#251: Spiritual Branding, Becoming a Category of One, & Why Your Brand Should Be Gay (Even If You’re Not) w/ Re Perez

Today’s guest has one of the boldest book titles I’ve ever come across…

It’s called: “Your Brand Should Be Gay (Even If You’re Not): The Art and Science of Creating an Authentic Brand.”

And what I love so much about that title is that Re Perez lives it.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Re went from growing up in an all-boys Catholic Jesuit school—where he felt unsafe, ashamed, and unable to express who he truly was because of his sexuality…

…to building a life and brand rooted in deep alignment, self-love, and full-spectrum authenticity.

Fast forward to today—

He’s not only written a book with the word “gay” in the title…

He’s helping some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs 2x, 3x, and even 10x revenues by doing the very thing he’s mastered: uncovering who they truly are, and building a soul-aligned brand that can’t be ignored.

This episode is a beautiful mix of raw story, deep self-inquiry, and powerful business wisdom.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Re Perez

Brandon welcomes listeners to another thought-provoking episode, introducing Re Perez—a Fortune 500 brand consultant turned spiritual brand architect. Brandon previews the episode’s core themes: curating a world with your brand, remembering who you are, and embodying your brand as a spiritual journey.

00:52 - Shoutout to Jhana Li and three themes to watch for

Brandon credits Jhana Li (Episode 146) for connecting him with Re, and encourages listeners to look out for three key insights: repelling the wrong people with your brand, using branding as a path to self-remembering, and the crucial step of embodying your brand.

01:30 - Re Perez’s background and vision

Brandon shares Re’s professional journey and credentials, highlighting his unique blend of corporate branding experience and deep personal transformation. Re is introduced as the author of Your Brand Should Be Gay (Even If You’re Not) and the founder of Category of One Branding.

04:19 - A spiritual transformation in Dubai

Re recounts a pivotal period in his life when a move to Dubai—sparked by a relationship and a high-level job—led to personal collapse and emotional breakdown. This “bus moment” launched his inner journey toward alignment, self-love, and eventual transformation.

08:01 - Healing in Sedona and the birth of purpose

After returning to the U.S., Re embarks on a spiritual retreat in Sedona. What began as a mission to heal a broken heart becomes a revelation of his soul’s purpose: helping mission-driven brands share their impact with the world. This sets the stage for the launch of his first brand consultancy.

10:54 - Remembering vs. discovering: guiding clients to authenticity

Re explains that most clients don’t need to “find” themselves—they need to remember who they already are. His work involves helping them strip away conditioned beliefs and reconnect with their innate joy and alignment to fuel authentic branding.

13:22 - The “I want X, but Y” breakthrough exercise

Re shares a transformative self-inquiry exercise that helped him leave a job misaligned with his purpose. By uncovering his limiting belief that quitting meant “losing control,” he...