

On Brand with Nick Westergaard
Nick Westergaard
On Brand helps you tell stronger stories and build better brands. Each week, host Nick Westergaard, author of Brand Now and Get Scrappy, interviews marketing and communication thought leaders and innovators from brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Meta, Crayola, Beats by Dre, Southwest Airlines, Reddit, Spotify, and MailChimp. Watch the full, in-depth conversations and get actionable insights to help you and your brand stand out in a crowded, distracted world.
For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com.
For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Sep 18, 2023 • 30min
Learning to Lead with Jamie Turner
Jamie Turner, internationally recognized author, professor, consultant, and TV news contributor, discusses how being pushy can hinder persuasion, the impact of social media on marketing and society, and the connection between marketing and leadership. They also explore narrowing marketing efforts for better results and creative strategies employed by brands like Bumble.

Sep 11, 2023 • 29min
Reviving the ESPIRIT Brand with Ana Andjelic
Ana Andjelic, Chief Brand Officer of ESPIRIT Holdings Limited, discusses the process of brand revival and the challenges of restarting a neglected European brand in North America. Topics also include the rise and fall of ESPIRIT, the importance of brand heritage and aesthetic confidence, and the connection between sociology and brand building.

Sep 4, 2023 • 30min
Two Things to Transform Brands with Paulo Ribeiro
Paulo Ribeiro is the founder of Two Things, a transformative agency for active lifestyle brands. With clients like The North Face, Timberland, and more, Paulo's expertise in brand advertising and global brand strategy has shaped industry leaders like Nike and Electronic Arts. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Paulo RibieroPaulo Ribeiro is the founder of Two Things, a brand transformation agency that focuses on the active lifestyle category. Two Things serves clients such as The North Face, Timberland, Visit Sun Valley, Mad Hippie, Converse, and Arc'teryx.Paulo began his career in brand advertising first in NYC and then in SF at Hal Riney+Partners, the first creatively led agency, during the dot com boom. At Wieden + Kennedy, he was head of global brand strategy for Nike and Electronic Arts through the era of digital transformation. He led the evolution of innovation agency Redscout to better serve Silicon Valley, working with Reid Hoffman on LinkedIn's positioning and expanding Gatorade's portfolio from beverages to food and digital products.Paulo was the Managing Director of one of the first Venture Studios-West SF, which was founded by Jack Dorsey to accelerate the growth of many of the world's most disruptive startups. His portfolio included Venmo, Jawbone, Twitter, Braintree, Square, Tumblr, and many others. More recently he led the creation of the Wieden + Kennedy Lodge the innovation agency, within the W+K Network, working with Nike's secretive Innovation Kitchen, Samsung, and Verizon as clients. The fruits of that labor contributed significantly to W+K earning Global Agency of the Year two years in a row.Paulo’s work has been discussed in the New York Times, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, Adweek, Techcrunch, Monocle, The Guardian, Communication Arts, LA Times, Business Insider, and many other publications.Episode HighlightsWhat is a lifestyle brand? Paulo and his team define it as, “any brand that encourages an active lifestyle” including both athletics and travel.What are the Two Things? The name of Paulo's agency comes from “the art of combining two unrelated things in an interesting way” to stand out in the crowded, distracted world we find ourselves in.The role of tension. Paulo and I spent a lot of our conversation talking about tension. Tension between the advertising industry and the Silicon Valley innovation mindset. Tension between scale and experimentation. This tension can play an important role in standing out today.What brand has made Paulo smile recently? First, Paulo threw it back to the EA and Nike collaboration, Dot Swoosh, that he referenced earlier. He then shared the amazing activation the Barbie team did with Ken and the Dream House. “Actions speak louder than words.”To learn more, check out the agency's website at TwoThings.co.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 2023 • 31min
Primal Brand Storytelling with Anthony Butler
Anthony Butler is a “can-do” digital marketing and brand growth expert. That motto of the military unit he led in Iraq and he brings that mindset to his work helping businesses address the obstacles they face in building and growing their brands. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Anthony ButlerAnthony Butler is the founder of the digital marketing agency Can-Do Ideas and the author of Primal Storytelling, Marketing for Humans. He is a highly regarded expert in brand storytelling and digital marketing. Anthony served as both enlisted and as an officer in the US Army. He also graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the US Army Ranger School. He is a combat veteran and commanded an infantry company in Iraq during the invasion of Baghdad. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt and currently resides in Montana with his wife and two sons.Episode HighlightsFrom the military to marketing. Anthony shared his compelling life story — from his background in the armed forces to the can-do mindset he developed there and now uses in his work to help businesses grow. “It taught me to be regimented with my time.”What brand has made Anthony smile recently? On a recent trip to South Dakota to visit family, Anthony was struck by the power of the Harley Davidson brand over time. “Any time someone will tattoo a brand on their body is big.”To learn more, connect with Anthony on LinkedIn and check out the Primal Storytelling website.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 21, 2023 • 30min
Organizational Storytelling with Thaler Pekar
Thaler Pekar is a pioneer in the field of organizational storytelling. Her work helps leaders, employees, and customers connect around shared stories. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Thaler PekarThaler Pekar is a communication pioneer, lauded as one of the world’s leading experts on institutional storytelling. For 18 years, she and her team at Thaler Pekar & Partners have advised visionary leaders worldwide on gaining confidence, insight, and influence.Episode HighlightsHow institutional storytelling works. “It helps to have an equitable leader,” Thaler began, describing how the stories leaders share can connect all levels in an organization.Small stories can exemplify the brand. Thaler shared a story from her work with retail giant Kiehl's. “They're really committed to the idea of hospitality,” she notes. “Finding stories is about learning more about what customers want.”“People don't listen because they themselves don't feel heard.” I had to pause the interview and write this one down! Thaler notes that people are complex and can miss this critical first step — listening.What brand has made Thaler smile recently? “Barbenheimer!” Thaler and I discussed how this marketing phenomenon was a true story of a “high tide raising all ships.”To learn more, check out the Thaler Pekar & Partners website.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 14, 2023 • 29min
How Spotify Connects Brands and Artists
Jay Norman is the Global Head of Music Marketing at Spotify. His work at Spotify and his background as co-founder of the content shop Verse + Hook has focused on helping brands create and connect through culturally impactful work. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Jay NormanJay Norman is a creative leader, marketer, and co-founder with a 15-year + commitment to designing campaigns merging culture and human emotional experiences. Currently serving as the Global Head of Music Marketing at Spotify, Justin has worked with several international brands, organizations, and artists, creating genre-bending, culturally impactful work. Within his agency career, he has led campaigns and content for brands such as Johnson and Johnson (Listerine, Tylenol, Zyrtec), Stellantis (Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati), Unilever (Country Crock, Bertolli, Popsicle, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter) JBL, Harman Kardon, McDonald's, and more.The award-winning content shop he co-founded, Verse + Hook, has crafted work on brands like Pepsi and Kingsford and had an integral role in the composition of campaigns and media featuring artists and musicians in advertising for brands like Jeep, Bacardi, Paypal, NFL, and ESPN.Episode HighlightsArtists and brands can be strange bedfellows. “Usually it takes the form of an endorsement.” However, as Jay notes, it can often be something much bigger.The problem? “Brands usually come in asking an artist to be in this thing all about me. In reality, it all comes down to story — what about you makes you interesting?”“Our algorithm is one of the best pieces of machine learning,” says Jay. He went on to share the powerful brand touchpoint of Spotify's year-end Wrapped project.What brand has made Darren smile recently? “Barbie,” Jay noted with enthusiasm. “I'm loving that, usually, a brand over-saturating the market backfires. But Barbie reminds us that nostalgia is a powerful tool.”To learn more, connect with Jay on LinkedIn.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 7, 2023 • 29min
Creating Client Partnerships with Stacey Zimmerman
Stacey Zimmerman serves as Managing Director at Big Spaceship, where she focuses on deepening client relationships, growing the agency at large, and leading the Account Management discipline. Her passion lies in helping client partners work collaboratively with their agency partners, underscoring how collaboration leads to the most impactful work. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Stacey ZimmermanStacey Zimmerman serves as Managing Director at Big Spaceship, where she focuses on deepening client relationships, growing the agency at large, and leading the Account Management discipline. Her passion lies in helping client partners work collaboratively with their agency partners, underscoring how collaboration leads to the most impactful work. Nurturing diverse teams, Stacey helps provide education and opportunities to aspiring talent by teaching advertising at both East and West Coast universities for the past decade, serving as executive sponsor for one of Big Spaceship’s employee resource groups (ERGs), and serving as a MAIP mentor.In her five years at Big Spaceship, Stacey has grown the agency’s relationship with Starbucks from a project to AOR, expanding into the loyalty and partnerships space while also helping mount a multi-chaptered brand campaign. Recently, she helped launch Fast Twitch, a new energy drink from PepsiCo, with a holistic campaign and on-the-ground Super Bowl activation. Her experience also includes digital product work; for example, Stacey helped SiriusXM develop a brand new website that made for an entirely revamped experience both for customers and internal marketing teams. Current and past clients include Google, Hasbro, MasterClass, and NFL, among other brands.Prior to Big Spaceship, Stacey worked at a variety of agencies within the Publicis Groupe network on integrated campaigns for brands including P&G, J&J, Veuve Clicquot, Sally Hansen, Visa, and Google. Stacey has also developed an expertise in the tech space, developing sites, apps, and digital campaigns for clients such as Mercedes-Benz and COTY.Episode HighlightsBuilding successful partnerships with clients. “It's a constant conversation,” Stacey notes. “You also have to set up imperfection — that we might change our mind along the way and that's okay.”“I sometimes forget that you don't work here,” Stacey loves hearing this from clients. Again, this is indicative of the close partnerships she believes in building rather than account management.We need a better label ... Stacey notes that though she's a big believer in the account management discipline, it's a limiting label. She promises to keep us posted on what she and the team comes up with!What brand has made Stacey smile recently? Stacey began with a big shoutout to all of the amazing Barbie work before sharing the story of Orange and an AI-generated women's soccer ad.To learn more, check out the Big Spaceship website and connect with her on LinkedIn.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31, 2023 • 35min
Connecting Brand to Growth with Ariadna Navarro
Ariadna Navarro, Chief Growth Officer at VSA Partners, shares insights on connecting brand strategy to growth. They discuss viewing brand as a business asset, the P to P to E approach, and the importance of design in B2B experiences. They also highlight an IKEA ad that uses travel time as payment.

Jul 24, 2023 • 28min
Designing Your Brand Story with Abbey McGrew
Abbey McGrew is the founder and creative director of Wayfarer Design Studio, where she helps thoughtful e-commerce founders to bring their brands to life through visual identity, packaging, and web design. We discussed all of this and more this week on the show.About Abbey McGrewAbbey McGrew is the founder and creative director of Wayfarer Design Studio. Known for her heart-led approach to design, Abbey helps thoughtful e-commerce founders to bring their brands to life through visual identity, packaging, and web design. She believes that great branding is more than skin deep and always finds a way to weave deeper meaning into every last detail of her work.Episode HighlightsWhat's in a name? “The name Wayfarer carries personal significance for both me and my clients,” Abbey shared. “To me, it symbolizes a passion for exploring the world with my husband, which inspired me to establish the company in 2016. To my clients, it speaks to the experience of embarking on a journey without clear direction, as is often the case when starting a business.”Connecting design to brand story. “Through our design work, we aim to help our clients find clarity and envision their future, serving as guides on their entrepreneurial journey,” says Abbey.What brand has made Abbey smile recently? Having recently returned to the U.S., Abbey has been buying a lot of American products. One that stood out recently was Billie Razors. She tells the story behind the smile during the show.To learn more, check out the Wayfarer Design Studio website and connect on Instagram.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2023 • 32min
Stand-Out Strategies with Chantal Cornelius
Chantal Cornelius has spent the last two decades helping hundreds of coaches, consultants, and speakers grow their businesses and achieve their goals by making strong emotional connections with their clients. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Chantal CorneliusSince founding Appletree Marketing in 2000, Chantal Cornelius has spent the last two decades helping hundreds of coaches, consultants, and speakers grow their businesses and achieve their goals by making strong emotional connections with their clients. Chantal knows that the key to standing out from competitors is to build strong, long-lasting relationships. Her mission is to help business owners realize that the path to success doesn’t involve churning out endless social content. In her writing and speaking, Chantal introduces business owners to the different Stand Out Strategies that they can use to make the best emotional connection with their clients. She explains how to utilize them, in order to stand out from their competitors, by incorporating more emotion and empathy into their work.Episode HighlightsThreads? What do we do?!? This is a question marketers have been asking with the latest shiny new thing. “Think strategy before tactics,” Chantal cautions.Where do we start? “Listen to your clients.” Again, with so many distractions today, it can be hard to remember this simple yet effective advice that Chantal doubled down on.How can marketers build an emotional connection? “My research over the past few years has yielded five emotional strategies driving brands.” They are:
Certainty
Connection
Contribution
Growth
Significance
What brand has made Chantal smile recently? “I love Škoda, the car manufacturer,” Chantal shared. She loves the brand both for its funky colors and the amazing services she receives from Sam at her dealership!To learn more, go to ChantalCornelius.com and connect with her on LinkedIn.As We Wrap …
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


