Brand Story Podcast
The Brand Story podcast features in-depth conversations with marketers, leaders, and brand storytellers about their professional journeys and the impact they’re making on the world around them.


Reimagining Inclusion with Mita Mallick
Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta and Co-Host of Brown Table Talk
Reimagining Inclusion
Reimagine Inclusion – a message Mita Mallick hopes we all take to heart, and also the title of her new book. As a returning guest on our podcast, Mita breaks down what inclusivity really looks like both in the workplace and our professional lives. She shares examples of real struggles she’s experienced, and provides tips to help you on your own personal journey as an ally. Because whether you were ever picked last for a sports team or left off an event list, it’s a very human thing to feel excluded, so how do we help prevent it for others?

Brand Story Breakroom: Coke and Pepsi with Lindsey Laughlin
Brand Story Breakroom: Coke and Pepsi
Gravity Group’s President, Steve Gilman, and Vice President, Lindsey Laughlin, share stories from the world of brand and marketing, bringing you insights on successful and unsuccessful campaigns, brands, and marketing tactics. In this episode, they discuss some of Coke’s standout marketing campaigns and the recent Pepsi visual identity rebrand.

Building Brand Value with Carolyn Walker
CEO and Managing Partner of Response Marketing
Building Brand Value
What makes a brand? Carolyn Walker would say it all boils down to the customer experience. As the CEO and managing partner of Response, an independent marketing agency, Carolyn develops creative solutions to help build brands and focus on long-term loyalty. In this episode of Brand Story, we hear from Carolyn about balancing brand building with performance marketing, and the impact your customer’s brand experience has on your brand’s reputation.

Brand Story Breakroom: Consistency and Knowing Your Audience with Lindsey Laughlin
Brand Story Breakroom: Consistency and Knowing Your Audience
Gravity Group’s President, Steve Gilman, and Vice President, Lindsey Laughlin, share stories from the world of brand and marketing, bringing you insights on successful and unsuccessful campaigns, brands, and marketing tactics. In this episode, they discuss the importance of knowing and connecting with your audience and having consistency in both your internal and external messaging.

Overcoming Fear and Burnout with Jahmaal Marshall
CEO, Counselor, Consultant
Overcoming Fear and Burnout
Wondering how to become a more successful leader? Jahmaal Marshall would say the key lies in self-awareness. As a certified counselor, consultant, and CEO of Listen Then Speak, Jahmaal coaches leaders on identifying their behaviors and how to lean on both their strengths and weaknesses. In this episode of Brand Story, we hear from Jahmaal about the importance of setting boundaries, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and how to find a balance with your team.

Brand Story Breakroom: Chewy and Liquid Death with Lindsey Laughlin
Brand Story Breakroom: Chewy and Liquid Death
Gravity Group’s President, Steve Gilman, and Vice President, Lindsey Laughlin, share stories from the world of brand and marketing, bringing you insights on successful and unsuccessful campaigns, brands, and marketing tactics. In this episode, hear why Chewy succeeded when Pets.com failed, and how Liquid Death’s brand position speaks to their audience.

Embracing Effective Communication with Karen Nicholas
Communications Professional and Freelance Writer
Embracing Effective Communication
Do you talk to people, or do you just talk at them? Karen Nicholas discusses the important difference in this episode of Brand Story. As a strategic communications professional and freelance writer, she helps others improve their communication skills to better engage with employees and ensure messaging connects. In this episode, you’ll hear from Karen about the three B’s of messaging, why stories can help your message resonate better, and how the illusion of communication can impact how we react.

Developing Creative Leaders with Vann Graves
Executive Director of the VCU Brandcenter
Developing Creative Leaders
Vann Graves was told early on in his advertising career — don’t fall in love with your work, respect your work. As creators, we always need to balance our visions with what the client actually needs, so being fearless and open to new ideas is paramount to finding success in the business world. As the Executive Director of the VCU Brandcenter, Vann is helping develop the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and creative leaders, and in this episode of Brand Story, he’s sharing his advice with our listeners.

Building Relationships on LinkedIn with Tara Horstmeyer
LinkedIn Professional and Owner of Happy Words
Building Relationships on LinkedIn
Tara Horstmeyer has three tips for interacting on LinkedIn. Be real. Be relatable. Be relational. As a LinkedIn professional and the owner of Happy Words, Tara knows the value in building relationships, and encourages others to stop lurking and create from the heart. In this episode, you’ll hear from Tara about the opportunities for connections on LinkedIn and how to get more out of the platform through authentic conversations.

Purpose-Based Branding with Laura Hutfless
Co-Founder at FlyteVu
Purpose-Based Branding
For Laura Hutfless, starting FlyteVu was more about just selling products. It was about inspiring change, and connecting people to a purpose. This mindset has led the company successfully even today, where they continue to build impactful partnerships and give back to the community. In this episode of Brand Story, you’ll hear from Laura about her career journey, as she shares what it means to embrace your brand’s purpose and lead with responsibility.