The Legend Effect (Influence, Brand, Communication)

Want 75 hacks to become more charismatic?Get your FREE copy of my Charisma Tactical Toolkit.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Mita Mallick,  a powerhouse executive, a LinkedIn Top Voice, a trusted advisor to some of the biggest brands on the planet, and a best-selling author and speaker. They delve into  what makes a boss bad, and how we can flip the script so that bad behavior becomes a blueprint for better leadership.The discussion emphasizes that everyone can be a bad boss at some point, but that doesn't mean we have to stay bad. Mita shares practical strategies and tools for us to catch our bad boss moments and come back into being good leaders. She also offers brilliant advice for employees to navigate working for bad bosses.Episode Breakdown:04:38 The biggest retention tool we have is currently under attack07:40 Mita's biggest bad boss moments and the transition into the boss role11:09 Three factors that make us fall into bad boss behaviors13:20 Strategies to build self-awareness and become a better boss16:14 A simple approach to build trust with your team that won't backfire20:01 Medusa: the baddest of Mita's bad bosses23:47 The 5Ds of bystander intervention to become a better colleague29:03 Why people don't intervene in a toxic workplace34:16 Self-work foundations for good leadership39:39 The pregnancy penalty and intent versus impact45:59 Three truths of human behavior that Mita discovered49:40 Brilliant advice and tools for working better with your boss53:48 Two messages Mita would leave for every boss54:47 A letter to Mita Mallick’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramPre-order the book, The Devil Emails at Midnight, out September 30, 2025.Learn more about the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention at Right To Be.Legendary Quotes:“ Have you noticed the engagement on your team shifting and changing? And how many of us have the courage to look in the mirror and say, 'Do I have something to do with that?' Or am I gonna blame everything else?” – Mita Mallick“ I know there's still Medusas out there in the workplace. I know people still behave this way, and just because you are getting a paycheck every two weeks doesn't give you permission to disrespect or humiliate or devalue people.” – Mita Mallick“ I hope that we have more courage and humility in the workplace. That's what I think we're in desperate shortage of right now.” – Mita MallickIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want prospects to become customers and passers-by to become fans?Sign up for Behavior Blueprint, my FREE 7-day email course.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan is going solo. He delves into  one of the most powerful and most overlooked human truths: ease. The discussion emphasizes that, ultimately, humans are lazy and will always choose the easiest option over the best one.Howie shares the reason why our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance and provides  real-world examples of how ease can make or break success, and concrete tactics for applying this truth,  whether you're leading a team or trying to get more people to buy your product.Episode Breakdown:02:30 How US companies got employees to sign up for the 401(k)03:40 The two systems that drive the way we think and choose05:14 The Fogg Behavior Model and why motivation isn't enough06:36 Three real-world examples of how ease changes everything07:52 How brands actually grow (it's not loyalty programs)10:40 Three tactics for leaders to make work easy to do12:20 Three tactics  for marketers and business owners  to make buying easy14:49 This hidden driver of human behaviorFrom Me:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramRead the world-famous psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Daniel Kahneman's book Thinking, Fast and Slow.Learn more about the Fogg Behavior Model by Stanford researcher Dr. BJ Fogg.Get one of the most evidence-based marketing books ever written, How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp.Discover more about Barry Schwartz's Paradox of Choice in his 2005 TED Talk.Legendary Quotes:“ When you see failed marketing campaigns or you see maybe offers are not converting, they all have one thing in common: it was too much work for the person on the other end.” – Howie Chan“ If you want people to take action, whether that's your team following through or your customers buying, don't just try to increase motivation. You have to make it easier.” – Howie Chan“ Ease isn't a nice-to-have. It is a hidden driver of human behavior. People don't always pick the best product. People don't always follow the smartest leader.  They pick the easiest path.” – Howie ChanIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Start conversations with a single unforgettable line that wins hearts and opens wallets.Get the Legendary One-Liner playbook and make your message legendary.In this episode, Howie interviews Ron Tite,  an award-winning creative, founder of the Church+State Agency, and the  mind behind campaigns for brands like Google, Walmart, and Microsoft. Ron delivers a true masterclass on the purpose of purpose and alignment, both personal and organizational, and how to get your message across in a relatable and engaging way. The discussion emphasizes that people used to vote with their wallets, and now they vote with their time. So, to influence others, our message must be worth their time.Ron provides us with how to craft a purpose for a company and for yourself, the right way, along with his "Think. Say. Do." framework. He shares the ins and outs of how he structures all his speeches and how to apply comedy to them. Lastly, he flips advertising on its head.Episode Breakdown:06:54 Understand what purpose is and how brands have gotten it wrong09:50 The parallel between personal purpose and the organization's purpose13:04 How purpose can lead a profit-driven company towards growth16:49 The different business model of purpose-driven companies20:30 How to get the purpose right within the company23:49 What you need to craft an organizational purpose that actually gets buy-in30:59 The big flip in advertising from promise to confirmation36:26 You don't have to save the world, focus on what you care about38:15 The power of starting with comedy42:41 The warm open technique that silences the room48:08 How Ron did it and your permission to fake it as you go51:45 The process of comedy and how you can apply it56:43 How Ron structures and customizes his speeches59:21 The key ingredients of a successful and relatable speech1:05:54 We don't need a great big meaningful story to deliver value1:08:10 One simple exercise to help you  better influence behavior1:10:00 A letter to Ron Tite’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInYoutubeGet the books, Think. Do. Say. and The Purpose of Purpose.Listen to the podcast, The Coup.Read the Mark Ritson article on the purpose and profit paradox.Listen to my interview with David Aaker about his book The Future of Purpose-Driven Branding.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping business owners influence human behavior using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want prospects to become customers and passers-by to become fans?Sign up for Behavior Blueprint, my FREE 7-day email course.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Rob Volpe, the empathy activist. He is the Founder and Chairman of Ignite 360, an award-winning, best-selling author, and he empowers people to build empathy and be better at the work they do and the people they are.They delve deep into empathy, what it is and isn't, why it's so critical in our personal and work life, and how to develop it so it too can be your superpower. The discussion emphasizes that empathy is not just a "nice to have," in fact, its absence is actually the reason companies lose millions and millions of dollars every year.Rob walks us through the 5 Steps to Empathy that can help you dissolve any conflict and come out on the other side more connected, more powerful, and more effective. He also shares a simple but profound technique called the Curious Breath, which is a quick reset that takes you from reactive to thoughtful, from spiraling to strategic.Episode Breakdown:03:33 A miracle of life, Judy Garland, and a lot of empathy08:08 Listen to your intuition to connect with others10:32 The development of empathy and a real-life example15:05 Why empathy is so critical in all facets of life18:31 Fusing the head and the heart to connect and build empathy 21:45 The current empathy crisis in a polarized, angry society24:31 Empaths: when empathy can quickly become too much28:18 Go from reacting to responding with a curious breath32:52 The 5 Steps to Empathy35:06 How to dismantle judgment so it stops getting in your way43:56 Choosing to ask questions differently and ditching "Why?"48:59 What active listening looks like and some exercises to help55:40 Play the ice cream game and integrate different points of view1:02:45 Put yourself in the other person's shoes to imagine solutions 1:04:07 How people rallied around Rob after a recent injury1:07:01 What to do today to start your empathy journey1:07:42 A letter to Rob Volpe’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInTikTokInstagramGet the book, Tell Me More About That.You can find more content about Rob's cats – Domino, Barnabas, and Solitaire – here.Check out the Empathy Circle.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want to go from unknown to unforgettable in 44 simple steps?Check out my Personal Brand Checklist.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Lisa Bragg, a strategic visibility expert, a former broadcast journalist turned entrepreneur, and author of Bragging Rights. They delve into how great work won't speak for itself and how self-advocacy is the superpower that will allow you to be seen, to influence, lead, and create lasting impact.The discussion emphasizes that if you're not bragging or self-promoting, you're getting left behind. Lisa provides us with your roadmap out of hiding. She shares easy first steps and strategies to start bragging the right way, the pitfalls to avoid on your path to standing out, and gives you the push you need to start advocating for yourself today.Episode Breakdown:03:26 The value of sparkle and showing up with shine, shimmer, and bravery08:21 The evolution of the word brag into something negative10:10 The biggest lie we've been told about bragging10:55 What makes bragging either icky or not15:04 When bragging goes wrong17:33 Easy first steps to start bragging the right way22:08 Lisa guides Howie through reaching potential podcasting guests27:43 Self-promotion, effectively reaching out cold, and opening doors33:42 The importance of amplifying what you're doing again and again38:22 Overcoming internal barriers to bragging39:58 Why your work won't speak for itself43:48 The risks and rewards of standing out46:05 Don't humble brag, do this instead49:21 The power of sharing the story behind everything52:16 Stop holding back, start advocating for yourself today56:06 How to avoid over-bragging57:42 Always think of your audience and don't make things up1:02:34 Find the shortcut to your future through self-advocacy1:07:08 A letter to Lisa Bragg’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramGet the book, Bragging Rights.Catch up with my interview with Fotini Iconomopoulos.Legendary Quotes:“ It's not a Me, Me, Me journey when we are doing bragging and self-promoting. It's really how do I make sure that people know where I am of service and then how do I bring other people along the way.” – Lisa Bragg“ You don't have to constantly start something brand new all the time. We don't have to have a million ideas. We can just even have one really solid idea. And be known for that over and over again. That'll give you influence.” – Lisa BraggIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want to go from unknown to unforgettable in 44 simple steps?Check out my Personal Brand Checklist.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan is going solo. In a series of short episodes - Solo Sesh (sessions), he is bringing you the best strategies and ideas from scientific studies and the legends among us, so you can live your version of legendary.He delves into  why your brain fights against being different, why being unique isn't just a fluffy brand exercise, it's actually science, and how to define your edge and your ability to show up different in a sea of sameness.The discussion emphasizes that if you don't stand out,  you will not get attention, you will not be able to influence, and you will not be able to get where you're trying to go. Howie provides some neuroscience insights and a three-step framework to help you figure out YOUR different, which he backs up with powerful stories of brands that managed to step out of the crowd.Episode Breakdown:02:25 Why being different is so hard03:23 Salience: what our brains are actually designed to notice04:50 The story of an intensely unique brand that broke through07:22 Step 1: Study the competition09:46 Step 2: Find the opportunity11:20 Step 3: Test the edge12:17 How to break the psychological barrier and stand out the right way15:07 What's one unique thing that could change your trajectory ?From Me:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramLearn more about Liquid Death here.Legendary Quotes:“ If you say the same things, if you show up the same way, it's all gonna blend into the background. So you will not get attention, you will not be able to influence, you will not be able to get where you're trying to go.” – Howie Chan“ The irony is this: the very thing you fear sharing the thing that makes you feel that you are weird, you're different, you're being cast out, is the thing that people will thank you for.” – Howie Chan" Sameness is safe. Different gets remembered. Always–different is better than being better." – Howie ChanIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Produced by Ideablossoms.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want prospects to become customers and passers-by to become fans?Sign up for Behavior Blueprint, my FREE 7-day email course.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Brian Ahearn,  one of only a dozen people in the world certified to teach Dr. Robert Cialdini's method, and who has trained thousands of professionals on how to ethically move people to action.They delve into how to become more persuasive by serving instead of manipulating, as well as the everyday influence that shapes our lives. The discussion emphasizes the importance of not only learning or teaching the principles of ethical influence but also living them out.Brian provides powerful models and frameworks to help you apply the principles of persuasion and influence, such as the T.I.M.E. method, the DEAL Model, and the Core Motive Model. He also shares how all of this can be used in real-life situations with stories of how he has successfully used these principles himself.Episode Breakdown:03:08 The impact of Brian's personal mission statement05:58 Brian's journey to learning Cialdini's work and teaching it11:48  What it takes to be an ethical influencer14:26 The benefit of establishing genuine relationships16:02 Don't forget to focus on what actually matters17:53 How Pre-suasion can make all the difference22:38 Using the T.I.M.E. framework to set the stage for persuasion28:01 The seven principles of influence in practice30:19 Powerful models and frameworks to help you apply the principles33:00 How using sticky notes can completely change the game37:39 Combining and amplifying different principles of influence42:29 The "8th principle": building and leveraging a strong personal brand50:11 The true power of the relationship part and ways to nurture them55:22 How Brian lives out his brand and the  principles of influence57:46  The most powerful principle to influence ourselves1:00:19 Consistency, belief, identity, and attentiveness1:05:19 Increase the happiness at home with this advice1:08:06 A letter to Brian Ahearn’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInYoutubeFacebookGet the InfluencePEOPLE Books.Watch Brian's TEDxNewAlbany Talk.Catch up with my interview with Will Storr.Also, catch up with my interview with our mutual friend, Steve Martin.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want to go from unknown to unforgettable in 44 simple steps?Check out my Personal Brand Checklist.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Melina Palmer, the founder of The Brainy Business and  the translator between brain science and business strategy. They delve into  how behavioral science can make you more influential in business and beyond.The discussion emphasizes  that true influence lies in understanding how people think, not just what they say. Melina unlocks some of our brains' secrets so you can have a greater impact on the choices that people make, including your own, without being manipulative. She also shares the truth about pricing so you can be paid what you're worth.Episode Breakdown:03:00 The power of music and Melina's relationship with it06:57 Approaching the world with thoughtfulness and curiosity10:04 Ways you can get in the way of your goals and how to turn this around14:00 What makes Melina (and others) reject LinkedIn connection requests16:10 The two systems of the brain, and which one you need to sell to19:52 A strategy that works for influencing choices and one that doesn't21:46 What you need to understand to be able to nudge people into action26:29 Essential steps to get more listeners for your podcast32:46 The truth about profitable pricing37:01 Overcome the hesitation and fear behind raising your prices40:45 The "I'll Start Monday" Effect and how to set better goals44:47 How Melina helps clients effectively incorporate changes47:15 Time-saving strategies for thoughtful and effective communication53:03 How to not only get people's attention but also be remembered56:15 When shifting one little thing changes everything1:01:33 Lessons from solving escape rooms 1:04:53 A letter to Melina Palmer’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInYoutubeFacebookInstagramGet the book "What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You" and more.Listen to The Brainy Business Podcast.Watch Melina's TEDxPortland Talk.Catch up with my interview with Nelson Dellis in episode 14 of the podcast.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want to go from unknown to unforgettable in 44 simple steps?Check out my Personal Brand Checklist.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Stephen Shedletzky,  a global keynote speaker, a leadership coach, and the author of Speak Up Culture, a book that's redefining how we think about psychological safety and organizational influence. They delve into leadership, influence, and, more specifically, how to create a speak-up culture that empowers and impacts change, whether in one-to-one conversations, within our families, communities, or companies.The discussion emphasizes that influence doesn't start when you talk; it starts when others feel they can. Stephen provides the key to effective influence, as well as powerful, tactical insights on how anyone can build cultures where people actually want to speak up and leadership is strong. Episode Breakdown:03:21 The peak and valley experiences in the pursuit of fulfillment08:25 Shed's journey of overcoming a stutter and using his own voice15:44 Incorporate ideas and actions of others into your life in your own way18:17 Powerful lessons from working with Simon Sinek22:50 The definition of a speak-up culture27:57 What a speak-up culture is not and what it actually entails30:35 Curiosity and understanding others are key to effective influence 32:36 Don't just pitch to prospects, create a speak-up culture38:10 How to create a healthy speak-up culture at scale44:34 Influence and leadership versus extroversion and charisma46:47 How to scale the experience and the impact of a community 49:46 Creating a speak-up culture at home and other parenting tips56:07 Shed's definition of leadership and what makes a leader good or bad1:04:53 A letter to Stephen Shedletzky’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedInYoutubeXInstagramGet the book, Speak-Up Culture.Learn more about Dr. Beccky Kennedy's Good Inside parenting support.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want prospects to become customers and passers-by to become fans?Sign up for Behavior Blueprint, my FREE 7-day email course.In this episode of the Legend Effect Podcast, host Howie Chan is going solo. In a series of short episodes - Solo Sesh (sessions), he is bringing you the best strategies and ideas from scientific studies and the legends among us, so you can live your version of legendary.He delves into identity-driven influence. The discussion emphasizes that we shouldn't try to convince people and force logic on them, we should speak to their identity instead.Howie provides a three-step framework that  will help you influence people to take an action without resistance because it's in accordance with their identity, as well as the reason why identity is the linchpin of behavior, and the benefits of this identity-based approach to influence.Episode Breakdown:02:47 The Texan anti-littering campaign that changed the game04:00 Why this strategic influence technique is so powerful 05:04 Step 1: Find and align with their values07:10 Step 2: Use identity-based language08:18 Step 3:  Start with a proof move09:25 What identity-driven influence doesFrom Me:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramLegendary Quotes:“ Influence doesn't come from pushing, it comes from reflecting. So, less convincing and more speaking to who they already believe they are.” – Howie Chan“ There is this false myth that change is hard. We resist change. People actually don't resist change, they resist the behavior that feels misaligned with their identity.” – Howie Chan“ That's what identity-driven influence does. It doesn't feel like change. It just feels like acting truthfully to who they saw themselves as right from the beginning.” – Howie ChanIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters: The free newsletter helping thousands of business owners influence human behavior (and look like a legend) using brand psychology.Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.