On Brand with Nick Westergaard

Tony Gnau is the founder of T60 Productions and author of the new book Light, Camera, Impact. His work is focused on helping brands of all shapes and sizes tell better stories through video. We discussed all of this and more, this week on the On Brand podcast.About Tony GnauTony Gnau is the Founder and Chief Storytelling Officer at T60 Productions. He’s a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, has led T60 Productions to win 18 Telly Awards for its corporate videos, and is the author of the book Lights, Camera, Impact: Storytelling, Branding, and Production Tips for Engaging Corporate Videos. Finally, he is a former USC Trojan football player, Star Wars geek, and a devoted husband and father.Episode Highlights“There are a bunch of hurdles with video!” Tony laughed as we began. I confessed to being challenged by DIY video.Video is a part of everything. But how do we use it better? “Video is a tactic but it’s a tactic that needs its own strategy.”What brand videos does the video guy like? I couldn’t wait to ask Tony this. “GoPro does such a great job with user-generated content.” He also pointed us to J.Crew which creates engaging behind-the-scenes videos about how they chose colors.What brand has made Tony smile recently? Tony told us about the videos from Milwaukee Tool Company that feature the organization's own in-house rock band.To learn more, go to TonyGnau.com and the T60 Productions 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

Katie McCleary is a storyteller, professor of leadership, and co-author of the book Bridge the Gap. As founder of the nonprofit 916 Ink, she helps transform underprivileged youth into confident authors. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Katie McClearyKatie McCleary is a storyteller, professor of leadership, and a lover of people. She is co-author of Bridge the Gap, which Inc. Magazine named 1 of 3 business books to read in 2022. Her work has been featured by Forbes, PBS, Shondaland, New York Post, and more. Katie hosts NPR CapRadio’s leadership podcast, “The Drive,” in partnership with The American Leadership Forum. She is also the founder of 916 Ink, a nonprofit that has transformed over 4,500 youth into confident authors who know the power of their voice and story. Mashable named her as a “Real Miss America” for her projects in low-income communities. She teaches leadership in the master’s program at Pacific University and is passionate about amplifying people’s personal stories to create positive change.Episode Highlights“Leadership is everywhere,” Katie began. “It’s a personality choice‚ where you lean in to understanding. You have to schedule time to get to know your people.” It can even be 20 minutes.How to bridge the gap in a polarized world? Story helps here as well. “If I know your story, I can’t deny your humanity.” We spend so much time at work, it’s important to create communities of belonging here as well.What’s one thing you can do to better connect with others? “Before your next networking event or meeting, go to the bathroom and wash your hands with cold water. The cold water resets your nervous system and provides you with a moment to check in with yourself.”What brand has made Katie smile recently? “I love Short Story.” Not simply short stories (she loves those too) but the box program with clothing for petite women, which also includes personal touches like handwritten notes.To learn more, go to HowToBridgeTheGap.com and check out the work that 916 Ink is doing.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

Mark DiCristina is the Vice President of Brand Experience at Mailchimp, where he focuses on ensuring that the brand shows up for customers in authentic and truthful ways. We covered everything from their famous sponsorship of the Serial podcast to their innovative and, again, authentic user experience during our conversation this week on the On Brand podcast.About Mark DiCristinaMark DiCristina is the Vice President of Brand Experience at Mailchimp. He and his team are responsible for ensuring that Mailchimp’s brand shows up in thoughtful and authentic ways. During his time at Mailchimp, Mark spearheaded many of the brand’s largest marketing initiatives such as the launch of Wink, Mailchimp’s in-house agency, and has been fundamental in the creation of Mailchimp’s creative ad campaigns; most recently Guess Less, Sell More.Mark was responsible for the company’s first major ad campaign, “Did You Mean Mailchimp?” which won the Cyber Grand Prix at the 2017 Cannes Lions Festival, and the legendary “MailKimp” ad on NPR’s “Serial” podcast, which landed mentions on “Saturday Night Live,” “The Colbert Report” and “Funny or Die.” Before joining Mailchimp, Mark worked as a production manager at Paste Magazine and was named one of AdAge’s 40 Under 40 in 2017.Episode Highlights“Mail … kimp?” We all remember that infamous sponsorship message at the beginning of the original season of Serial, which was famously included in SNL’s sendup of the podcast. That’s why I had to ask Mark for a bit of an oral history of how this zeitgeist-making moment happened.One of Mailchimp’s biggest lessons from this moment? “We kept quiet and didn’t insert ourselves into it. We just let it happen.” While this advice sounds easy enough, more often than not most marketers look for ways to create more content and conversations around these special moments—which can ruin them.Where do you start with brand experience? Brand experience can be vast. “You have to start with empathy for the customer. Pushing that send button can be a big moment. Same with the moment after you hit send.” That’s why Mailchimp has some fun with these moments with the messages in their interface. “We want to show up as a brand in a way that makes people feel like someone’s home.”What brand has made Mark smile recently? Mark pointed to a big one—Yvon Chouinard, who recently made headlines by declaring that his company Patagonia had a single stakeholder—planet Earth!To learn more, go to the Mailchimp website or connect with Mark 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

Tom Suharto leads global strategy at Forsman & Bodenfors where his clients include Volvo, Crocs, Baileys, and H&M. Prior to that, he was at Wieden+Kennedy working on iconic brands like Nike and Disney. We discussed all of this and more, this week on the On Brand podcast.About Tom SuhartoTom Suharto leads global strategy at Forsman & Bodenfors, one of the most creatively awarded agencies of the past decade. His clients at Forsman include Volvo, Polestar, Crocs, Goldman Sachs, Baileys, and H&M, to name a few. Before joining Forsman, Tom spent a decade at Wieden+Kennedy, starting in their Shanghai office where he helped to launch Shanghai Disneyland and led strategy on Nike China. Then in Portland, Oregon, where he worked on Nike Women and Just Do It campaigns, helped launch Samsung flagship phones, and led strategy on Facebook Groups.Episode HighlightsThe Crocs brand is certainly having a moment … Following a recent trip to New York where my daughter was most excited about visiting the Crocs store (!), I had to talk to Tom about his work with Crocs. “With the pandemic, people started prioritizing comfort and Crocs leaned into that. And being unapologetic about being who you are.”The power of polarization. “We talk a lot with Crocs about polarization—how you want people to (ideally) love you or (not-so-ideally) hate you.” But you want that strong emotional response.The staying power of Just Do It. This work is cited so often, I wanted to dig deeper with someone who worked with this campaign while at Wieden+Kennedy. “For something like this to work, you need context. There needs to be a moment to meet. You also have to know your audience.” For Nike, this has always been the voice of the athlete. “That’s why Just Do It works.”“Strategy in turbulent times is about prioritizing,” Tom shared of the uncertainty around a pending recession. “But brands adding value to people isn't going out of style—even in a recession.”What brand has made Tom smile recently? “I’m going to share a brand that made my kids smile, which, in turn, made me smile.” Just like my Crocs story! Tom told the story of the IRL “MrBeast Burger” that he and his kids love at the American Dream mall in New Jersey.To learn more, check out the Forsman & Bodenfors website and connect with Tom 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

Lesley Bielby literally wrote the book on agency account planning—Super Strategist. A 30-year veteran of the world of advertising, she’s now Co-CEO of DiMassimo Goldstein, a leader in Positive-Behavior Change marketing. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Lesley BielbyLesley Bielby is the Co-CEO of DiGo (DiMassimo Goldstein), the industry-leading agency in Positive Behavior Change marketing, and has authored the only modern guide in account planning, Super Strategist: The Art and Science of Modern Account Planning. A 30-year veteran in the world of advertising, she was one of the British account planners to cross the pond in the turn of the century, to bring the discipline to America. In addition to DiGo, Lesley has led and been a part of a number of agencies including Hill Holiday, McKinney and Silver, Digitas, and MMB.Episode HighlightsWhat is Positive Behavior Change marketing? You know me—I love definitions. Turns out, Positive Behavior Change marketing is exactly what it sounds like. Marketing that inspires a positive change in the life of the consumer. Lesley shared an example from her agency’s work with Better Help.The role of research. First, it must be truly integrated. “It’s about identifying holes at the brand level and what’s needed to fill those holes.”“Creative is still king,” Lesley notes, adding that in today’s shape-shifting advertising and marketing industry, it’s important to ground the work in research and insights.What brand has made Lesley smile recently? I couldn’t wait to hear what I was sure was a research/insight-driven smile from Lesley. And she delivered with a story about the latest campaign from UK-based Pot Noodle.To learn more, check out the DiMassimo Goldstein website as well as Lesley’s book Super Strategist.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

Dr. Richard Winters is an emergency physician and director of leadership development at the Mayo Clinic. In addition to working with leaders internally at Mayo, Dr. Winters delivers programs that help healthcare leaders worldwide. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Dr. Richard WintersDr. Richard Winters is an emergency physician at the Mayo Clinic. As director of leadership development for the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Dr. Winters delivers programs that train leaders at all levels of healthcare organizations worldwide. As an executive coach, Dr. Winters provides coaching for Mayo Clinic leaders. Winters graduated from the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in 1994 and returned to Mayo Clinic in 2015.Previously, Winters served as managing partner of a democratic physician group, department chair of an emergency department, president of an 800-physician medical staff, and CEO/founder of a startup managed care organization that struggled to survive amidst the complex relationships among hospital, physician, patient, competitors, and insurance providers. He lives in Rochester, Minnesota, with his family.Episode HighlightsSo, you worked in healthcare during the past few years … I believe “Gah!” was how I phrased my less-than-eloquent opening query about working in emergency medicine during COVID-19. “Healthcare has always been a place of volatility and uncertainty,” Dr. Winters explained.Helping the helpers. As a leadership coach at Mayo, Dr. Winters’s work could be described in connection to the Mister Rogers quote about “looking for the helpers.” He’s charged with helping the helpers, “Ensuring that each level has the resources they need.”“Leadership is culture,” Dr. Winters detailed. “It’s not just the placards and screensavers. You have to walk the talk.” For the Mayo Clinic, this goes all the way back to the founders and continues today at every level.What brand has made Dr. Winters smile recently? “Song Tea from San Francisco,” is a brand that Richard loves as it makes him feel connected to the world.To learn more, go to his website and connect with him 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

Beth A. Livingston is a professor, consultant, author, and speaker focused on human resources, gender & diversity, and the management of work & family—all in the service of the employee experience. She’s also a colleague of mine at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business and co-author of the new book Shared Sisterhood. We discussed all of this and more, this week on the On Brand podcast.About Beth A. LivingstonDr. Beth Livingston is the Ralph L. Sheets Associate Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. She’s also an internal advisor with the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest, a NIOSH Center of Excellence, and the faculty director of the Dore-Tippie Women's Leadership program.After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Florida, and her MBA from the University of Kentucky, she began her career at Cornell University in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations before moving to the Midwest. She studies and teaches human resource management, gender & diversity, and the management of work and family in the service of employee well-being.Her research has been highlighted in the New York Times, NPR, and the Harvard Business Review, and she has been published in multiple top academic journals. Dr. Livingston has also done executive education, speaking engagements, and consulting for companies and non-profits such as Accenture, John Deere, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, HNI/Allsteel, and Hollaback! (now Right to Be) and is the co-author of the book Shared Sisterhood, published by Harvard Business Review Press.Episode Highlights“Everything you know—about marketing, managing, leading—has changed.” It’s been a busy two years for Beth Livingston, who studies remote work and DEI issues in the workplace. “People and organizations are ready to learn more about this."Thinking and doing. With big issues like gender and race, action both thinking and action are critical in driving change. “We talk a lot about doing in the book,” Beth notes. “There are thinking, feeling, and doing questions at the end of each chapter.”What’s one thing you can do right now on these big issues of gender and race? I thought I’d asked Beth a hardball question but she knocked it out of the park with not one but two things you can do. “The lowest hanging fruit is looking at where you get your news and who you follow on social media. The second thing you can do is look around at work.”What brand has made Beth smile recently? After a recent trip to New York, Beth and her daughter shared several smiles over the Playbill brand as they saw four Broadway shows.To learn more, check out Beth’s 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

Patrick Holly has worked for agencies like R/GA and brands like Apple, Uber, and Harley Davidson, where he served as brand director. Currently, he's Upwork’s Executive Creative Director leading a team of writers, art directors, designers, and strategists who are changing the way the world thinks about work. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Patrick HollyPatrick Holly is a multidisciplinary creative whose career has run the gamut from agencies like R/GA and AKQA, to brands like Apple and Uber, to building a content platform with Steph Curry. He currently serves as Upwork’s Executive Creative Director leading a team of writers, art directors, designers, and strategists who are changing the way the world thinks about work. Prior to joining Upwork, Patrick was the brand director at Harley Davidson, overseeing content, PR, social, and brand partnerships. When Patrick is not working, he spends most of his time on two wheels or watching Sex and the City reruns with his wife and dogs in Austin, Texas.Episode HighlightsWorking for a brand as “effortlessly cool” as Harley Davidson. What was that like? “It was stressful!” Patrick laughed, noting that the pandemic created challenges in connecting these rabid fans without motorcycle shows. “We ended up holding a No Show on Instagram—an All-Show, No Go.”Redefining how work works. In the wake of the pandemic, Upwork launched its latest brand campaign to address one of the biggest changes in how we work since the invention of the assembly line: the shift away from full-time, in-person work to hybrid workforce models that leverage remote talent. Patrick called this “Hollywood model” while I joked that it's like building a heist team.“A brand is only as strong as the team building it,” Patrick notes. “As advertisers and marketers, our job is to stand out in a way that feels honest to the brand.” That's why the Upwork launch included a zombie musical to communicate that the old ways of work are dead. “Who better to tell you something's dead than a zombie?”What brand has made Patrick smile recently? “I'm gonna share a local Austin brand—Tito's.” The vodka brand recently captured Patrick's attention with a campaign on why they weren't creating a seltzer as other spirit brands have. Sometimes you can stand out by zipping where others zag.To learn more, check out the Upwork website and connect with Patrick 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

Lee LeFever literally wrote the book on explanation. In addition to being the author of The Art of Explanation and Big Enough, he’s the co-founder of Common Craft where he helps leading organizations simplify their explanations through guides, videos, and visuals. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.About Lee LeFeverLee LeFever is the co-founder of Common Craft and the author of two books: The Art of Explanation and Big Enough. Since 2007, Common Craft has won numerous awards, worked with respected brands like LEGO, Google, Intel, and Ford, and created original explainer videos that have earned over 50 million online video views. Today, Common Craft produces educational guides, ready-made videos, and digital visuals that are used by educators in over 50 countries. Lee and his partner Sachi are Common Craft’s only employees and work from their home off the coast of Washington State.Episode HighlightsWhy is it so hard for us to explain things? “We do it every day and we can take it for granted.” Lee went on to note that, just as learning to be a better runner, you can learn to be a better explainer.The curse of knowledge gets in the way. “It curses us by forcing us to use jargon, add examples, and more.” Lee notes that it’s best to err on the side of being familiar. “We’re not dumbing it down, we’re making it familiar.”How to make an explainer video. Common Craft has produced explainer videos that have earned over 50 million views online. All of these are grounded in solid explanations. Where do you start? “Start like you’re talking to your parents—explaining what you do and why it matters.”What brand has made Lee smile recently? On a recent trip to Costco, Lee got a new Winix air purifier that connected seamlessly to his home wifi.To learn more, check out the Common Craft website and Lee’s personal website for info on his books.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

Todd Irwin is the Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of Fazer. The brand strategy agency has worked with Fortune 500 brands like Coca-Cola and Nike as well as SMBs and startups. Todd joined me this week on the On Brand podcast to discuss Fazer’s positioning-based brand strategy methodology.About Todd IrwinTodd Irwin is the Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of Fazer, a brand strategy and creative agency. He has developed a compelling brand strategy methodology that delivers business-to-brand strategic alignment to position companies more competitively in markets. Todd brings 30+ years of brand strategy experience, helping big brands such as Coca-Cola, Nikon, Verizon, Walmart, Pepsi, Ann Taylor, Macy's, Olive Garden, and The New York Times, as well as a host of SMBs and early-stage funded growth companies. Episode Highlights“Branding is a tangible asset,” Todd noted, defying the popular theory that brands are intangible—and thus not always seen as a valuable aspect of the business. “Brand is the product, the people—that’s value.” This also helps tell the value story internally.High brand connection pays off. Todd cited research from Google and Gartner that showed a 500% gain in customers when they have a “high brand connection.”Workshopping brand strategy. Todd stressed that it’s important to have leadership at the table. “You need the C-level, the chair, the founder. You need the vision.”What brand has made Todd smile recently? Todd came prepared. “It’s easy to go to the Apples and Warby Parkers of the world,” Todd began before explaining that his smile came from the personal brand of Ken Burns after watching his recent Benjamin Franklin documentary.To learn more, go to the Fazer 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