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.

Brand Story Podcast

Brand Story Breakroom: Coke and Pepsi featuring Lindsey Laughlin and Steve Gilman

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.

Episode 51
Brand Story Podcast

Building Brand Value featuring 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.

Episode 50
Brand Story Podcast

Brand Story Breakroom: Consistency and Knowing Your Audience featuring 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.

Episode 49
Brand Story Podcast

Overcoming Fear and Burnout featuring 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.

Episode 48
Brand Story Podcast

Brand Story Breakroom: Chewy and Liquid Death featuring 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.

Episode 47
Brand Story Podcast

Embracing Effective Communication featuring 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.

Episode 46
Brand Story Podcast

Developing Creative Leaders featuring 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.

Episode 45
Brand Story Podcast

Building Relationships on LinkedIn featuring 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.

Episode 44
Brand Story Podcast

Purpose-Based Branding featuring 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.

Episode 43
Brand Story Podcast

The Entrepreneur’s Journey featuring Suzanne Bergmeister

Executive Director of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship at James Madison University

The Entrepreneur’s Journey

Suzanne Bergmeister’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line. After leaving the Air Force and the corporate finance world to be a venture capitalist, she took what she learned from the investing side of the table and started teaching others about the entrepreneurial world. Now as the Executive Director of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship at James Madison University, she’s planting the seeds for future entrepreneurs, sharing her experience in the field and helping others develop their big ideas. In this episode of Brand Story, Suzanne shares her insights on developing ideas and what it takes to find success.

Episode 42

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