

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

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.

9 snips
Aug 3, 2023 • 51min
S04.EP11 - How to Build Big Brands on Small Budgets with Ian Barnard
Marketing strategist Ian Bernard shares insights on building big brands on small budgets, including the 4Cs of positioning and creating future demand. He discusses common advertising mistakes, the 2-4-5 framework for full-funnel advertising, digital marketing mistakes, and strategies for top-of-mind positioning. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of brand marketing vs. performance marketing, creating a benefit ladder, the role of context in brand building, building awareness on a small budget, and the need for differentiation as a small brand.

Jun 28, 2023 • 50min
S04.EP10 - Mastering Brand Building in a Regulated World with Terri Goldstein
Mastering Brand Building in a Regulated World: Insights from the Brilliant Terri Goldstein!
🎙️ Calling all business owners and marketers operating in regulated environments like finance or medical! This episode is tailor-made for you. Join us as we delve into the extraordinary mind of Terri Goldstein, a visionary strategist and design expert, whose unwavering commitment to brands has spanned decades.
🏢 Step into the captivating realm of brand creation amidst regulations, where Terri unveils her groundbreaking methods and invaluable experiences in the medical field. Discover how she skillfully guides customers to 'way-find' and effortlessly navigate through her Shelf Sight Sequence, tapping into our innate ability to perceive colors, shapes, and symbols.
🌟 Brace yourself for a deep dive into the core challenges encountered in regulated spaces and Terri's ingenious solutions. Uncover the pivotal role distinctive assets play as strategic drivers and gain invaluable insights on how to conquer the unique hurdles faced by brand builders operating in regulated environments.
✨ Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation packed with wisdom and inspiration. Tune in now and revolutionize your brand-building game in the world of regulations!

Jun 6, 2023 • 51min
S04.EP09 - Creativity, Empathy & Culture with SNASK
Frederick Ost and Erik Kockum of SNASK join us to discuss how to build culture, and along the way our conversation diverts into a myriad of topics including creativity, empathy, philosophy, and of course, branding.
We discuss how their agency SNASK approaches brand building, the key to creativity, how to create a culture of trust and creativity, as well as how leading with vulnerability and empathy can give you an edge in the industry.


