How Nike Got the Beatles & Built a Brand Empire | Mark Thomashow on Jordan, Jackson & Just Do It

Ever wonder how Nike licensed a Beatles song from Michael Jackson… and convinced Yoko Ono not to kill the deal?

Meet Mark Thomas — the man behind the scenes who negotiated the ads, the athletes, and the empire that made Nike unstoppable.

What does it take to build the most iconic brand in sports history?

In this jaw-dropping episode, we sit down with Mark Thomashow, the legendary head of business affairs at Nike for 31 years, who reveals the untold stories behind some of the most memorable campaigns of all time — including the historic Revolution ad featuring The Beatles.

💥 Highlights include: The real story behind Nike’s use of The Beatles’ “Revolution” — and how Michael Jackson, Yoko Ono, and Julian Lennon all played a role Inside the deals behind Just Do It, Bo Knows, and I Am Not A Role Model

Why SAG would only negotiate with one person at Nike — and how Mark made it happen

How Nike signed Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Charles Barkley

Behind the-scenes secrets from decades of culture-shaping marketing

From near-impossible music rights to multi-million dollar athlete endorsements, Mark Thomas shares the deals, drama, and creativity that powered Nike’s golden era.

Step inside the boardroom of one of the most powerful brands in the world.

In this exclusive episode, we sit down with Mark Thomashow, Nike’s Head of Business Affairs for 31 years — the man behind legendary campaigns like Just Do It, Bo Knows, I’m Not a Role Model, and the Revolution ad that made Nike the first company ever to license a Beatles master recording.

💼 Mark shares untold stories from the golden era of Nike marketing, including:

How Michael Jackson owned The Beatles' music, and why Yoko Ono nearly blocked Nike’s deal

The genius legal tactic involving Julian Lennon that turned the tide

What it took to sign Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Charles Barkley Negotiating with SAG when no one else could Creating culture-defining moments in sports and music

Behind-the-scenes of negotiating the rights to Just Do It 🎧

This is more than an interview — it's a masterclass in brand building, high-stakes deal-making, and cultural influence. If you're a fan of Nike, music history, sports marketing, or creative business strategy, this episode is for you.