BRANDED

Distraction Marketing: Sex, Scandal, and Sydney SweeneyAmerican Eagle’s ad with Sydney Sweeney sent their stock flying, their mentions surging, and the internet into meltdown. But was the controversy part of the plan? In this episode, we break down how brands are using distraction and deliberate outrage to win the attention economy. From Gwyneth Paltrow being hired as crisis cover after a Kiss Cam catastrophe, to Donald Trump’s strategic smoke bombs to bury headlines he doesn’t like, we explore how controversy converts—and when it backfires. Plus, a surprising look at how AI adoption is following the same curve as e-commerce, and what it means for marketers.All that, and a few hot takes from the TikTok comments section. Spoiler: Colbert vs. Rogan isn't the fight you think it is.

In this electrifying episode, we unpack three stories shaking the world right now: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's explosive Kiss Cam scandal at a Coldplay concert—is his career truly over, or can scandals this massive become epic comebacks?We then dive into OpenAI's game-changing ChatGPT agent, promising everyone a $38,000/year personal assistant for less than your weekly coffee spend.Finally, we dissect CBS's cancellation of Stephen Colbert—did politics, economics, or digital disruption drive this shocking move? Tune in as we debate scandal survival, AI taking your jobs, and mainstream media’s slow demise.

In this episode of BRANDED Weekly, we break down the brand moves (and misfires) dominating headlines:– Grok’s AI glitch: What happens when your chatbot forgets the filter?– Nvidia’s China play: Smart diplomacy or dangerous double game?– Amazon’s 4-day Prime Day: A flex or a flop?– KFC’s rebrand: Why the Colonel’s now obsessed.– Superman x Roku: Movie marketing meets voice AI.– Sprite’s spicy stunt: Burn your mouth, boost your brand.

The biggest brand moves – July 4–11, 2025Amazon expands Prime Day to four days, but do longer sales lose their punch? Sephora offers free Lyft rides to stores, Coca-Cola brings back “Share a Coke” with a Star Wars twist, and Ben’s Original tries to move on from Uncle Ben.Plus, TikTok Shop crosses $1B in US sales, Boeing tries to fix its image, and Wall Street sends mixed signals on ad budgets.Also, don’t forget: National Nude Day is coming (Tom might not be dressed for next week’s episode)

Nike’s back to its roots. Unilever just paid $1.5B for a soap brand. Cloudflare declared war on AI. Oh, and Pamela Anderson is suddenly a branding icon again.This week, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain unpack the smartest (and strangest) marketing moves across the globe:Nike ditches lifestyle for core athleticismDr. Squatch and the billion-dollar soap gameCloudflare vs. AI crawlers — is the internet changing?Sainsbury’s market share surpriseCelebrity endorsements vs real influenceTesla’s fully driverless deliveryNASA streams on NetflixAnd the rise of an AI-generated rock band?Smart takes. Big brands. No fluff.

This week on BRANDED Weekly, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain dissect the marketing strategies hidden in world news, tech headlines, and viral campaigns. Why did Iran give advance notice before launching missiles? Is Meta’s $100M talent grab a turning point in the AI arms race? Why did job site giants like CareerBuilder collapse? Plus, we debate scratch-and-sniff armpits as a marketing tool, the fall of PewDiePie, and the future of AI in law. And yes, the Liver King might’ve tried to fight Joe Rogan.

In this episode of BRANDED, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain dive into the biggest business and culture stories of the week, blending serious insight with sharp wit. They discuss Meta's aggressive push to poach OpenAI talent with $100M offers, the Trump family launching a gold-plated smartphone and mobile network, and why Airbus is feeling confident while Boeing flounders. Plus, they explore the impact of rising tariffs on Hasbro’s workforce and Elon Musk’s relentless AI spending spree. As always, the show ties in viral holidays, major birthdays, and whether Tom would board a pilotless plane.

In this episode, Tom and Ben unpack the branding implications behind this week’s biggest business headlines. They start with Apple’s latest developer conference and whether the company is still seen as an innovation leader or has shifted into incrementalism. They also discuss a quirky new hold-music feature that Tom is excited about, and how Apple’s brand promise of “things just work” creates high stakes when launching new products.They then shift to the protests in LA, examining how Trump’s political maneuvers reframe the Democratic brand—and whether brands should speak up or stay silent in politically charged moments. The conversation moves into the Musk–Trump fallout, including stock crashes, retaliation threats, and what it means for Tesla’s brand and Elon’s decision-making.Next, they dig into Mondelez's lawsuit against Aldi for Oreo copycats, highlighting how brand confusion can spark legal battles. From there, they analyze Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to spin off streaming and cable units, the larger trend of strategic brand separation, and what it means for the media landscape.The episode closes with insights on global layoffs, the rise of the “AI economy,” how brands should handle internal messaging during cutbacks, and Alibaba’s new AI-driven virtual try-on feature—what it signals for fashion, e-commerce, and marketing creativity.

Welcome to the new era of BRANDED. In this refreshed format, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain team up weekly to break down the biggest stories in branding, marketing, tech, and business—with sharp takes, bold questions, and zero fluff.In this episode:Hailey Bieber sells her skincare brand for $1B—how attention became the most valuable currencyMeta signs a nuclear deal to power AI—literallyApple tries to reinvent itself with a major UI overhaul—but is it still innovative?Tesla’s global sales slump—what’s really going wrongSalesforce targets data dominance with a new acquisitionPlus: How generative AI is changing the job market and what it means for creators, marketers, and brands

In this episode of Branded, Ben Kaplan sits down with Bridget Evans, the Global Head of Business Marketing at Spotify, to unpack the platform’s growing role as a multimedia advertising powerhouse. Bridget breaks down Spotify’s evolution from a primarily audio-based brand into a dynamic player in video advertising and podcast monetization.They explore:Spotify’s strategic pivot to include more video-first experiences, including video podcasts, music videos, and lyric videos.The award-winning “Spreadbeats” B2B campaign that turned Excel spreadsheets into media channels to reach media buyers in unexpected ways.How Spotify is supporting mid-tier and micro-podcasters through the Spotify Partner Program and new monetization tools.The balance between owned/licensed content and supporting a broader creator economy.Why podcasting fosters deep engagement and trust, making it a unique advertising channel with powerful reach.The future of AI in audio, from content discovery to personalized playlists and DJ experiences.Bridget’s thoughts on data-driven marketing, brand storytelling, and why creative opportunities on Spotify are more expansive than ever.Plus, Bridget shares the best career advice she ever got from Gary Vaynerchuk: “Don’t focus on being the first—focus on being the best or the most creative.”