The Naked Brand

Imagine yourself behind the wheel of a fast car, you feel like the world is yours.. but, that feeling starts to change as you grow up and the practical side of you starts to kick in.. The price of gas, the environment and safety. In this episode we speak with Jim Shorkey, Former CEO of the Jim Shorkey Auto Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about the auto brand. What is the auto brand and how does it make people feel? What is that gives us such an impression and feeling when it comes to this little thing we ride around in?

How audacious of you! Wow, you had the audacity to do that? The term 'audacious' often has a negative connotation to it - until you become an entrepreneur. Suddenly, the word 'audacious' becomes impressive. In business you sometimes have to go out on a limb and build from the ground up. In this episode we speak with Mohamad Fakih, Founder and President of Paramount Fine Foods.

Influence and branding - it's no secret that influencers are a huge part of brand culture. But what happens when the influencer becomes the brand? What is enough to give you influence and real credibility? Is it being really good at what you do or is it likeability? In this episode we speak with Sarah Mariano, Creator of Performance Stretch Therapy. Sarah has used social media, Instagram & Pinterest in particular, to build her business and influence in the stretch therapy community.

For the love of money! We live, love, betray and fight for money. But money and wealth itself has changed - it's no longer just about the physical coin in your pocket. Money has evolved to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Blockchain. The story of money has changed but our love for it remains the same. In this episode we speak with Ricardo McRae, a licensed financial broker that specializes in helping families grow and save money.

The Brand of Religion - yes, it's a global brand! Belief and values are a huge part of branding - as they are with religion. But what is the brand of religion exactly? And how do we help people keep the faith? The Naked Brand welcomes Rev. Jeff Rock of Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. MCC Toronto is a vibrant, welcoming and progressive church rooted in Christian tradition.

'Recovery' is a word we've heard over and over again throughout the pandemic - and in many contexts. What does recovery look like for our economy? What does it mean from a branding standpoint? And how do we sell it to businesses and society as a whole? In this episode we speak with Andrew Hodd, business owner & President of Vantage Venues, about Branding Recovery.

There's been a lot of discussion and discourse around masculinity - but what does masculinity actually look like? What is the 'brand of masculinity'? And how has our definition of masculinity evolved over time? And does our definition need to be refined? In this episode we speak with Dan Faill, speaker and consultant, about The Brand of Masculinity.

Are we as humans capable of reinvention? Or are we hardwired to be who we are? Is reinvention a fancy new hair cut or a reboot of our fundamentals? In this episode we speak with Amanda Acker, Host of 'The Let Good Things In Show', who knows first-hand what personal reinvention looks like.

There's no doubt that mental health is more important than ever. But is the right perception of mental health getting out there? Do we need to have a bigger conversation about how it's portrayed in the media and in what we watch and read? And what does mental health have to do with branding? In this episode we speak with Sara Makin, Founder of online counselling platform Makin Wellness, about The Brand of Mental Health.

What is the 'brand of movement' and how does it bring us together? Can movement inspire a movement? And how can movement be used to elevate one's voice? In this episode we speak with choreographer, dancer and public speaker Esie Mensah about The Brand of Movement.

Will the real brand please stand up? How does one navigate the tricky balance of personal and corporate branding? Can the two brands co-exist? Or are they standalones? In this episode we speak with Khari Gaynor, growth and branding strategist and Vice President of Aha Insurance, about how personal and corporate brands can both help and hurt each other.

What does it mean to be truly vulnerable? Is it a superpower or weakness? And how can brands benefit from letting down their guards and embrace vulnerability? In this episode we speak with professional singer and trauma-informed coach Janey Brown about The Brand of Vulnerability.

And we're back! Excited to kick off season 2 of The Naked Brand with the Brand of Geek. What is the brand of geek - and does it come with an all access pass? Or is it an exclusive club with a secret handshake? The Naked Brand welcomes Andy Burns, founder and publisher of the pop culture website Biff Bam Pop! Andy is also the author of books on Twin Peaks and Stephen King's The Stand.

It's our season finale and what better way to bring all 17 episodes together than talking about family. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Family is About LoveFIAB IGFIAB FACEBOOK 

For years brands have been trying to increase their focus on sustainability. How are they doing? What should they be thinking about and what are some opportunities for brands of all sizes to embed sustainability not just in their business practices but into the way they build their brand?Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Megan Takeda-TullySuppli

There's not as much legacy and loyalty in the media anymore with the rise of social media, celebrity & pop culture. With a 24-hour news cycle and media personalities jumping from station to station, you're always looking for the next big thing. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Dave Woodard

Play has proven to be a powerful force in developing young minds and hearts.  So why not with brands too? Can brands learn from play based learning techniques used by educators to help drive innovation, further diversity and inclusion and promote the general wellbeing of team members and customers? Should brands play more?Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Danielle Saint-Onge on IGBooks by Danielle Saint-Onge

My late father would say “Everybody's selling something!” And he's right, we are always selling something. If that's true then what are we buying?Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Drill vs Hole ArticleBrent Closs

On The Naked Brand we are always talking about Brands in some shape or form. As the pandemic thunders on the subject of brands are starting to become more mainstream. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Lanrick Bennett Jr.#BuildBackBetter#Nimbyism

Privilege is a much-discussed and very nuanced term, especially these days. But what does it mean for the way brands truly understand and address the issues of privilege within their organizations? Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Jael RichardsonFOLD Canada  

Food plays a big role in all our lives and our culture!As our food expectations evolve from basic fuel to food as an experience, the relationship between people and food has become more complicated. Emotion and guilt have become intertwined with what and how we choose to consume food, which has forced our chefs/cooks to have to adjust how they brand and deliver food. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon The Grove at Western Fair DistrictJames Smith

Mom's usually hold a special place in our hearts. The presence or absence has a major effect on who we turn out to be.  As the standard of living increases worldwide, and the need for 2 income homes continues to rise, we ask how has the role and perception of the mom brand changed? And how does the marketing to moms need to change?Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Antonia Fifi 

In this episode of The Naked Brand we explore the role of brands during movements of change. How do we stay relevant while also staying true?Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Daniel Roukema 

If we look at entrepreneurship as a brand, what's the pulse and the personality of that brand? What is the brand of entrepreneurship when you're creating something out of essentially nothing!Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Joe Canavan

In this episode we take Artificial Intelligence and we apply it to…… I'm sure you guessed it,  Brands!Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Sheldon FernandezDarwin AI

We all wear a lot of hats but, how do you make sure all those hats cover a central story? Joining me on the other side of the mic, I welcome the fearless Producer of the Naked Brand, Devon MD Jones. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Devon MD Jones WebsiteDevon MD Jones InstagramDevon MD Jones Linkedin

The Drill vs. the Hole is one of the best brand theories you may have used, but you've probably never heard of. Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Drill vs Hole ArticleJamie Harish on LinkedinJamie Harnish on Instagram

Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon RicardoMcRae.comRicardo on LinkedinRicardo on Instagram

Your Naked Brand WebsiteMike Leon Camille

Your Naked Brand WebsiteThe Leadership Brand ArticleMike Leon Josh Siegal