Podcasts about brands

Consumer expectations are changing fast, and brands of every size are being forced to adapt.  In this episode, we discuss what PepsiCo's response to GLP-1s and inflation signals for CPG. We also dive into Vita Coco's acquisition of a super-premium rival, and sample everything from cereal-inspired protein shakes and date-sweetened cola to birch water and caffeinated banana milk. Show notes: 0:20: Chi, Summer. Is Ce Real? Pep Rally. Coco + Copra. Date Drink. The Two a Yous. It's French. — Ray and Melissa lament how quickly summer is slipping away, but they're looking ahead to Taste Radio's upcoming meetup in Chicago. Meanwhile, Mike is mixing up an unconventional concoction he swears will improve his physique. Melissa then leads a conversation about PepsiCo's response to GLP-1 adoption and persistent inflation, prompting a discussion about how major CPG companies are balancing lower prices on core products with innovation in premium and functional offerings—a dynamic that's creating both headwinds and opportunities for emerging brands. The hosts also examine Vita Coco's acquisition of premium coconut water brand Copra, viewing it as a strategic move to expand across multiple price tiers and compete more directly with Harmless Harvest. Ray samples Unpop's date-sweetened cola and highlights Tuyyo agua fresca hydration sticks, NYMBL high-protein ice cream, and OOZ birch water, while Melissa gives high marks to Halfday iced tea and Matcha DNA's powdered matcha lattes. Brands in this episode: Spylt, Miils, Doritos, Carbone, Copra, Vita Coco, Harmless Harvest, Jolt Cola, Olipop, Poppi, Nixie, Stiller's, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Halfday, Nymbl, Protein Pints, David, Tuyyo, Unpop, OOZ, Matcha DNA, Minor Figures

Story of the Week (DR):Cracker Barrel CEO is out after MAGA backlash to "Uncle Herschel" logo change MMBefore Julie Masino was brought in, Cracker Barrel was facing a slow-moving existential crisis:Their primary core customer base (older generations and rural highway travelers) was naturally shrinking, and younger diners were simply not replacing them.Kitchen tech, supply chains, and digital ordering lag behind competitors like Texas Roadhouse or Olive Garden.Some great fake populism from Fox: Cracker Barrel to pay for outgoing CEO's security, $4.6M severance after failed rebrandCracker Barrel names David Deno CEOBurger KingYum! Brands and Pizza Hut for 15 years, including serving as CFO and COO.Quiznos CEO.Best Buy: Served as President of Asia and CFO for Best Buy's International DivisionBloomin' Brands for 12 years: CEO, CFO and Chief Administrative OfficerOutback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish GrillBoard MembershipsCracker Barrel Old Country Store (2016-)Panera Brands (2024-): Audit Committee ChairKrispy Kreme (2016-)Bloomin' Brands (2019–2024)Peet's Coffee (2006-2012)Macalester College: Former Chair of the Board of Trustees (1998-2022).From Cracker Barrel to Boeing, Companies Are Turning to Retired CEOsThese retired CEOs are being hired to be "fixers." They are brought in to cut costs, repair supply chains, restore investor confidence, and act as a stabilizing force rather than reinventing the brand.Exxon and Chevron profits surge on rising oil prices due to Iran warChevron posted its highest profit in six years as the Iran war boosted oil pricesBig Oil Is Getting Sued for Heat Deaths. It's Fighting Back With an Army of Immunity LawsMore than a decade after investigations found that Exxon Mobil had known about the dangers of global warming since the 1970s but publicly downplayed the threat, lawsuits against oil companies have proliferated. There are nearly 40 of these cases pending across the countryIn the meantime, the industry has been mobilizing a counterattack against the lawsuits with the help of the Trump administration and Republican politicians.Republicans are trying to pass laws to grant oil majors immunity to these kinds of lawsuits, with success in several states so far.Utah, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Louisiana have recently signed laws shielding fossil fuel companies from lawsuits related to greenhouse gas emissionsOil executives have also gotten help from the federal government, following an executive order from President Donald Trump last year directing the attorney general to prioritize blocking climate lawsuits by states.This May, the Justice Department responded to Minnesota's climate lawsuit against Big Oil with a lawsuit of its own, just as the state's case was moving into the discovery phase. It said Minnesota was undermining “American energy dominance” and attempting to regulate greenhouse gases, which should fall under the purview of federal law—echoing the oil industry's well-known argument.Elon Musk Is Quietly Turning to This Fossil Fuel to Power His AI AmbitionsSam Altman Announces That the Singularity Has Arrived: a hypothetical future point in time when technological growth becomes autonomous, uncontrollable, and irreversible, fundamentally transforming human civilization“We are now, like, in the singularity ... Now we're actually in the moment that we used to talk about at the lunch table in a very not-serious way ...I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I think it's going to be incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world.”Sam Altman says one of his biggest fears is that a small number of companies will control AI: 'That'd be very, very bad'Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'OpenAI says its rogue AI tried to hack other companiesMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict it'No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Microsoft CEO Warns That Companies Embracing AI Could Drive Themselves Out of BusinessAI hackers are getting faster. The government may not be readyAnthropic says its Claude models 'gained unauthorized access' to other organizations' systemsAnthropic says its models went rogue and hacked 3 companies during testing'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Gen Z women are having an entrepreneurship boomOf all women who started businesses in 2025, 47% of Gen Z women did so, compared with 38% the previous year. Gen Xers followed close behind at 46%. Then came millennials at 43% and baby boomers at just 23%.Overall, in 2025, 69% of new Black-owned businesses were started by women. The survey also found that women business owners are less likely than their male counterparts to depend on AIMM: Delaware judge rules public benefit corporations exempt from maximizing value in sale DRFiduciary duty is different - OpenAI, AnthropicAssholiest of the Week (MM):Fake man apologies MM‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyJoyce has expressed some regret“So with the information we had at the time, I still don't think there was any other decision you could make,”“Hindsight is a great thing.”“I'm actually very, very proud of the fact that I'm not sitting here and apologising for Qantas going bankrupt, [something] that many airlines around the world did,”Australian Competition and Consumer Commission fined Qantas $120 million for selling tickets for 8000 already cancelled flights“I apologise for the angst that was generated [for] the customers on it, but the reality was we had 22 million bookings in the system [and] the system wasn't designed to do an automatic refund,”“Stop us!”More than 1,200 AI workers across Anthropic, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Meta are asking for Washington's help building an AI slowdown plan‘No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Elon Musk's new 5-year warning to Americans: AI will beat human brains by 2032 (then go wild). Get rich or get crushed?Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsBut also, DON'T stop us, obviously…Palantir CEO warns US against Europe's AI regulation path, urges Trump admin to not ban open modelsElon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over law to ban 'nudify' appsMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict itElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushIgnoring boardsHims & Hers mission:“Hims & Hers is the leading health and wellness platform on a mission to help the world feel great through the power of better health. We believe how you feel in your body and mind transforms how you show up in life. That's why we're building a future where nothing stands in the way of harnessing this power. Hims & Hers normalizes health & wellness challenges—and innovates on their solutions—to make feeling happy and healthy easy to achieve. No two people are the same, so the Company provides access to personalized care designed for results.”Hims & Hers board:CEO: Andrew Dudum, tech VC bro investor “serial entrepreneur” with deep health experience from Bungalow (airBnB knockoff in the UK), Homebound (a “homebuilding platform”), TalkIQ (an AI startup, duh), and Terminal (something about scaling engineering?)TWO directors from DoorDash (Kofi Amoo-Gottfried from Marketing, previously of Facebook, and Christopher Payne the COO, previously of eBay, MSFT, and Amazon)TWO pharma execs (one lawyer, Deb Autor, one with an econ degree, Kare Schultz)One guy from Netflix (David Wells) and one lady from Urban Outfitters (marketing/brand, Andrea Perez) and one pure law firm lawyer (Anja Manuel)ONE DOCTOR EXCLUSIVE: US FTC sues Hims & Hers for sending user health info to Meta, SnapUsers' sensitive health information was shared with online advertising companies including Meta ​Platforms and Snap despite the company leading customers to believe their ​data was private, the FTC alleged in the lawsuit filed along with Los ⁠Angeles County and Utah.Hims & Hers also started charging users for prescriptions before ​they have ⁠had a chance to meet with healthcare providers, the FTC alleged. Most customers do not receive a consultation with a provider, and instead are charged for ⁠prescriptions ​soon after filling out an intake form, ​according to the agency.Headliniest of the WeekDR: CEO apologizes for offering interviews to people who got tattoos of his AI company logoSan Francisco tech CEO Jordan Zietz, co-founder of an early stage AI startup called LemonLime. Stanford grad.“LemonLime learns your business and then automates your team's busywork in a single click, no coding or manual setup required.”Former Qantas CEO reflects on tenure, issues apology to passengers over post COVID chaos AND ‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyMM: Amazon received $600 million in tariff refunds and will pass some back to customersMM: Trump Staff Cuts Blamed After Watermarked OpenAI Map Mislabels Africa at AIDS ConferenceIt's the fact that we have less staff that meant we couldn't bother to figure out which country was whichWho Won the Week?DR: Kohls: For getting some much-needed female influence on board: Kohl's Appoints Wendy Arlin as Chair of the BoardCurrently only 2: Robbin Mitchell (7%) and Wendy Arlin (1%)John Schlifske (27%) stepping downMM: The phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”Anne Sweeney Resigns From Netflix BoardOn July 26, 2026, Anne Sweeney notified Netflix, Inc. (the “Company”) that she was resigning from the Board of Directors of the Company effective as of that date. Ms. Sweeney's resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company1,660 8-Ks in the last 5 years have the exact phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”So we're saying that 1,660 c-suite and board members resigned in 5 years - more than 300 per year - and NONE were due to a disagreement with the companies? That's only THAT phrase - no other details are given for most of them except occasionally:To pursue another jobPersonal reasonsFor scale, in the last 5 years, the term “was due to a disagreement with the Company” appears… 5 timesPredictionsDR: Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson apologizes that it took former CEO Alan Joyce to apologize for something she already apologized for despite not being CEO when any of it happenedMM: Damion resigns from Free Float due to a disagreement with the zero dollars he gets paid, but Free Float puts out a statement saying it's “not due to any salary reason related to the company”

Why do some brands become part of our lives while others disappear?In this episode of Entrepreneur Authorities, Joe Pardavila sits down with branding expert and author Ernie Ross to explore the hidden forces that shape the way people connect with products, companies, and ideas.Ernie is the founder of an award-winning branding and innovation agency and the author of Intangience: How Human Connection Creates Value Between People, Brands, and Ideologies.His work focuses on a simple idea: something only has value when it holds meaning for someone.During the conversation, Ernie explains why Coca-Cola has become one of the most recognized brands in the world, why traditional advertising often falls flat, and how entrepreneurs can shift their messaging from features and functionality toward genuine emotional connection.He also shares stories from his work on political campaigns in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, including a classified ad that helped create a national conversation and a powerful 30-second campaign built around a melting candle.The conversation covers:• Why successful brands focus on meaning• What Coca-Cola understands about human connection• The difference between value and worth• Why facts alone rarely persuade people• How emotional messaging changes buying decisions• The difference between propaganda and poignant messaging• How to identify the business you're really in• Why entrepreneurs should view their company through the customer's perspective• The economic opportunities emerging across the CaribbeanErnie also shares a practical exercise from Intangience: ask what you're offering your customer beyond the basic function of your product or service.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:54 Why meaning creates value01:45 Growing up in Guyana under a dictatorship02:36 What scarcity teaches us about value03:07 Why messages need to resonate03:43 What Coca-Cola really sells05:41 How Coke created a brand built around connection06:54 How Coca-Cola became associated with Christmas07:17 The challenge of telling an emotional story08:00 The pillars of purpose10:16 The difference between value and worth11:43 Why advertising fails13:01 How framing changes perspective15:11 The flower shop example every entrepreneur should hear17:07 Propaganda versus poignant messaging20:12 The broken mirror lesson21:42 Building political campaigns that connect emotionally22:31 The classified ad that went viral25:28 A campaign that helped change Guyana28:22 The overlooked business opportunities in the Caribbean32:00 The first exercise entrepreneurs should take from Intangience32:43 Final thoughts

Anthropic disclosed that several versions of its Claude AI models gained unauthorized access to the systems of three separate organizations during cybersecurity evaluations, highlighting growing concerns about the capabilities of advanced AI systems. Taco Bell's parent company, Yum! Brands, says customers are beginning to return to the fast-food chain after a major cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce caused a sharp drop in restaurant traffic earlier this month. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with one of our coaches today!  https://www.francoach.net/ 

Support the show

Today's podcast is titled “Brands in Crisis.” Recorded in 2025, Bruce Turkel, branding expert and author of All About Them, and Laura Culp, founder of Culp Branding, join host Vince Poscente to discuss how companies survive — or fail to survive — a brand crisis. Their conversation ranges from the fire extinguisher paradigm of crisis preparedness to what separates a genuine apology from a deflection, using Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol response, Chipotle’s food-safety recovery, and Tesla’s ongoing brand-identity struggle as contrasting case studies. Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe to get updates for the Free To Choose Media Podcast.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the audiences for "spectacle events," including one-off marquee sporting events like UFC 250 and sporting occasion-adjacent events like the NFL Draft. We also explore the best ways to market around these moments and share some interesting examples of how companies are engaging with fans. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Marisa Jones, and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.   Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Purchase tickets and register for EMARKETER's The Future of Digital 2026 Summit here: https://www.emarketer.com/events/summit/2026-future-of-digital/?utm_source=events_page Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/spectacle-of-sports-how-brands-create-big-moments-beyond-game © 2026 EMARKETER

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 16: Lead with Guts, Accelerate Growth w/Bob KrautHow did a $5 million marketing stunt turn into one of the top 5 marketing ideas of the last 50 years? In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bites, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with legendary CMO Bob Kraut (former CMO of Papa John's, Arby's, Pizza Hut, and Captain D's) to pull back the curtain on his iconic career of driving explosive business growth.From orchestrating the famous Oprah Winfrey Pontiac G6 giveaway at General Motors to launching the first-ever iPhone pizza ordering application, Bob shares firsthand stories of what it takes to be an adventurous marketer.We dive deep into:The Famous Oprah Winfrey "You Get a Car!" BackstoryThe Art of the Career PivotMarketing with "Guts"The Problem with Modern AdsIf you are an aspiring CMO, brand manager, or marketing student looking to understand how to balance data-driven left-brain insights with creative right-brain ambition, this masterclass is for you.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

Cruise Ships, Einstein's Brain, and Worldwide Brands "This Evening"

Send us Fan MailCatalyst Brands is redefining what it means to build a modern retail portfolio. Formed in early 2025 through the merger of JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica, the company has spent the past 18 months bringing together five iconic brands with distinct customer bases and rich histories. Now, the focus is shifting from integration to growth, with loyalty, customer insights, and personalization playing a central role in that strategy.  For Marika Bigler, Vice President of Customer Growth Strategy at Catalyst Brands, the opportunity extends far beyond operational efficiencies. While the merger created opportunities to streamline processes across the organization, the bigger goal is finding new ways to connect customers with more of the company's brands, create more engaging shopping experiences, and deliver greater value across the portfolio. Loyalty is one of the first major steps in bringing that vision to life.Stay connected with Loyalty360! Follow us on LinkedIn and X for the latest loyalty insights, industry news, and upcoming events.https://www.linkedin.com/company/loyalty-360https://x.com/Loyalty360https://www.youtube.com/@Loyalty360_

Donny and Lou run through the brands shaping the week — from private equity turning bowling night into a $284 splurge, to nostalgic parents buying their kids Wi-Fi landlines to dodge spam calls and screen time. They dig into a new survey showing one in four millennials admit to shoplifting (blaming inflation), debate whether baseball needs a salary cap as a work stoppage looms, and question a Mountain Dew Baja Blast hand sanitizer that might be the next Tide Pod challenge waiting to happen. Plus: Viagra's surprising potential cancer-fighting powers, Tom Holland doing his own Fred Astaire-style dancing for an upcoming biopic, shark cage diving becoming the world's fastest-growing bucket list experience, and a genuinely good stat to end on — U.S. homicide rates hitting an all-time low. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles racing around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It may sound like a publicity stunt, but for Todd Kaplan, it was something much bigger: a reminder that great marketing should surprise people, spark conversation, and create joy.This week, Jim welcomes Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer of Kraft Heinz North America. Since joining Kraft Heinz in 2024 after nearly two decades at PepsiCo, Todd has been leading one of the industry's most ambitious brand transformations, helping modernize more than 70 iconic brands while building a culture rooted in creativity, collaboration, and consumer insight.Recorded live at Cannes Lions in the Infillion Café, Todd shares why marketing should be more like jazz than classical music, how his philosophy of "collaborativity" helps teams move at the speed of culture, and why even the biggest organizations need to leave room for improvisation. From the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 to Heinz's award-winning creative work, Todd explains how great ideas are born, why creativity still drives growth, and why the strongest brands never lose sight of the fundamentals.Whether you're leading a global organization or building your own brand, this conversation is full of practical lessons on creativity, leadership, and finding new energy in iconic brands.—This week's episode is brought to you by Infillion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Boll & Branch spent 12 years doing the unfashionable thing: perfecting the product first and figuring out distribution second. Chief Commercial Officer Katia Unlu joins Phillip and Brian on today's episode to discuss Boll & Branch's store expansion strategy, an AI-generated damage claim that went viral, and the case for stimulation over substitution.  That's Not How the Waffle Blanket Tears Key takeaways: Brands of the DTC era that failed were distracted by over-indexing on one hero product and not focusing on customer experiences that drive retention and brand love.  Boll & Branch opens stores where their customers and ICP already live. A human CX team caught an AI-generated image in a fraudulent damage claim thanks to the team's sharp knowledge of the brand's fabric and tear patterns. This is human expertise and technological advancement meeting in the middle. Boll & Branch's AI tools aim to stimulate the customer relationship rather than flatten it. The 2027 playbook is boring, but it works. Focusing on the fundamentals is key. [00:23:12] "People might buy something they enjoy, but they will actually defend what they love." – Brian Lange [00:29:45] "There's no shortcut for what real-life consumer insights can give you when you just go and talk to people in stores." – Katia Unlu [00:43:50] "We very much don't want to substitute. We don't have an AI bot on our website that you can even ask questions to." – Katia Unlu Associated Links: Boll & Branch Scott Tannen's LinkedIn post on AI-generated return fraud at Boll & Branch  Read our in-store retail space analyses: Field Notes on Future Commerce More on human vs. agent: Episode 447: The Agent Has Left the Building Explore our Word of Mouth Index Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Verena Gründel is joined by Andreas Wieser, VP Brand Strategy & Customer Experience at Miele, and Yulia Kalner, Head of Creative and Media Effectiveness at Kantar. Together, they explore why German heritage brands must move beyond engineering excellence and functional messaging to build emotional connections. They discuss Miele's brand transformation, the launch of its Outdoor Kitchen category, the role of creativity and humor, and why emotional differentiation is becoming the key competitive advantage. In this episode of the DMEXCO Podcast, Verena Gründel is joined by Andreas Wieser, VP Brand Strategy & Customer Experience at Miele, and Yulia Kalner, Head of Creative and Media Effectiveness at Kantar, to explore why even the world's most respected heritage brands need to evolve beyond engineering excellence and product quality.For decades, German brands have built their reputation on precision, reliability and functionality. But in an increasingly competitive market, these strengths alone are no longer enough to create lasting brand preference. Andreas and Yulia discuss why emotional connection has become one of the most important drivers of brand growth and how companies can embrace it without losing the authenticity that made them successful in the first place.The conversation dives into Miele's ongoing brand transformation, the launch of its new Outdoor Kitchen category, and the thinking behind a campaign that deliberately breaks with traditional category conventions. Andreas explains why Miele chose to evolve from a position of strength rather than necessity, while Yulia shares insights from Kantar's research on creativity, advertising effectiveness and the power of emotional differentiation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af1mgSWxvgcTogether, they discuss why humor deserves a place in premium branding, how emotional storytelling complements functional excellence, and what marketers can learn from one of Germany's most iconic brands.They answer the following questions:· Why have German brands traditionally relied so heavily on functional communication? · How can premium brands create emotional impact without losing credibility? · What role does humor play in premium advertising? · Can entering a completely new category strengthen an entire brand portfolio? · How should heritage brands balance tradition with transformation? · What can marketers learn from Miele's brand evolution?A fascinating conversation about brand transformation, creativity, consumer perception and the future of premium branding.Listen now!

How do you build a $100M CPG brand when your first retail opportunity falls apart? For Little Spoon, the answer was to stop waiting for the shelf and start building a relationship with the customer. After its initial plans to launch fresh baby food with Whole Foods hit a roadblock, co-founder and chief product officer Angela Vranich helped steer the company toward a DTC-first strategy that transformed Little Spoon into the largest direct-to-consumer baby and kids food brand in the U.S. The company has since expanded into more than 100 products, entered retail through an exclusive partnership with Target, and built a business around understanding what modern parents want. In this episode, Vranich breaks down the decisions, challenges, and operating principles behind Little Spoon's rise — from product innovation and customer education to scaling a complex food business without compromising quality. Show notes: 0:20: Angela Vranich, Co-Founder, Little Spoon – Angela discusses how a setback with Whole Foods ultimately shaped Little Spoon's trajectory, prompting the company to pivot to a direct-to-consumer model. After selling more than one million meals in its first year, Little Spoon validated an opportunity to disrupt kids' nutrition and build a deeper relationship with families. She talks about the company's commitment to premium ingredients, rigorous testing, and transparency, as well as the operational complexity of managing more than 25 co-manufacturers, six fulfillment centers, and products across ambient, refrigerated, and frozen categories. Angela also shares how Little Spoon built a brand centered on education and content, recognizing that parents were looking not just for food, but guidance and support as they navigated feeding their children. She also highlights the company's culture, where transparency and collaboration help ensure that ideas can come from anywhere within the organization. Finally, Angela explains why Little Spoon entered retail through a major Target launch in 2025 and how the company is using insights from its DTC platform to inform its retail strategy and thoughtful expansion into additional chains. Brands in this episode: Little Spoon

Let's know what you liked and learnt! AI is changing how customers discover brands - and making marketing attribution far more complex.In this episode of The Super CMO Show, Swami speaks with Scott Desgrosseilliers, Founder and CEO of @wickedreports about the rise of the AI dark funnel, the shift from SEO to GEO, and why marketers need to make their websites AI-ready.They explore how brands can earn visibility in AI-led conversations, use structured content and proprietary expertise, rethink first-touch attribution, and make better budget decisions when clicks no longer tell the full story.⭐ 5 Key Takeaways1. AI is creating a new “dark funnel.”More customer research is happening inside AI chats, making early discovery and first-touch attribution harder to see and measure.2. SEO is evolving into GEO.Brands need to make their websites AI-ready with clear structure, specific intent, FAQs, how-to content, and original research that AI systems can understand and reference.3. Proprietary expertise is the new visibility advantage.Generic content will not be enough. Brands that translate their distinctive knowledge, data, and point of view into AI-friendly formats can earn more meaningful recommendations.4. Marketers must look beyond platform-reported ROAS.Google, Meta, email, and SMS platforms can all claim credit for the same conversion. Independent, deterministic attribution helps reveal what actually drove new-customer growth.5. Brand and first-party data are becoming even more valuable.As AI puts more distance between brands and the customer click, building a trusted brand, capturing owned audiences, and continuously testing new signals will be critical to growth.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:56 AI Will Approximate or Guess Things04:11 Your Search Traffic Is Going Down08:59 AI Will Understand the Intent of the Page26:10 It's All About the Profitable Outcome35:44 All the Ad Platforms Are Grading Their Own Homework39:50 The Best Thing I've Seen Isn't Accurate Enough to Count On45:13 Keep Modifying Your Tags and Your Content47:10 The Importance of Building a Brand49:01 ChatGPT Already Has a Conversion API50:09 From Reports to AI-Powered Marketing DecisionsSelected Links and Show Notes⁠: https://www.contraminds.com⁠Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter⁠: https://blog.contraminds.comSubscribe to ContraMindsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow UsTwitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds

In this fun and insightful roundtable episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric and guest co-host Brandon Birkmeyer, host of Brands on Brands. The trio dives into a growing trend they call “pity marketing”—using sympathy, disappointment, or public failure to drive attention and sales. From empty book signings to viral “nobody bought my product” posts, they unpack whether this strategy actually works, what it says about your brand, and why creating demand is ultimately a better long-term play. On this episode we talk about: What “pity marketing” is and why it has become a common tactic online The difference between sharing lessons learned and simply asking for sympathy Why marketing—not just creating—is the key to selling books, products, and events How speakers, authors, and creators can stand out in crowded markets Why leading with stories, drama, and audience value works better than begging for attention Top 3 Takeaways Creating something isn't enough—you have to market it. Building a product, writing a book, or launching an event is only step one; consistent promotion is what brings people through the door. Share lessons, not pity. Audiences connect with stories of growth, experimentation, and improvement far more than they do with public pleas for sympathy. Differentiate yourself by creating value. Whether you're a speaker, creator, or entrepreneur, your audience, expertise, and unique perspective matter more than credentials or manufactured drama. Notable Quotes "If you build it and market the shit out of it, then people will come." "Nobody cares how hard you worked—they care about the value you provide." "If you're sharing the story from the perspective of, 'Here's what I learned,' it feels completely different." Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer: Instagram:  Other:  A Word from Our Sponsors: - Visit DrinkAG1.com/TMM to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.  - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Woldenberg, SVP of Sales for Learning Resources Brands, joins John to talk about how the company filed a lawsuit on Friday over Trump’s new tariffs.

New Zealand clothing brands say they have had enough of offshore fast fashion giants using their images and ripping off their designs. For Aotearoa's fashion industry, the legal line between inspiration and straight up copying is thinner than a mesh top. It has prompted calls for tougher penalties and stronger monitoring across fast fashion sites, as well as better protections for small businesses. Bella Craig reports.

Stephen Woldenberg, SVP of Sales for Learning Resources Brands, joins John to talk about how the company filed a lawsuit on Friday over Trump’s new tariffs.

In this episode of Sunday Service with The Brands Laura describes her trip to a pearl farm and the two of them resolve an argument that took place just before recording by recognizing that it is irritation that produces pearls.  Sunday Service has moved to it's own feed, please search 'Sunday Service with The Brands' wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to the show there. Thank you Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sunday-service-with-the-brands/id1896803462 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033m4Z79z2EuyRTjcbgmDx?si=bCJhLU8cTWm3bY2Q7d7D-A To get a free audio copy of my book 'How to Become a Christian in 7 Days', you can download it at https://www.russellbrand.com/how-to-become-a-christian-audiobook/ Order my new book 'How to Become Christian in 7 Days' at https://bit.ly/russellbook2 Get Laura's Book - The Joy Journal for Magical Everyday Play - https://bit.ly/JoyJournalBook

Warren Kornblum, CEO of Shadow Branding and former Global CMO of Toys "R" Us, joins John Golden to break down how brands earn lasting emotional loyalty. Kornblum explains how to win share of heart by defining a clear brand purpose, delivering it consistently from the CEO to the front line, and adding human empathy where AI and automation fall short. Learn more at https://shareofheart.com/

Join our mastermind community: https://www.skool.com/apparel-success-mastermindTry the best Ai design platform: https://www.design.com/rob88Why do so many clothing brands struggle to get sales, website traffic, or social media followers... even when the owner is working nonstop? In this video, I explain the deeper psychological reason most clothing brand startups fail: they were built by entrepreneurs conditioned to seek approval, avoid embarrassment, follow proven formulas, and create safe marketing that nobody notices. This isn't just another clothing brand marketing strategy or list of social media tips. It's a breakdown of why your streetwear brand may feel invisible, why customers aren't buying your clothing, and the mindset shift that can solve 90% of the problems holding your brand back.After 10 years of running clothing brands, generating over $1 million in sales, and working one-on-one with more than 500 brand owners, I've learned that creativity, personality, boldness, and calculated risk are the real advantages available to a small clothing brand startup. I share examples from growing my lifestyle brand clothing brand, including the polarizing content and unique clothing designs that generated hundreds of thousands, and even millions of views. Whether you're starting a clothing brand, trying to grow a streetwear business, improve your clothing brand content, or finally make consistent online sales, this video will show you why copying successful brands isn't enough and what you need to do differently.

In this roundtable episode, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric and guest co-host Brandon Birkmeyer of Brands on Brands for a thoughtful—and often hilarious—discussion about money, generosity, and financial advice. Using viral clips of pastors discussing tithing as a jumping-off point, they explore the ethics of financial messaging, the dangers of guilt-based persuasion, and why context matters when giving financial advice. On this episode we talk about: The difference between healthy generosity and guilt-driven financial messaging Why financial advice should account for individual circumstances instead of one-size-fits-all rules The similarities between church fundraising, business marketing, and high-ticket sales tactics How emotional persuasion can influence financial decisions for better or worse Why balanced, nuanced advice almost always beats extreme viewpoints Top 3 Takeaways Financial advice should always consider a person's unique circumstances—what works for one individual may be harmful for another. Giving should come from generosity and shared purpose, not fear, shame, or pressure. Whether you're a business, nonprofit, or church, honest communication builds more trust than manipulative marketing tactics. Notable Quotes "There's always a balanced approach. Typically, the people preaching one end or the other of the polarity are usually the ones who are incorrect." "Money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems with money in the bank." "I'm not telling everybody here to go take out a bunch of credit cards... I'm saying that's what worked for me." Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer: LinkedIn: https://www.facebook.com/bbirkmeyer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonbirkmeyer/ Other: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandsonBrands A Word from Our Sponsors: - Visit DrinkAG1.com/TMM to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.  - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through July 26, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world obsessed with optimizing the ad tech supply chain, what if the focus on 'shorter' paths is a complete misdirection from building 'smarter' ones that actually align with brand value?Agility requires brands to move beyond incremental optimization and fundamentally rethink their media operating models. It's about building a framework that is inherently resilient to platform shifts, privacy changes, and evolving audience expectations.Today, we're going to talk about the disconnect between the technical ad tech conversation and the strategic needs of the brand. We'll explore how leaders can bridge this gap by focusing on smarter media paths, curated inventory, and an operating model built for long-term value creation.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Bob Regular, CEO at Infolinks Media. Bob, welcome to the show! About Bob RegularBob Regular is a long-established pioneer in the digital media industry with over 25 years of advertising experience. As CEO of Infolinks Media, he drives the company's mission to provide innovative contextual and native advertising solutions to web publishers and advertisers worldwide. Bob has founded and scaled multiple digital businesses, generating over $1 billion in revenue, and he is the founder and managing partner of Delivering Yield, an investment and advisory firm focused on advancing digital media through strategic investments. With extensive experience in capital raising, he has successfully secured over $250 million in funding and excels in operating ad platforms, developing products, training teams, and implementing efficient processes to meet the industry's evolving needs. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership, Bob continues to influence the future of digital advertising, significantly contributing to Infolinks' success and the broader digital media ecosystem, with a mission to transform the landscape by leveraging data, technology, and creativity to enhance advertising effectiveness. Bob Regular on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rregular ---------- Resources ---------- Infolinks Media: The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fChaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1 Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most creators are told to build an audience first and figure out the money later. Spencer Scott Pugh did the opposite — and it worked. In this episode, the tech reviewer behind Form and Function breaks down how one unpaid smart-ring review turned into $280K in sales for a brand, why he treats his channel as a marketing business instead of a personality play, and how he lands, prices, and negotiates brand deals that actually pay the bills. We get into product-first thumbnails, the pricing "three-package" trick, the brand deal that burned him, beating burnout with a team, and the one question every creator has to answer before anything else works. Honest, tactical, and refreshingly transparent. About Spencer: Spencer Scott Pugh is a Roanoke-based creative and product tech reviewer. He spent ten years in marketing and advertising before going independent to focus on his own brands—Spencer Scott Pugh and the more editorial Form and Function. He's a husband, father of two, and a man of faith who cares about craft, family, and doing good work with good people. Connect With Spencer: YouTube Channel /// Website   What We Offer Creators Join Creator Communities. A place to gather with other creators every single day. This provides access to Our Private Discord Server, Monthly Mastermind Group, and MORE!  Hire Dusty To Be Your YouTube Coach YouTube Channel Reviews (Audit): Get a 7-10 minute personalized video review of your YouTube channel with honest, actionable feedback for just $50. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Each week I document what I'm doing in my business and creative journey, share new things I've discovered, mistakes I've made, and much more! All Tools Mentioned On The Show: The Ultimate Entrepreneurs Resource. This is the spreadsheet where I keep all of the tools mentioned by all the guests on the podcast. Follow The Show: Facebook /// X /// YouTube /// Instagram

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show broadcasted live from Cincinnati’s iconic Music Festival, bringing listeners a mix of entertainment news, celebrity interviews, and festival energy. The crew discussed a major egg recall affecting more than 1.5 million dozen eggs sold under brands including Kroger and Simple Truth due to potential salmonella contamination, with consumers urged to check carton codes before eating them. They also highlighted reports that Sean “Diddy” Combs was placed in solitary confinement at Fort Dix following an alleged altercation with another inmate, though federal officials have not publicly confirmed details of the incident. Adding to the entertainment headlines, the show reacted to news that Mathew Knowles says previously unreleased Destiny’s Child remixes featuring Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and guest artists could arrive within the next month. The show also celebrated the return of the Cincinnati Music Festival, which organizers say attracts nearly 100,000 visitors and generates more than $100 million in economic impact for the city. Host Faith Daniels joined the crew to share memorable festival moments and discuss this year’s star-studded lineup, while viral country-rap sensation 803 Fresh stopped by to talk about the continued success of “Boots on the Ground,” his upcoming album, and his commitment to mentoring youth in his community. With live performances, celebrity conversations, and plenty of laughs from the entire RSMS crew, the episode captured the excitement surrounding one of the nation’s premier music festivals. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show broadcasted live from Cincinnati’s iconic Music Festival, bringing listeners a mix of entertainment news, celebrity interviews, and festival energy. The crew discussed a major egg recall affecting more than 1.5 million dozen eggs sold under brands including Kroger and Simple Truth due to potential salmonella contamination, with consumers urged to check carton codes before eating them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's show we look into our crystal ball to see what is on the Home Theater Horizon. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: 2026 Value Electronics TV Shootout: Samsung Snaps Sony TV Streak CarPlay video coming with iOS 27 WGA Seeks Injunction to Block Deal's Closing What is on the Home Theater Horizon Home theater technology is advancing quickly and the trend is moving toward wireless setups, brighter and more flexible displays, AI-powered calibration, immersive spatial audio, and simpler high-end installations. Today we take a look at what we can expect over the next couple of years. Displays: Brighter, Wireless, and Modular Ultra-thin wireless OLEDs: LG's OLED evo W6, also called the Wallpaper TV, is part of their 2026 evo lineup. It's incredibly thin — just 9 millimeters thick — and features a true wireless design. All your devices plug into a separate Zero Connect Box that can sit up to 10 meters away. The box then sends 4K video and audio wirelessly to the TV with almost no quality loss. The TV also includes Hyper Radiant Color Technology. This delivers much higher brightness — up to 3.9 times brighter than standard OLEDs — along with deeper black levels and fewer reflections. For gamers, it supports 4K at 165 Hertz, G-SYNC, and very fast response times. MicroLED and RGB advancements: MicroLED displays — including variants like Micro RGB or TriChroma — are becoming popular for luxury home theater setups. They deliver perfect blacks like OLED screens, but with much higher brightness, no burn-in risk, and modular designs that let you create custom sizes, such as 136-inch or even larger cinema walls. Brands like LG with their MAGNIT Active Micro LED, Samsung, and Sony are leading the way, offering seamless, cinema-certified picture quality. Consumer versions are still quite expensive — often six figures for a full wall — but they're becoming more realistic and affordable over time. Mini RGB: These TVs are poised to be a big hit because they combine the best of both worlds: the perfect blacks and contrast of OLED with the extreme brightness, longevity, and modular flexibility of MicroLED-style RGB technology. By using advanced Mini RGB LED backlighting, Mini RGB delivers stunning HDR performance, vibrant colors, and seamless large-screen designs ideal for luxury home theaters — all without burn-in worries. Sony's reputation for premium picture processing, cinema-grade calibration, and build quality gives their Mini RGB  a clear edge over competitors, making these TVs the top choice for serious enthusiasts who want theater-like visuals that will stay impressive for years to come. Projectors: Triple-laser UST (ultra-short-throw) and standard models dominate, with brighter outputs (thousands of ISO lumens), wider color gamuts (e.g., 110% BT.2026), Dolby Vision support, and 4K/8K capabilities. Examples include XGIMI Horizon 20 Max, AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro, and Hisense models. Laser is now the baseline for premium performance. Audio: Wireless Immersion and Modular Systems Wireless multi-speaker ecosystems: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is rolling out more widely including the LG Sound Suite. This enables cable-free speaker placement with accurate panning. Sony's BRAVIA Theatre lineup (Trio, Bar 7/9, etc.) emphasizes modular wireless components with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, phantom speakers (up to 24 channels), and room calibration. Advanced AVRs and processors: Denon, Onkyo, and others offer higher-channel support (9.4+), Dirac Live/Audyssey calibration, and AI room tuning. Multi-channel processors use Audio over IP for fewer wires in custom installs. Immersive extras: Haptic furniture, synchronized smart lighting using the  Philips HDMI Sync Box 2.1, and AI acoustic optimization for real-time adjustments. Other Notable Trends AI integration: Automatic calibration, content optimization, and adaptive environments including  room mapping for sound and light.. Hybrid/immersive rooms: 360-degree or wraparound video with spatial audio, plus premium formats inspired by commercial cinema (laser projection, higher baselines like 7.1+ with height channels). Lifestyle focus: Movable displays, aesthetically integrated speakers, mainly acoustically transparent designs, and easier setups for non-dedicated rooms. There are some exciting technologies shaping the next couple of years in home theater. Displays are getting brighter, thinner, and more flexible with ultra-thin wireless designs. High-performance UST laser projectors will bring huge screens to rooms where it was never possible before. And the shift toward truly wireless, immersive audio will fill any room with rich, room-filling sound. Best of all, your entire system will adapt to your room with the touch of a button!

In this episode, Travis is joined by producer Eric and guest co-host Brandon Birkmeyer, host of the Brands on Brands podcast, to break down a viral piece of personal finance advice claiming you should focus entirely on making more money instead of budgeting. The trio explores where that advice gets it right, where it falls apart, and why lasting wealth comes from balancing income growth with financial discipline. Along the way, Travis shares personal stories about downsizing his lifestyle to pursue podcasting full-time and the lessons he's learned from interviewing hundreds of successful entrepreneurs. On this episode we talk about: Why increasing your income is more powerful than endlessly cutting expenses The importance of budgeting—even as your income grows How lifestyle inflation quietly prevents people from building wealth Travis' story of downsizing his lifestyle to bet on his podcasting career Why creating financial runway gives entrepreneurs the freedom to take bigger risks Top 3 Takeaways Growing your income is essential, but it's only effective if you maintain the financial discipline to keep your expenses under control. Reducing your lifestyle costs can create the runway needed to pursue entrepreneurship or other long-term opportunities. Wealth isn't built by appearances—it's built by consistently widening the gap between what you earn and what you spend. Notable Quotes "Your ability to earn will significantly outweigh your ability to cut—if you've already handled the basics." "Limiting your lifestyle gives you more freedom. Full stop." "Money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems when you've got some money in the bank." Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonbirkmeyer/ Other: https://www.brandsonbrands.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - Visit DrinkAG1.com/TMM to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.  - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through July 26, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a brand built on purpose survive when its mission is put at risk?  The hosts dive into the escalating conflict between Ben & Jerry's and its parent company over funding cuts to the ice cream maker's philanthropic foundation, debating whether a brand so closely tied to a social mission can preserve its identity after acquisition and how the dispute could influence consumer loyalty in an increasingly competitive premium ice cream category.  The discussion also examines how founders should approach purpose-driven branding, with early-stage sparkling water brand Atomico serving as an example of a young company that integrates its mission into its business without overshadowing the product itself.  The hosts also sample and review a variety of emerging products, including South Chicago Packing's Wagyu Beef Tallow Spray, Cozy's refrigerated snack bars made with grass-fed butter, Bakeful's better-for-you brownies, muffins and donuts, MixMix THC beverage stick packs, and Muffits protein mini muffins. Show notes: 0:20: On Tap. Social Scoops No More? Space Age Sparkling Water. Tallow & Butter. Munchin' On Muffins. The hosts preview two upcoming community events: the Taste Radio Chicago Meetup at Pilot Project Brewing on Aug. 13 and a Nombase webinar featuring executives from Goodles and Culture Pop on July 28. They then explore whether a purpose-driven brand can preserve its identity after being acquired, and how changes to its philanthropic commitments could reshape consumer perception. As a counterpoint, they spotlight an emerging functional sparkling water brand that supports STEM education through NASA Space Camp scholarships. Later, Melissa highlights a beefy cooking spray, Ray shares a pair of brands—one making better-for-you yet indulgent snack bars and another reimagining Hostess-style treats for today's consumers. Mike stirs things up with powdered drink mixes, and the episode wraps with a discussion of protein snacks—because, of course, it does. Brands in this episode: Goodles, Culture Pop, Nantucket Nectars, Annie's, Ben & Jerry's, Stonyfield, Jeni's, Van Leeuwens, Salt & Straw, Tillamook, Atomico, Spindrift, South Chicago Packing, COZY, Bakeful, MixMix, Muffits

We think we have T. Hack's,,,but what about the rest of the show?

VLOG July 24 Subpoenas shamed and withdrawn: https://matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/extra-subpoenas-about-reporting-on 1989 NH GOP gov nominee Jay Lucas pleads guilty https://matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/fraud-plea-and-plan-jay-lucas-pleads Unsealing in IN, CA - and PA? First Brand's Edward James gets debanked? At UN #NextSG debate bans Press, unimpressive

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINESE BRANDS HIT RECORD 10.9% IN EUROPE https://evne.ws/7r7x4 MG 07 REACHES DEALERS AHEAD OF PRE-SALE https://evne.ws/7yt8c XPENG MONA L03 HITS 50K ORDERS FAST https://evne.ws/cqaxk GEELY OPENS GALAXY TT ULTRA PRE-SALES https://evne.ws/c969y CHINA SETS NEV REPAIR SAFETY RULES https://evne.ws/iypfw CATL LANDS SECOND EUROPEAN SODIUM-ION STORAGE DEAL https://evne.ws/s8ocz BYD HITS 100,000 CARS IN BRAZIL https://evne.ws/cngpt DEALERS BACK BYD FLASH CHARGING https://evne.ws/5s5l2

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 6 - Step Up. Speak Up. Move Up. w/Shawna HausmanBrand Nerds, get ready to take some serious notes! On this episode of Brands, Beats and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with retail and digital marketing powerhouse Shawna Hausman. From her scrappy early days in the Gap Inc. universe to driving a massive 300% sales increase as CMO of FSA Store, Shawna has built an incredible career by stepping up, speaking out, and never letting fear dictate her next move.Shawna takes us behind the scenes of some of the most iconic retail brands, sharing hilarious and anxiety-inducing stories, like the time she told retail legend Mickey Drexler that his marketing wasn't working when she was just a 22-year-old intern! We also dive deep into the modern marketing landscape, discussing everything from the rise of AI to why heritage brands like Birkenstock are winning by refusing to compromise their identity.Whether you are looking to climb the corporate ladder, pivot into consulting, or simply understand the psychology of retail sales, this episode is packed with "Triple C" leadership advice: Clarity, Conviction, and Courage.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Mickey Drexler Story: How a bold critique from a young intern led to an unexpected seat on the corporate jet with the "Merchant Prince" himself.Avoiding the "Mushy Middle": Why brand overlap (like the historical dynamic between The Gap and Old Navy) can eat your own market share, and why you must carve out distinct lanes.The Power of Executive Buy-In: Shawna gets vulnerable about her biggest career "F-up" involving an unapproved $40,000 app at West Elm, and why you absolutely need skin in the game from your key overlords.Embracing AI: Why marketers must lean into artificial intelligence tools rather than fearing them, and how it is revolutionizing the way we work today.The Birkenstock Strategy: How "winning ugly," maintaining scarcity, and leaning unapologetically into comfort and heritage is keeping Birkenstock at the top of the footwear game.Fearless Career Growth: Why you should never stay in a miserable job just for the money, and how taking calculated risks leads to the real magic.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd!Instagram | LinkedIn

Some marketing ideas capture attention for a moment. The very best ones become part of culture. And you could say...that's priceless.Recorded live at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Jim sits down with Jill Kramer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, to discuss what it's like to lead one of the world's most iconic brands. Mastercard, known globally for its “Priceless” platform and its role at the center of everyday commerce, has spent decades building trust, emotional connection, and cultural relevance across markets. After nearly a decade as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Accenture, where she led the company's "Let There Be Change" brand transformation, and earlier leadership roles at BBDO and DDB, Jill stepped into one of marketing's most influential positions with the responsibility of guiding Mastercard's next chapter.In this wide-ranging conversation, Jill shares her approach to earning trust as a new leader, building creative cultures where ideas can thrive, and why her philosophy of "early, ugly, often" has helped teams create better work. She also discusses how Mastercard is evolving its brand beyond payments, leaning into experiences, partnerships, and technology, and how the company is approaching AI, creator collaborations, and innovation while staying true to the timeless principles that have made it one of the most respected brands in the world.Whether you're leading a global organization or a small team, Jill offers thoughtful lessons on curiosity, creativity, change, and why the best leaders never stop learning.—This week's episode is brought to you by Infillion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most e-commerce brands are chasing AI the wrong way. They're publishing AI-generated blogs. Stuffing their sites with keywords. Obsessing over prompts. And wondering why nothing changes. Meanwhile, some brands are quietly growing their organic revenue by 30-40% year over year without relying on hacks or chasing the latest AI trend. The difference? They understand that AI hasn't replaced SEO. It's changed how people discover businesses. In this episode, Colin Ma breaks down the exact playbook he's using to grow established e-commerce brands through the combination of traditional SEO and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). He explains why real customer questions are now one of the biggest competitive advantages, how a simple change to your collection pages can unlock entirely new traffic, and why optimizing your Google Merchant Center feed can drive thousands of additional clicks, often in just a couple of months. But the conversation goes well beyond rankings. Colin also shares how AI has completely transformed his workflow, allowing him to produce the work of an entire agency without sacrificing quality. From using Claude to analyze thousands of customer emails in minutes to building SEO assets that once took weeks, he reveals where AI actually creates leverage and where trusting it blindly can become an expensive mistake. If you're running an e-commerce brand, buying online businesses, or trying to figure out what SEO looks like in the AI era, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Grudzień 1724. Osiemnastoletni chłopak klęczy na kołyszącym się pokładzie i przekłada listy w worku pocztowym. Szuka swojego nazwiska. Za kilka godzin zejdzie na ląd w największym mieście zachodniego świata. Sam. W Wigilię. Co znajdzie w tym worku? A raczej: czego w nim nie znajdzie?To odcinek o najniższym punkcie młodego życia i o człowieku, który pokazał Benowi, czym naprawdę jest słowo honoru.O obietnicach, które nic nie kosztują, i o tym, ile są warte. O mieście, które mogło pochłonąć chłopaka bez grosza,i o czterech zdaniach spisanych na oceanie, które przetrwały sześćdziesiąt lat. ✍️Jak Ben trafił na dno?Kto go z niego wyciągnął? I co takiego zapisał na powrotnym rejsie, że trzymał się tego do starości? Jeśli lubisz moje podcasty „Lepiej Teraz” — pomóż mi dzielić się tymi historiami dalej:Wesprzyj moją pracę na Patronite: patronite.pl/podcastlepiejteraz lub postaw na suppi.pl/lepiejteraz Subskrybuj mój nowy kanał podcastowy Radek Budnicki na Spotify: znajdziesz tam moje solowe lekcje, refleksje i wywiady.Źródła pierwotne:Benjamin Franklin, „The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” (Część I), tekst w domenie publicznej, Project Gutenberg (wydania nr 148 i 20203, za edycją Bigelowa z oryginalnego rękopisu). Wszystkie cytaty w cudzysłowach to przekłady własne z angielskiego oryginału. Z autobiografii pochodzą: rejs London Hope, zwolnione miejsca po Hamiltonach, przyjaźń z Denhamem; worek pocztowy i wybranie listów po charakterze pisma; scena u księgarza i list Riddlesdena; wyjaśnienia Denhama i werdykt „Chciał zadowolić wszystkich; a mając niewiele do dania, dawał oczekiwania”; wyważona ocena Keitha; wdzięczność Hamiltona; kwatera przy Little Britain, praca u Palmera; jeden list do Deborah („kolejne z wielkich errat mojego życia”); broszura z 1725 r. jako erratum, Lyons, Mandeville, niedoszłe spotkanie z Newtonem; sir Hans Sloane i sakiewka z azbestu; wątek Ralpha i pani T., posada nauczyciela pod nazwiskiem Franklin, dług ok. 27 funtów; drukarnia Wattsa: „Piłem tylko wodę…”, sześć kufli dziennie, dwie kaszty na schodach, „I tak te biedne diabły wiecznie trzymają się na dnie”, bien venu, duszek drukarni, „głupota pozostawania w złych stosunkach…”, kleika i „święty poniedziałek”; gospodyni z Duke Street; Wygate, przepłynięcie Tamizy z Chelsea do Blackfriars, podręcznik Thevenota; historia Denhama (bankructwo w Bristolu, obiad dla wierzycieli, przekazy pod talerzami z odsetkami) i jego oferta (kancelista za 50 funtów rocznie); propozycja sir Williama Wyndhama i myśl o szkole pływania; „pożegnałem się z drukarstwem, jak sądziłem, na zawsze”; komentarz do planu życia; późniejsze losy Deborah Read i Johna Rogersa.Benjamin Franklin, „Journal of a Voyage, 1726″ oraz „Plan of Conduct, 1726″, Founders Online, National Archives (founders.archives.gov, za: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, t. 1, red. L.W. Labaree, Yale University Press 1959). Stąd: daty rejsu Berkshire (Gravesend 23 lipca 1726, Filadelfia 11 października 1726), treść dziennika podróży oraz pełny tekst Planu postępowania (przekład własny). Nota redakcyjna potwierdza postać Thomasa Denhama (zm. 1727) i posadę Franklina za 50 funtów rocznie.Biografie (fakty i kontekst; cytowane oszczędnie w ramach prawa cytatu):3. Walter Isaacson, „Benjamin Franklin: An American Life”, Simon & Schuster 2003 (chronologia pobytu w Londynie 1724–1726, losy Deborah Read i Johna Rogersa).4. H.W. Brands, „The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin”, Doubleday 2000 (realia drukarni Palmera i Wattsa, Londyn lat 20. XVIII w.).5. Nick Bunker, „Young Benjamin Franklin: The Birth of Ingenuity”, Knopf 2018 (tło handlowe Londynu, sylwetki Denhama i Keitha).6. Carl Van Doren, „Benjamin Franklin”, Viking 1938 (rekonstrukcja epizodu londyńskiego i powrotu z Denhamem).Archiwa i internet:7. Founders Online, National Archives: founders.archives.gov8. Project Gutenberg: gutenberg.org (Autobiography, wydania nr 148 i 20203)9. Historical Society of Pennsylvania (księga handlowa Denhama 1726–1728, wzmiankowana w aparacie Founders Online)

The biggest marketing wins at the World Cup did not always come from official sponsors.Americus Reed, The Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing at Wharton and co-host of Marketing Matters, examines how brands connected with fans during one of the world's largest cultural events.He discusses the power of iconic brands, social sharing, earned media, culturally relevant advertising, and creative ways companies can become part of the conversation beyond traditional sponsorship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to be one of America's Hottest Brands? We comb through our annual list of 20 brands having a moment to discern marketing lessons applicable to brands of any type or size. Find out how NeeDoh and Pink are taking consumer listening to the next level and what Grillo's did to strike smart brand collabs. Ad Age's E.J. Schultz and Adrianne Pasquarelli also discuss other lessons, including how Dutch Bros taps into fan passions and what Nuuly did to break down operational silos. Plus, find out how Costco cracked the list, absent any really expensive advertising.  America's Hottest Brands not only provides marketing lessons, the list speaks to the moment we are living in. Two sustainable fashion brands made the cut—Nuuly and Depop—and so did an AI brand—Claude, which is locked into a marketing battle with OpenAI that is the modern-day version of Coke versus Pepsi. Not that the Knicks need more love, but we could not keep them off the list, given how the team stole the sports marketing conversation for weeks this summer.  Dig deeper: Lessons from America's Hottest Brands America's 20 Hottest Brands

Send us Fan MailChris Hobson, CEO of Rare Beauty Brands, home to Patchology and Kate Somerville, breaks down the business of beauty: the insight that turned Old Spice around, what it now costs to build a brand, how to handle dupes, and the metrics founders should track.Who is Chris Hobson?He started a clothing brand in college in Canada, then joined Procter & Gamble in brand management, running Scope, Folgers Canada, Old Spice, and Secret before an MBA and a career building brands. "As a brand manager, you get trained as sort of the mini general manager of your brand."How did he turn around Old Spice?By finding an insight instead of denying the brand's age. Research showed a woman would borrow her partner's deodorant from almost any brand except Old Spice. "We came up with this funny tongue in cheek positioning of Old Spice as the last bastion of masculinity." The brand went from a distant fifth to third in Canada, and the positioning went global.What makes consumers loyal to a beauty brand?Product quality first, emotional connection second. "When you get that magic of the consumer insight married to really high quality product, that's the foundation of a brand."What insight drives Patchology and Kate Somerville?Two very different ones. "The insight for a Patchology consumer is I want a moment of joy... the act of putting on the mask slows me down from my crazy day." The Kate Somerville consumer is buying certainty from a clinic with 20 years and 250,000 facials behind it.Should beauty brands chase trends?Only in ways authentic to the brand, though Hobson is candid about the pull. "The science is sort of suspect, but hey, it's a $10 million opportunity. How do we not do it?" Brands lose themselves when they go wholesale trend focused.Why did Patchology stop marketing its science?Because consumers buy results, not mechanisms. Hobson watched women's eyes glaze over at talk of ten times more ingredient delivery, then light up when the patches came off. "Turns out all she cares about is the better results."How long does it take to build a beauty brand?Longer than founders expect, now that ad costs have erased the cheap growth era. "You've got to be prepared to raise 10 to 20 million dollars at least, and spend 10 to 20 years on it. That's the new reality."Why is it harder for indie brands to scale now?The economics of attention changed. "The advertising prices have come up and the ROI has come down, and so it's harder for young brands to make that leap."How should a brand respond to dupes?By owning the category so copies feed demand back to the original. "When a brand copies us, a rising tide lifts all boats." Patchology is up over 20 percent this year.Do dupes steal customers from the original?Within limits set by price and psychology. "They're wearing it and they're knowing in their mind, I'm not really wearing Chanel." Hobson argues most of those consumers come back.Does getting into Target or Walmart grow a beauty brand?Not without demand behind it. "If you don't have the demand generation capability in place to move that product off the shelf... you're out." Accessibility is a high stakes strategy, not a shortcut.What metrics should new beauty founders track?Repeat purchase above all, measured by cohort rather than revenue share. "The way we make money as brands is repeat purchase... if I had to go out and acquire a customer every single time, I'd go out of business."What is the biggest business lesson of his career?People. "You want to hire the A level person, even if they're a little threatening to you, because they're gonna do the job way better than you would ever do it."Listen to the full episode with Chris Hobson of Rare Beauty Brands on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.Shop Kate Sommerville and PatchologyDon't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!Support the show

Wingstop just crushed the fast-food race with 382 new locations, De Beers is getting gutted by lab-grown diamonds, and Olive Garden's $100 Never-Ending Pasta Pass is back after a six-year hiatus. Donny Deutsch and his Executive producer Lou Pellegrino run through this week's biggest movers: a booming box office (Odyssey, the MJ biopic, Toy Story 5), Hasbro turning Monopoly into a movie, the Mickey Mouse Club reboot, a surprise CD sales boom, solo dining's 52% surge, Starbucks swapping "grande" for "medium," and Pringles' controversial hot dog buns in a can. Plus, the debut of a new segment: Grand Brand of the Week. Tune in Thursday for Donny's big sit-down with Stephen A. Smith. Rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the real thing holding your restaurant back is your refusal to trust your own taste?Jeremy Lett spent 26 years at Bloomin' Brands building food for Outback, Carrabba's, Fleming's, and Bonefish before taking over innovation at Cracker Barrel, a 650-unit institution he joined right as the brand was weathering its biggest public firestorm in decades.In this conversation, we get into why a great menu grows through subtraction, how to separate a product failing from you failing, and why your taste, earned over thousands of reps, is the one competency no spreadsheet can replace.If you're sitting on a concept people respect but won't repeat, this one will show you where to cut and what to trust.To learn more about his work leading culinary innovation and product development at Cracker Barrel, visit crackerbarrel.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What happens when your biggest growth opportunity threatens the very thing that makes your product special? Heathcote Bakery founder Suzanne Lyon built a devoted following with an ultra-premium chocolate chip cookie made with uncompromising ingredients and a meticulous process. Then came viral demand, endorsements from Oprah and Bobby Flay, and the challenge every founder faces: how do you scale without sacrificing quality? In this episode, Suzanne explains how she's navigating growth, retail expansion and investor interest while keeping craftsmanship at the center of the business. She discusses her commitment to premium ingredients, preservative-free recipes and exceptional quality as demand grows. She also shares how she overcame an early production crisis and why she's carefully choosing retail partners that align with Heathcote's premium positioning. Show notes: 0:20: Suzanne Lyon, Founder & CEO, Heathcote Bakery – Recorded on location at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, Suzanne Lyon shares how she went from talent agent to founder of Heathcote Bakery, and how a side project became a fast-growing premium cookie brand. She discusses the viral moments, Oprah's Favorite Things and Bobby Flay's endorsement that fueled demand, as well as the challenges of scaling a handmade, preservative-free product while maintaining the quality that sets Heathcote apart. Lyon also explains the brand's premium positioning, retail strategy and production partnership with Buddy Valastro, and why she's focused on building a profitable business before pursuing rapid expansion. She shares her long-term vision for creating an enduring brand without compromising the craftsmanship and consumer trust that have defined Heathcote from the beginning.  Brands in this episode: Heathcote Bakery

"And honestly..." "The truth is..." You've seen these phrases everywhere, and they're a dead giveaway of AI-generated content. In this episode, we're talking about why AI can be genuinely useful in fields like medicine, but feels hollow and obvious on social media. We break down the 2026 social trends report, the stats on AI distrust, and why brands that lean into real human storytelling are the ones actually building loyalty. If you've been wondering whether to let AI write your captions, this episode is your answer.Work with me: www. the-spacesocial.com

AdTechGod sits down with Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) and former CEO of Publicis Groupe Creative U.S. and Leo Burnett. Andrew shares how AI-powered content automation is helping global brands produce personalized creative at scale, reduce production costs by 50%, cut campaign timelines from 8 weeks to 2 weeks, and drive stronger marketing performance. They discuss operational AI vs generative AI, the future of agencies, creative effectiveness, personalization, and why the next decade may bring a creative renaissance instead of creative replacement. Takeaways AI-powered content automation is enabling brands to create personalized content at an unprecedented scale. ITG helps global brands localize campaigns across languages, markets, and audiences using AI. Brands are reducing production costs by roughly 50% while significantly speeding up go-to-market timelines. Operational AI delivers more immediate ROI than purely generative AI use cases. Most companies already possess valuable creative assets but struggle to find and utilize them efficiently. Effective personalization is not about one-to-one marketing but identifying "meaningful breaks" within audiences. Creative quality remains critical despite AI advancements. The future agency model will focus more on strategy, insights, and creative concepts while automation handles production. AI will eliminate repetitive production work but increase demand for higher-quality creative thinking. Andrew predicts a creative renaissance driven by the abundance of AI-generated content. Chapters00:00 Introduction & Welcome01:01 Andrew Swinand's Career Journey04:36 From Publicis & Leo Burnett to ITG06:20 What Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) Does07:43 How AI Transforms Content Production09:10 Cutting Costs, Speeding Up Campaigns & Personalization at Scale11:00 Why More Creative Variations Drive Better Performance12:42 Operational AI vs Generative AI15:18 AI-Powered Asset Organization & Content Discovery17:03 The Right Way to Personalize Advertising20:00 Why Creative Matters More Than Ever21:28 The Future of Agencies in an AI World23:28 AI Slop, Content Overload & Marketing Challenges26:36 What Marketers Are Overhyping About AI27:03 Andrew's Vision for Advertising in 5 Years28:23 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Sunday Service with the brands Laura discusses teaching her daughters to pray. These instructions will be useful to anyone who finds sitting still and focusing difficult. Russell talks about autism the World Cup the transfiguration and Carl Jung - "just another day in the projects"!!!   Sunday Service has moved to it's own feed, please search 'Sunday Service with The Brands' wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to the show there. Thank you Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sunday-service-with-the-brands/id1896803462 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033m4Z79z2EuyRTjcbgmDx?si=bCJhLU8cTWm3bY2Q7d7D-A To get a free audio copy of my book 'How to Become a Christian in 7 Days', you can download it at https://www.russellbrand.com/how-to-become-a-christian-audiobook/ Order my new book 'How to Become Christian in 7 Days' at https://bit.ly/russellbook2 Get Laura's Book - The Joy Journal for Magical Everyday Play - https://bit.ly/JoyJournalBook

Mens Room Top 10