascinating trip through the iconic brand's history, from its humble beginning as a regional carrier — with the famous “Texas Triangle” sketched on a cocktail napkin — to its emergence as the world's largest low-cost carrier. Company history comes alive with “History Factory Plugged In.” We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On the latest episode of History Factory Plugged In, host Jason Dressel sits down with bestselling author and business consultant Ram Charan to discuss his new book, “Rethinking Competitive Advantage: New Rules for the Digital Age.” The man dubbed the “most influential consultant alive” by Fortune magazine discusses how companies can stay relevant amid changing technology, why organizations fail and what they can do to avoid it. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
History Factory Plugged In hosts Heather Walls, chief creative officer of communications at Wikimedia Foundation, to talk about Wikipedia’s 20th anniversary and the activities around its celebration. Heather will be a presenter at The Anniversary Marketing Summit on April 27, along with representatives from Cleveland Clinic, Deloitte, Diageo’s Johnnie Walker, Pitney Bowes and more. If you’re interested in learning from these brands, email us at info@anniversarymarketingsummit.com for a comp code. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
In honor of Women’s History Month, History Factory Plugged In host Jason Dressel sits down with professor Amy Bix of Iowa State University to discuss the history of women in engineering. From pre-WWII origins to modern STEM efforts, we cover the strides women have made toward gender equality in the field. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
History Factory Plugged In is back with a new episode focused on the concept of nostalgia and its power to evoke strong memories and motivate behaviors. Host Jason Dressel talks with Kristyne Batcho, psychology professor at New York’s Le Moyne College, about her field-leading research on the subject. Jason also chats with History Factory’s new senior director of creative, Corrie Commisso, about how brands have harnessed nostalgia for marketing, plus some recent pitfalls we’ve seen. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
History Factory Plugged In welcomes Paul Matsen, chief marketing and communications officer at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic. He and host Jason Dressel discuss plans for the organization's centennial and upcoming Founders Day, which is Friday, February 26. Cleveland Clinic will be a presenter at The Anniversary Marketing Summit, hosted virtually this year on April 27. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
Join History Factory Plugged In for our first episode of the new year, featuring Dr. Robert D. Hicks of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia discussing the history of vaccines. Host Jason Dressel and Dr. Hicks cover colonial medicine to the new COVID-19 vaccines, examining ongoing research into the history of vaccination and what we can learn from previous efforts. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We explore the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com
We’re back with a year-end episode of History Factory Plugged In. This week, host Jason Dressel chats with Sara Eagin, History Factory’s senior curator—and creator of the popular Sara’s Friday Email—about some of the most impactful stories of 2020, as well as some holiday potpourri. To learn more about the topics discussed in the podcast, find links and show notes below, and sign up for future Friday Emails here. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We look at the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On the latest episode of History Factory Plugged In, host Jason Dressel chats with representatives from two companies that retooled their product offerings in the early months of the pandemic in order to support front-line health care workers. First, he chats with New Balance COO Dave Wheeler about how the shoe manufacturer transitioned to making PPE for staff at Mass General Hospital. Later, he speaks with MassMutual's head of marketing and brand, Jennifer Halloran, about the insurer's offer of free life insurance to health care workers. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We look at the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have any questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
On the latest episode of History Factory Plugged in, host Jason Dressel discusses History Factory's COVID-19 Corporate Memory Project, explores what pandemic life might have looked like pre-internet, and chats with S&P Global EVP and Chief People Officer Dimitra Manis about the company's new recruitment site, built during the pandemic. Company history comes alive with History Factory Plugged In. We look at the rich heritage of major organizations in this thought-provoking podcast. If you have any questions, comments or ideas to share, please email us at pluggedin@historyfactory.com.
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