

JUST Branding
JUST Branding - by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies
The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers & entrepreneurs grow brands.
Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.
The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.
ABOUT JACOB CASS
Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.
He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.
For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.
ABOUT MATT DAVIES
Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.
Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.
The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.
ABOUT JACOB CASS
Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.
He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.
For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.
ABOUT MATT DAVIES
Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 21, 2024 • 49min
S05.EP03 - How to Launch a Brand in 10 Days with Brand Sprints (w/ Eden Vidal)
Sick of long winded brand building processes that take months and loose momentum?
Then you need to know about "Brand Sprints"!
👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast
In this 'scrappy'(!) episode we jump into the magical world of sprinting.
We speak with the brilliant Eden Vidal, founder of Under. His studio helps businesses define their strategy, positioning and identities in just 10 days.
We tuck into how this is achievable, the benefits of sprints, how to conduct them, where the pitfalls lie and how to overcome them.
Get ready to reframe your thinking, reimagine your process, push the boundaries and embrace the scrappy nature of brand sprinting!

13 snips
Feb 7, 2024 • 54min
S05.EP02 - How Brands Grow with Byron Sharp
Professor Byron Sharp, an influential figure in marketing science and Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, discusses the scientific principles behind brand growth. He explores concepts from his book 'How Brands Grow' including mental and physical availability, the synergy between distinctiveness and differentiation, and the power of branding assets. Byron debunks myths around brand loyalty and emphasizes the need for broad market reach. He offers practical advice on applying these insights and highlights the importance of continuous brand exposure. A must-listen for valuable branding insights.

Jan 18, 2024 • 1h 28min
S05.EP01 - State of Brand 2024 with Jacob Cass & Matt Davies
Season 5 kicks off with Jacob Cass and Matt Davies discussing the ever-changing branding landscape, addressing AI integration, post-COVID market dynamics, and economic challenges. They cover pricing strategies, AI impact on branding, agency tools, legal aspects, seeking feedback, and learning resources in branding industry.

Jan 1, 2024 • 1h 4min
S04.EP18 - Best of Season 4 (2023)
Welcome to the special ‘Best of 2023’ episode of ‘JUST Branding,’ where we dive into the most insightful and transformative ideas in branding and marketing from the year.
👉 Learn more: https://justcreative.com/podcast
This episode is a curated journey through the minds of industry leaders, innovators, and rebels, each offering unique perspectives on branding’s evolving landscape.
We kick off with the most popular episode of the season, Episode 1, which just happened to be our own. In it, we discuss the intricacies of becoming a brand consultant and our own personal journeys.
Episode 8 takes a different turn with Mike Roberts, exploring personal branding and the influential role of LinkedIn.
In Episode 11, Ian Barnard brings practical wisdom on building big brands with modest budgets, followed by a rebellious twist in
Episode 5 with Stix of Liquid Death, who redefines branding norms.
Episodes 9 and 15, featuring Fred & Erik of SNASK delve into the heart of creativity, empathy, and culture, and the development of BIG brand ideas.
The art of workshop design is elegantly unfolded by Brittni Bowering in Episode 3, while Rachel Davis in Episode 14 balances the scales between facilitation and strategy.
Chris Kocek in Episode 16 and Dan White in Episode 7 take us through the intricate process of uncovering insights and measuring brand impact.
Miri Rodriguez’s Episode 17 on Brand Storytelling and Jenni Romaniuk’s Episode 12 on Distinctiveness & Differentiation provide a masterclass on crafting compelling narratives and standing out in a crowded market.
Terri Goldstein in Episode 10 and Hamish Smyth in Episode 13 bring their expertise on mastering brand building in regulated environments and the art of consistency in brand guidelines.
Lastly, Kate Pincott in Episode 4 explores the cutting-edge world of NFTs and their impact on brands, while another Episode 17 offers insights into brand growth through AI, marking the convergence of branding and technology.
Join us as we revisit these captivating discussions, each a cornerstone in the edifice of modern branding and marketing.

Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 2min
S04.EP17 - Brand Storytelling with Miri Rodriguez
In this enlightening episode of JUST Branding, you’ll discover the art and science of brand storytelling through the experiences and insights of Miri Rodriguez, a celebrated storyteller and branding expert with an impressive history at Microsoft.
Miri, an author and speaker, delves into the nuances of creating relevant brand narratives that transform audience perceptions and build strong connections.
Key discussions include Miri’s branding journey, the power of storytelling, building a ‘Storytelling Machine’, how to leverage AI, plus case studies and practical advice.
This episode is a must-listen for those interested in elevating their brand's narrative and connecting more authentically with their audience!

Dec 4, 2023 • 45min
S04.EP16 - Any Insights Yet? w/ Chris Kocek
Tune in as we explore the transformative role of insights in branding and marketing with subject matter expert, Chris Kocek.
Our conversation begins with Kocek sharing his journey and the motivation behind his new book, "Any Insights Yet?”, which aims to revolutionize our understanding of insights in business.
Kocek delves into the essence of what constitutes a true insight, differentiating it from mere observations, data, and trends. He emphasizes the rarity and power of genuine insights, providing examples to illustrate his points.
Our discussion further explores effective strategies for uncovering insights, including helpful data points and methods to bring order to the often chaotic process of insight discovery.
Plus, practical advice on presenting insights to clients, ensuring they are impactful and persuasive.
Tune in and uncover genuine insights.

10 snips
Nov 9, 2023 • 1h 1min
S04.EP15 - BIG Brand Ideas (Secrets Revealed!)
Join branding experts Matt Davies and Jacob Cass as they uncover the secrets behind crafting BIG Brand Ideas that drive brands to greatness. They explore the power of compelling brand ideas, share real-world examples, and emphasize the importance of collaboration in developing impactful strategies. Tune in to ignite your brand's future with electrifying insights!

Oct 19, 2023 • 54min
S04.EP14 - Balancing Facilitation & Strategy w/ Rachel Davis
When collaboratively building a brand, how does a strategist balance both the facilitation of workshops and the task of creating the strategy 🤔.
What are the key challenges? How can they be overcome? This is the topic of this value-packed episode.
As a workshop ExperienceDesigner and facilitator known for her work with the Butter and Miro Communities and as a brand strategist working with global teams Rachel Davis is a bit of a unicorn.
In this episode, we tuck into the very real challenges of the strategist+facilitator with practical tips, tricks, and ideas shared from the outset. Rachel shares experiences and ideas gleaned from her 10+ years as a practitioner in this space. Not to be missed.

Sep 21, 2023 • 43min
S04.EP13 - The Art of Consistency: Mastering Brand Guidelines w/ Hamish Smyth
Join us and Hamish Smyth as we unravel the crucial role of brand guidelines in achieving brand consistency, recognition, and trust.
We’ll explore the key elements of successful guidelines and gain insights from renowned brands, plus learn how to avoid common pitfalls and create brand guidelines that people actually use.
Plus, we introduce the ground-breaking "Standards" tool transforming brand guidelines for the better.
This episode is a must-listen for all seeking branding excellence!

16 snips
Aug 26, 2023 • 1h 7min
S04.EP12 - Distinctiveness, Differentiation, and Brand Growth with Jenni Romaniuk
Marketing expert Professor Jenni Romaniuk discusses the significance of distinctiveness and differentiation in branding. She shares key elements for building distinctive brands and provides examples of distinctive brand assets. The podcast also explores the challenges faced by brands when entering new regions with different cultures, discusses the new Twitter rebrand, and emphasizes the importance of widening reach and adapting to the changing landscape of marketing.